Chapter IV. Frank Makes a Proposition

by Horatio Alger

　　When Frank woke the next morning the sun was shining into hiswindow. He rubbed his eyes and tried to think what it was thatoccupied his mind the night before. It came to him in a moment,and jumping out of bed, he dressed himself with unusualexpedition.Hurrying down-stairs, he found his mother in the kitchen, busilyengaged in getting breakfast."Where's father?" he asked."He hasn't come in from the barn yet, Frank," his motheranswered. "You can have your breakfast now, if you are in a hurryto get to studying.""Never mind, just now, mother," returned Frank. "I want to speakto father about something."Taking his cap from the nail in the entry where it usually hung,Frank went out to the barn. He found that his father was nearlythrough milking."Is breakfast ready?" asked Mr. Frost, looking up. "Tell yourmother she needn't wait for me.""It isn't ready yet," said Frank. "I came out because I want tospeak to you about something very particular.""Very well, Frank, Go on.""But if you don't think it a good plan, or think that I amfoolish in speaking of it, don't say anything to anybody."Mr. Frost looked at Frank in some little curiosity."Perhaps," he said, smiling, "like our neighbor Holman, you haveformed a plan for bringing the war to a close."Frank laughed. "I am not quite so presumptuous," he said. "Youremember saying last night, that if I were old enough to takecharge of the farm, you would have no hesitation involunteering?""Yes.""Don't you think I am old enough?" asked Frank eagerly."Why, you are only fifteen, Frank," returned his father, insurprise."I know it, but I am strong enough to do considerable work.""It isn't so much that which is required. A man could easily befound to do the hardest of the work. But somebody is needed whounderstands farming, and is qualified to give directions. Howmuch do you know of that?""Not much at present," answered Frank modestly, "but I think Icould learn easily. Besides, there's Mr. Maynard, who is a goodfarmer, could advise me whenever I was in doubt, and you couldwrite home directions in your letters.""That is true," said Mr. Frost thoughtfully. "I will promise togive it careful consideration. But have you thought that you willbe obliged to give up attending school.""Yes, father.""And, of course, that will put you back; your class-mates willget in advance of you.""I have thought of that, father, and I shall be very sorry forit. But I think that is one reason why I desire the plan.""I don't understand you, Frank," said his father, a littlepuzzled."You see, father, it would require a sacrifice on my part, and Ishould feel glad to think I had an opportunity of making asacrifice for the sake of my country.""That's the right spirit, Frank," said his father approvingly."That's the way my grandfather felt and acted, and it's the way Ilike to see my son feel. So it would be a great sacrifice to meto leave you all.""And to us to be parted from you, father," said Frank."I have no doubt of it, my dear boy," said his father kindly. "Wehave always been a happy and united family, and, please God, wealways shall be. But this plan of yours requires consideration. Iwill talk it over with your mother and Mr. Maynard, and will thencome to a decision.""I was afraid you would laugh at me," said Frank."No," said his father, "it was a noble thought, and does youcredit. I shall feel that, whatever course I may think it wisestto adopt."The sound of a bell from the house reached them. This meantbreakfast. Mr. Frost had finished milking, and with a well-filledpail in either hand, went toward the house."Move the milking:-stool, Frank," he said, looking behind him,"or the cow will kick it over."Five minutes later they were at breakfast."I have some news for you, Mary," said Mr. Frost, as he helpedhis wife to a sausage."Indeed?" said she, looking up inquiringly."Some one has offered to take charge of the farm for me, in caseI wish to go out as a soldier.""Who is it?" asked Mrs. Frost, with strong interest."A gentleman with whom you are well--I may say intimatelyacquainted," was the smiling response."It isn't Mr. Maynard?""No. It is some one that lives nearer than he.""How can that be? He is our nearest neighbor.""Then you can't guess?""No. I am quite mystified.""Suppose I should say that it is your oldest son?""What, Frank?" exclaimed Mrs. Frost, turning from her husband toher son, whose flushed face indicated how anxious he was abouthis mother's favorable opinion."You have hit it.""You were not in earnest, Frank?" said Mrs. Frost inquiringly."Ask father.""I think he was. He certainly appeared to be.""But what does Frank know about farming?""I asked him that question myself. He admitted that he didn'tknow much at present, but thought that, with Mr. Maynard'sadvice, he might get along."Mrs. Frost was silent a moment. "It will be a great undertaking,"she said, at last; "but if you think you can trust Frank, I willdo all I can to help him. I can't bear to think of having you go,yet I am conscious that this is a feeling which I have no rightto indulge at the expense of my country.""Yes," said her husband seriously. "I feel that I owe my countrya service which I have no right to delegate to another, as longas I am able to discharge it myself. I shall reflect seriouslyupon Frank's proposition."There was no more said at this time. Both Frank and his parentsfelt that it was a serious matter, and not to be hastily decided.After breakfast Frank went up-stairs, and before studying hisLatin lesson, read over thoughtfully the following passage in hisprize essay on "The Duties of American Boys at the PresentCrisis:""Now that so large a number of our citizens have been withdrawnfrom their families and their ordinary business to engage inputting down this Rebellion, it becomes the duty of the boys totake their places as far as they are able to do so. A boy cannotwholly supply the place of a man, but he can do so in part. Andwhere he is not called on to do this, he can so conduct himselfthat his friends who are absent may feel at ease about him. Heought to feel willing to give up some pleasures, if by so doinghe can help to supply the places of those who are gone. If hedoes this voluntarily, and in the right spirit, he is just aspatriotic as if he were a soldier in the field.""I didn't think," thought Frank, "when I wrote this, how soon mywords would come back to me. It isn't much to write the words.The thing is to stand by them. If father should decide to go, Iwill do my best, and then, when the Rebellion is over, I shallfeel that I did something, even if It wasn't much, toward puttingit down."Frank put his essay carefully away in a bureau drawer in which hekept his clothes, and, spreading open his Latin lexicon,proceeded to prepare his lesson in the third book of Virgil'sAeneid.