Page 67 - The Adventures of a Freshman

Mr. Young felt that he had been pretty generous, but he only growled.

They did not know the real reason Will was so exuberant this bright sunny morning.

Was it necessary for them to know? That was one thing left to worry about: whether it would be right to
overwhelm his parents by telling them of what their son had been through, or would it be wrong to keep on
taking their love and sympathy (as it seemed he had received his father's check) on false pretences? He kept
on being perplexed until he finally confessed his whole story to the minister and asked him what to do about
it.

The minister, in his straightforward way, asked, "Have you confessed it to God, Will?"

"Yes, sir," said Will, dropping his eyes.

"And has He forgiven you?"

Will paused a moment. "I think He has now."

"Then I think that is enough. In one sense it is certainly deceiving them not to tell them, but I think it is the
lesser of two evils. It would do little or no good to tell your good old parents. It would only grieve them as
much as it would amaze them. You can pay back what you owe your parents in love and kindness as well as
in money. Don't you think so?"

Will thought so and he made up his mind to try.

It became a matter of comment among the neighbors the way Will Young, whom they were inclined to look at
sceptically since "he went East to college," was pitching in and working harder than any hired man on his
father's place and, what was more surprising, seeming to enjoy it; they did not know quite what to make of it.
He was paying back the $200.

It surprised his father also and pleased him, and so did Will's respectful manner and his simple boyish
endeavors to carry out all his wishes. He was trying to pay back the other debt also.

When the fall came again Mr. Young hated more than ever to have him leave, but this time, as he told Will's
mother, he would fix it, he guessed, so Will wouldn't have to work himself to a skeleton.