"Well," commented Mr. Howe, as he folded the letter slowly, "I didn't know how to answer that. He said he wanted advice. I know he wants money more, but of course he hates to ask for it. I deliberated a good while; but finally I wrote him that if the lawyers gave him assurance that his claims were valid, I would advance what money I could spare to further his suit." There was silence in the room for a little while. Then Jonathan said earnestly: "I wish I had some money to give Mr. Howe. Would he take my five dollars, do you think?" he asked of the inventor's uncle. "See, I have it here; and I should be glad to give it to him without waiting to hear what the lawyers say. Do you think it would be all right to send it, Mr. Howe?" he inquired. "And may I, Uncle William?" he added quickly, for he had almost taken his uncle's permission for granted. Uncle William nodded; and Mr. Howe said, "You may never get it back, you know." "I think I shall," answered Jonathan confidently. "And anyway I want to help Mr. Howe." "Do you want to send it now?" inquired Mr. Howe. [Illustration: ELIAS HOWE] "If you please," replied Jonathan. "Then you may write your letter here, while your uncle and I go for a walk." SPENCER, MASS., 15^{th} 9^{th} mo., 1849. _Mr. Elias Howe, Jr.,_ _Cambridge, Mass._ _My dear Mr. Howe_:-- Perhaps thee remembers the boy who saw thee run a race with thy sewing machine against five seamstresses over Quincy Hall Market four years ago. Thy uncle told me of the hard time thee has had since. I am very sorry. I want to buy a sewing machine and I want to help thee. I am sending thee five dollars. It is all the money I have. I hope thee will use it to win thy suit. Sometime when thee sells sewing machines, I hope thee will sell me one for my mother five dollars less than the usual price. Thee can see thee will not have to pay this back for a long time, for it will be a good many years before I shall have money enough to buy a sewing machine. Thy friend and well-wisher, JONATHAN WHEELER There is little more to tell of Jonathan's visit to Spencer. After dinner that day he started with his uncle for Worcester, where they stayed all night. The next morning, after an early breakfast, they set out again, reaching home before the forenoon grew very hot. PART III Not many days after Jonathan's return, the first letter he ever received his father brought him from the post office. It hardly needed the post mark, Cambridge, to make Jonathan sure who had sent it. Let us open it with him:-- CAMBRIDGE, _August 26, 1849._ _My dear friend Jonathan,_