The years passed with their vacations. One day at school I received an urgent telegram, telling me to come at once as Mr. Percy was very ill. The journey homeward was a sad one. Formerly they were full of joyful anticipation; this was full of grief and fear. He was very ill. He received me warmly and I attended him as an affectionate son would a beloved father. “Charles,” he said, “the end is coming. I am going to them. They are waiting for me. I shall soon be where there is no more sorrow, or parting, or dying any more forever. Be true to my teaching. I tried to do my duty. Pardon my mistakes. Come to me when you have done your work. God bless you my boy. God bless you”—and he was gone. Could my wish have been granted I would have gone with him to where there was no more parting forever more. The last rites were performed and I was given the place of chief mourner, for all seemed to know how much esteem and love he had for me. Then I felt myself alone in the world; the halcyon days of my life were ended. He had made his will very carefully, giving the details of his property, and except a few personal articles, including those precious photographs that he reserved for me, all was to be sold and the proceeds, with various stocks, bonds and several bungalows in which he had invested, were placed in the hands of trustees for me until I had reached the age of twenty-four years. Until then I was to receive sufficient funds for my support and I was to finish my school course. So I had money enough, but of what account is money when the heart is breaking? On the days when I used to receive those blessed letters sadness overwhelmed me. No more letters to come. No more letters to write. This deprivation constantly revived my consciousness of the loss I had sustained, and during all the rest of my school life I could not overcome this terrible feeling. My school days ended and with great regret I bade good-bye to some of my schoolmates and some of the teachers for they had endeared themselves to me by their kindness. I was again alone in the world. I did not know that I had even one friend to whom I might turn for advice or comfort. I was conscious that I ought to engage in some profession or employment as other young men were doing, but which and what was the question. If I chose the Civil Service in the Government, it was necessary for me to go to England and pass an examination. I had no friend there, not even an acquaintance, so had no influence, and I learned that influence was everything even to get a chance to offer myself for an examination; so that profession was closed to me.