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Why should he pay to help build a new church, when he's got to move the first of March? And the church has been as careless about him as he has been about the church." "That's what bothers me," J.W. commented. "But even so, I should think something could be done to interest these folks. They've all got families to bring up." "Something can be done, too," said Pa Shenk.
In the car, and by the fireplace in the Shenk living room, and around the farm, they considered many things, some of them not so personal as others. J.W. told the story of his life in Saint Louis and on the road; Jeannette listening like another Desdemona to the recital. And once again it was not the adventure which supplied the thrill, but the adventurer.
If only I can make good in business, there's where I belong. But can a fellow make good just as a Christian in the same way I expect Marty Shenk to make good as a Christian preacher?" The pastor stood up and came over to J.W.'s chair. "My boy, I know just what you are facing. It is a pretty old struggle, and there's only one way out of it.
And that is enough for the present purpose of the story of J.W.'s first business venture away from Delafield. Not without some hesitation did he close with the Cummings offer; but after he had talked it all over with the folks at home, and then all over again out at Deep Creek with Jeannette Shenk, who was both sorry and proud, it was settled.
"There's a good deal in that, John Wesley," said Pa Shenk. "Your father and me, we get along fine. We're more like partners than owner and tenant. But it isn't so with these short-term renters. The owner raises the rent as the price of land rises, and the tenant is mostly too poor to do anything much after he's paid the rent. Besides, he's got no stake in the neighborhood.
"That's what I kind of thought too," said J.W., simply, "but rooming with Marty Shenk he's going to make a great preacher too keeps me thinking, and I know about all the students who are getting ready for special work, and lately I've been wondering " "About some special sort of work you'd like to do?" Mr. Drury prompted. "No; not that at all. I'm just as sure as ever I'm not that sort.
"You remember when the people on upper Deep Creek used to come here to church, four miles or so? Well, now they are going to Fairfield Church owners, renters, everybody. It's surprising how Fairfield Church is growing. That's going away from town, not to it, and they're as near to town as we are." "Then," persisted J.W., "how do you account for it?" "Only one way, my boy," said Pa Shenk.
Ben and little Alice contended for J.W.'s favor, until he took Alice on his knee and put one arm about her and the other about her brother, standing by the chair. And Pa Shenk talked about the church. "I reckon I shouldn't complain, John Wesley," he said, "seeing that our Marty is a country preacher, and maybe he'll be having to handle a job like this some time. But I can't believe he will.
Conversely, J.W., Jr., was prepared to set Cartwright's debating record, as incarnated in Marty, against that of any other college in the State. What was more, he cherished an unshakable confidence that the "Rev. Martin Luther Shenk" would be one of the leading ministers of his Conference within five years.
The next Sunday would be his and Marty's, but this would be his and Jeannette's. Not that he needed to make any special plans for being with Jeannette Shenk; of late he had found the half hour drive down to the old farm the prelude to a pleasant evening.
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