He will rally sooner or later.

Thus it proved in the case of Tom Gordon.

His former strength and spirits gradually came back to him.

There were moments and hours when he was weighed down by his great loss; but it was gradually softened by the passage of time, until the day came when his friends believed he had fully recovered from the sorrow that had nearly driven the life from his body and soul.
One sad feature of his affliction was that he was left almost penniless.
With all the thrift, frugality, and self-denial of mother and aunt, they had been able to leave the youth hardly anything at all when they died.
The humble home, with all its belongings, was sold for less than the mortgage, and Tom found himself with little besides the clothes he wore and a few precious mementoes of those that had passed away.
In a community where he was so favorably known, it was impossible that he should suffer actual want.

More than one home was offered him, not only until he could find some situation or engage in some trade, but as long as he chose to avail himself of it.
Tom was forced to accept some one of these offers, and he went home with Jim Travers until he could decide what to do.