would certainly involve large expenses, while its returns might be quite inadequate to meet them. Large expenditures would be unavoidable at the start—for the outfit that would be absolutely necessary for these poorly clad students, and for the purchase of their railway tickets to Ohio. The University treasury was almost empty; the Association did not feel at liberty to risk funds contributed for missionary work in such a speculative venture. And it was not easy to persuade the untravelled parents of some of the students to risk their children in it. But a few clear-headed friends had faith in the plan, and, after much prayer and perplexity of purpose, Mr. White felt the command laid on him from the Lord to go forward.
Taking the little money that was left in the University treasury after buying provisions to last the school for a few days, putting with it all his own, and borrowing on his own notes an amount whose payment, if the venture was a failure, would strip him of every penny of his property, he started out with barely enough money to set his party in working order on the north side of the Ohio river.
Like Cortes, he had burned his ships behind him. But it was in the face of greater difficulties than confronted Cortes, and which might have staggered even his abounding courage and faith, had he foreseen them.
