The Landloper

ers crowded to the banks of the narrow brook; they whispered to one another as the breeze fluttered their leave

proposition, and I'm afraid I had no business inviting you

e while, watching the drift of tiny flotsam down the eddying current and obse

t in the alders and chirped dozy notes. Peace and restfulness brooded. The man at the brook leaned low and thrust his head into the water and then

tter forget the sister of the rose. Here's a good place to

und the curtai

e faded curtains at the windows hung crookedly. The glass of the panes was dirty. The entire aspect of t

lung open suddenly with

single-handed. The free end of the solemn box bumped down the wooden steps with a hollow clatter that suggested emptiness. There was a woodpile at one side of the yard. The old

, saw that the casket was empty. The

s sorts of wood inlaid with care, and the fretwork along its sides had been jig-sawed with much pains spent in detail, and the pilasters were turned with

er in the road; but a man came around the corner of the house just

was clothed ca

e and gazed from under his vizor on

a copper kettle. The cuirass could not disguise its obligation to certain parts of an air-tight stove. But the ensemble was peculiarly striking an

ence and folded hi

om behind and, without turning his body, hooked his narrow and bony

le chopper, "what is on thy

uth, I'll say that I was thinking that this seems to be an ideal location fo

he head of the Friends' meeting in this town and never has it been said th

s feet and took an eas

e much to come over there and take a ch

ever allowed their feeling

ith thee

f I should go on my way without understanding what this means my itching curiosity would nev

Is there anything strange in seeing me knock in

But why? From what little I saw of it it see

, a bit mollified. "Walnut w

as made for anybod

hee must stick thy nose into my business!" His tone was pettish and he st

r-sort of out of date,"

ld, propping hands on his hips, and divided angry gaze between the man at the fence and the a

thy words a bit better in the presence o

t he is a fool?" de

mply say that your son's choice of a summer suit seems a

ge, but he strode along with brisk vigor. His gaze was as sharp as a gimlet, though the puckered lids were cock

magpie and I venture to say thee is a roving sca

nd squeaking, the son

ve thee talk about m

the elder. The armored citizen was sturdy and of middle age and t

paid no hee

eled around th

s,

s met ma

all sorts and

es that he will go forth into the world, faring here and there, to try to do

of the son, and then stared again into the searching eyes

words," declared the father.

"I might not be as patient with a stranger as I am with my father.

frank smile which won an answering flicker from

nough to say what he thinks," piped the father. He turned on his son.

you know," said Farr, teasingly. "There are k

tes," stated the son, regarding the stranger keenly. "And

pocket. "Don't fool yoursel

etrayed thee," in

ege men-and pocket dictionaries are che

man in armor. His face softene

served here patiently many years. If I leave thee for a little while there

informed him, sourly. "Go on, thou fool; learn thy lesson! The world

ng-but have it thy way," returned the son, with Quaker

alike to me. I would be pleased to talk with one who has jour

indignant refusal of this honor. He pursed his lips and his thick brows dr

ome-made knight. "I have had my armor for a

in suit?" expo

xplain as

the wayfarer. "Nothing mor

athers on the head and rattles in the hand! Cockahoops and fiddle-de-lorums! Thee'll be back soon with thy

hop by the roadside

his new comrade of the ways. "From my good mother I derive ima

n sign advertised "Eastup Chick & Son, Blacksmiths." On the gab

d Chick, m

an of method, talking as those persons talk who have read many books and use th

hare in all credit which comes to me. But my father does not possess imagination. I am sorry he lost his temper to-day and broke up his coffin. Not that I approved of having it in the h

my suspicions conf

uncomfortable by telling Uncle Joachim that there was no need of his dying-that if he would only show a little Chick spunk

and probably felt like quitting, seems as if

ars we had allowed the society of the fathers to perish in our town. Thee may have noted that my father and I still use the plain language, keeping up the ways of the founders. My father sat at the head of the meeting,

losing his c

for going, just as he blamed Uncle Joachim f

for a crowd aft

o sit at the head o

m for some time. The blacksmi

e fire is left there, sir, but he will not allow it to go o

Farr. "I don't want to be prying or

nd spread the gospel of mercy and forbearance, teach the lessons of peace, urge men to forgive instead of fight-showing them that courts of law are more often the devil's playground than the abode

ve 'em throw

ng, gave no sign that he r

yard to-day, dressed as a plain man, thee would have passed on thy way-providing father had been chopping up kindling-wood inste

's

and know my plan and have noted h

thing, but how long do you think a policem

ere I can deliver my me

s who are a bit dull when they are examining a man's motives, but who think they are almighty smart i

ed his serene face

, after talking with me, even if I do wear iron

"I don't believe I woul

ee can speak quite genera

me-it's a little ri

. "Why shouldn't its significance be revived in these modern times? At any rate," he added, with Yankee sh

l pull you into camp your second day out, if you're not c

pondered on this for a long time. I shall