Joseph and His Friend

ight of the delicious summer evening was around them; the air, cooled by the stream which broadened and bickered beside their way, was full of all healthy meadow odors, and every farm in

m quite well,

talked so litt

ng for you was not welcome. I don't mean—" But here

id she. This was not an answer to his

on the startled animal. "Pshaw!" he exclaimed, in a tone that was alm

ds under her shawl for one instant. Then she

y than to you, and the reason is, I want to say more to you than to any other woman! There's no use in my being a cowa

answered, v

o speak calmly, but his breath came thick

our ways and studied your character. I find you honest and manly in everything, and s

lightning, pass

, I honor you, and that makes it harder for me to seem ungrateful, unfeeling,

it?" he

have been cowardly also. I knew an explanation must come, and I shrank from the pain I should

could no more force yourself to love me than I could force myself to love Anna Warriner or

woo

I see a life that belongs to my own life,—as much a part of it as my head or heart; but I can'

f in his trouble for her. He had never witnessed such grief, as it seemed to

hly and wickedly, in my disappointment. I thought only of myself, and forgot that I might hurt you by my words. I'm not the

nd said: "You are a true and a noble man, Elwood. It is only a grief to me that I can

at the same rule fits both of us, leastways so far as helping the matter is concerned. You needn't tell me I may find

er sought for reasons to account for your feeling toward me? Is it not something that does

, but did not finish the question. He leaned silently forward, ur

ns which I have not? If I were to take time, and consider it, and try to explain, it would be of no help to you: it would not change the fact. I suppose a man feels humiliated when this trouble comes upon him. He shows his heart, an

als being sent us for our good, and its being the will of God, and all that. It's a trial, that's true: whether it's for my good or not, I shall learn after a while; but I can find out God's will only by trying the strength of my own. Don't be afeared

l of admiring recognition of the man's powerful and tender nature, which suddenly warmed her oppressed blood, she did not fear that he would draw courage from the token. She wish

shoulders of its enclosing hills, where the moist meadow fragrance was left behind, and dry, warm breezes, filled with the p

s place this afternoon?" he asked. "

when she afterwards insisted on our going, th

"but tell me now, honestly, Luc

ways, perhaps, but we mustn't judge too hastily. We have

o ruffled, and puckered, and stuck over with ribbons and things, that you can't rig

" Lucy e

fellow living than Joseph Asten, but his bringing up has been fitter for a girl t

you mean

core. So it does with him; but I can't see what that girl is, under her pleasant ways, and he won't guess that there's anything else

must be!" cried Lu

hake hands. You don't go around, sayi

enough, Elwood! I'd rather you would think yourself in th

attempting to conceal he

'll soon be rid of me. I won't tell you, Lucy, that if you ever want for friendly service, you must look to me

is horse at the gate of her home, handed h

t the evening quiet of the farm became intolerable. He saddled his horse and set out for the v

f the weight which holds it to the earth. There is a clog upon all his thoughts, an ever-present sense of restriction and impotence. But when he is lifted above the soil, with the air under his foot-soles, swiftly moving without effort, his mind, a poising

se to their completed chambers—constituted, far more than he suspected, an element of his disturbance. This was the strong pinion on which his mind and soul hung balanced, above the close atmosphere which he seemed to ride away from, as he rode. The great joy of human life filled and thrilled him; all possibilit

touching hope and desire and conjecture when they reached a certain line, and saying, "No; no farther: it is prohibited." But now, with one strong, involuntary throb, he found himself beyond the li

boundless world, my home, my play-ground, my battle-field, my kingdom to be conquered! And this body they tell me to despise,—this perishing house of clay, which is so intimately myself that its comfort and delight cheer me to the inmost soul: it is a dwelling fit for an angel to inhabit! Shall not its hungering senses all be fed? Wh

es? Why is so little of spiritual struggle and experience ever imparted? The convert publicly admits his sinful experience, and tries to explain the entrance of grace into his regenerated nature; the reformed drunkard seems to take a positive delight in making his former condition degraded and loathsome; but the opening of the individual life to the knowledge of power and passion and all the possibilities of the world is kept more secret than sin. Love is hidden as if it were a reproach; friendship watched, lest it express its warmth too

ntly awaited his coming, remarked the abstraction of his face, and attributed it to a very different cause. She was thereby wonderfully strengthened to make her communic

added: "Aunt, do you know that I have never really felt until now that I am the owner of this property? It will be more o

and Rachel Miller, in her hear

ype="