The Road to Providence

with the singer girl's hand in hers. "He are a-setting on his bench under the tree right by her window, like he always did to listen for her, and every child in the Road is a-h

lie down by him, one on each side and Bud acrost the foot. He wanted 'em to stay and the men let 'em do it. Judy says she were up by daylight and gone down the Road to see about his breakfast and things. And now she are just a-standin

just made for Mrs. Bostick," said Miss

clouds boil up over the Ridge and on the other hand we ain't scarcely ever had rain on a wedding or church soshul day. I like to feel that maybe the good Lord looks special after us of His children living out in the open fields and we have got His word

ave never come from Bolivar yet. Do you reckon his horse have throwed him or is it just he don't care

little snack laid out for him 'count of his having to make such a early start to get here. He w

night, 'cause I didn't want to disturb you, and to my surprise they ain't a mite of pa

u ain't a-suffering none. We must all take good care of each other's pains from now on, 'cause we a

," answered Mrs. Peavey in all truth. "Miss Elinory, did you gargle your thr

ad performed that nauseous operation actuated by positive fear of M

ratified neighbor. "There's the bell an

eighbors walked quietly down the Road, along the dim aisle and took their places in the old pews with a fitting solemnity on their serious faces. The young Circuit Rider spoke

children clung around his thin old legs, to his hands, and reached to grasp at a corner of his coat. Eliza laid her head against his shoulder and Henny and 'Lias crowded close on the other side, while Bud held t

the first lines of the hymn and he expected her to raise the tune for the others to follow. But when a woman's heart is very young and tender, and attuned to that of another which is throbbing emotionally close by, her own feelings are apt to rise in a tidal wave of tears, regardless of consequences; and as Buck Peavey choked off a sob, Pattie turned and buried h

ick?" wailed Eliza, as her head went down

er Harpeth Hills, for the great singer lady stepped toward the Deacon a little way, paused, looked across at the o

y, holy, h

recovered and her muted voice freed. And on through the verses to the very end she sang it, while the little group of field people held their breath in awe and amazement. Then, while they all stood

own bed and drew the singer girl up in her strong arms. "Daughter," she said, with her cheek pressed to the flushed one against her shoulder, "what the Lord hath given and taketh away we bless Him for and none the less what

s Wingate, with the burr all gone

nkled up into a dimpled smile. "Don't say nothing where the mocking-birds will hear you, please, 'cause they'll begin to hatch out a dumb race from plumb discouragement. Come

rs. Peavey was ascending the steps all out of breath, her decorous hat awry, and her eyes snapping with excitement. "Course I don't think this c

he singer lady in the clear voice that still h

ark for sore throat for thirty years and it was me that remembered it. But it were a pity you done it at the grave; th

it are a mean kind of sorrow that can't open its arms to hold jo

enveloped and involved with little Hoover in an embrace that threatened to be disastrous to all concerned. Judy Pike was close behind and, making a grab on her own part, stood holding the end of the

nd Judy also in the demonstration, "I feel like it would take two to hold me down! You sure sing with as much style as you dress! And to think such a thi

for her. Just look at Mr. Hoover and Ez Pike a-grinning acrost the street at her and here do c

got any sense, girl, but he are the greatest doctor anywhere from Harpeth Hills to Californy or Alasky. He have got good remedies for

top testimony for Tom Mayberry," exclaim

and caused the Squire to peer at her with uneasiness as if expecting an outburst of exhortation on the next breath

t about it. A snack dinner were give the men and such always calls for the putting on of the big pot and the little kettle for supper. Miss El

u, one and all, for your feeling with me and my daughter Elinory. The rejoicing of friends are a soft wind to folks' spirit wings and we're all flying high this night. Get the children bedded down earl

omen dispersed to their own roof trees. The sorrow that had come they had endured for the night and now they were ready to rise up and meet joy for t

em at the gate!" And up Providence Road came the old Deacon and Eliza hand in hand, with Martin Luther trailing wearily behind them. When she saw Miss Wingate at the gate, Eliza, for t

oned away too. Can't you stay a little while, till we can

all implorer as closely as possible and held out one hand to the Deacon as he came up beside t

en to you this day. And I take this mercy as a special dispensation to me and to her, as it came when you were performing one of His offices for us. No sweeter stra

acon," said the singer girl in her sweet lo

down the walk and stood leaning against the gate near them. "A song can tote comfort from heart to heart

and Mr. Petway are a-going to buy a piano for Aunt Prissy when they get married and sometimes you can sing by it if Doctor Tom can't save up enough to get you one. But I want De

ary to mount between them, "where do you suppose-HE is?" For some minutes back the singer lady had been growing pale at the realization

," answered Mother Mayberry as she sank down on t

e lower step and clasped her white hands against her

it goes blind. Tom Mayberry is a good man and I borned, nursed and raised him, but I won't answer for him about no co'ting conniptions. A man lover are a shy bird and they can't

emanded Miss Wingate in a voice

es outen it humbler than a bad most times. Tom have wrapped you around with some sorter pink cloud of sentiments, tagged you with all them bokays the world have give you for singing so grand, turned all them ligh

ngate as a light flashed into her eyes an

A wife oughtn't to stand on no pedestal for a man, but she have got no call to make squaw tracks behind him neither. Go on and find him! A woman hav

house, "life are all alike from Harpeth Hills to Galilee. A woman can shape up her dough any fancy way she wants and it's likely to come outen t

ngate found the young Doctor sitting in the deep window and looking out at Providence Nob, which the last rays of the

against the other side of the casement. The pain in his gray ey

his heart "I have been writing to Doctor Stein and there are the Press bulletins, subject to your approval," He pointed to some letters on the table which she never deigned to notice. She had drawn hersel

ry glad I am for you," he said gently a

th her eyes fixed on his face, but her lips

he note of pain would sound clearly in his

and the droop of the broad shoulders were too much for the

y mean to me what it means to your happiness-if-do you, could you possibly think it would make any difference to me? Do you suppose for all the wide world I would throw away wh

the singer lady's head, as he laid his cheek against the dark braids. "Your

ur-remedies? Your Mother says songs can comfort where words fail; let me go with you! Your father brought her and her herb basket to Providence, won't you take me and my songs out into the world with you? Don't send me b

nd how long he would have held her, there is no way to know, because the strain had been too great on Mother Mayberr

nd madder as I put Martin Luther to bed and though I ain't never had to whip him yet, I'd just about made up my mind to ask him out in the

e turned his head away and

at the door and make yourself useful to her the rest of your life? Are you a-going to follow her p

rest her cheek against Mother Mayberry's arm. She also blushed, but her eyes danced

st, "yes, I'm ready to go with her. Will y

here. But I'm mighty glad to see you take your dose of humble pie so nice, Tom, and I reckon I'll have to tell you how h

t see how I can let her make the sacrif

work like no jewelry harness nor yet no sacrificial garment, but she loves to clothe herself in it like it were a soft-colored, homespun dress to cover the pillow of her breast and the cradle of her arms to hold the tired folks against. Take her to India's coral strand if you must, for i