The Seeker

Table of

Truth and the

ummer from those tha

t just beyond the second fence (or whichever fence); that point where the mortal of invertebrate soul is beset with the feeling that he has already dared too far-that he had better make for home mighty quick if he doesn't want Something to get him. The essence of this decision is quite the same whether the mortal be eight years old or eighty. Now the Tree of Truth stands just over this line at which all but the gods' own turn to scampe

ore than himself. Then he reads the first lesson of the tree of Truth, which is that the spirit of Life ages yet is ageless; and suffers yet is joyous. This is no inconsiderable reward for passing that frontier, even

he could say it clear over to "Every sin deserveth God's wrath and curse both in this life and that which is to come." Each night he tried earnestly to learn two new answers; and glad was he when his grandfather would sit by him, for the old man had now become his image of God, and it seemed fitting to recite to him. Often as they sat together the little boy would absently slip his hand int

ly conscious. So real was it to him, so dependable, that he never suspected that a certain little blow with t

t he had been actually on the point of behaving as one gentleman may not behave to another. Quick was he to make the encounter accord with the child's happy view, even picking him up and forcing from himself the gaiety to rally him upon his babyish tenderness to rough play. Not less did he hold it true that "The rod and reproof give wisdom, but a child left to

school. There would be no more of that wretched fooling until fall, a point of time inconceivably far away. Before it arrived any one of a number of strange things might happen to avert the calamity of education. For instance, he might be born again, a thing of which he had lately heard talk; a contingency by no means flawless in prospect, since it p

boy the second time. She was only too eager for the day when she need not submit to having her hair brushed and combed so long every morning of her life.

e to "wild animals," practised scales on the piano an hour every day, wore a sun-hat frequently-spite of which she was freckled- wore shoes and stockings on the hottest days, when one's feet are so hungry for the cool, springy turf, and performed other acts repugnant to a soul that has brought itself erect. But she was fresh and dainty to look at, like an o

coming out of the dark cellar, sometimes peering around corners. It was a thing that went on enormous crutches, yet could always catch you if it saw you by daylight out of its right eye, its left being serviceable only at night, when, if you were wise, you

running home across the lawn when it was surely coming;-a loveliness he felt more poignantly at certain reflective times when he wa

eve that only he could pro

ing a Gratcher-eye can see around any corner when a Gratcher happens to be coming-yet only then, not at any other time, as Allan had proved by experiment on the first disclosure of this phenomenon. He of the Gratcher-eye could positively not see around a corner, if, for example, Allan himself was there; the Gratcher-eye could not tell if his hat was on his head or off. But this by no means proved th

le boy's protestations that he could save her,

u are the most admirable," she would say to him at such times; a

No longer was he moved to wish for early di

ike to die,'

pa could

ys he isn

has so m

by reminding him that his own dear father would soon come to be with him one week, as he had p

onderous gold watch-chain and a watch of the finest silver, all proclaimed him a being of such flawless elegance both in person and attire that the little boy never grew tired of showing him to the village people and to Clytie. He did not stay at the big house, for some reason,

ing some of his fine songs, so that his grandfather could have a chance to hear some good music. He knew well enough that if the old man once heard this music he

e she sa

ed, 'Let

went a littl

haps he would come right down stairs. But his father laughed away the suggestion, saying that the

his refection her very choicest cake and the last tumbler of crab-apple jelly. She began to suspect that a man of manners so engaging must have good

s to Milo Barrus, when they met him on the street, saying, "Here, Bar

been born again, or something. Or if it meant that his father also spelled God

selling Chief White Cloud's Great Indian Remedy," the little boy heard him tell Cly

prince, giving pennies and nickels to everybody and being so handsome and big and grand. She wished her own Uncle Doctor could