Pippin; A Wandering Flame

y with bent head, thinking hard; but as the morning got into his blo

If I was him-green grass! wouldn't it have been great if I was! I tell you I'd make things hum to that nice place. I'd make them two forget I wasn't their own son, and twins at that. And them old ladies! Why, all they need is a little humorin'. Real friendly they was to me! And Mr. Brand! He is a peach, sure thing! I expect he could do more for me, blind, than I could for him, seein'. But I'd be-call it a nevy-to him, if I

faded from his face; he stiffened to attention like a pointer, his eyes f

gure came out, timidly, eagerly, ran forward, fell down before him,

ll ten were paralyzed, looking helplessly into the blue eyes that burned into his; then one of them w

, and, holding them firml

y just to say good-by? Now, if that wasn't pretty of you! I'm just as much obliged as I can be, youn

nd, but he spoke with authority. "Get your nice clean dress all dirty! What would Mis' Bailey say? Why, s

e girl. "I want you! I won't

You wouldn't leave Mr. and Mis' B

lung herself down, had not those firm hands held her fast

n full of perplexity,

ora May. We'll walk along and I'll sing as we go. No, I won't let go both your han

back, her ey

n't go back. I'm a big girl, and they treat me like I was a k

song, don't you see? Green grass! see those pretty yaller flowers! They're along,

ng on about the flowers, he stooped to pluck them,

d. "Here's a good clear stretch of r

oice out to its full power. He felt it fly like a b

n read my

ons in t

'll sense it in a minute,

arewell to

my weep

't we? You sing, too, that's a d

essed, deadly fear at his heart, he sat unseeing, silent, save when he urged the clumsy beast to still further effort.

He wasn't that kind

hrough the trees, down the wood road, a voice came flying like a

arewell to

my weep

ob Bailey. "Lord, have mercy

ame in sight, Pippin first, chin in air, mouth open, singing as a bird sings, with every fibre of his being

like a wild

ms of so

safely rea

y heaven,

. "Why-why, Miss Flora May, he's cryin'! Mr. Bailey, you sick, sir? Mi

s a clos

ad blanched under the tan, and his breath came quick and short. Pippin had been frightened,

he couldn't catch me up. What would he ha' thought? Poor innocent gal! Gee! The Lord stood by me go

new person, breakin' in, like that, when she was used to havin' things quiet and all of a piece, so to say. He sighed, and replaced the file. Best leave it, after all, to them dandy folks; they was used to hand

that, not to say crazy, but a little wantin'. Old White Patter! They would, sure! Kind of an old charm; couldn't call it a prayer, but

his mind from some limbo of things forgotten; word by word, he said it over aloud, stan

ster, St. Pet

'ou i' the

book l

'ou i' the

n-gat

gate and ste

ternoste

ags in the corner, shrinks and shudders, he knows not why. The old woman rises; there is a cuff, a curse, a maudlin whimper; she makes her way to the corner

altering lips can say it after her. "That'll keep 'ee safe!" says Granny

in. "Green grass! But yet I expect the Lor

head-not a little square patch, but all you wanted, all there was-clear, deep, stainless, from rim to rim of the horizon. That would be enough just itself, wouldn't it, after thre

oinage. Grass, too-gorry! 'twas in There ("There" was Shoreham) he got the habit of saying "Green grass!" It did him good just to think of it, and it filled the mouth full as good as swearin', for all he cou

merald carpet. All he wanted of that, too! Were ever

ainst the black tree trunks. He stepped aside and parted the branches. A little ferny hollow, with a t

ess. "Gee!" he murmured, as he let the branches droop again over the enchanted place. "And that's right here, by the side of the road, a reg'lar flower show,

d steppin' the Lord's way again, what was to hender his steppin' right into his, Pippin's, shoes and bein' handy man to Mr. Baxter? Green grass! Pippin had planned lays before now, but he never planned a prettier one than what this would be if it worked out good-and it would! And then it was the city, and to find that little gal. He had never meant to go back to the city, chaplain had told him not to; but if he knew how things was, he would say go, he sure would, Elder Hadley would. Yes, sir! And when he found her-well