Thelittleflagsandalltheorchardandbirdswerebehindme；ononehandwasthebroad，grassymeadowwiththecreekrunningsoswiftly，Icouldhearit，andthebreathofthecowslipscameupthehill。Straightinfrontwasthelanerunningdownfromthebarn，crossingthecreekandspreadingintothewoodspasture，wherethewaterranwiderandyetswifter，bigforesttreesgrew，andbushesofberries，pawpaws，willow，everythingeverfoundinanIndianathicket；grassunderfoot，andmanywildflowersandfernswhereverthecattleandhorsesdidn’ttramplethem，andbigger，wilderbirds，manyhavingnamesIdidn’tknow。Ontheleft，acrossthelane，wasalargecornfield，withtreeshereandthere，anddownthevalleyIcouldseetheBigCreekcomingfromthewest，theBigHillwiththechurchontop，andalwaysthewhitegravestonesaroundit。Alwaystootherewastheskyoverhead，oftenwithcloudsbankeduntilyoufeltifyouonlycouldreachthem，youcouldclimbstraighttothegatesthatfatherwassofondofsingingaboutsweepingthrough。Mostlytherewasabighawkoraturkeybuzzardhangingamongthem，justtoshowusthatwewerenotsomuch，andthatwecouldn’tshootthem，unlesstheychosetocomedownandgiveusachance。
IsetBobbyandHezekiahonthefenceandstoodbetweenthem。
“Wewillopenservicethismorningbysingingthethirty-fifthhymn，“Isaid。“SisterDover，willyoupitchthetune？“
ThenImademyvoicehighandsqueallylikehersandsang：
“ComeyethatlovetheLord，Andletyourjoysbeknown，Joininasongofsweetaccord，Andthussurroundthethrone。“
Isangallofitandthensaid：“BrotherHastings，willyouleadusinprayer？“
ThenIkneltdown，andprayedBrotherHastings’prayer。Icouldhaverepeatedanyoneofadozenoftheprayersthemenofourchurchprayed，butIlikedBrotherHastings’best，becauseithadthebiggestwordsinit。Ilovedwordsthatfilledyourmouth，andsoundedasifyouwereusedtobooks。Itbegansortofsing-
songyandmeasuredinstops，likeapoetrypiece：
“OurHeavenlyFather：WecomebeforeTheethismorning，Humblewormsofthedust，imploringthyblessing。
WebeseechTheetoforgiveourtransgressions，Healourbacksliding，andloveusfreely。“
Sometimesfromthereonitchangedalittle，butitalwaysbeganandendedexactlythesameway。FathersaidBrotherHastingswaspowerfulinprayer，buthedidwishhe’dleaveoutthe“wormsofthedust。“Hesaidwewerenot“wormsofthedust“；wewerereasoning，progressive，inventivemenandwomen。Hesaidawormwouldneverbeanythingexceptaworm，butwecouldstudyandimproveourselves，helpothers，makegreatmachines，paintpictures，writebooks，andgotoanextentthatmustalmostamazetheAlmightyHimself。HesaidthatifBrotherHastingshaddonemoreplowinginhistime，andhadalittlecloseracquaintancewithworms，hewouldn’tbesoreadytocallhimselfandeveryoneelseaworm。Nowifyouaretalkingaboutcutwormsorfishworms，fatherisright。Butthereisthatplacewhere——“Charleshisheelhadraised，uponthehumblewormtotread，“andthewormliftedupitsvoiceandspakethustoCharles：
“IknowI’mnowamongthethingsUncomelytoyoursight，But，byandby，onsplendidwings，You’llseemehighandbright。“
NowI’llbetacentTHATisthekindofwormBrotherHastingssaidwewere。Imustspeaktofatheraboutit。Idon’twanthimtobemistaken；andIreallythinkheisaboutworms。Ofcourseheknowsthekindthathavewingsandfly。BrotherHastingsmixedhimupbysaying“wormsofthedust“whenheshouldhavesaidwormsoftheleaves。Thosethatgointolittleroundcasesinearthorspincocoonsontreesalwaysliveonleaves，andmanyofthemrearthehead，havinglargehorns，andwaveitinamannerfarfromhumble。SofatherandBrotherHastingswerebothpartlyright，andpartlywrong。
Whentheprayercametoaclose，whereeveryonealwayssaid“Amen，“IpunchedBobbyandwhispered，“Crow，Bobby，crow！“andhestoodupandbroughtitoutstrong，likehealwaysdidwhenI
toldhim。Ihadtostoptheservicetofeedhimalittlewheat，topayhimforcrowing；butasnoonewasthereexceptus，thatdidn’tmatter。ThenHezekiahcrowdedoverforsome，soIhadtopretendIwasMrs。Danielsfeedingherchildrencarawaycake，likeshealwaysdidinmeeting。IfIhadbeenthemotherofchildrenwhocouldn’thavegonewithoutthingstoeatinchurchI’dhavekeptthemathome。Mrs。Danielsalwayshadthecarpetgreasywithcakecrumbswherevershesat，andmotherdidn’tthinktheLordlikedadirtychurchanymorethanwewouldhavewantedamussyhouse。WhenIhadBobbyandHezekiahsettledItookmytextfrommyhead，becauseIdidn’tknowthemeetingfeelingwascomingonmewhenIstarted，andIhadbroughtnoBiblealong。
“Blessedareallmen，butmostblessedaretheywhoholdtheirtempers。“IhadtostrokeBobbyalittleandpatHezekiahonceinawhile，tokeepthemfromflyingdownandfighting，butmostlyIcouldgivemyattentiontomysermon。
“Wehaveonlytolookaroundusthismorningtoseethatallmenareblessed，“Isaid。“Theskyisbigenoughtocovereveryone。
Ifthesungetstoohot，therearetreesforshadeorthecloudscomeupforawhile。Iftheearthbecomestoodry，italwaysrainsbeforeitiseverlastinglytoolate。Therearebirdsenoughtosingforeveryone，butterfliesenoughtogoaround，andsomanyflowerswecan’talwayskeepthecattleandhorsesfromtrampingdownandevendevouringbeautifulones，likeDanielthoughtthelionswoulddevourhim——buttheydidn’t。Wouldn’titbeagoodidea，OLord，forYoutoshutthecows’mouthsandsavethecowslipsalso；theymaynotbeworthasmuchasaman，buttheyarelotsbetterlooking，andtheymakefinegreens。Itdoesn’tseemrightforcowstoeatflowers；butmaybeitisasrightforthemasitisforus。Thebestwaywouldbeforourcattletodolikethatpieceaboutthecowinthemeadowexactlythesameasours：
“`Andthroughitranalittlebrook，Whereoftthecowswoulddrink，Andthenliedownamongtheflowers，Thatgrewuponthebrink。’
“Younotice，OLord，thecowsdidnoteattheflowersinthisinstance；theymerelyrestedamongthem，andgoodnessknows，that’senoughforanycow。Theyhadbetterdonelikethenextverse，whereitsays：
“`Theyliketoliebeneaththetrees，Allshadedbytheboughs，Whene’erthenoontideheatcameon：
Sure，theywerehappycows！’
“Now，OLord，thisplainlyteachesthatifcowsarehappy，menshouldbemuchmoreso，forlikethecows，theyhaveallThoucanstdoforthem，andalltheycandoforthemselves，besides。
Soeverymanisblessed，becauseThybountyhasprovidedallthesethingsforhim，withoutmoneyandwithoutprice。Ifsomemenarenotsoblessedasothers，itistheirownfault，andnotYours。Youmadetheearth，andallthatistherein，andYoumadethemen。OfcourseYouhadtomakemendifferent，soeachwomancantellwhichonebelongstoher；butIbelieveitwouldhavebeenagoodideawhileYouwereatit，ifYouwouldhavemadeallofthemenoughalikethattheywouldallwork。Perhapsitisn’tpoliteofmetoaskmoreofYouthanYousawfittodo；andthen，again，itmaybethattherearesomethingsimpossible，eventoYou。Ifthereisanythingatall，seemsasifmakingIsaacThomasworkwouldbeit。Fathersaysthatmanwouldratherstarveandseehiswifeandchildrenhungrythantotakeoffhiscoat，rolluphissleeves，andplowcorn；soitwasgoodenoughforhimwhenLeonsaid，`Gototheant，thousluggard，’rightathim。So，ofcourse，Isaacisnotsoblessedassomemen，becausehewon’twork，andthusheneverknowswhetherhe’sgoingtohaveabigdinneronSunday，untilaftersomeoneaskshim，becausehelookssoempty。Motherthinksitisn’tfairtofeedIsaacandsendhimhomewithhisstomachfull，whileMandyandthebabiesaresickandhungry。ButIsaacissomeblessed，becausehehasreligionandgetsrealhappy，andsings，andshouts，andhe’sgoingtoHeavenwhenhedies。Hemustwishhe’dgosoon，especiallyinwinter。
“Therearemenwhodonothaveeventhisblessing，andtomakethingsworse，OLord，theygetmadasfireandhittheirhorses，andlooklikeallpossessed。ThewordsofmytextthismorningapplyespeciallytoamanwhohasalltheblessingsThouhastshoweredandflowereduponmenwhowork，orwhosepeopleworkedandleftthemsomuchmoneytheydon’tneedto，andyetasadderfaceIneversaw，oracrosserone。Helookslikehewasgoingtohitpeople，andhedoeshithishorseanawfulcrack。
It’snowaytohitahorse，notevenifitbalks，becauseitcan’thitback，andit’sacowardlythingtodo。Ifyourubtheirearsandtalktothem，theycomequicker，OourHeavenlyFather，andifyouhitthemjustbecauseyouaremad，it’sabiggersinyet。
“Nomanisnearlysoblessedashemightbewhogoesaroundlookingkilledwithgriefwhenheshouldcheerup，nomatterwhatailshim；andwhoshutsuphisdoorandsayshiswifeissickwhensheisn’t，andwhoscowlsateveryone，whenhecanberealpleasantifhelikes，assomeinDivinePresencecantestify。SowearegoingtobeseechThee，OLord，tolayThymightyhanduponthemanwhogotmadthisbeautifulmorningandmakehimfeelThymight，untilhewillknowforhimselfandnotanother，thatYouarenotamyth。Teachhimtohaveapleasantcountenance，anopendoor，andtoholdhistemper。Helphimtocomeovertoourhouseandbefriendlywithallhisneighbours，andgetalltheblessingsYouhaveprovidedforeveryone；butpleasedon’tmakehimhaveanymoretroublethanhehasnow，forifYoudo，You’llsurelykillhim。Havepatiencewithhim，andhavemercyonhim，OLord！Letuspray。“
ThattimeIprayedmyself。IlookedintotheskyjustasstraightandasfarasIcouldsee，andifIhadanyinfluenceatall，Iuseditthen。Rightoutloud，IjustbeggedtheLordtogetafterMr。Pryorandmakehimbehavelikeotherpeople，andletthePrincesscometoourhouse，andforhimtocometoo；
becauseIlikedhimheapswhenhewaslionhunting，andIwantedtogowithhimagaintheworstway。Ihadseenhimsailrightoverthefencesonhisbigblackhorse，andwhenhediditinEngland，wearingaredcoat，andthedogsflewoverthickaroundhim，itmusthavelookedgrand，butitwasmightyhardonthefox。Idohopeitgotaway。Anyway，IprayedashardasI
could，andeverytimeIsaidthestrongestthingIknew，I
punchedBobbytocrow，andhenevercameoutstronger。ThenI
wasSisterDoverandstarted：“Ohcomeletusgatheratthefountain，thefountainthatnevergoesdry。“
JustasIwasgoingtopronouncethebenedictionlikefather，I
heardsomething，soIlookedaround，andtherewentheandDr。
Fenner。Theyweregoingtowardthehouse，andyet，theyhadn’tpassedme。Iwasnotscared，becauseIknewnoonewassick。
Dr。Fenneralwaysstoppedwhenhepassed，ifhehadaminute，andifhehadn’t，mothersentsomeonetothegatewithbuttermilkandslicesofbreadandbutter，andjellyaninchthick。Whenamealwasalmostcookedsheheapedsomeonaplateandheateashedroveandlefttheplatenexttimehepassed。Oftenhewassodeadtired，hewasasleepinhisbuggy，andhisoldgrayhorsealwaysstoppedatourgate。
Iendedwith“Amen，“becauseIwantedtoknowiftheyhadbeenlistening；soIclimbedthefence，randownthelanebehindthebushes，andhidaminute。Sureenoughtheyhad！IsupposeIhadbeensoinearnestIhadn’theardasound，butit’sawonderHezekiahhadn’ttoldme。Hewasalwaysseeingsomethingtomakedangersignalsabout。Heneverletmerunonasnake，orahawkgetoneofthechickens，orPaddyRyancometooclose。Ionlywantedtoknowiftheyhadgoneandlistened，andthenIintendedtorunstraightbacktoBobbyandHezekiah；buttheystoppedunderthegreeningappletree，andwhattheysaidwassointerestingIwaitedlongerthanIshould，becauseit’sabouttheworstthingyoucandotolistenwhenolderpeopledon’tknow。
Theyweretalkingaboutme。
“Ican’taccountforher，“saidfather。
“Ican！“saidDr。Fenner。“SheistheonlychildIeverhavehadinmypracticewhomanagedtoreachearthasallchildrenshould。
Duringtheimpressionablestage，nooneexpectedher，sotherewasnotimespentinworrying，fretting，anddiscontent。Idon’tmeanthatthesethingswerecustomarywithRuth。Nowomaneveracceptedmotherhoodinamorebeautifulspirit；butifshewouldhaveprotestedatanytime，itwouldhavebeenthen。Instead，shelivedhappily，naturally，andenjoyedherselfassheneverhadbefore。Shewasinthefields，thewoods，andthegardenconstantly，whichaccountsforthischild’soutdoortendencies。
Thenyoumustrememberthatbothofyouwereattopnotchintellectually，andphysically，fullymatured。Shehadthebenefitofripenedminds，andatatimewheneveryfacultyrecentlyhadbeenstirredbytheexcitementandsufferingofthewar。Oh，youcanaccountforhereasilyenough，butIdon’tknowwhatonearthyouaregoingtodowithher。You’llhavetogocareful，Paul。Iwarnyoushewillnotbeliketheothers。“
“Werealizethat。Mothersaysshedoubtsifshecaneverteachhertosewandbecomeahousewife。“
“Sheisn’tcutoutforaseamstressorahousewife，Paul。TellRuthnottotrytoforcethosethingsonher。Turnherlooseoutofdoors；givehergoodbooks，andleaveheralone。Youwon’tbedisappointedinthewomanwhoevolves。“
RightthereIrealizedwhatIwasdoing，andIturnedandranforthepulpitwithallmymight。Icouldalwaysrepeatthings，butIcouldn’tseemuchsensetothefirstpartofthat；thelastwasasplainasthenoseonyourface。Dr。Fennersaidtheymustn’tforcemetosew，anddohousework；andmotherdidn’tmindtheAlmightyanybetterthanshedidthedoctor。TherewasnothinginthisworldIdislikedsomuchasbeingkeptindoors，andmadetohemcapandapronstringssoparticularlythatIhadtocountthenumberofthreadsbetweeneverystitch，andineachstitch，sothatIgotallofthemjustexactlyeven。Ilikedcarpetragsalittlebetter，becauseIdidn’thavetobesoparticularaboutstitches，andIalwayspickedoutallthebright，prettycolours。
Mothersaidshecouldfollowmyworkalloverthefloorbythebrightspots。PerhapsifIwerenottobekeptinthehouseI
wouldn’thavetosewanymore。ThatmademesohappyIwonderedifIcouldn’tstretchoutmyarmsandwavethemandfly。IsatonthepulpitwishingIhadfeathers。Itmademeprettybluetohavetostayonthegroundallthetime，whenIwantedtobesailingupamongthecloudswiththeturkeybuzzards。ItcalledtomymindthatplaceinMcGuffey’sFifthwhereitsays：
“Sweetbird，thybowerisevergreen，Thyskyiseverclear；
Thouhastnosorrowinthysong，Nowinterinthyyear。“
Ofcourse，Ineverheardaturkeybuzzardsing。Laddiesaidtheycouldn’t；butthatdidn’tproveit。Hesaidhalfthemembersofourchurchcouldn’tsing，buttheyDID；andwhenallofthemweregoingatthetopsoftheirvoices，itwasjustgrand。Somaybetheturkeybuzzardcouldsingifitwantedto；seemedasifitshould，ifIsaacThomascould；andanyway，itwasthenextverseIwasthinkingmostabout：
“Oh，couldIfly，I’dflywiththee！
We’dmakewithjoyfulwing，Ourannualvisito’ertheglobe，Companionsofthespring。“