d had I not heard of many young men and women who had been engaged … aye； even married … at that age？ Well； as it happened； a day before she left us； to go to her work in Ogdensburg； where she was to live with her uncle； I made an end of delay。 I considered carefully what a man ought to say in the circumstances； and I thought I had near an accurate notion。 We were in the garden … together … the playground of our childhood。
'Hope； I have a secret to tell you；' I said。
'A secret；' she exclaimed eagerly。 'I love secrets。'
'A great secret；' I repeated； as I felt my face burning。
'Why … it must be something awful！'
'Not very；' I stammered。 Having missed my cue from the beginning； I was now utterly confused。
'William！' she exclaimed； 'what is the matter of you。'
'I … I am in love；' said I； very awkwardiy。
'Is that all？' she answered； a trace of humour in her tone。 'I thought it was bad news。'
I stooped to pick a rose and handed itto her。
'Well；' she remarked soberly； but smiling a little； as she lifted the rose to her lips； 'is it anyone I know。'
I felt it was going badly with me； but caught a sudden inspiration。
'You have never seen her；' I said。
If she had suspected the truth I had turned the tables on her； and now she was guessing。 A quick change came into her face； and； for a moment； it gave me confidence。
'Is she pretty？' she asked very seriously as she dropped the flower and looked down crushing it beneath her foot。
'She is very beautifial … it is you I love； Hope。'
A flood of colour came into her cheeks then； as she stood a moment looking down at the flower in silence。
'I shall keep your secret；' she said tenderly； and hesitating as she spoke； 'and when you are through college … and you are older … and I am older … and you love me as you do now … I hope … I shall love you； too … as … I do now。'
Her lips were trembling as she gave me that sweet assurance … dearer to me … far dearer than all else I remember of that golden time … and tears were coursing down her cheeks。 For myself I was in a worse plight of emotion。 I dare say she remembered also the look of my face in that moment。
'Do not speak of it again；' she said； as we walked away together on the shorn sod of the orchard meadow； now sown with apple blossoms； 'until we are older； and； if you never speak again； I shall know you … you do not love me any longer。'
The dinner horn sounded。 We turned and walked slowly back
'Do I look all right？' she asked； turing her face to me and smiling sweetly。
'All right；' I said。 'Nobody would know that anyone loved you … except for your beauty and that one tear track on your cheek。'
She wiped it away as she laughed。
'Mother knows anyway；' she said； 'and she has given me good advice。 Wait！' she added； stopping and turning to me。 'Your eyes are wet！'
I felt for my handkerchief。
'Take mine；' she said。
Elder Whitmarsh was at the house and they were all suring downto dinner as we came in。
'Hello！' said Uncle Eb。 'Here's a good…lookin' couple。 We've got a chicken pie an' a Baptis' minister fer dinner an' both good。 Take yer pew nex' t' the minister；' he added as he held the chair for me。
Then we all bowed our heads and I felt a hearty amen for the elder's words：
'O Lord； may all our doing and saying and eating and driniiing of this day be done； as in Thy sight； for our eternal happiness … and for Thy glory。 Amen。'
Chapter 2 I
We have our secrets； but； guard them as we may； it is not long before others have them also。 We do much taling without words。 I once knew a man who did his drinking secretly and his reeling in public； and thought he was fooling everybody。 That shows how much easier it is for one to fool himself than to fool another。 What is in a man's heart is on his face； and is shortly written all over him。 Therein is a mighty lesson。
Of all people I ever knew Elizabeth Brower had the surest eye for looking into one's soul； and I； myself； have some gift of penetration。 I knew shortly that Mrs Brower … wise and prudent woman that she was … had suspected my love for Hope and her love for me； and had told her what she ought to say if I spoke of it
The maturity of judgement in Hope's answer must have been the result of much thought and counsel； it seemed to me。
'If you do not speak again I shall know you do not love me any longer；' she had said。 They were brave words that stood for something very deep in the character of those people … a self…repression that was sublime； often； in their women。 As I said them to myself； those lonely summer days in Faraway； I saw in their sweet significance no hint of the bitterness they were to bring。 But God knows I have had my share of pleasure and no more bitterness than I deserved。
It was a lonely summer for me。 I had letters from Hope … ten of them … which I still keep and read； often with something of the old pleasure … girlish letters that told of her work and friends； and gave me some sweet counsel and much assurance between the lines。
I travelled in new roads that vacation time。 Politics and religion； as well as love； began to interest me。 Slavery was looming into the
proportion of a great issue； and the stories of cruelty and outrage on the plantations of the South stirred my young blood and made it ready for the letting of battle； in God's time。 The speeches in the Senate were read aloud in our sitting…room after supper … the day the Tnbune came … and all lent a tongue to their discussion。 Jed Feary was with us one evening； I remember； when our talk turned into long ways； the end of which I have never found to this day。 Elizabeth had been reading of a slave； who； according to the paper； had been whipped to death。
'If God knows 'at such things are bein' done； why don't he stop 'em？' David asked。
'Can't very well；' said Jed Feary。
'Can； if he's omnipotent；' said David。
'That's a bad word … a dangerous one；' said the old poet； dropping his dialect as he spoke。 'It makes God responsible for evil as well as good。 The word carries us beyond our depth。 It's too big for our boots。 I'd ruther think He can do what's doable an' know what's knowable。 In the beginning he gave laws to the world an' these laws are unchangeable； or they are not wise an' perfect。 If God were to change them He would thereby acknowledge their imperfection。 By this law men and races suffer as they struggle upward。 But if the law is unchangeable； can it be changed for a better cause even than the relief of a whipped slave？ In good time。 the law shall punish and relieve。 The groans of them that suffer shall hasten it； but there shall be no change in the law。 There can be no change in the law。'
'Leetle hard t' tell jest how powerfiil God is；' said Uncle Eb。 'Good deal like tryin' t' weigh Lake Champlain with a quart pail and a pair o' steelyards。'
'If God's laws are unchangeable； what is the use of praying？' I asked。
'He can give us the strength to bear； the will to obey him an' light to guide us；' said the poet。 'I've written out a few lines t' read t' Bill here 'fore he goes off t' college。 They have suanthin' t' say on this subject。 The poem hints at things he'd ought 'o learn purty soon … if he don't know 'em now。'
The old poet felt in his pockets as he spoke； and withdrew a folded sheet of straw…coloured wrapping paper and opened it。 I was 'Bill' …plain 'Bill' … to everybody in that country； where； as you increased your love of a man； you diminished his name。 I had been called Willie； William and Billy； and finally； when I threw the strong man of the township in a wrestling match they gave me this fail token of confidence。 I bent over the shoulder of Jed Feary for a view of the manuscript； closely written witha lead pencil； and marked with many erasures。
'Le's hear it；' said David Brower。
Then I moved the lamp to his elbow and he began reading：
'A talk with William Brower on the occasion of his going away to colkge and writ oat in rhyme for him by his friend Jedediah Feary to be a token of respect。
The man that loses faith in God； ye'll find out every time； Has found a faith in his own self that's mighty nigh sublime。 He knows as much as all the saints an' calls religion flighty； An' in his narrow world assumes the place o' God Almighty。
But don't expect too much o' God； it wouldn't be quite fair If fer everything ye wanted ye could only swap a prayer； I'd pray fer yours an' you fer mine an' Deacon Henry Hospur He wouldn't hev a thing t' do but lay a…bed an' prosper。
If all things come so easy； Bill； they'd hev but little worth； An' someone with a gift O' prayer 'ud mebbe own the earth。 It's the toil ye give t' git a thing … the sweat an' blood an； trouble We reckon by … an' every tear'll make its value double。
There's a money O' the soul； my boy； ye'll find in after years； Its pennies are the sweat drops an' its dollars are the tears； An' love is the redeemin' gold that measures what they're worth； An' ye'll git as much in Heaven as ye've given out on earth。
Fer the record o' yer doin' … I believe the soul is planned With an automatic register t； tell jest how ye stand； An' it won't take any cipherin' t' show that fearful day； If ye've multiplied yer talents well； er thrown 'em all away。
When yer feet are on the summit； an' the wide horizon clears； An' ye look back on yer pathway windin' thro' the vale o' tears； When ye see how much ye've trespassed an' how fur ye've gone astray； Ye'll know the way o' Providence ain't apt t' be your way。
God knows as much as can be known； but I don't think it's true He knows of all the dangers in the path o' me an' you。 If I shet my eyes an' hurl a stone that kills the King o' Siam； The chances are that God'll be as much surprised as I am。
If ye pray with faith believin'； why； ye'll certnly receive； But that God does what's impossible is more than I'll believe。 If it grieves Him when a sparrow falls； it's sure as anything； He'd hev turned the arrow if He could； that broke the sparrow's wing。
Ye can read old Nature's history thet's writ in rocks an' stones； Ye can see her throbbin' vitals an' her mighty rack o' hones。 But the soul o' her … the livin' God； a little child may know No lens er rule o' cipherin' can ever hope t' show。
There'