The Project Gutenberg EBook of Almost A Man, by Mary Wood-Allen

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Title: Almost A Man

Author: Mary Wood-Allen

Release Date: June 6, 2009 [EBook #29056]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

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ALMOST A MAN.

BY
MARY WOOD-ALLEN, M. D.

Author of TEACHING TRUTH, CHILD-CONFIDENCE REWARDED, THE
MAN WONDERFUL IN THE HOUSE BEAUTIFUL, etc.

"What is man that thou art mindful of him?"
DAVID.

"Every true man is a cause, a country and an age."
EMERSON.

"God on thee
Abundantly his gifts hath also poured;
Inward and outward both his image fair."
MILTON.

PUBLISHED BY
WOOD-ALLEN PUBLISHING CO.
ANN ARBOR, MICH.

COPYRIGHTED BY
MARY WOOD-ALLEN, M. D.
1895.

CONTENTS.

PAGE
Prelude iii
Almost a Man 5
A Gateway and a Gift 22
The White Cross 40

PRELUDE.

Two lads had crossed the sunny meadow-land of childhood and stood by the
gate, at the entrance to the rougher paths of youth leading up to the
grander heights of maturity. They glanced backward, but not with regret,
for their eyes shone with eagerness to climb the upward way. As they
waited, an angel came bearing a gift for each, which he gave them,
saying: "I have brought you a wondrous gift, not for yourselves but for
others. Listen."

And they bent their heads and listened. And one said: "I hear most
entrancing music. It thrills my very being. It is for me, for me."

But the angel said: "Listen again. Shut your ears to those bewild