o value to
anybody but himself. When he is older, he will be sorry he is not a
child again."

At this point, Elijah being shod and ready, he ceased his reflections
and went call for Aaron at the post-office. As the rode home together,
the old schoolmaster, sunk in reverie, remained silent. But Aaron
wanted to talk, now that he had some one to talk to.

"We'll get around to the wood to-morrow, and lay in another cord or
two."

"As you like."

"They're saying down to the store that feed will be higher than ever
this winter. I suppose we'd better lay in a store. I can't sell a few
barrels of potatoes, though I did want to save them."

Mr. Jeminy roused himself with an effort. "I had the horse shod all
around," he said.

Aaron nodded. "I guess it's just as well," he replied. "Did you ask
about fixing the harrow?"

"It will take a week," said Mr. Jeminy. "I said to go ahead, figuring
that we had the whole winter before us."

"We could do with a new harrow," said Aaron, "only there's no way to
pay for it."

Mr. Jeminy shook the reins over Elijah's back. "I have a little
money," he began, "laid away . . ."

"You're very kind," said Aaron, "but I don't figure to take advantage
of it. Still, living's hard; so much trouble. Take me; here I am
bound down to a farm's got as many rocks in it as anything else. I've
been as far south as Attleboro, but I've never had a view of the world,
like you've had. I'll die as I've lived, without anything to be
grateful for, so far as I can see."

"You've had more to be grateful for than I ever had," said Mr. Jeminy
simply, "and I'm not complaining."

"Go along," said Aaron; "you're speaking out of kindness. But it
doesn't fool me any. I know you've led a wandering life, Mr. Jeminy.
But I'd admire to see a little something of the world myself."

Above them the smoke from Aaron's chimney, thin and blue, rose bending
like an Indian pipe in the still air. And Mr. Jeminy gazed at it in
silence, before replying:

"You have had the good things of life, Aaron Bade."

"Have I?" said Aaron bitterly. "I'm sure I didn't know it. What are
the good things of life, Mr. Jeminy?"

"Love," said Mr. Jeminy, "peace, quiet of the heart, the work of one's
hands. Perhaps it is human to wish for more. But to be human is not
always to be wise. Do you desire to see the world, Aaron Bade? Soon
you would ask to be home again."

"Well, I don't know about that," said Aaron.

"