, I
should have left friend Hicks's house with lithesome spirit and much
happiness. However, I thought, my being away for six months might cause
her to miss me; and we never miss what is not of great account to us.

"May I write letters to thee, Barbara?" I asked.

"Thee must gain father's consent," she said.

So I asked friend Hicks--only I asked it in this way: "May Barbara write
letters to me?"

"_I_ will write thee all that is necessary, as thee will write me: what
more is needful?" answered friend Hicks.

So, as I went away, and it was Seventh Day, and the world seemed expecting
the morrow, when the world's peace should be personified in public praise
and a cessation from labor and earthly thought, I stood in the shadow and
took friend Hicks's hand.

"I trust thee may be successful," said he.

"I think any man may be successful in this world's affairs," I said.

"There is such a thing as suffering and pain which the Lord sends."

"Nay, friend Hicks," I said, "I am lately thinking that peradventure the
Lord sends not pain to our earthly bodies, or else that pain would be a
trial and a punishment; whereas I may look around and see dumb animals and
little singing birds die of suffering and pain; and surely the Lord
inflicts no punishment on things he cannot be displeased with. Suffering
and pain are the worms of the earth, the penalties of earthly life, which
has more of the world in it than heaven."

"I trust thee will not be arbitrary in time, friend Biddle," said he,
almost displeased.

But Barbara placed her hand in mine. "Samuel Biddle," said she, "may a
man's suffering and pain be a _woman_ sometimes?"

"Belike," I answered, and could say no more.

"Then I say I trust thee shall be free from grievousness all thy life if I
can keep thee so."

"Thee can," I said.

"I will," she said.

"Farewell, Barbara."

"Fare thee well, friend Biddle."

I almost stumbled over a man as I hurried out by the gate. "I beg thy
pardon, friend," I said.

"I beg yours, sir," he answered. I looked, and saw that he was a hireling
minister with a white cloth at his neck and an unhappily-cut coat. And he
raised his hand to his hat and said, "I am but new in this neighborhood: I
am the pastor of the church newly erected here."

"Peace be unto thee, man of the Lord!" I said.

"And to you, my friend!" he answered.

And I had but time to reach the station and take my place in the car that
whirled me away from where