human
You failed in the test to-day; but, believe me, there are many in these mountains who, lacking all the advantages of training and education which are yours, meet it. Their lives are lived under nature's higher laws in perfect sincerity, and, although they might not conform to the standards of so-called civilization, they are surely purer in God's sight than those of millions who pattern theirs by printed precept.
gpt
I reckon, murmured Smiles,
human
said the minister.
gpt
And he paid the penalty for you, Dr. MacDonald, sacrificing himself because of his great love. Poor little Mike. Such faithful animals as he must have souls, and his is now in its own paradise.
human
Mere repentance, such as the doctor now feels, is not enough. You remember the parable of the woman who drove the evil spirit from her fleshly temple, and swept it clean, but failed to fill its place with another guest, and seven other devils came and repossessed it? So it is always with human life, Dr. MacDonald. Nature abhors a vacuum, and so does the spirit. If a man does not fill his soul--swept free of past evil by repentance--with that which is actively good, the repentance is of little avail.
gpt
Yes, yes, I can readily understand that, for it has a parallel in bodily illness, answered Donald, somewhat impatiently.
human
We all know that, when the sick physical being is freed of its disease, it is left weak and an easy prey for new troubles. We can bring back to it the strength to resist by giving nerve-and tissue-building food and tonics, but how is the spirit to be ...
gpt
How persistently the earth-man kicks against the pricks, cried Mr. Talmadge.
human
Child, your friend will not lift his eyes from the maze of doubt. You pledged yourself to help him. Help him now.
gpt
Oh, Doctor Mac, don't you see? The answer is so clear, so simple that even I know it. The dear God spirit is everywhere, just waiting for you to call it to your aid. Please pray to Him to give you new strength so that you may not be weak again, and I will pray, too.
human
Yes, supplemented the minister,
gpt
I need His help, I know; but ... but I guess I have forgotten how to pray for it.
human
Open your heart with sincerity, and He will enter and bestow the strength you need in order to take up your task anew, and carry on until your purpose here on earth has been accomplished. That is all that prayer need be, for He is ever more ready to give than we to receive. Verbal petitions are vain and empty things; honest communion with Him _is_ prayer.
gpt
I am deeply sorry for you in your distress, Dr. MacDonald, but although there is small comfort in the remark, I cannot help but feel that what has happened was ordained to complete your lesson, so that you may leave these hills with a new understanding and higher purpose in life. Good night, and God be with you all.
human
Doctor Mac, began Smiles timidly, at length.
gpt
I'm sorry for what I said to you this afternoon, and I want to take it back. I guess when you're angry you don't see things as they are, and I'm sure that you were only being very, very kind to me when you ... you bought those baskets. I love you for it, really I do, and if ... if you want me to keep the money, and it would hurt your feelings if I....
human
Of course I want you to keep it, dear. Yesterday you took me for a foster-brother, and I hope that you will always let me do for you as I would for a real flesh-and-blood sister.
gpt
I promise, and I will always do the same for you if I can, dear Don, she whispered softly, adding,
human
And I truly think you are--a spiritual mother, little woman. I need you much more than you need me, I guess.
gpt
Do you know, he went on, after a moment,
human
I am beginning to believe that I was wrong this afternoon when I said that ... that Judd lied about adding to the money he received for your baskets. Of course I have no way of making sure, unless you have kept accounts, but I actually begin to think that he did.
gpt
I _know_ it, she replied promptly; but with a troubled voice.
human
Judd has been very wicked, but he doesn't lie. I think that he meant it the way ... the way you did, too; but he's different and I mean to give it all back to him. There was another pause, and then Smiles said gently,
gpt
Donald, it makes my heart ache like, to tell you this, but I've got to now. I want that you should go away early to-morrow morning.
human
What? he burst out angrily, springing to his feet.
gpt
And have him believe that I ran away from him again? No, how can you ask it, Rose?
human
It isn't that. We know, and _he_ knows now, that you're not afraid of him. But this mountain is his home, and, if you stay here, there is sure to be more trouble, and I couldn't bear that, Don. Even if one of you wasn't ... wasn't hurt in the body, wicked thoughts would hurt your souls. I know it is so, and you _must_ go ... but, oh, how I am going to miss you.
gpt
Yes, you are right, Smiles. It _is_ up to me to go; but I know that some day these clouds are going to be lifted somehow, and we shall see each other again and be happy together.
human
I know it, too, she answered, with a sob catching her breath. As she spoke, the clouds, which had been covering the moon for some time, broke, letting the cool, white light flood the mountain side like a promise, and her face lit up with the old wondrous smile.
gpt
Of course we will, she cried.
human
Why, I mean to be your own special nurse some day, and help you always. Good-night, dear Don.
gpt
Rose war right erbout yo'r goin',--I reckon she air allus right, came Big Jerry's voice.
human
Yo' hev got ter go; but I'm ergoin' ter miss ye powerful, likewise, lad.
gpt
But I'll see you again, too, before long. I've got some of my sense back, and I mean to write Judd that I am engaged to a girl in the city--not that I want his friendship after what has happened, however--and I will be down here again, for a few days at least, when the atmosphere has cleared--perhaps early this winter.
human
Taint likely yo'll ever see me ergin on earth, son, Jerry said heavily.
gpt
Reckon I'm most done fer.
human
Your heart? Is it very bad?
gpt
I allows hit's nigh ter bustin', was the steady response.
human
But mebbe I'll last some while yet--I hopes so, fer leetle Smiles' sake. I haint blind ter what hes happened, an' I knows thet the time air comin' when she's es plumb sartain ter fly erway from this hyar mountain es a homein' dove; fer she hes heard the call uv her city blood, an' hit haint ter be denied. But I reckon she haint ready ter leave the old nest yet, so I aims ter stay on erwhile longer ... fer her, though hit haint goin' ter be in no wise easy fer ter do.