divine communion feel,
Moses' meekness, Joshua's zeal,
Run like the unwearied Paul,
Win the day and conquer all.

"'Mary's love may I possess,
Lydia's tender-heartedness,
Peter's fervent spirit feel,
James's faith by works reveal,
Like young Timothy may I
Every sinful passion fly.'

"'Oh Diademy,' she 'd say, 'you was always the best, and it 's nothing
more 'n right the baby should have come to you. P'r'aps God will think
I'm good enough some time; and if he does, Diademy, I'll offer up a
sacrifice every morning and every evening. But I'm afraid,' says she,
'he thinks I can't stand any more happiness, and be a faithful follower
of the cross. The Bible says we 've got to wade through fiery floods
before we can enter the kingdom. I don't hardly know how Reuben and I
are going to find any way to wade through; we're both so happy, they 'd
have to be consid'able hot before we took notice,' says she, with the
dimples all breaking out in her cheeks.

"And that was true as gospel. She thought everything Reuben done was
just right, and he thought everything she done was just right. There
wa'n't nobody else; the world was all Reuben 'n' all Lovey to them.
If you could have seen her when she was looking for him to come from
Skowhegan! She used to watch at the attic window; and when she seen him
at the foot of the hill she 'd up like a squirrel, and run down the road
without stopping for anything but to throw a shawl over her head. And
Reuben would ketch her up as if she was a child, and scold her for not
putting a hat on, and take her under his coat coming up the hill. They
was a sight for the neighbors, I must confess, but it wa'n't one you
could hardly disapprove of, neither. Aunt Hitty said it was tempting
Providence and couldn't last, and God would visit his wrath on 'em for
making idols of sinful human flesh.

"She was right one way,--it didn't last; but nobody can tell me God was
punishing of 'em for being too happy. I guess he 'ain't got no objection
to folks being happy here below, if they don't forget it ain't the whole
story.

"Well, I must mark in a bud on Lovey's stalk now, and I'm going to make
it of her baby's long white cloak. I earned the money for it myself,
making coats, and put four yards of the finest cashmere into it; for
three years after little Jot was born I went over to Skowhegan to help
Lovey through her time o' trial. Time o' trial! I thought I w