ful as a strain of
music upon a broken heart:

"'Thou canst not know--not yet--some day; for "now we see through a
glass darkly, but then face to face."'"

And when the story was told Nannie was weeping, for all at once she
knew where she stood--all at once looked backward and saw what she had
done; looked forward and saw what was to come.

But betwixt herself and Constance there was a high stone wall, called
Misunderstanding, and Constance did not scale this wall, and so lost
one of the sweetest pleasures known to mortals--helping a fellow-being
out of the dark into the light.

And Nannie hungered and went home unfed.

IX

It is a well-known fact that many a poor wretch has gone up to the
very gate of Paradise, only to bound back again, as if either he
himself or that bar to bliss were made of India rubber. Nothing could
be more tantalizing or discouraging to the spirit, unless, indeed, it
were the experience of many a despairing and hoping convalescent who
is bandied about by the hand of fate with a shuttlecock movement
betwixt sickness and health.

Many of us feel good for an hour at a time, several hours
occasionally, but to be good overnight--to waken in the morning with
one's resolutions and aspirations as crisp and fresh as they were the
evening before--is proof positive of regeneration.

Once in a while it occurs to the rebellious that things might have
been made a trifle easier. For instance, if only one had to walk
miles to meet the tempter, or if only he had the decency and dignity
to demand that we meet him half way, instead of coming all the way
himself and invading the privacy of our very homes. If only he would
wear his horns and tail all the time, that we might know him on sight
and realize what we are about when we go under, instead of slinking in
clothed as an angel of light. Not that the Andersonvilles, as Nannie
called the mother and son Anderson, looked like angels of light. On
the contrary, they were as ugly as the evil one, but they were without
horns or tails, and so not easily recognizable as that particular and
very reprehensible person. And Nannie was lured by them to let loose
her spirit of mischief.

We have mentioned neighbors once or twice before. Now, the biblical
definition of neighbor covers a wide field, and all experience will
bear me out in an assertion, that apart from numbers the word stands
for all sizes, shapes, and varieties