" I cried.

"That I did!" she exulted, rocking on her toes the same as she does at
the Meeting House when she is going to cry, "Glory!" any minute. "That
I did! Ah! the brave little chap! Ah! the fine fellow!"

Her cheeks were the loveliest pink, and her eyes blazed. I scarcely
knew her.

"What will father say?"

"If his father isn't every particle as proud of him as I am this day,
I've a big disappointment coming," she answered. "If Mr. Pryor chose
to let him take that fine horse, and taught him how to ride it, father
should be glad."

"If he'd gone into the creek, you wouldn't feel so fine."

"Ah! but he didn't! He didn't! He stuck to the saddle and sailed over
in one grand, long sweep! It was fine! I hope--to my soul, I hope his
father saw it!"

"He did!" I said. "He did! He was about halfway down the lane. He
was where he could see fine."

"You didn't notice----?"

"I was watching if Leon went under. What if he had, mother?"

"They'd have taken him out, and brought him to me, and I'd have worked
with all the strength and skill God has given me, and if it were
possible to us, he would be saved, and if it were not, it would be a
proud moment for a woman to offer a boy like that to the God who gave
him. One would have nothing to be ashamed of!"

"Could you do it, like you are now, and not cry, mother?" I asked
wonderingly.

"Patience no!" said she. "Before long you will find out, child, that
the fountain head of tears and laughter lies in the same spot, deep in
a woman's heart. Men were made for big things! They must brave the
wild animals, the Indians, fight the battles, ride the races, till the
fields, build the homes. In the making of a new country men must have
the thing in their souls that carried Leon across the creek. If he had
checked that horse and gone to the ford, I would have fallen where I
stood!"

"Father crossed the ford!"

"True! But that's different. He never had a chance at a horse like
that! He never had time for fancy practice, and his nose would have
been between the pages of a book if he had. But remember this! Your
father's hand has never faltered, and his aim has never failed. All of
us are here, safe and comfortable, through him. It was your father who
led us across the wilderness, and fended from us the wildcat, wolf, and
Indian. He built this house, cleared this land, and gave to all of us
the thing we love. Get this in your head straight. Your