Fred S. Lincoln

“ Here he paused, his face lighting with the animation of a new thought. "And why can't someone?" he asked himself hopefully. Then the hope slowly died away to doubt as he smiled irresolutely, though he quickened his steps for all that. The audacity and risk of asking aid where he had most naturally thought to do appalled him when he grasped the full import of what success or failure would mean. ”

“ Nellie watched their antics, her eyes dancing with excitement. She moved uneasily in Virgie's arms, then looked into her face appealingly, though out of consideration said no word.
"You want to go, too, don't you? Well, then, kiss me? There! Now be careful you don't get hurt!" She lifted her down, caressed her curls with a last pat and let her run to Landy.
Kent came over to the fence, and leaning both arms, midway between the elbows and wrists, upon it, looked seriously after the fleeing curls and apron-strings.
"That is a happy time of life," he said. ”

“ His own room, hallowed by boyish deeds in youthful advancements, when life, to his arrogance, seemed as simple as an open page, even though it be filled by fresh surprises—a paradox of young manhood—was again before him waiting for his occupancy. ”

“ Virgie saw them through the kitchen side-door, and, taking down her sun-bonnet from its nail, cut across the corner of the field, making toward them slowly as she edged along close to the fence. Kent lifted Nellie to the upper rail, where Virgie enclosed her in her loving arms, and, throwing back her own bonnet, she buried her face beneath that of the little girl. Nellie's brother stood throwing clods at the team that stood in calm, dozing attitudes, their heads hung low and their eyelids half-closed. Landy climbed the fence quickly, chasing the boy only a few feet ”

“ Not far ahead of him four barefoot boys and one little girl leapt or ran as they played along the way, their superfluous energy working itself out with misapplied efforts toward homeward progress. Kent smiled over their antics, slowly but surely overtaking them. As he came up John Kinney gave to his sister Nellie the bucket that had contained their noonday meal, and almost as quickly little Charlie Schuffler gallantly relieved her of it. ”

“ Virgie took them hesitatingly, finally opening that of his father, and read. Afterwards she read his mother's words, and tears sprang to her eyes. Kent was looking far away, toward Landy, down in the remotest corner of the field.
"How perfectly beautiful!" she said sadly, as she read aloud the signature on the last letter, "Your Mother." "Mother!" she repeated. "How you must love her!" They stood in silence for some moments; then she asked: "Is she little?"
"Yes," Kent laughed despite himself. "But, why?" ”