THORNTON 53 



In the cool of the late afternoon we wander 

 back to the town and linger under the honey- 

 locusts until train time. 



As we return we count up the gain and the loss 

 of the day. We have gained: an escape from a 

 dusty west wind, a fine balmy night's sleep, a 

 store of bodily health, a panorama of sweet pic- 

 tures, a book of loving memories, and best of all, 

 the sympathy and confidence and affection of 

 our own big boy and big little girl. 



We have lost nothing. There is a sordid 

 morning paper unread; there is only the simplest 

 dinner of eggs and fruit; there is thick gray dust 

 on our furniture; there will be an extra busy day 

 tomorrow. But our losses are of the moment, 

 temporal; our gains are for all our life, perhaps 

 eternal. 



