316 THE DRAPERY OF VINES 



some funds I sent him, an' that I reckoned to move 

 back to the farm to live, at least o' winters, and 

 fix it up a bit, if I could see my way clear, and get 

 things straightened out right. 



"She seemed mighty pleased and interested and 

 come in and set down a spell. She said, 'It '& 

 real cozy here. I don't wonder you like it better 

 than a big, lonely house.' 



'Yes,' sez I, ' after she died most indoor 

 places seemed too big and lonesome. That 's why 

 I 've kept mostly outside. Seems somehow to me 

 that the meetin' -house was the loneliest place o' 

 all. I 'm reconciled to Scripter if 't ain't pressed 

 too fer to prove out meanin's that was n't thought 

 on when 't was writ; but goin' by that, I don't 

 ever suppose we was meant ter set in meetin '- 

 houses, anyhow. When I 've tried ter do it sense 

 she died, I 've jest felt cooped up in sin, and not 

 right safe again until I 'm down the river hill. 

 Folks go so far as ter say Natur' 's a heathen god, 

 instead o' bein' one o' His hands to work out 

 things, as I see it.' 



"Said she, lookin' round kind o' skeered o' her 

 own voice, *I often feel that also, and the dear 

 Lord himself surely loved and lived out-of-doors, 

 and taught on mountains, by the sea, and under 



