A JOURNEY TO NATURE 



I dare say.&quot; But when we were seated in the 

 vehicle the frankness and geniality of the fellow 

 interested me. &quot; I have heard of you,&quot; he said. 

 &quot;You have a fine boy.&quot; 



&quot; Why, yes,&quot; I replied. &quot; He and I are study 

 ing the country and taking a vacation. You are 

 one of the few interesting curiosities I have met 

 here.&quot; 



&quot; Why curiosity ? &quot; 



&quot;You exhibit a human quality that does not 

 appear to grow wild.&quot; 



He laughed. &quot; You must not take these folk 

 too seriously,&quot; he said. &quot; Their hardness is all 

 on the surface. Under the crust they have warm 

 hearts and are very stanch.&quot; 



&quot; But you do not belong to the order appar 

 ently.&quot; 



&quot; Oh, yes, I do. I was born here, and some 

 times I feel afraid that I have outgrown my 

 place.&quot; 



&quot; Young man,&quot; said the Doctor, &quot; I hope you 

 will not consider it impertinent if I ask you what 

 your place is.&quot; 



&quot;Not at all. My place appears to be to earn 

 ten dollars a week and support an old and crip 

 pled mother. Does that interest you ? It doesn t 

 look very brilliant to you, I suppose, but I m not 

 kicking. My chance will come along one of these 

 days, perhaps.&quot; 



&quot;It wouldn t be such a good turn of luck if 

 your civility to us cost you your job,&quot; I said. 



&quot; Oh, no danger of that. The old man would 

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