THE FIRST HATCH 143 
pletes his cycle in an uncertain period and falls 
upon bad times. For a month before we parted 
company I saw signs of relapse in Sam. He 
was loquacious at times, at other times morose. 
He talked about going into business for himself, 
and his nose took on new color. I labored 
with him, but to no purpose; the spirit of un- 
rest was upon him, and it had to work its own. 
I held him firm long enough to secure another 
man, and then we parted, he to do business for 
himself, I to get on as best I could. Sam 
painted his nose and raised chickens and other 
things until his savings had flown; then he got 
a position with a woman who runs a broiler 
plant, and for two years he has given good 
service. He will probably continue in ways of 
well-doing until the next cycle is complete, when 
the beacon light will blaze afresh and he will 
follow it on to the rocks. Such a man is more 
to be pitied than condemned, for his anchor is 
sure to drag at times. 
