70 WITH EARTH AND SKY 
He was abashed. I did not wonder that he 
should be. I meant he should be. I had, so to 
speak, thrown a bombshell into his camp. He 
needed money. What preacher was there ever 
anywhere who did not? He, in a quavering 
voice, quavering with intense emotion, said, 
“Can I see you about this matter before it goes 
further?” 
“No,” I shouted, “it has already gone further.” 
This caused him to scratch his head. He lin- 
gered at the ’phone. I cried, “Ring off!’ but he 
implored, “Ring not off; give me a moment to 
think.” I said, “You cannot do that in a moment. 
It takes you a long time to think. Ring off.” 
Then I read him the poem and stated in icy tones 
that I could be oblivious in a measure to all 
save the last stanza or verse, I cared not which 
he called it, but those audacious words, “1 
radish.” I could not excuse that sentiment. It 
was unpardonable; would he hang up the re- 
ceiver? Our relations which had always been so 
pleasant and on which I doted were now non 
est. I used that word as a settler. He took it 
so. And kept on talking. Now, this same 
minister by some means not known to me had 
acquired an apple orchard. He grew apples on 
his bushes he said. He asked if apples would 
in any measure medicine my lacerated feelings? 
I replied that I could not reply. Not knowing, 
I could not say. He spoke feelingly to the effect 
that he would try. That, of course, was not my 
