JEj 
KT& 
* A C HI L D F N A T UR E 
His had been a golden youth, and 
now that it was passing from him, 
; Ralph Parkman was becoming 
' aware of the peril of his position. 
He had given a draft for an unlim- 
ited sum on the future ; could he 
meet it when the day of payment 
came? Everything solicited him, 
but no voice had spoken to his 
spirit ; he could turn his hand to §£ 
H 
many things, but no art had laid 
its deep compulsion on him; he 
had passed through many Melds of 
knowledge, and his inward life had 
grown rich by acquisition, but 
there was no building power in his 
soul, no divine necessity striving in 
his heart for place and tool and 
speech. Many things spoke through 
[ JO" ] 
