The times., 1897-03-28
80, you go too far-indeed, you do
Why should | doubt your word?"

80, you go too far-indeed, you do
Why should | doubt your word"'
1T don't fit in with things you know"
Try me-
1.-The grandson of Abdallah told me, :"
replied Aaron, simply
The Teacher looked from Aaron TO Lltuc
Crotchett You must be Joking he re-
marked.
ION, no, he isn't" protested Little
Crotcbett. Il know he can talk with the
animals He has promised to teach me,
but always forget it when i go to the
swamp. There are so many other things
to think about"
Would YOU teach me?" Mr., Hudspeth
asked His face was solemn, and yet
there was doubt in the tone of his voice
Aaron shook his head Too old" lie
explained TOO old, and know too much :
cts another case of having child S
faith" suggested the Teacher.
Most. but not quite answered Aaron
''It is like this: The why must be very
big. or you must be touched
The Teacher pondered over this reply
for some moments. and then said: There
must be some real reason why l should de
sire TO learn the language Of animals. is
that ft?''
Most, but not quite" Aaron responded.
You must have the sure-enough feeling
II see. Bot what is it to be touched?
What does that meau?"
You must be touched by the people who
live next door TO the world" p"
The Teacher shook his head slowly, and
stroked his beard thoughtfully. He tried
to treat the whole matter with due solenl-
nifty. so as to keep his footing, aud he sue
ceeded.
where is this country that is next door
to the world?' he asked, turning to Little
Crotchett.
Under the spring." the lad replied,
promptly.
Have YOU ever visited that country?''
the Teacher asked. His tone was serious
enough now.
No replied Little Crotchett, with a
wistful sigh. I'm crippled, you know,
and walk only on my crutches. II is far
to go, and I can't take my pony But Aaron
has told me about it. ald have seen Little
Mr. ThmbIefinger er-once and he told me
about Mrs Meadows and the rest and
brought me a message from old MI Rabbit.
They all live in the country next door TO
the world"
Fer several minutes the Teacher sat and
gayed into the pale flame of the candle.
The wax or tallow had run down on one
si,le and formed a figure in the semblance
of a wee man hanging to the brass mouth
of the candlestick with both hands. Gaz
ing thus. queer thoughts came to the Teach
er's mind He tugged at his beard to see
n n fNOllld
it be that by some noiseless shifting of
the scenery he was even now In the country
next door to the world? He rose suddenly,
shook hands with Aaron, and, swaycd by
some sudden impulse, stopped and pressed
his lips TO the pale brow of the patient lad.
Then he went to his room, threw open the
window. and sat for an hour, wondering
what influence his strange experiences
would have on his life.
And his reflections were not anllSs. for
wears afterward his experiences of this
night were responsible for his intimacy
with the greatest American of our time =
Abraham Lincoln. 1t was in the early part
of the war that Mr.. Hudspeth. one OF
group of Congressman in consultation with
the President, let fall some chance remarks
about the country next door to the world.
Mr. Lincoln had been telling humorous
story, and was on the point of telling
another, when Mr.. Hudspeth's chance re-
mark struck his ear.
whereabouts is that country he asked.
mot far from Georgia. replied Mr..
Tudspcth.
"Who lives here?"
Little Crotchett Aaron, the Arab, Lit
tie Mr.. Tbimblefinger, Mrs. Meadows, and