Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1918-02-22

How can l know whether it's trash or
not, unless read It? L"
Ministers daughters are supposed
to keep their fingers clear of the burn
ing ends of Matches" said Carol neat
ly. "We can't handle them without
getting scorched, or blackened, at least.
Prudence says So"
prudence" said Connie gravely, '.is
a dear sweet thing, but she's awfully
old-fashioned, Carol; you know that"
Carol and Lark were speeches..
They would as soon have dreamed of
questioning the catechism as Pru-
dence's perfection.
"She's narrow. She's a darling, Of
course, but she isn't up-to-date. want
to know what folks are talking about.
I don't believe this poem. I'm a Chris
tian. But / want to know what other
folks think about me and what 1 be-
lieve. That's all. Prudence is fine,
but l know good deal more about
some things than Prudence will know
NhSI SllG . u tHOuSullu ytul Otu.
The twins still sat silent.
"Of course, some folks wouldn't ap-
prove Of parsonage girls reading things
like this. But l approve Of it. want
to know why I disagree with this
poetry, and can't until 1 know where
we disagree. It's beautiful, Carol,
really. It's kind of sad. 1t makes me
want to cry. It's"
"Tve big notion to tell papa on
you" said Carol soberly and sadly.
Connie rose at once.
I'm going to tell papa myself"
Carol moved uneasily in her chair.
"Oh, let it go this time. II just men
toned it to relieve my feelings. /
won't tell yet. I'll talk it over with
you again. I'll have to think it over
first"
81 think I'd rather tell him." insisted
Connie.
! Carol looked worried, but she knew
Connie would do as she said. SO she
got up nervously and went with her
| She would have to see it through now,
of course. Connie walked silently up
the stairs, with Carol following meek
ly behind and raped at her fathers
door. Then she entered, and Carol, in
a hushed sort of way, closed the door
behind them.
I'm reading this, father. Any objec-
! tions?" Connie faced him calmly, and
handed him the little book.
He examined it gravely, his brows
contracting, a sudden wrlnkling at the
corners of his lips that might have
meant laughter or disapproval, or any
thing
II thought a parsonage girl should
not read It," Carol said bravely. "Tve
never read 1t myself, but I've heard
about 1t, and parsonage girls ought to
read parsonage things. Prudence says
so. But"
"But I want to know what other
folks think about what believe" said
Connie. $50 I'm reading It,"
what do you think of it?" he asked
quietly, and he looked very strangely
at his baby daughter. 1t was a crisis,
and he must be very careful.
II think 1t is beautiful" Connie said
softly, and her lips dropped a little,
and wistful pathos crept into her
voice. ut seems so sad. l keep wish
ing I could cry about it Part of it
don't understand very we'll"
He held out hand to Connie, and
she put her own in it confidently. Carol,
too, came and stood close behind him.
"Yes," he said, "it Is beautiful, Con-
nile, and it is very terrible. We can't
understand it fully because we can't
feel what he felt. He looked thought
fully at the girls. "He was marvel
Gus man, that Khayyam-years ahead
of his people, and his time. He was
big enough to see the idiocy Of the
heather ideas Of God, he was beyond
| them, he Spurned them. But he was
not quite big enough to reach out,
alone, and get hold Of our kind of a
God. 1t is a wonderful poem. 1t
shows the weakness, the helplessness
of gifted man who has nothing to
cling to. I think 1t will do you good
to read II, Connie. Read 1t again and
again, and thank God, my child, that
though you are only girl, you have
the very thing This man. this genius,
was craving. We admire his talent,
but we pity his weakness. You will
feel sorry for him. You read 1t, too,
Carol. You'll like it. We can't under
stand it, as l say, because we are so
sure of our God that we can't feel
what he felt, having nothing. OF
course it makes you want to cry, Con-
ME. 1t is the saddest poem in. the
world"
(TO BE CONTINUED)