Page:The leopard's spots - a romance of the white man's burden-1865-1900 (IA leopardsspotsrom00dixo).pdf/155

 good things to eat, and never failed us the year round, I just feel like it'll tear my heart out."

"Do you mind the day we set out these trees, Annie, an' you, my own purty gal holdin' 'em fur me while I packed the dirt around 'em, and told you how sweet you wuz?"

"Yes, and I love every twig of 'em. They've all helped me in times of need. Oh! Lord, it's hard to give it up!" She couldn't keep back the tears.

"Well, now, ole woman, you mustn't break down. You're strong and well and I'm all shot to pieces and crippled and no 'count. But the Lord still lives. We'll get this place back. The Lord's just trying our faith. He thinks mebbe I'll give up."

"You think we can ever get it back?"

"General Worth sent me word he couldn't do anything now, but to let it go and keep a stiff upper lip. The General ain't no fool."

"Surely the Lord can't let us starve."

"Starve! I reckon not! The foxes have holes, the birds of the air nests, but the Son of Man had not where to lay His head, but He never starved. No, God's in Heaven. I'll trust Him."

A mocking bird whose mate had just built her nest to rear a second brood for the season was seated on the topmost branch of a cedar near the house, and singing as though he would fill heaven and earth with the glory of his love.

"Just listen at that bird, Tom!" whispered his wife.

"He does sing sweet, don't he?"

"Oh dear, oh dear, how can I give it all up! I've fed that bird and his mate for years. He knows my voice. I can call him down out of that tree. Many a night when you were away in the war he sat close to my window and sang softly to me all night. When I'd wake, I'd hear