“Yes, that seems to be the prevailing color in the wild-flowers of this region.”
“That reminds me of something. A few months ago a little girl said to me, ‘Mrs. Blank, don't you think red is God's favorite color?’ ‘Why, dear, I don't think I ever thought about it,’ I answered, quite surprised. ‘Well, I think he likes red better than any color.’ ‘Why I don't know, but when we look around and see the grass and the trees and the vines growing everywhere, it seems to me that green might be his favorite color. But what makes you think it is red?’ ‘Because he put blood into everybody in the world.’ Quite staggered by this reasoning and making an effort to keep from smiling, I said, ‘But we can't see that. If red is his favorite color why should he put it where it can't be seen?’ The child looked at me in amazement. ‘God can see it. He can see clear through anybody.’ The little reasoner had vanquished me and I fled the field.”
A little way ahead lay a large snake stretched out across the road.
“The boy that put it there couldn't help it,” said the doctor, “it's born in him. When I was a lad every snake I killed was promptly brought to the road and stretched across it to scare the passers-by.”
“And yet I don't suppose it ever did scare anyone.”
“Occasionally a girl or woman uttered a shriek and I felt repaid. I remember one big girl walking along barefooted; before she knew it she had set her foot on the cold, slimy thing. The way she yelled and made the dust fly filled my soul with a frenzy of delight. I rolled over and over in the weeds by the roadside and yelled too.”
A sudden turn in the road brought the doctor and his wife face to face with a young man and his sweetheart. Mary knew at a glance they were sweethearts. They were emerging into the highway from a grassy woods-road which led down to a little church. The young man was leading two saddled horses.
“Why do you suppose they walk instead of riding?” asked the doctor.
“Hush! they'll hear you. Isn't she pretty?”
The young man assisted his companion to her seat in the saddle. She started off in one direction, while he sprang on his horse and galloped away in the other. “Here! you rascal,” the doctor called, as he passed, “why didn't you go all the way with her?”