Left to himself, John glanced around him.
An old-fashioned piano stood in one corner of the room. He noted also an ample, well filled book-case at one end of the room.
"Music, books, and Prairie Queen. If this is a typical example of country life, I must say that I rather like it."
Mr. and Mrs. Long greeted him heartily and gave him a cordial invitation to stay to dinner—an invitation which he gratefully accepted.
And what a dinner it was; vegetables fresh gathered from the garden in abundance; fried chicken prepared as only a farmer's wife can prepare it; and the countless other good things which go to make dinner on the farm. To this dinner John brought an appetite sharpened by his brisk morning ride; he did full justice to the tempting viands, nor could he remember so thoroughly enjoying a dinner before.
Everything on the farm was so clean and well arranged that John began to wish he could board there instead of in town during the remainder of his visit; so when they had adjourned to the sitting-room, he informed Mr. Long of his wish, and asked if it were possible.
"But before you answer me," he added, "I should like to make myself better known to you."
Then he told them of his father and mother, of his own youth, and of his college life. A natural question on the part of Mr. Long as to what brought him so far West led to an explanation from John, who presently found himself telling his new-found friends his future plans and ambitions.
"My boy," said Mr. Long, reaching out his hand, "I honor you for your choice. You are welcome to share our home as long as you care to stay."
Mrs. Long wiped her eyes as she pressed John to stay with them, for she thought of her own son whom God had called home.