And she said in her own sweet way that she knew I was telling the truth, for I talked just as her own sweet mother did. And she bent down with one of her pretty foreign ways and kissed my hand. Dear little thing, I didn’t spoze my talk had done her much good, but then I considered it couldn’t do her any hurt ’tennyrate. And so I left the event to the overruling Power, just as we poor weak mortals have to.
CHAPTER XIII
Well, a day or two after that Josiah and I wuz takin’ a walk, meetin’ occasionally Turks all dressed Turkey fashion, and Japans, and Yankees and men and wimmen and children, when who should we meet face to face but Cousin John Richard, that blessed man. As I said, we had writ and writ and tried to find him, but didn’t know but we should have to hunt round considerable, but wuz bound to not leave the islands till we’d seen him. But lo and behold! here he wuz, lookin’ just as good and heavenly minded as ever. He wuz santerin’ along apparently lost in deep thought or nearly lost.
But when he see us he grasped our hands with a welcome that made us know that no matter to what a extent a man’s soul may live in the heavens, his heart is tied with deathless ties to the relations on his own side and to their pardners if they be congenial.
We stopped stun still and talked quite a spell about different things, our health, the relations and so forth.
Anon I sez, “Cousin John Richard, you look wan and pale, but it is a blessed work you are doin’.”
He had opened a midnight mission, helpin’ the weak and tempted and overcome of both sects, preachin’ the love of Christ and follerin’ his teachin’ up by good works.
He told us all about it as we santered on and said he wuz not weary or discouraged. And I could see that though his linement looked pale and worn a deathless light shone in his deep kind eyes and I knew he wuz endurin’ as seein’ Him who wuz invisible.