“The inspiration came to me, that Sunday she told me she was sorry for not listening, to begin all over again—to look at life from a fresh standpoint, from the standpoint of youth, ardent, hungry, sensation-loving youth—”
“Sensation—”
“Not in its usual acceptation; truth cannot but give you a sensation; I knew it would not hurt the old people and the middle-aged to begin again; to enter the Kingdom of Heaven as a little child, and I have attempted to teach the children in the Kingdom of Heaven; to talk simply about the grand old truths; to keep that girl before me as I thought out my sermons—a thoughtful girl who has had some experience in life, and when a thought or the expression of it was over her head, I struck it out.”
“Now I know your secret. ‘Simplicity and strength’ are your characteristics, David Prince, our literary blacksmith, who wrote Bensalem up for the Dunellen News, was pleased to say. Shall you keep this up?”
“Until I find a better way,” he said, contentedly.
“Everybody listens.”
“Even Miss Rody,” he said, smiling at the memory of Miss Rody’s face.
“And all the other old folks. Old folks and children. What about the young men and maidens?”
“Aren’t ‘simplicity and strength’ good enough for them?” he inquired, seriously.
“It’s good enough for me.”