I had a "still-creation-day" in quiet country, and towards evening came through the woods to the store and house of Padan-Aram. And just on the border of Ohio an elf-like person skipped out of a large farm and conducted me across, a boy of about twenty years, who cried out to me shrilly as he caught me up:
"I say, you're still in Pennsylvania."
"Yes," said I.
"Yes, but that house over there is in Ohio. Say! Would you like some candy?"
"I thought you were fumbling in your pocket for tobacco," said I.
"No use for it," said the boy. "I've found God. I used to chew it, but I've stopped it."
"That is good. You've a strong will," said I.
"I reckon God can break any will," said the boy. "Once I ran away from home with five hundred dollars. You're walking? I can walk. I walked a hundred miles in five days and five nights. Feet were sore for a week. Five times I ran away. The sixth time I stayed away four years and worked on the steel works."
"Were your parents unkind?" I asked. "Or did you run away to see life?"