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A Forest Walk
"Ifthouhadstasorrowofthineown,thebrookmighttelltheeofit,"answeredhermother,"evenasitistellingmeofmine.Butnow,Pearl,Ihearafootstepalongthepath,andthenoiseofoneputtingasidethebranches.Iwouldhavetheebetakethyselftoplay,andleavemetospeakwithhimthatcomesyonder."
"IsittheBlackMan?"askedPearl.
"Wiltthougoandplay,child?"repeatedhermother,"Butdonotstrayfarintothewood.Andtakeheedthatthoucomeatmyfirstcall."
"Yes,mother,"answeredPearl,"ButifitbetheBlackMan,wiltthounotletmestayamoment,andlookathim,withhisbigbookunderhisarm?"
"Go,sillychild!"saidhermotherimpatiently."ItisnoBlackMan!Thoucanstseehimnow,throughthetrees.Itistheminister!"
"Andsoitis!"saidthechild."And,mother,hehashishandoverhisheart!Isitbecause,whentheministerwrotehisnameinthebook,theBlackMansethismarkinthatplace?Butwhydoeshenotwearitoutsidehisbosom,asthoudost,mother?"
"Gonow,child,andthoushaltteasemeasthouwiltanothertime,"criedHesterPrynne."Butdonotstrayfar.Keepwherethoucansthearthebabbleofthebrook."
Thechildwentsingingaway,followingupthecurrentofthebrook,andstrivingtomingleamorelightsomecadencewithitsmelancholyvoice.
