Біла пташка
David and I Set Forth Upon a Journey
Isitthenalittlethingtobefalsetotheagreementyousignedwhenyougottheboy?Therearemotherswhoavoidtheirchildreninthathour,butthiswillnotsavethem.Whyisitthatsomanywomenareafraidtobeleftalonewiththeirthoughtsbetweensixandseven?Iamnotaskingthisofyou,Mary.IbelievethatwhenyoucloseDavid’sdoorsoftlythereisagladnessinyoureyes,andtheaweofonewhoknowsthattheGodtowhomlittleboyssaytheirprayershasafaceveryliketheirmother’s.
ImaymentionherethatDavidisastoutbelieverinprayer,andhashadhisfirstfightwithanotheryoungChristianwhochallengedhimtothejumpandprayedforvictory,whichDavidthoughtwastakinganunfairadvantage.
“SoMaryistwenty-six!Isay,David,sheisgettingon.TellherthatIamcomingintokissherwhensheisfifty-two.”
Hetoldher,andIunderstandthatshepretendedtobeindignant.WhenIpassherinthestreetnowshepouts.Clearlypreparingforourmeeting.Shehasalsosaid,Ilearn,thatIshallnotthinksomuchofherwhensheisfifty-two,meaningthatshewillnotbesoprettythen.Solittledoesthesexknowofbeauty.Surelyaspiritedoldladymaybetheprettiestsightintheworld.Formypart,Iconfessthatitisthey,andnottheyoungones,whohaveeverbeenmyundoing.JustasIwasabouttofallinloveIsuddenlyfoundthatIpreferredthemother.Indeed,Icannotseealikelyyoungcreaturewithoutimpatientlyconsideringherchancesfor,say,fifty-two.Oh,youmysteriousgirls,whenyouarefifty-twoweshallfindyouout;youmustcomeintotheopenthen.
