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Roger Malvin's Burial
Twomonthsofautumnwerethusoccupied,afterwhichReubenBourneandhisyounghunterreturnedtospendtheirlastwinterinthesettlements.
ItwasearlyinthemonthofMaythatthelittlefamilysnappedasunderwhatevertendrilsofaffectionshadclungtoinanimateobjects,andbadefarewelltothefewwho,intheblightoffortune,calledthemselvestheirfriends.Thesadnessofthepartingmomenthad,toeachofthepilgrims,itspeculiaralleviations.Reuben,amoodyman,andmisanthropicbecauseunhappy,strodeonwardwithhisusualsternbrowanddowncasteye,feelingfewregretsanddisdainingtoacknowledgeany.Dorcas,whilesheweptabundantlyoverthebrokentiesbywhichhersimpleandaffectionatenaturehadbounditselftoeverything,feltthattheinhabitantsofherinmostheartmovedonwithher,andthatallelsewouldbesuppliedwherevershemightgo.Andtheboydashedonetear-dropfromhiseye,andthoughtoftheadventurouspleasuresoftheuntroddenforest.
Oh,who,intheenthusiasmofadaydream,hasnotwishedthathewereawandererinaworldofsummerwilderness,withonefairandgentlebeinghanginglightlyonhisarm?Inyouthhisfreeandexultingstepwouldknownobarrierbuttherollingoceanorthesnow-toppedmountains;calmermanhoodwouldchooseahomewhereNaturehadstrewnadoublewealthinthevaleofsometransparentstream;andwhenhoaryage,afterlong,longyearsofthatpurelife,stoleonandfoundhimthere,itwouldfindhimthefatherofarace,thepatriarchofapeople,thefounderofamightynationyettobe.
