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One of the few birds I know that sings through the long midday is the vireo。 The vireo sings when otherwise the woods are still。 You do not see him； you cannot find him； but you know he is there。 And his singing is wild； and shy； and mystical。 Often it haunts you like the memory of some former happiness。 That day I heard the vireo singing。 。 。 。
I don't know how long I lay there under the tree in the meadow； but presently I heard； from no great distance； the sound of a church…bell。 It was ringing for the afternoon service which among the farmers of this part of the country often takes the place； in summer； of both morning and evening services。
〃I believe I'll go；〃 I said； thinking first of all； I confess； of the interesting people I might meet there。
But when I sat up and looked about me the desire faded； and rummaging in my bag I came across my tin whistle。 Immediately I began practising a tune called 〃Sweet Afton；〃 which I had learned when a boy； and； as I played； my mood changed swiftly； and I began to smile at myself as a tragically serious person； and to think of pat phrases with which to characterize the execrableness of my attempts upon the tin whistle。 I should have liked some one near to joke with。
Long ago I made a motto about boys： Look for a boy anywhere。 Never be surprised when you shake a cherry tree if a boy drops out of it； never be disturbed when you think yourself in complete solitude if you discover a boy peering out at you from a fence corner。
I had not been playing long before I saw two boys looking at me from out of a thicket by the roadside； and a moment later two others appeared。
Instantly I switched into 〃Marching Through Georgia；〃 and began to nod my head and tap my toe in the liveliest fashion。 Presently one boy climbed up on the fence； then another； then a third。 I continued to play。 The fourth boy； a little chap； ventured to climb up on the fence。
They were bright…faced； tow…headed lads； all in Sunday clothes。
〃It's hard luck；〃 said I； taking my whistle from my lips； 〃to have to wear shoes and stockings on a warm Sunday like this。〃
〃You bet it is！〃 said the bold leader。
〃In that case；〃 said I； 〃I will play 'Yankee Doodle。'〃
I played。 All the boys； including the little chap； came up around me； and two of them sat down quite familiarly on the grass。 I never had a more devoted audience。 I don't know what interesting event might have happened next； for the bold leader； who stood nearest； was becoming dangerously inflated with questionsI don't know what might have happened had we not been interrupted by the appearance of a Spectre in Black。 It appeared before us there in the broad daylight in the middle of a sunny afternoon while we were playing 〃Yankee Doodle。〃 First I saw the top of a black hat rising over the rim of the hill。 This was followed quickly by a black tie； a long black coat； black trousers； and； finally； black shoes。 I admit I was shaken； but being a person of iron nerve in facing such phenomena； I continued to play 〃Yankee Doodle。〃 In spite of this counter…attraction； toward which all four boys turned uneasy glances； I held my audience。 The Black Spectre； with a black book under its arm； drew nearer。 Still I continued to play and nod my head and tap my toe。 I felt like some modern Pied Piper piping away the children of these modern hillspiping them away from older people who could not understand them。
I could see an accusing look on the Spectre's face。 I don't know what put it into my head； and I had no sooner said it I was sorry for my levity； but the figure with the sad garments there in the matchless and triumphant spring day affected me with a curious； sharp impatience。 Had any one the right to look out so dolefully upon such a day and such a scene of simple happiness as this？ So I took my whistle from my lips and asked：
〃Is God dead？〃
I shall never forget the indescribable look of horror and astonishment that swept over the young man's face。
〃What do you mean； sir？〃 he asked with an air of stern authority which surprised me。 His calling for the moment lifted him above himself： it was the Church which spoke。
I was on my feet in an instant； regretting the pain I had given him； and yet it seemed worth while now； having made my inadvertent remark； to show him frankly what lay in my mind。 Such things sometimes help men。
〃I meant no offence； sir；〃 I said； 〃and I apologize for my flummery； but when I saw you coming up the hill； looking so gloomy and disconsolate on this bright day； as though you disapproved of God's world； the question slipped out before I knew it。〃
My words evidently struck deep down into some disturbed inner consciousness； for he askedand his words seemed to slip out before he thought：
〃Is THAT the way I impressed you？〃
I found my heart going out strongly toward him。 〃Here；〃 I thought to myself； 〃is a man in trouble。〃
I took a good long look at him。 He still a young man； though worn…lookingand sad as I now saw it； rather than gloomywith the sensitive lips and the unworldly look one sees sometimes in the faces of saints。 His black coat was immaculately neat； but the worn button…covers and the shiny lapels told their own eloquent story。 Oh； it seemed to me I knew him as well as if every incident of his life were written plainly upon his high； pale forehead！ I have lived long in a country neighbourhood； and I knew himpoor flagellant of the rural churchI knew how he groaned under the sins of a Community too comfortably willing to cast all its burdens on the Lord； or on the Lord's accredited local representative。 I inferred also the usual large family and the low salary （scandalously unpaid） and the frequent moves from place to place。
Unconsciously heaving a sigh the young man turned partly aside and said to me in a low； gentle voice：
〃You are detaining my boys from church。〃
〃I am very sorry；〃 I said； 〃and I will detain them no longer；〃 and with that I put aside my whistle； took up my bag and moved down the hill with them。
〃The fact is；〃 I said； 〃when I heard your bell I thought of going to church myself。〃
〃Did you？〃 he asked eagerly。 〃Did you？〃
I could see that my proposal of going to church had instantly affected his spirits。 Then he hesitated abruptly with a sidelong glance at my bag and rusty clothing。 I could see exactly what was passing in his mind。
〃No；〃 I said； smiling； as though answering a spoken question； 〃I am not exactly what you would call a tramp。〃
He flushed。
〃I didn't meanI WANT you to come。 That's what a church is for。 If I thought〃
But he did not tell me what he thought； and； though he walked quietly at my side； he was evidently deeply disturbed。 Something of his discouragement I sensed even then； and I don't think I was ever sorrier for a man in my life than I was for him at that moment。 Talk about the suffering sinners！ I wonder if they are to be compared with the trials of the saints？
So we approached the little white church； and caused； I am certain； a tremendous sensation。 Nowhere does the unpredictable； the unusual； excite such confusion as in that settled institutionthe church。
I left my bag in the vestibule； where I have no doubt it was the object of much