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Make me to long only for the beauty of holiness； and to be
satisfied if I attain to it。 Wash my soul pure and clean；
and let that be the only mirror in which I see my face。
I have tried to be useful。 Forgive me if it always seemed
so hard and dreary a life。 Forgive me if I am too happy because
for one short day I have really helped in a beautiful way；
and found a friend who saw； because he was blind； the real
me underneath； the me that never was burned by the fire；
the me that isn't disfigured； unless my wicked discontent
has done it； the me that has lived on and on and on；
starving to death for the friendship and sympathy and love
that come to other women。 I have spent my forty years in
the wilderness； feeding on wrath and bitterness and tears。
Forgive me； Lord； and give me one more vision of the blessed
land of Canaan； even if I never dwell there。〃
VI。
〃Nor less the eternal poles
Of tendency distribute souls。
There need no vows to bind
Whom not each other seek； but find。〃
Emerson's _Celestial Love。_
Davy's sickness was a lingering one。 Mrs。 Buck came for two or
three hours a day； but Lyddy was the self…installed angel of the house；
and before a week had passed the boy's thin arms were around her neck；
his head on her loving shoulder； and his cheek pressed against hers。
Anthony could hear them talk； as he sat in the kitchen busy at
his work。 Musical instruments were still brought him to repair；
though less frequently than of yore； and he could still make
many parts of violins far better than his seeing competitors。
A friend and pupil sat by his side in the winter evenings
and supplemented his weakness； helping and learning alternately；
while his blind master's skill filled him with wonder and despair。
The years of struggle for perfection had not been wasted；
and though the eye that once detected the deviation of a hair's
breadth could no longer tell the true from the false； yet nature
had been busy with her divine work of compensation。
The one sense stricken with death； she poured floods of new life and
vigor into the others。 Touch became something more than the stupid；
empty grasp of things we seeing mortals know； and in place of the two
eyes he had lost he now had ten in every finger…tip。 As for odors；
let other folks be proud of smelling musk and lavender； but let him
tell you by a quiver of the nostrils the various kinds of so…called
scentless flowers； and let him bend his ear and interpret secrets
that the universe is ever whispering to us who are pent in partial
deafness because； forsooth； we see。
He often paused to hear Lydia's low； soothing tones and the boy's
weak treble。 Anthony had said to him once； 〃Miss Butterfield is very
beautiful； isn't she； Davy？ You haven't painted me a picture of her yet。
How does she look ？〃
Davy was stricken at first with silent embarrassment。
He was a truthful child； but in this he could no more have
told the whole truth than he could have cut off his hand。
He was knit to Lyddy by every tie of gratitude and affection。
He would sit for hours with his expectant face pressed against
the window…pane； and when he saw her coming down the shady
road he was filled with a sense of impending comfort and joy。
〃NO；〃 he said hesitatingly； 〃she isn't pretty； nunky； but she's sweet
and nice and dear； Everything on her shines； it's so clean； and when she
comes through the trees； with her white apron and her purple calico dress；
your heart jumps； because you know she's going to make everything pleasant。
Her hair has a pretty wave in it； and her hand is soft on your forehead；
and it's most worth while being sick just to have her in the house。〃
Meanwhile； so truly is 〃praise our fructifying sun；〃 Lydia bloomed
into a hundred hitherto unsuspected graces of mind and heart and speech。
A sly sense of humor woke into life； and a positive talent for conversation；
latent hitherto because she had never known any one who cared
to drop a plummet into the crystal springs of her consciousness。
When the violin was laid away； she would sit in the twilight； by Davy's sofa；
his thin hand in hers； and talk with Anthony about books and flowers
and music； and about the meaning of life； too；its burdens and mistakes；
and joys and sorrows； groping with him in the darkness to find
a clue to God's purposes。
Davy had long afternoons at Lyddy's house as the autumn
grew into winter。 He read to her while she sewed rags
for a new sitting…room carpet； and they played dominoes
and checkers together in the twilight before supper time；
suppers that were a feast to the boy； after Mrs。 Buck's cookery。
Anthony brought his violin sometimes of an evening；
and Almira Berry； the next neighbor on the road to the Mills；
would drop in and join the little party。 Almira used to sing
Auld Robin Gray； What Will You Do； Love； and Robin Adair；
to the great enjoyment of everybody； and she persuaded Lyddy
to buy the old church melodeon； and learn to sing alto in Oh；
Wert Thou in the Cauld Blast； Gently； Gently Sighs the Breeze；
and I know a Bank。 Nobody sighed for the gayeties and advantages
of a great city when； these concerts being over； Lyddy would
pass crisp seedcakes and raspberry shrub； doughnuts and cider；
or hot popped corn and molasses candy。
〃But there； she can afford to；〃 said aunt Hitty Tarbox；
〃she's pretty middlin' wealthy for Edgewood。 And it's lucky she
is； for she 'bout feeds that boy o' Croft's。 No wonder
he wants her to fill him up； after six years of the Widder
Buck's victuals。 Aurelia Buck can take good flour and sugar；
sweet butter and fresh eggs； and in ten strokes of her hand she
can make 'em into something the very hogs 'll turn away from。
I declare； it brings the tears to my eyes sometimes
when I see her coming out of Croft's Saturday afternoons；
and think of the stone crocks full of nasty messes she's
left behind her for that innocent man and boy to eat up。。。。
Anthony goes to see Miss Butterfield consid'able often。
Of course it's awstensibly to walk home with Davy；
or do an errand or something； but everybody knows better。
She went down to Croft's pretty nearly every day when his cousin
from Bridgton come to house…clean。 She suspicioned something；
I guess。 Anyhow； she asked me if Miss Butterfield's two hundred
a year was in gov'ment bonds。 Anthony's eyesight ain't good；
but I guess he could make out to cut cowpons off。。。。 It
would be strange if them two left…overs should take an'
marry each other； though； come to think of it； I don't
know's 't would neither。 He's blind； to be sure； and can't
see her scarred face。 It's a pity she ain't deef；
so't she can't hear his everlastin' fiddle。 She's lucky
to get any kind of a husband； she's too humbly to choose。
I declare； she reminds me of a Jack…o'…lantern； though
if you look at the back of her； or see her in meetin'
with a thick veil on； she's about the best appearin' woman in
Edgewoo