A Beautiful Possibility

upon the comfortable mansion of the master of Hollywood Farm, with its spacious barns and long stretches of stabling, and throwing loving glances among the le

, and the river, turned from its course, rushed, laughing and eager, ove

of sorrowful contempt which swept over it, made him seem older than he was. It was a strong face, with deep-set, thoughtful eyes which lit up wondrously when he was interested or pleased. His mouth was sensitive but his

s voice fell clear and di

answer save the soft gurgle of the river

ph!" And the wind sighed a pl

before and which had been ringing a ceaseless refrain in

of everyone to become

ri

irrel for sport?" He tossed aside the weapon he had been leaning upon with a

ing his creatures. Game Preserves where they can do it in luxurious leisure; fox hunts with their pack of hunters and hounds in full cry after one poor defenceless fox, and battle-fields where they

d looked remorsefully at the eyes whose light was dimmed, and the mouth which had forever ceased its merry chatter. A great tenderness sprang up in his heart toward

e in whose trunk the remnant of its winter store of nuts was carefully garnered. When at lengt

the germ of

17th,

shadows as they played hide and seek upon the moss, while through the tre

s breezy pastures and its fragrant orchards. Its beautifully kept grounds and outbuildings appealed to his innate sense of the fitness of things, while its air of abundant comfort made it difficult to realize that the world was full of hunger and woe. He loved the green road where the wild roses blushed and the honeysuckle droo

Jersey, feeding some distance away, lifted her head and listened. Again he whistled, and with soft, slow tread the cow came towards him and rubbed her nose against his

t if you were kicked and cuffed and starved? You are sensitive, for I saw you shrink and shiver when Bill Wright,-the scoundrel!-dared to strike you. He'll never do it again, Prim! Have you the taste of an epicure for the juicy grass blades and the clover when it is young,-do you love to hear the birds sing and the brook murmur

o a fine collie who came bounding to meet

horse reeking with foam. "Rub Sultan down a bit like a good fellow. The

as he stood with drooping head and wide distended nostri

here were!" and his v

t to handle horsefl

ohn. There's nothing to make such a row about.

eeves, led the exhausted horse to the currying groun

m into such a mess?

im," and Reginald kicked the gravel disc

edulously. "That's a good joke! Why,

a good deal on the home stretch, but he seemed to limber up all right the last few miles. I was sorry not to let him rest yesterday; would have put him in better trim I suppose for to-day's twenty mile pull,-but Cartwright and Peterson wanted to mak

back the same road," said John drily; "and your heavy swells

? You're the last fellow in the

hem to cripple you as they have poor S

up to date when there are any good times going. What do you suppose put Sultan in such a lather, John? I was so afraid father would cat

with his firm hand, "these knees are too pretty for a scar. G

the governor with a vengeance! What

. It will be lucky if it is nothing worse. He looks to me as if he was in for a

was turning away when a hand with a grip of steel was laid on his shoulder and he was forced bac

rk! Even the ca

w!" he said contemptuously, "it's onl

wathed the horse's limbs in flannel. "I guess Sultan misses you,

as he led the horse into a large pad

had lingered in the afternoon. The thoughts which surged through his brain made sleep impossible, and so, lighting his

r side, and the soft whirr of downy plumage as the great owl which had built its nest among the eaves of the new barn flew past him. Suddenly a warm nose wa

ife now, Prim? Do the shadows make it seem more weird and grand,

n and green and gold, and the words of the book which he had been studying

followeth me shall not walk in darkne

ly. "Why, to most people life seems all

er, but by me.' 'Except ye turn, and become as little children, ye shall in no wise enter into the kingdom of heav

flooded John R

kingdom and the life of it. The kingdom of heaven, not far away in space, but set up here and now in the hearts of men who

hands up towards

I take thee for my Master, my Friend. I give myself away to thee. I will

e through the listening night an angel stooped and