Years　have　passed；　it　seemeth　a　wonderful　thing　that　I　find　thee。
  Surely　the　hand　of　the　Lord　conducted　me　here　to　thy　threshold。
  For　as　I　journeyed　along；　and　pondered　alone　and　in　silence
  On　his　ways；　that　are　past　finding　out；　I　saw　in　the　snow…mist；
  Seemingly　weary　with　travel；　a　wayfarer；　who　by　the　wayside
  Paused　and　waited。　　Forthwith　I　remembered　Queen　Candace's
  eunuch；
  How　on　the　way　that　goes　down　from　Jerusalem　unto　Gaza；
  Reading　Esaias　the　Prophet；　he　journeyed；　and　spake　unto　Philip；
  Praying　him　to　come　up　and　sit　in　his　chariot　with　him。
  So　I　greeted　the　man；　and　he　mounted　the　sledge　beside　me；
  And　as　we　talked　on　the　way　he　told　me　of　thee　and　thy　homestead；
  How；　being　led　by　the　light　of　the　Spirit；　that　never　deceiveth；
  Full　of　zeal　for　the　work　of　the　Lord；　thou　hadst　come　to　this
  country。
  And　I　remembered　thy　name；　and　thy　father　and　mother　in　England；
  And　on　my　journey　have　stopped　to　see　thee；　Elizabeth　Haddon。
  Wishing　to　strengthen　thy　hand　in　the　labors　of　love　thou　art
  doing。〃
  And　Elizabeth　answered　with　confident　voice；　and　serenely
  Looking　into　his　face　with　her　innocent　eyes　as　she　answered；
  〃Surely　the　hand　of　the　Lord　is　in　it；　his　Spirit　hath　led　thee
  Out　of　the　darkness　and　storm　to　the　light　and　peace　of　my
  fireside。〃
  Then；　with　stamping　of　feet；　the　door　was　opened；　and　Joseph
  Entered；　bearing　the　lantern；　and；　carefully　blowing　the　light
  out；
  Rung　it　up　on　its　nail；　and　all　sat　down　to　their　supper；
  For　underneath　that　roof　was　no　distinction　of　persons；
  But　one　family　only；　one　heart；　one　hearth　and　one　household。
  When　the　supper　was　ended　they　drew　their　chairs　to　the
  fireplace；
  Spacious；　open…hearted；　profuse　of　flame　and　of　firewood；
  Lord　of　forests　unfelled；　and　not　a　gleaner　of　fagots；
  Spreading　its　arms　to　embrace　with　inexhaustible　bounty
  All　who　fled　from　the　cold；　exultant；　laughing　at　winter！
  Only　Hannah　the　housemaid　was　busy　in　clearing　the　table；
  Coming　and　going；　and　hustling　about　in　closet　and　chamber。
  Then　Elizabeth　told　her　story　again　to　John　Estaugh；
  Going　far　back　to　the　past；　to　the　early　days　of　her　childhood；
  How　she　had　waited　and　watched；　in　all　her　doubts　and　besetments
  Comforted　with　the　extendings　and　holy；　sweet　inflowings
  Of　the　spirit　of　love；　till　the　voice　imperative　sounded；
  And　she　obeyed　the　voice；　and　cast　in　her　lot　with　her　people
  Here　in　the　desert　land；　and　God　would　provide　for　the　issue。
  Meanwhile　Joseph　sat　with　folded　hands；　and　demurely
  Listened；　or　seemed　to　listen；　and　in　the　silence　that　followed
  Nothing　was　heard　for　a　while　but　the　step　of　Hannah　the
  housemaid
  Walking　the　floor　overhead；　and　setting　the　chambers　in　order。
  And　Elizabeth　said；　with　a　smile　of　compassion；　〃The　maiden
  Hath　a　light　heart　in　her　breast；　but　her　feet　are　heavy　and
  awkward。〃
  Inwardly　Joseph　laughed；　but　governed　his　tongue；　and　was　silent。
  Then　came　the　hour　of　sleep；　death's　counterfeit；　nightly
  rehearsal
  Of　the　great　Silent　Assembly；　the　Meeting　of　shadows；　where　no
  man
  Speaketh；　but　all　are　still；　and　the　peace　and　rest　are　unbroken！
  Silently　over　that　house　the　blessing　of　slumber　descended。
  But　when　the　morning　dawned；　and　the　sun　uprose　in　his　splendor；
  Breaking　his　way　through　clouds　that　encumbered　his　path　in　the
  heavens；
  Joseph　was　seen　with　his　sled　and　oxen　breaking　a　pathway
  Through　the　drifts　of　snow；　the　horses　already　were　harnessed；
  And　John　Estaugh　was　standing　and　taking　leave　at　the　threshold；
  Saying　that　he　should　return　at　the　Meeting　in　May；　while　above
  them
  Hannah　the　housemaid；　the　homely；　was　looking　out　of　the　attic；
  Laughing　aloud　at　Joseph；　then　suddenly　closing　the　casement；
  As　the　bird　in　a　cuckoo…clock　peeps　out　of　its　window；
  Then　disappears　again；　and　closes　the　shutter　behind　it。
  III
  Now　was　the　winter　gone；　and　the　snow；　and　Robin　the　Redbreast；
  Boasted　on　bush　and　tree　it　was　he；　it　was　he　and　no　other
  That　had　covered　with　leaves　the　Babes　in　the　Wood；　and　blithely
  All　the　birds　sang　with　him；　and　little　cared　for　his　boasting；
  Or　for　his　Babes　in　the　Wood；　or　the　Cruel　Uncle；　and　only
  Sang　for　the　mates　they　had　chosen；　and　cared　for　the　nests　they
  were　building。
  With　them；　but　more　sedately　and　meekly；　Elizabeth　Haddon
  Sang　in　her　inmost　heart；　but　her　lips　were　silent　and　songless。
  Thus　came　the　lovely　spring　with　a　rush　of　blossoms　and　music；
  Flooding　the　earth　with　flowers；　and　the　air　with　melodies
  vernal。
  Then　it　came　to　pass；　one　pleasant　morning；　that　slowly
  Up　the　road　there　came　a　cavalcade；　as　of　pilgrims
  Men　and　women；　wending　their　way　to　the　Quarterly　Meeting
  In　the　neighboring　town；　and　with　them　came　riding　John　Estaugh。
  At　Elizabeth's　door　they　stopped　to　rest；　and　alighting
  Tasted　the　currant　wine；　and　the　bread　of　rye；　and　the　honey
  Brought　from　the　hives；　that　stood　by　the　sunny　wall　of　the
  garden；
  Then　remounted　their　horses；　refreshed；　and　continued　their
  journey；
  And　Elizabeth　with　them；　and　Joseph；　and　Hannah　the　housemaid。
  But；　as　they　started；　Elizabeth　lingered　a　little；　and　leaning
  Over　her　horse's　neck；　in　a　whisper　said　to　John　Estaugh
  〃Tarry　awhile　behind；　for　I　have　something　to　tell　thee；
  Not　to　be　spoken　lightly；　nor　in　the　presence　of　others；
  Them　it　concerneth　not；　only　thee　and　me　it　concerneth。〃
  And　they　rode　slowly　along　through　the　woods；　conversing
  together。
  It　was　a　pleasure　to　breathe　the　fragrant　air　of　the　forest；
  It　was　a　pleasure　to　live　on　that　bright　and　happy　May　morning！
  Then　Elizabeth　said；　though　still　with　a　certain　reluctance；
  As　if　impelled　to　reveal　a　secret　she　fain　would　have　guarded：
  〃I　will　no　longer　conceal　what　is　laid　upon　me　to　tell　thee；
  I　have　received　from　the　Lord　a　charge　to　love　thee；　John
  Estaugh。〃
  And　John　Estaugh　made　answer；　surprised　by　the　words　she　had
  spoken；
  〃Pleasant　to　me　are　thy　converse；　thy　ways；　thy　meekness　of
  spirit；
  Pleasant　thy　frankness　of　speech；　and　thy　soul's　immaculate
  whiteness；
  Love　without　dissimulation；　a　holy　and　inward　adorning。
  But　I　have　yet　no　light　to　lead　me；　no　voice　to　direct　me。
  When　the　Lord's　work　is　done；　and　the　toil　and　the　labor
  completed
  He　hath　appointed　to　me；　I　will　gather　into　the　stillness
  Of　my　own　heart　awhile；　and　listen　and　wait　for　his　guidance。〃
  Then　Elizabeth　said；　not　troubled　nor　wounded　in　spirit；
  〃So　is　it　best；　John　Estaugh。　　We　will　not　speak　of　it　further。
  It　hath　been　laid　upon　me　to　tell　thee　this；　for　to…morrow
  Thou　art　going　away；　across　the　sea；　and　I　know　not
  When　I　shall　see　thee　more；　but　if　the　Lord　hath　decreed　it；
  Thou　wilt　return　again　to　seek　me　here　and　to　find　me。〃
  And　they　rode　onward　in　silence；　and　entered　the　town　with　the
  others。
  IV
  Ships　that　pass　in　the　night；　and　speak　each　other　in　passing；
  Only　a　signal　shown　and　a　distant　voice　in　the　darkness；
  So　on　the　ocean　of　life　we　pass　and　speak　one　another；
  Only　a　look　and　a　voice；　then　darkness　again　and　a　silence。
  Now　went　on　as　of　old　the　quiet　life　of　the　homestead。
  Patient　and　unrepining　Elizabeth　labored；　in　all　things
  Mindful　not　of　herself；　but　bearing　the　burdens　of　others；
  Always　thoughtful　and　kind　and　untroubled；　and　Hannah　the
  housemaid
  Diligent　early　and　late；　and　rosy　with　washing　and　scouring；
  Still　as　of　old　disparaged　the　eminent　merits　of　Joseph；
  And　was　at　times　reproved　for　her　light　and　frothy　behavior；
  For　her　shy　looks；　and　her　careless　words；　and　her　evil
  surmisings；
  Being　pressed　down　somewhat　like　a　cart　with　sheaves　overladen；
  As　she　would　sometimes　say　to　Joseph；　quoting　the　Scriptures。
  Meanwhile　John　Estaugh　departed　across　the　sea；　and　departing
  Carried　hid　in　his　heart　a　secret　sacred　and　precious；
  Filling　its　chambers　with　fragrance；　and　seeming　to　him　in　its
  sweetness
  Mary's　ointment　of　spikenard；　that　filled　all　the　house　with　its
  odor。
  O　lost　days　of　delight；　that　are　wasted　in　doubting　and　waiting！
  O　lost　hours　and　days　in　which　we　might　have　been　happy！
  But　the　light　shone　at　last；　and　guided　his　wavering　footsteps；
  And　at　last　came　the　voice；　imperative；　questionless；　certain。
  Then　John　Estaugh　came　back　o'er　the　sea　for　the　gift　that　was
  offered；
  Better　than　houses　and　lands；　the　gift　of　a　woman's　affection。
  And　on　the　First…Day　that　followed；　he　rose　in　the　Silent
  Assembly；
  Holding　in　his　strong　hand　a　hand　that　trembled　a　little；
  Promising　to　be　kind　and　true　and　faithful　in　all　things。
  Such　were　the　marriage…rites　of　John　and　Elizabeth　Estaugh。
  And　not　otherwise　Joseph；　the　honest；　the　diligent　servant；
  Sped　in　his　bashful　wooing　with　homely　Hannah　the　housemaid；
  For　when　he　asked　her　the　question；　she　answered；　〃Nay〃；　and　then
  added
  〃But　thee　may　make　believe；　and　see　what　will　come　of　it；
  Joseph。〃
  INTERLUDE
  〃A　pleasant　and　a　winsome　tale；〃
  The　Student　sai