How gloriously the stars shine down every night
upon these mountains! Or, take Bruce and Sammy here"--and the old man
caressed his pets--"why, they love me to distraction. And I love both
the scamps, I certainly do. But what is that to your affection for your
partner, John Keeler? It is a good old world, I say. Then the Power
that's in it and back of it, 'in whom we live and move and have our
being,' is a good Power. Well, then, God is good. And that's all we need
to know. If God is good, we can depend upon Him in life and death. We
don't know what death means. But it's only a natural thing. It can't
matter much. I will know more about it, I guess, when I am dead."
"I don't doubt you're right, Mr. Palmer. Once, back in Maryland, I heard
a minister say that grief comes to open our hearts to God. It was at my
mother's funeral. I reckon he was right, too. But my heart bleeds for
Will Cummins."
Palmer looked at him critically a moment, as if weighing him in the
balance. Then, as if completely satisfied with his friend, he spoke:
"John Keeler, I want to talk business. I want you to hunt those rascals
down. I'll back you for any amount.
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