"Truly, it gladdens me, sir," said the holy man in reply, "to meet
with one, as a fellow-traveller in these lonesome ways, who hath a
knowledge of God's grace and the blessings which he daily sheddeth,
even as the falling of the dews, upon a benighted land. It is my
lot, and I repine not that such it is, to be for ever a wayfarer,
in the desert where there are but few fountains to refresh the
spirit. When I say desert, young gentleman, I speak not in the
literal language of the world, for truly it were a most sinful
denial of God's bounty were I to say, looking round upon the mighty
forests through which I pass, and upon the rich soil over which
I travel, that my way lies not through a country covered, thrice
covered, with the best worldly bounties of the Lord. But it is
a moral desert which my speech would signify. The soul of man is
here lacking the blessed fountains of the truth--the mind of man
here lacketh the holy and joy-shedding lights of the spirit; and
it rejoiceth me, therefore, when I meet with one, like thyself,
in whose language I find a proof that thou hast neither heard the
word with idle ears, nor treasured it in thy memory with unapplying
mind. May I ask of thee, my young friend, who thou art, and by
what name I shall call thee?--not for the satisfaction of an idle
curiosity, to know either thy profession or thy private concerns,
but that I may the better speak to thee in our conference
hereafter, Thou hast rightly conjectured as to my calling--and my
own name, which is one unknown to most even in these forests, is
John Cross--I come of a family in North Carolina, which still abide
in that state, by the waters of the river Haw. Perhaps, if thou
hast ever travelled in those parts, thou hast happened upon some
of my kindred, which are very numerous."

"I have never, reverend sir, travelled in those parts," said the