What matters the roads and the bridges, the length of the way, or
the sometimes lack of those comforts of the flesh, which are craved
only at the expense of the spirit, and to the great delay of our
day of conquest. These wants are the infirmities of the human,
which dissipate and disappear, the more few they become, and the
less pressing in their complaint. Shake thyself loose from them,
Alfred Stevens, and thy way henceforth is perfect freedom."

"Alas! this is my very weakness, Mr. Cross:--it was because of these
very infirmities, that I had doubt of my own worthiness to take up
the better vocation which is yet my desire. I am sadly given to
hunger and thirst toward noon and evening; and the travel of a long
day makes me so weary at night, that I should say but a hurried
grace before meal, and make an even more hurried supper after it.
Nay, I have not yet been able to divest myself of a habit which I
acquired in my boyhood; and I need at times, throughout the day,
a mouthful of something stronger than mere animal food, to sustain
the fainting and feeble flesh and keep my frame from utter exhaustion.
I dare not go upon the road, even for the brief journey of a single
day, without providing myself beforehand with a supply of a certain
beverage, such as is even now contained within this vessel, and
which is infallible against sinking of the the spirits, faintings
of the frame, disordered nerves, and even against flatulence and
indigestion. If, at any time, thou shouldst suffer from one or the
other of these infirmities, Mr. Cross, be sure there is no better
medicine for their cure than this."

The speaker drew from his bosom a little flask, such as is sufficiently
well known to most western travellers, which he held on high, and
which, to the unsuspecting eyes of the preacher, contained a couple