"That's well," the old gentleman put in; "our dinner will be rather
too plain and substantial for angels' fare. I think thee'll be the
better for it though."

"I am the better already for your most unexpected kindness, which I
now gratefully accept as a stranger. I hope, however, that I may be
able to win a more definite and personal regard;" and I handed the old
gentleman my card.

"Richard Morton is thy name, then. I'll place thee beside Ruth Yocomb,
my wife. Come, mother, we're keeping Friend Jones's team from the
block. My name is Thomas Yocomb. No, no, take the back seat by my
wife. She may preach to thee a little going home. Drive on, Reuben,"
he added, as he and his two daughters stepped quickly in, "and give
Friend Jones a chance. This is Adah Yocomb, my daughter, and this is
little Zillah. Mother thought that since the two names went together
in Scripture they ought to go together out of it, and I am the last
man in the world to go against the Scripture. That's Reuben Yocomb
driving. Now thee knows all the family, and I hope thee don't feel as
much of a stranger as thee did;" and the hearty old man turned and
beamed on me with a goodwill that I felt to be as warm and genuine as
the June sunshine.

"To be frank," I exclaimed, "I am at a loss to understand your
kindness. In the city we are suspicious of strangers and stand aloof
from them; but you treat me as if I had brought a cordial letter of
introduction from one you esteemed highly."

"So thee has, so thee has; only the letter came before thee did. 'Be
not forgetful to entertain strangers'--that's the way it reads,