"Oh, we'll be careful. Benny's about the carefullest boy the' is in
Leatherwood. Oh, I do like being in the mill with Mr. Hingston." He
laughed out his joy again, and then he asked doubtfully, "Mom?"

"Yes, Joey."

"Benny and me was wonderin'--we'd go straight back home, and not light
any lamp at all--if you'd let us go to the Temple. There's a big meetin'
there to-night." The mother hesitated, and the boy urged, "They say that
strange man--well, some calls him the Snorter and some the Exhorter--is
goin' to preach." The mother was still silent, and the boy faltered on:
"He dresses like the people do Over-the-Mountains, and he wears his hair
down his back--"

The mother gasped. "I don't like your being out late, Joey. I'd feel
better if you and Benny was safe in bed."

"Oh, well." The boy's voice sank to the level of his disappointment; but
after a silent interval he caught it up again cheerily. "Oh, well, I
reckon Benny won't care much. We'll go right back home. We can have a
piece before we go to bed?"

"Yes--"

"Benny thinks our apple-butter is the best they is. Can we have some on
bread, with sugar on top?"

His mother did not answer at once, and he said again, as if relinquishing
another ideal, "Oh, well."