PAGE 8
Ideals
by
And at the Little Gau they spent the months from the Fourth of July to the 13th of October–two great days in history–getting ready for Mexico. New sewing-machines were bought, and the fall of the stream from the lake was taught to run the treadles. No end of clothing was got ready for a country which needs none; no end of memoranda made for the last purchases; no end of lists of books prepared, which they could read in that land of leisure. And on the 14th of October, with a passing sigh, they bade good-by to boats and dogs and cows and horses and neighbors and beaches–almost to sun and moon, which had smiled on so much happiness, and went back to Boston to make the last bargains, to pay the last bills, and to say the last good-byes.
After one day of bill-paying and house-advertising and farewelling, they met at Ingham’s to “tell their times.” And Julia told of her farewell call on dear Mrs. Blake.
“The saint!” said she; “she does not see as well as she did. But it was just lovely there. There was the great bronze Japanese stork, which seemed so friendly, and the great vases, and her flowers as fresh as ever, and her books everywhere. She found something for Tom and Maud to play with, just as she used to for Ben and Horace. And we sat and talked of Mexico and Antioch and everything. I asked her if her eyes troubled her, and I was delighted because it seems they do not trouble her at all. She told all about Swampscott and her grandchildren. I asked her if the dust never troubled them on Gladstone Street, but she says it does not at all; and she told all about her son’s family in Hong- Kong. I asked her if the failure of Rupee & Lac annoyed them, and she said not at all, and I was so glad, for I had been so afraid for them; and then she told about how much they were enjoying Macaulay. Then I asked her if the new anvil factory on the other side of the street did not trouble her, and she said not at all. And when I said, `How can that be?’ she said, `Why, Julia dear, we do not let these things trouble us, don’t you see. If I were you, I would not let such things trouble me.'”
George Haliburton laid down his knife as Julia told the story. “Do you remember Rabia at Mecca? Yes, they all remembered Rabia at Mecca:–
“Oh heart, weak follower of the weak,
That thou shouldst traverse land and sea;
In this far place that God to seek
Who long ago had come to thee!”
“Why should we not stay here, and not let these things trouble us?”
Why not, indeed?
And they stayed.