No More Learning

Your wife--she doesn't want you to. We don't,
And you yourself don't want to. Who else is there? "

"Save us from being cornered by a woman.
Well, there's"--She told Fred afterward that in
The pause right there, she thought the dreaded word
Was coming, "God. " But no, he only said
"Well, there's--the storm. That says I must go on.
That wants me as a war might if it came.
Ask any man. "

He threw her that as something
To last her till he got outside the door.
He had Cole with him to the barn to see him off.
When Cole returned he found his wife still standing
Beside the table near the open book,
Not reading it.

"Well, what kind of a man
Do you call that? " she said.

"He had the gift
Of words, or is it tongues, I ought to say?
"

"Was ever such a man for seeing likeness? "

"Or disregarding people's civil questions--
What? We've found out in one hour more about him
Than we had seeing him pass by in the road
A thousand times. If that's the way he preaches!
You didn't think you'd keep him after all.
Oh, I'm not blaming you. He didn't leave you
Much say in the matter, and I'm just as glad
We're not in for a night of him. No sleep
If he had stayed. The least thing set him going.
It's quiet as an empty church without him. "

"But how much better off are we as it is?
We'll have to sit here till we know he's safe. "

"Yes, I suppose you'll want to, but I shouldn't.
He knows what he can do, or he wouldn't try.
Get into bed I say, and get some rest.
He won't come back, and if he telephones,
It won't be for an hour or two.