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of me； was my man with the shaggy little dog close at his heels。 He was making pretty good time； but I skirted swiftly along the edge of the road until I had nearly overtaken him。 Then I slowed down to a walk and stepped out into the middle of the road。 I confess my heart was pounding at a lively rate。 The next time he looked behind himguiltily enough； too！I said in the calmest voice I could command：
〃Well； brother； you almost left me behind。〃
He stopped and I stepped up to him。
I wish I could describe the look in his facemingled astonishment； fear； and defiance。
〃My friend；〃 I said； 〃I'm disappointed in you。〃
He made no reply。
〃Yes； I'm disappointed。 You did such a very poor job。〃
〃Poor job！〃 he exclaimed。
〃Yes；〃 I said； and I slipped my bag off my shoulder and began to rummage inside。 My companion watched me silently and suspiciously。
〃You should not have left the rubbers。〃
With that I handed him my old rubbers。 A peculiar expression came into the man's face。
〃Say； pardner； what you drivin' at？〃
〃Well；〃 I said； 〃I don't like to see such evidences of haste and inefficiency。〃
He stood staring at me helplessly； holding my old rubbers at arm's length。
〃Come on now；〃 I said； 〃that's over。 We'll walk along together。〃
I was about to take his arm； but quick as a flash he dodged； cast both rubbers and rain…cape away from him； and ran down the road for all he was worth； the little dog； looking exactly like a rolling ball of fur； pelting after him。 He never once glanced back； but ran for his life。 I stood there and laughed until the tears came； and ever since then； at the thought of the expression on the jolly rover's face when I gave him my rubbers； I've had to smile。 I put the rain…cape and rubbers back into my bag and turned again to the road。
Before the afternoon was nearly spent I found myself very tired； for my two days' experience in the city had been more exhausting for me； I think； than a whole month of hard labour on my farm。 I found haven with a friendly farmer； whom I joined while he was driving his cows in from the pasture。 I helped him with his milking both that night and the next morning； and found his situation and family most interestingbut I shall not here enlarge upon that experience。
It was late afternoon when I finally surmounted the hill from which I knew well enough I could catch the first glimpse of my farm。 For a moment after I reached the top I could not raise my eyes； and when finally I was able to raise them I could not see。
〃There is a spot in Arcadya spot in Arcadya spot in Arcady〃 So runs the old song。
There IS a spot in Arcady； and at the centre of it there is a weather…worn old house； and not far away a perfect oak tree； and green fields all about； and a pleasant stream fringed with alders in the little valley。 And out of the chimney into the sweet； still evening air rises the slow white smoke of the supper…fire。
I turned from the main road； and climbed the fence and walked across my upper field to the old wood lane。 The air was heavy and sweet with clover blossoms； and along the fences I could see that the raspberry bushes were ripening their fruit。
So I came down the lane and heard the comfortable grunting of pigs in the pasture lot and saw the calves licking one another as they stood at the gate。
〃How they've grown！〃 I said。
I stopped at the corner of the barn for a moment。 From within I heard the rattling of milk in a pail （a fine sound）； and heard a man's voice saying：
〃Whoa； there！ Stiddy now！〃
〃Dick's milking；〃 I said。
So I stepped in at the doorway。
〃Lord； Mr。 Grayson！〃 exclaimed Dick； rising instantly and clasping my hand like a long…lost brother。
〃I'm glad to see you！〃
〃I'm glad to see YOU！〃
The warm smell of the new milk； the pleasant sound of animals stepping about in the stable； the old mare reaching her long head over the stanchion to welcome me； and nipping at my fingers when I rubbed her nose
And there was the old house with the late sun upon it； the vines hanging green over the porch； Harriet's trim flower bedI crept along quietly。 to the corner。 The kitchen door stood open。
〃Well； Harriet！〃 I said； stepping inside。
〃Mercy！ David！〃
I have rarely known Harriet to be in quite such a reckless mood。 She kept thinking of a new kind of sauce or jam for supper （I think there were seven； or were there twelve？ on the table before I got through）。 And there was a new rhubarb pie such as only Harriet can make； just brown enough on top； and not too brown； with just the right sort of hills and hummocks in the crust； and here and there little sugary bubbles where a suggestion of the goodness came throughsuch a pie！ and such an appetite to go with it！
〃Harriet；〃 I said； 〃you're spoiling me。 Haven't you heard how dangerous it is to set such a supper as this before a man who is perishing with hunger？ Have you no mercy for me？〃
This remark produced the most extraordinary effect。 Harriet was at that moment standing in the corner near the pump。 Her shoulders suddenly began to shake convulsively。
〃She's so glad I'm home that she can't help laughing；〃 I thought； which shows how penetrating I really am。
She was crying。
〃Why； Harriet！〃 I exclaimed。
〃Hungry！〃 she burst out； 〃and j…joking about it！〃
I couldn't say a single word； somethingit must have been a piece of the rhubarb piestuck in my throat。 So I sat there and watched her moving quietly about in that immaculate kitchen。 After a time I walked over to where she stood by the table and put my arm around her quickly。 She half turned her head； in her quick； businesslike way。 I noted how firm and clean and sweet her face was。
〃Harriet；〃 I said； 〃you grow younger every year。〃
No response。
〃Harriet；〃 I said； 〃I haven't seen a single person anywhere on my journey that I like as much as I do you。〃
The quick blood came up。
〃TherethereDavid！〃 she said。
So I stepped away。
〃And as for rhubarb pie； Harriet〃
When I first came to my farm years ago there were mornings when I woke up with the strong impression that I had just been hearing the most exquisite sounds of music。 I don't know whether this is at all a common experience； but in those days （and farther back in my early boyhood） I had it frequently。 It did not seem exactly like music either； but was rather a sense of harmony； so wonderful； so pervasive that it cannot be described。 I have not had it so often in recent years； but on the morning after I reached home it came to me as I awakened with a strange depth and sweetness。 I lay for a moment there in my clean bed。 The morning sun was up and coming in cheerfully through the vines at the window； a gentle breeze stirred the clean white curtains； and I could smell even there the odours of the garden。
I wish I had room to tell； but I cannot； of all the crowded experiences of that day； the renewal of acquaintance with the fields； the cattle； the fowls； the bees； of my long talks with Harriet and Dick Sheridan； who had cared for my work while I was away； of the wonderful visit of the Scotch Preacher； of Horace's shrewd and whimsical comments upon the general absurdity of the head of the Grayson familyoh； of a thousand thingsand how when I went into my study and took up the nearest book in my favourite caseit chanced to be 〃The Bible in Spain〃it opened of itself at one of my favourite sages； the one beginning：
〃Mistos amande； I am content〃
So it's all over！ It has been a great experience； and it seems to me now that I have a firmer grip on life； and a firmer trust in that Power which orders the ages。 In a book I read not long ago； called 〃A Modern Utopia；〃 the writer provides in his imaginary perfect state of society a class of leaders known as Samurai。 And； from time to time； it is the custom of these Samurai to cut themselves loose from the crowding world of men； and with packs on their backs go away alone to far places in the deserts or on Arctic ice caps。 I am convinced that every man needs some such change as this； an opportunity to think things out； to get a new grip on life； and a new hold on God。 But not for me the Arctic ice cap or the desert！ I choose the Friendly Roadand all the mon people who travel in it or live along itI choose even the busy city at the end of it。
I assure you； friend； that it is a wonderful thing for a man to cast himself freely for a time upon the world； not knowing where his next meal is coming from； nor where he is going to sleep for the night。 It is a surprising readjuster of values。 I paid my way； I think； throughout my pilgrimage； but I discovered that stamped metal is far from being the world's only true coin。 As a matter of fact； there are many things that men prize more highlybecause they are rarer and more precious。
My friend； if you should chance yourself some day to follow the Friendly Road； you may catch a fleeting glimpse of a man in a rusty hat； carrying a gray bag； and sometimes humming a little song under his breath for the joy of being there。 And it may actually happen； if you stop him； that he will take a tin whistle from his bag and play for you； 〃Money Musk；〃 or 〃Old Dan Tucker；〃 or he may produce a battered old volume of Montaigne from which he will read you a passag