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Boston to New Orleans men trembled in their shoes。 At all events；
I did fail； and you see me here on my road to the Shaker village；
where； doubtless （for the Shakers are a shrewd sect）； they will
have a due respect for my experience； and give me the management
of the trading part of the concern； in which case I think I can
pledge myself to double their capital in four or five years。 Turn
back with me； young man； for though you will never meet with my
good luck； you can hardly escape my bad。〃
〃I will not turn back for this；〃 replied Josiah。 calmly； 〃any
more than for the advice of the varse…maker； between whom and
thee； friend； I see a sort of likeness； though I can't justly say
where it lies。 But Miriam and I can earn our daily bread among
the world's people as well as in the Shaker village。 And do we
want anything more； Miriam？〃
〃Nothing more； Josiah；〃 said the girl； quietly。
〃Yea； Miriam； and daily bread for some other little mouths； if
God send them；〃 observed the simple Shaker lad。
Miriam did not reply； but looked down into the spring； where she
encountered the image of her own pretty face； blushing within the
prim little bonnet。 The third pilgrim now took up the
conversation。 He was a sunburnt countryman； of tall frame and
bony strength； on whose rude and manly face there appeared a
darker； more sullen and obstinate despondency； than on those of
either the poet or the merchant。
〃Well； now； youngster；〃 he began； 〃these folks have had their
say； so I'll take my turn。 My story will cut but a poor figure by
the side of theirs； for I never supposed that I could have a
right to meat and drink； and great praise besides； only for
tagging rhymes together； as it seems this man does； nor ever
tried to get the substance of hundreds into my own hands； like
the trader there。 When I was about of your years； I married me a
wife；just such a neat and pretty young woman as Miriam； if
that's her name；and all I asked of Providence was an ordinary
blessing on the sweat of my brow； so that we might be decent and
comfortable； and have daily bread for ourselves； and for some
other little mouths that we soon had to feed。 We had no very
great prospects before us； but I never wanted to be idle； and I
thought it a matter of course that the Lord would help me；
because I was willing to help myself。〃
〃And didn't He help thee； friend？〃 demanded Josiah； with some
eagerness。
〃No；〃 said the yeoman； sullenly； 〃for then you would not have
seen me here。 I have labored hard for years； and my means have
been growing narrower； and my living poorer； and my heart colder
and heavier； all the time； till at last I could bear it no
longer。 I set myself down to calculate whether I had best go on
the Oregon expedition； or come here to the Shaker village； but I
had not hope enough left in me to begin the world over again；
and； to make my story short； here I am。 And now； youngster； take
my advice； and turn back； or else； some few years hence； you'll
have to climb this hill； with as heavy a heart as mine。〃
This simple story had a strong effect on the young fugitives。 The
misfortunes of the poet and merchant had won little sympathy from
their plain good sense and unworldly feelings； qualities which
made them such unprejudiced and inflexible judges； that few men
would have chosen to take the opinion of this youth and maiden as
to the wisdom or folly of their pursuits。 But here was one whose
simple wishes had resembled their own； and who； after efforts
which almost gave him a right to claim success from fate； had
failed in accomplishing them。
〃But thy wife； friend？〃 exclaimed the younger man。 〃What became
of the pretty girl； like Miriam？ Oh； I am afraid she is dead！〃
〃Yea； poor man； she must be dead；she and the children； too；〃
sobbed Miriam。
The female pilgrim had been leaning over the spring； wherein
latterly a tear or two might have been seen to fall； and form its
little circle on the surface of the water。 She now looked up；
disclosing features still comely； but which had acquired an
expression of fretfulness； in the same long course of evil
fortune that had thrown a sullen gloom over the temper of the
unprosperous yeoman。
〃I am his wife；〃 said she； a shade of irritability just
perceptible in the sadness of her tone。 〃These poor little
things； asleep on the ground； are two of our children。 We had two
more； but God has provided better for them than we could； by
taking them to Himself。〃
〃And what would thee advise Josiah and me to do？〃 asked Miriam；
this being the first question which she had put to either of the
strangers。
〃 'Tis a thing almost against nature for a woman to try to part
true lovers；〃 answered the yeoman's wife； after a pause； 〃but
I'll speak as truly to you as if these were my dying words。
Though my husband told you some of our troubles； he didn't
mention the greatest； and that which makes all the rest so hard
to bear。 If you and your sweetheart marry； you'll be kind and
pleasant to each other for a year or two； and while that's the
case； you never will repent； but； by and by； he'll grow gloomy；
rough； and hard to please； and you'll be peevish； and full of
little angry fits； and apt to be complaining by the fireside；
when he comes to rest himself from his troubles out of doors； so
your love will wear away by little and little； and leave you
miserable at last。 It has been so with us； and yet my husband and
I were true lovers once； if ever two young folks were 。〃
As she ceased； the yeoman and his wife exchanged a glance； in
which there was more and warmer affection than they had supposed
to have escaped the frost of a wintry fate； in either of their
breasts。 At that moment； when they stood on the utmost verge of
married life； one word fitly spoken； or perhaps one peculiar
look； had they had mutual confidence enough to reciprocate it；
might have renewed all their old feelings； and sent them back；
resolved to sustain each other amid the struggles of the world。
But the crisis passed and never came again。 Just then； also； the
children； roused by their mother's voice； looked up； and added
their wailing accents to the testimony borne by all the
Canterbury pilgrims against the world from which they fled。
〃We are tired and hungry！〃 cried they。 〃Is it far to the Shaker
village？〃
The Shaker youth and maiden looked mournfully into each other's
eyes。 They had but stepped across the threshold of their homes；
when lo！ the dark array of cares and sorrows that rose up to warn
them back。 The varied narratives of the strangers had arranged
themselves into a parable； they seemed not merely instances of
woful fate that had befallen others； but shadowy omens of
disappointed hope and unavailing toil； domestic grief and
estranged affection； that would cloud the onward path of these
poor fugitives。 But after one instant's hesitation； they opened
their arms； and sealed their resol