That evening they talked of plans for the future.

“Let us seek work in one of the missionary stations,” said Gretchen, “or let us find a home among the Indians themselves.  I want to become a teacher among them, and I know that they would treat you well.”

Mrs. Woods’s views on these matters were changing, but something of her old distrust and prejudice remained despite her good resolutions.

“Foxes and geese were never made to hold conference meetings together.  You can’t make one man out of another if you try.”

“But, mother, your English ancestors once wandered about in sheep-skins, and worshiped the oaks; the whole English race, and the German race, were made what they are by teachers—­teachers who gave themselves to a cause almost two thousand years ago.”

“Yes, I suppose that is so.  But, Gretchen, I want your heart; I never thought that you would give it to the Injuns.  I ought not to be so ruled by my affections; but, if I do scold you, there is something in you that draws my heart toward you all the time.  I believe in helping others; something good in the future always comes of it.  If men would be good to each other, Heaven would be good to the world.  It is the things done here in this world that are out of order, and I never was on very good terms with myself even, not to say much of the world.  But you have helped me, Gretchen, and hymns have helped me.  I want you to be charitable toward my feelins’, Gretchen, when I grow old, and I pray that you will always be true to me.”

“I shall always be true to you, whatever I may be called to do.  I shall not leave you until you give your consent.  One day you will wish me to do as I have planned—­I feel it within me; something is leading me, and our hearts will soon be one in my plan of life.”

“It may be so, Gretchen.  I have had a hard time, goin’ out to service when I was a girl.  My only happy days were during the old Methody preaching of Jason Lee.  I thought I owned the heavens then.  It was then I married, and I said to husband:  ’Here we must always be slaves, and life will be master of us; let us go West, and own a free farm, and be masters of life.’  There is a great deal in being master of life.  Well, we have had a hard time, but husband has been good to me, and you have made me happy, if I have scolded.  Gretchen, some people kiss each other by scoldin’; I do—­I scold to make the world better.  I suppose everything is for the best, after all.  There is no experience in life that does not teach us something, and there is a better world beyond that awaits all who desire a better life.  Our desires are better than ourselves—­mine are.  Good desires are prayers, and I think that they will all be answered some day.”

She sat in silence, thinking of her lonely situation, of her ignorance and imperfection, of her often baffled struggles to do well in this world and to overcome her poor, weak self, and she burst into tears.