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Bates, Arlo, 1850-1918

"The Puritans"

Suddenly she turned, with an outburst
almost passionate:--
"O Philip!" she exclaimed. "Can't you see? My son! Surely if there is
anything in this world that is holy, that is entirely pure and noble,
it is parentage. Do you suppose that all the churches in the world,
with authority or without it, could make Grant and me feel that there
is anything higher for us than to take our little son in our arms and
thank God for him!"
He did not answer, and she controlled her emotion, smiling at her own
extravagance, while she wiped away a tear. She kissed the picture, and
put it in its place; then she returned to her chair by the fire.
"I don't expect you to understand my feeling," she said. "You never can
until you have a son of your own. If a little cherub like Grey puts his
baby hands into your eyes and pulls your hair, you'll suddenly discover
that a good many of your old theories have evaporated."
"But, Cousin Helen," he began hesitatingly, "certainly there is often
sin"--
She interrupted him indignantly.
"There is no sin in faithful, loving, self-respecting marriage," she
insisted. "That is what I am talking about.


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