\"Well,thankGod,braveIdaMayhewputanhonorablepurposeinmyheartbeforeIdied,andImeanttohavecarrieditout.There\'snouseofpraying,foritseemsasifIwerenomorethanoneofthesemillionsofleavesovermyheadwhenitfallsfromitsplace.
NatureispitilessandGodisascoldtowardsmeasIwasoncetoonewhoturnedherappealingeyestomeforalittlekindnessandsympathy.OGod!ifImustdie,letitbesoon,formypainandthirstarebecomingintolerable.\"
Thedawnwasnowbrighteningtheeast.Natureasiftiredofwaiting——likesomeprofessedfriends——foronewhowaslongindying,ceaseditsbreathlesshush.Afreshbreezerustledthemotionlessleaves,birdswithdrewtheirheadsfromundertheirwings,andbeganthetwitteringpreliminarytotheirmorningsongs;andtwosquirrels,springingfromtheirnestinahollowtree,likechildrenfromacottagedoor,scrambleddownandoverVanBerg\'sprostrateformintheirwildsport,buthewastooweak,toofargoneindull,heavyapathytoheedthem.
Atlasthethoughthewasdying,andhebecameunconscious.
Helearnedthatitwasonlyaswoonfromthefactthatherevivedagain,andwasdimlyconsciousofsoundsnearhim.Itseemedtohimthathewashalfasleep,andthathecouldnotwakeupsufficientlytodistinguishwhetherthesoundswereheardinadreamorinreality.