Motherlooked，andshehadtoseehowitwaswithhim；nodoubtshesawmorethanIdidfromhavingbeenthroughitherself，soshesmiledkindofahalf-sad，half-gladsmile。Thensheturnedtoherdamaskrosebush，theoneLucybroughtherfromthecity，andthatshewassopreciousabout，thatnoneofusdaredtouchit，andshesearchedalloveritandcarefullyselectedthemostperfectrose。WhensheborrowedLaddie’sknifeandcutthestemaslongasmyarm，Iknewexactlyhowgreatandsolemntheoccasionwas；foralwaysbeforeaboutsixincheshadbeenherlimit。Sheheldittowardhim，smilingbravelyandbeautifully，butthetearswererunningstraightdownhercheeks。
“Takeittoher，“shesaid。“Ithink，myson，itisverylike。“
Laddietookherinhisarmsandwipedawaythetears；hetoldhereverythingwouldcomeoutallrightaboutGod，andthemystery，even。Thenhepickedmeclearofftheground，andhetriedtoseehownearhecouldcometocrackingeveryboneinmybodywithoutreallydoingit，andhekissedmeoverandover。Ithadn’tbeensoeasy，butIguessyou’lladmitthatpaid。Thenherodeawaywiththedamaskrosewavingoverhisheart。MotherandIstoodbesidethehitchingrackandlookedafterhim，withourarmstightaroundeachotherwhilewetriedtoseewhichonecouldbawlthehardest。
CHAPTERXVI
TheHomingPigeon“Amillstoneandthehumanheart，Areeverdrivenround，Andifthey’venothingelsetogrind，Theymustthemselvesbeground。“