I told you once that they haven't got any
idea of that in the country. I don't expect to preach it into them;
they wouldn't like it if I did; and they'd make fun of it; but if I
could try to _live_ it?"
"Yes," said Sewell, touched by this young enthusiasm.
"I don't know as I can all the time," said Lemuel. "But it seems to
me that that's what I've learnt here, if I've learnt anything. I
think the world's a good deal better than I used to."
"Do you indeed, my dear boy?" asked Sewell, greatly interested.
"It's a pretty well-meaning world--I hope it is."
"Yes, that's what I mean," said Lemuel. "I presume it ain't
perfect--isn't, I should say," and Sewell smiled. "Mr. Corey was always
correcting me on that. But if I were to do nothing but pass along
the good that's been done me since I came here, I should be kept
busy the rest of my life."
Sewell knew that this emotion was largely the physical optimism of
convalescence; but he could not refuse the comfort it gave him to
find Barker in such a mood, and he did not conceive it his duty to
discourage it. Lofty ideals, if not indulged at the expense of lowly
realities, he had never found hurtful to any; and it was certainly
better for Barker to think too well than too ill of Boston, if it
furnished him incentives to unselfish living. He could think of
enough things in the city to warrant a different judgment, but if
Barker's lesson from his experience there was this, Sewell was not
the person to weaken its force with him.
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