It was of heaven, not of earth; or, rather, like everything that is perfect, it partook both of earth and heaven.

Yes, yes, it wandered up the mountain paths of earth to the pure heights of heaven, where now it dwells for ever.
The boy Ralph grew up fair and brave and strong, with keen grey eyes and a steady mouth, nor did I know any lad of his years who could equal him in strength and swiftness of foot; for, though in youth he was not over tall, he was broad in the breast and had muscles that never seemed to tire.

Now, we Boers think little of book learning, holding, as we do, that if a man can read the Holy Word it is enough.

Still Jan and I thought as Ralph was not of our blood, though otherwise in all ways a son to us, that it was our duty to educate him as much in the fashion of his own people as our circumstances would allow.

Therefore, after he had been with us some two years, when one day the Hollander tutor man, with the blue spectacles, of whom I have spoken, rode up to our house upon his mule, telling us that he had fled from the Van Voorens because he could no longer bear witness to the things that were practised at their stead, we engaged him to teach Ralph and Suzanne.