I mean -- that an angel's wings may get over the rough ground where poor human feet must stumble." How much the eyes were saying that looked at each other! "There is provision even for that," she answered.

"'As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings,' so the Lord declares he did once lead his people, -- and he will again, -- over rough ground or smooth." "My dear mother," said Rufus, "you are very good, and I -- am not very good." "I don't know that that is much to the point," she said smiling a little.
"Yes it is." "Do you mean to say you cannot go the road that others have gone, with the same help ?" "If I should say yes, I suppose you would disallow it," he replied, beginning to walk up and down again; "but my consciousness remains the same." There was both trouble and dissatisfaction in his face.
"Will your consciousness stand this?
-- 'Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall; but they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength: they shall mount up with wings as eagles,' -- just what you were wishing for, Rufus; -- 'they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.'" He was silent a minute; and then replied, "That will always continue to be realized by some and not by others." "If you were as easily disheartened in another line, Rufus, you would never go through College." "My dear mother!" he said, "if you were to knock all my opinions to pieces with the Bible, it wouldn't change me." "I know it!" she said.
There was extreme depression in voice and lip, and she bent down her face on her hand.
Two turns the length of the room Rufus took; then he came to the back of her chair and laid his hand upon her shoulder.
"But mother," he said cheerfully, "you haven't told us the way to escape disappointments yet; I didn't understand it.

For aught I see, everybody has his share.

Even you -- and I don't know who deserves them less -- even you, I am afraid, are disappointed, in me." It was as much as he could do, evidently, to say that; his eyes were brilliant through fire and water at once.

She lifted up her head, but was quite silent.
"How is it, mamma?
or how can it be ?" "I must take you to the Bible again, Rufus." "Well, ma'am, I'll go with you.