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THE HEDGE.
Strange, strange, how small the big world is! "Why didn't you come right into the house ?" the sturdy farmer had asked me when I came out of the meadow where I had spent the night under the stars.
"Well," I said, turning the question as adroitly as I could, "I'll make it up by going into the house now." So I went with him into his fine, comfortable house.
"This is my wife," said he.
A woman stood there facing me.

"Oh!" she exclaimed, "Mr.Grayson!" I recalled swiftly a child--a child she seemed then--with braids down her back, whom I had known when I first came to my farm.

She had grown up, married, and had borne three children, while I had been looking the other way for a minute or two.

She had not been in our neighborhood for several years.
"And how is your sister and Doctor McAlway ?" Well, we had quite a wonderful visit, she made breakfast for me, asking and talking eagerly as I ate.
"We've just had news that old Mr.Toombs is dead." "Dead!" I exclaimed, dropping my fork; "old Nathan Toombs!" "Yes, he was my uncle.