'I never hear it, Cousin Manasseh,' she said, softly; 'but do
not think of the voices. Tell me of the land you hope to enclose
from the forest — what manner of trees grow on it?'
Thus, by simple questions on practical affairs, she led him
back, in her unconscious wisdom, to the subjects on which he had
always shown strong practical sense. He talked on these with all
due discretion till the hour for family prayer came round, which
was early in those days. It was Manasseh's place to conduct it, as
head of the family; a post which his mother had always been anxious
to assign to him since her husband's death. He prayed extempore;
and to-night his supplications wandered off into wild, unconnected
fragments of prayer, which all those kneeling around began, each
according to her anxie
