Free A Dream for Tomorrow by Melody Carlson

supplied.
    His brown eyes lit up. “You know that poem?”
    “I remember it. It always seemed a sad one to me.”
    He nodded. “It seems like a young person’s sort of poem. I had to memorize it as a lad.”
    “Do you still know it?”
    “Only the last few lines.”
    “Say them,” she challenged.
    He laughed uncomfortably as he looked up at the sky. “Let me see…” And then in a deep orator’s tone, he began to recite.
    To each his sufferings: all are men,
    Condemned alike to groan;
    The tender for another’s pain,
    The unfeeling for his own.
    Yet ah! why should they know their fate?
    Since sorrow never comes too late,
    And happiness too swiftly flies.
    Thought would destroy their paradise.
    No more; where ignorance is bliss,
    ’Tis folly to be wise.
    Despite the warm sun overhead, she felt gooseflesh on her arms. “I haven’t heard that poem in years…I’m astonished at the meaning of it now.”
    “In some ways it seems to typify your life at the moment…don’t you think?”
    She simply nodded. “The part about feeling another’s pain…”
    “And how sorrow never shows up late…and happiness too swiftly flies.”
    “But you don’t agree with Gray, do you?” she asked. “Certainly, you wouldn’t trade wisdom for bliss?”
    He rubbed his chin in a thoughtful way. “Sometimes I would.”
    She was surprised by this and didn’t try to conceal it.
    “But most of the time I wouldn’t,” he assured her. “The truth is I believe that happiness and wisdom can be compatible. At least I hope so.” He removed his hat, running his fingers through his dark wavy hair with a faraway look in his eyes. “That’s why I decided to go west. I hoped I might eventually find happiness…and I hoped to use my wisdom along the way.”
    “And so far?”
    He looked at her, and his serious expression was absorbed by a smile. “So far…so good.”

Chapter Seven

    T hat same evening, after supper, Will came to Elizabeth’s camp and paid a visit to Mrs. Taylor in the back of Elizabeth’s wagon. He stayed for the best part of an hour. Elizabeth and Ruth were just finishing up the supper dishes when he finally emerged.
    “How did that go?” she asked as she set a cast-iron skillet on the fire to dry.
    “I’m not sure.” He glanced over his shoulder back toward the wagon. “She is a stubborn woman.”
    Elizabeth couldn’t help but chuckle over this. “But sometimes stubbornness is a good quality.”
    “Sometimes.” His brow creased as he patted Ruth on the head. But Elizabeth sensed this wasn’t a conversation he wanted to have in the presence of children.
    “Thanks for your help,” she told Ruth. “Now you can go over to Uncle Matthew’s wagon and listen to the music if you like.”
    “That sounds like a good idea,” Will said. “I’ll bet that’s where my children are headed by now. We certainly have some fine musicians in our unit.”
    After Ruth left, Will quietly told Elizabeth a bit about the conversation. “She feels like she’s reached the end of her rope,” he explained.
    “What?”
    “She wants to die.”
    “Oh…” Elizabeth wasn’t very surprised.
    “I got her to admit that she really has no one to go back to in the East.”
    “I was worried that might be her situation.”
    “And now she is afraid that she will be a burden to the mission in Fort Walla Walla.”
    “I can understand that.” In fact, Elizabeth couldn’t help but think Mrs. Taylor was a burden right now. But she wouldn’t voice this aloud.
    “I tried to make it clear to her that she is responsible for herself and her own well-being. And I told her it was impolite for her to continue taking unfair advantage of your hospitality. I told her that you have enough on your hands with your children and this trip without having an invalid to care for as well.”
    “You said that?” Elizabeth’s hand flew to her mouth.
    “I did.” He smiled. “Perhaps a bit more gently. But I wanted her to grasp the gravity