'"
But the professor only shook his head. "It wouldn't do," he said. And
Samuel, pondering and seeking as ever, came to a sudden comprehension.
"I see," he exclaimed. "What is needed is action!"
"Action?"
"Yes--it's for us who are beaten to teach it; and to teach it in our
lives. It's a sort of revival that is needed, you see."
"But I don't see the need," laughed the other, interested in spite of
himself.
"That's because you aren't one of us!" cried Samuel vehemently.
"Nobody else can understand--nobody! It's easy to be one of the
successes of life. You have a comfortable home and plenty to eat and
all. But when you've failed--when you're down and out--then you have
to bear hunger and cold and sickness. And there is grief and fear and
despair--you can have no idea of it! Why, I've met a little girl in
this town. She works in the cotton mill, and it's just killed her by
inches, body and soul. And even so, she can only get half a day's
work; and the mother is trying to support the little children by
sewing--and they're all just dying of slow starvation. This very
morning they asked me to stay to breakfast, and I refused, because I
knew they had only some bread and a few potatoes, and it wasn't enough
for one person. You see, it's so slow--it's such a terribly long
process--this starving people off by inches. And keeping them always
tormented by hope.
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