After three years. Yes, but only a child of nine.

They decide to take him home for a month or two in the summer; and when they arrive home there is one natural boy in the city, at least. A boy without the mask of over-study or the mask of suppression by the law of discipline.

Let us compare him with the boys of his own age: He is clean, pure and strong. His eyes shine with a light of understanding and intelligence. He has no fear of anyone he meets. He is healthy and so natural that he stands out alone from the other boys. They in turn look upon him and wonder. When he talks, he uses only the simplest words and can converse with either boy or man. The father is proud of his son and takes him among his friends; but he sits quiet and listens to their conversations - never speaks unless he is asked a question then answers it to the point.

The father suggests a party once more. This time, not to decide a question; but to see the difference between his boy and the boys who have gone to school.

They come to the party; and each one is given a test question and a prize is given to the one who shows the most intelligence. His boy will not enter the contest. When asked by his father, he tells him it would not be fair to the other boys as he could answer any question or spell any word put to him; and he would not deprive any of the others the present. He did not need the present; so again he sits and listens. Yes, a good listener.

After the supper is over, all the boys go into a room alone to have games; but the room is soon quiet. One voice only can be heard.

The father looks into the room and sees all the boys sitting around his boy listening with their eyes and mouths open. His boy is telling them of the mountains, of the clouds, the sunsets, the beauties of the moon and the waters that come out of the mountain. He describes the trees and the different flowers and tells of the distance you can see and about the different birds and imitates their song almost to perfection. He tells of the noises the different insects make at night.

He paints mental pictures for these boys just as he had seen them in reality.

They all sat and listened to him until very late.

The father walked into the room and said, "Do you boys not think it is time to go home? It is past your bed time."

They get up to leave and as each passes the boy of the evening thank him for the wonderful story he had told them and asks when they can come again.

He smiled upon them and said, "When you want to."

At these words his father looked at him and his mind went back to the night of his decision three years ago. The mother had said, "I want to bring my boy up 'to want to' not 'to have to'." He could see now what she meant and how big and wonderful it is to be big because you 'want to'.

He asked his boy why he used these words.

His reply was: "I want only those who want to come of their own free will."

His father said, "They will surely want to."