Joseph walked hurriedly to the trunk and looked up at the branches. “Why, it seems all right.” He paused and ran his hand over the bark. “That was funny. When I looked at it, I thought something was wrong with it. It was just a feeling, I guess.” And he continued, “I didn’t want Burton to go away. It splits the family.”
Joseph walked slowly, with his head down. “You know I’m responsible for Burton’s going.”
“No you aren’t. He wanted to go.”
“It was because of the tree,” Joseph went on. “He said I worshipped it.” Joseph’s eyes raised to the tree, and suddenly he stood still, startled. “Thomas, look at the tree!”
“I see it. What’s the matter?”
Joseph walked hurriedly to the trunk and looked up at the branches. “Why, it seems all right.” He paused and ran his hand over the bark. “That was funny. When I looked at it, I thought something was wrong with it. It was just a feeling, I guess.” And he continued, “I didn’t want Burton to go away. It splits the family.”
