
ALMOST A MAN.
CONTENTS.
PRELUDE.
ALMOST A MAN.
A GATEWAY AND A GIFT.
THE WHITE CROSS.
At the edge of a sun‑kissed meadow two young boys stand before the gate that leads into the tangled roads of youth. An angel appears, offering each a mysterious gift that can be heard only when the ear is turned aside from the clamor of personal desire. One boy hears a seductive, entrancing melody that promises pleasure for himself, while the other perceives a softer strain that sounds like children’s laughter and a mother’s lullaby. Their different responses set them on diverging paths, hinting at the moral crossroads that will shape their futures.
The narrative follows the boys as they wander through bright clearings and shadowed valleys, confronting success, disappointment, and the lure of selfish ambition. Through vivid scenes of love, loss, and moments of quiet revelation, the story examines how a single choice—whether to listen for self‑interest or for the welfare of others—can echo through a lifetime. A gentle, philosophic tone invites listeners to reflect on the gifts they carry and the responsibilities that come with growing into manhood.
Language
en
Duration
~1 hours (73K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Meredith Bach, Katherine Ward and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive/Canadian Libraries)
Release date
2009-06-06
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
Subjects

1841–1908
A pioneering doctor and reformer, she wrote frank, practical books on health and self-improvement for women and children at a time when such subjects were rarely discussed openly. Her work joined medicine, education, and social activism in a way that made her a widely heard public voice.
View all books
by Mary Wood-Allen

by Mary Wood-Allen

by Herodotus

by Maria Edgeworth

by Stendhal

by Edward Prime-Stevenson

by Ernest Thompson Seton

by James Otis