Hot Weather, Camp Meeting, Second World War, First World War and Poetry Summary and Analysis

It is July 1939 and the hot weather gives White the feeling of languid sadness when people disappear from their usual environments to find more comfortable surroundings. One bright spot during the sweltering heat is the gift of a baby seagull given to White by Mr. Dameron. The gull adopts White enthusiastically as his parent and White dotes on the small creature and hopes he can see it fly majestically one day.

In Camp Meeting White attends a Methodist revival in the woods to hear the speaker, Dr. Francis E. Townsend, talk about his financial plan for taking care of the elderly in the United States. White is somewhat interested in the topic but finds it interesting that Townsend delivers...