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diff --git a/15410-h/15410-h.htm b/15410-h/15410-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..a0caca0 --- /dev/null +++ b/15410-h/15410-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,4731 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> +<html> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=ISO-8859-1" /> +<title>The Project Gutenberg eBook of A Little Pilgrim , by Mrs. Oliphant</title> + <style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ +<!-- + p { margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; + } + hr { width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; + } + + table {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;} + + body{margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + } + + .linenum {position: absolute; top: auto; left: 4%;} /* poetry number */ + .blockquot{margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 10%;} + .pagenum {position: absolute; left: 92%; font-size: smaller; text-align: right;} /* page numbers */ + .sidenote {width: 20%; padding-bottom: .5em; padding-top: .5em; + padding-left: .5em; padding-right: .5em; margin-left: 1em; + float: right; clear: right; margin-top: 1em; + font-size: smaller; background: #eeeeee; border: dashed 1px;} + + .bb {border-bottom: solid 2px;} + .bl {border-left: solid 2px;} + .bt {border-top: solid 2px;} + .br {border-right: solid 2px;} + .bbox {border: solid 2px;} + + .center {text-align: center;} + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + .u {text-decoration: underline;} + + .caption {font-weight: bold;} + + .figcenter {margin: auto; text-align: center;} + + .figleft {float: left; clear: left; margin-left: 0; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: + 1em; margin-right: 1em; padding: 0; text-align: center;} + + .figright {float: right; clear: right; margin-left: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; + margin-top: 1em; margin-right: 0; padding: 0; text-align: center;} + + .footnotes {border: dashed 1px;} + .footnote {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-size: 0.9em;} + .footnote .label {position: absolute; right: 84%; text-align: right;} + .fnanchor {vertical-align: super; font-size: .8em; text-decoration: none;} + + .poem {margin-left:10%; margin-right:10%; text-align: left;} + .poem br {display: none;} + .poem .stanza {margin: 1em 0em 1em 0em;} + .poem span {display: block; margin: 0; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + .poem span.i2 {display: block; margin-left: 2em;} + .poem span.i4 {display: block; margin-left: 4em;} + hr.full { width: 100%; } + pre {font-size: 8pt;} + // --> + /* XML end ]]>*/ + </style> +</head> +<body> +<h1>The Project Gutenberg eBook, A Little Pilgrim , by Mrs. Oliphant</h1> +<pre> +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at <a href = "https://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a></pre> +<p>Title: A Little Pilgrim </p> +<p>Author: Mrs. Oliphant</p> +<p>Release Date: March 19, 2005 [eBook #15410]</p> +<p>Language: English</p> +<p>Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1</p> +<p>***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A LITTLE PILGRIM ***</p> +<p> </p> +<h3>E-text prepared by David Garcia, Josephine Paolucci,<br /> + and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team</h3> +<p> </p> +<hr class="full" /> +<p> </p> + +<!-- Autogenerated TOC. Modify or delete as required. --> +<p> + <a href="#In_Memoriam"><b>In Memoriam</b></a><br /> + <a href="#A_LITTLE_PILGRIM"><b>A LITTLE PILGRIM IN THE UNSEEN</b></a><br /> + <a href="#THE_LITTLE_PILGRIM"><b>THE LITTLE PILGRIM GOES UP HIGHER</b></a><br /> + <a href="#COMPLETE_EDITIONS_OF_THE_POETS"><b>COMPLETE EDITIONS OF THE POETS.</b></a><br /><br /> + </p> +<!-- End Autogenerated TOC. --> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + +<h1>A LITTLE PILGRIM</h1> + +<h2>IN THE UNSEEN</h2> + +<h3><i>By Mrs. Oliphant</i>.</h3> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<h3> +Puro e disposto a salire alle stelle.<br /> +<br /> +<i>Purgaterio</i>, Canto xxxiii.<br /> +</h3> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + + +<h6>London<br /> +MacMillan and Co., Limited<br /> +New York: The MacMillan Company</h6> + +<h4>1899</h4> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + +<p>The sympathetic reader will easily understand +that the following pages were never +meant to be connected with any author's +name. They sprang out of those thoughts +that arise in the heart, when the door of +the Unseen has been suddenly opened close +by us; and are little more than a wistful +attempt to follow a gentle soul which never +knew doubt into the New World, and to +catch a glimpse of something of its glory +through her simple and child-like eyes.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="In_Memoriam" id="In_Memoriam"></a>In Memoriam</h2> + +<p>E.C.</p> + +<p>25TH FEBRUARY 1882</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="A_LITTLE_PILGRIM" id="A_LITTLE_PILGRIM"></a>A LITTLE PILGRIM</h2> + +<h2>IN THE UNSEEN</h2> + + +<p>She had been talking of dying only the +evening before, with a friend, and had +described her own sensations after a long +illness when she had been at the point of +death. "I suppose," she said, "that I was +as nearly gone as any one ever was to +come back again. There was no pain in +it, only a sense of sinking down, down—through +the bed as if nothing could hold +me or give me support enough—but no +pain." And then they had spoken of +another friend in the same circumstances, +who also had come back from the very +verge, and who described her sensations +as those of one floating upon a summer +sea without pain or suffering, in a lovely +nook of the Mediterranean, blue as the +sky. These soft and soothing images of +the passage which all men dread had been +talked over with low voices, yet with smiles +and a grateful sense that "the warm precincts +of the cheerful day" were once more +familiar to both. And very cheerfully she +went to rest that night, talking of what +was to be done on the morrow, and fell +asleep sweetly in her little room, with its +shaded light and curtained window, and +little pictures on the dim walls. All was +quiet in the house: soft breathing of the +sleepers, soft murmuring of the spring wind +outside, a wintry moon very clear and full +in the skies, a little town all hushed and +quiet, everything lying defenceless, unconscious, +in the safe keeping of God.</p> + +<p>How soon she woke no one can tell. +She woke and lay quite still, half roused, +half hushed, in that soft languor that +attends a happy waking. She was happy +always in the peace of a heart that was +humble and faithful and pure, but yet had +been used to wake to a consciousness of +little pains and troubles, such as even to +her meekness were sometimes hard to +bear. But on this morning there were +none of these. She lay in a kind of hush +of happiness and ease, not caring to make +any further movement, lingering over the +sweet sensation of that waking. She had +no desire to move nor to break the spell +of the silence and peace. It was still very +early, she supposed, and probably it might +be hours yet before any one came to call +her. It might even be that she should +sleep again. She had no wish to move, +she lay in such luxurious ease and calm. +But by and by, as she came to full possession +of her waking senses, it appeared to +her that there was some change in the +atmosphere, in the scene. There began +to steal into the air about her the soft +dawn as of a summer morning, the lovely +blueness of the first opening of daylight +before the sun. It could not be the light +of the moon which she had seen before +she went to bed; and all was so still that +it could not be the bustling wintry day +which comes at that time of the year late, +to find the world awake before it. This +was different; it was like the summer +dawn, a soft suffusion of light growing +every moment. And by and by it occurred +to her that she was not in the little room +where she had lain down. There were no +dim walls or roof, her little pictures were +all gone, the curtains at her window. The +discovery gave her no uneasiness in that +delightful calm. She lay still to think of +it all, to wonder, yet undisturbed. It half +amused her that these things should be +changed, but did not rouse her yet with +any shock of alteration. The light grew +fuller and fuller round, growing into day, +clearing her eyes from the sweet mist of +the first waking. Then she raised herself +upon her arm. She was not in her room, +she was in no scene she knew. Indeed it +was scarcely a scene at all—nothing but +light, so soft and lovely that it soothed +and caressed her eyes. She thought all +at once of a summer morning when she +was a child, when she had woke in the +deep night which yet was day, early—so +early that the birds were scarcely astir—and +had risen up with a delicious sense +of daring, and of being all alone in the +mystery of the sunrise, in the unawakened +world which lay at her feet to be explored, +as if she were Eve just entering upon +Eden. It was curious how all those +childish sensations, long forgotten, came +back to her as she found herself so unexpectedly +out of her sleep in the open air +and light. In the recollection of that +lovely hour, with a smile at herself, so +different as she now knew herself to be, +she was moved to rise and look a little +more closely about her and see where she +was.</p> + +<p>When I call her a little Pilgrim, I do +not mean that she was a child; on the +contrary, she was not even young. She +was little by nature, with as little flesh and +blood as was consistent with mortal life; +and she was one of those who are always +little for love. The tongue found diminutives +for her; the heart kept her in a perpetual +youth. She was so modest and so +gentle that she always came last so long as +there was any one whom she could put before +her. But this little body, and the soul +which was not little, and the heart which +was big and great, had known all the round +of sorrows that fill a woman's life, without +knowing any of its warmer blessings. She +had nursed the sick, she had entertained +the weary, she had consoled the dying. +She had gone about the world, which +had no prize nor recompense for her, with +a smile. Her little presence had been +always bright. She was not clever; you +might have said she had no mind at all; +but so wise and right and tender a heart +that it was as good as genius. This is to +let you know what this little Pilgrim had +been.</p> + +<p>She rose up, and it was strange how like +she felt to the child she remembered in +that still summer morning so many years +ago. Her little body, which had been +worn and racked with pain, felt as light +and unconscious of itself as then. She +took her first step forward with the same +sense of pleasure, yet of awe, suppressed +delight and daring and wild adventure, yet +perfect safety. But then the recollection +of the little room in which she had fallen +asleep came quickly, strangely over her, +confusing her mind. "I must be dreaming, +I suppose," she said to herself regretfully; +for it was all so sweet that she +wished it to be true. Her movement +called her attention to herself, and she +found that she was dressed, not in her +night-dress, as she had lain down, but in a +dress she did not know. She paused for +a moment to look at it and wonder. She +had never seen it before; she did not +make out how it was made, or what stuff +it was; but it fell so pleasantly about her, +it was so soft and light, that in her confused +state she abandoned that subject with only +an additional sense of pleasure. And now +the atmosphere became more distinct to +her. She saw that under her feet was a +greenness as of close velvet turf, both cool +and warm, cool and soft to touch, but with +no damp in it, as might have been at that +early hour, and with flowers showing here +and there. She stood looking round her, +not able to identify the landscape because +she was still confused a little, and then +walked softly on, all the time afraid lest +she should awake and lose the sweetness +of it all, and the sense of rest and happiness. +She felt so light, so airy, as if she +could skim across the field like any child. +It was bliss enough to breathe and move +with every organ so free. After more than +fifty years of hard service in the world to +feel like this, even in a dream! She smiled +to herself at her own pleasure; and then +once more, yet more potently, there came +back upon her the appearance of her room +in which she had fallen asleep. How had +she got from there to here? Had she +been carried away in her sleep, or was +it only a dream, and would she by and by +find herself between the four dim walls +again? Then this shadow of recollection +faded away once more, and she moved forward, +walking in a soft rapture over the +delicious turf. Presently she came to a +little mound upon which she paused to +look about her. Every moment she saw +a little farther: blue hills far away, extending +in long sweet distance, an indefinite +landscape, but fair and vast, so that there +could be seen no end to it, not even the +line of the horizon—save at one side, where +there seemed to be a great shadowy gateway, +and something dim beyond. She +turned from the brightness to look at this, +and when she had looked for some time +she saw what pleased her still more, though +she had been so happy before—people coming +in. They were too far off for her to +see clearly, but many came, each apart, +one figure only at a time. To watch them +amused her in the delightful leisure of her +mind. Who were they? she wondered; +but no doubt soon some of them would +come this way, and she would see. Then +suddenly she seemed to hear, as if in +answer to her question, some one say, +"Those who are coming in are the people +who have died on earth." "Died!" she +said to herself aloud, with a wondering +sense of the inappropriateness of the word, +which almost came the length of laughter. +In this sweet air, with such a sense of life +about, to suggest such an idea was almost +ludicrous. She was so occupied with this +that she did not look round to see who the +speaker might be. She thought it over, +amused, but with some new confusion of +the mind. Then she said, "Perhaps I +have died too," with a laugh to herself at +the absurdity of the thought.</p> + +<p>"Yes," said the other voice, echoing that +gentle laugh of hers, "you have died +too."</p> + +<p>She turned round and saw another standing +by her—a woman, younger and fairer +and more stately than herself, but of so +sweet a countenance that our little Pilgrim +felt no shyness, but recognised a friend at +once. She was more occupied looking at +this new face, and feeling herself at once +so much happier (though she had been so +happy before) in finding a companion who +could tell her what everything was, than +in considering what these words might +mean. But just then once more the recollection +of the four walls, with their little +pictures hanging, and the window with its +curtains drawn, seemed to come round her +for a moment, so that her whole soul was +in a confusion. And as this vision slowly +faded away (though she could not tell +which was the vision, the darkened room +or this lovely light), her attention came +back to the words at which she had laughed, +and at which the other had laughed as she +repeated them. Died?—was it possible +that this could be the meaning of it all.</p> + +<p>"Died?" she said, looking with wonder +in her companion's face, which smiled back +to her. "But do you mean—? You +cannot mean—? I have never been so +well. I am so strong. I have no trouble +anywhere. I am full of life."</p> + +<p>The other nodded her beautiful head +with a more beautiful smile, and the little +Pilgrim burst out in a great cry of joy, +and said—</p> + +<p>"Is this all? Is it over?—is it all over? +Is it possible that this can be all?"</p> + +<p>"Were you afraid of it?" the other said. +There was a little agitation for the +moment in her heart. She was so glad, +so relieved and thankful, that it took away +her breath. She could not get over the +wonder of it.</p> + +<p>"To think one should look forward to +it so long, and wonder and be even unhappy +trying to divine what it will be—and +this all!"</p> + +<p>"Ah, but the angel was very gentle with +you," said the young woman. "You were +so tender and worn that he only smiled +and took you sleeping. There are other +ways; but it is always wonderful to think +it is over, as you say."</p> + +<p>The little Pilgrim could do nothing but +talk of it, as one does after a very great +event. "Are you sure, quite sure, it is +so?" she said. "It would be dreadful to +find it only a dream, to go to sleep again, +and wake up—there—" This thought +troubled her for a moment. The vision +of the bedchamber came back, but this +time she felt it was only a vision. "Were +you afraid too?" she said, in a low voice.</p> + +<p>"I never thought of it at all," the beautiful +stranger said. "I did not think it +would come to me; but I was very sorry +for the others to whom it came, and grudged +that they should lose the beautiful earth +and life, and all that was so sweet."</p> + +<p>"My dear!" cried the Pilgrim, as if she +had never died, "oh, but this is far sweeter! +and the heart is so light, and it is happiness +only to breathe. Is it heaven here? +It must be heaven."</p> + +<p>"I do not know if it is heaven. We +have so many things to learn. They cannot +tell you everything at once," said the +beautiful lady. "I have seen some of the +people I was sorry for, and when I told +them, we laughed—as you and I laughed +just now—for pleasure."</p> + +<p>"That makes me think," said the little +Pilgrim. "If I have died as you say—which +is so strange and me so living—if +I have died, they will have found it out. +The house will be all dark, and they will +be breaking their hearts. Oh, how could +I forget them in my selfishness, and be +happy! I so lighthearted while they—"</p> + +<p>She sat down hastily and covered her +face with her hands and wept. The other +looked at her for a moment, then kissed +her for comfort and cried too. The two +happy creatures sat there weeping together, +thinking of those they had left behind, +with an exquisite grief which was not unhappiness, +which was sweet with love and +pity. "And oh," said the little Pilgrim, +"what can we do to tell them not to grieve? +Cannot you send, cannot you speak—cannot +one go to tell them?"</p> + +<p>The heavenly stranger shook her head.</p> + +<p>"It is not well, they all say. Sometimes +one has been permitted; but they do not +know you," she said, with a pitiful look in +her sweet eyes. "My mother told me +that her heart was so sick for me, she was +allowed to go; and she went and stood by +me, and spoke to me, and I did not know +her. She came back so sad and sorry that +they took her at once to our Father, and +there, you know, she found that it was all +well. All is well when you are there."</p> + +<p>"Ah," said the little Pilgrim, "I have +been thinking of other things—of how +happy I was, and of <i>them</i>, but never of +the Father—just as if I had not died."</p> + +<p>The other smiled upon her with a wonderful +smile.</p> + +<p>"Do you think He will be offended—our +Father? as if He were one of us?" +she said.</p> + +<p>And then the little Pilgrim, in her sudden +grief to have forgotten Him, became conscious +of a new rapture unexplainable in +words. She felt His understanding to +envelop her little spirit with a soft and +clear penetration, and that nothing she did +or said could ever be misconceived more. +"Will you take me to Him?" she said, +trembling yet glad, clasping her hands. +And once again the other shook her head.</p> + +<p>"They will take us both when it is time," +she said. "We do not go at our own will. +But I have seen our Brother—"</p> + +<p>"Oh, take me to Him!" the little Pilgrim +cried. "Let me see His face! I +have so many things to say to Him. I +want to ask him—Oh, take me to +where I can see His face!"</p> + +<p>And then once again the heavenly lady +smiled.</p> + +<p>"I have seen Him," she said. "He is +always about—now here, now there. He +will come and see you perhaps when you +are not thinking—but when He pleases. +We do not think here of what we will—"</p> + +<p>The little Pilgrim sat very still, wondering +at all this. She had thought when a +soul left the earth that it went at once to +God, and thought of nothing more except +worship and singing of praises. But this +was different from her thoughts. She sat +and pondered and wondered. She was +baffled at many points. She was not +changed as she expected, but so much like +herself still—still perplexed, and feeling +herself foolish, not understanding, toiling +after a something which she could not +grasp. The only difference was that it +was no trouble to her now. She smiled +at herself, and at her dulness, feeling sure +that by and by she would understand.</p> + +<p>"And don't you wonder too?" she said +to her companion, which was a speech such +as she used to make upon the earth where +people thought her little remarks disjointed, +and did not always see the connection of +them. But her friend of heaven knew +what she meant.</p> + +<p>"I do nothing but wonder," she said, "for +it is all so natural—not what we thought."</p> + +<p>"Is it long since you have been here?" +the Pilgrim said.</p> + +<p>"I came before you—but how long or +how short I cannot tell, for that is not how +we count. We count only by what happens +to us. And nothing yet has happened to me, +except that I have seen our Brother. My +mother sees Him always. That means she +has lived here a long time and well—"</p> + +<p>"Is it possible to live ill—in heaven?" +The little Pilgrim's eyes grew large as if +they were going to have tears in them, +and a little shadow seemed to come over +her. But the other laughed softly and +restored her confidence.</p> + +<p>"I have told you I do not know if it is +heaven or not. No one does ill, but some +do little and some do much, just as it used +to be. Do you remember in Dante there +was a lazy spirit that stayed about the +gates and never got farther? but perhaps +you never read that."</p> + +<p>"I was not clever," said the little Pilgrim, +wistfully. "No, I never read it. I wish I +had known more."</p> + +<p>Upon which the beautiful lady kissed +her again to give her courage, and said—</p> + +<p>"It does not matter at all. It all comes +to you whether you have known it or not."</p> + +<p>"Then your mother came here long +ago?" said the Pilgrim. "Ah, then I +shall see my mother too."</p> + +<p>"Oh, very soon—as soon as she can +come; but there are so many things to do. +Sometimes we can go and meet those who +are coming, but it is not always so. I +remember that she had a message. She +could not leave her business, you may be +sure, or she would have been here."</p> + +<p>"Then you know my mother? Oh, and +my dearest father too?"</p> + +<p>"We all know each other," the lady said +with a smile.</p> + +<p>"And you? did you come to meet me—only +out of kindness, though I do not know +you?" the little Pilgrim said.</p> + +<p>"I am nothing but an idler," said the +beautiful lady, "making acquaintance. I +am of little use as yet. I was very hard +worked before I came here, and they think +ft well that we should sit in the sun and +take a little rest and find things out."</p> + +<p>Then the little Pilgrim sat still and +mused, and felt in her heart that she had +found many things out. What she had +heard had been wonderful, and it was +more wonderful still to be sitting here all +alone save for this lady, yet so happy and +at ease. She wanted to sing, she was so +happy, but remembered that she was old +and had lost her voice, and then remembered +again that she was no longer old, +and perhaps had found it again. And +then it occurred to her to remember how +she had learned to sing, and how beautiful +her sister's voice was, and how heavenly +to hear her, which made her remember +that this dear sister would be weeping, not +singing, down where she had come from—and +immediately the tears stood in her +eyes.</p> + +<p>"Oh," she said, "I never thought we +should cry when we came here. I thought +there were no tears in heaven."</p> + +<p>"Did you think, then, that we were all +turned into stone?" cried the beautiful +lady. "It says, God shall wipe away all +tears from our faces, which is not like saying +there are to be no tears."</p> + +<p>Upon which the little Pilgrim, glad that +it was permitted to be sorry, though she +was so happy, allowed herself to think +upon the place she had so lately left. +And she seemed to see her little room +again with all the pictures hanging as she +had left them, and the house darkened, +and the dear faces she knew all sad and +troubled; and to hear them saying over +to each other all the little careless words +she had said as if they were out of the +Scriptures, and crying if any one but mentioned +her name, and putting on crape and +black dresses, and lamenting as if that +which had happened was something very +terrible. She cried at this and yet felt +half inclined to laugh, but would not because +it would be disrespectful to those she +loved. One thing did not occur to her, +and that was that they would be carrying +her body, which she had left behind her, +away to the grave. She did not think of +this because she was not aware of the loss, +and felt far too much herself to think that +there was another part of her being buried +in the ground. From this she was aroused +by her companion asking her a question.</p> + +<p>"Have you left many there?" she said.</p> + +<p>"No one," said the little Pilgrim, "to +whom I was the first on earth, but they +loved me all the same; and if I could only, +only let them know—"</p> + +<p>"But I left one to whom I was the first +on earth," said the other with tears in her +beautiful eyes, "and oh, how glad I should +be to be less happy if he might be less sad!"</p> + +<p>"And you cannot go? you cannot go to +him and tell him? Oh, I wish—" cried +the little Pilgrim; but then she paused, for +the wish died all away in her heart into a +tender love for this poor sorrowful man +whom she did not know. This gave her +the sweetest pang she had ever felt, for +she knew that all was well, and yet was so +sorry, and would have willingly given up +her happiness for his. All this the lady +read in her eyes or her heart, and loved +her for it; and they took hands and were +silent together, thinking of those they had +left, as we upon earth think of those who +have gone from us, but only with far more +understanding, and far greater love. "And +have you never been able to do anything +for him?" our Pilgrim said.</p> + +<p>Then the beautiful lady's face flushed all +over with the most heavenly warmth and +light. Her smile ran over like the bursting +out of the sun. "Oh, I will tell you," +she said. "There was a moment when he +was very sad and perplexed, not knowing +what to think. There was something he +could not understand; nor could I understand, +nor did I know what it was until it +was said to me, 'You may go and tell him.' +And I went in the early morning, before +he was awake, and kissed him, and said +it in his ear. He woke up in a moment +and understood, and everything was clear +to him. Afterwards I heard him say, 'It +is true that the night brings counsel. I +had been troubled and distressed all day +long, but in the morning it was quite clear +to me.' And the other answered, 'Your +brain was refreshed, and that made your +judgment clear.' But they never knew it +was I! That was a great delight. The +dear souls! they are so foolish," she cried +with the sweetest laughter that ran into +tears. "One cries because one is so +happy; it is a silly old habit," she said.</p> + +<p>"And you were not grieved, it did not +hurt you—that he did not know—"</p> + +<p>"Oh, not then; not then! I did not go +to him for that. When you have been +here a little longer you will see the difference. +When you go for yourself, out of +impatience, because it still seems to you +that you must know best, and they don't +know you—then it strikes to your heart; +but when you go to help them—ah," she +cried, "when he comes how much I shall +have to tell him! 'You thought it was sleep +when it was I—when you woke so fresh and +clear it was I that kissed you; you thought +it your duty to me to be sad afterwards and +were angry with yourself because you had +wronged me of the first thoughts of your +waking—when it was all me, all through!'"</p> + +<p>"I begin to understand," said the little +Pilgrim; "but why should they not see +us, and why should not we tell them? It +would seem so natural. If they saw us it +would make them so happy, and so sure."</p> + +<p>Upon this the lady shook her head.</p> + +<p>"The worst of it is not that they are not +sure—it is the parting. If this makes us +sorry here, how can they escape the sorrow +of it even if they saw us?—for we must be +parted. We cannot go back to live with +them, or why should we have died? And +then we must all live our lives—they in +their way, we in ours. We must not +weigh them down, but only help them +when it is seen that there is need for it. +All this we shall know better by and by."</p> + +<p>"You make it so clear, and your face is +so bright," said our little Pilgrim gratefully. +"You must have known a great deal, and +understood even when you were in the +world."</p> + +<p>"I was as foolish as I could be," said +the other, with her laugh that was as sweet +as music; "yet thought I knew, and they +thought I knew; but all that does not +matter now."</p> + +<p>"I think it matters, for look how much +you have shown me; but tell me one +thing more—how was it said to you that +you must go and tell him? Was it some +one who spoke—was it—"</p> + +<p>Her face grew so bright that all the past +brightness was as a dull sky to this. It +gave out such a light of happiness that the +little Pilgrim was dazzled.</p> + +<p>"I was wandering about," she said, "to +see this new place. My mother had come +back between two errands she had, and had +come to see me and tell me everything; +and I was straying about wondering what +I was to do, when suddenly I saw some one +coming along, as it might be now—"</p> + +<p>She paused and looked up, and the little +Pilgrim looked up too with her heart beating, +but there was no one. Then she gave +a little sigh, and turned and listened again.</p> + +<p>"I had not been looking for Him, or +thinking. You know my mind is too light. +I am pleased with whatever is before me; +and I was so curious, for my mother had +told me many things: when suddenly I +caught sight of Him passing by. He was +going on, and when I saw this a panic +seized me, lest He should pass and say +nothing. I do not know what I did. I +flung myself upon His robe, and got hold +of it, or at least I think so. I was in such +an agony lest He should pass and never +notice me. But that was my folly. He +pass! As if that could be!"</p> + +<p>"And what did He say to you?" cried +the little Pilgrim, her heart almost aching +it beat so high with sympathy and expectation.</p> + +<p>The lady looked at her for a little without +saying anything.</p> + +<p>"I cannot tell you," she said, "any more +than I can tell if this is heaven. It is a +mystery. When you see Him you will +know. It will be all you have ever hoped +for and more besides, for He understands +everything. He knows what is in our +hearts about those we have left, and why He +sent for us before them. There is no need +to tell Him anything; He knows. He +will come when it is time; and after you +have seen Him you will know what to do."</p> + +<p>Then the beautiful lady turned her eyes +towards the gate, and, while the little Pilgrim +was still gazing, disappeared from her, and +went to comfort some other stranger. They +were dear friends always, and met often, +but not again in the same way.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>When she was thus left alone again, +the little Pilgrim sat still upon the grassy +mound, quite tranquil and happy, without +wishing to move. There was such a sense +of wellbeing in her that she liked to sit +there and look about her, and breathe the +delightful air, like the air of a summer +morning, without wishing for anything.</p> + +<p>"How idle I am!" she said to herself, +in the very words she had often used +before she died; but then she was idle +from weakness, and now from happiness. +She wanted for nothing. To be alive was +so sweet. There was a great deal to think +about in what she had heard, but she did +not even think about that, only resigned +herself to the delight of sitting there in the +sweet air and being happy. Many people +were coming and going, and they all knew +her, and smiled upon her, and those who +were at a distance would wave their hands. +This did not surprise her at all, for though +she was a stranger, she, too, felt that she +knew them all; but that they should be +so kind was a delight to her which words +could not tell. She sat and mused very +sweetly about all that had been told her, +and wondered whether she, too, might go +sometimes, and, with a kiss and a whisper, +clear up something that was dark in the +mind of some one who loved her. "I that +never was clever!" she said to herself, with a +smile. And chiefly she thought of a friend +whom she loved, who was often in great +perplexity, and did not know how to guide +herself amid the difficulties of the world.</p> + +<p>The little Pilgrim half laughed with +delight, and then half cried with longing +to go, as the beautiful lady had done, and +make something clear that had been dark +before to this friend. As she was thinking +what a pleasure it would be, some one +came up to her, crossing over the flowery +greenness, leaving the path on purpose. +This was a being younger than the lady +who had spoken to her before, with flowing +hair all crisped with touches of sunshine, +and a dress all white and soft, like +the feathers of a white dove. There was +something in her face different from that +of the other, by which the little Pilgrim +knew somehow, without knowing how, +that she had come here as a child, and +grown up in this celestial place. She was +tall and fair, and came along with so +musical a motion, as if her foot scarcely +touched the ground, that she might have +had wings. And the little Pilgrim indeed +was not sure as she watched, whether it +might not perhaps be an angel, for she +knew that there were angels among the +blessed people who were coming and going +about, but had not been able yet to find +one out. She knew that this new-comer +was coming to her, and turned towards +her with a smile and a throb at her heart +of expectation. But when the heavenly +maiden drew nearer, her face, though it +was so fair, looked to the Pilgrim like +another face, which she had known very +well—indeed, like the homely and troubled +face of the friend of whom she had been +thinking. And so she smiled all the more, +and held out her hands and said—"I am +sure I know you," upon which the other +kissed her, and said, "We all know each +other; but I have seen you often before +you came here," and knelt down by her, +among the flowers that were growing, just +in front of some tall lilies that grew over +her, and made a lovely canopy over her +head. There was something in her face +that was like a child—her mouth so soft +as if it had never spoken anything but +heavenly words, her eyes brown and golden +as if they were filled with light. She took +the little Pilgrim's hands in hers, and held +them and smoothed them between her own. +These hands had been very thin and worn +before, but now, when the Pilgrim looked +at them, she saw that they became softer +and whiter every moment with the touch +of this immortal youth.</p> + +<p>"I knew you were coming," said the +maiden. "When my mother has wanted +me I have seen you there. And you were +thinking of her now—that was how I found +you."</p> + +<p>"Do you know, then, what one thinks?" +said the little Pilgrim with wondering eyes.</p> + +<p>"It is in the air; and when it concerns +us it comes to us like the breeze. But +we who are the children here, we feel it +more quickly than you."</p> + +<p>"Are you a child?" said the little Pilgrim, +"or are you an angel? Sometimes +you are like a child; but then your face +shines and you are like—you must have +some name for it here; there is nothing +among the words I know." And then she +paused a little, still looking at her, and +cried, "Oh, if she could but see you, little +Margaret! That would do her most good +of all."</p> + +<p>Then the maiden Margaret shook her +lovely head. "What does her most good +is the will of the Father," she said.</p> + +<p>At this the little Pilgrim felt once more +that thrill of expectation and awe. "Oh, +child, you have seen Him?" she cried.</p> + +<p>And the other smiled. "Have you forgotten +who they are that always behold +His face? We have never had any fear +or trembling. We are not angels, and there +is no other name; we are the children. +There is something given to us beyond +the others. We have had no other home."</p> + +<p>"Oh, tell me, tell me!" the little Pilgrim +cried.</p> + +<p>Upon this Margaret kissed her, putting +her soft cheek against hers, and said, "It +is a mystery; it cannot be put into words; +in your time you will know."</p> + +<p>"When you touch me you change me, +and I grow like you," the Pilgrim said. +"Ah, if she could see us together, you and +me! And will you go to her soon again? +And do you see them always—what they +are doing? and take care of them?"</p> + +<p>"It is our Father who takes care of +them, and our Lord who is our Brother. +I do His errands when I am able. Sometimes +He will let me go, sometimes another, +according as it is best. Who am I that I +should take care of them? I serve them +when I may."</p> + +<p>"But you do not forget them?" the +Pilgrim said, with wistful eyes.</p> + +<p>"We love them always," said Margaret. +She was more still than the lady who had +first spoken with the Pilgrim. Her countenance +was full of a heavenly calm. It had +never known passion nor anguish. Sometimes +there was in it a far-seeing look of +vision, sometimes the simplicity of a child. +"But what are we in comparison? For +He loves them more than we do. When +He keeps us from them it is for love. We +must each live our own life."</p> + +<p>"But it is hard for them sometimes," +said the little Pilgrim, who could not withdraw +her thoughts from those she had left.</p> + +<p>"They are never forsaken," said the +angel-maiden.</p> + +<p>"But oh! there are worse things than +sorrow," the little Pilgrim said; "there is +wrong, there is evil, Margaret. Will not +He send you to step in before them, to +save them from wrong?"</p> + +<p>"It is not for us to judge," said the +young Margaret, with eyes full of heavenly +wisdom. "Our Brother has it all in His +hand. We do not read their hearts like +Him. Sometimes you are permitted to +see the battle."</p> + +<p>The little Pilgrim covered her eyes with +her hands. "I could not—I could not! +unless I knew they were to win the day."</p> + +<p>"They will win the day in the end. +But sometimes, when it was being lost, I +have seen in His face a something—I cannot +tell—more love than before. Something +that seemed to say, 'My child, my +child, would that I could do it for thee, my +child!'"</p> + +<p>"Oh! that is what I have always felt," +cried the Pilgrim, clasping her hands; her +eyes were dim, her heart for a moment +almost forgot its blessedness. "But He +could—Oh, little Margaret! He could! +You have forgotten—Lord, if Thou wilt +Thou canst—"</p> + +<p>The child of heaven looked at her +mutely, with sweet grave eyes, in which +there was much that confused her who +was a stranger here; and once more softly +shook her head.</p> + +<p>"Is it that He will not, then?" said the +other with a low voice of awe. "Our Lord +who died—He—"</p> + +<p>"Listen," said the other, "I hear His +step on the way."</p> + +<p>The little Pilgrim rose up from the +mound on which she was sitting. Her +soul was confused with wonder and fear. +She had thought that an angel might step +between a soul on earth and sin, and that +if one but prayed and prayed, the dear +Lord would stand between and deliver the +tempted. She had meant when she saw +His face to ask Him to save Was not +He born, did not He live, and die to save? +The angel-maiden looked at her all the +while, with eyes that understood all her +perplexity and her doubt, but spoke not. +Thus it was that before the Lord came +to her the sweetness of her first blessedness +was obscured, and she found that +here, too, even here, though in a moment +she should see Him, there was need for +faith. Young Margaret, who had been +kneeling by her, rose up too and stood +among the lilies, waiting, her soft countenance +shining, her eyes turned towards +Him who was coming. Upon her there +was no cloud nor doubt. She was one of +the children of that land familiar with His +presence. And in the air there was a +sound such as those who hear it alone can +describe—a sound as of help coming and +safety, like the sound of a deliverer when +one is in deadly danger, like the sound of +a conqueror, like the step of the dearest-beloved +coming home. As it came nearer +the fear melted away out of the beating +heart of the Pilgrim. Who could fear so +near Him? her breath went away from +her, her heart out of her bosom, to meet +His coming. Oh, never fear could live +where He was! Her soul was all confused, +but it was with hope and joy. She +held out her hands in that amaze, and +dropped upon her knees, not knowing +what she did.</p> + +<p>He was going about His Father's business, +not lingering, yet neither making +haste; and the calm and peace which the +little Pilgrim had seen in the faces of the +blessed were but reflections from the +majestic gentleness of the countenance to +which, all quivering with happiness and +wonder, she lifted up her eyes. Many +things there had been in her mind to say +to Him. She wanted to ask for those she +loved some things which perhaps He had +overlooked. She wanted to say, "Send +me." It seemed to her that here was the +occasion she had longed for all her life. +Oh, how many times had she wished to be +able to go to Him, to fall at His feet, to +show Him something which had been left +undone, something which perhaps for her +asking He would remember to do. But +when this dream of her life was fulfilled, +and the little Pilgrim kneeling, and all +shaken and trembling with devotion and +joy, was at His feet, lifting her face to +Him, seeing Him, hearing Him—then she +said nothing to Him at all. She no longer +wanted to say anything, or wanted anything +except what He chose, or had power +to think of anything except that all was +well, and everything—everything, as it +should be in His hand. It seemed to her +that all that she had ever hoped for was +fulfilled when she met the look in His eyes. +At first it seemed too bright for her to +meet, but next moment she knew it was +all that was needed to light up the world, +and in it everything was clear. Her +trembling ceased, her little frame grew +inspired; though she still knelt, her head +rose erect, drawn to Him like the flower +to the sun. She could not tell how long +it was, nor what was said, nor if it was in +words. All that she knew was that she +told Him all that ever she had thought, or +wished, or intended in all her life, although +she said nothing at all; and that He opened +all things to her, and showed her that +everything was well, and no one forgotten; +and that the things she would have told +Him of were more near His heart than +hers, and those to whom she wanted to be +sent were in His own hand. But whether +this passed with words or without words +she could not tell. Her soul expanded +under His eyes like a flower. It opened +out, it comprehended, and felt, and knew. +She smote her hands together in her +wonder that she could have missed seeing +what was so clear, and laughed with a +sweet scorn at her folly, as two people who +love each other laugh at the little misunderstanding +that has parted them. She was +bold with Him, though she was so timid +by nature, and ventured to laugh at herself, +not to reproach herself—for His divine +eyes spoke no blame, but smiled upon her +folly too. And then He laid a hand upon +her head, which seemed to fill her with +currents of strength and joy running +through all her veins. And then she +seemed to come to herself saying loud out, +"And that I will! and that I will!" and +lo, she was kneeling on the warm soft sod +alone, and hearing the sound of His footsteps +as He went about His Father's +business, filling all the air with echoes of +blessing. And all the people who were +coming and going smiled upon her, and +she knew they were all glad for her that +she had seen Him, and got the desire of +her heart. Some of them waved their +hands as they passed, and some paused a +moment and spoke to her with tender congratulations. +They seemed to have the +tears in their eyes for joy, remembering +every one the first time they had themselves +seen Him, and the joy of it; so +that all about there sounded a concord of +happy thoughts all echoing to each other, +"She has seen the Lord!"</p> + +<p>Why did she say, "And that I will! and +that I will!" with such fervour and delight? +She could not have told but yet she knew. +The first thing was that she had yet to +wait and believe until all things should be +accomplished, neither doubting nor fearing, +but knowing that all should be well; and +the second was that she must delay no +longer, but rise up and serve the Father +according to what was given her as her +reward. When she had recovered a little +of her rapture she rose from her knees, and +stood still for a moment to be sure which +way she was to go. And she was not +aware what guided her, but yet turned her +face in the appointed way without any +doubt. For doubt was now gone away +for ever, and that fear that once gave her +so much trouble lest she might not be +doing what was best. As she moved +along she wondered at herself more and +more. She felt no longer, as at first, like +the child she remembered to have been, +venturing out in the awful lovely stillness +of the morning before any one was awake; +but she felt that to move along was a +delight, and that her foot scarcely touched +the grass, and her whole being was instinct +with such lightness of strength and life +that it did not matter to her how far she +went, nor what she carried, nor if the way +was easy or hard. The way she chose +was one of those which led to the great +gate, and many met her coming from +thence, with looks that were somewhat +bewildered, as if they did not yet know +whither they were going or what had +happened to them. Upon whom she +smiled as she passed them with soft looks +of tenderness and sympathy, knowing what +they were feeling, but did not stop to explain +to them, because she had something +else that had been given her to do. For +this is what always follows in that country +when you meet the Lord, that you instantly +know what it is that He would have you +do.</p> + +<p>The little Pilgrim thus went on and on +towards the gate, which she had not seen +when she herself came through it, having +been lifted in His arms by the great Death +Angel, and set down softly inside, so that +she did not know it, or even the shadow +of it. As she drew nearer the light became +less bright, though very sweet, like a lovely +dawn, and she wondered to herself to think +that she had been here but a moment ago, +and yet so much had passed since then. +And still she was not aware what was her +errand, but wondered if she was to go back +by these same gates, and perhaps return +where she had been. She went up to +them very closely, for she was curious to +see the place through which she had come +in her sleep, as a traveller goes back to see +the city gate, with its bridge and portcullis, +through which he has passed by night. +The gate was very great, of a wonderful, +curious architecture, and strange, delicate +arches and canopies above. Some parts +of them seemed cut very clean and clear; +but the outlines were all softened with a +sort of mist and shadow, so that it looked +greater and higher than it was. The lower +part was not one great doorway as the +Pilgrim had supposed, but innumerable +doors, all separate, and very narrow, so +that but one could pass at a time, though +the arch enclosed all, and seemed filled +with great folding gates in which the +smaller doors were set, so that if need +arose a vast opening might be made for +many to enter. Of the little doors many +were shut as the Pilgrim approached; but +from moment to moment, one after another +would be pushed softly open from without, +and some one would come in. The little +Pilgrim looked at it all with great interest, +wondering which of the doors she had herself +come by; but while she stood absorbed +by this, a door was suddenly pushed open +close by her, and some one flung forward +into the blessed country, falling upon the +ground, and stretched out wild arms as +though to clutch the very soil. This sight +gave the Pilgrim a great surprise, for it +was the first time she had heard any sound +of pain, or seen any sight of trouble, since +she entered here. In that moment she +knew what it was that the dear Lord had +given her to do. She had no need to +pause to think, for her heart told her; and +she did not hesitate as she might have +done in the other life, not knowing what +to say. She went forward, and gathered +this poor creature into her arms, as if it +had been a child, and drew her quite within +the land of peace—for she had fallen +across the threshold, so as to hinder any +one entering who might be coming after +her. It was a woman, and she had flung +herself upon her face, so that it was difficult +for the little Pilgrim to see what +manner of person it was, for though she +felt herself strong enough to take up this +new-comer in her arms and carry her away, +yet she forbore, seeing the will of the +stranger was not so. For some time the +woman lay moaning, with now and then a +great sob shaking her as she lay. The +little Pilgrim had taken her by both her +arms, and drawn her head to rest upon her +own lap, and was still holding the hands, +which the poor creature had thrown out as +if to clutch the ground. Thus she lay for +a little while, as the little Pilgrim remembered +she herself had lain, not wishing to +move, wondering what had happened to +her; and then she clutched the hands +which grasped her, and said, muttering—</p> + +<p>"You are some one new. Have you +come to save me? Oh, save me! Oh, +save me! Don't let me die!"</p> + +<p>This was very strange to the little +Pilgrim, and went to her heart. She +soothed the stranger, holding her hands +warm and light, and stooping over her.</p> + +<p>"Dear," she said, "you must try and +not be afraid."</p> + +<p>"You say so," said the woman, "because +you are well and strong. You don't know +what it is to be seized in the middle of +your life, and told that you've got to die. +Oh, I have been a sinful creature! I am +not fit to die. Can't you give me something +that will cure me? What is the +good of doctors and nurses if they cannot +save a poor soul that is not fit to die?"</p> + +<p>At this the little Pilgrim smiled upon +her, always holding her fast, and said—</p> + +<p>"Why are you so afraid to die?"</p> + +<p>The woman raised her head to look who +it was who put such a strange question to +her.</p> + +<p>"You are some one new," she said. "I +have never seen you before. Is there anyone +that is not afraid to die? Would <i>you</i> +like to have to give your account all in a +moment, without any time to prepare?"</p> + +<p>"But you have had time to prepare," +said the Pilgrim.</p> + +<p>"Oh, only a very very little time; and +I never thought it was true. I am not an +old woman, and I am not fit to die; and +I'm poor. Oh, if I were rich, I would +bribe you to give me something to keep +me alive. Won't you do it for pity?—won't +you do it for pity? When you are +as bad as I am, oh, you will perhaps call +for some one to help you, and find nobody, +like me."</p> + +<p>"I will help you for love," said the little +Pilgrim. "Some one who loves you has +sent me."</p> + +<p>The woman lifted herself up a little and +shook her head. "There is nobody that +loves me." Then she cast her eyes round +her and began to tremble again (for the +touch of the little Pilgrim had stilled her). +"Oh, where am I?" she said. "They +have taken me away; they have brought +me to a strange place; and you are new. +Oh, where have they taken me?—where +am I?—where am I?" she cried. "Have +they brought me here to die?"</p> + +<p>Then the little Pilgrim bent over her +and soothed her. "You must not be so +much afraid of dying; that is all over. +You need not fear that any more," she +said, softly; "for here where you now are +we have all died."</p> + +<p>The woman started up out of her arms, +and then she gave a great shriek that +made the air ring, and cried out, "Dead! +am I dead?" with a shudder and convulsion, +throwing herself again wildly with +outstretched hands upon the ground.</p> + +<p>This was a great and terrible work for +the little Pilgrim—the first she had ever +had to do—and her heart failed her for a +moment; but afterwards she remembered +our Brother who sent her, and knew what +was best. She drew closer to the new-comer +and took her hand again.</p> + +<p>"Try," she said, in a soft voice, "and +think a little. Do you feel now so ill as +you were? Do not be frightened, but +think a little. I will hold your hand; and +look at me; you are not afraid of me."</p> + +<p>The poor creature shuddered again, and +then she turned her face and looked doubtfully +with great dark eyes dilated, and the +brow and cheek so curved and puckered +round them that they seemed to glow out +of deep caverns. Her face was full of +anguish and fear. But as she looked at +the little Pilgrim her troubled gaze softened. +Of her own accord she clasped her +other hand upon the one that held hers, +and then she said with a gasp—</p> + +<p>"I am not afraid of you; that was not +true that you said? You are one of the +sisters, and you want to frighten me and +make me repent?"</p> + +<p>"You do repent," the Pilgrim said.</p> + +<p>"Oh," cried the poor woman, "what has +the like of you to do with me? Now I +look at you I never saw any one that was +like you before. Don't you hate me?—don't +you loathe me? I do myself. It's +so ugly to go wrong. I think now I +would almost rather die and be done with +it. You will say that is because I am going +to get better. I feel a great deal +better now. Do you think I am going to +get over it? Oh, I am better! I could +get up out of bed and walk about. Yes, +but I am not in bed; where have you +brought me? Never mind, it is a fine +air; I shall soon get well here."</p> + +<p>The Pilgrim was silent for a little, holding +her hands. And then she said—</p> + +<p>"Tell me how you feel now," in her +soft voice.</p> + +<p>The woman had sat up and was gazing +round her. "It is very strange," she said; +"it is all confused. I think upon my +mother and the old prayers I used to say. +For a long, long time I always said my +prayers; but now I've got hardened, they +say. Oh, I was once as fresh as any one. +It all comes over me now. I feel as if I +were young again—just come out of the +country. I am sure that I could walk."</p> + +<p>The little Pilgrim raised her up, holding +her by her hands; and she stood and +gazed round about her, making one or +two doubtful steps. She was very pale, +and the light was dim; her eyes peered +into it with a scared yet eager look. +She made another step, then stopped +again.</p> + +<p>"I am quite well," she said. "I could +walk a mile. I could walk any distance. +What was that you said? Oh, I tell you +I am better! I am not going to die."</p> + +<p>"You will never, never die," said the +little Pilgrim; "are you not glad it is all +over? Oh, I was so glad! And all the +more you should be glad if you were so +much afraid."</p> + +<p>But this woman was not glad. She +shrank away from her companion, then +came close to her again, and gripped her +with her hands.</p> + +<p>"It is your fun," she said, "or just to +frighten me; perhaps you think it will do +me no harm as I am getting so well—you +want to frighten me to make me good. +But I mean to be good without that—I +do! I do! When one is so near dying as +I have been and yet gets better—for I +am going to get better? Yes! you know +it as well as I."</p> + +<p>The little Pilgrim made no reply, but +stood by looking at her charge, not feeling +that anything was given her to say; and +she was so new to this work that there +was a little trembling in her lest she should +not do everything as she ought. And the +woman looked round with those anxious +eyes gazing all about. The light did not +brighten as it had done when the Pilgrim +herself first came to this place. For one +thing they had remained quite close to the +gate, which no doubt threw a shadow. +The woman looked at that, and then +turned and looked into the dim morning, +and did not know where she was, and her +heart was confused and troubled.</p> + +<p>"Where are we?" she said. "I do not +know where it is; they must have brought +me here in my sleep—where are we? +How strange to bring a sick woman away +out of her room in her sleep! I suppose +it was the new doctor," she went on, looking +very closely in the little Pilgrim's face, +then paused, and, drawing a long breath, +said softly, "It has done me good. It is +better air—it is a new kind of cure."</p> + +<p>But though she spoke like this, she did +not convince herself; her eyes were wild +with wondering and fear. She gripped the +Pilgrim's arm more and more closely, and +trembled, leaning upon her.</p> + +<p>"Why don't you speak to me?" she +said; "why don't you tell me? Oh, I +don't know how to live in this place! +What do you do?—how do you speak? +I am not fit for it. And what are you? I +never saw you before nor any one like you. +What do you want with me? Why are +you so kind to me? Why—why—?"</p> + +<p>And here she went off into a murmur of +questions. Why? why? always holding +fast by the little Pilgrim, always gazing +round her, groping as it were in the dimness +with her great eyes.</p> + +<p>"I have come because our dear Lord, +who is our Brother, sent me to meet you, +and because I love you," the little Pilgrim +said.</p> + +<p>"Love me!" the woman cried, throwing +up her hands, "but no one loves me. I +have not deserved it." Here she grasped +her close again with a sudden clutch, and +cried out, "If this is what you say, where +is God?"</p> + +<p>"Are you afraid of Him?" the little +Pilgrim said.</p> + +<p>Upon which the woman trembled so +that the Pilgrim trembled too with the +quivering of her frame; then loosed her +hold and fell upon her face, and cried—</p> + +<p>"Hide me! Hide me! I have been a +great sinner. Hide me that He may not +see me," and with one hand tried to draw +the Pilgrim's dress as a veil between her +and something she feared.</p> + +<p>"How should I hide you from Him who +is everywhere? and why should I hide +you from your Father?" the little Pilgrim +said. This she said almost with indignation, +wondering that any one could put +more trust in her, who was no better than +a child, than in the Father of all. But +then she said, "Look in your heart and +you will see you are not so much afraid as +you think. This is how you have been +accustomed to frighten yourself. But look +now into your heart. You thought you +were very ill at first, but not now; and +you think you are afraid, but look in your +heart—"</p> + +<p>There was a silence, and then the +woman raised her head with a wonderful +look, in which there was amazement and +doubt, as if she had heard some joyful +thing but dared not yet believe that it was +true. Once more she hid her face in her +hands, and once more raised it again. Her +eyes softened; a long sigh or gasp, like one +taking breath after drowning, shook her +breast. Then she said, "I think that is +true. But if I am not afraid it is because +I am—bad. It is because I am hardened. +Oh, should not I fear Him who can send +me away into—the lake that burns—into +the pit—" And here she gave a great +cry, but held the little Pilgrim all the while +with her eyes, which seem to plead and +ask for better news.</p> + +<p>Then there came into the Pilgrim's heart +what to say, and she took the woman's +hand again and held it between her own. +"That is the change," she said, "that +comes when we come here. We are not +afraid any more of our Father. We are +not all happy. Perhaps you will not be +happy at first. But if he says to you go—even +to that place you speak of—you will +know that it is well, and you will not be +afraid. You are not afraid now—oh, I can +see it in your eyes. You are not happy, +but you are not afraid. You know it is +the Father. Do not say God, that is far +off—Father!" said the little Pilgrim, holding +up the woman's hand clasped in her +own. And there came into her soul an +ecstasy, and tears that were tears of blessedness +fell from her eyes, and all about +her there seemed to shine a light. When +she came to herself, the woman who was +her charge had come quite close to her, +and had added her other hand to that the +Pilgrim held, and was weeping, and saying, +"I am not afraid," with now and then a +gasp and sob, like a child who, after a +passion of tears, has been consoled, yet +goes on sobbing and cannot quite forget, +and is afraid to own that all is well again. +Then the Pilgrim kissed her, and bade +her rest a little, for even she herself felt +shaken, and longed for a little quiet and +to feel the true sense of the peace that was +in her heart. She sat down beside her +upon the ground, and made her lean her +head against her shoulder, and thus they +remained very still for a little time, saying +no more. It seemed to the little Pilgrim +that her companion had fallen asleep, and +perhaps it was so, after so much agitation. +All this time there had been people passing, +entering by the many doors. And +most of them paused a little to see where +they were, and looked round them, then +went on; and it seemed to the little Pilgrim +that, according to the doors by which they +entered, each took a different way. While +she watched, another came in by the same +door as that at which the woman who was +her charge had come in. And he too +stumbled and looked about him with an +air of great wonder and doubt. When he +saw her seated on the ground, he came up +to her, hesitating as one in a strange place +who does not want to betray that he is +bewildered and has lost his way. He came +with a little pretence of smiling, though +his countenance was pale and scared, and +said, drawing his breath quick, "I ought +to know where I am, but I have lost my +head, I think. Will you tell me which is +the way?"</p> + +<p>"What way?" cried the little Pilgrim, for +her strength was gone from her, and she +had no word to say to him. He looked +at her with that bewilderment on his face, +and said, "I find myself strange, strange. +I ought to know where I am; but it is +scarcely daylight yet. It is perhaps foolish +to come out so early in the morning." +This he said in his confusion, not knowing +where he was, nor what he said.</p> + +<p>"I think all the ways lead to our Father," +said the little Pilgrim (though she had not +known this till now). "And the dear Lord +walks about them all. Here you never go +astray."</p> + +<p>Upon this the stranger looked at her, +and asked in a faltering voice, "Are you +an angel?" still not knowing what he said.</p> + +<p>"Oh, no, no. I am only a Pilgrim," she +replied.</p> + +<p>"May I sit by you a little?" said the +man. He sat down drawing long breaths as +though he had gone through great fatigue; +and looked about with wondering eyes. +"You will wonder, but I do not know +where I am," he said. "I feel as if I +must be dreaming. This is not where I +expected to come. I looked for something +very different; do you think there +can have been any mistake?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, never that," she said; "there are +no mistakes here."</p> + +<p>Then he looked at her again, and said—</p> + +<p>"I perceive that you belong to this +country, though you say you are a pilgrim. +I should be grateful if you would tell me +Does one live here? And is this all? +Is there no—no—? but I don't know what +word to use. All is so strange, different +from what I expected."</p> + +<p>"Do you know that you have died?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, yes, I am quite acquainted with +that," he said, hurriedly, as if it had been +an idea he disliked to dwell upon. "But +then I expected—Is there no one to tell +you where to go, or what you are to be—? or +to take any notice of you?"</p> + +<p>The little Pilgrim was startled by this +tone. She did not understand its meaning, +and she had not any word to say to +him. She looked at him with as much +bewilderment as he had shown when he +approached her, and replied, faltering—</p> + +<p>"There are a great many people here; +but I have never heard if there is any one +to tell you—"</p> + +<p>"What does it matter how many people +there are if you know none of them?" he +said.</p> + +<p>"We all know each other," she answered +him; but then paused and hesitated a little, +because this was what had been said to her, +and of herself she was not assured of it, +neither did she know at all how to deal +with this stranger, to whom she had not +any commission. It seemed that he had +no one to care for him, and the little Pilgrim +had a sense of compassion, yet of trouble, +in her heart—for what could she say? +And it was very strange to her to see one +who was not content here.</p> + +<p>"Ah, but there should be some one to +point out the way, and tell us which is our +circle, and where we ought to go," he said. +And then he too was silent for a while, +looking about him, as all were fain to do +on their first arrival, finding everything so +strange. There were people coming in at +every moment, and some were met at the +very threshold, and some went away alone, +with peaceful faces; and there were many +groups about, talking together in soft +voices, but no one interrupted the other; +and though so many were there, each voice +was as clear as if it had spoken alone, and +there was no tumult of sound as when +many people assemble together in the +lower world.</p> + +<p>The little Pilgrim wondered to find herself +with the woman resting upon her on +one side, and the man seated silent on the +other, neither having, it appeared, any +guide but only herself who knew so little. +How was she to lead them in the paths +which she did not know?—and she was +exhausted by the agitation of her struggle +with the woman whom she felt to be her +charge. But in this moment of silence +she had time to remember the face of the +Lord, when He gave her this commission, +and her heart was strengthened. The +man all this time sat and watched, looking +eagerly all about him, examining the faces of +those who went and came: and sometimes +he made a little start as if to go and speak +to some one he knew; but always drew back +again and looked at the little Pilgrim, as if +he had said, "This is the one who will serve +me best." He spoke to her again after a +while and said, "I suppose you are one +of the guides that show the way."</p> + +<p>"No," said the little Pilgrim, anxiously, +"I know so little! It is not long since I +came here. I came in the early morning—"</p> + +<p>"Why, it is morning now. You could +not come earlier than it is now. You +mean yesterday."</p> + +<p>"I think," said the Pilgrim, "that yesterday +is the other side; there is no yesterday +here."</p> + +<p>He looked at her with the keen look he +had, to understand her the better; and +then he said—</p> + +<p>"No division of time! I think that +must be monotonous. It will be strange +to have no night; but I suppose one gets +used to everything. I hope though there +is something to do. I have always lived +a very busy life. Perhaps this is just a +little pause before we go—to be—to have—to +get our—appointed place."</p> + +<p>He had an uneasy look as he said this, +and looked at her with an anxious curiosity, +which the little Pilgrim did not understand.</p> + +<p>"I do not know," she said softly, shaking +her head. "I have so little experience. +I have not been told of an appointed +place."</p> + +<p>The man looked at her very strangely.</p> + +<p>"I did not think," he said, "that I should +have found such ignorance here. Is it not +well known that we must all appear before +the judgment seat of God?"</p> + +<p>These words seemed to cause a trembling +in the still air, and the woman on the +other side raised herself suddenly up, clasping +her hands: and some of those who had +just entered heard the words, and came +and crowded about the little Pilgrim, some +standing, some falling down upon their +knees, all with their faces turned towards +her. She who had always been so simple +and small, so little used to teach; she was +frightened with the sight of all these +strangers crowding, hanging upon her lips, +looking to her for knowledge. She knew +not what to do or what to say. The tears +came into her eyes.</p> + +<p>"Oh," she said, "I do not know anything +about a judgment seat. I know +that our Father is here, and that when we +are in trouble we are taken to Him to be +comforted, and that our dear Lord our +Brother is among us every day, and every +one may see Him. Listen," she said, +standing up suddenly among them, feeling +strong as an angel. "I have seen Him; +though I am nothing, so little as you see, +and often silly, never clever as some of +you are, I have seen Him! and so will all +of you. There is no more that I know +of," she said softly, clasping her hands. +"When you see Him it comes into your +heart what you must do."</p> + +<p>And then there was a murmur of voices +about her, some saying that was best, and +some wondering if that were all, and some +crying if He would but come now—while +the little Pilgrim stood among them with +her face shining, and they all looked at +her, asking her to tell them more, to show +them how to find Him. But this was far +above what she could do, for she too was +not much more than a stranger, and had +little strength. She would not go back a +step, nor desert those who were so anxious +to know, though her heart fluttered almost +as it had used to do before she died, what +with her longing to tell them, and knowing +that she had no more to say.</p> + +<p>But in that land it is never permitted +that one who stands bravely and fails not +shall be left without succour; for it is no +longer needful there to stand even to death, +since all dying is over, and all souls are +tested. When it was seen that the little +Pilgrim was thus surrounded by so many +that questioned her, there suddenly came +about her many others from the brightness +out of which she had come, who, one going +to one hand, and one to another, safely +led them into the ways in which their +course lay: so that the Pilgrim was free to +lead forth the woman who had been given +her in charge, and whose path lay in a +dim, but pleasant country, outside of that +light and gladness in which the Pilgrim's +home was.</p> + +<p>"But," she said, "you are not to fear or +be cast down, because He goes likewise +by these ways, and there is not a corner +in all this land but He is to be seen passing +by; and He will come and speak to you, +and lay His hand upon you; and afterwards +everything will be clear, and you +will know what you are to do."</p> + +<p>"Stay with me till He comes—oh, stay +with me," the woman cried, clinging to her +arm.</p> + +<p>"Unless another is sent," the little Pilgrim +said. And it was nothing to her that +the air was less bright there, for her mind +was full of light, so that, though her heart +still fluttered a little with all that had +passed, she had no longing to return, nor +to shorten the way, but went by the lower +road sweetly, with the stranger hanging +upon her, who was stronger and taller than +she. Thus they went on, and the Pilgrim +told her all she knew, and everything that +came into her heart. And so full was she +of the great things she had to say, that it +was a surprise to her, and left her trembling, +when suddenly the woman took away her +clinging hand, and flew forward with arms +outspread and a cry of joy. The little +Pilgrim stood still to see, and on the path +before them was a child, coming towards +them singing, with a look such as is never +seen but upon the faces of children who +have come here early, and who behold the +face of the Father, and have never known +fear nor sorrow. The woman flew and +fell at the child's feet, and he put his hand +upon her, and raised her up, and called her +"mother." Then he smiled upon the little +Pilgrim, and led her away.</p> + +<p>"Now she needs me no longer," said +the Pilgrim; and it was a surprise to her, +and for a moment she wondered in herself +if it was known that this child should come +so suddenly and her work be over; and +also how she was to return again to the +sweet place among the flowers from which +she had come. But when she turned to +look if there was any way, she found One +standing by such as she had not yet seen. +This was a youth, with a face just touched +with manhood, as at the moment when the +boy ends, when all is still fresh and pure +in the heart; but he was taller and greater +than a man.</p> + +<p>"I am sent," he said, "little sister, to +take you to the Father: because you have +been very faithful, and gone beyond your +strength."</p> + +<p>And he took the little Pilgrim by the +hand, and she knew he was an angel; and +immediately the sweet air melted about +them into light, and a hush came upon her +of all thought and all sense, attending till +she should receive the blessing, and her +new name, and see what is beyond telling, +and hear and understand:—</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="THE_LITTLE_PILGRIM" id="THE_LITTLE_PILGRIM"></a>THE LITTLE PILGRIM</h2> + +<h2>GOES UP HIGHER.</h2> + + +<p>When the little Pilgrim came out of the +presence of the Father, she found herself +in the street of a great city. But what +she saw and heard when she was with Him +it is not given to the tongue of mortal to +say, for it is beyond words, and beyond +even thought. As the mystery of love is +not to be spoken but to be felt, even in the +lower earth, so, but much less, is that great +mystery of the love of the Father to be +expressed in words. The little Pilgrim +was very happy when she went into that +sacred place, but there was a great awe +upon her, and it might even be said that +she was afraid; but when she came out +again she feared nothing, but looked with +clear eyes upon all she saw, loving them, +but no more overawed by them, having +seen that which is above all. When she +came forth again to her common life—for +it is not permitted save for those who have +attained the greatest heights to dwell there—she +had no longer need of any guide, +but came alone, knowing where to go, and +walking where it pleased her, with reverence +and a great delight in seeing and knowing +all that was around, but no fear. It was a +great city, but it was not like the great +cities which she had seen. She understood +as she passed along how it was that +those who had been dazzled but by a passing +glance had described the walls and the +pavement as gold. They were like what +gold is, beautiful and clear, of a lovely +colour, but softer in tone than metal ever +was, and as cool and fresh to walk upon +and to touch as if they had been velvet +grass. The buildings were all beautiful, +of every style and form that it is possible +to think of, yet in great harmony, as if +every man had followed his own taste, yet +all had been so combined and grouped by +the master architect, that each individual +feature enhanced the effect of the rest. +Some of the houses were greater and some +smaller, but all of them were rich in carvings +and pictures and lovely decorations, +and the effect was as if the richest materials +had been employed, marbles and beautiful +sculptured stone, and wood of beautiful +tints, though the little Pilgrim knew that +these were not like the marble and stone +she had once known, but heavenly representatives +of them, far better than they. +There were people at work upon them, +building new houses and making additions, +and a great many painters painting upon +them the history of the people who lived +there, or of others who were worthy that +commemoration. And the streets were +full of pleasant sound, and of crowds going +and coming, and the commotion of much +business, and many things to do. And +this movement, and the brightness of the +air, and the wonderful things that were to +be seen on every side, made the Pilgrim +gay, so that she could have sung with +pleasure as she went along. And all who +met her smiled, and every group exchanged +greetings as they passed along, all knowing +each other. Many of them, as might be +seen, had come there, as she did, to see +the wonders of the beautiful city; and all +who lived there were ready to tell them +whatever they desired to know, and show +them the finest houses and the greatest +pictures. And this gave a feeling of +holiday and pleasure which was delightful +beyond description, for all the busy people +about were full of sympathy with the +strangers—bidding them welcome, inviting +them into their houses, making the warmest +fellowship. And friends were meeting +continually on every side; but the Pilgrim +had no sense that she was forlorn in being +alone, for all were friends; and it pleased +her to watch the others, and see how one +turned this way and one another, every +one finding something that delighted him +above all other things. She herself took +a great pleasure in watching a painter, who +was standing upon a balcony a little way +above her, painting upon a great fresco: +and when he saw this he asked her to +come up beside him and see his work. +She asked him a great many questions +about it, and why it was that he was working +only at the draperies of the figures, +and did not touch their faces, some of +which were already finished and seemed to +be looking at her, as living as she was, out +of the wall, while some were merely outlined +as yet. He told her that he was not +a great painter to do this, or to design the +great work, but that the master would +come presently, who had the chief responsibility. +"For we have not all the same +genius," he said, "and if I were to paint +this head it would not have the gift of life +as that one has; but to stand by and see +him put it in, you cannot think what a +happiness that is: for one knows every +touch, and just what effect it will have, +though one could not do it one's self; and +it is a wonder and a delight perpetual that +it should be done."</p> + +<p>The little Pilgrim looked up at him and +said, "That is very beautiful to say. And +do you never wish to be like him—to make +the lovely, living faces as well as the other +parts?"</p> + +<p>"Is not this lovely too?" he said; and +showed her how he had just put in a +billowy robe, buoyed out with the wind, +and sweeping down from the shoulders of +a stately figure in such free and graceful +folds that she would have liked to take it +in her hand and feel the silken texture; +and then he told her how absorbing it was +to study the mysteries of colour and the +differences of light. "There is enough in +that to make one happy," he said. "It is +thought by some that we will all come to +the higher point with work and thought; +but that is not my feeling; and whether +it is so or not what does it matter, for our +Father makes no difference: and all of us +are necessary to everything that is done: +and it is almost more delight to see the +master do it than to do it with one's own +hand. For one thing, your own work +may rejoice you in your heart, but always +with a little trembling, because it is never +so perfect as you would have it—whereas +in your master's work you have full content, +because his idea goes beyond yours, and as +he makes every touch you can feel 'that is +right—that is complete—that is just as it +ought to be.' Do you understand what I +mean?" he said, turning to her with a smile.</p> + +<p>"I understand it perfectly," she cried, +clasping her hands together with the +delight of accord. "Don't you think that +is one of the things that are so happy here? +you understand at half a word."</p> + +<p>"Not everybody," he said, and smiled +upon her like a brother; "for we are not +all alike even here."</p> + +<p>"Were you a painter?" she said, "in—in +the other—?"</p> + +<p>"In the old times. I was one of those +that strove for the mastery, and sometimes +grudged—We remember these things +at times," he said gravely, "to make us +more aware of the blessedness of being +content."</p> + +<p>"It is long since then?" she said with +some wistfulness; upon which he smiled +again.</p> + +<p>"So long," he said, "that we have worn +out most of our links to the world below. +We have all come away, and those who +were after us for generations. But you +are a new-comer."</p> + +<p>"And are they all with you? are you +all together? do you live as in the old +time?"</p> + +<p>Upon this the painter smiled, but not so +brightly as before.</p> + +<p>"Not as in the old time," he said, "nor +are they all here. Some are still upon the +way, and of some we have no certainty, +only news from time to time. The angels +are very good to us. They never miss an +occasion to bring us news; for they go +everywhere, you know."</p> + +<p>"Yes," said the little Pilgrim, though +indeed she had not known it till now; but +it seemed to her as if it had come to her +mind by nature and she had never needed +to be told.</p> + +<p>"They are so tender-hearted," the painter +said; "and more than that, they are very +curious about men and women. They have +known it all from the beginning, and it is a +wonder to them. There is a friend of +mine, an angel, who is more wise in men's +hearts than any one I know; and yet he will +say to me sometimes, 'I do not understand +you—you are wonderful.' They like to find +out all we are thinking. It is an endless +pleasure to them, just as it is to some of +us to watch the people in the other worlds."</p> + +<p>"Do you mean—where we have come +from?" said the little Pilgrim.</p> + +<p>"Not always there. We in this city +have been long separated from that country, +for all that we love are out of it."</p> + +<p>"But not here?" the little Pilgrim cried +again with a little sorrow—a pang that she +had thought could never touch her again—in +her heart.</p> + +<p>"But coming! coming!" said the painter, +cheerfully; "and some were here before +us, and some have arrived since. They +are everywhere."</p> + +<p>"But some in trouble—some in trouble!" +she cried, with the tears in her eyes.</p> + +<p>"We suppose so," he said gravely; "for +some are in that place which once was +called among us the place of despair."</p> + +<p>"You mean—" and though the little +Pilgrim had been made free of fear, at that +word which she would not speak, she trembled, +and the light grew dim in her eyes.</p> + +<p>"Well!" said her new friend, "and what +then? The Father sees through and +through it as He does here: they cannot +escape Him: so that there is Love near +them always. I have a son," he said, then +sighed a little, but smiled again, "who is +there."</p> + +<p>The little Pilgrim at this clasped her +hands with a piteous cry.</p> + +<p>"Nay, nay," he said, "little sister; my +friend I was telling you of, the angel, +brought me news of him just now. Indeed +there was news of him through all the city. +Did you not hear all the bells ringing? +But perhaps that was before you came. +The angels who know me best came one +after another to tell me, and our Lord himself +came to wish me joy. My son had +found the way."</p> + +<p>The little Pilgrim did not understand +this, and almost thought that the painter +must be mistaken or dreaming. She looked +at him very anxiously and said—</p> + +<p>"I thought that those unhappy—never +came out any more."</p> + +<p>The painter smiled at her in return, and +said—</p> + +<p>"Had you children in the old time?"</p> + +<p>She paused a little before she replied.</p> + +<p>"I had children in love," she said, "but +none that were born mine."</p> + +<p>"It is the same," he said; "it is the +same; and if one of them had sinned +against you, injured you, done wrong in +any way, would you have cast him off, or +what would you have done?"</p> + +<p>"Oh!" said the little Pilgrim again, with +a vivid light of memory coming into her +face, which showed she had no need to +think of this as a thing that might have +happened, but knew. "I brought him +home. I nursed him well again. I prayed +for him night and day. Did you say cast +him off? when he had most need of me? +then I never could have loved him," she +cried.</p> + +<p>The painter nodded his head, and his +hand with the pencil in it, for he had turned +from his picture to look at her.</p> + +<p>"Then you think you love better than our +Father?" he said: and turned to his work, +and painted a new fold in the robe, which +looked as if a soft air had suddenly blown +into it, and not the touch of a skilful hand.</p> + +<p>This made the Pilgrim tremble, as though +in her ignorance she had done something +wrong. After that there came a great joy +into her heart. "Oh, how happy you +have made me!" she cried. "I am glad +with all my heart for you and your son—" +Then she paused a little and added, "But +you said he was still there."</p> + +<p>"It is true: for the land of darkness is +very confusing, they tell me, for want of +the true light, and our dear friends the +angels are not permitted to help: but if +one follows them, that shows the way. You +may be in that land yet on your way hither. +It was very hard to understand at first," +said the painter; "there are some sketches +I could show you. No one has ever made +a picture of it, though many have tried; +but I could show you some sketches—if +you wish to see."</p> + +<p>To this the little Pilgrim's look was so +plain an answer that the painter laid down +his pallet and his brush, and left his work, +to show them to her as he had promised. +They went down from the balcony and +along the street until they came to one of +the great palaces, where many were coming +and going. Here they walked through +some vast halls, where students were working +at easels, doing every kind of beautiful +work: some painting pictures, some preparing +drawings, planning houses and +palaces. The Pilgrim would have liked +to pause at every moment to see one lovely +thing or another, but the painter walked +on steadily till he came to a room which +was full of sketches, some of them like +pictures in little, with many figures—some +of them only a representation of a flower, +or the wing of a bird. "These are all the +master's," he said; "sometimes the sight +of them will be enough to put something +great into the mind of another. In this +corner are the sketches I told you of." +There' were two of them hanging together +upon the wall, and at first it seemed to the +little Pilgrim as if they represented the +flames and fire of which she had read, and +this made her shudder for the moment. +But then she saw that it was a red light +like a stormy sunset, with masses of clouds +in the sky, and a low sun very fiery and +dazzling, which no doubt to a hasty glance +must have looked, with its dark shadows +and high lurid lights, like the fires of the +bottomless pit. But when you looked +down you saw the reality what it was. +The country that lay beneath was full of +tropical foliage, but with many stretches of +sand and dry plains, and in the foreground +was a town, that looked very prosperous +and crowded, though the figures were very +minute, the subject being so great; but no +one to see it would have taken it for anything +but a busy and wealthy place, in +a thunderous atmosphere, with a storm +coming on. In the next there was a section +of a street with a great banqueting hall +open to the view, and many people sitting +about the table. You could see that there +was a great deal of laughter and conversation +going on, some very noisy groups, but +others that sat more quietly in corners and +conversed, and some who sang, and every +kind of entertainment. The little Pilgrim +was very much astonished to see this, and +turned to the painter, who answered her +directly, though she had not spoken. "We +used to think differently once. There are +some who are there and do not know it. +They think only it is the old life over again, +but always worse, and they are led on in +the ways of evil: but they do not feel the +punishment until they begin to find out +where they are and to struggle, and wish +for other things."</p> + +<p>The little Pilgrim felt her heart beat +very wildly while she looked at this, and +she thought upon the rich man in the +parable, who, though he was himself in +torment, prayed that his brother might be +saved, and she said to herself, "Our dear +Lord would never leave him there who +could think of his brother when he was +himself in such a strait." And when she +looked at the painter he smiled upon her, +and nodded his head. Then he led her to +the other corner of the room where there +were other pictures. One of them was of +a party seated round a table and an angel +looking on. The angel had the aspect of +a traveller, as if he were passing quickly +by, and had but paused a moment to look, +when one of the men glancing up suddenly +saw him. The picture was dim, but the +startled look upon this man's face, and the +sorrow on the angel's, appeared out of the +misty background with such truth that the +tears came into the little Pilgrim's eyes, +and she said in her heart, "Oh, that I +could go to him and help him!" The +other sketches were dimmer and dimmer. +You seemed to see out of the darkness +gleaming lights, and companies of revellers, +out of which here and there was one trying +to escape. And then the wide plains in the +night, and the white vision of the angel in +the distance, and here and there by different +paths a fugitive striving to follow. "Oh, +sir," said the little Pilgrim, "how did you +learn to do it? You have never been there."</p> + +<p>"It was the master, not I; and I cannot +tell you if he has ever been there. When +the Father has given you that gift, you +can go to many places, without leaving +the one where you are. And then he has +heard what the angels say."</p> + +<p>"And will they all get safe at the last? +and even that great spirit, he that fell from +Heaven—"</p> + +<p>The painter shook his head, and said, +"It is not permitted to you and me to +know such great things. Perhaps the wise +will tell you if you ask them: but for me +I ask the Father in my heart and listen to +what He says."</p> + +<p>"That is best!" the little Pilgrim said; +and she asked the Father in her heart: +and there came all over her such a glow of +warmth and happiness that her soul was +satisfied. She looked in the painter's face +and laughed for joy. And he put out his +hands as if welcoming some one, and his +countenance shone; and he said—</p> + +<p>"My son had a great gift. He was a +master born, though it was not given to +me. He shall paint it all for us so that +the heart shall rejoice; and you will come +again and see."</p> + +<p>After that it happened to the little Pilgrim +to enter into another great palace +where there were many people reading, +and some sitting at their desks and writing, +and some consulting together, with many +great volumes stretched out open upon the +tables. One of these who was seated alone +looked up as she paused, wondering at him, +and smiled as every one did, and greeted +her with such a friendly tone that the Pilgrim, +who always had a great desire to +know, came nearer to him and looked at +the book, then begged his pardon, and +said she did not know that books were +needed here. And then he told her +that he was one of the historians of the +city where all the records of the world +were kept, and that it was his business to +work upon the great history, and to show +what was the meaning of the Father in +everything that had happened, and how +each event came in its right place.</p> + +<p>"And do you get it out of books?" she +asked; for she was not learned, nor wise, +and knew but little, though she always +loved to know.</p> + +<p>"The books are the records," he said; +"and there are many here that were never +known to us in the old days; for the angels +love to look into these things, and they +can tell us much, for they saw it; and in +the great books they have kept there is +much put down that was never in the +books we wrote; for then we did not +know. We found out about the kings +and the state, and tried to understand +what great purposes they were serving; +but even these we did not know, for those +purposes were too great for us, not knowing +the end from the beginning; and the +hearts of men were too great for us. We +comprehended the evil sometimes, but +never fathomed the good. And how could +we know the lesser things which were +working out God's way? for some of these +even the angels did not know; and it has +happened to me that our Lord Himself +has come in sometimes to tell me of one +that none of us had discovered."</p> + +<p>"Oh," said the little Pilgrim, with tears +in her eyes, "I should like to have been +that one!—that was not known even to +the angels, but only to Himself!"</p> + +<p>The historian smiled. "It was my +brother," he said.</p> + +<p>The Pilgrim looked at him with great +wonder. "Your brother, and you did not +know him!"</p> + +<p>And then he turned over the pages and +showed her where the story was.</p> + +<p>"You know," he said, "that we who live +here are not of your time, but have lived +and lived here till the old life is far away +and like a dream. There were great +tumults and fightings in our time, and it +was settled by the prince of the place that +our town was to be abandoned, and all +the people left to the mercy of an enemy +who had no mercy. But every day as he +rode out he saw at one door a child, a little +fair boy, who sat on the steps, and sang +his little song like a bird. This child was +never afraid of anything—when the horses +pranced past him, and the troopers pushed +him aside, he looked up into their faces and +smiled. And when he had anything, a +piece of bread, or an apple, or a plaything, +he shared it with his playmates; and his +little face, and his pretty voice, and all his +pleasant ways, made that corner bright. +He was like a flower growing there; everybody +smiled that saw him."</p> + +<p>"I have seen such a child," the little +Pilgrim said.</p> + +<p>"But we made no account of him," said +the historian. "The Lord of the place +came past him every day, and always saw +him singing in the sun by his father's door. +And it was a wonder then, and it has been +a wonder ever since, why, having resolved +upon it, that prince did not abandon the +town, which would have changed all his +fortune after. Much had been made clear +to me since I began to study, but not this: +till the Lord Himself came to me and told +me. The prince looked at the child till +he loved him, and he reflected how many +children there were like this that would +be murdered, or starved to death, and he +could not give up the little singing boy +to the sword. So he remained; and the +town was saved, and he became a great +king. It was so secret that even the angels +did not know it. But without that child +the history would not have been complete."</p> + +<p>"And is he here?" the little Pilgrim +said.</p> + +<p>"Ah," said the historian, "that is more +strange still; for that which saved him +was also to his harm. He is not here. +He is—elsewhere."</p> + +<p>The little Pilgrim's face grew sad; but +then she remembered what she had been +told.</p> + +<p>"But you know," she said, "that he is +coming?"</p> + +<p>"I know that our Father will never +forsake him, and that everything that is +being accomplished in him is well."</p> + +<p>"Is it well to suffer? Is it well to live +in that dark stormy country? Oh, that +they were all here, and happy like you!"</p> + +<p>He shook his head a little and said—</p> + +<p>"It was a long time before I got here; +and as for suffering that matters little. +You get experience by it. You are more +accomplished and fit for greater work in +the end. It is not for nothing that we are +permitted to wander: and sometimes one +goes to the edge of despair—"</p> + +<p>She looked at him with such wondering +eyes that he answered her without a +word.</p> + +<p>"Yes," he said, "I have been there."</p> + +<p>And then it seemed to her that there +was something in his eyes which she had +not remarked before. Not only the great +content that was everywhere, but a deeper +light, and the air of a judge who knew +both good and evil, and could see both +sides, and understood all, both to love and +to hate.</p> + +<p>"Little sister," he said, "you have never +wandered far—it is not needful for such as +you. Love teaches you, and you need no +more; but when we have to be trained for +an office like this, to make the way of the +Lord clear through all the generations, +reason is that we should see everything, +and learn all that man is and can be. +These things are too deep for us; we +stumble on, and know not till after. But +now to me it is all clear."</p> + +<p>She looked at him again and again while +he spoke, and it seemed to her that she +saw in him such great knowledge and +tenderness as made her glad; and how he +could understand the follies that men had +done, and fathom what real meaning was +in them, and disentangle all the threads. +He smiled as she gazed at him, and answered +as if she had spoken.</p> + +<p>"What was evil perishes, and what was +good remains; almost everywhere there is +a little good. We could not understand +all if we had not seen all and shared all."</p> + +<p>"And the punishment too," she said, +wondering more and more.</p> + +<p>He smiled so joyfully that it was like +laughter.</p> + +<p>"Pain is a great angel," he said. "The +reason we hated him in the old days was +because he tended to death and decay; +but when it is towards life he leads, we +fear him no more. The welcome thing of +all in the land of darkness is when you see +him first and know who he is: for by this +you are aware that you have found the +way."</p> + +<p>The little Pilgrim did nothing but question +with her anxious eyes, for this was +such a wonder to her, and she could not +understand. But he only sat musing with +a smile over the things he remembered. +And at last he said—</p> + +<p>"If this is so interesting to you, you +shall read it all in another place, in the +room where we have laid up our own experiences, +in order to serve for the history +afterwards. But we are still busy upon +the work of the earth. There is always +something new to be discovered. And it +is essential for the whole world that the +chronicle should be full. I am in great joy +because it was but just now that our Lord +told me about that child. Everything was +imperfect without him, but now it is clear."</p> + +<p>"You mean your brother? And you +are happy though you are not sure if he is +happy?" the little Pilgrim said.</p> + +<p>"It is not to be happy that we live," said +he; and then, "We are all happy so soon +as we have found the way."</p> + +<p>She would have asked him more, but +that he was called to a consultation with +some others of his kind, and had to leave +her, waving his hand to her with a tender +kindness, which went to her heart. She +looked after him with great respect, and +almost awe; for it seemed to her that a +man who had been in the land of darkness, +and made his way out of it, must be more +wonderful than any other. She looked +round for a little upon the great library, +full of all the books that had ever been +written, and where people were doing their +work, examining and reading and making +extracts, every one with looks of so much +interest, that she almost envied them—though +it was a generous delight in seeing +people so happy in their occupation, and a +desire to associate herself somehow in it, +rather than any grudging of their satisfaction +that was in her mind. She went +about all the courts of this palace alone, +and everywhere saw the same work going +on, and everywhere met the same kind +looks. Even when the greatest of all +looked up from his work and saw her, he +would give her a friendly greeting and a +smile; and nobody was too wise to lend +an ear to the little visitor, or to answer her +questions. And this was how it was that +she began to talk to another, who was +seated at a great table with many more, +and who drew her to him by something +that was in his looks, though she could not +have told what it was. It was not that he +was kinder than the rest, for they were all +kind. She stood by him a little, and saw +how he worked and would take something +from one book and something from another, +putting them ready for use. And it did +not seem any trouble to do this work, but +only pleasure, and the very pen in his +hand was like a winged thing, as if it loved +to write. When he saw her watching him, +he looked up and showed her the beautiful +book out of which he was copying, which +was all illuminated with lovely pictures.</p> + +<p>"This is one of the volumes of the great +history," he said. "There are some things +in it which are needed for another, and it +is a pleasure to work at it. If you will +come here you will be able to see the page +while I write."</p> + +<p>Then the little Pilgrim asked him some +questions about the pictures, and he answered +her, describing and explaining them; +for they were in the middle of the history, +and she did not understand what it was. +When she said, "I ought not to trouble +you, for you are busy," he smiled so +kindly, that she smiled too for pleasure. +And he said—</p> + +<p>"There is no trouble here. When we +are not allowed to work, as sometimes +happens, that makes us not quite so happy, +but it is very seldom that it happens so."</p> + +<p>"Is it for punishment?" she said.</p> + +<p>And then he laughed out with a sound +which made all the others look up smiling; +and if they had not all looked so tenderly +at her, as at a child who has made such a +mistake as it is pretty for the child to make, +she would have feared she had said something +wrong; but she only laughed at herself +too, and blushed a little, knowing that +she was not wise: and to put her at her +ease again, he turned the leaf and showed +her other pictures, and the story which +went with them, from which he was copying +something. And he said—</p> + +<p>"This is for another book, to show how +the grace of the Father was beautiful in +some homes and families. It is not the +great history, but connected with it: and +there are many who love that better than +the story which is more great."</p> + +<p>Then the Pilgrim looked in his face and +said—</p> + +<p>"What I want most is, to know about +your homes here."</p> + +<p>"It is all home here," he said, and smiled; +and then, as he met her wistful looks, he +went on to tell her that he and his brothers +were not always there. "We have all our +occupations," he said, "and sometimes I +am sent to inquire into facts that have +happened, of which the record is not clear; +for we must omit nothing; and sometimes +we are told to rest and take in new +strength; and sometimes—"</p> + +<p>"But oh, forgive me," cried the little +Pilgrim, "you had some who were more +dear to you than all the world in the old +time?"</p> + +<p>And the others all looked up again at +the question, and looked at her with tender +eyes, and said to the man whom she questioned, +"Speak!"</p> + +<p>He made a little pause before he spoke, +and he looked at one here and there, and +called to them—</p> + +<p>"Patience, brother," and "Courage, +brother." And then he said, "Those +whom we loved best are nearly all with us; +but some have not yet come."</p> + +<p>"Oh," said the little Pilgrim, "but how +then do you bear it, to be parted so long—so +long?"</p> + +<p>Then one of those to whom the first +speaker had called out "Patience" rose, +and came to her smiling; and he said—</p> + +<p>"I think every hour that perhaps she will +come, and the joy will be so great, that +thinking of that makes the waiting short: +and nothing here is long, for it never ends; +and it will be so wonderful to hear her tell +how the Father has guided her, that it will +be a delight to us all; and she will be able +to explain many things, not only for us, but +for all; and we love each other so, that this +separation is as nothing in comparison with +what is to come."</p> + +<p>It was beautiful to hear this, but it was +not what the little Pilgrim expected, for she +thought they would have told her of the +homes to which they all returned when +their work was over, and a life which was +like the life of the old time; but of this +they said nothing, only looking at her with +smiling eyes, as at the curious questions of +a child. And there were many other things +she would have asked, but refrained when +she looked at them, feeling as if she did +not yet understand; when one of them +broke forth suddenly in a louder voice, and +said—</p> + +<p>"The little sister knows only the little +language and the beginning of days. She +has not learned the mysteries, and what +Love is, and what life is."</p> + +<p>And another cried, "It is sweet to hear +it again;" and they all gathered round her +with tender looks, and began to talk to +each other, and tell her, as men will tell of +the games of their childhood, of things that +happened, which were half forgotten, in the +old time.</p> + +<p>After this the little Pilgrim went out +again into the beautiful city, feeling in her +heart that everything was a mystery, and +that the days would never be long enough +to learn all that had yet to be learned, but +knowing now that this, too, was the little +language, and pleased with the sweet +thought of so much that was to come. For +one had whispered to her as she went out +that the new tongue, and every explanation, +as she was ready for it, would come to her +through one of those whom she loved best, +which is the usage of that country. And +when the stranger has no one there that is +very dear, then it is an angel who teaches +the greater language, and this is what +happens often to the children who are +brought up in that heavenly place. When +she reached the street again, she was so +pleased with this thought that it went out +of her mind to ask her way to the great +library, where she was to read the story of +the historian's journey through the land of +darkness; indeed she forgot that land altogether, +and thought only of what was +around her in the great city which is +beyond everything that eye has seen, or +that ear has heard, or that it has entered +into the imagination to conceive. And now +it seemed to her that she was much more +familiar with the looks of the people, and +could distinguish between those who belonged +to the city, and those who were +visitors like herself; and also could tell +which they were who had entered into the +mysteries of the kingdom, and which were, +like herself, only acquainted with the beginning +of days. And it came to her mind—she +could not tell how—that it was best not +to ask questions, but to wait until the +beloved one should come, who would teach +her the first words. For in the meantime +she did not feel at all impatient or disturbed +by her want of knowledge, but laughed a +little at herself to suppose that she could +find out everything, and went on looking +round her, and saying a word to every one +she met, and enjoying the holiday looks of +all the strangers, and the sense she had in +her heart of holiday too. She was walking +on in this pleasant way, when she heard a +sound that was like silver trumpets, and +saw the crowd turn towards an open space +in which all the beautiful buildings were +shaded with fine trees, and flowers were +springing at the very edge of the pavements. +The strangers all hastened along +to hear what it was, and she with them, +and some also of the people of the place. +And as the little Pilgrim found herself +walking by a woman who was of these last, +she asked her what it was.</p> + +<p>And the woman told her it was a poet +who had come to say to them what had +been revealed to him, and that the two +with the silver trumpets were angels of +the musicians' order, whose office it was to +proclaim everything that was new, that the +people should know. And many of those +who were at work in the palaces came out +and joined the crowd, and the painter who +had showed the little Pilgrim his picture, +and many whose faces she began to be +acquainted with. The poet stood up upon +a beautiful pedestal all sculptured in stone, +and with wreaths of living flowers hung +upon it—and when the crowd had gathered +in front of him, he began his poem. He +told them that it was not about this land, +or anything that happened in it, which they +knew as he did, but that it was a story of +the old time, when men were walking in +darkness, and when no one knew the true +meaning even of what he himself did, but +had to go on as if blindly, stumbling and +groping with their hands. And, "Oh, +brethren," he said, "though all is more +beautiful and joyful here where we know, +yet to remember the days when we knew +not, and the ways when all was uncertain, +and the end could not be distinguished +from the beginning, is sweet and dear; and +that which was done in the dim twilight +should be celebrated in the day; and our +Father Himself loves to hear of those who, +having not seen, loved, and who learned +without any teacher, and followed the light, +though they did not understand."</p> + +<p>And then he told them the story of one +who had lived in the old time; and in that +air, which seemed to be made of sunshine, +and amid all those stately palaces, he described +to them the little earth which they +had left behind—the skies that were +covered with clouds, and the ways that +were so rough and stony, and the cruelty +of the oppressor, and the cries of those that +were oppressed. And he showed the sickness +and the troubles, and the sorrow and +danger; and how death stalked about, and +tore heart from heart; and how sometimes +the strongest would fail, and the truest +fall under the power of a lie, and the +tenderest forget to be kind; and how evil +things lurked in every corner to beguile the +dwellers there; and how the days were +short and the nights dark, and life so little +that by the time a man had learned something +it was his hour to die. "What can +a soul do that is born there?" he cried; +"for war is there and fighting, and perplexity +and darkness; and no man knows if +that which he does will be for good or evil, +or can tell which is the best way, or know +the end from the beginning; and those he +loves the most are a mystery to him, and +their thoughts beyond his reach. And +clouds are between him and the Father, +and he is deceived with false gods and +false teachers, who make him to love a lie." +The people who were listening held their +breath, and a shadow like a cloud fell on +them, and they remembered and knew that +it was true. But the next moment their +hearts rebelled, and one and another would +have spoken, and the little Pilgrim herself +had almost cried out and made her plea for +the dear earth which she loved: when he +suddenly threw forth his voice again like a +great song. "Oh, dear mother earth," he +cried; "oh, little world and great, forgive +thy son! for lovely thou art and dear, and +the sun of God shines upon thee and the +sweet dews fall; and there were we born, +and loved, and died, and are come hence to +bless the Father and the Son. For in no +other world, though they are so vast, is it +given to any to know the Lord in the darkness, +and follow Him groping, and make +way through sin and death, and overcome +the evil, and conquer in His Name." At +which there was a great sound of weeping +and of triumph, and the little Pilgrim could +not contain herself, but cried out too in joy +as if for a deliverance. And then the poet +told his tale. And as he told them of the +man who was poor and sorrowful and alone, +and how he loved and was not loved again, +and trusted and was betrayed, and was +tempted and drawn into the darkness, so +that it seemed as if he must perish; but, +when hope was almost gone, turned again +from the edge of despair, and confronted all +his enemies, and fought and conquered, +the people followed every word with great +outcries of love and pity and wonder. For +each one as he listened remembered his +own career and that of his brethren in the +old life, and admired to think that all the +evil was past, and wondered how, out of +such tribulation and through so many +dangers, all were safe and blessed here. +And there were others that were not of +them, who listened, some seated at the +windows of the palaces and some standing +in the great square—people who were not +like the others, whose bearing was more +majestic, and who looked upon the crowd +all smiling and weeping with wonder and +interest, but had no knowledge of the cause, +and listened as it were to a tale that is +told. The poet and his audience were as +one, and at every period of the story there +was a deep breathing and pause, and every +one looked at his neighbour, and some +grasped each other's hands as they remembered +all that was in the past; but the +strangers listened and gazed and observed +all, as those who listen and are instructed +in something beyond their knowledge. +The little Pilgrim stood all this time not +knowing where she was, so intent was she +upon the tale, and as she listened it seemed +to her that all her own life was rolling out +before her, and she remembered the things +that had been, and perceived how all had +been shaped and guided, and trembled a +little for the brother who was in danger, +yet knew that all would be well.</p> + +<p>The woman who had been at her side +listened too with all her heart, saying to +herself as she stood in the crowd, "He +has left nothing out! The little days they +were so short, and the skies would change +all in a moment and one's heart with them. +How he brings it all back!" And she +put up her hand to dry away a tear from +her eyes, though her face all the time was +shining with the recollection. The little +Pilgrim was glad to be by the side of a +woman after talking with so many men, +and she put out her hand and touched the +cloak that this lady wore, and which was +white and of the most beautiful texture, +with gold threads woven in it, or something +that looked like gold.</p> + +<p>"Do you like," she said, "to think of +the old time?"</p> + +<p>The woman turned and looked down +upon her, for she was tall and stately, and +immediately took the hand of the little +Pilgrim into hers, and held it without +answering, till the poet had ended and +come down from the place where he had +been standing. He came straight through +the crowd to where this lady stood, and +said something to her. "You did well to +tell me," looking at her with love in his +eyes—not the tender sweetness of all those +kind looks around, but the love that is for +one. The little Pilgrim looked at them +with her heart beating, and was very glad +for them, and happy in herself, for she +had not seen this love before since she +came into the city, and it had troubled her +to think that perhaps it did not exist any +more. "I am glad," the lady said, and +gave him her other hand; "but here is a +little sister who asks me something, and I +must answer her. I think she has but +newly come."</p> + +<p>"She has a face full of the morning," +the poet said. It did the little Pilgrim +good to feel the touch of the warm, soft +hand, and she was not afraid, but lifted +her eyes and spoke to the lady, and to the +poet. "It is beautiful what you said to +us. Sometimes in the old time we used +to look up to the beautiful skies and +wonder what there was above the clouds, +but we never thought that up here in this +great city you would be thinking of what +we were doing, and making beautiful poems +all about us. We thought that you would +sing wonderful psalms, and talk of things +high, high above us."</p> + +<p>"The little sister does not know what +the meaning of the earth is," the poet +said. "It is but a little speck, but it is +the centre of all. Let her walk with us, +and we will go home, and you will tell her, +Ama, for I love to hear you talk."</p> + +<p>"Will you come with us?" the lady said.</p> + +<p>And the little Pilgrim's heart leaped up +in her, to think she was now going to see +a home in this wonderful city; and they +went along hand in hand, and though they +were three together, and many were coming +and going, there was no difficulty, for +every one made way for them. And there +was a little murmur of pleasure as the poet +passed, and those who had heard his poem +made obeisance to him, and thanked him, +and thanked the Father for him, that he +was able to show them so many beautiful +things. And they walked along the street +which was shining with colour, and saw, +as they passed, how the master painter +had come to his work, and was standing +upon the balcony where the little Pilgrim +had been, and bringing out of the wall, +under his hand, faces which were full of +life, and which seemed to spring forth as +if they had been hidden there. "Let us +wait a little and see him working," the +poet said: and all round about the people +stopped on their way, and there was a soft +cry of pleasure and praise all through the +beautiful street. And the painter with +whom the little Pilgrim had talked before +came, and stood behind her as if he had +been an old friend, and called out to her +at every new touch to mark how this and +that was done. She did not understand +as he did, but she saw how beautiful it +was, and she was glad to have seen the +great painter, as she had been glad to hear +the great poet. It seemed to the little +Pilgrim as if everything happened well for +her, and that no one had ever been so +blessed before. And to make it all more +sweet, this new friend, this great and +sweet lady, always held her hand, and +pressed it softly when something more +lovely appeared; and even the pictured +faces on the wall seemed to beam upon +her, as they came out one by one like the +stars in the sky. Then the three went on +again, and passed by many more beautiful +palaces, and great streets leading away +into the light, till you could see no farther; +and they met with bands of singers, who +sang so sweetly that the heart seemed to +leap out of the Pilgrim's breast to meet +with them, for above all things this was +what she had loved most. And out of one +of the palaces there came such glorious +music, that everything she had seen and +heard before seemed as nothing in comparison. +And amid all these delights they +went on and on, but without wearying, till +they came out of the streets into lovely +walks and alleys, and made their way to +the banks of a great river, which seemed +to sing too, a soft melody of its own.</p> + +<p>And here there were some fair houses +surrounded by gardens and flowers that +grew everywhere, and the doors were all +open, and within everything was lovely +and still, and ready for rest if you were +weary. The little Pilgrim was not weary, +but the lady placed her upon a couch in +the porch, where the pillars and the roof +were all formed of interlacing plants and +flowers; and there they sat with her and +talked, and explained to her many things. +They told her that the earth, though so +small, was the place in all the world to +which the thoughts of those above were +turned. "And not only of us who have +lived there, but of all our brothers in the +other worlds; for we are the race which +the Father has chosen to be the example. +In every age there is one that is the scene +of the struggle and the victory, and it is for +this reason that the chronicles are made, +and that we are all placed here to gather +the meaning of what has been done among +men. And I am one of those," the lady +said, "that go back to the dear earth and +gather up the tale of what our little brethren +are doing. I have not to succour, like some +others, but only to see and bring the news; +and he makes them into great poems as +you have heard; and sometimes the master +painter will take one and make of it a +picture; and there is nothing that is so +delightful to us as when we can bring +back the histories of beautiful things."</p> + +<p>"But, oh," said the little Pilgrim, "what +can there be on earth so beautiful as the +meanest thing that is here?"</p> + +<p>Then they both smiled upon her and +said, "It is more beautiful than the most +beautiful thing here to see how, under the +low skies and in the short days, a soul will +turn to our Father. And sometimes," said +Ama, "when I am watching, one will +wander and stray, and be led into the +dark till my heart is sick; then come back +and make me glad. Sometimes I cry out +within myself to the Father, and say, 'Oh, +my Father, it is enough!' and it will seem +to me that it is not possible to stand by +and see his destruction. And then while +you are gazing, while you are crying, he +will recover and return, and go on again. +And to the angels it is more wonderful +than to us, for they have never lived there. +And all the other worlds are eager to hear +what we can tell them. For no one knows +except the Father how the battle will turn, +or when it will all be accomplished; and +there are some who tremble for our little +brethren. For to look down and see how +little light there is, and how no one knows +what may happen to him next, makes them +afraid who never were there."</p> + +<p>The little Pilgrim listened with an intent +face, clasping her hands, and said—"But +it never could be that our Father +should be overcome by evil. Is not that +known in all the worlds?"</p> + +<p>Then the lady turned and kissed her: +and the poet broke forth in singing, +and said, "Faith is more heavenly than +heaven; it is more beautiful than the +angels. It is the only voice that can +answer to our Father. We praise Him, +we glorify Him, we love His name, but +there is but one response to Him through +all the worlds, and that is the cry of the +little brothers, who see nothing and know +nothing, but believe that He will never fail."</p> + +<p>At this the little Pilgrim wept, for her +heart was touched: but she said—"We +are not so ignorant: for we have +our Lord who is our Brother, and He +teaches us all that we require to know."</p> + +<p>Upon this the poet rose and lifted up +his hands and spoke once more; but it +was as if he spoke to others, to some one +at a distance; it was in the other language +which the little Pilgrim still did not understand, +but she could make out that it +sounded like a great proclamation that He +was wise as He was good, and called upon +all to see that the Lord had chosen the +only way. And the sound of the poet's +voice was like a great trumpet sounding +bold and sweet, as if to tell this to those +who were far away.</p> + +<p>"For you must know," said the Lady +Ama, who all the time held the Pilgrim's +hand, "that it is permitted to all to judge +according to the wisdom that has been +given them. And there are some who +think that our dear Lord might have found +another way, and that wait, sometimes with +trembling, lest He should fail; but not +among us who have lived on earth, for we +know. And it is our work to show to all +the worlds that His way never fails, and +how wonderful it is, and beautiful above +all that heart has conceived. And thus +we justify the ways of God, who is our +Father. But in the other worlds there are +many who will continue to fear until the +history of the earth is all ended and the +chronicles are made complete."</p> + +<p>"And will that be long?" the little +Pilgrim cried, feeling in her heart that she +would like to go to all the worlds and tell +them of our Lord, and of His love, and how +the thought of Him makes you strong; and +it troubled her a little to hear her friends +speak of the low skies and the short +days, and the dimness of that dear country +which she had left behind, in which there +were so many still whom she loved.</p> + +<p>Upon this Ama shook her head, and said +that of that day no one knew, not even +our Lord, but only the Father: and then +she smiled and answered the little Pilgrim's +thought. "When we go back," she said, +"it is not as when we lived there; for now +we see all the dangers of it and the mysteries +which we did not see before. It was +by the Father's dear love that we did not +see what was around us and about us while +we lived there, for then our hearts would +have fainted: and that makes us wonder +now that any one endures to the end."</p> + +<p>"You are a great deal wiser than I am," +said the little Pilgrim; "but though our +hearts had fainted how could we have been +overcome? for He was on our side."</p> + +<p>At this neither of them made any reply +at first, but looked at her; and at length +the poet said that she had brought many +thoughts back to his mind, and how he +had himself been almost worsted when one +like her came to him and gave strength to +his soul. "For that He was on our side +was the only thing she knew," he said, +"and all that could be learned or discovered +was not worthy of naming beside it. And +this I must tell when next I speak to the +people, and how our little sister brought it +to my mind."</p> + +<p>And then they paused from this discourse, +and the little Pilgrim looked round +upon the beautiful houses and the fair +gardens, and she said—</p> + +<p>"You live here? and do you come home +at night?—but I do not mean at night, I +mean when your work is done. And are +they poets like you that dwell all about in +these pleasant places, and the—"</p> + +<p>She would have said the children, but +stopped, not knowing if perhaps it might +be unkind to speak of the children when +she saw none there.</p> + +<p>Upon this the lady smiled once more, +and said—</p> + +<p>"The door stands open always, so that +no one is shut out, and the children come +and go when they will. They are children +no longer, and they have their appointed +work like him and me."</p> + +<p>"And you are always among those you +love?" the Pilgrim said; upon which they +smiled again and said, "We all love each +other;" and the lady held her hand in +both of hers, and caressed it, and softly +laughed, and said, "You know only the +little language. When you have been +taught the other you will learn many +beautiful things."</p> + +<p>She rested for some time after this, and +talked much with her new friends: and +then there came into the heart of the little +Pilgrim a longing to go to the place which +was appointed for her, and which was her +home, and to do the work which had been +given her to do. And when the lady saw +this she rose and said that she would +accompany her a little upon her way. But +the poet bade her farewell and remained +under the porch, with the green branches +shading him, and the flowers twining +round the pillars, and the open door of his +beautiful house behind him. When she +looked back upon him he waved his hand +to her as if bidding her God-speed, and +the lady by her side looked back too and +waved her hand, and the little Pilgrim felt +tears of happiness come to her eyes; for +she had been wondering with a little disappointment +to see that the people in the +city, except those who were strangers, were +chiefly alone, and not like those in the old +world where the husband and wife go together. +It consoled her to see again two +who were one. The lady pressed her +hand in answer to her thought, and bade +her pause a moment and look back into +the city as they passed the end of the great +street out of which they came. And then +the Pilgrim was more and more consoled, +for she saw many who had before been +alone now walking together hand in hand.</p> + +<p>"It is not as it was," Ama said. "For +all of us have work to do which is needed +for the worlds, and it is no longer needful +that one should sit at home while the other +goes forth; for our work is not for our life +as of old, or for ourselves, but for the +Father who has given us so great a trust. +And, little sister, you must know that though +we are not so great as the angels, nor as +many that come to visit us from the other +worlds, yet we are nearer to Him. For +we are in His secret, and it is ours to make +it clear."</p> + +<p>The little Pilgrim's heart was very full +to hear this; but she said—</p> + +<p>"I was never clever, nor knew much. +It is better for me to go away to my little +border-land, and help the strangers who do +not know the way."</p> + +<p>"Whatever is your work is the best," +the lady said; "but though you are so +little you are in the Father's secret too; +for it is nature to you to know what the +others cannot be sure of, that we must have +the victory at the last. So that we have +this between us, the Father and we. And +though all are His children, we are of the +kindred of God, because of our Lord who +is our Brother;" and then the Lady Ama +kissed her, and bade her when she returned +to the great city, either for rest or for love, +or because the Father sent for her, that she +should come to the house by the river. +"For we are friends for ever," she said, +and so threw her white veil over her head, +and was gone upon her mission, whither +the little Pilgrim did not know.</p> + +<p>And now she found herself at a distance +from the great city which shone in the +light with its beautiful towers, and roofs, +and all its monuments, softly fringed with +trees, and set in a heavenly firmament. +And the Pilgrim thought of those words +that described this lovely place as a bride +adorned for her husband, and did not +wonder at him who had said that her +streets were of gold and her gates of pearl, +because gold and pearls and precious jewels +were as nothing to the glory and the beauty +of her. The little Pilgrim was glad to +have seen these wonderful things, and her +mind was like a cup running over with +almost more than it could contain. It +seemed to her that there never could be a +time when she should want for wonder and +interest and delight so long as she had this +to think of. Yet she was not sorry to turn +her back upon the beautiful city, but went +on her way singing in unutterable content, +and thinking over what the lady had said, +that we were in God's secret, more than all +the great worlds above and even the angels, +because of knowing how it is that in darkness +and doubt, and without any open +vision, a man may still keep the right way. +The path lay along the bank of the river +which flowed beside her and made the air +full of music, and a soft air blew across the +running stream and breathed in her face +and refreshed her, and the birds sang in all +the trees. And as she passed through the +villages the people came out to meet her, +and asked of her if she had come from the +city, and what she had seen there. And +everywhere she found friends, and kind +voices that gave her greeting. But some +would ask her why she still spoke the little +language, though it was sweet to their +ears; and others when they heard it +hastened to call from the houses and the +fields some among them who knew the +other tongue but a little, and who came +and crowded round the little Pilgrim and +asked her many questions both about the +things she had been seeing and about the +old time. And she perceived that the +village folk were a simple folk, not learned +and wise like those she had left. And that +though they lived within sight of the great +city, and showed every stranger the beautiful +view of it, and the glory of its towers, +yet few among them had travelled there; +for they were so content with their fields +and their river, and the shade of their trees +and the birds singing, and their simple life, +that they wanted no change; though it +pleased them to receive the little Pilgrim, +and they brought her in to their villages +rejoicing, and called every one to see her. +And they told her that they had all been +poor and laboured hard in the old time, and +had never rested; so that now it was the +Father's good pleasure that they should +enjoy great peace and consolation among +the fresh-breathing fields and on the riverside, +so that there were many who even +now had little occupation except to think +of the Father's goodness and to rest. And +they told her how the Lord Himself would +come among them, and sit down under a +tree, and tell them one of His parables, +and make them all more happy than words +could say; and how sometimes He would +send one out of the beautiful city, with a +poem or tale to say to them, and bands of +lovely music, more lovely than anything +beside, except the sound of the Lord's own +voice. "And what is more wonderful, the +angels themselves come often and listen to +us," they said, "when we begin to talk and +remind each other of the old time, and how +we suffered heat and cold, and were bowed +down with labour, and bending over the +soil; and how sometimes the harvest would +fail us, and sometimes we had not bread, +and sometimes would hush the children to +sleep because there was nothing to give +them; and how we grew old and weary, +and still worked on and on." "We are +those who were old," a number of them +called out to her, with a murmuring sound +of laughter, one looking over another's +shoulder. And one woman said, "The +angels say to us, 'Did you never think the +Father had forsaken you and the Lord forgotten +you?'" And all the rest answered +as in a chorus, "There were moments that +we thought this; but all the time we knew +that it could not be." "And the angels +wonder at us," said another. All this they +said, crowding one before another, every +one anxious to say something, and sometimes +speaking together, but always in +accord. And then there was a sound of +laughter and pleasure, both at the strange +thought that the Lord could have forgotten +them, and at the wonder of the angels over +their simple tales. And immediately they +began to remind each other, and say, "Do +you remember?" and they told the little +Pilgrim a hundred tales of the hardships +and troubles they had known, all smiling +and radiant with pleasure; and at every +new account the others would applaud and +rejoice, feeling the happiness all the more +for the evils that were past. And some of +them led her into their gardens to show +her their flowers, and to tell her how they +had begun to study and learn how colours +were changed and form perfected, and the +secrets of the growth and of the germ of +which they had been ignorant. And others +arranged themselves in choirs, and sang to +her delightful songs of the fields, and accompanied +her out upon her way, singing +and answering to each other. The difference +between the simple folk and the greatness +of the others made the little Pilgrim +wonder and admire, and she loved them in +her simplicity, and turned back many a +time to wave her hand to them, and to +listen to the lovely simple singing as it +went farther and farther away. It had an +evening tone of rest and quietness, and of +protection and peace. "He leadeth me +by the green pastures and beside the quiet +waters," she said to herself: and her heart +swelled with pleasure to think that it was +those who had been so old, and so weary +and poor, who had this rest to console +them for all their sorrows.</p> + +<p>And as she went along, not only did she +pass through many other villages, but met +many on the way who were travelling +towards the great city, and would greet +her sweetly as they passed, and sometimes +stop to say a pleasant word, so that the +little Pilgrim was never lonely wherever +she went. But most of them began to +speak to her in the other language, which +was as beautiful and sweet as music, but +which she could not understand: and they +were surprised to find her ignorant of it, +not knowing that she was but a new-comer +into these lands. And there were many +things that could not be told but in that +language, for the earthly tongue had no +words to express them. The little Pilgrim +was a little sad not to understand what was +said to her, but cheered herself with the +thought that it should be taught to her by +one whom she loved best. The way by +the riverside was very cheerful and bright, +with many people coming and going, and +many villages, some of them with a bridge +across the stream, some withdrawn among +the fields, but all of them bright and full of +life, and with sounds of music, and voices, +and footsteps: and the little Pilgrim felt +no weariness, but moved along as lightly +as a child, taking great pleasure in everything +she saw, and answering all the +friendly greetings with all her heart, yet +glad to think that she was approaching +ever nearer to the country where it was +ordained that she should dwell for a time +and succour the strangers, and receive +those who were newly arrived. And +she consoled herself with the thought that +there was no need of any language but +that which she knew. As this went +through her mind making her glad she +suddenly became aware of one who was +walking by her side, a lady who was +covered with a veil white and shining like +that which Ama had worn in the beautiful +city. It hung about this stranger's head +so that it was not easy to see her face, +and the sound of her voice was very sweet +in the Pilgrim's ear, yet startled her like +the sound of something which she knew +well, but could not remember. And as +there were few who were going that way, +she was glad, and said, "Let us walk +together, if that pleases you." And the +stranger said, "It is for that I have come," +which was a reply which made the little +Pilgrim wonder more and more, though +she was very glad and joyful to have this +companion upon her way. And then the +lady began to ask her many questions, not +about the city, or the great things she had +seen, but about herself, and what the dear +Lord had given her to do.</p> + +<p>"I am little and weak, and I cannot +do much," the little Pilgrim said. "It is +nothing but pleasure. It is to welcome +those that are coming, and tell them. +Sometimes they are astonished and do not +know. I was so myself. I came in my +sleep, and understood nothing. But now +that I know, it is sweet to tell them that +they need not fear."</p> + +<p>"I was glad," the lady said, "that you +came in your sleep: for sometimes the +way is dark and hard, and you are little +and tender. When your brother comes +you will be the first to see him, and show +him the way."</p> + +<p>"My brother! is he coming?" the little +Pilgrim cried. And then she said with a +wistful look, "But we are all brethren, and +you mean only one of those who are the +children of our Father. You must forgive +me that I do not know the higher speech, +but only what is natural, for I have not +yet been long here."</p> + +<p>"He whom I mean is called—" and +here the lady said a name which was the +true name of a brother born, whom the +Pilgrim loved above all others. She gave +a cry, and then she said trembling, "I +know your voice, but I cannot see your +face. And what you say makes me think +of many things. No one else has covered +her face when she has spoken to me. I +know you, and yet I cannot tell who you +are."</p> + +<p>The woman stood for a little without +saying a word, and then very softly, in a +voice which only the heart heard, she called +the little Pilgrim by her name.</p> + +<p>"MOTHER," cried the Pilgrim, with such +a cry of joy that it echoed all about in the +sweet air: and flung herself upon the veiled +lady, and drew the veil from her face, and +saw that it was she. And with this sight +there came a revelation which flooded her +soul with happiness. For the face which +had been old and feeble was old no longer, +but fair in the maturity of day; and the +figure that had been bent and weary was +full of a tender majesty, and the arms that +clasped her about were warm and soft with +love and life. And all that had changed +their relations in the other days and made +the mother in her weakness seem as a +child, and transferred all protection and +strength to the daughter, was gone for +ever: and the little Pilgrim beheld in a +rapture one who was her sister and equal, +yet ever above her—more near to her +than any, though all were so near—one of +whom she herself was a part, yet another, +and who knew all her thoughts and the +way of them before they arose in her. +And to see her face as in the days of her +prime, and her eyes so clear and wise, and +to feel once more that which is different +from the love of all, that which is still most +sweet where all is sweet, the love of one—was +like a crown to her in her happiness. +The little Pilgrim could not think for joy, +nor say a word, but held this dear mother's +hands and looked in her face, and her heart +soared away to the Father in thanks and +joy. They sat down by the roadside under +the shade of the trees, while the river ran +softly by, and everything was hushed out +of sympathy and kindness, and questioned +each other of all that had been and was +to be. And the little Pilgrim told all the +little news of home, and of the brothers +and sisters and the children that had been +born, and of those whose faces were turned +towards this better country; and the mother +smiled and listened and would have heard +all over and over, although many things +she already knew. "But why should I +tell you? for did not you watch over us and +see all we did, and were not you near us +always?" the little Pilgrim said.</p> + +<p>"How could that be?" said the mother; +"for we are not like our Lord, to be +everywhere. We come and go where we +are sent. But sometimes we knew and +sometimes saw, and always loved. And +whenever our hearts were sick for news it +was but to go to Him, and He told us +everything. And now, my little one, you +are as we are, and have seen the Lord. +And this has been given us, to teach our +child once more, and show you the heavenly +language, that you may understand all, both +the little and the great."</p> + +<p>Then the Pilgrim lifted her head from +her mother's bosom, and looked in her +face with eyes full of longing. "You said +'we,'" she said.</p> + +<p>The mother did nothing but smile; +then lifted her eyes and looked along the +beautiful path of the river to where some +one was coming to join them; and the +little Pilgrim cried out again, in wonder +and joy; and presently found herself seated +between them, her father and her mother, +the two who had loved her most in the +other days. They looked more beautiful +than the angels and all the great persons +whom she had seen; for still they were +hers and she was theirs, more than all the +angels and all the blessed could be. And +thus she learned that though the new may +take the place of the old, and many things +may blossom out of it like flowers, yet +that the old is never done away. And +then they sat together, telling of everything +that had befallen, and all the little +tender things that were of no import, and +all the great changes and noble ways, and +the wonders of heaven above and the earth +beneath, for all were open to them, both +great and small; and when they had satisfied +their souls with these, her father and +mother began to teach her the other language, +smiling often at her faltering tongue, +and telling her the same thing over and +over till she learned it; and her father +called her his little foolish one, as he had +done in the old days; and at last, when +they had kissed her and blessed her, and +told her how to come home to them when +she was weary, they gave her, as the +Father had permitted them, with joy and +blessing, her new name.</p> + +<p>The little Pilgrim was tired with happiness +and all the wonder and pleasure, and +as she sat there in the silence leaning +upon those who were so dear to her, the +soft air grew sweeter and sweeter about +her, and the light faded softly into a dimness +of tender indulgence and privilege for +her, because she was still little and weak. +And whether that heavenly suspense of all +her faculties was sleep or not she knew +not, but it was such as in all her life she +had never known. When she came back +to herself, it was by the sound of many +voices calling her, and many people hastening +past and beckoning to her to join them.</p> + +<p>"Come, come," they said, "little sister: +there has been great trouble in the other +life, and many have arrived suddenly and +are afraid. Come, come, and help them—come +and help them!"</p> + +<p>And she sprang up from her soft seat, +and found that she was no longer by the +riverside, or within sight of the great +city or in the arms of those she loved, but +stood on one of the flowery paths of her +own border-land, and saw her fellows +hastening towards the gates where there +seemed a great crowd. And she was no +longer weary, but full of life and strength, +and it seemed to her that she could take +them up in her arms, those trembling +strangers, and carry them straight to the +Father, so strong was she, and light, and +full of force. And above all the gladness +she had felt, and all her pleasure in what +she had seen, and more happy even than +the meeting with those she loved most, +was her happiness now, as she went +along as light as the breeze to receive +the strangers. She was so eager that she +began to sing a song of welcome as she +hastened on. "Oh, welcome, welcome!" +she cried; and as she sang she knew it +was one of the heavenly melodies which +she had heard in the great city: and she +hastened on, her feet flying over the flowery +ways, thinking how the great worlds were +all watching, and the angels looking on, and +the whole universe waiting till it should be +proved to them that the dear Lord, the +Brother of us all, had chosen the perfect +way, and that over all the evil and the +sorrow He was the Conqueror alone.</p> + +<p>And the little Pilgrim's voice, though +it was so small, echoed away through the +great firmament to where the other worlds +were watching to see what should come, +and cheered the anxious faces of some +great lords and princes far more great +than she, who were of a nobler race than +man; for it was said among the stars that +when such a little sound could reach so far, +it was a token that the Lord had chosen +aright, and that His method must be the +best. And it breathed over the earth like +some one saying, Courage! to those whose +hearts were failing; and it dropped down, +down, into the great confusions and traffic +of the Land of Darkness, and startled +many, like the cry of a child calling and +calling, and never ceasing, "Come! and +come! and come!"</p> + +<p>THE END.</p> + +<p><i>Printed by</i> R. & R. CLARK, LIMITED, <i>Edinburgh</i>.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="COMPLETE_EDITIONS_OF_THE_POETS" id="COMPLETE_EDITIONS_OF_THE_POETS"></a><b>COMPLETE EDITIONS OF THE POETS.</b><br /></h2> + +<p><i>Uniform Edition. In Green Cloth</i>.<br /></p> + + +<p>THE COMPLETE WORKS OF ALFRED, LORD +TENNYSON.</p> + +<p>With a Portrait engraved on Steel by G.J. STODART. +Crown 8vo. 7s. 6d.<br /></p> + + +<p>THE POETICAL WORKS OF MATTHEW +ARNOLD.</p> + +<p>With a Portrait engraved on Steel by G.J. STODART. +Crown 8vo. 7s. 6d.<br /></p> + + +<p>THE POETICAL WORKS OF JAMES RUSSELL +LOWELL.</p> + +<p>With Introduction by THOMAS HUGHES, and a Portrait. +Crown 8vo. 7s. 6d.<br /></p> + + +<p>THE POETICAL WORKS OF PERCY BYSSHE +SHELLEY.</p> + +<p>Edited by Professor DOWDEN. With a Portrait. Crown 8vo. +7s. 6d.<br /></p> + + +<p>THE POETICAL WORKS OF SAMUEL TAYLOR +COLERIDGE.</p> + +<p>Edited, with a Biographical Introduction, by J. DYKES +CAMPBELL. Portrait as Frontispiece. Crown 8vo. 7s. 6d.<br /></p> + + +<p>THE POETICAL WORKS OF WILLIAM WORDSWORTH.</p> + +<p>With Introduction by JOHN MORLEY, and a Portrait. +Crown 8vo. 7s. 6d.<br /></p> + + +<p>THE COMPLETE POETICAL WORKS OF T.E. +BROWN.</p> + +<p>With a Portrait; and an Introduction by W.E. HENLEY. +Crown 8vo. 7s. 6d.<br /></p> + + +<p>THE COMPLETE POETICAL WORKS OF +CHRISTINA ROSSETTI.</p> + +<p>With Introduction, Memoir, and Notes, by W.M. ROSSETTI. +Crown 8vo. 7s. 6d.<br /></p> + + +<p>THE BAB BALLADS, with which are included Songs +of a Savoyard.</p> + +<p>By W.S. GILBERT. Sixth Edition. Illustrated. Crown +8vo. 7s. 6d.<br /></p> + + +<p>THE INGOLDSBY LEGENDS.</p> + +<p>With 20 Illustrations on Steel by CRUIKSHANK, LEECH, +and BARHAM. Crown 8vo. 7s. 6d.</p> + +<p>MACMILLAN AND CO., LTD., LONDON.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>THE WORKS OF LORD TENNYSON.</p> + +<p>THE WORKS OF ALFRED, LORD TENNYSON. Complete +Edition. With a Portrait. Crown 8vo. 7s. 6d. <i>India Paper Edition.</i> +Leather, gilt edges. 10s. 6d. net.<br /></p> + + +<p><i>POCKET CLASSICS EDITION.</i>. In Five volumes. Cloth, 2s. net +each. Leather, 3s. net each.</p> + +<p>1. JUVINILIA AND ENGLISH IDYLS.</p> + +<p>2. IN MEMORIAM, MAUD, and other Poems.</p> + +<p>3. BALLADS, and other Poems.</p> + +<p>4. IDYLLS OF THE KING.</p> + +<p>5. DRAMAS.<br /></p> + + +<p><i>LIBRARY EDITION</i>. In Nine Vols. Globe 8vo. 5s. each. May be +had separately.</p> + +<p>1. EARLY POEMS.</p> + +<p>2. EARLY POEMS.</p> + +<p>3. IDYLLS OF THE KING.</p> + +<p>4. THE PRINCESS, AND MAUD.</p> + +<p>5. ENOCH ARDEN, AND IN MEMORIAM.</p> + +<p>6. BALLADS, and other Poems.</p> + +<p>7. QUEEN MARY, AND HAROLD.</p> + +<p>8. BECKET, and other Plays.</p> + +<p>9. DEMETER, and other Poems.<br /></p> + + +<p><i>GLOBE 8vo EDITION</i>. On hand-made paper. In Ten Vols. Supplied +in sets only. 105s.</p> + +<p>POETICAL WORKS. <i>Globe Edition</i>. Crown 8vo. 3s. 6d. Extra +cloth, gilt edges. 4s. 6d. Limp leather, gilt edges. 5s net.<br /></p> + + +<p>POETICAL WORKS. <i>Peoples Edition.</i> In Twelve Vols. 16mo. +1s. net each. Complete in box, 14s. net.</p> + +<p>1. JUVENILIA AND LADY OF SHALOTT.</p> + +<p>2. A DREAM OF FAIR WOMEN AND LOCKSLEY HALL.</p> + +<p>3. THE PRINCESS.</p> + +<p>4. WILL WATERPROOF AND ENOCH ARDEN.</p> + +<p>5. IN MEMORIAM.</p> + +<p>6. MAUD AND THE BROOK.</p> + +<p>7. IDYLLS OF THE KING, I.</p> + +<p>8. " " " " II.</p> + +<p>9. " " " " III.</p> + +<p>10. THE LOVER'S TALE AND RIZPAH.</p> + +<p>11. THE VOYAGE OF MAELDUNE AND THE SPINSTER'S SWEET-ARTS.</p> + +<p>12. DEMETER AND THE DEATH OF OENONE.<br /></p> + + +<p>POETICAL WORKS. In Twenty-three Vols. Cloth, 1s. net, and +leather, 1s. 6d. net each Volume. In cloth case, 25s. net; Leather, in +cloth cabinet, 36s. net.</p> + +<p>1. JUVENILIA.</p> + +<p>2. THE LADY OF SHALOTT, and other Poems.</p> + +<p>3. A DREAM OF FAIR WOMEN, and other Poems.</p> + +<p>4. LOCKSLEY HALL, and other Poems.</p> + +<p>5. WILL WATERPROOF, and other Poems.</p> + +<p>6. THE PRINCESS. Books I. to III.</p> + +<p>7. THE PRINCESS. Book IV. to end.</p> + +<p>8. ENOCH ARDEN, and other Poems.</p> + +<p>9. IN MEMORIAM.</p> + +<p>10. MAUD, THE WINDOW, and other Poems.</p> + +<p>11. THE BROOK, and other Poems.</p> + +<p>12. IDYLLS OF THE KING: THE COMING OF ARTHUR, GARETH AND LYNETTE.</p> + +<p>13. IDYLLS OF THE KING: THE MARRIAGE OF GERAINT, GERAINT AND ENID.</p> + +<p>14. IDYLLS OF THE KING: BALIN AND BALAN, MERLIN AND VIVIEN.</p> + +<p>15. IDYLLS OF THE KING: LANCELOT AND ELAINE. THE HOLY GRAIL.</p> + +<p>16. IDYLLS OF THE KING: PELLEAS AND ETTARRE, THE LAST TOURNAMENT.</p> + +<p>17. IDYLLS OF THE KING: GUINEVERE, THE PASSING OF ARTHUR, TO THE QUEEN.</p> + +<p>18. THE LOVER'S TALE, and other Poems.</p> + +<p>19. RIZPAH, and other Poems.</p> + +<p>20. THE VOYAGE OF MAELDUNE, and other Poems.</p> + +<p>21. THE SPINSTER'S SWEET-ARTS, and other Poems.</p> + +<p>22. DEMETER, and other Poems.</p> + +<p>23. THE DEATH OF OENONE, and other Poems.<br /></p> + + +<p>MACMILLAN AND CO., LTD., LONDON.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p><b>THE WORKS OF LORD TENNYSON.</b></p> + + +<p>POETICAL WORKS. <i>Pocket Edition</i>, Morocco binding, gilt +edges. Pott 8vo. 7s. 6d. net.</p> + +<p>POETICAL WORKS. <i>School Edition</i>. In Four Parts. Crown 8vo. +2s. 6d. each.</p> + +<p>THE DRAMATIC WORKS. <i>Miniature Edition</i>. Five Vols. 16mo. +In a box. 12s. 6d.<br /></p> + + +<p><i>THE ORIGINAL EDITIONS</i>. Fcap. 8vo.</p> + +<p>THE HOLY GRAIL, and other Poems. 4s. 6d.</p> + +<p>BALLADS, and other Poems. 5s.</p> + +<p>HAROLD: a Drama. 6s.</p> + +<p>QUEEN MARY: a Drama. 6s.</p> + +<p>THE CUP AND THE FALCON. 5s.</p> + +<p>BECKET. 6s.</p> + +<p>TIRESIAS, and other Poems. 6s.</p> + +<p>LOCKSLEY HALL SIXTY YEARS AFTER, etc. 6s.</p> + +<p>DEMETER, and other Poems. 6s.</p> + +<p>THE FORESTERS: ROBIN HOOD and MAID MARIAN. 6s.</p> + +<p>THE DEATH OF OENONE, AKBAR'S DREAM, and other Poems. 6s.</p> + +<p>POEMS BY TWO BROTHERS. Second Edition.<br /></p> + + +<p><i>THE ROYAL EDITION</i>. 8vo. 16s.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p><i>GOLDEN TREASURY SERIES</i>.</p> + +<p>Pott 8vo. 2s. 6d. net. Also Cloth elegant, gilt top, 2s. 6d. net; +Limp leather, gilt edges, 3s. 6d. net. (Except the <i>Lyrical Poems</i>.)<br /></p> + + +<p>LYRICAL POEMS BY ALFRED, LORD TENNYSON. Selected by FRANCIS T. PALGRAVE. +Large Paper Edition. 8vo. 9s.</p> + +<p>IN MEMORIAM. Large Paper Edition. 8vo. 9s</p> + +<p>THE PRINCESS.</p> + +<p>IDYLLS OF THE KING.</p> + +<p>IDYLLS OF THE KING. (VIVIEN, ELAINE, ENID, GUINEVERE.) +Illustrated and Decorated by G.W. and L. RHEAD. Royal 4to. 15s. net.</p> + +<p>POEMS, including IN MEMORIAM, THE PRINCESS, etc. Illustrated. 8vo. Gilt +edges. +2s.</p> + +<p>IN MEMORIAM. With Notes by the Author. Edited by HALLAM, LORD TENNYSON. +Fcap. +8vo. 5s. net.</p> + +<p>POEMS, including IN MEMORIAM, etc. Medium 8vo, sewed. 6d.</p> + +<p>MAUD, THE PRINCESS, ENOCH ARDEN, and other Poems. Medium 8vo, sewed. 6d.</p> + +<p>TENNYSON FOR THE YOUNG. With Notes by ALFRED AINGER, M.A. Pott 8vo. 1s. net.</p> + +<p>SONGS FROM TENNYSON'S WRITINGS. Square 8vo. 2s. 6d.</p> + +<p>THE TENNYSON BIRTHDAY BOOK. Edited by EMILY SHAKESPEAR. Extra Crown 16mo. +2s. +6d.</p> + +<p>THE BROOK. Illustrated by A. WOODRUFF. Oblong demy 16mo. 2s. 6d.</p> + +<p>BECKET: a Tragedy. As arranged for the stage by HENRY IRVING. 8vo, sewed, +1s. net.</p> + + +<p>MACMILLAN AND CO., LTD., LONDON.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>THE WORKS OF +J.H. SHORTHOUSE</p> + +<p><i>Uniform Edition. Crown 8vo. 3s. 6d. each</i>.</p> + + +<p>JOHN INGLESANT: a Romance.</p> + +<p>THE LITTLE SCHOOLMASTER MARK.</p> + +<p>SIR PERCIVAL.</p> + +<p>A TEACHER OF THE VIOLIN, and other Tales</p> + +<p>BLANCHE, LADY FALAISE.</p> + +<p>THE COUNTESS EVE.<br /></p> + + +<p><i>Edition de Luxe.</i></p> + +<p>JOHN INGLESANT. Three Vols. 8vo. 25s. net.<br /></p> + + +<p><i>Pocket Edition. Fcap</i>. 8vo.</p> + +<p>JOHN INGLESANT. Cloth extra, gilt top. 2s. net.</p> + +<p>Limp leather, gilt top. 3s. net.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>LIFE, LETTERS, AND LITERARY REMAINS +OF J.H. SHORTHOUSE. Edited by his +WIFE. Two vols. 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