Toasmallgirl—child，whomaylivetograspsomewhatofthatwhichforusisyetsight，nottouch。
　　Note。
　　TheseDreamsareprintedintheorderinwhichtheywerewritten。
　　Inthecaseoftwotherewasalapseofsomeyearsbetweenthewritingofthefirstandlastparts;theseareplacedaccordingtothedateofthefirstpart。
　　OliveSchreiner。
　　Matjesfontein，CapeColony，SouthAfrica。
　　November，1890。
　　CONTENTS。
　　I。TheLostJoy。
　　II。TheHunter（From"TheStoryofofanAfricanFarm"）。
　　III。TheGardensofPleasure。
　　IV。InaFar—offWorld。
　　V。ThreeDreamsinaDesert。
　　VI。ADreamofWildBees（Writtenasalettertoafriend）。
　　VII。InaRuinedChapel。
　　VIII。Life’sGifts。
　　IX。TheArtist’sSecret。
　　X。"IThoughtIStood。"
　　XI。TheSunlightLayacrossMyBed。
　　I。THELOSTJOY。
　　Allday，wherethesunlightplayedonthesea—shore，Lifesat。
　　Alldaythesoftwindplayedwithherhair，andtheyoung，youngfacelookedoutacrossthewater。Shewaswaiting——shewaswaiting;butshecouldnottellforwhat。
　　Alldaythewavesranupanduponthesand，andranbackagain，andthepinkshellsrolled。Lifesatwaiting;allday，withthesunlightinhereyes，shesatthere，till，grownweary，shelaidherheaduponherkneeandfellasleep，waitingstill。
　　Thenakeelgratedonthesand，andthenastepwasontheshore——Lifeawokeandheardit。Ahandwaslaiduponher，andagreatshudderpassedthroughher。Shelookedup，andsawoverherthestrange，wideeyesofLove——andLifenowknewforwhomshehadsattherewaiting。
　　AndLovedrewLifeuptohim。
　　Andofthatmeetingwasbornathingrareandbeautiful——Joy，First—Joywasitcalled。Thesunlightwhenitshinesuponthemerrywaterisnotsoglad;therosebuds，whentheyturnbacktheirlipsforthesun’sfirstkiss，arenotsoruddy。Itstinypulsesbeatquick。Itwassowarm，sosoft！Itneverspoke，butitlaughedandplayedinthesunshine:andLoveandLiferejoicedexceedingly。Neitherwhisperedittotheother，butdeepinitsownhearteachsaid，"Itshallbeoursforever。"
　　Thentherecameatime——wasitafterweeks？wasitaftermonths？（LoveandLifedonotmeasuretime）——whenthethingwasnotasithadbeen。
　　Stillitplayed;stillitlaughed;stillitstaineditsmouthwithpurpleberries;butsometimesthelittlehandshungweary，andthelittleeyeslookedoutheavilyacrossthewater。
　　AndLifeandLovedarednotlookintoeachother’seyes，darednotsay，"Whatailsourdarling？"Eachheartwhisperedtoitself，"Itisnothing，itisnothing，tomorrowitwilllaughoutclear。"Buttomorrowandtomorrowcame。Theyjourneyedon，andthechildplayedbesidethem，butheavily，moreheavily。
　　OnedayLifeandLovelaydowntosleep;andwhentheyawoke，itwasgone:
　　only，nearthem，onthegrass，satalittlestranger，withwide—openeyes，verysoftandsad。Neithernoticedit;buttheywalkedapart，weepingbitterly，"Oh，ourJoy！ourlostJoy！shallweseeyounomoreforever？"
　　Thelittlesoftandsad—eyedstrangerslippedahandintoonehandofeach，anddrewthemcloser，andLifeandLovewalkedonwithitbetweenthem。
　　AndwhenLifelookeddowninanguish，shesawhertearsreflectedinitssofteyes。AndwhenLove，madwithpain，criedout，"Iamweary，Iamweary！Icanjourneynofurther。Thelightisallbehind，thedarkisallbefore，"alittlerosyfingerpointedwherethesunlightlayuponthehill—
　　sides。Alwaysitslargeeyesweresadandthoughtful:alwaysthelittlebravemouthwassmilingquietly。
　　WhenonthesharpstonesLifecutherfeet，hewipedtheblooduponhisgarments，andkissedthewoundedfeetwithhislittlelips。WheninthedesertLovelaydownfaint（forLoveitselfgrowsfaint），heranoverthehotsandwithhislittlenakedfeet，andeventhereinthedesertfoundwaterintheholesintherockstomoistenLove’slipswith。Hewasnoburden——heneverweightedthem;heonlyhelpedthemforwardontheirjourney。
　　Whentheycametothedarkravinewheretheicicleshangfromtherocks——
　　forLoveandLifemustpassthroughstrangedrearplaces——there，wherealliscold，andthesnowliesthick，hetooktheirfreezinghandsandheldthemagainsthisbeatinglittleheart，andwarmedthem——andsoftlyhedrewthemonandon。
　　Andwhentheycamebeyond，intothelandofsunshineandflowers，strangelythegreateyeslitup，anddimplesbrokeoutupontheface。Brightlylaughing，itranoverthesoftgrass;gatheredhoneyfromthehollowtree;
　　andbroughtitthemonthepalmofitshand;carriedthemwaterintheleavesofthelily，andgatheredflowersandwreathedthemroundtheirheads，softlylaughingallthewhile。HetouchedthemastheirJoyhadtouchedthem，buthisfingersclungmoretenderly。
　　Sotheywanderedon，throughthedarklandsandthelight，alwayswiththatlittlebravesmilingonebetweenthem。SometimestheyrememberedthatfirstradiantJoy，andwhisperedtothemselves，"Oh！couldwebutfindhimalso！"
　　AtlasttheycametowhereReflectionsits;thatstrangeoldwomanwhohasalwaysoneelbowonherknee，andherchininherhand，andwhostealslightoutofthepasttosheditonthefuture。
　　AndLifeandLovecriedout，"Owiseone！tellus:whenfirstwemet，alovelyradiantthingbelongedtous——gladnesswithoutatear，sunshinewithoutashade。Oh！howdidwesinthatwelostit？Whereshallwegothatwemayfindit？"
　　Andshe，thewiseoldwoman，answered，"Tohaveitback，willyougiveupthatwhichwalksbesideyounow？"
　　AndinagonyLoveandLifecried，"No！"
　　"Giveupthis！"saidLife。"Whenthethornshavepiercedme，whowillsuckthepoisonout？Whenmyheadthrobs，whowilllayhistinyhandsuponitandstillthebeating？Inthecoldandthedark，whowillwarmmyfreezingheart？"
　　AndLovecriedout，"Betterletmedie！WithoutJoyIcanlive;withoutthisIcannot。Letmeratherdie，notloseit！"
　　Andthewiseoldwomananswered，"Ofoolsandblind！Whatyouoncehadisthatwhichyouhavenow！WhenLoveandLifefirstmeet，aradiantthingisborn，withoutashade。Whentheroadsbegintoroughen，whentheshadesbegintodarken，whenthedaysarehard，andthenightscoldandlong——thenitbeginstochange。LoveandLifeWILLnotseeit，WILLnotknowit——tillonedaytheystartupsuddenly，crying，’OGod！OGod！wehavelostit！
　　Whereisit？’Theydonotunderstandthattheycouldnotcarrythelaughingthingunchangedintothedesert，andthefrost，andthesnow。
　　TheydonotknowthatwhatwalksbesidethemstillistheJoygrownolder。
　　Thegrave，sweet，tenderthing——warminthecoldestsnows，braveinthedreariestdeserts——itsnameisSympathy;itisthePerfectLove。"
　　SouthAfrica。
　　II。THEHUNTER。
　　Incertainvalleystherewasahunter。Daybydayhewenttohuntforwild—fowlinthewoods;anditchancedthatoncehestoodontheshoresofalargelake。Whilehestoodwaitingintherushesforthecomingofthebirds，agreatshadowfellonhim，andinthewaterhesawareflection。
　　Helookeduptothesky;butthethingwasgone。Thenaburningdesirecameoverhimtoseeonceagainthatreflectioninthewater，andalldayhewatchedandwaited;butnightcameandithadnotreturned。Thenhewenthomewithhisemptybag，moodyandsilent。Hiscomradescamequestioningabouthimtoknowthereason，butheansweredthemnothing;hesataloneandbrooded。Thenhisfriendcametohim，andtohimhespoke。
　　"Ihaveseentoday，"hesaid，"thatwhichIneversawbefore——avastwhitebird，withsilverwingsoutstretched，sailingintheeverlastingblue。Andnowitisasthoughagreatfireburntwithinmybreast。Itwasbutasheen，ashimmer，areflectioninthewater;butnowIdesirenothingmoreonearththantoholdher。"
　　Hisfriendlaughed。
　　"Itwasbutabeamplayingonthewater，ortheshadowofyourownhead。
　　Tomorrowyouwillforgether，"hesaid。
　　Buttomorrow，andtomorrow，andtomorrowthehunterwalkedalone。Hesoughtintheforestandinthewoods，bythelakesandamongtherushes，buthecouldnotfindher。Heshotnomorewildfowl;whatweretheytohim？
　　"Whatailshim？"saidhiscomrades。
　　"Heismad，"saidone。
　　"No;butheisworse，"saidanother;"hewouldseethatwhichnoneofushaveseen，andmakehimselfawonder。"
　　"Come，letusforswearhiscompany，"saidall。
　　Sothehunterwalkedalone。
　　Onenight，ashewanderedintheshade，veryheartsoreandweeping，anoldmanstoodbeforehim，granderandtallerthanthesonsofmen。
　　"Whoareyou？"askedthehunter。
　　"IamWisdom，"answeredtheoldman;"butsomemencallmeKnowledge。AllmylifeIhavegrowninthesevalleys;butnomanseesmetillhehassorrowedmuch。Theeyesmustbewashedwithtearsthataretobeholdme;
　　and，accordingasamanhassuffered，Ispeak。"
　　Andthehuntercried:
　　"Oh，youwhohavelivedheresolong，tellme，whatisthatgreatwildbirdIhaveseensailingintheblue？Theywouldhavemebelievesheisadream;theshadowofmyownhead。"
　　Theoldmansmiled。
　　"HernameisTruth。Hewhohasonceseenherneverrestsagain。Tilldeathhedesiresher。"
　　Andthehuntercried:
　　"Oh，tellmewhereImayfindher。"
　　Buttheoldmansaid:
　　"Youhavenotsufferedenough，"andwent。
　　ThenthehuntertookfromhisbreasttheshuttleofImagination，andwoundonitthethreadofhisWishes;andallnighthesatandwoveanet。
　　Inthemorninghespreadthegoldennetupontheground，andintoithethrewafewgrainsofcredulity，whichhisfatherhadlefthim，andwhichhekeptinhisbreast—pocket。Theywerelikewhitepuff—balls，andwhenyoutrodonthemabrowndustflewout。Thenhesatbytoseewhatwouldhappen。Thefirstthatcameintothenetwasasnow—whitebird，withdove’seyes，andhesangabeautifulsong——"Ahuman—God！ahuman—God！ahuman—God！"itsang。Thesecondthatcamewasblackandmystical，withdark，lovelyeyes，thatlookedintothedepthsofyoursoul，andhesangonlythis——"Immortality！"
　　Andthehuntertookthembothinhisarms，forhesaid——
　　"TheyaresurelyofthebeautifulfamilyofTruth。"
　　Thencameanother，greenandgold，whosanginashrillvoice，likeonecryinginthemarketplace，——"RewardafterDeath！RewardafterDeath！"
　　Andhesaid——
　　"Youarenotsofair;butyouarefairtoo，"andhetookit。
　　Andotherscame，brightlycoloured，singingpleasantsongs，tillallthegrainswerefinished。Andthehuntergatheredallhisbirdstogether，andbuiltastrongironcagecalledanewcreed，andputallhisbirdsinit。
　　Thenthepeoplecameaboutdancingandsinging。
　　"Oh，happyhunter！"theycried。"Oh，wonderfulman！Oh，delightfulbirds！
　　Oh，lovelysongs！"
　　Nooneaskedwherethebirdshadcomefrom，norhowtheyhadbeencaught;
　　buttheydancedandsangbeforethem。Andthehuntertoowasglad，forhesaid:
　　"SurelyTruthisamongthem。Intimeshewillmoultherfeathers，andI
　　shallseehersnow—whiteform。"
　　Butthetimepassed，andthepeoplesanganddanced;butthehunter’sheartgrewheavy。Hecreptalone，asofold，toweep;theterribledesirehadawakenedagaininhisbreast。Oneday，ashesataloneweeping，itchancedthatWisdommethim。Hetoldtheoldmanwhathehaddone。
　　AndWisdomsmiledsadly。
　　"Manymen，"hesaid，"havespreadthatnetforTruth;buttheyhaveneverfoundher。Onthegrainsofcredulityshewillnotfeed;inthenetofwishesherfeetcannotbeheld;intheairofthesevalleysshewillnotbreathe。ThebirdsyouhavecaughtareofthebroodofLies。Lovelyandbeautiful，butstilllies;Truthknowsthemnot。"
　　Andthehuntercriedoutinbitterness——
　　"AndmustIthensitstill，tobedevouredofthisgreatburning？"
　　Andtheoldmansaid，"Listen，andinthatyouhavesufferedmuchandweptmuch，IwilltellyouwhatIknow。HewhosetsouttosearchforTruthmustleavethesevalleysofsuperstitionforever，takingwithhimnotoneshredthathasbelongedtothem。AlonehemustwanderdownintotheLandofAbsoluteNegationandDenial;hemustabidethere;hemustresisttemptation;whenthelightbreakshemustariseandfollowitintothecountryofdrysunshine。Themountainsofsternrealitywillrisebeforehim;hemustclimbthem;beyondthemliesTruth。"
　　"Andhewillholdherfast！hewillholdherinhishands！"thehuntercried。
　　Wisdomshookhishead。
　　"Hewillneverseeher，neverholdher。Thetimeisnotyet。"
　　"Thenthereisnohope？"criedthehunter。
　　"Thereisthis，"saidWisdom:"Somemenhaveclimbedonthosemountains;
　　circleabovecircleofbarerocktheyhavescaled;and，wanderingthere，inthosehighregions，somehavechancedtopickuponthegroundonewhitesilverfeather，droppedfromthewingofTruth。Anditshallcometopass，"saidtheoldman，raisinghimselfpropheticallyandpointingwithhisfingertothesky，"itshallcometopass，thatwhenenoughofthosesilverfeathersshallhavebeengatheredbythehandsofmen，andshallhavebeenwovenintoacord，andthecordintoanet，thatinthatnetTruthmaybecaptured。NothingbutTruthcanholdTruth。"
　　Thehunterarose。"Iwillgo，"hesaid。
　　Butwisdomdetainedhim。
　　"Markyouwell——wholeavesthesevalleysneverreturnstothem。Thoughheshouldweeptearsofbloodsevendaysandnightsupontheconfines，hecanneverputhisfootacrossthem。Left——theyareleftforever。Upontheroadwhichyouwouldtravelthereisnorewardoffered。Whogoes，goesfreely——forthegreatlovethatisinhim。Theworkishisreward。"
　　"Igo"saidthehunter;"butuponthemountains，tellme，whichpathshallItake？"
　　"IamthechildofThe—Accumulated—Knowledge—of—Ages，"saidtheman;"Icanwalkonlywheremanymenhavetrodden。Onthesemountainsfewfeethavepassed;eachmanstrikesoutapathforhimself。Hegoesathisownperil:
　　myvoicehehearsnomore。Imayfollowafterhim，butcannotgobeforehim。"
　　ThenKnowledgevanished。
　　Andthehunterturned。Hewenttohiscage，andwithhishandsbrokedownthebars，andthejaggedirontorehisflesh。Itissometimeseasiertobuildthantobreak。
　　Onebyonehetookhisplumedbirdsandletthemfly。Butwhenhecametohisdark—plumedbirdheheldit，andlookedintoitsbeautifuleyes，andthebirduttereditslow，deepcry——"Immortality！"
　　Andhesaidquickly:"Icannotpartwithit。Itisnotheavy;iteatsnofood。Iwillhideitinmybreast;Iwilltakeitwithme。"Andheburieditthereandcovereditoverwithhiscloak。
　　Butthethinghehadhiddengrewheavier，heavier，heavier——tillitlayonhisbreastlikelead。Hecouldnotmovewithit。Hecouldnotleavethosevalleyswithit。Thenagainhetookitoutandlookedatit。
　　"Oh，mybeautiful！myheart’sown！"hecried，"mayInotkeepyou？"
　　Heopenedhishandssadly。
　　"Go！"hesaid。"ItmayhappenthatinTruth’ssongonenoteislikeyours;
　　butIshallneverhearit。"
　　Sadlyheopenedhishand，andthebirdflewfromhimforever。
　　ThenfromtheshuttleofImaginationhetookthethreadofhiswishes，andthrewitontheground;andtheemptyshuttleheputintohisbreast，forthethreadwasmadeinthosevalleys，buttheshuttlecamefromanunknowncountry。Heturnedtogo，butnowthepeoplecameabouthim，howling。
　　"Fool，hound，dementedlunatic！"theycried。"Howdaredyoubreakyourcageandletthebirdsfly？’
　　Thehunterspoke;buttheywouldnothearhim。
　　"Truth！whoisshe？Canyoueather？canyoudrinkher？Whohaseverseenher？Yourbirdswerereal:allcouldhearthemsing！Oh，fool！vilereptile！atheist！"theycried，"youpollutetheair。"
　　"Come，letustakeupstonesandstonehim，"criedsome。
　　"Whataffairisitofours？"saidothers。"Lettheidiotgo，"andwentaway。Buttherestgatheredupstonesandmudandthrewathim。Atlast，whenhewasbruisedandcut，thehuntercreptawayintothewoods。Anditwaseveningabouthim。
　　Hewanderedonandon，andtheshadegrewdeeper。Hewasonthebordersnowofthelandwhereitisalwaysnight。Thenhesteppedintoit，andtherewasnolightthere。Withhishandshegroped;buteachbranchashetoucheditbrokeoff，andtheearthwascoveredwithcinders。Ateverystephisfootsankin，andafinecloudofimpalpableashesflewupintohisface;anditwasdark。Sohesatdownuponastoneandburiedhisfaceinhishands，towaitintheLandofNegationandDenialtillthelightcame。