Ihavetothankcordiallythepublicandmycriticsforthereceptiontheyhavegiventhislittlebook。
　　DealingwithasubjectthatisfarremovedfromtheroundofEnglishdailylife，itofnecessitylacksthecharmthathangsabouttheidealrepresentationoffamiliarthings，anditsreceptionhasthereforebeenthemorekindly。
　　Awordofexplanationisnecessary。Twostrangersappearonthescene，andsomehavefanciedthatinthesecondtheyhaveagainthefirst，whoreturnsinanewguise。Whythisshouldbewecannottell；unlessthereisafeelingthatamanshouldnotappearuponthescene，andthendisappear，leavingbehindhimnomoresubstantialtracethanamerebook；thatheshouldreturnlateronashusbandorlover，tofillsomemoreimportantpartthanthatofthemerestimulatorofthought。
　　Humanlifemaybepaintedaccordingtotwomethods。Thereisthestagemethod。Accordingtothateachcharacterisdulymarshalledatfirst，andticketed；weknowwithanimmutablecertaintythatattherightcriseseachonewillreappearandacthispart，and，whenthecurtainfalls，allwillstandbeforeitbowing。Thereisasenseofsatisfactioninthis，andofcompleteness。Butthereisanothermethod——themethodofthelifewealllead。Herenothingcanbeprophesied。Thereisastrangecomingandgoingoffeet。Menappear，actandre—actuponeachother，andpassaway。Whenthecrisiscomesthemanwhowouldfititdoesnotreturn。Whenthecurtainfallsnooneisready。Whenthefootlightsarebrightesttheyareblownout；andwhatthenameoftheplayisnooneknows。Iftheresitsaspectatorwhoknows，hesitssohighthattheplayersinthegaslightcannothearhisbreathing。Lifemaybepaintedaccordingtoeithermethod；
　　butthemethodsaredifferent。Thecanonsofcriticismthatbearupontheonecutcruellyupontheother。
　　Ithasbeensuggestedbyakindcriticthathewouldbetterhavelikedthelittlebookifithadbeenahistoryofwildadventure；ofcattledrivenintoinaccessiblekranzesbyBushmen；"ofencounterswithraveninglions，andhair—breadthescapes。"Thiscouldnotbe。SuchworksarebestwritteninPiccadillyorintheStrand：therethegiftsofthecreativeimagination，untrammelledbycontactwithanyfact，mayspreadtheirwings。
　　But，shouldonesitdowntopaintthescenesamongwhichhehasgrown，hewillfindthatthefactscreepinuponhim。Thosebrilliantphasesandshapeswhichtheimaginationseesinfar—offlandsarenotforhimtoportray。Sadlyhemustsqueezethecolourfromhisbrush，anddipitintothegraypigmentsaroundhim。Hemustpaintwhatliesbeforehim。
　　R。Iron……
　　"Wemustseethefirstimageswhichtheexternalworldcastsuponthedarkmirrorofhismind；ormusthearthefirstwordswhichawakenthesleepingpowersofthought，andstandbyhisearliestefforts，ifwewouldunderstandtheprejudices，thehabits，andthepassionsthatwillrulehislife。Theentiremanis，sotospeak，tobefoundinthecradleofthechild。"
　　AlexisdeTocqueville……
　　Glossary。
　　SeveralDutchandColonialwordsoccurringinthiswork，thesubjoinedGlossaryisgiven，explainingtheprincipal。
　　Allewereld！—Gosh！
　　Aasvogels—Vultures。
　　Benauwdheid—Indigestion。
　　Brakje—Alittlecuroflowdegree。
　　Bultong—Driedmeat。
　　Coop—HideandSeek。
　　Inspan—Toharness。
　　Kapje—Asun—bonnet。
　　Karoo—ThewidesandyplainsinsomepartsofSouthAfrica。
　　Karoo—bushes—Thebushesthattaketheplaceofgrassontheseplains。
　　Kartel—Thewooden—bedfastenedinanox—wagon。
　　Kloof—Aravine。
　　Kopje—Asmallhillock，or"littlehead。"
　　Kraal—Thespacesurroundedbyastonewallorhedgedwiththornbranches，intowhichsheeporcattlearedrivenatnight。
　　Mealies—Indiancorn。
　　Meerkat—Asmallweazel—likeanimal。
　　Meiboss—Preservedanddriedapricots。
　　Nachtmaal—TheLord’sSupper。
　　Oom—Uncle。
　　Outspan—Tounharness，oraplaceinthefieldwhereoneunharnesses。
　　Pap—Porridge。
　　Predikant—Parson。
　　Riem—Leatherrope。
　　Sarsarties—Food。
　　Sleg—Bad。
　　Sloot—Adrywatercourse。
　　Spook—Tohaunt，aghost。
　　Stamp—block—Awoodenblock，hollowedout，inwhichmealiesareplacedtobepoundedbeforebeingcooked。
　　Stoep—Porch。
　　TantorTante—Aunt。
　　Upsitting—InBoercourtshipthemanandgirlaresupposedtosituptogetherthewholenight。
　　Veld—Opencountry。
　　Velschoen—Shoesofundressedleather。
　　Vrijer—Availableman。
　　Contents。
　　Chapter1。I。ShadowsFromChild—Life……
　　TheWatch。
　　ThefullAfricanmoonpoureddownitslightfromtheblueskyintothewide，lonelyplain。Thedry，sandyearth，withitscoatingofstuntedkaroobushesafewincheshigh，thelowhillsthatskirtedtheplain，themilk—busheswiththeirlongfinger—likeleaves，allweretouchedbyaweirdandanalmostoppressivebeautyastheylayinthewhitelight。
　　Inonespotonlywasthesolemnmonotonyoftheplainbroken。Nearthecentreasmallsolitarykopjerose。Aloneitlaythere，aheapofroundironstonespiledoneuponanother，asoversomegiant’sgrave。Hereandthereafewtuftsofgrassorsmallsucculentplantshadsprungupamongitsstones，andontheverysummitaclumpofprickly—pearsliftedtheirthornyarms，andreflected，asfrommirrors，themoonlightontheirbroadfleshyleaves。Atthefootofthekopjelaythehomestead。First，thestone—walledsheepkraalsandKafferhuts；beyondthemthedwelling—house——
　　asquare，red—brickbuildingwiththatchedroof。Evenonitsbareredwalls，andthewoodenladderthatleduptotheloft，themoonlightcastakindofdreamybeauty，andquiteetherealizedthelowbrickwallthatranbeforethehouse，andwhichinclosedabarepatchofsandandtwostragglingsunflowers。Onthezincroofofthegreatopenwagon—house，ontheroofsoftheoutbuildingsthatjuttedfromitsside，themoonlightglintedwithaquitepeculiarbrightness，tillitseemedthateveryribinthemetalwasofburnishedsilver。
　　Sleepruledeverywhere，andthehomesteadwasnotlessquietthanthesolitaryplain。
　　Inthefarmhouse，onhergreatwoodenbedstead，TantSannie，theBoer—
　　woman，rolledheavilyinhersleep。
　　Shehadgonetobed，asshealwaysdid，inherclothes，andthenightwaswarmandtheroomclose，andshedreamedbaddreams。Notoftheghostsanddevilsthatsohauntedherwakingthoughts；notofhersecondhusbandtheconsumptiveEnglishman，whosegravelayawaybeyondtheostrich—camps，norofherfirst，theyoungBoer；butonlyofthesheep’strottersshehadeatenforsupperthatnight。Shedreamedthatonestuckfastinherthroat，andsherolledherhugeformfromsidetoside，andsnortedhorribly。
　　Inthenextroom，wherethemaidhadforgottentoclosetheshutter，thewhitemoonlightfellininaflood，andmadeitlightasday。Thereweretwosmallbedsagainstthewall。Inonelayayellow—hairedchild，withalowforeheadandafaceoffreckles；butthelovingmoonlighthiddefectshereaselsewhere，andshowedonlytheinnocentfaceofachildinitsfirstsweetsleep。
　　Thefigureinthecompanionbedbelongedofrighttothemoonlight，foritwasofquiteelfin—likebeauty。Thechildhaddroppedhercoveronthefloor，andthemoonlightlookedinatthenakedlittlelimbs。Presentlysheopenedhereyesandlookedatthemoonlightthatwasbathingher。
　　"Em！"shecalledtothesleeperintheotherbed；butreceivednoanswer。
　　Thenshedrewthecoverfromthefloor，turnedherpillow，andpullingthesheetoverherhead，wenttosleepagain。
　　Onlyinoneoftheoutbuildingsthatjuttedfromthewagon—housetherewassomeonewhowasnotasleep。
　　Theroomwasdark；doorandshutterwereclosed；notarayoflightenteredanywhere。TheGermanoverseer，towhomtheroombelonged，laysleepingsoundlyonhisbedinthecorner，hisgreatarmsfolded，andhisbushygreyandblackbeardrisingandfallingonhisbreast。Butoneintheroomwasnotasleep。Twolargeeyeslookedaboutinthedarkness，andtwosmallhandsweresmoothingthepatchworkquilt。Theboy，whosleptonaboxunderthewindow，hadjustawakenedfromhisfirstsleep。Hedrewthequiltuptohischin，sothatlittlepeeredaboveitbutagreatheadofsilkyblackcurlsandthetwoblackeyes。Hestaredaboutinthedarkness。
　　Nothingwasvisible，noteventheoutlineofoneworm—eatenrafter，norofthedealtable，onwhichlaytheBiblefromwhichhisfatherhadreadbeforetheywenttobed。Noonecouldtellwherethetoolboxwas，andwherethefireplace。Therewassomethingveryimpressivetothechildinthecompletedarkness。
　　Attheheadofhisfather’sbedhungagreatsilverhuntingwatch。Ittickedloudly。Theboylistenedtoit，andbeganmechanicallytocount。
　　Tick——tick——one，two，three，four！Helostcountpresently，andonlylistened。Tick——tick——tick——tick！
　　Itneverwaited；itwentoninexorably；andeverytimeittickedamandied！Heraisedhimselfalittleonhiselbowandlistened。Hewisheditwouldleaveoff。
　　Howmanytimeshadittickedsincehecametoliedown？Athousandtimes，amilliontimes，perhaps。
　　Hetriedtocountagain，andsatuptolistenbetter。
　　"Dying，dying，dying！"saidthewatch；"dying，dying，dying！"
　　Hehearditdistinctly。Whereweretheygoingto，allthosepeople？
　　Helaydownquickly，andpulledthecoverupoverhishead：butpresentlythesilkycurlsreappeared。
　　"Dying，dying，dying！"saidthewatch；"dying，dying，dying！"
　　Hethoughtofthewordshisfatherhadreadthatevening——"Forwideisthegate，andbroadistheway，thatleadethtodestructionandmanytherebewhichgointhereat。"
　　"Many，many，many！"saidthewatch。
　　"Becausestraitisthegate，andnarrowistheway，thatleadethuntolife，andfewtherebethatfindit。"
　　"Few，few，few！"saidthewatch。
　　Theboylaywithhiseyeswideopen。Hesawbeforehimalongstreamofpeople，agreatdarkmultitude，thatmovedinonedirection；thentheycametothedarkedgeoftheworldandwentover。Hesawthempassingonbeforehim，andtherewasnothingthatcouldstopthem。Hethoughtofhowthatstreamhadrolledonthroughallthelongagesofthepast——howtheoldGreeksandRomanshadgoneover；thecountlessmillionsofChinaandIndia，theyweregoingovernow。Sincehehadcometobed，howmanyhadgone！
　　Andthewatchsaid，"Eternity，eternity，eternity！"
　　"Stopthem！stopthem！"criedthechild。
　　Andallthewhilethewatchkepttickingon；justlikeGod’swill，thatneverchangesoralters，youmaydowhatyouplease。
　　Greatbeadsofperspirationstoodontheboy’sforehead。Heclimbedoutofbedandlaywithhisfaceturnedtothemudfloor。
　　"Oh，God，God！savethem！"hecriedinagony。"Onlysome，onlyafew！
　　OnlyforeachmomentIamprayinghereone！"Hefoldedhislittlehandsuponhishead。"God！God！savethem！"
　　Hegrovelledonthefloor。
　　Oh，thelong，longagesofthepast，inwhichtheyhadgoneover！Oh，thelong，longfuture，inwhichtheywouldpassaway！Oh，God！thelong，long，longeternity，whichhasnoend！
　　Thechildwept，andcreptclosertotheground……
　　TheSacrifice。
　　Thefarmbydaylightwasnotasthefarmbymoonlight。Theplainwasawearyflatoflooseredsand，sparselycoveredbydrykaroobushes，thatcrackedbeneaththetreadliketinder，andshowedtheredeartheverywhere。
　　Hereandthereamilk—bushlifteditspale—colouredrods，andineverydirectiontheantsandbeetlesranaboutintheblazingsand。Theredwallsofthefarmhouse，thezincroofsoftheoutbuildings，thestonewallsofthekraals，allreflectedthefiercesunlight，tilltheeyeachedandblenched。Notreeorshrubwastobeseenfarornear。Thetwosunflowersthatstoodbeforethedoor，out—staredbythesun，droopedtheirbrazenfacestothesand；andthelittlecicada—likeinsectscriedaloudamongthestonesofthekopje。
　　TheBoer—woman，seenbydaylight，wasevenlesslovelythanwhen，inbed，sherolledanddreamed。Shesatonachairinthegreatfrontroom，withherfeetonawoodenstove，andwipedherflatfacewiththecornerofherapron，anddrankcoffee，andinCapeDutchsworethatthebelovedweatherwasdamned。Lesslovely，too，bydaylightwasthedeadEnglishman’schild，herlittlestepdaughter，uponwhosefrecklesandlow，wrinkledforeheadthesunlighthadnomercy。
　　"Lyndall，"thechildsaidtoherlittleorphancousin，whosatwithheronthefloorthreadingbeads，"howisityourbeadsneverfalloffyourneedle？"
　　"Itry，"saidthelittleonegravely，moisteninghertinyfinger。"Thatiswhy。"
　　Theoverseer，seenbydaylight，wasahugeGerman，wearingashabbysuit，andwithachildishhabitofrubbinghishandsandnoddinghisheadprodigiouslywhenpleasedatanything。Hestoodoutatthekraalsintheblazingsun，explainingtotwoKafferboystheapproachingendoftheworld。Theboys，astheycutthecakesofdung，winkedateachother，andworkedasslowlyastheypossiblycould；buttheGermanneversawit。
　　Away，beyondthekopje，Waldohissonherdedtheewesandlambs——asmallanddustyherd——powderedalloverfromheadtofootwithredsand，wearingaraggedcoatandshoesofundressedleather，throughwhoseholesthetoeslookedout。Hishatwastoolarge，andhadsunkdowntohiseyes，concealingcompletelythesilkyblackcurls。Itwasacurioussmallfigure。Hisflockgavehimlittletrouble。Itwastoohotforthemtomovefar；theygatheredroundeverylittlemilk—bush，asthoughtheyhopedtofindshade，andstoodtheremotionlessinclumps。Hehimselfcreptunderashelvingrockthatlayatthefootofthekopje，stretchedhimselfonhisstomach，andwavedhisdilapidatedlittleshoesintheair。
　　Soon，fromthebluebagwherehekepthisdinner，heproducedafragmentofslate，anarithmetic，andapencil。Proceedingtoputdownasumwithsolemnandearnestdemeanour，hebegantoadditupaloud："Sixandtwoiseight——andfouristwelve——andtwoisfourteen——andfouriseighteen。"
　　Herehepaused。"Andfouriseighteen——and——four——is——eighteen。"Thelastwasverymuchdrawled。Slowlythepencilslippedfromhisfingers，andtheslatefolloweditintothesand。Forawhilehelaymotionless，thenbeganmutteringtohimself，foldedhislittlearms，laidhisheaddownuponthem，andmighthavebeenasleep，butforthemutteringsoundthatfromtimetotimeproceededfromhim。Acuriousoldewecametosniffathim；butitwaslongbeforeheraisedhishead。Whenhedid，helookedatthefar—offhillswithhisheavyeyes。
　　"Yeshallreceive——yeshallreceive——shall，shall，shall，"hemuttered。
　　Hesatupthen。Slowlythedulnessandheavinessmeltedfromhisface；itbecameradiant。Middayhadcomenow，andthesun’srayswerepoureddownvertically；theearththrobbedbeforetheeye。
　　Theboystoodupquickly，andclearedasmallspacefromthebusheswhichcoveredit。Lookingcarefully，hefoundtwelvesmallstonesofsomewhatthesamesize；kneelingdown，hearrangedthemcarefullyontheclearedspaceinasquarepile，inshapelikeanaltar。Thenhewalkedtothebagwherehisdinnerwaskept；initwasamuttonchopandalargesliceofbrownbread。Theboytookthemoutandturnedthebreadoverinhishand，deeplyconsideringit。Finallyhethrewitawayandwalkedtothealtarwiththemeat，andlaiditdownonthestones。Closebyintheredsandhekneltdown。Sure，neversincethebeginningoftheworldwastheresoraggedandsosmallapriest。Hetookoffhisgreathatandplaceditsolemnlyontheground，thenclosedhiseyesandfoldedhishands。Heprayedaloud：
　　"Oh，God，myFather，IhavemadeTheeasacrifice。Ihaveonlytwopence，soIcannotbuyalamb。Ifthelambsweremine，IwouldgiveTheeone；butnowIhaveonlythismeat；itismydinnermeat。Please，myFather，sendfiredownfromheaventoburnit。Thouhastsaid，Whosoevershallsayuntothismountain，Bethoucastintothesea，nothingdoubting，itshallbedone。IaskforthesakeofJesusChrist。Amen。"
　　Hekneltdownwithhisfaceupontheground，andhefoldedhishandsuponhiscurls。Thefiercesunpoureddownitsheatuponhisheadanduponhisaltar。Whenhelookedupheknewwhatheshouldsee——thegloryofGod！
　　Forfearhisveryheartstoodstill，hisbreathcameheavily；hewashalfsuffocated。Hedarednotlookup。Thenatlastheraisedhimself。Abovehimwasthequietbluesky，abouthimtheredearth；thereweretheclumpsofsilentewesandhisaltar——thatwasall。
　　Helookedup——nothingbroketheintensestillnessoftheblueoverhead。Helookedroundinastonishment，thenhebowedagain，andthistimelongerthanbefore。
　　Whenheraisedhimselfthesecondtimeallwasunaltered。Onlythesunhadmeltedthefatofthelittlemuttonchop，anditrandownuponthestones。
　　Then，thethirdtimehebowedhimself。Whenatlasthelookedup，someantshadcometothemeatonthealtar。Hestoodupanddrovethemaway。
　　Thenheputhishatonhishotcurls，andsatintheshade。Heclaspedhishandsabouthisknees。Hesattowatchwhatwouldcometopass。ThegloryoftheLordGodAlmighty！Heknewheshouldseeit。
　　"MydearGodistryingme，"hesaid；andhesattherethroughthefierceheatoftheafternoon。Stillhewatchedandwaitedwhenthesunbegantoslope，andwhenitnearedthehorizonandthesheepbegantocastlongshadowsacrossthekaroo，hestillsatthere。Hehopedwhenthefirstraystouchedthehillstillthesundippedbehindthemandwasgone。Thenhecalledhisewestogether，andbrokedownthealtar，andthrewthemeatfar，farawayintothefield。
　　Hewalkedhomebehindhisflock。Hisheartwasheavy。Hereasonedso：
　　"Godcannotlie。Ihadfaith。Nofirecame。IamlikeCain——IamnotHis。Hewillnothearmyprayer。Godhatesme。"
　　Theboy’sheartwasheavy。Whenhereachedthekraalgatethetwogirlsmethim。
　　"Come，"saidtheyellow—hairedEm，"letusplaycoop。"Thereisstilltimebeforeitgetsquitedark。You，Waldo，goandhideonthekopje；LyndallandIwillshuteyeshere，andwewillnotlook。"
　　Thegirlshidtheirfacesinthestonewallofthesheep—kraal，andtheboyclamberedhalfwayupthekopje。Hecroucheddownbetweentwostonesandgavethecall。Justthenthemilk—herdcamewalkingoutofthecow—kraalwithtwopails。Hewasanill—lookingKaffer。
　　"Ah！"thoughttheboy，"perhapshewilldietonight，andgotohell！I
　　mustprayforhim，Imustpray！"
　　Thenhethought——"WhereamIgoingto？"andheprayeddesperately。
　　"Ah！thisisnotrightatall，"littleEmsaid，peepingbetweenthestones，andfindinghiminaverycuriousposture。"WhatareyoudoingWaldo？Itisnottheplay，youknow。Youshouldrunoutwhenwecometothewhitestone。Ah，youdonotplaynicely。"
　　"I——Iwillplaynicelynow，"saidtheboy，comingoutandstandingsheepishlybeforethem；"I——Ionlyforgot；Iwillplaynow。"
　　"Hehasbeentosleep，"saidfreckledEm。
　　"No，"saidbeautifullittleLyndall，lookingcuriouslyathim："hehasbeencrying。"
　　Shenevermadeamistake……
　　TheConfession。
　　Onenight，twoyearsafter，theboysataloneonthekopje。Hehadcreptsoftlyfromhisfather’sroomandcomethere。Heoftendid，because，whenheprayedorcriedaloud，hisfathermightawakeandhearhim；andnoneknewhisgreatsorrow，andnoneknewhisgrief，buthehimself，andheburiedthemdeepinhisheart。
　　Heturnedupthebrimofhisgreathatandlookedatthemoon，butmostattheleavesofthepricklypearthatgrewjustbeforehim。Theyglinted，andglinted，andglinted，justlikehisownheart——cold，sohard，andverywicked。Hisphysicalhearthadpainalso；itseemedfulloflittlebitsofglass，thathurt。Hehadsatthereforhalfanhour，andhedarednotgobacktotheclosehouse。
　　Hefelthorriblylonely。Therewasnotonethingsowickedasheinalltheworld，andheknewit。Hefoldedhisarmsandbegantocry——notaloud；
　　hesobbedwithoutmakinganysound，andhistearsleftscorchedmarkswheretheyfell。Hecouldnotpray；hehadprayednightanddayforsomanymonths；andtonighthecouldnotpray。Whenheleftoffcrying，heheldhisachingheadwithhisbrownhands。Ifonemighthavegoneuptohimandtouchedhimkindly；poor，uglylittlething！Perhapshisheartwasalmostbroken。
　　Withhisswolleneyeshesatthereonaflatstoneattheverytopofthekopje；andthetree，witheveryoneofitswickedleaves，blinked，andblinked，andblinkedathim。Presentlyhebegantocryagain，andthenstoppedhiscryingtolookatit。Hewasquietforalongwhile，thenhekneltupslowlyandbentforward。Therewasasecrethehadcarriedinhisheartforayear。Hehadnotdaredtolookatit；hehadnotwhisperedittohimself，butforayearhehadcarriedit。"IhateGod！"hesaid。Thewindtookthewordsandranawaywiththem，amongthestones，andthroughtheleavesofthepricklypear。Hethoughtitdiedawayhalfdownthekopje。Hehadtolditnow！
　　"IloveJesusChrist，butIhateGod。"
　　Thewindcarriedawaythatsoundasithaddonethefirst。Thenhegotupandbuttonedhisoldcoatabouthim。Heknewhewascertainlylostnow；hedidnotcare。Ifhalftheworldweretobelost，whynothetoo？Hewouldnotprayformercyanymore。Betterso——bettertoknowcertainly。Itwasendednow。Betterso。
　　Hebeganscramblingdownthesidesofthekopjetogohome。
　　Betterso！Butoh，theloneliness，theagonizedpain！forthatnight，andfornightsonnightstocome！Theanguishthatsleepsalldayontheheartlikeaheavyworm，andwakesupatnighttofeed！
　　TherearesomeofuswhoinafteryearssaytoFate，"Nowdealusyourhardestblow，giveuswhatyouwill；butletusneveragainsufferaswesufferedwhenwewerechildren。"
　　Thebarbinthearrowofchildhood’ssufferingisthis：itsintenseloneliness，itsintenseagony。