Painmadehissoulweak；itcriedfortheoldfaith。Theyarethetearsthatfallintothenew—madegravethatcementthepowerofthepriest。Forthecryofthesoulthatlovesandlosesisthis，onlythis："BridgeoverDeath；blendtheHerewiththeHereafter；causethemortaltorobehimselfinimmortality；letmenotsayofmyDeadthatitisdead！Iwillbelieveallelse，bearallelse，endureallelse！"
　　Mutteringtohimself，Waldowalkedwithbenthead，themistinhiseyes。
　　Tothesoul’swildcryforitsowntherearemanyanswers。Hebegantothinkofthem。Wasnotthereoneofthemallfromwhichhemightsuckonedropofcomfort？
　　"Youshallseeheragain，"saystheChristian，thetrueBibleChristian。
　　"Yes，youshallseeheragain。’AndIsawthedead，greatandsmall，standbeforeGod。Andthebookswereopened，andthedeadwerejudgedfromthosethingswhichwerewritteninthebooks。Andwhosoeverwasnotfoundwritteninthebookoflifewascastintothelakeoffire，whichistheseconddeath。’Yes；youshallseeheragain。Shediedso——withherkneeunbent，withherhandunraised，withaprayerunuttered，intheprideofherintellectandthestrengthofheryouth。Shelovedandshewasloved；
　　butshesaidnoprayertoGod；shecriedfornomercy；sherepentedofnosin！Yes；youshallseeheragain。"
　　InhisbitternessWaldolaughedlow：
　　Ah，hehadlongceasedtohearkentothehellishvoice。
　　Butyetanotherspeaks。
　　"Youshallseeheragain，"saidthenineteenth—centuryChristian，deepintowhosesoulmodernunbeliefandthoughthavecrept，thoughheknowsitnot。
　　HeitiswhouseshisBibleasthepearl—fishersusetheirshells，sortingoutgemsfromrefuse；hesetshispearlsafterhisownfashion，andhesetsthemwell。"Donotfear，"hesays；"hellandjudgmentarenot。Godislove。Iknowthatbeyondthisblueskyaboveusisaloveaswide—
　　spreadingoverall。TheAll—Fatherwillshowhertoyouagain；notspiritonly——thelittlehands，thelittlefeetyouloved，youshallliedownandkissthemifyouwill。Christarose，anddideatanddrink，soshallshearise。Thedead，allthedead，raisedincorruptible！Godislove。Youshallseeheragain。"
　　Itisaheavenlysong，thisofthenineteenth—centuryChristian。Amanmightdryhistearstolistentoit，butforthisonething——Waldomutteredtohimselfconfusedly：
　　"ThethingIlovedwasawomanproudandyoung；ithadamotheronce，who，dying，kissedherlittlebaby，andprayedGodthatshemightseeitagain。
　　Ifithadlivedthelovedthingwoulditselfhavehadason，who，whenheclosedthewearyeyesandsmoothedthewrinkledforeheadofhismother，wouldhaveprayedGodtoseethatoldfacesmileagainintheHereafter。
　　Tothesonheavenwillbenoheavenifthesweetwornfaceisnotinoneofthechoirs；hewilllookforitthroughthephalanxofGod’sglorifiedangels；andtheyouthwilllookforthemaid，andthemotherforthebaby。
　　’Andwhosethenshallshebeattheresurrectionofthedead？’"
　　"Ah，God！ah，God！abeautifuldream，"hecried；"butcananyonedreamitnotsleeping？"
　　Waldopacedon，moaninginagonyandlonging。
　　HeheardtheTranscendentalist’shighanswer。
　　"Whathaveyoutodowithflesh，thegrossandmiserablegarmentinwhichspirithidesitself？Youshallseeheragain。Butthehand，thefoot，theforeheadyouloved，youshallseenomore。Theloves，thefears，thefrailtiesthatarebornwiththeflesh，withthefleshtheyshalldie。Letthemdie！Thereisthatinmanthatcannotdie——aseed，agermanembryo，aspiritualessence。Higherthanshewasonearth，asthetreeishigherthantheseed，themanthantheembryo，soshallyoubeholdher；changed，glorified！"
　　Highwords，ringingwell；theyaretheofferingofjewelstothehungry，ofgoldtothemanwhodiesforbread。Breadiscorruptible，goldisincorruptible；breadislight，goldisheavy；breadiscommon，goldisrare；butthehungrymanwillbarterallyourminesforonemorselofbread。AroundGod’sthronetheremaybechoirsandcompaniesofangels，cherubimandseraphim，risingtierabovetier，butnotforoneofthemalldoesthesoulcryaloud。Onlyperhapsforalittlehumanwomanfullofsin，thatitonceloved。
　　"Changeisdeath，changeisdeath！"hecried。"Iwantnoangel，onlyshe；
　　noholierandnobetter，withallhersinsuponher，sogivehermeorgivemenothing！"
　　And，truly，doesnottheheartloveitsownwiththestrongestpassionfortheirveryfrailties？Heavenmightkeepitsangelsifmenwerebutlefttomen。
　　"Changeisdeath，"hecried，"changeisdeath！Whodarestosaythebodyneverdies，becauseitturnsagaintograssandflowers？Andyettheydaretosaythespiritneverdies，becauseinspacesomestrangeunearthlybeingmayhavesprungupuponitsruins。Leaveme！Leaveme！"hecriedinfranticbitterness。"GivemebackwhatIhavelost，orgivemenothing。"
　　Forthesoul’sfiercecryforimmortalityisthis——onlythis：Returntomeafterdeaththethingasitwasbefore。LeavemeintheHereafterthebeingthatIamtoday。Robmeofthethoughts，thefeelings，thedesiresthataremylife，andyouhaveleftnothingtotake。Yourimmortalityisannihilation，yourHereafterisalie。
　　Waldoflungopenthedoor，andwalkedoutintothestarlight，hispain—
　　strickenthoughtseverdrivinghimonashepacedthere。
　　"TheremustbeaHereafterbecausemanlongsforit！"hewhispered。"Isnotalllifefromthecradletothegraveonelongyearningforthatwhichwenevertouch？TheremustbeaHereafterbecausewecannotthinkofanyendtolife。Canwethinkofabeginning？Isiteasiertosay’Iwasnot’
　　thantosay’Ishallnotbe’？Andyet，wherewereweninetyyearsago？
　　Dreams，dreams！Ah，alldreamsandlies！Nogroundanywhere。"
　　Hewentbackintothecabinandwalkedthere。Hourafterhourpassed，andhewasdreaming。
　　For，markyou，menwilldream；themostthatcanbeaskedofthemisbutthatthedreambenotintooglaringdiscordwiththethingtheyknow。Hewalkedwithbenthead。
　　Alldies，alldies！therosesareredwiththematterthatoncereddenedthecheekofthechild；theflowersbloomthefairestonthelastyear’sbattleground；theworkofdeath’sfingercunninglywreathedoverisattheheartofallthings，evenoftheliving。
　　Death’sfingeriseverywhere。Therocksarebuiltupofalifethatwas。
　　Bodies，thoughts，andlovesdie：fromwherespringsthatwhispertothetinysoulofman，"Youshallnotdie"？Ah，istherenotruthofwhichthisdreamisshadow？
　　Hefellintoperfectsilence。And，atlast，ashewalkedtherewithhisbenthead，hissoulpasseddownthestepsofcontemplationintothatvastlandwherethereisalwayspeace；thatlandwherethesoul，gazinglong，losesallconsciousnessofitslittleself，andalmostfeelsitshandontheoldmysteryofUniversalunitythatsurroundsit。
　　"Nodeath，nodeath，"hemuttered；"thereisthatwhichneverdies——whichabides。Itisbuttheindividualthatperishes，thewholeremains。Itistheorganismthatvanishes，theatomsarethere。Itisbutthemanthatdies，theUniversalWholeofwhichheispartreworkshimintoitsinmostself。Ah，whatmatterthatman’sdaybeshort！——thatthesunriseseeshim，andthesunsetseeshisgrave；thatofwhichheisbutthebreathhasbreathedhimforthanddrawnhimbackagain。Thatabides——weabide。"
　　Forthelittlesoulthatcriesaloudforcontinuedpersonalexistenceforitselfanditsbeloved，thereisnohelp。Forthesoulwhichknowsitselfnomoreasaunit，butasapartoftheUniversalUnityofwhichtheBelovedalsoisapart；whichfeelswithinitselfthethroboftheUniversalLife；forthatsoulthereisnodeath。
　　"Letusdie，beloved，youandI，thatwemaypassonforeverthroughtheUniversalLife！Inthatdeepworldofcontemplationallfiercedesiresdieout，andpeacecomesdown。He，Waldo，ashewalkedthere，sawnomoretheworldthatwasabouthim；criedoutnomoreforthethingthathehadlost。
　　Hissoulrested。WasitonlyJohn，thinkyou，whosawtheheavensopen？
　　Thedreamersseeiteveryday。
　　Longyearsbeforethefatherhadwalkedinthelittlecabin，andseenchoirsofangels，andaprincelikeuntomen，butclothedinimmortality。
　　Theson’sknowledgewasnotasthefather’s，thereforethedreamwasnew—
　　tinted，butthesweetnesswasallthere，theinfinitepeacethatmenfindnotinthelittlecankeredkingdomofthetangible。Thebarsoftherealaresetcloseaboutus；wecannotopenourwingsbuttheyarestruckagainstthem，anddropbleeding。But，whenweglidebetweenthebarsintothegreatunknownbeyond，wemaysailforeverinthegloriousblue，seeingnothingbutourownshadows。
　　Soagesucceedsage，anddreamsucceedsdream，andofthejoyofthedreamernomanknowethbuthewhodreameth。
　　Ourfathershadtheirdream；wehaveours；thegenerationthatfollowswillhaveitsown。Withoutdreamsandphantomsmancannotexist。
　　Chapter2。XIV。WaldoGoesOuttoSitintheSunshine。
　　Ithadbeenaprincelyday。Thelongmorninghadmeltedslowlyintoarichafternoon。Rainshadcoveredthekaroowithaheavycoatofgreenthathidtheredeartheverywhere。Intheverychinksofthestonewallsdarkgreenleaveshungout，andbeautyandgrowthhadcreptevenintothebedsofthesandyfurrowsandlinedthemwithweeds。Onthebrokensodwallsoftheoldpigstychick—weedsflourished，andice—plantsliftedheirtransparentleaves。Waldowasatworkinthewagon—houseagain。HewasmakingakitchentableforEm。Asthelongcurlsgatheredinheapsbeforehisplane，hepausedforaninstantnowandagaintothrowonedowntoasmallnakednigger，whohadcreptfromitsmother，whostoodchurninginthesunshine，andhadcrawledintothewagon—house。
　　Fromtimetotimethelittleanimallifteditsfathandasitexpectedafreshshowerofcurls；tillDoss，jealousofhismaster’snoticinganyothersmallcreaturebuthimself，wouldcatchthecurlinhismouthandrollthelittleKafferoverinthesawdust，muchtothatsmallanimal’scontentment。Itwastoolazyanafternoontobereallyill—natured，soDosssatisfiedhimselfwithsnappingatthelittlenigger’sfingers，andsittingonhimtillhelaughed。Waldo，asheworked，glanceddownatthemnowandthen，andsmiled；butheneverlookedoutacrosstheplain。Hewasconsciouswithoutlookingofthatbroadgreenearth；itmadehisworkpleasanttohim。Neartheshadowatthegablethemotherofthelittleniggerstoodchurning。Slowlysheraisedandletfallthestickinherhands，murmuringtoherselfasleepychantsuchasherpeoplelove；itsoundedlikethehummingoffar—offbees。
　　Adifferentlifeshoweditselfinthefrontofthehouse，whereTantSannie’scartstoodreadyinspannedandtheBoer—womanherselfsatinthefrontroomdrinkingcoffee。
　　Shehadcometovisitherstepdaughter，probablyforthelasttime，asshenowweighedtwohundredandsixtypounds，andwasnoteasilyabletomove。
　　Onachairsathermildyounghusbandnursingthebaby——apudding—faced，weak—eyedchild。
　　"Youtakeitandgetintothecartwithit，"saidTantSannie。"Whatdoyouwanthere，listeningtoourwoman’stalk？"
　　Theyoungmanarose，andmeeklywentoutwiththebaby。
　　"I’mverygladyouaregoingtobemarried，mychild，"saidTantSannie，asshedrainedthelastdropfromhercoffeecup。"Iwouldn’tsaysowhilethatboywashere，itwouldmakehimtooconceited；butmarriageisthefinestthingintheworld。I’vebeenatitthreetimes，andifitpleasedGodtotakethishusbandfrommeIshouldhaveanother。There’snothinglikeit，mychild；nothing。"
　　"Perhapsitmightnotsuitallpeople，atalltimes，aswellasitsuitsyou，TantSannie，"saidEm。Therewasalittleshadeofwearinessinthevoice。
　　"Notsuiteveryone！"saidTantSannie。"IfthebelovedRedeemerdidn’tmeanmentohavewiveswhatdidHemakewomenfor？That’swhatIsay。Ifawoman’soldenoughtomarry，anddoesn’t，she’ssinningagainsttheLord—
　　—it’sawantingtoknowbetterthanHim。What，doesshethinktheLordtookallthattroubleinmakingherfornothing？It’sevidentHewantsbabies，otherwisewhydoesHesendthem？NotthatI’vedonemuchinthatwaymyself，"saidTantSannie，sorrowfully；"butI’vedonemybest。"
　　Sherosewithsomedifficultyfromherchair，andbeganmovingslowlytowardthedoor。
　　"It’sastrangething，"shesaid，"butyoucan’tloveamantillyou’vehadababybyhim。Nowthere’sthatboythere，whenwewerefirstmarriedifheonlysneezedinthenightIboxedhisears；nowifheletshispipe—ashcomeonmymilk—clothsIdon’tthinkoflayingafingeronhim。There’snothinglikebeingmarried，"saidTantSannie，asshepuffedtowardthedoor。"Ifawoman’sgotababyandahusbandshe’sgotthebestthingstheLordcangiveher；ifonlythebabydoesn’thaveconvulsions。Asforahusband，it’sverymuchthesamewhoonehas。Somemenarefat，andsomemenarethin；somemendrinkbrandy，andsomemendrinkgin；butitallcomestothesamethingintheend；it’sallone。Aman’saman，youknow。"
　　HeretheycameuponGregory，whowassittingintheshadebeforethehouse。
　　TantSannieshookhandswithhim。
　　"I’mgladyou’regoingtogetmarried，"shesaid。"Ihopeyou’llhaveasmanychildreninfiveyearsasacowhascalves，andmoretoo。IthinkI’lljustgoandhavealookatyoursoap—potbeforeIstart，"shesaid，turningtoEm。"NotthatIbelieveinthisnewplanofputtingsodainthepot。IfthedearFatherhadmeantsodatobeputintosoapwhatwouldHehavemademilk—bushesfor，andstuckthemallovertheveldasthickaslambsinthelambingseason？"
　　ShewaddledoffafterEminthedirectionofthebuilt—insoap—pot，leavingGregoryastheyfoundhim，withhisdeadpipelyingonthebenchbesidehim，andhisblueeyesgazingoutfaracrosstheflat，likeonewhositsontheseashorewatchingthatwhichisfading，fadingfromhim。
　　Againsthisbreastwasaletterfoundinthedeskaddressedtohimself，butneverposted。Itheldonlyfourwords："YoumustmarryEm。"Heworeitinablackbagroundhisneck。Itwastheonlylettershehadeverwrittentohim。
　　"Youseeifthesheepdon’thavethescabthisyear！"saidTantSannieasshewaddledafterEm。"It’swithallthesenewinventionsthatthewrathofGodmustfallonus。WhatwerethechildrenofIsraelpunishedfor，ifitwasn’tformakingagoldencalf？Imayhavemysins，butIdorememberthetenthcommandment：’Honourthyfatherandmotherthatitmaybewellwiththee，andthatthoumayestlivelonginthelandwhichtheLordthyGodgiveththee！’It’sallverywelltosaywehonourthem，andthentobefindingoutthingsthattheyneverknew，anddoingthingsinawaythattheyneverdidthem！Mymotherboiledsoapwithbushes，andIwillboilsoapwithbushes。IfthewrathofGodistofalluponthisland，"saidTantSannie，withtheserenityofconsciousvirtue，"itshallnotbethroughme。"
　　"Letthemmaketheirsteam—wagonsandtheirfire—carriages；letthemgoonasthoughthedearLorddidn’tknowwhathewasaboutwhenHegavehorsesandoxenlegs——thedestructionoftheLordwillfollowthem。Idon’tknowhowsuchpeoplereadtheirBibles。WhendowehearofMosesorNoahridinginarailway？TheLordsentfire—carriagesoutofheaveninthosedays：
　　there’snochanceofHissendingthemforusifwegooninthisway，"saidTantSanniesorrowfully，thinkingofthesplendidchancewhichthisgenerationhadlost。
　　Arrivedatthesoap—potshelookedoverintoitthoughtfully。
　　"Dependuponityou’llgettheitch，orsomeotherdisease；theblessingoftheLord’llneverrestuponit，"saidtheBoer—woman。Thensuddenlyshebrokeforth。"Andsheeighty—two，andgoats，andrams，andeightthousandmorgen，andtheramsrealangora，andtwothousandsheep，andashort—hornbull，"saidTantSannie，standinguprightandplantingahandoneachhip。
　　Emlookedatherinsilentwonder。HadconnubialblissandthejoysofmotherhoodreallyturnedtheoldBoer—woman’shead？
　　"Yes，"saidTantSannie；"Ihadalmostforgottentotellyou。BytheLordifIhadhimhere！WewerewalkingtochurchlastSacramentSunday，PietandI。CloseinfrontofuswitholdTantTrana，withdropsyandcancer，andcan’tliveeightmonths。Walkingbyherwassomethingwithitshandsunderitscoat—tails，flap，flap，flap；anditschinintheair，andastick—upcollar，andtheblackhatontheverybackofthehead。Iknewhim！’Who’sthat？’Iasked。’TherichEnglishmanthatTantTranamarriedlastweek。’’RichEnglishman！I’llrichEnglishmanhim，’Isaid；’I’lltellTantTranaathingortwo。Myfingerswerejustinhislittlewhitecurls。Ifithadn’tbeentheblessedSacrament，hewouldn’thavewalkedsosourka，sourka，sourka，anymore。ButIthought。WaittillI’vehadit，andthen——。Buthe，slyfox，sonofSatan，seedoftheAmalekite，hesawmelookingathiminthechurch。
　　"TheblessedSacramentwasn’thalfoverwhenhetakesTantTranabythearm，andouttheygo。Iclapmybabydowntoitsfather，andIgoafterthem。But，"saidTantSannie，regretfully，"Icouldn’tgetuptothem；I
　　amtoofat。WhenIgottothecornerhewaspullingTantTranaupintothecart。’TantTrana，’Isaid，’you’vemarriedaKaffer’sdog，aHottentot’sbrakje。’Ihadn’tanymorebreath。Hewinkedatme；hewinkedatME，"
　　saidTantSannie，hersidesshakingwithindignation，"firstwithoneeye，andthenwiththeother，andthendroveaway。ChildoftheAmalekite！"
　　saidTantSannie，"ifithadn’tbeentheblessedSacrament。Lord，Lord，Lord！"
　　HerethelittleBush—girlcamerunningtosaythatthehorseswouldstandnolonger，andstillbreathingoutvengeanceagainstheroldadversaryshelabouredtowardthecart。ShakinghandsandaffectionatelykissingEm，shewaswithsomedifficultydrawnup。Thenslowlythecartrolledaway，thegoodBoer—womanputtingherheadoutbetweenthesailstosmileandnod。
　　Emstoodwatchingitforatime，thenasthesundazzledhereyessheturnedaway。TherewasnouseingoingtositwithGregory！helikedbestsittingtherealone，staringacrossthethegreenkaroo；andtillthemaidhaddonechurningtherewasnothingtodo；soEmwalkedawaytothewagon—
　　house，andclimbedontotheendofWaldo’stable，andsatthere，swingingonelittlefootslowlytoandfro，whilethewoodencurlsfromtheplaneheapedthemselvesupagainstherblackprintdress。
　　"Waldo，"shesaidatlast，"Gregoryhasgivenmethemoneyhegotforthewagonandoxen，andIhavefiftypoundsbesidesthatoncebelongedtosomeone。Iknowwhattheywouldhavelikedtohavedonewithit。Youmusttakeitandgotosomeplaceandstudyforayearortwo。"
　　"No，littleone，Iwillnottakeit，"hesaid，asheplanedslowlyaway；
　　"thetimewaswhenIwouldhavebeenverygratefultoanyonewhowouldhavegivenmealittlemoney，alittlehelp，alittlepowerofgainingknowledge。Butnow，IhavegonesofaraloneImaygoontotheend。I
　　don’twantit，littleone。"
　　Shedidnotseempainedathisrefusal，butswungherfoottoandfro，thelittleoldwrinkledforeheadmorewrinkledupthanever。
　　"Whyisitalwaysso，Waldo，alwaysso？"shesaid；"welongforthings，andlongforthem，andprayforthem；wewouldgiveallwehavetocomeneartothem，butweneverreachthem。Thenatlast，toolate，justwhenwedon’twantthemanymore，whenallthesweetnessistakenoutofthem，thentheycome。Wedon’twantthemthen，"shesaid，foldingtheirhandsresignedlyonherlittleapron。Afterawhilesheadded："Irememberonce，verylongago，whenIwasaverylittlegirl，mymotherhadaworkboxfullofcolouredreels。Ialwayswantedtoplaywiththem，butshewouldneverletme。AtlastonedayshesaidImighttakethebox。IwassogladIhardlyknewwhattodo。Iranroundthehouse，andsatdownwithitonthebacksteps。ButwhenIopenedtheboxallthecottonsweretakenout。"
　　Shesatforawhilelonger，tilltheKaffermaidhadfinishedchurning，andwascarryingthebuttertowardthehouse。ThenEmpreparedtoslipoffthetable，butfirstshelaidherlittlehandonWaldo’s。Hestoppedhisplaningandlookedup。
　　"Gregoryisgoingtothetowntomorrow。Heisgoingtogiveinourbanstotheminister；wearegoingtobemarriedinthreeweeks。"
　　Waldoliftedherverygentlyfromthetable。Hedidnotcongratulateher；
　　perhapshethoughtoftheemptybox，buthekissedherforeheadgravely。
　　Shewalkedawaytowardthehouse，butstoppedwhenshegothalf—way。"I
　　willbringyouaglassofbuttermilkwhenitiscool，"shecalledout；andsoonherclearvoicecameringingoutthroughthebackwindowsasshesangthe"BlueWater"toherself，andwashedthebutter。
　　Waldodidnotwaittillshereturned。Perhapshehadatlastreallygrownwearyofwork；perhapshefeltthewagon—housechilly（forhehadshudderedtwoorthreetimes），thoughthiswashardlylikelyinthatwarmsummerweather；or，perhaps，andmostprobably，oneofhisolddreamingfitshadcomeuponhimsuddenly。
　　Heputhistoolstogether，readyfortomorrow，andwalkedslowlyout。Atthesideofthewagon—housetherewasaworldofbrightsunshine，andahenwithherchickenswasscratchingamongthegravel。Waldoseatedhimselfnearthemwithhisbackagainstthered—brickwall。Thelongafternoonwashalfspent，andthekopjewasjustbeginningtocastitsshadowovertheround—headedyellowflowersthatgrewbetweenitandthefarmhouse。Amongtheflowersthewhitebutterflieshoveredandontheoldkraalmoundsthreewhitekidsgambolled，andatthedoorofoneofthehutsanoldgrey—headedKaffer—womansatonthegroundmendinghermats。Abalmy，restfulpeacefulnessseemedtoreigneverywhere。Eventheoldhenseemedwellsatisfied。Shescratchedamongthestonesandcalledtoherchickenswhenshefoundatreasure；andallthewhiletuckedtoherselfwithintenseinwardsatisfaction。
　　Waldo，ashesatwithhiskneesdrawnuptohischinandhisarmsfoldedonthem，lookedatitallandsmiled。Anevilworld，adeceitful，treacherous，mirage—likeworlditmightbe；butalovelyworldforallthat，andtosittheregloatinginthesunlightwasperfect。Itwasworthhavingbeenalittlechild，andhavingcriedandprayedsoonemightsitthere。Hemovedhishandsasthoughhewerewashingtheminthesunshine。
　　Therewillalwaysbesomethingworthlivingforwhilethereareshimmeryafternoons。Waldochuckledwithintenseinwardsatisfactionastheoldhenhaddone——she，overtheinsectsandthewarmth；he，overtheoldbrickwalls，andthehaze，andthelittlebushes。BeautyisGod’swine，withwhichHerecompensesthesoulsthatloveHim；Hemakesthemdrunk。
　　Thefellowlooked，andatlaststretchedoutonehandtoalittleice—plantthatgrewonthesodwallofthesty；notasthoughhewouldhavepickedit，butasitwereinafriendlygreeting。Helovedit。Onelittleleafoftheice—plantstoodupright，andthesunshonethroughit。Hecouldseeeverylittlecrystalcelllikeadropoficeinthetransparentgreen，anditthrilledhim。
　　Thereareonlyraretimeswhenaman’ssoulcanseeNature。
　　Solongasanypassionholdsitsrevelthere，theeyesareholdenthattheyshouldnotseeher。
　　Gooutifyouwillandwalkaloneonthehillsideintheevening，butifyourfavouritechildliesillathome，oryourlovercomestomorrow，oratyourheartthereliesaschemefortheholdingofwealth，thenyouwillreturnasyouwentout；youwillhaveseennothing。ForNature，ever，liketheOldHebrewGod，criesout，"Thoushalthavenoothergodsbeforeme。"
　　Onlythen，whentherecomesapause，ablankinyourlife，whentheoldidolisbroken，whentheoldhopeisdead，whentheolddesireiscrushed，thentheDivinecompensationofNatureismademanifest。Sheshowsherselftoyou。Sonearshedrawsyou，thatthebloodseemstoflowfromhertoyou，throughastilluncutcord：youfeelthethrobofherlife。
　　Whenthatdaycomes，thatyousitdownbroken，withoutonehumancreaturetowhomyoucling，withyourlovesthedeadandtheliving—dead；whentheverythirstforknowledgethroughlong—continuedthwartinghasgrowndull；
　　wheninthepresentthereisnocraving，andinthefuturenohope，then，oh，withabeneficenttenderness，Natureinfoldsyou。
　　Thenthelargewhitesnow—flakesastheyflutterdown，softly，onebyone，whispersoothingly，"Rest，poorheart，rest！"Itisasthoughourmothersmoothedourhair，andwearecomforted。
　　Andyellow—leggedbeesastheyhummakeadreamylyric；andthelightonthebrownstonewallisagreatworkofart；andtheglitterthroughtheleavesmakesthepulsesbeat。
　　Welltodiethen；for，ifyoulive，sosurelyastheyearscome，sosurelyasthespringsucceedsthewinter，sosurelywillpassionsarise。Theywillcreepback，onebyone，intothebosomthathascastthemforth，andfastenthereagain，andpeacewillgo。Desire，ambition，andthefierceagonizingfloodofloveforthelivingtheywillspringagain。ThenNaturewilldrawdownherveil；withallyourlongingyoushallnotbeabletoraiseonecorner；youcannotbringbackthosepeacefuldays。Welltodiethen！
　　Sittingtherewithhisarmsfoldedonhisknees，andhishatsloucheddownoverhisface，Waldolookedoutintotheyellowsunshinethattintedeventheveryairwiththecolourofripecorn，andwashappy。
　　Hewasanuncouthcreaturewithsmalllearning，andnoprospectinthefuturebutthatofmakingendlesstablesandstonewalls，yetitseemedtohimashesattherethatlifewasarareandveryrichthing。Herubbedhishandsinthesunshine。Ah，toliveonso，yearafteryear，howwell！
　　Alwaysinthepresent；lettingeachdayglide，bringingitsownlabour，anditsownbeauty；thegraduallightingupofthehills，nightandthestars，firelightandthecoals！Toliveonso，calmly，farfromthepathsofmen；
　　andtolookatthelivesofcloudsandinsects；tolookdeepintotheheartofflowers，andseehowlovinglythepistilandthestamensnestletheretogether；andtoseeinthethorn—podshowthelittleseedssucktheirlifethroughthedelicatecurled—upstring，andhowthelittleembryosleepsinside！Well，howwell，tositsoononesidetakingnopartintheworld’slife；butwhengreatmenblossomintobookslookingintothoseflowersalso，toseehowtheworldofmentooopensbeautifully，leafafterleaf。Ah！lifeisdelicious；welltolivelong，andseethedarknessbreaking，andthedaycoming！Thedaywhensoulshallnotthrustbacksoulthatwouldcometoit；whenmenshallnotbedriventoseeksolitudebecauseofthecrying—outoftheirheartsforloveandsympathy。Welltolivelongandseethenewtimebreaking。Welltolivelong；lifeissweet，sweet，sweet！Inhisbreastpocket，whereofoldthebrokenslateusedtobe，therewasnowalittledancingshoeofhisfriendwhowassleeping。Hecouldfeelitwhenhefoldedhisarmtightagainsthisbreast；andthatwaswellalso。Hedrewhishatloweroverhiseyesandsatsomotionlessthatthechickensthoughthewasasleep，andgatheredcloseraroundhim。Oneevenventuredtopeckathisboot，butheranawayquickly。Tiny，yellowfellowthathewas，heknewthatmenweredangerous；evensleepingtheymightawake。ButWaldodidnotsleep，andcomingbackfromhissunshinydream，stretchedouthishandforthetinythingtomount。Butthechickeneyedthehand，andthenranofftohideunderitsmother’swing，andfrombeneathititsometimesputoutitsroundheadtopeepatthegreatfiguresittingthere。Presentlyitsbrothersranoffafteralittlewhitemothanditranouttojointhem；andwhenthemothflutteredawayovertheirheadstheystoodlookingupdisappointed，andthenranbacktotheirmother。
　　Waldothroughhishalf—closedeyeslookedatthem。Thinking，fearing，craving，thosetinysparksofbrotherlife，whatwerethey，sorealthereinthatoldyardonthatsunshinyafternoon？Afewyears——wherewouldtheybe？Strangelittlebrotherspirits！Hestretchedhishandtowardthem，forhisheartwentouttothem；butnotoneofthelittlecreaturescamenearerhim，andhewatchedthemgravelyforatime；thenhesmiled，andbeganmutteringtohimselfafterhisoldfashion。Afterwardhefoldedhisarmsuponhisknees，andrestedhisforeheadonthem。Andsohesatthereintheyellowsunshine，muttering，muttering，muttering，tohimself。
　　ItwasnotverylongafterwhenEmcameoutatthebackdoorwithatowelthrownacrossherhead，andinherhandacupofmilk。
　　"Ah，"shesaid，comingclosetohim，"heissleepingnow。Hewillfinditwhenhewakes，andbegladofit。"
　　Sheputitdownuponthegroundbesidehim。Themother—henwasatworkstillamongthestones，butthechickenshadclimbedabouthimandwereperchingonhim。Onestooduponhisshoulder，andrubbeditslittleheadsoftlyagainsthisblackcurls：anothertriedtobalanceitselfontheveryedgeoftheoldfelthat。Onetinyfellowstooduponhishand，andtriedtocrow；anotherhadnestleditselfdowncomfortablyontheoldcoat—
　　sleeveandgonetosleepthere。
　　Emdidnotdrivethemaway；butshecoveredtheglasssoftlyathisside。
　　"Hewillwakesoon，"shesaid，"andbegladofit。"
　　Butthechickenswerewiser。
　　End