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
