\"I\'meighty-four,\"hewenton,\"andterriblebadwiththerheumaticsandmychest。Maybeit\'llnotbelongbeforetheLordremembersme。\"
Thechildcreptcloseandputastickylittlehandconfidinglyintothetiredoldpalm。Thetwolookedstrangelyalike,fortheworldseemsmuchthesametothosewholeaveitbehindastothosewhohavebuttakenthefirststeponitscircularpathway。
\"\'Ookatmykitty,\"shesaid,pointingtothesmallcreatureinherlap。Then,astheoldmantoucheditwithtremblingfingersshewenton-\"\'Ooisn\'tmygrandad;he\'sawayinthesky,butI\'llkiss\'oo。\"
Iworkedon,hearingatintervalstheoldpipingvoiceandthechild-treble,muchofanote;andthinkingoftheblessingsvouchsafedtothesimpleoldagewhichcrownsaharmlessworking-
lifespentinthefields。Thetwounderthehedgehadeverythingincommonandwereboundlesslycontenttogether,thestingoftheknowledgeofgoodandevilpastfortheone,andfortheotherstilltocome;whileIstoodonthebattlefieldoftheworld,theflesh,andthedevil,though,thankGod,withmyfacetothefoe。
Theoldmansatresting:Ihadpromisedhimaliftwithmyfriendthedriveroftheflour-cart,andhewasalmostduewhenthechild\'sgrandmothercamedowntheroad。
Whenshesawmyothervisitorshestoodamazed。
\"What,RichardHunton,thatworkedwithmyoldmanyearsagoupatDitton,whateverareyoudoin\'allthesemilesfromyourownplace?\"
\"IsitElizaJakes?\"
Helookedatherdazed,doubtful。
\"An\'whoelseshoulditbe?Where\'syourmemorygone,RichardHunton,andyounotsuchagreatageeither?Whereareyoustayin\'?\"
Shameovercamehim;hislipstrembled,hismildblueeyesfilledwithtears。ItoldthetaleasIhadheardit,andMrsJakes\'sindignationwasgoodtosee。
\"Notkeepyouon\'alfacrown!SendyoutotheHouse!MaytheLordforgivethem!Youwouldn\'teatnomorethanafair-sizedcat,andnotlongforthisworldeither,that\'splaintosee。No,RichardHunton,youdon\'tgototheHousewhileI\'maboveground;
it\'dmakemygoodmanturntothinkofit。You\'llcome\'omewithmeandthelittle\'unthere。I\'vemywashin\',andabitputbyforarainyday,andabedtospare,andtheLordandtheparsonwillseeIdon\'tcometowant。\"
Shestoppedbreathless,herdefensivemotherhoodinarms。
Theoldmansaidquaveringly,inthepathetic,grudgingphraseofthepoor,whichveilstheirgratitudewhileittestifiestheirindependence,\"MaybeImightaswell。\"Herosewithdifficulty,pickeduphisbundleandstick,thesmallchildreplacedthekitteninitsbasket,andthrustherhandinhernewfriend\'s。
\"Then\'ooISgrandadtumback,\"shesaid。
MrsJakeshadbeenfumblinginherpocket,andextractedapenny,whichshepressedonme。
\"It\'slittleenough,mister,\"shesaid。
Then,asItriedtoreturnit:\"Nay,I\'veenough,andyoursispoorpaidwork。\"
IhopeIshallalwaysbeabletokeepthatpenny;andasIwatchedthethreegoingdownthedustywhiteroad,withthechildinthemiddle,IthankedGodfortheBrotherhoodofthePoor。
CHAPTERIV
YESTERDAYafuneralpassed,fromthework-houseatN-,aquaintsepulturewithoutsolemnities。Therough,ungarnishedcoffinofstaineddeallaybareandunsightlyonthefloorofanoldmarket-
cart;awomansatbeside,steadyingitwithherfeet。Thehusbanddrove;andthemostdepressedofthethreewasthehorse,abroken-
kneed,flea-bittengrey。Itwaspathetic,thisbringinghomeindeathoftheoldfatherwhom,whilehelived,theyhadbeentoopoortohouse;itwasatnosmallsacrificethattheyhadsparedhimthatterrorofoldage,apauper\'sgrave,andbroughthimtoliebyhiswifeinourquietchurchyard。Theyfeltnoemotion,thishusbandandwife,onlyadullsenseoffilialdutydone,respectabilitypreserved;andaboveandthroughall,thebitterbutnecessarycountingthecostofthislastbed。
Itisstrangehowpaganmanyofusareinourbeliefs。True,thefunerallibationshavemadewayforthecomfortablebake-meats;
still,tothelargemajorityDeathisPluto,kingofthedarkUnknownwhencenotravellerreturns,ratherthanAzrael,brotherandfriend,lordofthismansionoflife。Strangehowmenshunhimashewaitsintheshadow,watchingourpunystrainingafterimmortality,sendinghiscomradesleeptoprepareusforhimself。
Whenthehourstrikeshecomes-verygently,verytenderly,ifwewillbuthaveitso-foldsthetiredhandstogether,takestheway-wornfeetinhisbroadstrongpalm;andliftingusinhiswonderfularmshebearsusswiftlydownthevalleyandacrossthewatersofRemembrance。
Verypleasantartthou,OBrotherDeath,thyloveiswonderful,passingtheloveofwomen。
******
To-dayIhavelivedinawhirlofdust。To-morrowisthegreatannualCattleFairatE-,andthroughthelonghothoursthebeastsfromallthedistrictroundhavestreamedinbrokenprocessionalongmyroad,tochangehandsortodie。Surelythelordshipovercreationimplieswiseandgentleruleforintelligentuse,notthepursuitofamereimmediateend,withoutanythoughtofcommunityinthegreatsacramentoflife。
ForthemostpartmysteryhasceasedforthisworkingWesternworld,andwithitreverence。CoventryPatmoresays:\"GodclothesHimselfactuallyandliterallywithHiswholecreation。Herbstakeupandassimilateminerals,beastsassimilateherbs,andGod,intheIncarnationanditsproperSacrament,assimilatesus,who,saysStAugustine,\'areGod\'sbeasts。\'\"Itismaninhisblindself-
seekingwhoseparateswooffromweftinthelivinggarmentofGod,andlosesthemoreasheneglectstheoutwardandvisiblesignsofaworld-widegrace。
Inoldendaystheherdledhisflock,goingfirstinthepostofdangertodefendthecreatureshehadweanedfromtheirnaturalhabitsforhisvarioususes。Nowthatgoodrelationshiphasceasedforustoexist,mandrivesthebeastsbeforehim,meanstohisend,butwithnoharmonybetweenendandmeans。Alldaylongthedrovesofsheeppassmeontheirlameandpatientway,nolongerfreelyandinstinctivelyfollowingaprotectorandforerunner,butDRIVEN,impelledbyforceandresistlesswill-thesamewillwhichoncewentbeforewithoutforce。Theyarealltrimmedasmuchaspossibletoonepattern,andallmakethesamesadplaint。ItisadayonwhichtothankGodfortheunknowntongue。Thedroverandhisladindustybluecoatsplodalongstolidly,deafandblindtoallbutthewaybeforethem;nolongerwieldingthecrook,instrumentofdeliverance,oratmostofgentlecompulsion,butarmedwithaheavystickandmechanicallydealingblowsontheshortthickfleeces;withoutevilintentbecausewithoutthought-
itistheritualofthetrade。
Ofallthepoordumbpilgrimsoftheroadthebullocksarethemostterribletosee。Theyarenotpatient,butgomostunwillinglywithloweredheadandfurtivesidewaysmotion,intheireyesahorrorofgreatfear。Thesleekcattle,kneedeepinpasture,massedatthegate,andstaredmild-eyedandwithinquiringbellowattheretreatingdrove;butthesepassedwithoutanswerontotheUnknown,andforthemitspeltdeath。
Behindasquadronofsleek,well-fedcart-horses,formedinfours,withstrawbraidinmaneandtail,cametheponies,forthemostpartamerrycompany。Longstringsofrusty,shaggytwo-year-olds,unbroken,unkempt,theshortDowngrassstillsweetontheirtongues;fulloffun,frolic,andwickedness,bitingandpulling,castinglongingeyesatthehedgerows。Theboysappeartorecognisethemaskindredspirits,andarecuriouslyforbearingandpatient。Soonbothponiesandboysvanishinawhitewhirl,andalonglineofcarts,whichhadevidentlywaitedforthedusttosubside,comesslowlyuptheincline。Forthemostparttheycarrythepigsandfowls,carriagefolkoftheroad。Thelatterarehot,crowded,anddustyundertheopennetting;theformerforthemostpartcheerfullyremonstrative。
Idrewabreathofreliefasthenoiseofwheelsdiedawayandmyroadsankintosilence。Thehedgerowsarenolongergreenbutwhiteandchokedwithdust,asighttomovegoodsisterRaintowelcometears。Thebirdsseemtohavefledbeforethenoisyconfusion。Iwonderwhethermysnakehasseenandsmiledattheclumsyrulingofthelordhesolittleheeds?Iturnedasidethroughthegatetoplungefaceandhandsintothecooloftheshelteredgrassthatsidethehedge,andthenrestedmyeyesonthestretchofgreenIhadlackedallday。Therabbitshadapparentlyplayedandbrowsedunmindfulofthestir,andwerestillflirtingtheirwhitetailsalongthehedgerows;alarkrose,anotherandanother,andIwentbacktomyroad。Peacestillreigned,fortheshadowswerelengthening,andtherewouldbelittlemoretrafficforthefair。Iturnedtomywork,gratefulforthestillness,andsawonthewhitestretchofroadaloneoldmanandapig。SurelyIknewthattallfigureinthequaintgreysmock,surelyIknewtheface,furrowedlikenature\'sfaceinspringtime,andcrownedbyaround,softhat?Andthepig,theblackpigwalkingdecorouslyfree?Ay,Iknewthem。
IntheearlyspringItookawholeholidayandalongtramp;andtowardsafternoon,tiredandthirsty,soughtwateratalittlelonelycottagewhosewindowspeeredandblinkedunderoverhangingbrowsofthatch。Ihad,notthewaterIaskedfor,butmilkandabowlofsweetporridgeforwhichIpaidonlythanks;andstayedforachatwithmykindlyhosts。Theywereaquaintoldcoupleofthekindrarelymetwithnowadays。TheyenjoyedalittlepensionfromtheSquireandagardeninwhichvegetablesandflowerslivedsidebysideinfriendliestfashion。Beesworkedandsangoverthethymeandmarjoram,bloomingearlyinasunnynook;andinahomelystylivedasolemnblackpig,apigwithahistory。
Itwasnocommonutilitarianpig,butthehonouredguestoftheoldcouple,anditknewit。Ayearbefore,theiryoungestandonlysurvivingchild,thenamanoffive-and-twenty,hadbroughthismothertheresultofhissavingsintheshapeofafineyoungpig:
aweeklaterhelaydeadofthetyphoidthatscourgedMaidstone。
Hencethepigwassacred,caredforandlovedbythisDarbyandJoan。
\"Eebemos\'likeachildtomeandthemother,an\'mos\'assensibleasaChristian,eebe,\"theoldmanhadsaid;andIcouldhardlycreditmyeyeswhenIsawthetallbentfiguresidebysidewiththeblackpig,comingalongmyroadonsuchaday。
Ihailedtheoldman,andbothturnedaside;buthegazedatmewithoutremembrance。
Ispokeofthepiganditshistory。Henoddedwearily。\"Ay,ay,lad,you\'vegotit;\'tispoorDick\'spigrightenow。\"
\"Butyou\'renevergoingtotakeittoE-?\"
\"Ay,butIbe,andcomin\'backalone,iftheLordbemarciful。Themissushasbeenterriblebadthistwomouthsandmore;Squire\'sinforeignparts;andfood-stuffssuchastheoldwomanwantsishardbuyingforpoorfolks。Thestocking\'sempty,now\'tisthepigmustgo,andIbelievehe\'dbegladfortodothemissusaturn;shewereterriblegoodtohim,werethemissus,andfond,too。I
dursn\'ttellherhewastogo;she\'dsoonerstarvethanlosepoorDick\'spig。Well,we\'dbestbemovin\';\'tisafairishstep。\"
Thepigfollowedcomprehendinganddocile,andasthequaintcouplepassedfromsightIthoughtIheardBrotherDeathstirintheshadow。Heisastrongangelandofgreatpity。
CHAPTERV
THEREisalwaysalittlefireofwoodontheopenhearthinthekitchenwhenIgethomeatnight;theoldladysaysitis\"company\"
forher,andsitsinthelonelytwilight,herknottedhandslyingquietonherlap,herlisteningeyesfixedontheburningsticks。
Iwondersometimeswhethershehearsmusicintheleapandlickofthefierytongues,musicsuchasheofBayreuthdrawsfromtheviolinstillthehotenergyofthefirespiritisonus,embodiedinsound。
Surelyshehearssomevoice,thatlonelyoldwomanonwhomissetthesealofgreatsilence?
ItisagreattruthtenderlysaidthatGodbuildsthenestfortheblindbird;andmayitnotbethatHeopensclosedeyesandunstopsdeafearstosightsandsoundsfromwhichothersbytheseverysensesaredebarred?
Herethebestofusseethroughamistoftearsmenastreeswalking;itisonlyinthelandwhichisveryfaroffandyetverynearthatweshallhavefulnessofsightandseetheKinginHisbeauty;andIcannotthinkthatanylisteningearslisteninvain。
Thecoppiceatourbackisfullofbirds,foritisfarfromtheroadandtheynestthereundisturbedyearafteryear。ThroughthestillnightIheardthenightingalescalling,calling,untilI
couldbearitnolongerandwentsoftlyoutintotheluminousdark。
Thelittlewoodwasmanifoldwithsound,Iheardmylittlebrotherswhomovebynightrustlingingrassandtree。Ahedgehogcrossedmypathwithadullsqueak,thebatsshrilledhightothestars,awhiteowlsweptpastmecryinghishuntingnote,abeetleboomedsuddenlyinmyface;andaboveandthroughitallthenightingalessang-andsang!
Thenightwindbentthelisteningtrees,andthestarsyearnedearthwardtohearthesongofdeathlesslove。Louderandlouderthewonderfulnotesroseandfellinapassionofmelody;andthensanktorestonthatlowthrillingcallwhichitissaidDeathonceheard,andstayedhishand。
Theywillscarcelysingagainthisyear,thesenightingales,fortheyarelateonthewingasitis。Itseemsasifonsuchnightstheysangastheswansings,knowingittobethelasttime-withthelavishnoteofonewhobidsaneternalfarewell。
Atlasttherewassilence。Sittingunderthebigbeechtree,thegiantofthecoppice,Irestedmytiredselfinthelapofmotherearth,breathedofherbreathandlistenedtohervoiceinthequickeningsilenceuntilmyfleshcameagainasthefleshofalittlechild,foritistruerecreationtositatthefootstoolofGodwrappedinafoldofHislivingrobe,thewhilenightsmoothesourtiredfacewithherhealinghands。
Thegreydawnawokeandstolewithtrailingrobesacrossearth\'sfloor。Atherfootstepsthebirdsrousedfromsleepandcriedagreeting;theskyflushedandpaledconsciousofcomingsplendour;
andoverheadafileofswanspassedwithbroadstrongflighttothereededwatersofthesequesteredpool。
Anotherhourofsilencewhilethelightthrobbedandflamedintheeast;thenthelarksroseharmoniousfromaneighbouringfield,therabbitsscurriedwithearsalerttotheirmorningmeal,thedayhadbegun。
Ipassedthroughthecoppiceandoutintothefieldsbeyond。Thedewlayheavyonleafandbladeandgossamer,acoolfreshwindsweptclearoverdaleanddownfromthesea,andthecloverfieldrippledlikeasilverylakeinthebreeze。
Thereissomethinginexpressiblybeautifulintheunusedday,somethingbeautifulinthefactthatitisstilluntouched,unsoiled;andtownandcountrysharealikeinthisloveliness。Athalf-pastthreeonaJunemorningevenLondonhasnotassumedherresponsibilities,butsmilesandglowslightheartedandsmokelessunderthecaressesofthemorningsun。
Fiveo\'clock。ThebellringsoutcrispandclearfromthemonasterywheretheBedesmenofStHughwatchandprayforthesoulsonthislabouringforgetfulearth。Everyhourthenoteofcomfortandwarningcriesacrosstheland,tellstheSanctus,theAngelus,andtheHoursofthePassion,andcallstoremembranceandprayer。
Whenthewindisnorth,thesoundcarriesasfarasmyroad,andcompaniesmethroughtheday;andiftoHisdumbchildrenGodinHismercyreckonsworkasprayer,mostcertainlythosewhohaveforgedthroughtheagesanunbrokenchainofsupplicationandthanksgivingwillbecountedamongthestalwartlabourersofthehouseoftheLord。
Sunandbelltogetheraremyonlyclock:itistimeformywaterdrawing;andgatheringapileofmushrooms,childrenofthenight,Ihastenhome。
Thecottageisdeartomeinitsquaintuntidinessandwantofrectitude,dearbecausewearetobeitslastdenizens,lastofthelonglineoftoilerswhohavesweatedandsownthatothersmightreap,andhavepassedawayleavingnotrace。
Ioncesawatallcrossinaseaboardchurchyard,inscribed,\"Tothememoryoftheunknowndeadwhohaveperishedinthesewaters。\"
Theremightbeoneineveryvillagesleeping-placetotheunhonouredmanywhomadefruitfulthelandwithsweatandtears。
Itisaconsolationtothinkthatwhenwelookbackonthisstretchoflife\'sroadfrombeyondthefirstmilestone,which,itisinstructivetoremember,isalwaysagrave,wemayhopetoseetheworkofthisworldwithopeneyes,andtojudgeofitwithaduesenseofproportion。
Abeewithladenhoney-baghummedandbuzzedinthehedgeasIgotreadyforwork,importuningtheflowersforthatwhichhecouldnotcarry,andfinallygivinguptheattemptindespairfellasleeponabuttercup,thebestplaceforhiswearylittlevelvetbody。Infiveminutes-theymayhavebeenfivehourstohim-heawokeanewbee,sensibleandclear-sighted,andflewblithelyawaytothehivewithhissufficiency-anexamplethiswearyworldwouldbewisetofollow。
Myroadhasbeenlonelyto-day。Aparsoncamebyintheafternoon,astrangerintheneighbourhood,forheaskedhisway。Hetalkedawhile,andwithkindlyrebukesaiditwassadtoseeamanofmyeducationbroughtsolow,whichshowshowtheoutsideappearancemaymisleadtheprejudicedobserver。\"Wasitmisfortune?\"\"Nay,thebestofgoodluck,\"Ianswered,gaily。
Thegoodmanwithbeautifulreadinesssatdownonaheapofstonesandbademesayon。\"Readmeasermoninstone,\"hesaid,simply;
andIstayedmyhandtoread。
Helistenedwithcourteousintelligence。
\"Youholdaroadmenderhasavocation?\"heasked。
\"Asthemonkortheartist,for,likeboth,heisuniversal。Theworldishishome;heservesallmenalike,ay,andforhimthebeastshaveequalhonourwiththemen。Hissoulis\'boundupinthebundleoflife\'withallothersouls,heseeshisfather,hismother,hisbrethreninthechildrenoftheroad。Forhimthereisnothingunclean,nothingcommon;theverystonescryoutthattheyserve。\"
Parsonnoddedhishead。