\"Itisalltrue，\"hesaid；\"beautifullytrue。Butneedsuchaviewoflifenecessitatetheworkofroadmending？Surelyallmenshouldberoadmenders。\"
Owiseparson，sotoreadthelessonoftheroad！
\"Itistrue，\"Ianswered；\"butsomeofusfindoursalvationintheactualwork，andearnourbreadbetterinthisthaninanyotherway。Nomanisdependentonourearning，allmenonourwork。Weare\'richbeyondthedreamsofavarice\'becausewehaveallthatweneed，andyetwetastethelifeandpovertyoftheverypoor。Weare，ifyouwill，uncloisteredmonks，preachingfriarswhospeaknotwiththetongue，discipleswhohearthewisewordsofasilentmaster。\"
\"RobertLouisStevensonwasaroadmender，\"saidthewiseparson。
\"Ay，andwithmorethanhispen，\"Ianswered。\"Iwonderwasheeversotrulygreat，soentirelythemanweknowandlove，aswhenheinspiredthechiefstomakeahighwayinthewilderness。SurelynomorefittingmonumentcouldexisttohismemorythantheRoadofGratitude，cut，laid，andkeptbythepure-bloodedtribekingsofSamoa。\"
Parsonnodded。
\"Heknewthatthepeoplewhomakenoroadsareruledoutfromintelligentparticipationintheworld\'sbrotherhood。\"Hefilledhispipe，thinkingthewhile，thenheheldouthispouchtome。
\"Trysomeofthisbaccy，\"hesaid；\"SherwoodofMagdalensentitmefromsomeoutlandishplace。\"
Iacceptedgratefully。Itwassuchtobaccoasfallstothelotoffewroadmenders。
Herosetogo。
\"IwishIcouldcomeandbreakstones，\"hesaid，alittlewistfully。
\"Nay，\"saidI，\"fewmenhavesuchwearyroadmendingasyours，andperhapsyouneedmyroadlessthanmostmen，andlessthanmostparsons。\"
Weshookhands，andhewentdowntheroadandoutofmylife。
HelittleguessedthatIknewSherwood，ay，andknewhimtoo，forhadnotSherwoodtoldmeofthemanhedelightedtohonour。
Ah，well！IamnoBrowningJunior，andSherwood\'snameisnotSherwood。
CHAPTERVI
AWHILEagoItookaholiday；mouched，playedtruantfrommyroad。
Jemthewaggonerhailedmeashepassed-hewasgoingtothemill-wouldIridewithhimandcomebackatopofthefullsacks？
Ihidmyhammerinthehedge，climbedintothegreatwaggonwhiteandfragrantwiththecleansweetmeal，andflungmyselfdownontheemptyflourbags。Thelooped-backtarpaulinframedthelongvistaofmyroadwiththedownsbeyond；andIlayinthecooldark，caressedbythefreshbreezeinitsthoroughfare，soothedbythestrongmonotonoustrampofthegreatgreyteamandthemusicofthejanglingharness。
Jemwalkedattheleaders\'heads；itishisrulewhenthewaggonisempty，aruleno\"company\"willmakehimbreak。AtfirstI
regrettedit，butsoondiscoveredIlearnttoknowhimbetterso，asheploddedalong，histhicksetfigureslightlybent，hishandsinhispockets，hiswhipunderonearm，whistlinghymntunesinalowminor，whilethegreathorsesansweredtohisvoicewithouttouchoflashorguidingrein。
Ilayasinablissfuldreamandwatchedmyroadunfold。Thesunsetthepine-bolesaflarewherethehedgeissparse，andstretchedthelongshadowsofthebesompoplarsinslantingbarsacrossthewhitehighway；theroadsidegardenssmiledfriendlywiththeirtrim-cutlaurelsandrowsofstatelysunflowers-aseemlyproximitythis，DaphneandClytie，sistersinexperience，wrappedinthewarmcaressofthegodwhosewooingtheyneednolongerfear。Hereandtherewepassedlittlegroupsofwomenandchildrenofftoworkintheearlycornfields，andJempausedinhisfondrepetitionof\"TheLordmypastureshallprepare\"togivethemgood-day。
ItislikeLife，thistravellingbackwards-thatwhichhasbeen，alonevisible-likeLife，whichisafterall，retrospectivewithasteadymovingonintotheUnknown，Unseen，untilFaithislostinSightandexperienceisnolongerthetouchstoneofhumanity。ThefaceofthesonofAdamissetontheroadhisbrothershavetravelled，markingtheirlandmarks，tracingtheirjourneyings；butwiththeeyesofachildofGodhelooksforward，strainingtocatchaglimpseofthejewelledwallsofhisfuturehome，thecity\"EternalintheHeavens。\"
Presentlyweleftmyroadforthedeepshadeofanarrowcountrywaywherethegreatoaksandbeechesmeetoverheadandnohedge-
clippersetshishandtostaynature\'sprofusion；andsobypleasantlanesscarcethewaggon\'swidthacross，nowshady，nowsunny，hereborderedbythicksetcoverts，theregivingonfruitfulfields，wecameatlengthtothemill。
IleftJemtohisbusinesswiththemillerandwandereddowntheflowerymeadowtolistentothemerryclackofthestreamandthevoiceofthewatersontheweir。Thegreatwheelwasatrest，asI
lovebesttoseeitinthelaterafternoon；thesplashandchurnofthewaterbelongrathertothemorninghours。Itisthechiefmistakewemakeinportioningoutourdaythatwebanishresttothenight-time，whichisforsleepandrecreating，insteadofsettingapartthelaterafternoonandquiettwilighthoursforthestretchingofwearylimbsandreposeoftiredmindafteraday\'stoilthatshouldbeginandendatfive。
Thelittlestonebridgeoverthemill-streamisalmostonalevelwiththeclearrunningwater，andIlaythereandgazedatthehugewheelwhich，undermultitudinousformsanduses，isoneoftheworld\'swonders，becauseoneofthefewthingsweimitativechildrenhavenotlearntfromnature。IsitperchanceamemoryoutofthatpastwhenAdamwalkedclear-eyedinParadiseandtalkedwiththeLordinthecooloftheday？Didheseethentheflamingwheelsinstinctwithservice，wondrousmessengersoftheMostHighvouchsafedinvisiontothelaterprophets？
Maybehedid，andgoingforthfrombeforetheavengingswordofhisownforgingtothebitternessofanaccursedearth，tookwithhimthisbrightmemoryofperfect，ceaselessservice，andsofashionedourlabouringwheel-patheticlinkwiththetimeofhisinnocency。
Itisoneofmanyunansweredquestions，goodtoaskbecauseithasnoanswer，onlythesuggestionofatrainofthought:perhapsweareneversoreceptiveaswhenwithfoldedhandswesaysimply，\"Thisisagreatmystery。\"IwatchedandwondereduntilJemcalled，andIhadtoleavetheripplingweirandthewater\'sside，andthewheelwithitsuntoldsecret。
Themiller\'swifegavemeteaandacrustofhome-madebread，andthemiller\'slittlemaidsatonmykneewhileItoldthesadtaleofalittlepinkcloudseparatedfromitsparentsandteazedandhuntedbymischievouslittleairs。To-morrow，ifImistakenot，hergardenwillbewetwithitstears，and，letushope，pointamoral；forthetalehaditsorigininafrenziedchickendrivenfromthesideofananxiousmother，andpursuedbyasturdy，relentlessfigureinawhitesun-bonnet。
Thelittlemaidtrottedoff，greatlysobered，tolooksomewhatprematurelyforthecloud\'stears；andIclimbedtomyplaceatthetopofthepiled-upsacks，andthencewatchedtwilightpasstostarlightthroughmynarrowpeep，and，sowatching，sleptuntilJem\'svoicehailedmefromDreamland，andIwent，onlyhalfawake，acrossthedarkfieldshome。
Autumnishereanditisalreadylate。Hehaspaintedthehedgesrussetandgold，scarletandblack，andatangleofgrey；nowhehasdampbrownleavesinhishairandfrostinhisfinger-tips。
Itisaseasonofcontrasts；atfirstallisstirandbustle，theingatheringofmanandbeast；barnandrickyardstandfilledwithgoldentreasure；atthefarmthesoundofthreshing；inwoodandcopsethesquirrelsbusied\'twixttreeandstorehouse，whiletheripenutsfallwiththudofthunderrain。Whentheharvestingisover，thefruitgathered，thelastrickthatched，therecomesapause。Earthstripsoffherbrightcoloursandshowsabareandfurrowedface；thedeadleavesfallgentlyandsadlythroughthecalm，sweetair；greymistsdrapethefieldsandhedges。Themigratorybirdshaveleft，saveafewlateswallows；andasIsitatworkinthesoft，stillrain，Icanheartheblackbird\'smelancholytrillandthethinpipeoftheredbreast\'swintersong-
theairisfullofthesoundoffarewell。
ForethoughtandpreparationfortheFuturewhichshallbe；
farewell，becauseoftheFuturewhichmayneverbe-forus；\"Man，thouhastgoodslaidupformanyyears，anditiswell；but，remember，thisnightTHYsoulmayberequired\"；istheunvoicedlessonofautumn。Thereisgrowingupamongusagreatfear；itstaresatuswhite，wide-eyed，fromthefacesofmenandwomenalike-thefearofpain，mentalandbodilypain。Forthelasttwentyyearswehavewagedwarwithsuffering-anoblewarwhenfoughtintheinterestofthemany，butfraughtwithgreatdangertoeachindividualman。Itisthefearwhichshouldnotbe，ratherthanthe\'hopewhichisinus，\'thatleadsmeninthesedaystodrapeDeathinaflowerymantle，tolaystressontheshortnessofparting，thespeedyreunion，topostponetheirgood-byesuntilthelastmoment，oravoidsayingthemaltogether；andthisfearisapoor，ignoblething，unworthyofthosewhoareasgods，knowinggoodandevil。Wearestillpayingthepriceofthatknowledge；
sufferinginbothkindsisasubstantialpartofit，andbringsitsownhealing。Letuspaylikemen，ourfacetotheopenheaven，neitherwhimperinglikechildreninthedark，norlulledtounnecessaryoblivionbysomelethaldrug；foritismanly，notmorbid，todaretotastethepungentsavourofpain，thelingeringsadnessoffarewellwhichemphasisestheaftermathoflife；itshouldhaveitsplaceinallourpreparationasapartofourinheritancewedarenotbewithout。
Thereisanoldcoupleinourvillagewhoarepastwork。Themarrieddaughterhasmadeshifttotakehermotherandtheparishhalf-crown，butthereisneitherroomnorfoodforthefather，andhemustgotoN。Ifhusbandandwifewenttogether，theywouldbeseparatedattheworkhousedoor。Thepartinghadtocome；itcameyesterday。Isawthemstumblinglamelydowntheroadontheirlastjourneytogether，walkingsidebysidewithouttouchorspeech，seeingandheedingnothingbutablankfuture。Astheypassedmetheoldmansaidgruffly，\"\'Tisfareno\'；betterbegettin\'back\"；
butthewomanshookherhead，andtheybreastedthehilltogether。
Atthetoptheypaused，shookhands，andseparated；onewenton，theotherturnedback；andastheoldwomanlimpedblindlybyI
turnedaway，fortherearesightsamandarenotlookupon。Shepassed；andIheardachild\'sshrillvoicesay，\"Icometolookforyou，gran\"；andIthankedGodthatthereneedbenoutterlonelinessintheworldwhileitholdsalittlechild。
Nowitismyturn，andImustleavethewaysidetoserveinthesheepfoldsduringthewintermonths。Itisscarcelyafarewell，formyroadisubiquitous，eternal；therearegreenwaysinParadiseandgoldenstreetsinthebeautifulCityofGod。
Nevertheless，myheartisheavy；for，viewedbythelightofthewaningyear，roadmendingseemsagreatandwonderfulworkwhichI
havepoorlyconceivedofandmeanlyperformed:yetIhavelearnttounderstanddimlythetruthsofthreegreatparadoxes-theblessingofacurse，thevoiceofsilence，thecompanionshipofsolitude-andsotakemyleaveofthisstretchofroad，andofyouwhohavefaredalongthewhitehighwaythroughthemediumofaprintedpage。
Farewell！Itisaroadmender\'sword；IcryyouGodspeedtothenextmilestone-andbeyond。
OUTOFTHESHADOW
CHAPTERI
IAMnolongeraroadmender；thestretchofwhitehighwaywhichleadstotheendoftheworldwillknowmenomore；thefieldsandhedgerows，grassandleafstiffwiththecrisprimeofwinter\'sbreath，liebeyondmyhorizon；theewesinthefolding，theirmysteriouseyesquickwiththeconsciousnessofcomingmotherhood，answeranother\'svoiceandhand；whileIliehere，notinthelonelycompanionshipofmyexpectations，butwheretheshadowisbrightwithkindlyfacesandgentlehands，untilonekinderandgentlerstillcarriesmedownthestairwayintothelargerroom。
Butnowtheveilwasheldasideandonewentbycrownedwiththemajestyofyears，wearingtheermineofanunstainedrule，thepurpleofherpeople\'sloyalty。Nationsstoodwithbatedbreathtoseeherpassinthestarlitmistofherchildren\'stears；amonarch-greatestofhertime；anempress-conqueredmencalledmother；awoman-Englishmencriedqueen；stillthecrownedcaptiveofherpeople\'sheart-theprisoneroflove。
Thenight-goerspassedundermywindowinsilence，neithersongnorshoutbrokethewelcomedark；nextmorningtheworkmenwhowentbywerestrangelyquiet。
\'VICTORIADEIGRATIABRITANNIARUMREGINA。\'
Didtheythinkofhowthatlegendwoulddisappear，andofallitmeant，astheypaidtheirpenniesatthecoffee-stall？Thefeetrarelyknowthetruevalueandworkofthehead；butallEnglishmenhavebeenandwillbequicktoacknowledgeandrevereVictoriabythegraceofGodawisewoman，agreatandlovingmother。
Yearsago，I，standingatalevelcrossing，sawherpass。Thetrainsloweddownandshecaughtsightofthegatekeeper\'slittlegirlwhohadclimbedthebarrier。Suchasmileasshegaveher！
AndthenIcaughtaquickstartledgestureassheslippedfrommyvision；Ithoughtafterwardsitwasthatshefearedthechildmightfall。Motherfirst，thenQueen；evensorestcametoher-notinoneoftheroyalpalaces，butinherownhome，surroundedbytheimmediatecircleofhernearestanddearest，whiletheworldkeptwatchandward。
I，ashyloverofthefieldsandwoods，longedalways，shouldapainlesspassingbevouchsafedme，tomakemybedonthefragrantpineneedlesinthealonenessofagreatforest；tolieonceagainasIhadlainmanyatime，bathedinthebittersweetnessofthesun-blessedpines，lappedinthemanifoldsilence；myearattunedtothewindofHeavenwithitscallfromtheCitiesofPeace。Insternermood，whenLove\'shandheldascourge，Icravedratherthestressofthemoorlandwithitsbleakermindimperativeofsacrifice。TorestagainundertheleeofRipponTorsweptbythestrongpeat-smellingbreeze；tostareuntiredatthelongcloud-
shadowedreaches，andwatchthemist-wraithshuddleandshrinkroundthestonesofblood；untilmysacrificetoowasaccomplished，andmysoulhadfled。Awildwastemoor；avastvoidsky；andnaughtbetweenheavenandearthbutman，hissin-glazedeyesseekingafarthedistantlightofhisownheart。
Withyearscamecounselsmoreprofound，andtheknowledgethatmanwasnomeredwellerinthewoodstofollowthefootstepsofthepipinggod，butanintegralpartofanorganisedwhole，inwhichPantoohashisfulfilment。ThewiseVenetiansknew；andreadpantheismintoChristianitywhentheysetthesewordsroundEzekiel\'slivingcreaturesinthealtarvaultofStMark\'s:-
QUAEQUESUBOBSCURISDECRISTODICTAFIGURISHISAPERIREDATURET
INHIS，DEUSIPSENOTATUR。
\"Thoushalthavenoneothergodsbutme。\"Ifmanhadbeenabletokeepthisonecommandmentperfectlytheotherninewouldneverhavebeenwritten；insteadhehascomprehensivelydisregardedit，andperhapsnevermorethannowinthetwentiethcentury。Ah，well！
thisworld，inspiteofallitssinning，isstilltheGardenofEdenwheretheLordwalkedwithman，notinthecoolofevening，butintheheatandstressoftheimmediateworkingday。ThereisnoangelnowwithflamingswordtokeepthewayoftheTreeofLife，buttapersalightmorningbymorningintheHostelofGodtopointustoit；andwe，whoareasgodsknowinggoodandevil，partakeofthatfruit\"whereofwhosoeatethshallneverdie\"；thegreatestgiftorthemostawfulpenalty-EternalLife。
Ithen，withmycravingfortreeandsky，heldthatagreatcapitalwithitsstiroflifeanddeath，oftoilandstrifeandpleasure，wasanillplaceforasickmantowaitin；aplacetoshrinkfromasachildshrinksfromtherudeblowofoneoutofauthority。Yethere，farfrommoorandforest，hillsideandhedgerow，inthefamilysitting-roomoftheEnglish-speakingpeoples，theLondonmuchmisunderstood，Ifindthefulfilmentbyantithesisofalldesire。Forthelonelinessofthemoorland，thereisthewarmthandcompanionshipofLondon\'sswiftbeatingheart。Forsilencethereissound-thesoundandstirofservice-forthemostpartfarinexcessofitsearthlyequivalent。AgainstthefragrantincenseofthepinesIsetthehonestsweatofthemanwhoselifetimeisthemeasureofhisworkingday。\"Hethatlovethnothisbrotherwhomhehathseen，howshallheloveGodwhomhehathnotseen？\"wroteBlessedJohn，whohimselflovedsomuchthathebeheldtheLambasithadbeenslainfromthebeginningwhenAdamfell，andtheCityofGodwithlightmostprecious。Theburdenofcorporatesin，theswordofcorporatesorrow，thejoyofcorporaterighteousness；thuswebecomecitizensintheKingdomofGod，andcompanionsofallhiscreatures。\"Itisnotgoodthatthemanshouldbealone，\"saidtheLordGod。
Ilivenowasitwereintwoworlds，theworldofsight，andtheworldofsound；andtheyscarcelyevertoucheachother。Ihearthegrindofheavytraffic，thestruggleofhorsesonthefrost-
breathedground，thedecorousjoltofomnibuses，thejangleofcabbells，thesharpwarningofbicyclesatthecorner，theswiftrattleofcosters\'cartsastheygosouthatnightwiththeirshouting，goadingcrew。AllthesethingsIhear，andmore；butI
seenoroad，onlythesilentriverofmyheartwithitstaleofwonderandyears，andthewhitebeatofseagulls\'wingsinstronginquiringflight。
Sometimesthereisnaughttoseeonthewaterwaybutasolitaryblackhull，averyStygianferry-boat，mannedbyasolitaryfigure，andmovingslowlyupundertheimpulseofthefar-reachingsweeps。
Thenthegreatbargespasswiththeircoffinedtreasure，drawnbyasmallself-righteoussteam-tug。Later，lightenedoftheirload，andwaitingonwindandtide，Iseethemswoopingbylikebirdssetfree；tawnysailsthatmindmeofred-roofedWhitbywithitsnorthernfleet；blacksailsasofsomeheedlessTheseus；whitesailsthatsweepoutofthemorningmist\"likerestlessgossameres。\"Theymakethebridge，whichisjustwithinmyvision，andthenawaypastWestminsterandBlackfriarswhereStPaul\'sgreatdomeliftsthecrosshighoveraself-seekingcity；pastSouthwarkwhereEngland\'spoetilluminatesinthescrollofdivinewisdomthesignoftheTabard；pasttheTowerwithitshauntingghostsofhistory；pastGreenwich，fairycity，caughtinthemeshesofriversidemist；andthenthesaltandspeerofthesea，thecompanyingwithgreatships，thefreshburden。
AtnightIseethemagain，silent，mysterious；searchingthedarknesswithunwinkingyellowstare，ledbyagreatgreenlight。
Theycreepupunderthebridgewhichspanstheriverwithitswatchingeyes，andvanish，cryingbackawarningnoteastheymaketheupperreach，orstridenthail，asachainofkindredphantomspasses，ploughingacontrarytide。