\"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。