第1章

IHAVEattainedmyideal:Iamaroadmender，somesaystonebreaker。Bothtitlesarecorrect，buttheoneismorepregnantthantheother。AlldayIsitbytheroadsideonastretchofgrassunderahighhedgeofsaplingsandatangleoftraveller"sjoy，woodbine，sweetbrier，andlateroses。Oppositemeisawhitegate，seldomused，ifonemayjudgefromthetrailofhoneysucklegrowingtranquillyalongit:IknownowthatwheneverandwhereverIdiemysoulwillpassoutthroughthiswhitegate；

andthen，thankGod，Ishallnothaveneedtoundothattrail。

Inouryouthwediscussedouridealsfreely:Iwonderhowmanybesidemyselfhaveattained，orwouldunderstandmyattaining。

Afterall，whatdoweaskoflife，hereorindeedhereafter，butleavetoserve，tolive，tocommunewithourfellowmenandwithourselves；andfromthelapofearthtolookupintothefaceofGod？AllthesegiftsaremineasIsitbythewindingwhiteroadandservethefootstepsofmyfellows。Thereisnoroominmylifeforavariceoranxiety；Iwhoserveatthealtarliveofthealtar:

Ilacknothingbuthavenothingover；andwhenthewinteroflifecomesIshalljointhecompanyofwearyoldmenwhositonthesunnysideoftheworkhousewallandwaitforthetendermerciesofGod。

Justnowitisthesummerofthings；thereislifeandmusiceverywhere-inthestonesthemselves，andIliveto-daybeatingouttherhythmicalhammer-songofTheRing。Thereisrealphysicaljoyintheriseandswingofthearm，inthejarofafairstroke，thesplitandscatterofthequartz:Iamlearningtobeambidextrous，forwhyshouldEsausellhisbirthrightwhenthereisenoughforboth？Thentherest-hourcomes，bringingtheluxuriousacheoftiredbutnotwearylimbs；andIlieoutstretchedandrenewmystrength，sometimeswithmyfacedeep-nestledinthecoolgreengrass，sometimesonmybacklookingupintotheblueskywhichnowisemanwouldwishtofathom。

Thebirdshavenofearofme；amInotalsoofthebrownbrethreninmysoberfustianlivery？Theysharemymeals-atleastthelittledun-coatedFranciscansdo；theblackbirdsandthrushescarenotawhitforsuchsimplefoodascrumbs，butwithlegswellapartandclawstensewithpurchasetheydisinterpoorbrotherworm，havingfirstmockedhimwithsoundofrain。Therobinthatlivesbythegateregardsmyheapofstonesassubjecttohisspecialinspection。Hesitsatopandpractisesthetrillofhissummersonguntilitshrillsaboveandthroughthemetallicclangofmystrokes；andwhenIpausehecockshistail，withahumoroustwinkleofhisroundeyewhichmeans-"What！shirking，bigbrother？"-andIfall，ashamed，tomymendingofroads。

Theotherday，asIlaywithmyfaceinthegrass，Iheardagentlerustle，andraisedmyheadtofindahedge-snakewatchingmefearless，unwinking。Istretchedoutmyhand，pickeditupunresisting，andputitinmycoatlikethehusbandmanofold。Washesoill-rewarded，Iwonder，withthekissthatrevealssecrets？

MysnakesleptinpeacewhileIhammeredawaywithanoddquickeningofheartasIthoughthowtome，astoMelampus，hadcomethemessenger-hadcome，buttoearsdeafenedbycenturiesofmisrule，blindness，andoppression；sothat，withallmylonging，I

amshutoutofthewondrousworldwherewalkedMelampusandtheSaint。Tomethereisnosuggestionofevilinthelittlesilentcreatures，harmless，ordeadlyonlywiththeDeathwhichisLife。

Thebeastswhoturnuponus，asarulemaulandtearunreflectingly；withthesnakethereistheswift，silentstrike，thetiny，tinywound，thensleepandaforgetting。

Mybrownfriend，withitsmessageunspoken，slidawayintothegrassatsundowntotellitstaleinunstoppedears；andI，mytaskdone，wenthomeacrossthefieldstothesolitarycottagewhereI

lodge。Itisoldanddecrepit-tworooms，withaquasi-atticoverthemreachedbyaladderfromthekitchenandreachedonlybyme。

Itisfurnishedwiththeluxuriesoflife，atrucklebed，table，chair，andhugeearthenwarepanwhichIfillfromtheice-coldwellatthebackofthecottage。MorningandnightIservewiththeGibeonites，theircursemyblessing，asnodoubtitwastheirswhentheirheartswerepurgedbyservice。MorningandnightIsenddownthemoss-grownbucketwithitsurgentmessagefromadryanddustyworld；thechaintightensthroughmyhandastheliquidtreasurerespondstothemessenger，andthenwithcreakandjangle-thewelcomeoflabouringearth-thebucketslowlynearsthetopanddispersesthetreasureinthewaitingvessels。TheGibeoniteswereservantsinthehouseofGod，ministersofthesacramentofserviceevenastheHighPriesthimself；andI，sharingtheirhighofficeofservitude，thankGodthatthegroundwasaccursedformysake，forsurelythatcursewasthewombofallunbornblessing。

TheoldwidowwithwhomIlodgehasbeendeafforthelasttwentyyears。Shespeaksinthestrainedhighvoicewhichprotestsagainstherowninfirmity，andhereyeshavethepatheticlookofthosewhosearchinsilence。Formanyyearsshelivedalonewithherson，wholabouredonthefarmtwomilesaway。Hemethisdeathrescuingacarthorsefromitsburningstable；andthefarmergavethecottagerentfreeandaweeklyhalf-crownforlifetothepooroldwomanwhosedearestterrorwastheworkhouse。Withmyshillingaweekrent，andsharingofsupplies，weliveinthelinesofcomfort。Ofdeathshehasnofears，forinthelongchestinthekitchenlieawebofcoarsewhitelinen，twopenniescoveredwiththesametokeepdowntiredeyelids，decentwhitestockings，andawhitecottonsun-bonnet-adecorousdeath-suittruly-andenoughmoneyinthelittlebagforself-respectingburial。Thefarmerburiedhisservanthandsomely-goodman，heknewtheloveofreticentgrieffora"kind"burial-andonedayHarry"smotheristoliebesidehiminthelittlechurchyardwhichhasbeenacornfield，andmaysomedaybeoneagain。

CHAPTERII

ONSundaysmyfeettakeeverthesameway。Firstmytempleservice，andthenfivemilestrampoverthetender，dewyfields，withtheirineffableearthysmell，untilIreachthelittlechurchatthefootofthegrey-greendown。Here，everySunday，ayoungpriestfromaneighbouringvillagesaysMassforthetinyhamlet，whereallareveryoldorveryyoung-fortheheydayoflifehasnopartunderthelongshadowofthehills，butisawayatseaorinservice。ThereisabeautifulseemlinessintheextremeyouthofthepriestwhoservestheseagedchildrenofGod。Hebendstocommunicatethemwiththereverenttendernessofason，andreadswiththecarefulintonationoffar-seeinglove。Totheoldpeopleheisthesonoftheiroldage，God-senttoguidetheirtotteringfootstepsalongthehighwayoffoolishwayfarers；andhe，withhisyouthandstrength，wishesnobettertask。Serviceended，wegreeteachotherfriendly-formenshouldnotbestrangeintheacreofGod；andIpassthroughthelittlehamletandoutanduponthegreydownbeyond。Here，atthelastgate，Ipauseforbreakfast；

andthenupandonwithquickeningpulse，andevergreenmemoryofthewearywar-wornGreekswhobrokeranktogreetthegreatblueMother-waythatledtohome。Istandonthesummithatless，thewindinmyhair，thesmackofsaltonmycheek，allroundmerollingstretchesofcloud-shadoweddown，nosoundbuttheshrillmournofthepeewitandthegatheringofthesea。

Thehourspass，theshadowslengthen，thesheep-bellsclang；andI

lieinmynicheunderthestuntedhawthornwatchingthetoandfroofthesea，andAEolusshepherdinghiswhitesheepacrosstheblue。

Ilovetheseawithitsimpenetrablefathoms，itswashandundertow，andraspofshinglesuckedanew。IloveitforitssecretdeadintheCavernsofPeace，ofwhichaccountmustbegivenwhenthebooksareopenedandearthandheavenhavefledaway。Yetinmylovethereisaparadox，forasIwatchtherestless，ineffectivewavesIthinkofthemeasureless，reflectivedepthsofthestillandsilentSeaofGlass，ofthedead，smallandgreat，richorpoor，withtheworkswhichfollowthem，andoftheVoiceasthevoiceofmanywaters，whenthemultitudeofonemindrendsheavenwithalleluia:andIliesostillthatIalmostfeelthekissofWhitePeaceonmymouth。Laterstill，whentheflareofthesinkingsunhasdiedawayandthestarsriseoutofaveilofpurplecloud，Itakemywayhome，downtheslopes，throughthehamlet，andacrossmilesofsleepingfields；overwhichnighthasthrownhershiftingwebofmist-hometothelittleattic，thedeep，coolwell，thekindlywrinkledfacewithitslisteningeyes-

peaceinmyheartandthankfulnessfortherhythmoftheroad。

Mondaybringsthejoyofwork，secondonlytotheSabbathofrest，andIsettletomyheapbythewhitegate。SoonIhearthedistantstampofhorsehoofs，heraldingthegrindandrollofthewheelswhichreachesmelater-aheavyflour-waggonwithateamoffourgreatgentlehorses，gaywithbrasstrappingsandscarletear-caps。

Onthetopofthecraftilypiledsacksliesthewhite-cladwaggoner，apinkinhismouthwhichhemumblesmeditatively，andthereinsloopedovertheinactivewhip-whyshouldhedriveawillingteamthatknowsthejourneyandrespondsasstrenuouslytoacheerychirrupastothewell-directedlash？Wegreetandpassthetimeofday，andashemountstherisehecallsbackawarningofcomingrain。Iamalreadywhitewithdustashewithflour，sacramentaldust，theoutwardandvisiblesignofthestirandbeatoftheheartoflabouringlife。

Nexttopassdowntheroadisananxiousruffledhen，herspeckledbreastastirwithmaternaltroubles。Shewalksdelicately，liftingherfeethighandglancingfurtivelyfromsidetosidewithcomblowdressed。Thesightofman，theheartlessegg-collector，fromwhosehauntsshehasfled，wringsfromherastartledcluck，andshemakesforthewhitegate，climbsthrough，anddisappears。I

knowherfeelingstoowelltointrude。Manytimesalreadyhasshehiddenherself，amassedfourorfiveprecioustreasures，broodingoverthemwithanxioushope；andthen，afterabriefdesertiontoseekthenecessaryfood，shehasreturnedtofindhereffortsatconcealmentvain，hertreasuresgone。Atlast，withthecourageofdespairshehasresolvedtobravetheterrorsoftheunknownandseekahauntbeyondthetyrannyofman。Iwillwatchoverherfromafar，andwhenhermother-hopeisfulfilledIwillmarshalherandherbroodbacktothefarmwhereshebelongs；forwhatendIcarenottothink，itisofthemysterywhichliesattheheartofthings；andweareallGod"sbeasts，saysStAugustine。

Hereismystone-song，aparaphraseoftheTreasureMotif。

[Musicscorewhichcannotbereproduced。ItisF#dottedcrotchet，F#quaver，F#quaver，F#dottedcrotchet，Dcrotchet，Ecrotchet。

Thisbaristhenrepeatedoncemore。]

WhatawonderfulworkWagnerhasdoneforhumanityintranslatingthetoiloflifeintothereadablescriptofmusic！Forthosewhoseekthetaleofotherworldshismagicissilent；butearth-

travailunderhiswandbecomesinstinctwithrhythmicsongtoanaccompanimentoftheelements，andtheblareandcrashofthebottomlesspititself。ThePilgrim"sMarchisthesadsoundoffootsoremen；theSanGraalthetremulousyearningofservitudeforricher，deeperbondage。Theyellow，thirstyflameslickupthewillingsacrifice，thewaterwailsthesecretoftheriverandthesea；thebirdsandbeasts，theshepherdwithhispipe，theundergroundlifeinrocksandcaverns，allcrytheirmessagetothisnineteenth-centurytoiling，labouringworld-andtomeasI

mendmyroad。

TwotrampscomeandflingthemselvesbymeasIeatmynoondaymeal。Theone，red-eyed，furtive，liesonhissidewithrestless，clutchinghandsthattearandtwistandtorturethelivinggrass，whilehislipsmutterincoherently。Theothersitsstooped，bare-

footed，legswideapart，hisfacegrey，almostasgreyashisstubblybeard；anditisnotlongsinceDeathlookedhimintheeyes。Hetellsmequerulouslyofatwohundredmilestrampsinceearlyspring，ofsearchforwork，casualjobswithmorekicksthanhalfpence，andabriefbutblissfulsojourninahospitalbed，fromwhichhewasdismissedwithsentencepasseduponhim。Forhimself，heisdeterminedtodieontheroadunderahedge，whereamancanseeandbreathe。Hisanxietyisallforhisfellow；HEhassaidhewill"doforaman"；hewantsto"swing，"togetoutofhis"dog"slife。"Iwatchhimashelies，thisIshmaelandwould-beLamech。

Ignorance，hunger，terror，theexhaustionofpastgenerations，havedonetheirwork。Themanismad，andwouldkillhisfellowman。

Presentlywepart，andthetwogo，doggedandfootsore，downtheroadwhichistoleadthemintothegreatsilence。

CHAPTERIII

YESTERDAYwasadayofencounters。

First，earlyinthemorning，ayounggirlcamedowntheroadonabicycle。Herdressguardwasloose，andshestoppedtoaskforapieceofstring。WhenIhadtieditforhershelookedatme，atmyworndustyclothesandburntface；andthenshetookaNiphetosrosefromherbeltandlaiditshylyinmydirtydisfiguredpalm。

Ibaredmyhead，andstoodhatinhandlookingafterherassherodeawayupthehill。ThenItookmytreasureandputitinanestofcooldewygrassunderthehedge。ECCEANCILLADOMINI。

Mynextvisitorwasafellow-workeronhiswaytoajobatthecross-roads。Hestoodgazingmeditativelyatmyheapofstones。

"Owlong"aveyerbinatthisjobthaty"ereinsuchahurry？"

Istayedmyhammertoanswer-"Fourmonths。"

"Seenbetterdays？"

"Never，"Isaidemphatically，andpunctuatedtheremarkwithastonesplitneatlyinfour。

Themansurveyedmeinsilenceforamoment；thenhesaidslowly，"Meantersayyerlikecrackin"theseblamedstonestofill"olessomeotherfool"smade？"

Inodded。

"Well，thatbeatseverything。Now，I"AVEseenbetterdays；workedinabigbreweryovernearMaidstone-atownthat，andsomethingdoing；andnow，"ereIam，"ammeringme"eartoutontheseblastedstonesforabito"breadandapipeo"baccyonceaweek-itain"tgoodenough。"Hepulledablackenedclayfromhispocketandbeganslowlyfillingitwithranktobacco；thenhelititcarefullybehindhisbatteredhat，putthespentmatchbackinhispocket，rosetohisfeet，hitchedhisbraces，and，withasilentnodtome，wentontohisjob。

Whydowegivethesetiredchildren，whosemindsmoveslowly，whoseeyesareholdenthattheycannotreadtheBook，whoseheartsarefullofsoreresentmentagainsttheyknownotwhat，suchworkasthistodo-hammeringtheirheartsoutforabitofbread？Allthepathosofunreasoninglabourringsinthesefewwords。Wefitthecollaronunwillingnecks；andwhentheirserviceisoverwebidthemgooutfree；butwebreakthegoodMosaiclawandsendthemawayempty。Whatwonderthereissolittlewillingservice，sofewearsreadytobethrustthroughagainstthemaster"sdoor。

Theswiftstrideofcivilisationisleavingbehindindividualeffort，andturningmanintotheDaemonofamachine。Toandfroinfrontofthelongloom，liftingaleverateitherend，paceshewhooncewithpainstakingintelligencedrovetheshuttle。THENhetastedthejoyofcompletedwork，thatwhichhiseyehadlookedupon，andhishandshadhandled；nowhisworkisaslittlefinishedasthewebofPenelope。Oncethereapergraspedthegoldencornstems，andwithdexteroussweepofsicklesetfreethetreasureoftheearth。Oncethecreaturesofthefieldwereknowntohim，andhiseyecaughttheflareofscarletandblueasthefrailpoppiesandsturdycorn-cockleslaiddowntheirbeautyathisfeet；nowhesitssereneonJuggernaut"scar，itsguidingDaemon，andthefieldissilenttohim。

Aswiththewebandthegrainsowiththewoodandstoneinthetreasure-houseofourneeds。ThegroundwasaccursedFOROURSAKE

thatinthesweatofourbrowwemighteatbread。Nowthemanyliveinthebrain-sweatofthefew；anditmustbeso，foraslittleasgreatKingCnutcouldstaytheseauntilithadreachedtheappointedplace，solittlecanweraiseabarriertothewaveofprogress，andsay，"Thusfarandnofurthershaltthoucome。"

Whatthen？Thisatleast；ifweliveinanageofmechanismletusseetoitthatwearearaceofintelligentmechanics；andifmanistobetheDaemonofamachinelethimknowthesettingoftheknives，theriseofthepiston，thepartthateachwheelandrodplaysintheeconomyofthewhole，thepartthathehimselfplays，co-operatingwithit。Then，whenhehaslivedandservedintelligently，letusgivehimofourflocksandofourfloorthathemaylearntorestinthelengtheningshadowsuntilheiscalledtohisworkabove。

SoIsat，hammeringoutmythoughts，andwiththemtheconvictionthatstonebreakingshouldbeallottedtominorpoetsorvagrantchildrenofnaturelikemyself，nevertosuchtiredfolkasmypoormateatthecross-roadsandhisfellows。

Atnoon，whenIstoppedformymeal，thesunwasbakingthehardwhiteroadinapitilessglare。Severalwaggonsandcartspassed，thehorsessweatingandstraining，withdrooping，fly-tormentedears。Themenforthemostpartnoddedslumberouslyontheshaft，seekingthelittleshelterthecartafforded；butoneshuffledinthewhitedust，withanoccasionalchirrupandfriendlypressureonthetiredhorse"sneck。

Thenanoldwomanandasmallchildappearedinsight，bothwithenormoussun-bonnetsandcarryingbaskets。Astheycameupwithmethewomanstoppedandsweptherfacewithherhand，whilethechild，depositingthebasketinthedustwithgreatcare，wipedherlittlestickyfingersonherpinafore。Thentheshadyhedgebeckonedthemandtheycameandsatdownnearme。Thewomanlookedaboutseventy，tall，angular，dauntless，goodforanothertenyearsofhardwork。Thelittlemaid-heronlygrandchild，shetoldme-

wasjustfour，herfatherawaysoldiering，andthemotherdiedinchildbed，soforfouryearsthechildhadknownnootherguardianorplaymatethantheoldwoman。Shewasnottheleastshy，buthadthestrangeself-possessionwhichcomesfromassociatingwithonewhohastravelledfaronlife"sjourney。

"Icouldn"tleaveheraloneinthehouse，"saidhergrandmother，"andshewouldn"tleavethekittenforfearitshouldbelonesome"-

withahumorous，tenderglanceatthechild-"butit"salongtrampintheheatforthelittleone，andwe"veanothermiletogo。"

"Willyouletherbideheretillyoucomeback？"Isaid。"She"llbeallrightbyme。"

Theoldladyhesitated。

"Will"eestaybyhim，dearie？"shesaid。

Thesmallchildnodded，drewfromherminiaturepocketapieceofsweetstuff，extractedfromthebasketasmallblackcat，andsettledinfortheafternoon。Hergrandmotherrose，tookherbasket，and，withanodand"Thank"eekindly，mister，"wentoffdowntheroad。

Iwentbacktomyworkalittledepressed-whyhadInotwhitehair？-forafewminuteshadshownmethatIwasnotoldenoughforthechilddespitemyfortyyears。Shewasquitehappywiththelittleblackcat，whichlayinthesmalllapblinkingitsyelloweyesatthesun；andpresentlyanoldmancameby，lameandbent，withgnarledtwistedhands，leaningheavilyonhisstick。

Hegreetedmeinahigh，pipingvoice，limpedacrosstothechild，andsatdown。"Yourlittlemaid，mister？"hesaid。

Iexplained。

"Ah，"hesaid，"I"veleftalittledarlin"likethisat"ome。It"s"ardonusoldfolkswhenwe"reonetoomany；butthelittlemouthsmustbefilled，andmyson，"esaid"edidn"tseetheycouldkeepmeonthearf-crown，withanotherchildontheway；soI"mtrampingtoN-，totheHouse；butit"sa"ardpinch，leavin"thelittleones。"

Ilookedathim-atypicalcountryman，withwhitehair，mildblueeyes，andarosy，childish，unwrinkledface。