第3章

"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。