ny, and the cruelty of the oppressor, and the cries
of those that were oppressed. And he showed the sickness and the
troubles, and the sorrow and danger; and how death stalked about, and
tore heart from heart; and how sometimes the strongest would fail, and
the truest fall under the power of a lie, and the tenderest forget to be
kind; and how evil things lurked in every corner to beguile the dwellers
there; and how the days were short and the nights dark, and life so
little that by the time a man had learned something it was his hour to
die. "What can a soul do that is born there?" he cried; "for war is
there and fighting, and perplexity and darkness; and no man knows if
that which he does will be for good or evil, or can tell which is the
best way, or know the end from the beginning; and those he loves the
most are a mystery to him, and their thoughts beyond his reach. And
clouds are between him and the Father, and he is deceived with false
gods and false teachers, who make him to love a lie." The people who
were listening held their breath, and a shadow like a cloud fell on
them, and they remembered and knew that it was true. But the next moment
their hearts rebelled, and one and another would have spoken, and the
little Pilgrim herself had almost cried out and made her plea for the
dear earth which she loved: when he suddenly threw forth his voice again
like a great song. "Oh, dear mother earth," he cried; "oh, little world
and great, forgive thy son! for lovely thou art and dear, and the sun of
God shines upon thee and the sweet dews fall; and there were we born,
and loved, and died, and are come hence to bless the Father and the Son.
For in no other world, though they are so vast, is it given to any to
know the Lord in the darkness, and follow Him groping, and make way
through sin and death, and overcome the evil, and conquer in His Name."
At which there was a great sound of weeping and of triumph, and the
little Pilgrim could not contain herself, but cried out too in joy as if
for a deliverance. And then the poet told his tale. And as he told them
of the man who was poor and sorrowful and alone, and how he loved and
was not loved again, and trusted and was betrayed, and was tempted and
drawn into the darkness, so that it seemed as if he must perish; but,
when hope was almost gone, turned again from the edge of despair, and
confronted all his enemies, and fought and conquered, the people
followed every word with grea