e lower road sweetly, with the stranger hanging upon her, who was
stronger and taller than she. Thus they went on, and the Pilgrim told
her all she knew, and everything that came into her heart. And so full
was she of the great things she had to say, that it was a surprise to
her, and left her trembling, when suddenly the woman took away her
clinging hand, and flew forward with arms outspread and a cry of joy.
The little Pilgrim stood still to see, and on the path before them was a
child, coming towards them singing, with a look such as is never seen
but upon the faces of children who have come here early, and who behold
the face of the Father, and have never known fear nor sorrow. The woman
flew and fell at the child's feet, and he put his hand upon her, and
raised her up, and called her "mother." Then he smiled upon the little
Pilgrim, and led her away.

"Now she needs me no longer," said the Pilgrim; and it was a surprise to
her, and for a moment she wondered in herself if it was known that this
child should come so suddenly and her work be over; and also how she was
to return again to the sweet place among the flowers from which she had
come. But when she turned to look if there was any way, she found One
standing by such as she had not yet seen. This was a youth, with a face
just touched with manhood, as at the moment when the boy ends, when all
is still fresh and pure in the heart; but he was taller and greater than
a man.

"I am sent," he said, "little sister, to take you to the Father: because
you have been very faithful, and gone beyond your strength."

And he took the little Pilgrim by the hand, and she knew he was an
angel; and immediately the sweet air melted about them into light, and a
hush came upon her of all thought and all sense, attending till she
should receive the blessing, and her new name, and see what is beyond
telling, and hear and understand:--

THE LITTLE PILGRIM GOES UP HIGHER.

When the little Pilgrim came out of the presence of the Father, she
found herself in the street of a great city. But what she saw and heard
when she was with Him it is not given to the tongue of mortal to say,
for it is beyond words, and beyond even thought. As the mystery of love
is not to be spoken but to be felt, even in the lower earth, so, but
much less, is that great mystery of the love of the Father to be
expressed in words. The little Pilgrim was very happy when she went into
that sacred place, bu