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。