"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。