74 FKOM A NEW ENGLAND HILLSIDE. 



knows but some of the great ones may stray 

 thitherward ? And even if they do not, 

 there may be at least brave hopefulness 

 and honest endeavour and a helpful spirit. 

 And if there should hap to be at times un 

 satisfied longings, and even a weary cry, 

 that is but the common lot, and without 

 these the life would hardly seem human. 



But I am a poor prophet if in that dwell 

 ing which is yet unborn the sunny days 

 shall not be more numerous than the sad 

 days. Whence we come we know not ; 

 whither we go we know not. And it is 

 said that &quot;man is born unto trouble as the 

 sparks rly upward.&quot; Yet in this little 

 space between the silences, is there a great 

 flood of life with which the whole universe 

 pulses ; over us is the blue vault of heaven 

 with its spinning worlds, world beyond 

 world, to the outer reaches of the imagina 

 tion ; the soil and the surface of the rock 

 and the depth of the waters are budding 

 and blossoming and seeding from hour to 

 hour ; the light waxes and wanes in infi 

 nite gradations of loveliness ; the waters 

 roar and the tempests wail, but anon deli 

 cious music fills the air and soothes the 

 heart ; it is given to us to feed our minds 

 with all that is and was and shall be, and 



