INTRODUCTION 



may do. Responsive to the revealing mystery of 

 the place our hearts open to love, and we find 

 peace in an abiding faith. For we also are of 

 the company of life ; what the rose can do, surely 

 we may succeed in doing. Because of these 

 influences a garden is strength-giving, strength- 

 renewing. Life is, as it were, at its fountain- 

 head here. Nature and Nature's God are en- 

 gaged in the mystery of creation the ground is 

 holy ground the growing bush is the burning 

 bush out of which God's voice comes to bid us 

 take heart and be of good courage. And with 

 it all is here also ineffable peace; the peace of 

 gladness and the peace of rest. 



" Here I untrammel, 



Here I pluck loose the body's cerementing, 

 And break the tomb of life; here I shake off 

 The bur o' the world, man's congregation shun, 

 And to the antique order of the dead 

 I take tongueless vows ; my cell is set 

 Here in thy bosom; my little trouble is ended 

 In a little peace." 



Here also, however, we may take the speech- 

 ful vows, not to the antique order of the dead, 

 but to the antique order of the living. To gar- 



[18] 



