BILLY AND HANS 



the mighty truth, that this Love is the 

 common life of all that lives. Living 

 and dying, Billy has opened to me a 

 window into the universe, of the exist- 

 ence of which I had no suspicion ; his 

 little history has added a chamber to 

 that eternal mansion into which my 

 constant and humble faith assures me 

 that I shall some time enter : he has 

 helped me to a higher life. If love 

 could confer immortality, he would 

 share eternity with me, and I would 

 thank the Creator for the companion- 

 ship; and if I have any conception 

 of the conditions of immortality, the 

 love of my squirrel will no more leave 

 me than that of my own children. And 

 who knows ? Thousands of human 

 beings to whom we dare not deny the 

 possession of immortal souls have not 

 half Billy's claim to live for ever. 

 May not the Indian philosopher, with 

 u 



