BIRDS IN A VILLAGE. 
39 
inner magical world of memory the birds still 
twittered and warbled, each after its kind, and the 
sun shone everlastingly. But he was living in a 
fool's paradise, as he discovered by-and-by when 
a boy who had been his playmate began to grow 
thin and pale, and at last fell sick and died. He 
crept near and watched his dead companion lying 
motionless, unbreathing, with a face that was like 
white clay ; and then, more horrible still, he saw 
him taken out and put into a grave, and the heavy 
cold soil cast over him. 
What did this strange and terrible thino- mean ? 
Now for the first time he was told that life is ours 
only for a season ; that we also, like the leaves and 
flowers, flourish for a while, then fade and perish, and 
mingle with the dust. The sad knowledge had come 
too suddenly and in too vivid and dreadful a manner. 
He could not endure it. Only for a season ! — only 
for a season ! The earth would be green, and the 
sky blue, and the sun shine bright for ever, and he 
would not see, not know it ! Struck with anguish 
at the thought, he stole away out of sight of the 
others to hide himself in woods and thickets, to 
brood alone on such a hateful destiny, and torture 
himself with vain longings, until he too grew pale 
and thin and large-eyed, like the boy that had 
died, and those who saw him shook their heads 
and whispered to one another that he was not long 
