ey left the harbour. Few were forwarder than they; few had
smoother water or more prosperous gales. I could see, when I looked
close into their faces, that they were all children of one family; and
that all the voyage through they were helping, cheering, and directing
one another. As I watched their ways, I noticed this, too, which seemed
wonderful. If one of them had got into some trouble with its tackle, and
the others stayed awhile to help it, and to bring it on its way, instead
of losing ground by this their kindness, they seemed all to make the
greater progress, and press on the further in their course.

And now I longed to see the ending of this voyage; and so looking on to
those which were most forward, I resolved to trace them to the end.

Then I found that all, without exception, came into a belt of storms and
darkness before they reached the happy land. True, it was much rougher
and more dark with some than others; but to every one there was a deep
night and a troubled sea. I saw, too, that when they reached this place,
they were always parted one from another. Even those which had kept most
close together all the voyage before, until just upon the edge of this
dark part, they, like the rest, were scattered here, and toiled on awhile
singly and alone.

They seemed to me to fare the best who entered on it with the fullest
sails, and had kept hitherto the straightest course. Indeed, as a common
rule I found this always true--that those who had watched the compass,
and held the rudder, and cheered themselves with the appointed music, and
eaten the master's bread, and steered straight after him, they passed
through this cloud and darkness easily and swiftly.

Next to these were those who sought most earnestly to cheer its gloom
with the sound of their appointed music. The Lord of these seas, indeed,
had many ways of cheering His followers. Even in the thickest of that
darkness His face of beaming love would look out upon them; and He seemed
nearer to them then than He had done heretofore through all their voyage.

Then, moreover, it was never long; and bright light lay beyond it. For
they passed straight out of it into "the haven where they would be."
Sweet sounds broke upon their glad ears even as they left that darkness.
A great crowd of happy children--parents who had gone before them--friends
whom they had loved, and holy persons whose names they had long
known--these all lined the banks, waiting