he people gathered closer round him.

And when I went a little further I saw a crowd crossing among the trees
of light with great laughter. When they came close I saw they carried
one without hands or feet. And a light came from the maimed limbs so
bright that I could not look at them.

And I said to one, "What is it?"

He answered, "This is our brother who once fell and lost his hands and
feet, and since then he cannot help himself; but we have touched the
maimed stumps so often that now they shine brighter than anything in
Heaven. We pass him on that he may shine on things that need much heat.
No one is allowed to keep him long, he belongs to all;" and they went on
among the trees.

I said to God, "This is a strange land. I had thought blindness and
maimedness were great evils. Here men make them to a rejoicing."

God said, "Didst thou then think that love had need of eyes and hands!"

And I walked down the shining way with palms on either hand. I said to
God, "Ever since I was a little child and sat alone and cried, I have
dreamed of this land, and now I will not go away again. I will stay here
and shine." And I began to take off my garments, that I might shine as
others in that land; but when I looked down I saw my body gave no light.
I said to God, "How is it?"

God said, "Is there no dark blood in your heart; is it bitter against
none?"

And I said, "Yes--"; and I thought--"Now is the time when I will tell
God, that which I have been, meaning to tell him all along, how badly my
fellow-men have treated me. How they have misunderstood me. How I have
intended to be magnanimous and generous to them, and they--." And I
began to tell God; but when I looked down all the flowers were withering
under my breath, and I was silent.

And God called me to come up higher, and I gathered my mantle about me
and followed him.

And the rocks grew higher and steeper on every side; and we came at
last to a place where a great mountain rose, whose top was lost in the
clouds. And on its side I saw men working; and they picked at the
earth with huge picks; and I saw that they laboured mightily. And some
laboured in companies, but most laboured singly. And I saw the drops of
sweat fall from their foreheads, and the muscles of their arms stand out
with labour. And I said, "I had not thought in heaven to see men
labour so!" And I thought of the garden where men sang and loved, and
I wondered that any should choose to labour on t