St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1902-06-04
That Which Abides.

The thrOng was moving on without
order and apparently without purpose
though here and there in the crowd there
were faces set toward some invisible
goal, and eyes which glowed with exal
tation and shone like stars in heavenly
order. The road was broad, rough, and
full of pitfalls; low clouds hung over it,
sometimes lifting and showing a clear
sky. sometimes settling about it so close
: " that its boundaries vanished in OBJ.
security. The throng swept along as il
driven forward by some inward impulse
a few pressing on with steady step;
many hurrying or lettering as the mood
} seized them; and here and there one van
ished with despairing face into the fog
and was seen no more. Some ran freely,
with buoyant and active step; many
wavered, broke from the crowd, rested
awhile, and then patiently set out again.
And ever and anon, in the hurry or the
lettering, one stumbled and fell and lay
prone, bewidered and exhausted; or
rose again, stunned and hurt and soiled,
and slipped back into the crowd and was
swallowed up in the disorderly ranks.
One there was who seemed born to run
we'll and with speed, and at times he
shot far ahead as if he saw his goal !;
then, when the light was on his face, he
stumbled and fell headlong and lay ap-
parentlv without consciousness. But
after time he lifted himself and looked
about him with despair on his face.
Sometimes a hand was stretched out
toward him; oftener the throng swept
on and left him prone in the mire. He
staggered to his feet and began to walk
slowly as if in great pain; and be was
filled with shame, Tor his garments were
defled from head to foot and he was one
mass of uncleanness. And some who
were near drew away, that their own
raimeut might not be dehled and he
crept on, solitary and sorrowful. Now
this man, whose steps were so unsteady
that he seersed to fall into the pitfalls
against his will and often unaware,
hated his own unceanness and counted
himself unworthy the companionship of
the white-robed men and women about
him. And ever as he fell he loathed the
more the mire which chung to him and
thought himself the more untitled to
touch hands with the clean. But in his
soul there was something, he knew not
what, which sent him forward in spite of
hurt and pain and mire. When he lay
prone, great sickness of heart smote
him and a great longing for cleanness,
and so, with shame and much dehled and
with loathing Of himself, he pressed on
with little help, with many cold chances,
with deep sense of repulsion borne to
him from many faces.
At last, tootsote and weary and faint
in heart, he came to a place where the
mist lay on the road and many halted,
fearful Of what might lie beyond but he,
caring only to be clean and fleeing from
his own deflement, ran into the mist
And, bshold, the mist lifted and fair
country lay smiling about him, and
hands were held out to him in welcome
But when be looked into the pure faces
of those who stood guardians of the
country, he drew back, crying, in great
agony OF spirit, Il cannot enter, for l am
unclean."
And they smiled and pointed to his
garments; and he looked and, behold,
his garments were like snow. And he
stood trembling, knowing not what had
befallen him and doubling if he were
himself And while he doubted. voice
came to him saying: In thy heart thou
didst hate uncleanncss and love purity,
and that only which we love abides.'
The Outlook.