great painter, as she had been glad to hear the great poet. It seemed to
the little Pilgrim as if everything happened well for her, and that no
one had ever been so blessed before. And to make it all more sweet, this
new friend, this great and sweet lady, always held her hand, and pressed
it softly when something more lovely appeared; and even the pictured
faces on the wall seemed to beam upon her, as they came out one by one
like the stars in the sky. Then the three went on again, and passed by
many more beautiful palaces, and great streets leading away into the
light, till you could see no farther; and they met with bands of
singers, who sang so sweetly that the heart seemed to leap out of the
Pilgrim's breast to meet with them, for above all things this was what
she had loved most. And out of one of the palaces there came such
glorious music, that everything she had seen and heard before seemed as
nothing in comparison. And amid all these delights they went on and on,
but without wearying, till they came out of the streets into lovely
walks and alleys, and made their way to the banks of a great river,
which seemed to sing too, a soft melody of its own.

And here there were some fair houses surrounded by gardens and flowers
that grew everywhere, and the doors were all open, and within everything
was lovely and still, and ready for rest if you were weary. The little
Pilgrim was not weary, but the lady placed her upon a couch in the
porch, where the pillars and the roof were all formed of interlacing
plants and flowers; and there they sat with her and talked, and
explained to her many things. They told her that the earth, though so
small, was the place in all the world to which the thoughts of those
above were turned. "And not only of us who have lived there, but of all
our brothers in the other worlds; for we are the race which the Father
has chosen to be the example. In every age there is one that is the
scene of the struggle and the victory, and it is for this reason that