but she has drunk of the pure air of heaven, and has seen that it is
not the earth, but the sun that is steadfast. And if earth has
called her back, it can keep nothing of her but what is its own.
Her sweet voice and her soaring wings belong to the sun, and will
enter into light and freedom long after the foolish prater shall
have sunk and been buried in the dark prison of the earth."

And the lark heard her wise and friendly discourse, and with renewed
strength she sprang once more into the clear and beautiful blue.

Then the Child clapped his little hands for joy, that the sweet bird
had flown up again, and that the redcaps must hold their tongues for
shame.



CHAPTER XIV.



And the Child was become happy and joyful, and breathed freely
again, and thought no more of returning to his hut, for he saw that
nothing returned inwards, but rather that all strove outwards into
the free air; the rosy apple blossoms from their narrow buds, and
the gurgling notes from the narrow breast of the lark. The germs
burst open the folding doors of the seeds, and broke through the
heavy pressure of the earth in order to get at the light; the
grasses tore asunder their bands, and their slender blades sprung
upward. Even the rocks were become gentle, and allowed little
mosses to peep out from their sides, as a sign that they would not