October 30

Of immortality, the soul, when well employed, is incurious. It is so well that it is sure it will be well.

EVERY heart that has beat strong and cheerfully has left a hopeful impulse behind it in the world, and bettered the tradition of mankind. And even if death catch people, like an open pitfall, and, in mid career, laying out vast projects and planning monstrous foundations, flushed with hope, . . . they should be at once tripped up and silenced; is there not something brave and spirited in such a termination? and does not life go down with a better grace, foaming in full body over a precipice, than miserably straggling to an end in sandy deltas? When the Greeks made their fine saying that those whom the gods love die young, I cannot help believing they had this sort of death also in their eye. For surely, at whatever age it overtake a man, this is to die young. Death has not been suffered to take so much as one illusion from his heart.

In the hot-fit of life, a-tiptoe on the highest point of being, he passes at a bound on to the other side. The noise of the mallet and chisel is scarcely quenched; the trumpets are hardly done blowing, when, trailing with him clouds of glory, this happy-starred, full-blooded spirit shoots into the spiritual land.

ROBERT LOUIS STEVEN- SON

COURAGE AND JOY

Perfect love casteth out fear.

(First Spirit)

O THOU, who plumed with strong desire Wouldst float above the earth, beware!

A shadow tracks thy flight of fire— Night is coming!

Bright are the regions of the air, And among the winds and beams

It were delight to wander there— Night is coming!

(Second Spirit)

The deathless stars are bright above: If I would cross the shade at night, Within my heart is the lamp of love, And that is day!

And the moon will shine with gentle light On my golden plumes where'er they move: The meteors will linger round my flight, And make night day.

(First Spirit)

But if the whirlwinds of darkness waken Hail and lightning, and stormy rain; See the bounds of the air are shaken— Night is coming!

The red swift clouds of the hurricane Yon declining sun have overtaken, The clash of the hail sweeps over the plain— Night is coming!

(Second Spirit)

I see the light, and I hear the sound; I'll sail on the flood of the tempest dark, With the calm within and the light around Which makes night day: And thou, when the gloom is deep and stark, Look from thy dull earth, slumber-bound, My moonlight flight thou then may'st mark On high, far away.

2 Q