the blue flower-第3节

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take　life　as　it　comes　and　never　think　where　it　comes　from；　and
some　are　those　who　do　not　believe　in　the　Source　and　will　hear
nothing　about　it。〃

〃How　can　that　be？〃　I　said；　〃do　they　not　drink　of　the
water；　and　does　it　not　make　their　fields　green？〃

〃It　is　true；〃　he　said；　〃but　these　men　have　made　wells
close　by　the　river；　and　they　say　that　these　wells　fill
themselves；　and　they　have　digged　channels　through　their
gardens；　and　they　say　that　these　channels　would　always　have
water　in　them　even　though　the　spring　should　cease　to　flow。
Some　of　them　say　also　that　it　is　an　unworthy　thing　to　drink
from　a　source　that　another　has　opened；　and　that　every　man
ought　to　find　a　new　spring　for　himself；　so　they　spend　the　hour
of　the　visitation；　and　many　more；　in　searching　among　the
mountains　where　there　is　no　path。〃

While　I　wondered　over　this；　we　kept　on　in　the　way。　　There
was　already　quite　a　throng　of　people　all　going　in　the　same
direction。　　And　when　we　came　to　the　Source；　which　flowed　from
an　opening　in　a　cliff；　almost　like　a　chamber　hewn　in　the　rock；
and　made　a　little　garden　of　wild…flowers　around　it　as　it　fell；
I　heard　the　music　of　many　voices　and　the　beautiful　name　of　him
who　had　given　his　life　to　find　the　forgotten　spring。

Then　we　came　down　again；　singly　and　in　groups；　following
the　river。　　It　seemed　already　more　bright
and　full　and　joyous。　　As　we　passed　through　the　gardens　I　saw
men　turning　aside　to　make　new　channels　through　fields　which
were　not　yet　cultivated。　　And　as　we　entered　the　city　I　saw　the
wheels　of　the　mills　that　ground　the　corn　whirling　more
swiftly；　and　the　maidens　coming　with　their　pitchers　to　draw
from　the　brimming　basins　at　the　street　corners；　and　the
children　laughing　because　the　marble　pools　were　so　full　that
they　could　swim　in　them。　　There　was　plenty　of　water
everywhere。

For　many　weeks　I　stayed　in　the　city　of　Saloma；　going　up
the　mountain…path　in　the　morning；　and　returning　to　the　day　of
work　and　the　evening　of　play。　　I　found　friends　among　the
people　of　the　city；　not　only　among　those　who　walked　together
in　the　visitation　of　the　Source；　but　also　among　those　who
remained　behind；　for　many　of　them　were　kind　and　generous；
faithful　in　their　work；　and　very　pleasant　in　their
conversation。

Yet　there　was　something　lacking　between　me　and　them。　　I
came　not　onto　firm　ground　with　them；　for　all　their　warmth　of
welcome　and　their　pleasant　ways。　　They　were　by　nature　of　the
race　of　those　who　dwell　ever　in　one　place；　even　in　their　thoughts
they　went　not　far　abroad。　　But　I　have　been　ever　a　seeker；　and　the
world　seems　to　me　made　to　wander　in；　rather　than　to　abide　in　one
corner　of　it　and　never　see　what　the　rest　has　in　store。　　Now
this　was　what　the　people　of　Saloma　could　not　understand；　and
for　this　reason　I　seemed　to　them　always　a　stranger；　an　alien；
a　guest。　　The　fixed　circle　of　their　life　was　like　an　invisible
wall；　and　with　the　best　will　in　the　world　they　knew　not　how　to
draw　me　within　it。　　And　I；　for　my　part；　while　I　understood
well　their　wish　to　rest　and　be　at　peace；　could　not　quite
understand　the　way　in　which　it　found　fulfilment；　nor　share　the
repose　which　seemed　to　them　all…sufficient　and　lasting。　　In
their　gardens　I　saw　ever　the　same　flowers；　and　none　perfect。
At　their　feasts　I　tasted　ever　the　same　food；　and　none　that
made　an　end　of　hunger。　　In　their　talk　I　heard　ever　the　same
words；　and　none　that　went　to　the　depth　of　thought。　　The　very
quietude　and　fixity　of　their　being　perplexed　and　estranged　me。
What　to　them　was　permanent；　to　me　was　transient。　　They　were
inhabitants：　　I　was　a　visitor。

The　one　in　all　the　city　of　Saloma　with　whom　was　most　at　home
was　Ruamie；　the　little　granddaughter　of　the　old　man　with　whom
I　lodged。　　To　her；　a　girl　of　thirteen；　fair…eyed　and　full　of
joy；　the　wonted　round　of　life　had　not　yet　grown　to　be　a　matter　of
course。　　She　was　quick　to　feel　and　answer　the　newness　of　every
day　that　dawned。　　When　a　strange　bird　flew　down　from　the
mountains　into　the　gardens；　it　was　she　that　saw　it　and　wondered
at　it。　　It　was　she　that　walked　with　me　most　often　in　the　path　to
the　Source。　　She　went　out　with　me　to　the　fields　in　the　morning
and　almost　every　day　found　wild…flowers　that　were　new　to　me。
At　sunset　she　drew　me　to　happy　games　of　youths　and　children；
where　her　fancy　was　never　tired　of　weaving　new　turns　to　the
familiar　pastimes。　　In　the　dusk　she　would　sit　beside　me　in　an
arbour　of　honeysuckle　and　question　me　about　the　flower　that　I
was　seeking；for　to　her　I　had　often　spoken　of　my　quest。

〃Is　it　blue；〃　she　asked；　〃as　blue　as　the　speedwell　that
grows　beside　the　brook？〃

〃Yes；　it　is　as　much　bluer　than　the　speedwell；　as　the　river
is　deeper　than　the　brook。〃

〃And　is　it　she　asked；　〃as　bright　as　the　drops　of　dew　in
the　moonlight？〃

〃Yes；　it　is　brighter　than　the　drops　of　dew　as　the　sun　is
clearer　than　the　moon。〃

〃And　is　it　sweet；〃　she　asked；　〃as　sweet　as　the　honeysuckle
when　the　day　is　warm　and　still？〃

〃Yes；　it　is　as　much　sweeter　than　the　honeysuckle　as　the
night　is　stiller　and　more　sweet　than　the　day。〃

〃Tell　me　again；〃　she　asked；　〃when　you　saw　it；　and　why　do
you　seek　it？〃

〃Once　I　saw　it　when　I　was　a　boy；　no　older　than　you。　　Our
house　looked　out　toward　the　hills；　far　away　and　at　sunset
softly　blue　against　the　eastern　sky。　　It　was　the　day　that　we
laid　my　father　to　rest　in　the　little　burying…ground　among　the
cedar…trees。　　There　was　his　father's　grave；　and　his　father's
father's　grave；　and　there　were　the　places　for　my　mother　and
for　my　two　brothers　and　for　my　sister　and　for　me。　　I　counted
them　all；　when　the　others　had　gone　back　to　the　house。　　I　paced
up　and　down　alone；　measuring　the　ground；　there　was
room　enough　for　us　all；　and　in　the　western　corner　where　a
young　elm…tree　was　growing；that　would　be　my　place；　for　I　was
the　youngest。　　How　tall　would　the　elm…tree　be　then？　　I　had
never　thought　of　it　before。　　It　seemed　to　make　me　sad　and
restless；wishing　for　something；　I　knew　not　what；longing　to
see　the　world　and　to　taste　happiness　before　I　must　sleep
beneath　the　elm…tree。　　Then　I　looked　off　to　the　blue　hills；
shadowy　and　dream…like；　the　boundary　of　the　little　world　that
I　knew。　　And　there；　in　a　cleft　between　the　highest　peaks　I　saw
a　wondrous　thing：　for　the　place　at　which　I　was　looking　seemed
to　come　nearer　and　nearer　to　me；　I　saw　the　trees；　the　rocks；
the　ferns；　the　white　road　winding　before　me；　the　enfolding
hills　unclosed　like　leaves；　and　in　the　heart　of　them　I　saw　a
Blue　Flower；　so　bright；　so　beautiful　that　my　eyes　filled　with
tears　as　I　looked。　　It　was　like　a　face　that　smiled　at　me　and
promised　something。　　Then　I　heard　a　call；　like　the　note　of　a
trumpet　very　far　away；　calling　me　to　come。　　And　as　I　listened
the　flower　faded　into　the　dimness　of　the　hills。〃

〃Did　you　follow　it；〃　asked　Ruamie；　〃and　did　you　go　away　from
your　home？　　How　could　you　do　that？〃

〃Yes；　Ruamie；　when　the　time　came；　as　soon　as　I　was　free；
I　set　out　on　my　journey；　and　my　home　is　at　the　end　of　the
journey；　wherever　that　may　be。〃

〃And　the　flower；〃　she　asked；　〃you　have　seen　it　again？〃

〃Once　again；　when　I　was　a　youth；　I　saw　it。　　After　a　long
voyage　upon　stormy　seas；　we　came　into　a　quiet　haven；　and　there
the　friend　who　was　dearest　to　me；　said　good…by；　for　he　was
going　back　to　his　own　country　and　his　father's　house；　but　I
was　still　journeying　onward。　　So　as　I　stood　at　the　bow　of　the
ship；　sailing　out　into　the　wide　blue　water；　far　away　among　the
sparkling　waves　I　saw　a　little　island；　with　shores　of　silver
sand　and　slopes　of　fairest　green；　and　in　the　middle　of　the
island　the　Blue　Flower　was　growing；　wondrous　tall　and
dazzling；　brighter　than　the　sapphire　of　the　sea。　　Then　the
call　of　the　distant　trumpet　came　floating　across　the　water；
and　while　it　was　sounding　a　shimmer　of　fog　swept　over　the
island　and　I　could　see　it　no　more。〃

〃Was　it　a　real　island；〃　asked　Ruamie。　　〃Did　you　ever　find
it？〃

〃Never；　for　the　ship　sailed　another　way。　　But　once　again
I　saw　the　flower；　three　days　before　I　came　to　Saloma。　　It　was
on　the　edge　of　the　desert；　close　under　the　shadow　of　the　great
mountains。　　A　vast　loneliness　was　round　about　me；　it　seemed　as
if　I　was　the　only　soul　living　upon　earth；　and　I　longed　for　the
dwellings　of　men。　　Then　as　I　woke　in　the　morning　I　looked　up
at　the　dark　ridge　of　the　mountains；　and　there　against　the
brightening　blue　of　the　sky　I　saw　the　Blue　Flower　standing　up
clear　and　brave。　　It　shone　so　deep　and　pure　that　the　sky　grew
pale　around　it。　　Then　the　echo　of　the　far…off　trumpet　drifted
down　the　hillsides；　and　the　sun　rose；　and　the　flower　was
melted　away　in　light。　　So　I　rose　and　travelled　on　till　I　came
to　Saloma。〃

〃And　now；〃　said　the　child；　〃you　are　at　home　with　us。　　Will
you　not　stay　for　a　long；　long　while？　　You　may　find　the　Blue
Flower　here。　　There　are　many　kinds　in　the　fields。　　I　find　new
ones　every　day。〃

〃I　will　stay　while　I　can；　Ruamie；〃　I　answered；
taking　her　hand　in　mine　as　we　walked　back　to　the　house　at
nightfall；　〃but　how　long　that　may　be　I　cannot　tell。　　For　with
you　I　am　at　home；　yet　the　place　where　I　must　abide　is　the
place　where　the　flower　grows；　and　when　the　call　comes　I　must
follow　it。〃

〃Yes；〃　said　she；　looking　at　me　half　in　doubt；　〃I　think　I
understand。　　But　wherever　you　go　I　hop