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ther's hands; we will work our way upwards。〃
Still God pointed。
And I threw myself upon the earth and cried; 〃Earth is so small; so mean! It is not meet a soul should see Heaven and be cast out again!〃
And God laid his hand on me; and said; 〃Go back to earth: that which you seek is there。〃
I awoke: it was morning。 The silence and darkness of the night were gone。 Through my narrow attic window I saw the light of another day。 I closed my eyes and turned towards the wall: I could not look upon the dull grey world。
In the streets below; men and women streamed past by hundreds; I heard the beat of their feet on the pavement。 Men on their way to business; servants on errands; boys hurrying to school; weary professors pacing slowly the old street; prostitutes; men and women; dragging their feet wearily after last night's debauch; artists with quick; impatient footsteps; tradesmen for orders; children to seek for bread。 I heard the stream beat by。 And at the alley's mouth; at the street corner; a broken barrel…organ was playing; sometimes it quavered and almost stopped; then went on again; like a broken human voice。
I listened: my heart scarcely moved; it was as cold as lead。 I could not bear the long day before me; and I tried to sleep again; yet still I heard the feet upon the pavement。 And suddenly I heard them cry loud as they beat; 〃We are seeking!we are seeking!we are seeking!〃 and the broken barrel…organ at the street corner sobbed; 〃The Beautiful!the Beautiful! the Beautiful!〃 And my heart; which had been dead; cried out with every throb; 〃Love!Truth!the Beautiful!the Beautiful!〃 It was the music I had heard in Heaven that I could not sing there。
And fully I awoke。
Upon the faded quilt; across my bed a long yellow streak of pale London sunlight was lying。 It fell through my narrow attic window。
I laughed。 I rose。
I was glad the long day was before me。
Paris and London。
End