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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