A Little Pilgrim in the UnseenOliphant, Mrs. (Margaret)
Religion
A Little Pilgrim in the Unseen
Oliphant, Mrs. (Margaret)
Death -- Fiction
And she consoled herself with the thought that
there was no need of any language but that which she knew. As this went
through her mind making her glad she suddenly became aware of one who
was walking by her side, a lady who was covered with a veil white and
shining like that which Ama had worn in the beautiful city. It hung
about this stranger's head so that it was not easy to see her face, and
the sound of her voice was very sweet in the Pilgrim's ear, yet startled
her like the sound of something which she knew well, but could not
remember. And as there were few who were going that way, she was glad,
and said, "Let us walk together, if that pleases you." And the stranger
said, "It is for that I have come," which was a reply which made the
little Pilgrim wonder more and more, though she was very glad and joyful
to have this companion upon her way. And then the lady began to ask her
many questions, not about the city, or the great things she had seen,
but about herself, and what the dear Lord had given her to do.
"I am little and weak, and I cannot do much," the little Pilgrim said.
"It is nothing but pleasure. It is to welcome those that are coming,
and tell them. Sometimes they are astonished and do not know. I was so
myself. I came in my sleep, and understood nothing. But now that I know,
it is sweet to tell them that they need not fear."
"I was glad," the lady said, "that you came in your sleep: for sometimes
the way is dark and hard, and you are little and tender. When your
brother comes you will be the first to see him, and show him the way."
"My brother! is he coming?" the little Pilgrim cried. And then she said
with a wistful look, "But we are all brethren, and you mean only one of
those who are the children of our Father. You must forgive me that I do
not know the higher speech, but only what is natural, for I have not yet
been long here."
"He whom I mean is called--" and here the lady said a name which was the
true name of a brother born, whom the Pilgrim loved above all others.
She gave a cry, and then she said trembling, "I know your voice, but I
cannot see your face. And what you say makes me think of many things. No
one else has covered her face when she has spoken to me. I know you, and
yet I cannot tell who you are."
The woman stood for a little without saying a word, and then very
softly, in a voice which only the heart heard, she called the little
Pilgrim by her name.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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