cry of the wounded, they but looked up with eyes which flashed more brightly, and cheeks which wore a richer bloom. To two or three was given a small white stone, on which might be discerned a secret writing, and these, of all, seemed to be the only ones who were conscious of their gift. He put it in their bosoms like a love-token, whereat they looked inexpressibly happy, some of them kneeling to express their thanks, others bursting into tears of joy.

The readers around the printed book discerned him not; but on the shoulders of one he lay a present in the form of a cross. This was very beautiful; it sparkled with diamonds, and had a crown on the top. The wearer receiving it where he could not see it, looked impatient, as if the weight of the diamonds hurt him, and he would rather have been without it; before I took my leave he was actually trying to loosen the silken cord by which it was fastened round his neck. I thought, How foolish are children! Another had given him an anchor; a third a glass, which was intended to help him to read; and a fourth a heavy key. Still I could not cease from observing the strange gifts which were bestowed. One boy had wings fastened to his shoulders. To a few was confided a golden key, and to many who were hard at play pure oil and fragrant balms. One had given him a sword; another a shield;

and a little feeble one, iron shoes. I wondered how she

was to carry them.

He approached the band of readers round the picturebook, and he laid on the lips of one a small live coal; on the lips of another he dropped honey; one had put into his hand a chalice of wine; another a pyx; and a happy-looking boy of twelve an urn; filled with tears my guide informed me. A telescope and a microscope were the lot of two boys standing near together, a box of mathematical instruments went with the telescope; a loadstone was another's possession, and the courier went on his way, carrying no word of thanks to the Father, save from the owners of the stone and of the dove. I asked my guide to explain to me all that I had' seen. He declined, saying, "Wait and see what use each one will make of his gift on the finding."

"And what of the two books?"

“The one is a glorious painted chart of the King's dominions, and of all His works for His works are many, and most precious, and it is desired that these children will acquaint themselves with them, and will praise the excellence of His wisdom. Of the other He is the author. It may be considered as a long letter, dictated by Him to His secretaries to tell His children what is His will concerning them, and to persuade or threaten them into obedience. It is also the King's

Statute-book. The laws are binding, but a pardon is annexed to every infraction, on conditions, and this pardon the Eldest Son signed with His blood to make it perfectly sure."

In my dreams I again visited that place, with the same guide for an interpreter. Behold, the whole aspect of it was changed; the children were all up-grown! Still, a band of readers gathered round the King's Statute-book, but of the number were some who had aforetime played, and of those who aforetime had perused it attentively were some who never looked aside at it. The youth who wore the cross wore it still; he was a diligent reader of the book, but his face had a very wearied expression, it seemed as if the weight of the cross kept him in his place; and yet I noticed that he had a habit of leaning back upon it as if he found it give him some support.

Not all who received the white stone had it yet in possession; there were many who had bartered it or lost it. Upon the ground lay the youth with golden wings; he had crossed them before his face, where they were literally saturated with his tears. I was deeply moved at this sight, but my guide said, "Do not weep for him, they shall upbear him yet, and, mounting, the sun shall lighten up the tears that have fallen on them

into the flash and flame of a thousand diamonds." The boy whose lips had been touched with a live coal was said, by his burning speech, to have a wondrous power over the hearts of his fellows. Hearing this, I thought how grateful he must feel to the King for the inspiration of the magic gift; but, listening to one of his orations, I noticed that he made no mention of Him nor of His palace, and my guide informed me that these were subjects which he steadily ignored.

To my greater astonishment I found the youth who had received the box of instruments and the telescope discoursing to a band of students on the most glorious pictures of the larger picture-book; also on the laws by which the King's estates were held in fee, and the system by which they were kept in order, and their just balance everywhere preserved; but, though he praised the estates and praised the laws aforesaid, he denied the mind and intelligence which ran throughout them; yea, he went so far as to say that, never having seen the King, nor ever having met with any of His courtiers, nor the convicts in His outlying colony, he did not believe in their existence, but thought that the whole history of them was a myth set up by his teachers in his boyhood to persuade him into good conduct. And so with the other gifts. There were a few who sought to employ them for the King's advantage, and to give Him

thanks; but there were more who abused them, or employed them, without blushing, to His hurt. And now I saw another band of readers gathered around a third book, which they in vain tried to understand. They all wore a baffled discontented expression, and the closer was their study the greater was their confusion. The guide told me that this book could only be read by them after their presentation, and then it would have to be read backwards. He did not tell me the title, but he said that it had chronicled the reasons of various modes of education adopted by the King, with His treatment of certain of the scholars and classes of the scholars; also, besides many biographies and a calendar of crime, it contained the details of His political economy.

And now my guide, to my great delight, proposed to conduct me to the outer court of the palace, where I might, standing with the menials, catch stray sounds and glimpses of what was passing within. Strains of divine music greeted my ear; the courtiers were all robed in purest white, and the King sat amid so much light that none approached to it save with veiled faces, yet did the throne seem to be the centre to which every face turned and every footstep tended. My guide pointed out to me certain who, in the days of their