. Further pages of my life. say Listen ? Somehow it seemed to me that hisfriendship bade me hearken, and then upon my ears, closedto the sounds of earth, there stole heavenly music—first asa glorious choir, and then as of a single happy voice. Iheard: L listened, transported : I knew the voice. Had Inot heard it often during years of sweet fellowship ? Thegrave could not silence that voice, and I, deaf to earthssounds, heard it clear, though the roar of the traffic musthave been rolling round me. Then I knew that it wasgiven to me to hear this clear singing, so that my strickenheart might have
. Further pages of my life. say Listen ? Somehow it seemed to me that hisfriendship bade me hearken, and then upon my ears, closedto the sounds of earth, there stole heavenly music—first asa glorious choir, and then as of a single happy voice. Iheard: L listened, transported : I knew the voice. Had Inot heard it often during years of sweet fellowship ? Thegrave could not silence that voice, and I, deaf to earthssounds, heard it clear, though the roar of the traffic musthave been rolling round me. Then I knew that it wasgiven to me to hear this clear singing, so that my strickenheart might have some message of assurance. Thus, inspite of grief, restless, imperious grief, there came into myheart the sign of peace, because I had seemed to hear thatdear voice uplifted among angel voices. I think that myquiet comrade so wrought upon me that I was able to hearthis music and to accept its sweet assurance. When I looked upon him his face was still grave, almostimpressive, and yet I seemed to catch in it some marks of. \_Toface^age 304 THE AUTHOR{From a photograpJi by Lafayette) THE GREATER FRIENDSHIP 305 lingering emotion, as of one whose heart rested content insome kindness Often, often did I speak to him inthose days of my sorrow ; my mourning found incessantutterance, and pleaded with him for some sympathetic perplexities attended my life at that time. I waslike one who had to draw forth into power of use a sadlyentangled ball of string—who makes some vigorous andthoughtless effort, draws forth a clear portion, only to findthat he has drawn the meshes tighter together. And my friend . He might have looked at me withgood-natured, half-cynical amusement as he marked myefforts ; but never once did a smile of contempt or con-scious superiority cross his face. Still, as ajways, hiscountenance was one of kindly gravity and his air thatof one who waited ready to help. And in the end, it was he who unravelled and straight-ened out the tangle of my life, and
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