A SHOP IN HEAVEN.
"Uncle," said Rachel, "may I read your visions of the shops in
heaven?"
"Oh no, Rachel. You are not able to read to-night," said her uncle
deprecatingly.
"I think I am, uncle. I should like to try. It will let the
gentlemen see what you WOULD think an ideal state of things.--It is
something, Mr. Wingfold, my uncle once dictated to me, and I wrote
down just as he said it. He can always do better dictating than
writing, but this time he was so ill with asthma that he could not
talk much faster than I could write; and yet to be so ill I never
saw him show so little suffering; his thinking seemed to make him
forget it.--Mayn't I read it, uncle? I know the gentlemen would
like to hear it."
"That we should," said both men at once.
"I will fetch it you then," said Polwarth, "if you will tell me
where to find it."
Rachel gave him the needful directions, and presently he brought a
few sheets of paper, and handed them to her.
"This is no dream, Mr. Wingfold," he said. "It is something I
thought fairly out before I began to dictate it. But the only fit
form I could find for it was that of a vision--like the Vision of
Mirza, you know.--Now read, Rachel, and I will hold my tongue."
After a little arranging of the sheets, Rachel began. She read not
without difficulty, but her pleasure in what she read helped her
through.
"'And now, said my guide to me, I will bring thee to a city of the
righteous, and show thee how they buy and sell in this the kingdom
of heaven. So we journeyed a day and another day and half a day, and
I was weary ere we arrived thither. But when I saw the loveliness of
the place, and drew in the healing air thereof, my weariness
vanished as a dream of the night, and I said, IT IS WELL.--I may not
now speak of the houses and the dress and the customs of the
dwellers therein, save what may belong to the buying and selling of
which I have spoken. Gladly would I tell of the streams that went,
some noiselessly gliding, others gurgling, some sweeping, some
rushing and roaring, through every street, all issuing from one
right plenteous fountain in the middle of the city, so that the ear
was for ever filled with the sound of many waters all the day,
ceasing when the night came, that silence might have its perfect
work upon the soul. Gladly too would I tell of the trees and flowers
and grass that grew in every street along the banks of the rivers.
But I must withhold.
"'After I had, I know not for how long, refreshed my soul with what
it was thus given, me to enjoy,--for in all that country there is no
such thing as haste, no darting from one thing to another, but a
calm eternal progress in which unto the day the good thereof is
sufficient--one great noon-day, my conductor led me into a large
place, such as we would call a shop here, although the arrangements
were different, and an air of stateliness dwelt in and around the
house. It was filled with the loveliest silken and woollen stuffs,
of all kinds and colours, a thousand delights to the eye--and to the
thought also, for here was endless harmony, and no discord.
"'I stood in the midst, and my guide stood by me in silence; for all
the time I was in the country, he seldom spoke to me save when first
I asked of him, and yet he never showed any weariness, and often a
half-smile would dwell for a moment upon his countenance.
"'And first I watched the faces of them that sold; and I could read
therein--for be it understood that, according to the degree of his
own capacity, a man there could perfectly read the countenance of
every neighbour, that is, unless it expressed something that was not
in himself--and I could read in them nothing of eagerness, only the
calm of a concentrated ministration. There was no seeking there, but
a strength of giving, a business-like earnestness to supply lack,
enlivened by no haste, and dulled by no weariness, brightened ever
by the reflected content of those who found their wants supplied. As
soon as one buyer was contented they turned graciously to another,
and gave ear until they perfectly understood with what object he had
come to seek their aid. Nor did their countenances change utterly as
they turned away, for upon them lingered the satisfaction as of one
who hath had a success, and by degrees melted into the supervening
content.
"'Then I turned to watch the countenances of them that bought.--And
there in like manner I saw no cupidity and no meanness. They spake
humbly, yet not because they sought a favour, but because they were
humble, for with their humility was mingled the confidence of
receiving that they sought. And truly it was a pleasure to see how
everyone knew what his desire was, making his choice readily and
with decision. I perceived also that everyone spoke not merely
respectfully, but gratefully, to him who served him. And at meeting
and parting such kindly though brief greetings passed as made me
wonder whether every inhabitant of such a mighty city could know
every other that dwelt therein. But I soon saw that it came not of
individual knowledge, but of universal faith and all-embracing love.
"'And as I stood and watched, suddenly it came into my mind that I
had never yet seen the coin of the country, and thereupon I kept my
eyes upon a certain woman who bought silk, that when she paid for
the same I might see the money. But that which she had largely
bought she took in her arms and carried away, and paid not.
Therefore I turned to watch another, who bought for a long journey,
but when he carried away that he bought, neither did he pay any
money. And I said to myself, These are well-known persons, to whom
it is more convenient to pay all at a certain season; and I turned
to a third who bought much fine linen. But behold! he paid not. Then
I began to observe again those that sold; whereupon I thought with
myself, How good must be the air of this land for the remembrance of
things! for these men write down nothing to keep on record the
moneys men owe them on all sides. And I looked and looked again and
yet again, and stood long watching--but so it was throughout the
whole place, which thronged and buzzed and swarmed like the busiest
of bee-hives--no man paid, and no man had a book wherein to write
that which the other owed!
"'Then I turned to my guide and said: How lovely is honesty! and
truly from what a labour it absolveth men! for here I see every man
keepeth in his mind his own debts, and not the debts of others, so
that time is not spent in paying of small sums, neither in the
keeping of account of such; but he that buyeth counteth up, and
doubtless when the day of reckoning arrives, each cometh and casteth
the money he oweth into the merchant's coffer, and both are
satisfied.
"'Then my conductor smiled, and said, Watch yet a while.
"'And I did as he said unto me, and stood and watched. But the same
thing went on everywhere; and I said to myself, Lo, I see nothing
new!--Suddenly, at my side, a man dropped upon his knees, and bowed
his head to the ground. And those that stood nigh him dropped also
upon their knees, and there arose a sound as of soft thunder; and
lo! everyone in the place had dropped upon his knees, and spread his
hands out before him. Every voice and every noise was hushed, every
movement had ceased, and I and my guide alone were left standing.
"'Then I whispered in his ear, It is the hour of prayer: shall we
not kneel also? And my guide answered, No man in this city kneeleth
because others do, and no man is judged if he kneeleth not. If thou
hast any grief or pain upon thee, then kneel; if not, then love God
in thy heart and be thankful, and kneel when thou goest into thy
chamber. Then said I, I will not kneel, but will watch and see.--It
is well, said my guide; and I stood.
"'For certain moments all was utter stillness--every man and woman
kneeling, with hands outstretched, save him who had first kneeled,
and his hands hung by his sides and his head was still bowed to the
earth. At length he rose up, and lo! his face was wet with tears;
and all the people rose also, and with a noise throughout the place;
and the man made a low obeisance to them that were nigh him, the
which they returned with equal reverence, and then with downcast
eyes he walked slowly from the shop. The moment he was gone, the
business of the place, without a word of remark on any side
concerning what had passed, began again and went on as before.
People came and went, some more eager and outward, some more staid
and inward, but all contented and cheerful. At length a bell
somewhere rang sweet and shrill, and after that no one entered the
place, and what was in progress began to be led to a decorous
conclusion. In three or four minutes the floor was empty, and the
people also of the shop had gone, each about his own affairs,
without shutting door or window.
"'I went out last with my guide, and we seated ourselves under a
tree of the willow-kind on the bank of one of the quieter streams,
and straightway I began to question him. Tell me, sir, I said, the
purport of what I have seen, for not yet have I understood how these
happy people do their business and pass from hand to hand not a
single coin I And he answered, Where greed and ambition and
self-love rule, money must be: where there is neither greed nor
ambition nor self-love, money is needless. And I asked, Is it then
by the same ancient mode of barter that they go about their affairs?
Truly I saw no exchange of any sort.--Bethink thee, said my guide,
if thou hadst gone into any other shop throughout the whole city,
thou wouldst have seen the same thing. I see not how that should
make the matter plainer to me, I answered.--Where neither greed nor
ambition nor selfishness reigneth, said my guide, there need and
desire have free scope, for they work no evil.--But even now I
understand you not, sir, I said.--Hear me then, answered my guide,
for I will speak to thee more plainly. Wherefore do men take money
in their hands when they go where things are?--Because they may not
have the things without giving the money.--And where they may have
things without giving money, there they take no money in their
hands?--Truly no, sir, if there be such a place.--Then such a place
is this, and so is it here.--But how can men give of their goods
and receive nought in return?--By receiving everything in return.
Tell me, said my guide, why do men take money for their goods?--That
they may have wherewithal to go and buy other things which they need
for themselves.--But if they also may go to this place or that
place where the things are the which they need, and receive of those
things without money and without price, is there then good cause why
they should take money in their hands?--Truly no, I answered; and I
begin, methinks, to see how the affair goeth. Yet are there some
things still whereupon I would gladly be resolved. And first of all,
how cometh it that men are moved to provide these and those goods for
the supply of the wants of their neighbours, when they are drawn thereto
by no want in themselves, and no advantage to themselves?--Thou reasonest,
said my guide, as one of thine own degree, who to the eyes of the
full-born ever look like chrysalids, closed round in a web of their
own weaving; and who shall blame thee until thou thyself shinest within
thyself? Understand that it is never advantage to himself that moveth
a man in this kingdom to undertake this or that. The thing that alone
advantageth a man here is the thing which he doth without thought unto
that advantage. To your world, this world goeth by contraries. The man
here that doeth most service, that aideth others the most to the
obtaining of their honest desires, is the man who standeth highest
with the Lord of the place, and his reward and honour is, to be enabled
to the spending of himself yet more for the good of his fellows. There
goeth a rumour amongst us even now that one shall ere long be ripe for
the carrying of a message from the King to the spirits that are in
prison. Thinkest thou it is a less potent stirring up of thought and
energy to desire and seek and find the things that will please the
eye, and cheer the brain, and gladden the heart of the people of
this great city, so that when one prayeth, 'Give me, friend, of thy
loaves,' a man may answer, 'Take of them, friend, as many as thou
needest'--is that, I say, an incentive to diligence less potent
than the desire to hoard or to excel? Is it not to share the bliss
of God who hoardeth nothing, but ever giveth liberally? The joy of a
man here is to enable another to lay hold upon that which is of his
own kind and be glad and grow thereby--doctrine strange and
unbelievable to the man in whom the well of life is yet sealed.
Never have they been many at a time in the old world who could thus
enter into the joy of their Lord. And yet, if thou bethink thee,
thou wilt perceive that such bliss is not unknown amongst thy
fellows. Knowest thou no musician who would find it joy enough for a
night, to scale the tower of a hundred bells, and send the great
meteors of music-light flying over the care-tortured city? Would
everyone even of thy half-created race reason with himself and say:
Truly it is in the night, and no one can see who it is that
ministereth; the sounds alone will go forth nor bear my image; I
shall reap no honour; I will not rise and go? Thou knowest, I say,
some in thy world who would not speak thus in their hearts, but
would willingly consent to be as nothing, so to give life to their
fellows. In this city so is it with all--in shop or workshop, in
study or theatre, all seek to spend and be spent for the lovely all.
--And I said, One thing tell me, sir--how much a man may have for
the asking.--What he will--that is, what he can well use.--Who then
shall be the judge thereof?--Who but the man himself?--What if he
should turn to greed, and begin to hoard and spare?--Sawest thou not
the man this day because of whom all business ceased for a time?--to
that man had come a thought of accumulation instead of growth, and
he dropped upon his knees in shame and terror. And thou sawest how
all business ceased, and straightway that of the shop was made what
below they call a church; for everyone hastened to the poor man's
help, the air was filled with praying breath, and the atmosphere of
God-loving souls was around him; the foul thought fled, and the man
went forth glad and humble, and to-morrow he will return for that
which he needeth. If thou shouldst be present then, thou wilt see
him more tenderly ministered unto than all the rest.--And if such a
man prayed not?--If such a man slept ere he repented, he would wake
with hatred in his heart towards the city and everyone therein, and
would straightway flee into the wilderness. And the angel of the
Lord would go out after him, and smite him with a word, and he would
vanish from amongst us, and his life would be the life of one of
those least of living things that are in your world born of the
water; and there must he grow up again, crawling through the
channels of thousand-folded difference, from animal to animal, until
at length a human brain be given him, and after generations he
become once again capable of being born of the spirit into the
kingdom of liberty. Then shall all his past life open upon him, and
in shame and dismay will he repent a thousand-fold, and will sin no
more. Such, at least, are thoughts of our wise men upon the matter;
but truly we know not.--It is good, I said. But how are men guided
as to what lies to them to provide for the general good?--Every man
doeth what thing he can, and the more his labour is desired, the
more he rejoices.--If a man should desire that he could no where
find in the city?--Then would he straightway do his endeavour to
provide that thing for all in the city who might after him desire
the same.--Now, sir, methinks I know and understand, I answered. And
we rose and went farther.'"
"I think that COULD be!" said the curate, breaking the silence that
followed when Rachel ceased.
"Not in this world," said the draper.
"To doubt that it COULD be," said the gatekeeper, "would be to doubt
whether the kingdom of heaven is a chimera or a divine idea."