Whatever it was, it shone brightly in the sun until it looked like a ray
of real sunlight in the rope.
[Illustration: MAKING ROPE]
One little child said:
"It looks like a brother to the sun!"
"Perhaps it is," said Eline, and smiled.
The work grew apace. And the play grew apace, because the children
scarcely knew which was work and which was play. They seemed to have
found something better than both. Stone after stone, rock after rock,
was encircled with the cord and triumphantly drawn by that merry army of
children to the edge of the plain. Clearer and clearer grew the space.
Where before the stones had been, little pools of water formed, while
round them grew masses of beautiful flowers, among which was a new crop
of the little blue flax, stronger and better grown than any that had
been there before. Gradually there grew up a great wall of rock around
the plain where the boulders were drawn by the children, for each was
taken to its nearest boundary, as Eline told them this would be the
simplest way to clear the plain.
Some mighty rocks yet remained in the center of the plain but the
children had so seen the wisdom of their Leader that they doubted not
that these too would be removed without difficulty, although how this
was to be done they could not tell.
And as the work was nearing an end they did as their Leader bid them in
perfect trust. Actually they put their ropes around a rock which some
said was like a small mountain. They pulled with a will, but the rock
moved not.
Still they pulled willingly and with all their might, for now they had
grown strong until they scarcely knew their own powers.
From the great city, from the mountains, and from the country round
about, came sightseers and inquirers. At first they only laughed and
talked, and helped not at all. But among them came men of strange
countenance, strong men, wise in looks, men of kingly bearing.
[Illustration: CLEARING THE PLAIN]
These said: "It is not right that these children should work for ever
alone."
And they too, with strong grip of a strange sort, laid hold of the
golden ropes, seeing which, the idlers too came and helped until with a
mighty song of joy the children saw the great rock move, slowly at
first, then faster, faster, until with a run they had placed it in a far
corner of the great plain, standing like a sentinel to the North.
X
Another and yet others followed. East and South and West the unhewn
boulders stood like guardians of the plain. A circle of twelve yet
remained in the center, like giant pillars supporting the sky. But these
Eline said should stand, as also some smaller ones which were placed
across their tops like great beams resting upon a doorway. How this was
done I cannot say; but there is a saying in the city that, in the night
before they were found placed high above the giant circle, the sound of
a great and joyous song, a hymn of power, was heard like the tones of a
great bell shaking the houses with its vibrations and putting men in
fear of the destruction of their city. But at sunset the children had
not returned from the plain, so that they were not in the city when this
happened. And not until the sunrise did the people flock to the doors
and windows for a glimpse of the joyous army that marched in their
streets. Led by the men of kingly bearing the children marched, singing
a song of triumph, with such shining glory in their faces that all the
people marveled.
Tired they were, and slept; but when in the late noontide the people
asked them what had happened, all seemed like the forgotten glory of a
dream. They could remember little except that they were filled with the
joy of wonderful things which no tongue could tell.
The work had not taken one day, or two, but many days. Months and even
years had passed since the children played together in the sunshine.
Strong and sturdy lads and lasses were they now. A beautiful temple had
arisen within the giant circle, and all around it was a garden of beauty
like no garden which they had seen.
But when Eline looked amid the rare flowers and found a little purple
star with heart of gold, she knew that it was a flower from the king's
garden, and she was glad that it could grow where all was rock before.
There were great purple pansies, too, like thoughts from the palace in
which Eline had lived.
Now it was that the children came to the temple to learn of Eline, and
she taught them the wonderful truths which she knew; to them she told
the wonderful things that have been and the more wonderful things that
may be, if men will only try to bring them about.
She taught them things so simple that they often wondered why they had
not already known them without the telling. They did not know that there
was a good reason why it should be so. Eline taught them, too, how by
all working together for the welfare and progress of all, there is no
task we may not overcome.
"We know it," said the children, remembering the waste of rocks in the
plain where now the garden stood and the temple.
"Each by himself can do much, but all working together can move the
world," she said. "Now I will tell you a strange thing, which is yet
true. For we are not at all separate from any other thing in the world,
but the same nature is in us as in them--in the rocks and the flowers, in
the forests and streams, in city and mountain, in air and fire and
water, just as the rocks and this temple are of the same stone,
although they differ in shape. And if we only will, we can make all our
rocks into beautiful, glorious temples.
"When the world of men has learned this lesson the earth itself will
become a mighty temple, that the wise teachers of old, whom men call
gods, may come to us again and live with us in peace for evermore.
"And it shall be known that music is life, for in music is harmony, and
by harmony all things live, each note in its own place, doing its
perfect work, be it great or small. For this too is a brotherhood of
harmony."
Because in those days the people listened to the teachings from the
temple and to the great ones who came to dwell therein when it was
finished, and who taught the seekers after truth, through their
messenger Eline, there were happiness and joy and peace in all the land.
Men became nobler as they thought of nobler things than had hitherto
been their custom.
Seeing the beauty of the temple and the mighty work that comes of
aiding nature, working in unity and harmony, they also built their
houses to be like the temple. Stone they used for brick, beautiful they
built them within and without, and they labored to make their dwellings
fit temples for the gods. For it was said among them that sometimes
strangers would visit their city, and seeking entrance, would dwell with
them awhile where they found a welcome. And it was noticed that always
they came to such dwellings as those where the beauty and harmony of the
building showed beauty and harmony within. And when they left the house,
always there seemed to remain a memory of their presence as a ray of
light at sunset leaves a memory of joyous days and a sense of hope for
brighter days yet to come.
When this thing happened the neighbors would gather together and it was
said:
"The Master has built the house."
Then the great beam which rested on the pillars of the doors was lifted
and where it had stood was built an arch of stone. And last of all was
dropped in place the keystone which held the arch, and there was great
rejoicing, for the people said: "The house is finished." Some there were
who would have lifted the beam and built the arch, but unless the Master
had been in the house, always some accident would occur and the house be
destroyed.
In the center of the arch was placed a great light which was ever kept
burning, for it was fed with oil of gold which never burns away, but
whose smoke ever turns to oil again. Each light was like the greater
light which ever shone from the dome of the temple, a light to lighten
all around, such light as it was said went out to the world from the
temple itself in the knowledge of the laws of life and of all things
good and great and beautiful. Never was the light to be put out, lest
harm should come. Day and night it was held a sacred duty to guard the
light.
When that light shone there was peace and plenty in the land, for
fellowship made life joyful. Some called that glorious time the Golden
Age; some there are even now among us who will to bring that golden age
again to earth as then, through brotherhood and the joy of life, that
misery shall not always be among us, nor poverty, sorrow, and pain.