'GOD'S PEACE' 301
and her goal as day knows light. With her one can feel perfect trust. She knows neither deceit nor bye-path ; she brings with her the air which is high above town and wood. She attracts Hke an altar: one must approach her kneeling. She is Woman as she stepped forth from nature's hand, at the same time virgin and mother.
This is the impression I unconsciously got of her when, at sunrise, she stood on the steamer, and when later I saw her standing near the mill lean- ing on its resting wings. And it was in this light she appeared to me the other day.
On the paper she gave back to me I had written: 'My soul cries in longing for a mother.' Most likely she has read it, but this does not make me ashamed. She is welcome to know my heart's secret. She will neither sneer nor betray me.
Perhaps she will not appear to me again. At all events it is not likely I shall have an opportunity of speaking to her. But it seems to me I have near me an understanding friend and confederate whose silent sympathy surrounds me, one to whom I would not hesitate to go if I was in trouble. When I walk through the wood I seem to see her face smiling on me amongst the trees, and I feel glad and reassured as if I held her strong, warm hand in mine. When now and again I am attacked by disturbing thoughts and feverish desires I summon her image to defend me, and her cooling touch sets my mind at rest.
She is always with me as my patron saint.
