Melchiors Dream and Other Tales | Page 9

the
crowd, he recognized his clever untidy brother.
"'What is that man talking about?' he asked of some one near him.
"'That man!' was the answer. 'Don't you know? He is the man of the
time. He is a philosopher. Everybody goes to hear him. He has found
out that--well--that everything is a mistake.'

"'Has he corrected it?' said Melchior.
"'You had better hear for yourself,' said the man. 'Listen.'
"Melchior listened, and a cold clear voice rang upon his ear, saying:--
"'The world of fools will go on as they have ever done; but to the wise
few, to whom I address myself, I would say--Shake off at once and for
ever the fancies and feelings, the creeds and customs that shackle you,
and be true. We have come to a time when wise men will not be led
blindfold in the footsteps of their predecessors, but will tear away the
bandage and see for themselves. I have torn away mine, and looked.
There is no Faith--it is shaken to its rotten foundation; there is no
Hope--it is disappointed every day; there is no Love at all. There is
nothing for any man or for each, but his fate; and he is happiest and
wisest who can meet it most unmoved.'
"'It is a lie!' shouted Melchior. 'I feel it to be so in my heart. A wicked
foolish lie! Oh! was it to teach such evil folly as this that you left home
and us, my brother? Oh, come back! come back!'
"The philosopher turned his head coldly, and smiled. 'I thank the
gentleman who spoke,' he said, still in the same cold voice, 'for his bad
opinion, and for his good wishes. I think the gentleman spoke of home
and kindred. My experience of life has led me to find that home is most
valued when it is left, and kindred most dear when they are parted. I
have happily freed myself from such inconsistencies. I am glad to know
that fate can tear me from no place that I care for more than the next
where it shall deposit me, nor take away any friends that I value more
than those it leaves. I recommend a similar self-emancipation to the
gentleman who did me the honour of speaking.'
"With this the philosopher went his way, and the crowd followed him.
"'There is a separation more bitter than death,' said Melchior.
"At last he pulled the check-string, and called to Godfather Time in an
humble entreating voice.

"'It is not your fault,' he began; 'it is not your fault, Godfather; but this
drive has been altogether wrong. Let us turn back and begin again. Let
us all get in afresh and begin again.'
"'But what a squeeze with all the brats!' said Godfather Time,
ironically.
"'We should be so happy,' murmured Melchior, humbly; 'and it is very
cold and chilly; we should keep each other warm.'
"'You have the tiger-skin rug and the opera-glass, you know,' said
Time.
"'Ah, do not speak of me!' cried Melchior, earnestly. 'I am thinking of
them. There is plenty of room; the little one can sit on my knee; and we
shall be so happy. The truth is, Godfather, that I have been wrong. I
have gone the wrong way to work. A little more love, and kindness,
and forbearance, might have kept my sisters with us, might have led the
little one to better tastes and pleasures, and have taught the other by
experience the truth of the faith and hope and love which he now
reviles. Oh, I have sinned! I have sinned! Let us turn back, Godfather
Time, and begin again. And oh! drive very slowly, for partings come
only too soon.'
"'I am sorry,' said the old man in the same bitter tone as before, 'to
disappoint your rather unreasonable wishes. What you say is admirably
true, with this misfortune, that your good intentions are too late. Like
the rest of the world you are ready to seize the opportunity when it is
past. You should have been kind then. You should have advised then.
You should have yielded then. You should have loved your brothers
and sisters while you had them. It is too late now.'
"With this he drove on, and spoke no more, and poor Melchior stared
sadly out of the window. As he was gazing at the crowd, he suddenly
saw the dog-cart, in which were his brother and his wretched
companions. Oh, how old and worn he looked! and how ragged his
clothes were! The men seemed to be trying to persuade him to do
something that he did not like, and they began to quarrel; but in the

midst of the dispute he turned his head and caught sight of the old
coach; and