The Story of the Innumerable Company | Page 5

It is
not for us to imitate him in the fashion of his coat or the cut of his
beard. He went over the road giving help and comfort, as the sun gives
light or the flowers shed fragrance, all unconscious of the good he did."
And in this wise did many imitate him. They turned aside the boughs of
the trees, that the sunshine of heaven might fall upon their neighbors.
And behold, the same sunshine fell upon them also. They removed the
stones from the road, that others might not stumble over them. And
others removed the stones from their way also.
But many were still in doubt and hesitation. The record, they said, was
not explicit enough. They counseled together, and gathered in bands,
and chose leaders who should tell them how to feel. And the leaders
gave close heed to all his feelings and to the times and seasons proper
to each. Here he was joyous, and at a signal all the baud broke into
merry laughter. Here he was stern, and the multitude set its teeth. There
he wept, and tears fell like rain from innumerable eyes.
As time went on, repeated action made action easy. The springs of

feeling were readily troubled. Still each one felt, or tried to feel, all that
he should have felt. No one dared admit to his fellows that his tears
were a sham, his joy a pretense, his sadness a lie. But often, in the
bottom of their hearts, men would confess with real tears that they had
no genuine feeling there.
Then the people asked for leaders who could bring out real feelings.
And there arose leaders, who, by terrible words, could fill the hearts
with fear; by burning words, could stir the embers of zeal; by the
intensity of their own passions, could fill the throng with pity, with
sorrow, or with indignation. And the multitude hung on their lips; for
they sought for feelings real and not simulated.
But here again division arose; for not all were touched alike by those
who had power over the hearts of men. Some followed the leader who
moved them to tears; others chose him who filled them with fear and
trembling. Still others loved to linger in the dark shadow of remorse.
Some said that right emotions were roused by loud and ringing tones.
Some said that the tones should be sad and sweet.
Then there were some who said that feelings such as all these were idle
and common. When he trod the way of old, it was with radiant eyes and
with uplifted heart. He saw through the veil of clouds to the glory
which lay beyond. We follow him best when we too are uplifted. Now
and then on the way come to us moments of exultation, when we tread
in his very footsteps. These are the precious moments; then our way is
his way. In the rosy mists of morning, we may behold the glory which
encompassed him. In moments of silent communion in the forest, we
may feel his peace steal over us. In the gentle rain that falls upon the
just and the unjust, we may know the soft pity of his tears. When the
sun declines, its last rays touch with gold the far-off mountain tops
beyond the great river.
And the uplifting of great moments, filling the souls of men with peace
that passeth understanding, came to many. As they went their way, this
peace fell upon their neighbors also. And no man did aught to make
them afraid. And others sought to go with these, and thus they became
a great band.

So they chose as their leaders those whose visions were brightest. And
they made for themselves a banner like the white mist flung out from
the mountain-tops at the rising of the sun. They spoke much to each
other concerning the white banner and the peace which filled their
souls.
But as they journeyed along, the dust of the way dimmed the banner,
and the bright visions one by one faded away. At last they came no
more.
Then the people murmured and called upon the leaders to grant them
some brighter vision, something that all could see and feel at
once--some sign by which they might know that they were still in his
way. "Cause that a path be opened through the thicket," they said, "and
let a white dove come forth to lead us on; or, let the mists beyond the
river part for a moment, that we may behold the far country beyond."
And one of the leaders standing at the head of the column, clothed in
the morning light as with a garment, raised his staff high in the air. The
sun's rays fell upon