Chapter the Twenty-sixth.

ACH citizen, at Aleph's bidding, returned to his home; and when news was brought him that the enemy was in sight, Aleph bade them all go to their work, as though they cared not for the coming.

So, when the armed foes poured down upon the city, they found the ramparts deserted and the gates open. And, as they entered in hostile array, their trumpets sounding defiance, and their swords ready to repel the citizens, they looked round for the troops, and they saw the husbandman at his plough, and the shepherd tending his flock; and they heard the blacksmith busy at his anvil, and the peasant-girl at her churn; while old women sat in the sunshine, plying the spinning-wheel, or with their children's children at their feet, threading the needle for them.

And, as the soldiers paced along, the weaver stopped his loom, and peeped from his window for a minute at the show, and then plied the shuttle as before; the laborer rested on his spade for awhile, and then, turning from the sight, dug on again; and the water-carrier stopped on his rounds, to offer to the tired troops a draught of cool drink from the skins he bore. Mothers brought out their babes to hear the music, while housewives stood at their doors, with plates of fruit and sweetmeats wherewith to feast the wearied enemies; girls ran out to see the pretty flags and glittering armor, and boys marched fearlessly by the side of the hostile troops in mimic rank and file.

As the amazed enemy tramped along, they asked of the heedless passers-by, "Where are your soldiers?" "We have none;" was the answer.r.—" But we have come to take the town!" they cried. "Well, friends, it lies before you, take it," was the calm reply.

"Is there no one to defend it? No one to fight?" inquired the leader." No one! we live in peace here with all men," returned the careless passengers, and moved on.

And when the army had reached the palace, Aleph himself came forth to meet and welcome them. Again they cried, "We come to take your town! Is there nobody that thinks it worth the fighting for?" But still the answer was, "No! we live in peace here with all men."

Then the chieftains were perplexed; and they

cried, "If there is nobody to fight with, verily, there can be no fighting;" and the people looked with wonder at one another, for they remembered the prophetic words of the Martyr-Dwarf.

Then Aleph, seeing the abashed army about to depart, besought them that they would enter and rest their tired limbs, and break bread, ere they went their way.

So the armed host, finding themselves received as friends, refused to act as enemies, and they remained for awhile as the welcome guests of those whose town they had come to sack and pillage.*

And, when the invading host had left, Aleph swore an oath, never again to raise his hand in war or anger against his fellow-man, now that he had learnt that the kiss was a mightier weapon than the blow.

Then he sought out Anthy, and, throwing himself at her feet, begged of her, by the charity of the creed that Huan had taught them all-and he, alas! had learned too late-to forgive and love him-her bitterest enemy.

And he wept as though his heart would break. Anthy bade him rise, saying, "She forgave him as she hoped to be herself forgiven-and she promised him, moreover, that the struggle of her life should be to love him too. For if ever she could force herself to look with affection on him again, then she

* L. M. Child's account of the "bomb-proof town," in the Tyrol.

would know," she said, "how truly the spirit within her had triumphed over the promptings of the flesh." And Aleph besought her that she would remain with Evöe, and be ever near, to watch over him, so that, by her sweet counseling, she might strengthen him in the kind

ly creed, and teach him,
even in his angry mo-

ments to have faith

in the SPIRIT OF

KINDNESS.