A Day with the Sea Urchins. 85 ,

 

a very happy thing for those who do so hear and
understand her.

Jasper knew all about it. He knew many Ans this
dear wonderful Sea Urchin of mine. I felt sure that he
must have had some great sorrow to bear himself, in
spite of all his fun; for poets, and artists too, and, in
fact, every one who really teaches others, must have
learnt everything that they teach, with pain and trouble
to themselves.

You children all know this, I am sure, for are you
not learning something all day long, even at your play?
You must find out everything by the pain or trouble
of experience. It must be so, in one way or another,
all through your lives in this world, and then, sooner or
later, when all your lessons are learnt, you know that
you will have to go through the dark and pain of
death, before you get into the beautiful and glorious
light which shines beyond.

Jasper knew all this, I am sure. The name of the
stone—the blood-red jasper—by which I have called
him, means suffering. Some day I will tell you the
signification of the twelve other precious stones also,
unless in the meantime you find them out for your-
selves.

After a time the little boat, with its sorrowful crew,
who had given up their fruitless search, turned and
_ vowed towards the shore in the quiet sunset, and then