Lilith

Little Ones, from a crowd of children, speedily become a youthful people, whose government and influence
would be all for righteousness? Ruling the wicked with a rod of iron, would they not be the redemption of the
nation?
At the same time, I have to confess that I was not without views of personal advantage, not without ambition
in the undertaking. It was just, it seemed to me, that Lona should take her seat on the throne that had been her
mother's, and natural that she should make of me her consort and minister. For me, I would spend my life in
her service; and between us, what might we not do, with such a core to it as the Little Ones, for the
development of a noble state?
I confess also to an altogether foolish dream of opening a commerce in gems between the two
worlds−−happily impossible, for it could have done nothing but harm to both.
Calling to mind the appeal of Adam, I suggested to Lona that to find them water might perhaps expedite the
growth of the Little Ones. She judged it prudent, however, to leave that alone for the present, as we did not
know what its first consequences might be; while, in the course of time, it would almost certainly subject
them to a new necessity.
"They are what they are without it!" she said: "when we have the city, we will search for water!"
We began, therefore, and pushed forward our preparations, constantly reviewing the merry troops and
companies. Lona gave her attention chiefly to the commissariat, while I drilled the little soldiers, exercised
them in stone−throwing, taught them the use of some other weapons, and did all I could to make warriors of
them. The main difficulty was to get them to rally to their flag the instant the call was sounded. Most of them
were armed with slings, some of the bigger boys with bows and arrows. The bigger girls carried aloe−spikes,
strong as steel and sharp as needles, fitted to longish shafts−−rather formidable weapons. Their sole duty was
the charge of such as were too small to fight.
Lona had herself grown a good deal, but did not seem aware of it: she had always been, as she still was, the
tallest! Her hair was much longer, and she was become almost a woman, but not one beauty of childhood had
she outgrown. When first we met after our long separation, she laid down her infant, put her arms round my
neck, and clung to me silent, her face glowing with gladness: the child whimpered; she sprang to him, and
had him in her bosom instantly. To see her with any thoughtless, obstinate, or irritable little one, was to think
of a tender grandmother. I seemed to have known her for ages−−for always−−from before time began! I
hardly remembered my mother, but in my mind's eye she now looked like Lona; and if I imagined sister or
child, invariably she had the face of Lona! My every imagination flew to her; she was my heart's wife! She
hardly ever sought me, but was almost always within sound of my voice. What I did or thought, I referred
constantly to her, and rejoiced to believe that, while doing her work in absolute independence, she was most
at home by my side. Never for me did she neglect the smallest child, and my love only quickened my sense of
duty. To love her and to do my duty, seemed, not indeed one, but inseparable. She might suggest something I
should do; she might ask me what she ought to do; but she never seemed to suppose that I, any more than she,
would like to do, or could care about anything except what must be done. Her love overflowed upon me−−not
in caresses, but in a closeness of recognition which I can compare to nothing but the devotion of a divine
animal.
I never told her anything about her mother.
Lilith
The wood was full of birds, the splendour of whose plumage, while it took nothing from their song, seemed
almost to make up for the lack of flowers−−which, apparently, could not grow without water. Their glorious
feathers being everywhere about in the forest, it came into my heart to make from them a garment for Lona.
While I gathered, and bound them in overlapping rows, she watched me with evident appreciation of my
Lilith 109