Lilith

the possibility exist of such a discord between constitution and its natural outcome! Life and law cannot be so
at variance that perfection must be gained by thwarting development! But the growth of the Little Ones WAS
arrested! something interfered with it: what was it? Lona seemed the eldest of them, yet not more than fifteen,
and had been long in charge of a multitude, in semblance and mostly in behaviour merest children, who
regarded her as their mother! Were they growing at all? I doubted it. Of time they had scarcely the idea; of
their own age they knew nothing! Lona herself thought she had lived always! Full of wisdom and empty of
knowledge, she was at once their Love and their Law! But what seemed to me her ignorance might in truth be
my own lack of insight! Her one anxiety plainly was, that her Little Ones should not grow, and change into
bad giants! Their "good giant" was bound to do his best for them: without more knowledge of their nature,
and some knowledge of their history, he could do nothing, and must therefore leave them! They would only
be as they were before; they had in no way become dependent on me; they were still my protectors, I was not
theirs; my presence but brought them more in danger of their idiotic neighbours! I longed to teach them many
things: I must first understand more of those I would teach! Knowledge no doubt made bad people worse, but
it must make good people better! I was convinced they would learn mathematics; and might they not be
taught to write down the dainty melodies they murmured and forgot?
The conclusion was, that I must rise and continue my travels, in the hope of coming upon some elucidation of
the fortunes and destiny of the bewitching little creatures.
My design, however, would not so soon have passed into action, but for what now occurred.
To prepare them for my temporary absence, I was one day telling them while at work that I would long ago
have left the bad giants, but that I loved the Little Ones so much−−when, as by one accord, they came rushing
and crowding upon me; they scrambled over each other and up the tree and dropped on my head, until I was
nearly smothered. With three very little ones in my arms, one on each shoulder clinging to my neck, one
standing straight up on my head, four or five holding me fast by the legs, others grappling my body and arms,
and a multitude climbing and descending upon these, I was helpless as one overwhelmed by lava. Absorbed
in the merry struggle, not one of them saw my tyrant coming until he was almost upon me. With just one cry
of "Take care, good giant!" they ran from me like mice, they dropped from me like hedgehogs, they flew
from me up the tree like squirrels, and the same moment, sharp round the stem came the bad giant, and dealt
me such a blow on the head with a stick that I fell to the ground. The children told me afterwards that they
sent him "such a many bumps of big apples and stones" that he was frightened, and ran blundering home.
When I came to myself it was night. Above me were a few pale stars that expected the moon. I thought I was
alone. My head ached badly, and I was terribly athirst.
I turned wearily on my side. The moment my ear touched the ground, I heard the gushing and gurgling of
water, and the soft noises made me groan with longing. At once I was amid a multitude of silent children, and
delicious little fruits began to visit my lips. They came and came until my thirst was gone.
Then I was aware of sounds I had never heard there before; the air was full of little sobs.
I tried to sit up. A pile of small bodies instantly heaped itself at my back. Then I struggled to my feet, with
much pushing and pulling from the Little Ones, who were wonderfully strong for their size.
"You must go away, good giant," they said. "When the bad giants see you hurt, they will all trample on you."
"I think I must," I answered.
"Go and grow strong, and come again," they said.
Lilith
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