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11

A Vision

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George MacDonald

“Uncle,” said Rachel, “may I read your visions of the shops in heaven?”

“Oh no, Rachel. You are not able to read tonight,” said her uncle deprecatingly.

“I think I am, uncle. I should like to try. It will let the gentlemen see what you would think an ideal state of things.

“Mr. Wingfold, it is something my uncle once dictated to me, and I wrote down just as he said it. He can always do better dictating than writing, but this time he was so ill with asthma that he could not talk much faster than I could write; and yet to be so ill I never saw him show so little suffering; his thinking seemed to make him forget it.

“Mayn’t I read it, uncle? I know the gentlemen would like to hear it.”

“That we should,” said both men at once.

“I will fetch it you then,” said Polwarth, “if you will tell me where to find it.” Rachel gave him the needful directions, and presently he brought a few sheets of paper and handed them to her.

“This is no dream, Mr. Wingfold,” he said. “It is something I thought fairly out before I began to dictate it. But the only fit form I could find for it was that of a vision – like the Vision of Mirza, you know. Now read, Rachel, and I will hold my tongue.”

After a little arranging of the sheets, Rachel began. She read not without difficulty, but her pleasure in what she read helped her through.

“And now,” said my guide to me, “I will bring thee to a city of the righteous, and show thee how they buy and sell in this the kingdom of heaven.” So we journeyed a day and another day and half a day, and I was weary ere we arrived thither. . . .

. . . One great noon-day, my conductor led me into a large place, such as we would call a shop here, although the arrangements were different, and an air of stateliness dwelt in and around the house. It was filled with the loveliest silken and woolen stuffs, of all kinds and colors, a thousand delights to the eye – and to the thought also, for here was endless harmony, and no discord.

I stood in the midst, and my guide stood by me in silence; for all the time I was in the country, he seldom spoke to me save when first I asked of him, and yet he never showed any weariness, and often a half-smile would dwell for a moment upon his countenance.

And first I watched the faces of them that sold; and I could read therein – for be it understood that, according to the degree of his own capacity, a man there could perfectly read the countenance of every neighbor, that is, unless it expressed something that was not in himself – and I could read in them nothing of eagerness, only the calm of a concentrated ministration. There was no seeking there, but a strength of giving, a business-like earnestness to supply lack, enlivened by no haste, and dulled by no weariness, brightened ever by the reflected content of those who found their wants supplied. As soon as one buyer was contented they turned graciously to another, and gave ear until they perfectly understood with what object he had come to seek their aid. Nor did their countenances change utterly as they turned away, for upon them lingered the satisfaction as of one who hath had a success, and by degrees melted into the supervening content.

Then I turned to watch the countenances of them that bought. And there in like manner I saw no cupidity and no meanness. They spake humbly, yet not because they sought a favor, but because they were humble, for with their humility was mingled the confidence of receiving that which they sought. And truly it was a pleasure to see how everyone knew what his desire was, making his choice readily and with decision. I perceived also that everyone spoke not merely respectfully, but gratefully, to him who served him. And at meeting and parting such kindly though brief greetings passed as made me wonder whether every inhabitant of such a mighty city could know every other that dwelt therein. But I soon saw that it came not of individual knowledge, but of universal faith and all-embracing love.

And as I stood and watched, suddenly it came into my mind that I had never yet seen the coin of the country, and thereupon I kept my eyes upon a certain woman who bought silk, that when she paid for the same I might see the money. But that which she had largely bought she took in her arms and carried away, and paid not. Therefore I turned to watch another, who bought for a long journey, but when he carried away what he bought, neither did he pay any money. And I said to myself, “These are well-known persons, to whom it is more convenient to pay all at a certain season.” And I turned to a third who bought much fine linen. But behold, he paid not! Then I began to observe again those that sold; whereupon I thought with myself, “How good must be the air of this land for the remembrance of things, for these men write down nothing to keep on record the moneys men owe them on all sides!” And I looked and looked again and yet again, and stood long watching – but so it was throughout the whole place, which thronged and buzzed and swarmed like the busiest of beehives – no man paid, and no man had a book wherein to write that which the other owed!

Then I turned to my guide and said: “How lovely is honesty, and truly from what a labor it absolveth men! For here I see every man keepeth in his mind his own debts, and not the debts of others, so that time is not spent in paying of small sums, neither in the keeping of account of such; but he that buyeth counteth up, and doubtless when the day of reckoning arrives, each cometh and casteth the money he oweth into the merchant’s coffer, and both are satisfied.”

Then my conductor smiled and said, “Watch yet a while.”