Against the Current Part 16

Seventh, that he who wishes to enter into fellows.h.i.+p with the nation or race with which he lives must free himself from all isolating practices and beliefs.

Eighth, that entrance into such a large human relations.h.i.+p has to be "bought with a price" and that it is a price worth paying; for there is no loftier human experience than that of becoming one with all mankind.

To those who do not consider a book worth reading, unless it "ends well," let me say this: If a good fairy were to come from the fairy-land of my childhood (of course I had a fairy-land) and were to ask me, as she always asked the children in the stories I used to read, that I make three wishes, and she would grant them all, I could make but one wish.

Not for wealth, although I could use it; not for strength, although I need it; not for wisdom, although I lack it. My one wish, and this the fairies cannot grant me, would be, that I may have grace given me to be a man to the end, and to the end, love my brother man with all the pa.s.sion of my soul.