What is your worth, O world, to the Angels of God and me!

He sang this quite suddenly, his rich baritone pealing out musically on the warm silent air. I listened entranced.

“What a voice you have!” I exclaimed—“What a glorious gift!”

He smiled, and sang on, his dark eyes flashing—

O wild world! Mote in a burning ray

Flung from the spherical Heavens millions of spaces away—

Sink in the ether or soar! Live with the planets or die!—

What should I care for your fate, who am one with the Infinite Sky!

“What strange song is that?” I asked, startled and thrilled by the passion of his voice—“It seems to mean nothing!”

He laughed, and took my arm.