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ation through the ages ; when he thought of all
the people who had lived with sin and fought against
it, just as he did, all without help and without result,
then he was oppressed. And when he thought of
why it had to be that sin was passed on to children
who had done nothing to deserve such a burden,
then he was frightened. Then there must be in-
justice, that children should still have to suffer for
the sinfulness of the first man. He knew it was
wrong to think thus, that it was rebellion against
God. But how could he help that, if he himself had
not made his sinfulness ? If he was already burdened
before he had done anything wrong ? He contem-
plated all these questions and found no answer, and
feared what it would lead to. And perpetually he
would say to himself, again and again : c The will is
there, but not the power.*
People saw him walking with bowed head ; the
neighbours said : * That boy is repentant; he'll
turn out well in the end.' It seemed, too, as though
he were at peace, for, except to go on errands, he
never left the house. The neighbours opposite
could see him in his room, sitting at the table with
his head resting on his hand ; it was amazing how
long he could sit motionless.
He lived in a state of tension too great for his
years, forcing himself to think how he could escape
from his wickedness until he was past understanding
anything and could do nothing but wipe away the