not state his descent from Adam; did not exclude that he was
also one of the unhistoried; unaccountable Sons of God。 As yet;
she was confused; but not denied。
Again she heard the Voice:
〃It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle;
than for a rich man to enter into heaven。〃
But it was explained; the needles eye was a little gateway
for foot passengers; through which the great; humped camel with
his load could not possibly squeeze himself: or perhaps at a
great risk; if he were a little camel; he might get through。 For
one could not absolutely exclude the rich man from heaven; said
the Sunday school teachers。
It pleased her also to know; that in the East one must use
hyperbole; or else remain unheard; because the Eastern man must
see a thing swelling to fill all heaven; or dwindled to a mere
nothing; before he is suitably impressed。 She immediately
sympathized with this Eastern mind。
Yet the words continued to have a meaning that was untouched
either by the knowledge of gateways or hyperboles。 The
historical; or local; or psychological interest in the words was
another thing。 There remained unaltered the inexplicable value
of the saying。 What was this relation between a needles eye; a
rich man; and heaven? What sort of a needles eye; what sort of
a rich man; what sort of heaven? Who knows? It means the
Absolute World; and can never be more than half interpreted in
terms of the relative world。
But must one apply the speech literally? Was her father a
rich man? Couldnt he get to heaven? Or was he only a half…rich
man? Or was he merely a poor man? At any rate; unless he gave
everything away to the poor; he would find it much harder to get
to heaven。 The needles eye would be too tight for him。 She
almost wished he were penniless poor。 If one were ing to the
base of it; any man was rich who was not as poor as the
poorest。
She had her qualms; when in imagination she saw her father
giving away their piano and the two cows; and the capital at the
bank; to the labourers of the district; so that they; the
Brangwens; should be as poor as the Wherrys。 And she did not
want it。 She was impatient。
〃Very well;〃 she thought; 〃well forego that heaven; thats