1 files changed, 3294 insertions, 0 deletions

diff --git a/24160.txt b/24160.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b9c011d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/24160.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,3294 @@
+The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Basket of Flowers, by Christoph von Schmid
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: The Basket of Flowers
+
+Author: Christoph von Schmid
+
+Illustrator: Watson Charlton
+             W. E. Evans
+
+Release Date: January 4, 2008 [EBook #24160]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ASCII
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BASKET OF FLOWERS ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by David Clarke and the Online Distributed
+Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
+
+
+
+
+
+
+THE BASKET OF FLOWERS
+
+[Illustration: "An officer came to Mary's cell."
+_See page 36._]
+
+
+
+THE BASKET OF FLOWERS
+
+
+By
+
+CHRISTOPH VON SCHMID
+
+
+
+With Illustrations By
+
+WATSON CHARLTON and W. E. EVANS.
+
+
+
+Published by
+JOHN F. SHAW & CO., LTD.,
+3, Pilgrim Street, London.
+
+
+
+
+PUBLISHER'S NOTE
+
+
+In putting forward a new edition of _The Basket of Flowers_ no apology
+is needed. This charming story is now something of a children's
+classic, and the only merits that the publisher can claim for the
+present edition are variety in the manner of the illustration and the
+outward design of the book. To these may be added, perhaps, the further
+claim that in the present English version, which is copyright, some of
+the more glaring faults that mar the original translation are avoided.
+For the rest, it is hoped that the charm of the original has been
+maintained.
+
+
+
+
+CONTENTS
+
+
+CHAP.                                                      Page
+
+    I. THE GARDENER'S DAUGHTER                                1
+   II. THE BASKET OF FLOWERS                                 12
+  III. THE MISSING RING                                      21
+   IV. MARY IN PRISON                                        30
+    V. THE TRIAL                                             36
+   VI. A PAINFUL MEETING                                     42
+  VII. SENTENCED                                             49
+ VIII. FINDING NEW FRIENDS                                   58
+   IX. A NEW HOME                                            65
+    X. A FATHER'S LAST WORDS                                 72
+   XI. MARY'S GREAT LOSS                                     82
+  XII. CHANGES AT PINE FARM                                  90
+ XIII. AGAIN A WANDERER                                      97
+  XIV. A STRANGE MEETING                                    104
+   XV. THE YOUNG COUNTESS'S STORY                           108
+  XVI. HOW THE RING WAS FOUND                               115
+ XVII. REPARATION                                           123
+XVIII. PINE FARM REVISITED                                  127
+  XIX. RETRIBUTION                                          134
+   XX. FORGIVING AN ENEMY                                   140
+  XXI. CONCLUSION                                           145
+
+
+
+
+LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
+
+
+AN OFFICER CAME TO MARY'S CELL                    _Frontispiece_
+
+                                                     _Facing p._
+
+MARY SHYLY OFFERED HER PRESENT                               16
+
+"OH, MY FATHER, BE SURE THAT I HAVE NOT THE RING"            32
+
+SHE RAISED HERSELF HASTILY, FORGETTING HER CHAINS            48
+
+SHE THREW THE BASKET AT MARY'S FEET                          64
+
+LOOKING UP SHE SAW THE BEAUTIFUL FACE AND
+FIGURE OF A WOMAN                                            96
+
+MARY WAS AFFECTED TO THE HEART WHEN SHE
+HEARD JULIETTE'S STORY                                      144
+
+
+
+
+THE BASKET OF FLOWERS
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER I.
+
+THE GARDENER'S DAUGHTER.
+
+
+The simple story which is told in this little book treats of things
+which happened a long time ago in a foreign country, where the manners
+and customs are widely different from our own. It is necessary to
+explain this at the beginning, because the reader will meet with
+incidents in the narrative which would otherwise seem strange and
+inconsistent. Two lessons which the story teaches, however, may be
+learned in all countries. The first is that the human heart has from
+the beginning been full of sin, producing, for the most part, evil
+fruit, which results in misery; and in the second place, that there is
+only one remedy for this state of the soul, the remedy of God's Holy
+Spirit, which, wherever it enters, produces the fruits of righteousness
+and perfect peace. It is because we believe that the study of these
+opposing principles as exhibited in the experience of others may be
+profitable to young readers, that the story of the Basket of Flowers is
+now presented.
+
+James Rode, who, with his daughter Mary, forms the subject of our tale,
+lived over one hundred years ago in the village of Eichbourg, in
+Germany. When he was very young his parents sent him to be trained as a
+gardener in the beautiful grounds of the Count of Eichbourg. James was
+a bright, intelligent lad, fond of work, and of an amiable disposition,
+and he soon made himself a favourite with the people among whom he
+associated. His happy genial disposition and his readiness to oblige
+endeared him to all with whom he came in contact. The secret of James'
+character lay deeper than mere disposition. He had early given his
+heart to the Lord Jesus Christ, and the amiable qualities which he now
+displayed were the fruits of the Holy Spirit which had been implanted
+in him. But it was not only among his companions that James was well
+liked. He was a favourite with the Count's children, and so modest and
+unassuming was his behaviour that he was sometimes allowed to be in the
+Castle with them, and to share in the lessons which they got.
+
+Being of an intelligent turn of mind, James profited by all the
+advantages which his position gave him, and, after his engagement was
+completed, the Count offered him a well-paid position in his large
+household at Vienna. It was a temptation for James, who had the
+ambition common to young men, and, but for one thing, he would have
+gladly accepted his master's offer. The Count was a kind man, but he
+was not a Christian, and God was not honoured in his household. James
+knew that if he took the place in his house, he might be asked to do
+things which as a Christian he believed to be wrong; and so he decided
+to refuse the offer, tempting as it was, and to remain in the humble
+position in which he had been born. The Count was not offended with
+James for his decision; and to show his respect for him he gave him an
+easy lease of a little property, consisting of a cottage, a
+well-stocked orchard, and a kitchen garden.
+
+By and by James married a young woman, whose principles, like his own,
+were deeply religious, and together they lived in comfort and harmony
+many years. Then children came to brighten their life, but one after
+another was taken away, and at last only Mary remained, whose history
+this story is mainly occupied in telling.
+
+When James Rode was a little over sixty years of age his wife died.
+Mary was now five years old, and a fine, beautiful girl. The neighbours
+were foolish enough sometimes to call her pretty to her face, and,
+although this was a dangerous thing to do, it had not the effect of
+spoiling her. Besides being beautiful in face, Mary had a beautiful
+character, and was modest and obedient, and possessed unbounded love
+for her father. When she came to be fifteen years of age, she became
+her father's housekeeper, and so thorough and constant were her habits
+of cleanliness that the kitchen utensils shone brightly enough to be
+easily mistaken for new.
+
+We have already informed our readers that her father, James Rode,
+earned his living as a gardener. Twice a week he carried the vegetables
+and fruit which he cultivated to the nearest market-town. But, while
+the growing of fruits and vegetables had to be looked after in order to
+secure his subsistence, his greatest delight was in the cultivation of
+flowers; and in this pleasant task Mary assisted him every hour which
+she could spare from the work of the house. She counted the hours
+devoted to this task among the happiest of her life, for her father had
+the art of turning labour into pleasure by his interesting and
+entertaining conversation. To Mary, who had grown up, as it were, in
+the midst of plants, there had come a natural taste for flowers, and
+the garden was to her a little world. She was never at a loss for a
+delightful occupation, for every hour which she had at her disposal was
+spent in cultivating the young plants with the utmost care.
+
+Specially did she find pleasure in studying the buds of every strange
+species. Her young imagination delighted in picturing what kind of
+flowers they would become; and so impatient was she to see her
+expectations fulfilled, that she was hardly able to wait until the
+flowers had unfolded. When the flower for which she had waited long
+appeared in all its beauty, the sight filled her with a strange joy. In
+truth, there was not a day which did not bring some new pleasure to
+Mary's heart. Sometimes it was by a stranger passing the garden and
+stopping to admire the beauty of the flowers. The children of the
+neighbourhood, as they passed on their way to school, never failed to
+peep through the hedge, and were generally rewarded by Mary with some
+little present of flowers as a token of her goodwill.
+
+James, as a wise father, knew how to direct the taste of his daughter
+towards the most noble ends. Often he used to say, "Let others spend
+their money for jewels and silks and other adornments; I will spend
+mine for flower-seeds. Silks and satins and jewels cannot procure for
+our children so pure a pleasure as these beautiful exhibitions of the
+wisdom and benevolence of God."
+
+In the beauty of the various flowers which adorned their garden, in the
+charming variety of their shapes, in the perfection of their
+proportions, in the glory of their colours, and in the sweetness of
+their perfumes, he taught Mary to see and admire the power and wisdom
+and goodness of God. It was his custom to begin each day with God by
+spending the first hours of the morning in prayer; and, in order to
+accomplish this without neglecting his work, it was his habit to rise
+early. In the beautiful days of spring and summer, James would lead
+Mary to an arbour in the garden, and, while the birds sang their joyous
+songs, and the dew sparkled on the grass and flowers, he delighted to
+talk with his daughter of God, whose bounty sent the sun and the dew,
+and brought forth the beauty and life of the world. It was here that he
+first instilled into Mary's mind the idea of God as the tender Father
+of mankind, whose love was manifested not only in all the beautiful
+works of nature, which were round them, but above all in the gift of
+Jesus Christ. It was in this arbour that James had the happiness of
+seeing Mary's heart gradually unfold to the reception of the truth.
+
+Once in the early part of March, when with shining eyes and bounding
+feet she brought him the first violet, he said, "Let this beautiful
+flower serve to you as an emblem of humility and sweetness, by its
+modest colour, its disposition to flourish in hidden places, and the
+delicate perfume which it sends forth. May you, my dear child, be like
+the violet, modest in your demeanour, careless of gaudy clothing, and
+seeking to do good without making any fuss about it."
+
+At the time when the lilies and roses were in full bloom and when the
+garden was resplendent with beautiful flowers, the old man, seeing his
+daughter filled with joy, pointed to a lily unfolding in the rays of
+the morning sun. "See, in this lily, my daughter, the symbol of
+innocence. Its leaves are finer than richest satin, and its whiteness
+equals that of the driven snow. Happy is the daughter whose heart also
+is pure, for remember the words, 'The pure in heart shall see God.' The
+more pure the colour, the more difficult to preserve its purity. The
+slightest spot can spoil the flower of the lily, and so one word can
+rob the mind of its purity. Let the rose," said he, pointing to that
+flower, "be the image of modesty. The blush of a modest girl is more
+beautiful than that of the rose."
+
+Mary's father then made a bouquet of lilies and roses, and, giving it
+to Mary, he said, "These are brothers and sisters, whose beauty no
+other flowers can equal. Innocence and modesty are twin sisters, which
+cannot be separated. Yes, my dear child, God in His goodness has given
+to modesty, innocence for a sister and companion, in order that she
+might be warned of the approach of danger. Be always modest, and you
+will be always virtuous. Oh, if the will of God be so, I pray that you
+may be enabled to preserve in your heart the purity of the lily!"
+
+One ornament of their garden, which James and his daughter most dearly
+prized, was a dwarf apple-tree little higher than a rose-bush, which
+grew in a small round bed in the middle of the garden. The old man had
+planted it on his daughter's birthday, and every year it gave them a
+harvest of beautiful golden yellow apples spotted with red. One season
+it seemed specially promising, and its blossom was more luxurious than
+ever. Every morning Mary examined it with new delight. One morning she
+came as usual, but what a change had taken place! The frost had
+withered all the flowers, which were now brown and yellow and fast
+being shrivelled up by the sun. Poor Mary's sensitive feelings were so
+affected that she burst into tears, but her father turned the incident
+to good account.
+
+"Look, my child," said he, "as the frost spoils the apple-blossoms, so
+wicked pleasures spoil the beauty of youth. Oh, my dear Mary, tremble
+at the thought of going aside from the path of right. If the time
+should ever come when the delightful hopes which I have had for your
+future should vanish, I should shed tears more bitter than you do now.
+I should not enjoy another hour of pleasure, and my grey hairs would be
+brought with sorrow to the grave." At the mere thought of such a
+calamity the old man could not keep back his tears, and his words of
+tender solicitude made a deep impression on Mary's heart.
+
+Brought up under the care of a father so wise and loving, Mary grew up
+like the flowers of her garden, fresh as the rose, pure like the lily,
+modest as the violet, and full of promise for the future, as a
+beautiful shrub in the time of flourishing.
+
+When James viewed his beautiful garden, with its luxuriant flowers and
+its prolific fruits, which so well repaid his constant care, it was
+with a feeling of satisfaction and gratitude. But this feeling was
+nothing compared with the joy he felt when he saw his daughter, as the
+reward of his pious efforts to train her in the love of God, bringing
+forth the most precious fruits of the Holy Spirit.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II.
+
+THE BASKET OF FLOWERS.
+
+
+One day, early in the charming month of May, Mary went into a wood near
+her home to get some branches and twigs of the willow and hazel. When
+her father was not busily engaged in the garden, he occupied his time
+in making baskets of all sorts, and particularly lady's work-baskets.
+While he busied himself in this way, Mary read to him from the Bible or
+some good book, or, as her father worked, he talked to her about the
+highest matters.
+
+While Mary was gathering the materials for her father's basket-work,
+she found some beautiful specimens of lily-of-the-valley; and,
+gathering sufficient of the flowers, she made two bunches, one for her
+father and the other for herself. After she had finished her work, and
+when she was returning home through a meadow, she met the Countess of
+Eichbourg and her daughter Amelia who were taking an afternoon walk.
+The ladies spent the greater part of their time in the city, but
+occasionally they lived for a few days at the Castle.
+
+Some of the most important circumstances of life spring from apparently
+trifling events. In the case of Mary, this accidental meeting with the
+Countess and her daughter proved the beginning of the painful
+circumstances of this story. But God overrules all events, and this
+tale gives abundant proof that all things work together for good to
+them that love God.
+
+As the ladies came near Mary, she stood a little on one side to let
+them pass; but when they saw the beautiful bunches of lilies in her
+hand they stopped to admire them, and wanted to buy one. Mary
+respectfully declined to sell her flowers, but she begged that the
+ladies would each accept a bunch. They were so struck with the girl's
+unaffected grace and modesty, that they gladly took her little
+offering, and Amelia requested her to gather more and bring them to the
+Castle every day for the rest of the season.
+
+Mary faithfully performed this duty, and every morning while the
+flowers were in bloom she carried a bunch of lilies to the young lady.
+By and by an intimacy, which was something more than ordinary between
+two girls of such widely different positions, sprang up between Mary
+and Amelia. They were nearly of the same age, their tastes were
+similar, and it is not surprising that the acquaintance begun in a
+chance manner developed into a sincere friendship.
+
+The anniversary of Amelia's birthday drew near, and Mary determined to
+make her some little present. She had given her so many bunches of
+flowers, that she puzzled her brain to think of some new gift. During
+the winter her father had been making a beautiful basket, which he
+intended to give to Mary herself. It was the most finished piece of
+work he had ever done, and he had worked on it a design of the village
+in which they lived. Mary's idea now was to fill this basket with
+flowers, and to offer it to the young Countess as her birthday present.
+Her father readily fell in with the plan, and added a finishing touch
+to it by weaving Amelia's name in on one side of the basket and the
+Count's coat-of-arms on the other.
+
+The long-expected day arrived, and early in the morning Mary gathered
+the freshest and most beautiful roses, the richest pinks, and other
+flowers of beautiful colours. She picked out some green branches full
+of leaves, and arranged them in the basket, so that all the colours,
+though perfectly distinct, were sweetly and delicately blended. A light
+garland composed of rosebuds and moss was passed around the basket, and
+Amelia's name could be distinctly read enclosed in a coronet of
+forget-me-nots. The basket when completed was a thing of uncommon
+beauty.
+
+When Mary went to the Castle with her basket-present, the young
+Countess Amelia was sitting at her toilet. Her maid was with her busily
+engaged on making her young mistress's head-dress for the birthday
+feast. Mary shyly offered her present, adding the best wishes of her
+heart for the young Countess's happiness. Amelia received the present
+with unaffected pleasure, and in an impulsive manner she warmly
+expressed her delight, as she viewed first of all the charming flowers
+with which the basket was filled, and examined more carefully the
+beautiful design of the basket itself.
+
+[Illustration: "Mary shyly offered her present."
+_See page 15._]
+
+"Dear Mary," she said, "why, you have robbed your garden to make me
+this present. As for the basket, I have never seen anything so
+beautiful in all my life. Come, we will go and show it to my mother."
+Taking Mary affectionately by the hand, the girls went together to the
+apartments of the Countess. "See, mother," cried Amelia, "of all my
+birthday presents, surely nothing can equal the one I have received
+from Mary. Never have I seen so beautiful a basket, and nowhere can you
+find such beautiful flowers." The Countess was equally pleased with
+Mary's present, although she expressed herself more moderately. "What a
+charming basket!" she said, "and its flowers, how beautiful! They are
+yet wet with dew. The basket of flowers does credit to the taste of
+Mary but more to the kindness of her heart." Asking Mary to remain in
+the room, she made a sign to Amelia to follow her into another
+apartment.
+
+"Amelia," said the Countess, "Mary must not be permitted to go away
+without some suitable return. What have you to give her?"
+
+Amelia paused for a moment's reflection. "I think," she replied, "one
+of my dresses would be a most acceptable gift. For instance, if you
+will permit me, my dear mother, that one with the red and white flowers
+on the deep green ground. It is almost new; I have worn it but once. It
+is a little too short for me, but it will almost fit Mary, and she can
+arrange it herself. She is so handy with her needle. If, therefore, you
+do not think the present too valuable----"
+
+The Countess interrupted her. "Too valuable! certainly not. When you
+wish to give anything it ought to be something good and serviceable.
+The green robe with the flowers will be very appropriate for Mary."
+
+"Go now, my dear children," said the Countess, when they returned to
+the room where Mary was, "take good care of the flowers, that they may
+not fade before dinner. I want the guests to admire the basket also,
+which will be the most beautiful ornament on our table."
+
+Amelia ran to her room with Mary, and told Juliette, her maid, to bring
+the dress with the white and red flowers.
+
+"Do you wish to wear that dress to-day, miss?" said her maid.
+
+"No," said Amelia, "I intend to make a present of it to Mary."
+
+"Give that dress away!" replied Juliette hastily. "Does the Countess
+know?"
+
+"You forget yourself, I think, Juliette," said Amelia with dignity.
+"Bring me the dress, and give yourself no trouble about the rest."
+
+Juliette turned away hastily, her face burning with anger, and her
+heart full of spite. Pulling the door of the wardrobe open, she took
+from it the young Countess's dress. "Oh, I could tear it to pieces,"
+she said passionately. "This sly Mary has already wormed her way into
+the affections of my young mistress, and now she steals from me this
+dress which ought to have been mine when the Countess had done with it.
+I could tear the eyes out of this little flower-girl; but some day I
+will be revenged." For the time being, however, she had to suppress her
+anger, and, taking the dress on her arm, she returned to her mistress
+and gave her the dress with a pleasant air.
+
+"Dear Mary," said Amelia, "many of the presents which I have had to-day
+have cost more money than your basket, but none of them have given me
+so much pleasure. Will you take this dress from me as a token of my
+affection, and carry my best wishes to your good old father?"
+
+Mary was not a vain girl, but her eyes sparkled at the sight of the
+beautiful dress, which surpassed anything she had ever dreamed of
+possessing. After warm thanks, she kissed the hand of the young
+Countess and left the Castle.
+
+Amelia's maid continued her work in silence, but with jealous fury
+burning at her heart. The many tugs which she gave to the head-dress
+she was preparing made Amelia at length inquire--
+
+"Are you angry, Juliette?"
+
+"I should be silly indeed, miss," answered Juliette; "to be angry
+because you choose to be generous."
+
+"That is a very sensible answer, Juliette," replied Amelia, "I hope you
+may feel just as sensible."
+
+Meantime Mary ran home to her father to show her new dress. The good
+old man, while pleased at his daughter's pleasure, could not help
+feeling a little anxiety when he saw the present. "I would much rather,
+my child," he said, "that you had not taken the basket to the young
+Countess, but it cannot be helped now. I fear that this valuable
+present will but rouse the jealousy of some of our neighbours, and,
+what would be still worse, that it may make you vain. Take care, my
+dear Mary, that you fall not into this great evil. No costly and
+beautiful garments so much adorn a young girl as modesty and good
+manners. It is the Bible that says the ornament of a meek and quiet
+spirit is in the sight of God of great price."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III.
+
+THE MISSING RING.
+
+
+Shortly after Mary had left the Castle the Countess missed a valuable
+diamond ring. No one had been in the room where she had left it but
+Mary, and it is not surprising that suspicion fell upon the humble
+flower-girl. Calling Amelia to her, the Countess told her of her loss
+and of her suspicions, and bade her go to the cottage in order that she
+might induce Mary to restore the ring before the theft became known.
+
+When Amelia arrived at Mary's home, the young girl was busily engaged
+trying on her beautiful dress. She was frightened to see the young
+Countess enter her little room, pale and trembling, and out of breath
+with her haste.
+
+"Dear Mary," said Amelia, "what have you been doing? My mother's
+diamond ring, which she left lying in the room where you were, is lost.
+No one has been in the chamber but you. Do give it up at once, and no
+harm will be done."
+
+The unexpected charge of theft stunned and frightened Mary. Earnestly
+she declared her innocence. She had never seen the ring, nor had she
+moved from the place where she stood when she entered the room. But
+Amelia found it impossible to believe her, and continued to urge her to
+give up the ring, which she said was worth a large sum of money. To be
+suspected of theft was bad enough, but to have her friend Amelia
+unwilling to believe her, made Mary burst into tears.
+
+"Truly," she cried, "I have no ring. Never in all my life have I
+ventured to touch anything which did not belong to me, much less to
+steal. My dear father has always taught me better."
+
+Her father, who had been at work in his garden, now came in to learn
+the young Countess's errand, and to him Amelia told the story. Shocked
+beyond measure at the charge, the old man was so overcome that he was
+obliged to sink into a chair.
+
+"My dear child," he said to Mary solemnly, "to steal a ring of this
+price is a crime which in this country is punished with death. But
+this is not all. Your action is not only one for which you must
+account to men, but to that God who reads the heart and with whom all
+false denials amount to nothing. Have you forgotten His holy
+commandment, 'Thou shalt not steal?' Have you forgotten all the advice
+that I have given you? Were you tempted with the gold and the precious
+stones? Alas, do not deny the fact, but give back the ring to the
+Countess. It is the only return you can make for your crime."
+
+"My father, oh, my father," cried Mary, weeping bitterly, "be sure, be
+very sure that I have not the ring. If I had even found such a ring on
+the road I could not have rested till I had restored it to its owner.
+Indeed, believe me, I have it not."
+
+"Look at this dear young lady," said the old man, without replying to
+Mary's protestations, "her affection for you is so great that she
+wishes to save you from the hands of justice. Mary, be frank, and do
+not add falsehood to the crime of theft."
+
+"My father," cried Mary, "well do you know that never in my life have I
+stolen even the smallest coin, and how should I take anything so
+valuable as the Countess's ring? I pray you, believe me; I have never
+in my life told you a lie."
+
+"Mary," again said her father, "see my grey hairs. Do not bring them
+down with sorrow to the grave. Spare me so great an affliction. Before
+that God who made you, into whose presence there can come no thief,
+tell me if you have the ring?"
+
+Thus adjured, Mary raised her eyes, and once more assured her father in
+the most solemn manner that she was innocent of the charge. The old man
+had put his daughter to a severe test, and now he was satisfied of her
+innocence.
+
+"My child," he cried, "I do believe you. You would not dare to tell a
+lie in the presence of God and before this young Countess and your
+father. You are innocent, and therefore you may take comfort and fear
+nothing. There is nothing to fear on earth but sin. Prison and death
+are not to be compared to it. Whatever happens, we will put our trust
+in God. All will yet come right, for He says, 'I will make thy
+righteousness as the light and thy just dealings as the noonday.'"
+
+Touched to the heart by the old man's faith, Amelia's suspicions also
+vanished. "Truly," she said, "when I hear you speak in this way, I
+believe that you have not the ring; but when I examine all the
+circumstances how can I help believing? My mother says she knows
+exactly the place where she laid it down. Not a living soul has been in
+the room but Mary, and as soon as she left the Castle my mother missed
+the ring. Who else, then, can have taken it?"
+
+"It is impossible for me to say," replied Mary's father. "May God
+prepare us for a severe trial, but whatever happens," said he, turning
+his eyes to heaven, "I am ready. Give me but Thy grace, O Lord; it is
+all I ask."
+
+"Truly," said Amelia, "I came here with a heavy heart. It will be for
+me the saddest birthday I have ever had. My mother has not yet spoken
+to any one of her loss but myself, but it will not be possible to keep
+the secret much longer. My father returns to the Castle at noon, and he
+will certainly ask her where the ring is. It was a gift to her on the
+day when I was born, and on every succeeding birthday she has worn it.
+Farewell," said Amelia, turning to Mary, "I will tell my mother that I
+consider you are innocent, but who will believe me?" Her eyes filled
+with tears, and she left the cottage with a sad heart.
+
+After the young Countess had gone, Mary's father sat for a long time
+resting his head on his hand and with his eyes fixed on the ground. The
+tears fell down his wrinkled cheeks, and Mary, touched by his grief,
+threw herself at his knees and besought him to believe in her
+innocence.
+
+The old man raised himself and looked for a long time in her eyes, and
+then said--
+
+"Yes, Mary, you are innocent. That look, where integrity and truth are
+painted, cannot be the look of guilt."
+
+"But, my father," asked Mary, "what will be the end of it? What will
+they do to us? I do not fear what they may do to me, but the idea that
+you may have to suffer on my account is intolerable."
+
+"Have faith in God," answered her father. "Take courage. Not one hair
+of our heads can fall to the ground without His permission. All that
+happens to us is the will of God, and what more can we wish? Do not be
+frightened into saying anything but what is strictly true. If they
+threaten you, or if they hold out promises, do not depart a
+hair's-breadth from the truth. Keep your conscience free from offence,
+for a clear conscience is a soft pillow. Perhaps they will separate us,
+and I shall no longer be with you to console; but if this should happen
+cling more closely to your heavenly Father. He is a powerful protector
+to innocence, and no earthly power can deprive you of His strength."
+
+Suddenly the door opened with a noise, and an officer entered, followed
+by two constables. Mary uttered a piercing shriek, and fell into her
+father's arms.
+
+"Separate them," cried the officer angrily; "let her father also be put
+in custody. Set a watch on the house and garden. Make a strict search
+everywhere, and allow no one to enter until the sheriff has made an
+inventory."
+
+Mary clung to her father with all her force, but the officers tore her
+from the old man's arms. In a fainting state she was carried off to
+prison.
+
+The story of the lost ring had spread through the whole village of
+Eichbourg, and when Mary and her father were taken through the streets,
+the crowd pressed round them filled with curiosity. It was curious to
+notice how diverse were the opinions which were pronounced on the old
+man and his daughter. They had been kind to all, but there were some
+who repaid their kindness by rejoicing in their present affliction.
+Although they had accepted the old man's gifts, their jealousy and envy
+had been excited by the thought of his superior position.
+
+"Now," they exclaimed maliciously, "we know how it is that James had
+always so many good things to give away. If this is what the old man
+and his daughter have been doing, it was easy to live in abundance and
+be better clothed than their honest neighbours."
+
+It is true that most of the inhabitants of Eichbourg were sincerely
+sorry for James and his daughter, although many of them felt compelled
+to believe in Mary's guilt. Fathers and mothers were heard to say, "Who
+would have believed this thing of these good people? Truly it proves
+that the best of us are liable to fall." But there were others who were
+persuaded of Mary's innocence, and said, "Perhaps it is not so bad as
+it appears. May their innocence be brought out when the trial comes,
+and may God help them to escape the terrible fate which now hangs over
+them."
+
+Groups of children, to whom Mary had given fruit and flowers, stood
+weeping as they saw their kind friend being carried off to prison.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV.
+
+MARY IN PRISON.
+
+
+We have already said that Mary was in a faint when she was carried off
+to prison. When she recovered to realise her condition, she burst into
+passionate sobbing, but at length, clasping her hands together, she
+fell down on her knees in prayer. Overcome with terror at her
+surroundings, filled with sadness at the thought of being separated
+from her old father, and wearied with the excitement of the day, she
+threw herself upon her hard straw couch and fell into a heavy sleep.
+
+When she awoke it was so dark that she could hardly distinguish a
+single object. At first she could not remember where she was. The story
+of the lost ring came back to her as a dream, and her first idea was
+that she was sleeping in her own little bed. Suddenly she felt that her
+hands were chained. Instantly all the sad reality of the past day
+flashed upon her mind, and, jumping from her bed, she cried out, "What
+can I do but raise my heart to God?"
+
+Falling upon her knees, Mary then engaged in prayer. She prayed for
+herself, that she might be delivered, but especially she prayed for her
+dear father, that in the trouble which had now come upon him the Lord
+might support him. The thought of her father brought a torrent of tears
+from her eyes and stopped her prayer.
+
+Suddenly the moon, which had been covered with thick clouds, now shone
+in a clear sky, and, its rays coming through the iron grating in the
+prison wall, threw a silvery light on the floor of Mary's cell. By the
+light thus afforded, Mary could make out the large bricks of which the
+walls of her prison were built, the white mortar which united them, the
+place in the wall serving as a table on which her meals were placed.
+Although her surroundings were so miserable, Mary felt that the
+moonlight had soothed her heart.
+
+To her astonishment, she became conscious of a sweet perfume filling
+her cell. Suddenly she remembered that in the morning she had placed in
+her bosom a bouquet of roses and other sweet flowers which remained
+from the basket. Taking it in her hand she untied it, and looked at the
+flowers in the moonlight. "Alas," said she mournfully, "when I gathered
+these rosebuds and forget-me-nots from my garden this morning, who
+would have thought that I should be confined in this gloomy prison in
+the evening? When I wore garlands of flowers, who would have imagined
+that on the same day I should be doomed to wear iron chains?" Then she
+thought of her father, and tears fell from her eyes and moistened the
+flowers which she held in her hand.
+
+[Illustration: "Oh, my father, be sure that I have not the ring."
+_See page 23._]
+
+"Oh, my dear father," she said, "how this bouquet reminds me of the
+advice which you have given me. From the midst of thorns, I plucked
+these rosebuds; and thus I know that joy will come to me from the very
+troubles which now cause me pain. If I had attempted with my own hands
+to unfold the leaves of these rosebuds, they would have perished; but
+God with a delicate finger had gradually unfolded their purple cups and
+shed over them the sweet perfume of His breath. He can disperse the
+evils which surround me, and make them turn to my good which seemed all
+evil. Let me then patiently wait His time. These flowers remind me of
+Him who created them. I will remember Him as He remembers me.
+
+"These tender forget-me-nots, as blue as the heavens, may even be my
+silent consolation in all the sufferings of earth. Here are some
+sweet-peas with small delicate leaves, half white, half red. The plant
+grows and winds itself around a support, that it may not grope in the
+dust. And while it balances itself above the earth it displays its
+flowers, which might be taken for butterflies' wings. In this way I
+will cling to God and by His help raise myself above the miseries of
+this earth. This mignonette is the chief source of the perfume which
+fills my cell. Sweet plant, you cheer by your perfume the one who
+plucked you from your home in the earth. I will try to imitate you and
+to do good even to those who without cause have torn me from my garden
+and thrown me into this prison. Here is a little sprig of peppermint,
+the emblem of hope. I also will preserve hope now that the time of
+suffering is come. Here again are two leaves of laurel. They remind me
+of that crown incorruptible, which is reserved in heaven for all who
+love the Lord and have submitted to His will upon the earth. Already I
+think I see it, surrounded with golden rays. Flowers of the earth, you
+are shortlived, as are its joys. You fade and wither in an instant, but
+in heaven, after our short suffering on the earth, an unchangeable joy
+awaits us and an eternal glory in Christ Jesus."
+
+Talking thus to herself, Mary found her heart gradually grow consoled.
+Suddenly a dark cloud covered the moon; darkness filled the prison. Her
+flowers were blotted out from her sight, and grief again took
+possession of her heart. But the cloud was merely temporary, and in a
+little while the moon reappeared more beautiful than ever. "Thus,"
+reflected Mary, "clouds can be cast over us, but it is only for a
+little, and at the end we shine clearly again. If a dark suspicion
+hangs over my character, God will make me triumphant over every false
+accusation." The thought brought comfort to her; and Mary, stretching
+herself upon her bed of straw, slept as tranquilly as a little child.
+
+In her sleep she dreamed a beautiful dream. It seemed to her that she
+was walking by moonlight in a garden which was quite new to her,
+situated in a wilderness surrounded by a dark forest of oak trees. By
+the light of the moon, which had never appeared to her so brilliant or
+so beautiful before, she saw hundreds of flowers in this garden,
+displaying their charms and filling the air with sweet perfume. Best of
+all, she dreamed that her father was with her in this beautiful place.
+The moon shining on his face showed his venerable countenance lighted
+by a gracious smile. Running to him, she fell on his bosom and shed
+tears of joy, with which her cheeks were wet when suddenly she awoke.
+It had only been a dream, but it comforted her heart, and she slept
+again.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V.
+
+THE TRIAL.
+
+
+Early in the morning, and almost before she was awake, an officer came
+to Mary's cell to bring her forth for trial. At the sight of the room
+in which the court was held she trembled, and her fears returned.
+Sitting in a large scarlet chair was the judge. Before him a clerk
+stood at an enormous table covered with papers.
+
+A number of questions were put to Mary, to all of which she answered
+truthfully. She found it impossible to keep back her tears, but
+persisted in declaring her innocence of the crime.
+
+"It is useless to try to make me believe this," said the judge. "You
+were the only one to enter the room where the ring was. No one but you
+could have taken it. You had better acknowledge the truth."
+
+"It is the truth I speak now," replied Mary. "I cannot speak anything
+else. I have not seen the ring, indeed I have not."
+
+"The ring was seen in your hands," continued the judge; "have you
+anything to say now?"
+
+Mary declared that this was impossible. Turning to his side, the judge
+rang a little bell, and Amelia's maid, Juliette, was brought in. In the
+fit of jealousy which she had felt because of the dress given to Mary,
+and in her anxiety to deprive Mary of her mistress's favour, Juliette
+had said to one or two people that she had seen Mary take the ring. In
+consequence of this statement Juliette was now summoned as a witness,
+and, fearful to be caught in a lie, she determined to maintain it even
+in a court of justice. When the judge warned her to declare the truth
+before God, she felt her heart beat quickly and her knees tremble; but
+this wicked girl obeyed neither the voice of the judge nor the voice of
+her own conscience. "If," said she to herself, "I acknowledge now that
+I told a lie, then I shall be driven away. Perhaps I may even be
+imprisoned." Determined to carry out her part, she turned to Mary and
+said insultingly--
+
+"You have the ring; I saw you with it."
+
+Mary heard this false charge with horror, but she did not allow passion
+to get the upper hand. Her only reply was, and her tears almost choked
+her while she said it--
+
+"It is not true. You did not see me with the ring. How can you tell so
+terrible a falsehood for the sake of ruining me, when I never have
+injured you?"
+
+At the sight of Mary, Juliette's feelings of hatred and jealousy
+revived. She repeated the falsehood, with new circumstances and
+details, after which she was dismissed by the judge.
+
+"Mary, you are convicted," said he. "All the circumstances are against
+you. The chamber-maid of the young Countess saw the ring in your hand.
+Tell me now, what you have done with it?"
+
+In vain Mary protested her innocence. According to the cruel custom of
+those days, the judge now sent her to be whipped until the blood came,
+in the effort to make her confess her guilt. The punishment made poor
+Mary scream with pain, but she continued to declare her innocence.
+Suffering great agony, she was finally thrown into her prison again.
+Her bed of straw was hard, her wounds gave her great pain, and half the
+night she spent without sleeping, groaning and praying to God.
+
+The next day she was brought again before the court. The severity of
+the law had failed to wring any confession from her. The judge now
+tried to make her confess by adopting a mild tone, and by holding out
+promises.
+
+"You have incurred the penalty of death," said he, "but if you confess
+where the ring is, nothing will be done to you. Think well before you
+answer, for your choice is between life and death."
+
+Still Mary protested that she had nothing more to confess. The judge
+now tried to move her by her love for her father.
+
+"If you persist in concealing the truth," he said, "if you are careless
+of your own life, you will at least spare that of your old father.
+Would you see his head, whitened by age, cut off by the sword of
+justice? Who but he could have induced you to tell a falsehood so
+obstinately? Are you ignorant that his life as well as yours is at
+stake?"
+
+This was a new thought to Mary, and, terrified at the threat, she
+nearly fainted.
+
+"Confess," said the judge, "that you have taken the ring. A single
+word--say yes, and your life and that of your father are saved."
+
+It was a great temptation and a terrible trial to Mary. Satan suggested
+that she should say, "I took the ring, but I lost it on the road."
+"No," she thought again, "no, I must stick to the truth. Let it cost
+what it will, not even to save my own or my father's life will I depart
+from the truth. I will obey God rather than man, and trust Him for the
+rest."
+
+In a clear but tremulous voice she then answered--
+
+"If I say I had the ring, it would be a lie; and, though this falsehood
+would save my life, I cannot utter it. But," she entreated, "if life is
+demanded, spare at least the white hairs of my loved father. I should
+be glad to shed my blood for him."
+
+Her words touched the hearts of all the people in the court. Even the
+judge, for all his severity, was deeply moved; but he remained silent,
+and, giving the signal, Mary was taken back to prison.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI.
+
+A PAINFUL MEETING.
+
+
+Not for a long time had the judge been so perplexed as he was over
+Mary's case.
+
+"For three days," he said, "it has been before us, and we have not made
+the least advance towards the solution of the mystery. If I could see
+any possibility of the ring having been taken by any one else, I should
+certainly believe this girl innocent, but the evidence is so clear
+against her, that it is impossible to believe anything else."
+
+The Countess was again examined and questioned thoroughly; the minutest
+circumstances being inquired into. Juliette was also examined again.
+
+A whole day was spent by the judge in going over their testimony, and
+weighing against it the words that Mary had uttered in her examination.
+It was late at night when the judge sent to the prison for Mary's
+father to be brought to his house.
+
+"James," said he kindly, "I am known perhaps as a strict man, but I do
+not think that you can reproach me with ever having intentionally
+injured any one. I do not need to tell you that I do not desire the
+death of your daughter. All the details of the case, however, prove
+that she must have committed the theft, and, under these circumstances,
+you are aware that the penalty which the law requires is death. But
+your daughter is young, and, notwithstanding the serious nature of the
+crime, if she were to return the ring even now, a pardon might be
+granted to her. To persist so obstinately in denying her guilt will
+most certainly end in her death. Go to her, James; insist upon her
+returning the ring, and I give you my word that the penalty of death
+will not be visited upon her, but a mere trifling punishment
+substituted. As her father you have great power over her. If you cannot
+obtain a confession, most people will think that you have been an
+accomplice with your daughter in the crime. Once more, I repeat, if the
+ring is not found, I pity your case."
+
+"My daughter has not stolen the ring," replied James sadly; "of that I
+am sure. That she will not therefore acknowledge her guilt, I know
+beforehand. But I will speak to her as you desire. I will employ every
+means to find it out, and if it be that she is to perish,
+notwithstanding her innocence, it is a comfort to know that I can see
+her once again before the terrible event."
+
+Accompanied by an officer, the old man went to the prison where Mary
+was confined. The officer set a lamp upon a projection of the wall in a
+corner of the cell, on which also stood an earthen pitcher of water.
+Mary was lying on her straw bed, with her face turned towards the wall,
+partially asleep. The light of the lamp woke her from her troubled
+slumber, and, turning over and seeing her father, she uttered a cry of
+joy and raised herself hastily, forgetting her chains. Almost fainting,
+she threw herself upon her father's neck, and the old man sat down with
+her upon her bed and pressed her in his arms. For some time they both
+remained silent and mingled their tears together. At length James broke
+the silence and began to speak as the judge had instructed him.
+
+[Illustration: "She raised herself hastily, forgetting her chains."
+_See page 44._]
+
+"Oh, my father," said Mary, in a reproachful voice, interrupting him,
+"surely you at least do not doubt my innocence. Alas," she continued,
+weeping bitterly, "is there no one who believes me innocent, no one,
+not even my father! Oh, my dear father, believe me that I am innocent."
+
+"Calm yourself, my dear child; I believe you entirely. I am only doing
+now what I have been instructed to do by the judge."
+
+There was a silence for a little while in the cell. The old man looked
+at his daughter and saw her cheeks pale and hollow with grief, her eyes
+red and swollen with weeping, and her hair hanging dishevelled about
+her.
+
+"My dear child," he said, "God has suffered you to be tried very
+severely; but I fear lest there should be a worse trial to come, more
+painful sufferings than any you have yet undergone. Alas, perhaps even
+my dear child's head may fall by the hands of the executioner!"
+
+"My father," said Mary soothingly, "I care but little for myself. But
+for you----"
+
+"Fear nothing for me, my dear Mary," said her father, "I run no
+risk----"
+
+"Oh," cried Mary, "thank God! If that is the case, a great load is
+taken off my heart. For myself, all is well. Be sure, my dear father, I
+fear not to die. I shall go to God; I shall find my Saviour. I shall
+also see my mother in heaven. That will be a great happiness."
+
+Deeply moved at his daughter's words, the old man wept like a child.
+
+"Well, God be praised," said he, clasping his aged hands together, "God
+be praised for your submissive spirit. It is very hard for a man
+stricken in years, for a tender father to lose his only child, the
+child of his love, his only consolation, the joy of his old age, and
+his last support, but," he continued, "may the will of the Lord be
+done."
+
+"One word," said he, a moment afterwards; "Juliette has sworn falsely
+against you. On her oath she has declared that she saw the ring in your
+hands. If you perish, you will perish by her testimony. But you will
+pardon her, my Mary--is it not so? You do not take with you any feeling
+of hatred towards her. Alas, even upon this bed of straw, and loaded
+with chains, you are still more happy than she is, living in the
+Countess's palace and dressed in fine clothes, and with everything that
+her heart can desire. It is better to die innocent than to live
+dishonoured. Pardon her, my child, as thy Saviour pardoned His enemies
+on the cross. Do you pardon her?" the old man asked anxiously.
+
+Mary assured her father that she did. And now the officer was heard
+coming to separate them.
+
+"Well," said her father, "I commend you to God and His grace. If I
+should not see you again, if this is the last time that I am permitted
+to talk with you, my daughter, at least be sure that I will not be long
+in following you to heaven. You may depend upon it that I shall not
+long survive this parting."
+
+The time was now up, and, warned by the officer, the old man prepared
+to take his departure. Mary clung to him with all her strength, but her
+father was obliged to disengage himself as gently as he could, and Mary
+fell insensible upon her bed.
+
+As soon as James was brought before the judge, he raised his hands to
+heaven, and cried out, almost beside himself--
+
+"My daughter is innocent!"
+
+The judge was deeply moved.
+
+"I am disposed," he said, "for my own part to believe it.
+Unfortunately, I must judge the case from the nature of the testimony,
+with impartiality and even to the utmost rigour of the law."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII.
+
+SENTENCED.
+
+
+In the village of Eichbourg the case of Mary and the missing ring were
+the only subjects of conversation, and many were the speculations as to
+what the result of the case would be. At the period when Mary lived,
+the crime of theft was always visited with severe punishment, and in
+many cases the sentence of death was carried out when the theft was of
+a much less valuable article than the Countess's ring.
+
+The Count himself wished for nothing so much as to find Mary innocent.
+In his anxiety to give her the advantage of any doubt there might be,
+he himself read all the testimony and conversed with the judge for
+hours at a time, but, after all had been done, he was unable to
+persuade himself of Mary's innocence. Amelia and her mother were, as
+may be imagined, in deep distress, and begged with tears that Mary's
+life might be spared. As for the old man, Mary's father, he spent his
+days and nights in unceasing prayer that God would be pleased to prove
+to the world the innocence of his daughter.
+
+All this time the preparations for the execution were being rapidly
+pushed forward, and whenever Mary heard an officer enter her cell, she
+thought it was to announce to her that her hour had come to die.
+
+But if Mary was thus distressed at the preparations for the execution,
+there was another person for whom the thought had infinite terror.
+Amelia's maid, Juliette, for the first time realised the crime of which
+she had been guilty, and when she saw the executioner at his work,
+horror seemed to deprive her of her reason. When she sat down to eat
+she could not swallow a bite, and her spirits became so low that she
+was an object of general remark. When she retired to rest, her sleep
+was disturbed by ghastly dreams, in which she saw Mary's head severed
+from her body. But in spite of the remorse which gnawed her day and
+night, the heart of the unhappy woman was hardened against the idea of
+confessing her falsehood, and so Mary remained guilty in the eyes of
+the law.
+
+After much anxious deliberation the judge pronounced sentence upon
+Mary. In consideration of her extreme youth and the unblemished
+character which, up till now, she had enjoyed, the sentence of death
+was not to be carried out; but instead, Mary and her father were to be
+banished from the country, and all their furniture and possessions were
+to be sold to make up, as far as possible, for the value of the ring,
+and to pay the expenses of the trial.
+
+Next morning at break of day the sentence was carried into execution,
+and Mary and her father were conducted from the prison. Their road lay
+past the Castle gate, and just then Juliette came out. Since the
+publication of the news that the sentence of death was not to be
+carried out, this wicked girl had recovered her spirits, and once more
+allowed all her evil feelings against Mary to revive. So far from being
+sorry for the banishment that was now inflicted upon Mary, she rejoiced
+in the thought that Mary could no longer be feared as a rival in her
+mistress's favour. After the trial was over, the Countess, seeing
+Mary's basket of flowers on the sideboard, had said to Juliette, "Take
+away that basket, that I may never have it before my eyes. The
+recollections which it arouses in me are so painful that I cannot
+endure the sight of it."
+
+Now, as Mary and her father were passing the Castle gate, Juliette
+called out to them, "Stop a minute. Here is your fine present; my
+mistress would keep nothing from such people as you. Your glory has
+passed away with the flowers for which you were paid so well." So
+saying, she threw the basket at Mary's feet, re-entered the Castle, and
+banged the door with great violence after her. Mary took the basket in
+silence, and, with tears in her eyes, continued her way, while her
+father dragged his aged limbs alongside of her.
+
+[Illustration: "She threw the basket at Mary's feet."
+_See page 52._]
+
+Many a time on the journey Mary turned back to look, with tear-dimmed
+eyes, towards the cottage where they had spent so many happy years,
+until the roof of the Castle and even the church steeple disappeared
+from her sight. At last they came to the limits of the country beyond
+which their exile was to be; and, having conducted them thus far, the
+officer left them. They were now in the heart of a forest, and the old
+man, though overwhelmed with grief and anxiety for the future, seated
+himself upon the grass under the shade of an oak tree and comforted his
+daughter.
+
+"Come, my child," said he, taking Mary's hands in his own and raising
+them to heaven, "before we go on let us thank God who has taken us out
+of the gloomy prison, and allowed us to enjoy once more the sight of
+heaven and the freshness of the air; who has saved our lives, and who
+has returned you, my dear daughter, to your father's arms." The old man
+then fell upon his knees, and out of a thankful heart commended himself
+and his daughter to the protection of their heavenly Father.
+
+With the prayer of faith, which was thus offered up, feelings of joy
+and courage began to fill their hearts. And now it was seen that God's
+providence had not left them. An old huntsman--Anthony by name--with
+whom James had been in service when he accompanied the Count on his
+travels, had set out before daybreak to hunt a stag, and now came upon
+James and his daughter seated under the oak.
+
+"God bless you, James," said Anthony. "It does me good to hear your
+voice. Is it then true that they have banished you? Truly it is hard to
+see a man obliged, in his old age, to quit his country."
+
+"As far as the reach of heaven extends," answered James, "the earth is
+the Lord's, and His kindness is extended to all. Our country--our real
+country--is in heaven."
+
+"Tell me," said the huntsman, with sympathy in his face, "if they have
+banished you just as you are, without food or clothing necessary for
+the journey."
+
+"He who clothes the flowers of the field will know how to provide for
+us also!"
+
+"That is so; but you are provided at least with money?" insisted
+Anthony, whose kind heart was filled with sympathy and indignation.
+
+"We have a good conscience," replied the old man, "and with that we are
+richer than if the stone upon which I sit was gold. My father was a
+basket-maker. He taught me his trade besides that of gardening, in
+order that, during the dark winter months, I might have a useful
+occupation. This has done more for me, and has been better for my
+prosperity, than if he had left me a fortune. A good conscience, health
+of body, and an honourable trade, are the best and surest fortunes we
+can have on earth."
+
+"God be praised," answered the huntsman, "that you bear your
+misfortunes so well. I am forced to confess that you are right, and
+that you have still a good resource in gardening. But I cannot see
+where you expect to get employment."
+
+"Far from here," answered James; "in places where we are not known.
+Wherever, in short, God will conduct us."
+
+"James," said the huntsman, "take this stout stick in your hand. I have
+used it to assist me in climbing up the mountains, but I can easily get
+another. And here," he added, drawing from his pocket a little leather
+purse, "is some money that I received in payment for some wood in the
+village where I passed the night."
+
+"I gladly accept the cane," replied James, "and I will cherish it in
+remembrance of a generous man; but it is impossible for me to accept
+the money, as it is payment for wood that belongs to the Count."
+
+"Good old James," the huntsman replied, "if that is your fear, you may
+take the money with an easy mind. Some years ago a poor old man, who
+had lost his cow, could not pay for the wood which he had bought from
+the Count. I advanced him the sum, which he paid to the Count, and
+thought no more about it. Now he has got out of his difficulties, and
+yesterday, when I had forgotten all about it, he returned it to me with
+hearty thanks. So you see it is truly a present which God sends you."
+
+"I accept it," said James, "with thanks, and may God return it to you.
+See, Mary," he said, turning to his daughter, "with what goodness God
+provides for us at the very commencement of our banishment, here almost
+before we have passed the limits of the country, and sends us our good
+old friend who has given us money. Courage, my daughter; our heavenly
+Father will watch over us." The huntsman then took leave of them with
+tears in his eyes.
+
+"Farewell, honest James," said he, "farewell, my good Mary," extending
+his hands to both. "I always thought you innocent, and I still think
+so. Do not despair. Do not surrender your honesty because you are
+suspected. Yes, yes; whosoever does well and has confidence in God, may
+be assured of His protection. May God be with you."
+
+Hand in hand Mary and her father now continued their way through the
+forest, not knowing at what spot they would rest, and without a friend
+in the world but God.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII.
+
+FINDING NEW FRIENDS.
+
+
+Although their hearts were thus sustained by faith in God, the journey
+on which Mary and her father now started was a long and painful one.
+For days they were unable to find a lodging, and the little money with
+which they had started was at last exhausted, and they had no prospect
+of earning more. Although it was sorely against their will, they were
+at last compelled to ask for bread at the hands of charity. Here again
+they were made to feel the humiliation of their position; for in going
+from door to door, seeking for help which they so sorely needed, they
+met with scarcely anything but rebuffs, and sometimes indeed with
+abuse. Often their meal consisted only of a small piece of dry bread,
+washed down by water from the nearest fountain. A luxury would
+occasionally come their way in the shape of a little soup or some
+vegetables, and here and there, some scraps of meat or pastry, given to
+them by some kind-hearted housekeeper. After days spent in this way,
+they were thankful at night to be allowed to sleep in a barn.
+
+Up till now Mary's father had borne up with wonderful courage. One day,
+however, the distance which they had travelled was longer than usual,
+and the road which stretched before them seemed endless, unbroken by
+the sight of any village or human habitation. Suddenly the old man
+began to feel very weak. His limbs tottered under him, and he fell,
+pale and speechless, on a heap of dry leaves at the foot of a hill
+covered with pine trees.
+
+In great alarm for her father's safety, and overwhelmed with grief,
+Mary ran hither and thither trying to find water, but in vain. Thinking
+that her voice might be heard by some one in the neighbourhood she
+cried for help, but the echo alone answered her. As far as she could
+see, in every direction the country was without human habitation.
+Almost worn out with fatigue, she at last climbed to the top of the
+hill in order that she might more readily discover any dwelling-place
+where help might be obtained. It was then that she saw just behind the
+hill a small farmhouse surrounded by green meadows, and shut in on
+every side by forest. Hastily running down the hill, she arrived at the
+cottage out of breath, and with tears in her eyes asked assistance for
+her old father. The farmer and his wife were kind-hearted people, and
+were deeply touched at the sight of Mary's agony.
+
+"Put the horse in the little waggon," said the farmer's wife to her
+husband, "and we will bring this sick old man here."
+
+When the horse was harnessed the farmer's wife put two mattresses, an
+earthen pitcher of water, and a bottle of vinegar into the waggon. But
+when Mary heard that the waggon would require to go round the hill, and
+could not reach her father within half an hour, she took the water and
+vinegar in her hand, and went by the short road across the hill in
+order that she might the sooner minister to her father's needs. Greatly
+to her joy, she found that her father had recovered a little and was
+now sitting at the foot of a pine tree. The old man was greatly
+relieved to see his daughter, whose absence had caused him deep
+anxiety.
+
+In a short time the waggon arrived with the farmer and his wife.
+Placing James in the waggon they carried him to their home, where they
+gave him a clean little room, and a closet and a kitchen which were
+then unoccupied.
+
+The old man's illness had been caused solely by insufficient food, want
+of rest, and the fatigue of the journey. With great kindness, the good
+farmer and his wife, who were poor people, sacrificed some of their
+usual luxuries in order that they might have more money to spend on the
+things which James required to restore him to his usual health. For
+instance, they had been in the habit of taking a trip every year to a
+fair in a neighbouring village; but when the time came round they
+agreed to remain at home that they might save the cost of the journey,
+and spend the money thus saved in procuring some delicacies to tempt
+the old man's appetite. At this fresh proof of their kindness, Mary
+thanked them with tears of gratitude in her eyes.
+
+"Oh," said she, "truly there are kind people everywhere, and in the
+most unlikely places we find compassionate hearts."
+
+During the days when the old man was gradually recovering, Mary watched
+constantly at his bedside. But with the habit of industry which she had
+practised, she filled up these hours with working for the farmer's wife
+by knitting or sewing, and as may be imagined, this anxiety to help her
+benefactors, added to her modest and winning manner, gave great
+pleasure to the kind-hearted peasants.
+
+By and by the care which had been bestowed upon James, and the
+nourishing food which he had got, began to tell upon him, and soon he
+was so far restored as to be able to get up out of bed. As soon as he
+felt returning strength, he was desirous of doing something. Resuming
+their old habits, Mary gathered for him branches of willow and hazel,
+and with these her father made a pretty little basket, which he offered
+to the farmer's wife as a small token of gratitude.
+
+When he felt himself quite recovered, he said to his hosts--
+
+"We have been long enough a burden to you. It is time we should go and
+seek our fortunes elsewhere."
+
+"Why should you leave us, my good James?" said the farmer, taking the
+old man by the hand. "I hope we have not offended you in any way? The
+year is now far advanced; the winter is at the door. If you have any
+hardship again you will certainly be sick."
+
+James warmly assured them that the only motive he had for desiring to
+leave them was the fear that he and his daughter were burdensome.
+
+"If that is all," said the farmer heartily, "pray do not distress
+yourself further. The spare room which you occupy prevents you from
+being burdensome to us in the smallest degree, and you gain enough to
+supply your wants."
+
+"Yes, that is true," added the farmer's wife. "Mary alone earns enough
+with her needle to support you; and as for you, James, if you wish to
+exercise your trade of basket-maker, you will have your hands full. Not
+long since I took your pretty basket with me to the market, and all the
+countrywomen who saw it wished to have one like it. If you like I will
+procure customers, and I promise that you will not soon be in want of
+work."
+
+The old man and his daughter were only too glad to remain with their
+kind-hearted friends, who expressed themselves as thoroughly pleased
+with the new arrangement.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IX.
+
+A NEW HOME.
+
+
+James and his daughter were now settled down in a place which they
+could call home; they furnished their rooms in a simple style, with
+nothing more than they needed for everyday wants. It gave Mary great
+pleasure in again being able to prepare her father's meals, and to look
+after his comforts in every way; and together they led a life of quiet
+happiness. The good friends with whom they lived had a large garden
+attached to the house, but as the farmer and his wife had their time
+too much taken up in the field to give much care to the garden, it was
+of little or no use to them. James saw that it could be made a
+profitable source of income by devoting it to the growing of flowers
+and fruit, and when he proposed to put this plan into execution the
+farmer's consent was willingly granted.
+
+During the autumn time, James had made his preparations, and when the
+warmth of spring had melted the winter snows, he began his work,
+assisted by Mary; and together they laboured from morning to night. The
+garden was divided into beds planted with all sorts of vegetables and
+flowers, and bordered with gravel walks. The old man was anxious to see
+the completion of his idea, and allowed neither himself nor his
+daughter rest until he had stocked the garden with their favourite
+flowers, rose trees, tulip and lily roots, and various kinds of
+shrubbery.
+
+Mary made a special study of cultivating some rare flowers, among which
+were some which had never before been seen in this part of the country.
+When the summer came, the garden showed such a burst of verdure and
+blossom, that the valley, which was overshadowed by dark trees, now
+assumed quite a smiling appearance. An orchard belonging to the farmer,
+which had also been taken in hand by James, soon bore evidence to his
+gardening skill in the shape of an abundant harvest of fruit. Indeed,
+it seemed as if the blessing of God was upon everything that James
+undertook.
+
+Settled in a comfortable home, and occupied in his favourite calling,
+the old gardener began to forget the troubles of the past, and to
+regain the cheerful humour which had made his conversation such a
+delight in the past. Once more he began to reflect upon the lessons
+which the flowers taught, and day by day he taught to Mary some new
+lesson which he had learned from them.
+
+One day a woman from the neighbouring village came to buy some flax
+from the farmer, and brought her little boy with her. While she was
+occupied in bargaining for the flax, her little child, finding the
+garden-gate open, had gone in and begun to plunder a full-blown rose
+bush, with the result that he scratched himself terribly with the sharp
+thorns. His mother and the farmer's wife, as well as James and his
+daughter, hearing his screams of pain, ran to him. The child, with his
+little hands all covered with blood, cried out against the naughty rose
+bush for having attracted him by its pretty flowers and then cruelly
+torn his hands.
+
+The occasion was seized by James for drawing a lesson. "It is sometimes
+thus with us older children also," he said to Mary. "Like this rose
+tree, every pleasure in life has its thorns. We run towards them, and
+would fain seize them with both hands. Some are led away by a taste for
+the dance and theatre, others by a taste for strong drink, or still
+more shameful vices. But the thorns make themselves felt by and by, and
+then there comes lament for wasted youth, and a distaste for the
+pleasures once so eagerly sought. Do not let us be foolishly dazzled by
+the beauty of the world. The chief end which man has to care for is the
+saving of his soul, and it is folly to give ourselves up to the
+enjoyment of passion. Our unceasing effort should be to use all
+diligence to gain eternal life."
+
+One day James was employed in placing young plants in a part of the
+garden, while Mary was weeding at a little distance from him. "This
+double labour, my child," said her father, "represents what should be
+the occupation of our life. Our heart is a garden which the good God
+has given to us to cultivate. It is necessary that we should constantly
+apply ourselves to cultivate the good and to extract the evil, which is
+too apt to take root. That we may fulfil faithfully these two duties,
+let us implore God's assistance and blessing, which makes the sun to
+shine out and the rain to fall, the plants to grow, and the fruit to
+ripen. Then will our hearts be delightful gardens. We shall then have
+heaven within ourselves." In this way the old man and his daughter
+passed through life, active and industrious in their calling, and
+mingling innocent pleasures and instructive conversation with their
+daily pursuits.
+
+Three years passed swiftly away, and the happy days they had spent at
+Pine Cottage had almost blotted out the memory of their past
+misfortunes. It was now autumn time, and the chrysanthemums, the last
+ornaments of the garden, were glorious in red and yellow flowers. The
+leaves of the trees had become of varied tints, and everything showed
+that the garden was preparing for the winter's repose. James had lately
+begun to feel his strength failing, and the thought of his daughter's
+future gave him considerable uneasiness. He concealed his feelings from
+her for fear of distressing her, but Mary observed that her father's
+remarks upon the flowers were now mostly of a melancholy kind. One day
+she observed a rose-bud which had never blossomed. In attempting to
+gather it the leaves of the flower fell off in her hand. "It is the
+same with men," said her father, who had been watching her. "In youth
+we resemble the rose newly opened, but our life fades like the rose.
+Almost before it is matured, it passes away. Do not pride yourself, my
+dear child, upon the beauty of the body. It is vain and fragile. Aim
+rather at beauty of soul and true piety, which will never wither."
+
+One day towards evening time the old man climbed a ladder to pluck some
+apples, while Mary stood below with a basket to hold them.
+
+"How cold," said James, "this autumn wind is as it whistles over the
+stubble fields and plays with the yellow leaves and my white hairs. I
+am in my autumn, my dear child, as you will also be some day. Try to
+grow like this excellent apple tree, which produces beautiful fruit and
+in great abundance. Try to please the Master of the great garden which
+is called the world."
+
+On another day Mary was sowing seed for the following spring. "The day
+will come," said her father, "when we shall be put in the ground, as
+you are putting these seeds. But let us console ourselves, my dear
+Mary. As soon as the corn is enfolded in the earth, it is animated. It
+springs from the earth in the form of a beautiful flower, and rises
+thus triumphantly from the place where it was buried. So also shall we
+rise one day from our tombs with splendour and magnificence. When you
+follow me to the tomb, my dear child, do not mourn for me, but think of
+the future. In the flowers which you will plant on my grave, try to see
+the image of the resurrection and immortal life."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER X.
+
+A FATHER'S LAST WORDS.
+
+
+The winter had now set in with threatenings of severity. Already the
+mountain and valley round about the farm were covered with deep snow.
+The weakness which old James had been feeling for some time now
+culminated in a severe illness. Obtaining her father's consent, Mary
+asked a physician from a neighbouring village to visit him. The doctor
+came to see James and prescribed for him. Full of foreboding, Mary
+followed him to the door to ask him if he had any hope of her father's
+recovery. To this the physician replied that the old man was in no
+immediate danger, but that he suffered from a disease which would make
+his recovery as an old man very improbable. It was with difficulty that
+Mary bore up under the news, and, after the physician had gone, she had
+a fit of passionate sobbing. For the sake of her father, however, she
+wiped away her tears, and endeavoured to appear calm before she went to
+him.
+
+During the succeeding days Mary attended her father with the utmost
+devotion and loving care. Rarely had he to make his requests known, for
+his daughter could read in his eyes all that he wanted. Mary spent
+whole nights by his bedside. If at any time she consented to be
+relieved for a little rest, it was but rarely that she could close her
+eyes. If her father coughed, she trembled with apprehension; if he made
+the least stir, she immediately approached him softly and on tiptoe to
+know how he was. She prepared and brought to him in the most delicate
+forms the food which best suited his condition. She arranged his
+pillows from time to time, read to him, and prayed for him continually.
+Even when he dozed for a little she would stand by his bed with her
+hands clasped and her tearful eyes raised to heaven.
+
+Mary had a little money which she had saved from her hard-won earnings.
+To scrape together this small sum she had often spent half the night in
+sewing and knitting articles for sale. Now, in her father's illness,
+she made use of this little store to procure for him everything which
+she thought would be of any service. Good old James, although
+occasionally he felt himself a little stronger, was never deceived
+about his condition, but felt only too sure that he was on his
+deathbed. The thought had no power to disturb him, and he spoke to his
+daughter of his approaching death with the greatest serenity.
+
+"Oh," said Mary, crying bitterly, "do not speak thus, my dear father. I
+cannot bear the thought. What will become of me? Alas, your poor Mary
+will no longer have any one upon the earth!"
+
+"Do not cry, my dear child," said her father affectionately, holding
+out his hand to her. "You have a kind Father in heaven who will never
+forsake you, although your earthly father be taken away from you. I do
+not feel anxious about the manner in which you will gain a livelihood
+when I am dead, for the birds easily find their food, and you will find
+enough to nourish you. God provides for the smallest sparrow; will He
+not also provide for you? The thought that distresses me," he
+continued, "is that you will be left alone. Alas, my dear child, you
+have little idea of the wickedness that is in the world! There will be
+moments perhaps when you will feel inclined to do evil; moments when
+you will perhaps yourself be persuaded that sin is not so very wrong.
+Listen to the advice which I now give you, and let the last words of
+your dying father be for ever deeply impressed on your heart. Forbid
+every action, every speech, every thought for which you would have to
+blush if your father knew. Soon my eyes will be for ever closed, I
+shall not longer be here to watch over you, but remember you have in
+heaven a Father whose eye sees everything and reads the secrets of your
+heart."
+
+After a little while, when he had recovered breath, he continued: "You
+would not wish by an act of disobedience to hurt the father whom you
+have on earth; how much more then should you fear to offend your Father
+which is in heaven? Look at me once more, Mary. Oh, if you ever feel
+the least inclination to do wrong, think of my pale face and of the
+tears which wet these sunken cheeks. Come to me, put your hand into
+mine which will soon fall into dust. Promise me never to forget my
+words. In the hour of temptation, imagine that you feel this cold hand
+which you now hold on the border of the grave. My poor child, you
+cannot see without weeping, my pale and hollow cheeks. But know that
+everything passes away in this world. There was a time when I had the
+bloom of health and the fresh colour which you now have. The time will
+come when you too will be stretched on the bed of death, pale and
+emaciated, as you now see me, if God does not sooner take you to
+Himself. The friends of my youth have disappeared like the flowers
+which have passed away with the spring, and for whose places you seek
+in vain, like the dew which sparkles for a moment on the flowers and is
+gone."
+
+The next day James, feeling that his end was near, felt it his duty and
+delight, though weak in body, to continue his advice to his daughter.
+
+"I have seen the world," said he, "as well as other people, in the day
+when I accompanied the young Count on his travels. If there was
+anything in the large cities superb or magnificent, I went there. I
+spent whole weeks in pleasure. If there was a brilliant assembly or a
+lively conversation, I saw and heard as well as my young master. I
+shared in the most exquisite meals, and of the scarcest wines, and
+always had more than I wished for. But all these worldly pleasures left
+me with an empty heart. I assure you solemnly, my dear Mary, that a few
+moments of peaceful thought and fervent prayer in our arbour in
+Eichbourg, or under this roof that covers us now, gave me more real joy
+than all the vain pleasures of the world. Seek then your happiness in a
+life of service of our blessed Saviour. You will find Him and He will
+bless you.
+
+"Too well you know, my child, that I have not been without misfortune
+in this life. When I lost your dear mother my heart was for a long time
+like a dry and barren garden, whose soil, burned by the sun, cracks
+open, and seems to sigh for rain. In this way I languished, thirsting
+for consolation, and at last I found it in the Lord. Oh, my dear
+daughter, there will be days in your life when your heart also will be
+like dry and barren ground; but let it not dishearten you. As the
+thirsty ground calls not for rain in vain, but God sends the refreshing
+showers, so if you seek your consolation from God, He will refresh your
+heart as the sweet rain refreshes the thirsty parched earth. Let your
+confidence in your heavenly Father be unshaken. Firmly believe that
+there is nothing He will not do for those He loves. Sometimes He may
+lead us by paths of grief, but be sure that these paths lead to
+unmingled happiness. Do you recollect, my good Mary, all the grief you
+felt when, after our painful walk, I fell down with fatigue in the
+middle of the road? Now you can see that this accident was the means
+which God made use of to procure for us the comforts which we have
+enjoyed for three years with the good people of this house. Had I not
+taken ill that day then we should not have come before their door, or
+their hearts would not have been touched with compassion for us. All
+the pleasures which we have enjoyed here, all the good which we may
+have been enabled to do, are so many benefits which sprang from the
+sickness which at first so sorely distressed you.
+
+"But you will always find, my dear Mary, that in the troubles of life
+there are proofs of the Divine goodness, to those who will look for
+them. If the liberal hand of the Lord has scattered with flowers the
+mountains and valleys, forests and river-banks, and even the muddy
+marshes, to give us everywhere the opportunity of admiring the
+tenderness and beauty of nature, He has also imprinted on all the
+events of our life the evident traces of His great wisdom, and all His
+passionate love to man in order that the attentive man may learn by
+them to love and adore Him.
+
+"In all our life, we have never had to suffer more than when you were
+accused of a theft, when you were chained and likely to be doomed to
+death. We were weeping together in prison and lamenting our affliction.
+Well, even this trial has been a source of great good to us. Looking
+back upon it we can see that, when the young Countess favoured you
+above other young girls, honoured you by admitting you to her company,
+made you a present of a beautiful gown, and expressed a wish that you
+should always be near her, there was a danger that these great
+advantages of life would render you vain and trifling, fond of the
+things of this world, and apt to forget God. Doubtless the Lord
+consulted our highest interests when He changed our condition, and
+banished us from happiness into despair. In the misery of our state, in
+prison and in poverty of circumstances, we have been enabled to live
+nearer to Him. He has brought us far from the corrupt influences of
+large towns into this lonely country where He has prepared for us a
+better home. Here you are like a flower flourishing in solitude, where,
+if it has not the admiration of man, it has nothing to fear from his
+hand.
+
+"The good and faithful God who has done all these things for us will
+give a still more happy turn to your life. For I firmly believe that He
+has answered my prayer, that He will one day show to the world your
+innocence. When that time shall come I shall be no more, but I can die
+in peace without seeing it, for I am convinced of your innocence. Yes,
+my daughter, the pain which you have suffered will yet be the means of
+leading you to much happiness on earth, though this kind of happiness
+is the least, and you will see that God's great design in afflicting us
+was to sanctify our hearts, and to prepare us for that home to which we
+can arrive only through tribulation and suffering.
+
+"Believing this, let not your heart be troubled that you are in
+misfortune. Believe firmly that God's tenderness watches over you, that
+His care will be sufficient for you in whatever place He chooses to
+take you. In whatever painful situation you may be placed, say, 'It is
+the best place for me. Notwithstanding all that, I am safe, for He has
+brought me here.'"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XI.
+
+MARY'S GREAT LOSS.
+
+
+When at last Mary could no longer hide from herself the seriousness of
+her father's illness, she went to the minister of the parish in which
+Pine Cottage was situated and asked him to come and visit him. The
+minister, who was a kind-hearted and godly man, gladly availed himself
+of the opportunity. Besides conversing with James on spiritual matters,
+he was of great comfort to Mary by the kindly affection with which he
+treated her. One afternoon when the old man's weakness was sensibly
+increased, James requested Mary to leave the room for a moment that he
+might have private conversation with the minister. After a little
+while, he called her in again, and said--
+
+"My dear child, I have settled all my worldly affairs, and am now ready
+to depart and be with Christ."
+
+Mary was deeply distressed, and had great difficulty in keeping back
+her tears, for she saw that the end was rapidly approaching. But out of
+consideration for her father, and after a great effort, she recovered
+herself, and remained calm.
+
+The rest of the day was spent by James in silent prayer, and next day
+he received the Lord's Supper at the hands of the minister, by
+partaking of the bread and wine which are the symbols of the body and
+blood of Christ. Faith in the power of God, love to Christ who had
+redeemed him, and hope of eternal life, had made his venerable
+countenance radiant with happiness.
+
+Mary remained on her knees beside his bed, weeping and praying. The
+farmer and his wife and their household looked on in wonder at the
+rapture of the aged saint, and tears of sympathy were in every eye
+because of Mary's grief.
+
+It gave the old man pleasure to have Mary read to him in her sweet and
+clear voice. During the latter part of his illness he desired to hear
+nothing else than the last words and prayer of Jesus. One night, after
+all the household had gone to bed, Mary was sitting beside her father.
+The moon was shining so brightly into the room that the light of the
+candle was scarcely seen.
+
+"Mary," said the dying man, "read me once again that beautiful prayer
+of our Saviour."
+
+Mary began to read. "Now," said the old man, "give me the book." Mary
+gave him the book, and carried the light nearer to him. "This will be
+the last prayer," said her father, "that I shall make for you," as he
+marked the passage with his finger, then in a trembling voice he
+uttered the following prayer: "O Father, I have not long to remain in
+this world. I am going--I dare hope it--I am going to Thee, my heavenly
+Father. Oh, preserve this my child from sin, for Thy Name's sake. While
+I have lived on the earth, I have endeavoured in Thy name to preserve
+her from it. But, O Lord, I am now going to Thee. I do not ask Thee to
+take her to Thyself, but only to preserve her from harm. Let Thy holy
+truth preserve her. Thy word is truth. Grant, O heavenly Father, that
+the child whom Thou hast given me may at last be admitted to the place
+where I hope to go. Through Jesus Christ my Saviour. Amen."
+
+Mary repeated, as well as her sobs would allow her, her father's
+_Amen_. "Yes," continued the old man, "yes, my daughter, in the
+kingdom which Jesus had from the beginning of the world, we shall see
+Him, and we shall see each other." He again lay down on his pillow to
+rest a little. His hands continued to hold the New Testament, which he
+had bought with his first money saved from the purchase of food after
+he left Eichbourg.
+
+"Dear daughter," he said, some minutes afterwards, "I am grateful for
+all the affection and tenderness which you have shown me since my
+illness commenced. Trust in your heavenly Father, Mary, and you will
+receive of Him your reward. Poor and forsaken as I am, I can give you
+nothing, when I leave you, but my blessing and this book. Live in the
+ways of righteousness, and this blessing will not be without effect.
+The blessing of a father with the confidence of the Lord is better for
+a virtuous child than the richest inheritance. This book, which I wish
+you to take in remembrance of your father, cost me, it is true, but a
+few shillings, but if it be faithfully read and its precepts put in
+practice, I shall have left you the richest treasure. If I had left you
+as many pieces of gold as the spring produces leaves and flowers, with
+all that money you could not buy anything so valuable as this book. It
+is the Word of God. Read it every day, no matter how much work presses
+upon you; read at least one passage. Preserve it and meditate upon it
+in your heart during the day."
+
+About three o'clock the next morning James said, in a faint voice, "I
+feel very ill. Open the window a little." Mary opened it. The moon had
+disappeared, but the sky was brilliant with stars, and presented a
+magnificent sight.
+
+"See how beautiful the sky is!" said the dying man. "What are the
+flowers of earth whose beauty I have so often admired compared with
+these stars, whose glory suffers no fading? It is there I am going.
+What joy! Come, Lord Jesus, come quickly."
+
+With these words James fell back upon his pillow, and passed peacefully
+away. Mary had never seen any one die before, and she thought her
+father had only fainted. In her fright she awoke all the family. They
+ran to her father's bed, and there she heard them say to each other
+that he was dead. Abandoning herself to her grief, she threw herself
+upon her father's body, embraced it, and wept passionately.
+
+"Oh, my father, my good father," said she, "how shall I discharge all
+my obligations to you? Alas, I cannot now. I can only thank you for all
+the words, for all good advice I received from your dear lips, now
+sealed in death. Your hand, which is now cold and stiff, I kiss with
+gratitude, and remember that that hand has bestowed upon me many
+benefits, and has all my life laboured for my good. Oh, if I could at
+this moment follow you into the heavenly kingdom, how gladly would I do
+so. Oh, let me die the death of the righteous. My only consolation now
+is that I shall one day enter upon the happiness and everlasting life
+of heaven."
+
+During this heart-rending scene the farmer's family had been much
+affected. At last they prevailed upon Mary to lie down and rest, hoping
+that sleep would ease her grief. During the following day nothing would
+induce her to leave her father's body. Before the coffin lid was nailed
+down, Mary took one more look at her father. "Alas," said she, "it is
+the last time that I shall ever look upon your dear face! How beautiful
+it was when you smiled, and it shone with the glory into which you were
+so shortly to enter. Farewell, farewell, my father," said she, sobbing
+aloud, "may your body rest peacefully in the earth now, while angels of
+God are, as I hope, bearing your soul to eternal rest."
+
+When the funeral took place, Mary, dressed in mourning which one of the
+girls of the village had kindly given her, followed close to the body
+of her father. She was as pale as death, and every one pitied the poor
+girl who now was without a relative in the world. As Mary's father was
+a stranger at Erlenbrunn, they dug a grave for him in a corner of the
+cemetery beside the wall. Two large pine trees shaded the humble grave.
+The minister who had attended James during his illness spoke of James's
+patience and of the resignation with which he had borne all his
+misfortunes, and the good example he had set for those who knew him.
+With tender words he consoled Mary, who was overwhelmed with grief. In
+the name of her father, the minister thanked the farmer and his wife
+for all their kindness to Mary and her father. He begged of them to be
+father and mother to her who had no longer any parents.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XII.
+
+CHANGES AT PINE FARM.
+
+
+After her father's death, Mary was no longer the bright happy girl she
+had been before. Even her favourite flowers seemed to have lost all
+their beauty, and the pine trees near the farm looked as though they
+were clothed in mourning. From time to time she attended the church at
+Erlenbrunn; and when here she never failed to visit her father's grave.
+On every opportunity she went to this sacred spot to weep for her
+departed parent, and she never left the grave without having made fresh
+resolutions to ignore the pleasures of the world, and to live only to
+God. As time went on her grief gradually moderated, but she soon had
+new trials to undergo.
+
+Great changes took place in Pine Farm. The good farmer had given the
+farm to his only son, an amiable, good-tempered young man, but unhappy
+in his choice of a wife, whom he had married a short time before. She
+was a handsome woman, and possessed of considerable means; but she was
+vain to a degree, and cared for nothing but money. Pride and greed had
+gradually imprinted on her features an expression of harshness so
+striking that, with all her beauty, her looks were repellent. She was
+violently opposed to religion, and was thus without any restraint on
+her conduct. By every means in her power she sought to make the lives
+of her husband's parents miserable. If she knew that anything would
+give them pleasure, she delighted in doing the contrary, and when she
+gave them the food which was their due, according to the contract they
+had made with their son, it was always with a bad grace, and in a
+grudging spirit.
+
+The good old man and his wife lived the greater part of their time in a
+little back room, seldom appearing outside. As for their son, he led a
+miserable life; for his wife overwhelmed him with constant abuse, and
+was constantly reminding him of the money she had brought him. Being of
+a peaceable disposition, and averse to quarrelling and disputing, he
+bore his sufferings in silence. His wife would never quietly allow him
+to visit his parents, for fear, as she said, he would give them
+something secretly. In the evening, after he had finished his work, he
+used to try to find an opportunity to visit them, when he would
+complain to them of his hard lot.
+
+"Well," said his father, "so it is. You suffered yourself to be dazzled
+by the thought of her gold, and to be fascinated by her good looks. I
+yielded too easily to your wishes, and thus we are punished. We should
+have taken the advice of old James, who was an experienced man and
+never approved of this match when it was talked of. I well remember
+every word he said on the subject, and I have thought of it many a
+time. Do you remember," said he to his wife, "our having said that ten
+thousand florins make a handsome sum. 'A handsome sum!' said James,
+'no; for the flowers you see in your garden are a thousand times more
+beautiful. Perhaps you mean to say it is a large and heavy sum. I will
+acknowledge that. He must have good shoulders to bear it without being
+bowed down to the earth, and without becoming a poor wretch, unable to
+lift his head to heaven. Why then do you wish for so much money? You
+have never wanted anything; you have always had more than sufficient.
+Believe me, too much money produces pride. Rain is a useful and
+necessary thing, but when too much falls there is danger of it
+destroying the most healthy plants of the garden.'
+
+"These were exactly the old friend's words we have lost," said the
+farmer, "and I think I still hear him. And you, my son, once said to
+him of your wife, 'She has a charming person, and is beautiful and
+fresh as a rose.' 'Flowers,' answered James, 'have not beauty only;
+they are good and pretty at the same time. They make so many rich
+presents. The bee sucks in pure wax and delicious honey. Without piety,
+a beautiful face is merely a rose upon paper, a miserable trifle
+without life or perfume. It produces neither wax nor honey.' Such were
+the reflections that James frankly made before us. We would not listen
+to him--now we know how to appreciate his advice. That which appeared
+then to us so great a happiness is now to us the height of misfortune.
+May God give us grace to bear our misfortunes with patience!" Thus the
+old couple and their son used to talk together.
+
+Poor Mary had much to suffer also. The back room which she and her
+father had occupied was given up to the old couple, and, although there
+were two empty rooms in the farmhouse, the young farmer's wife, who
+disliked Mary, gave her the most miserable apartment in the house;
+beside which, she ill-treated her in every possible way, and loaded her
+with abuse and fault-finding from morning to night. According to her,
+Mary did not work enough and did not know how to do anything as it
+ought to be done. In short, she made it very plain to the poor orphan
+that she was despised and considered troublesome.
+
+The old man and his wife were keenly conscious of the miserable life
+that Mary led, but they were not in a position to interfere. They had
+enough to do with their own griefs.
+
+Mary thought often of going away from Pine Farm, but where to go was
+the question. After some consideration she asked the minister's advice.
+"My dear Mary," said the old minister, "it is impossible for you to
+think of remaining longer at Pine Farm. They expect you to do more than
+a strong man could accomplish. Still, I do not advise you to leave
+immediately. Although your father gave you an excellent education, and
+taught you all that it was necessary for a village housekeeper to know,
+my advice would be to remain where you are for the present; to work as
+faithfully as you can, and to wait patiently until the Lord delivers
+you from your present hard circumstances. I will endeavour to get you a
+place in an honest Christian family. Have confidence in God; pray
+constantly, bear with this trial, and God will arrange all." Mary
+thanked the good old minister and promised to follow his advice.
+
+Mary's favourite place of meditation was her father's tomb, where she
+had planted a rose tree. "Alas," said she, "if I could remain here
+always, I would water you with my tears!" The rose tree was already
+green, and the buds began to open their purple cups. "My father was
+right," said Mary, "when he compared human life to the rose tree. It
+offers nothing but thorns; but wait a little and the season will come
+when it shall be decked anew in foliage and robed in the most beautiful
+flowers. For me, this is now the time of thorns; but God help me not to
+be cast down! I believe your word, best of fathers. Perhaps I may see
+in my life the truth of your favourite maxim--'Patience produces roses.'"
+Thus poor Mary consoled herself in her distress.
+
+    "Thou art, O Lord, my only trust,
+    When friends are mingled with the dust,
+      And all my loves are gone.
+    When earth has nothing to bestow,
+    And every flower is dead below,
+      I look to Thee alone."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIII.
+
+AGAIN A WANDERER.
+
+
+The months sped on, and now the anniversary of her father's birthday
+arrived. Until then it had always been to Mary a day of great joy, but
+this time, when the day dawned, she was bathed in tears. Previously she
+had had the pleasure and excitement of preparing something which she
+knew would please her father, but now, alas, this delightful occupation
+was rendered useless!
+
+The country people round about their home used to beg flowers from her
+for the purpose of decorating the graves of their friends. It had
+always been a pleasure to Mary to give her flowers for this purpose,
+and she now determined to decorate her father's tomb in the same
+manner. Taking from a cupboard the beautiful basket which had been the
+first cause of all her unhappiness, she filled it with choice flowers
+of all colours, artistically interspersed with fresh green leaves, and
+carried it to Erlenbrunn before the hour of divine service, and laid it
+on her father's tomb, watering it at the same time with tears that
+could not be repressed.
+
+"Oh, best and dearest of fathers," said she, "you have strewed with
+flowers the path of life for me. Let me at least ornament your grave
+with them."
+
+Mary left the basket on the grave, and went back to the misery of Pine
+Farm. She had no fear that any one would dare to steal either the
+basket or the flowers. Many of the country people who saw her offering
+were moved to tears, and, blessing the old gardener's pious daughter,
+they prayed for her prosperity.
+
+The next day the labourers at the farm were busy taking in the hay from
+a large meadow just beyond the forest. The farmer's wife had a large
+piece of fine linen spread out on the grass a few steps from the house,
+and in the evening this was found to have disappeared. Unfortunately
+the young farmer's wife had heard the story of Mary and the ring from
+her husband, to whom it had been told by his father and mother.
+Instantly then she connected Mary with the disappearance of the linen,
+and saw in the circumstance a means of venting her spite upon the girl
+whom she had always disliked.
+
+When Mary was returning from her work in the evening with a rake on her
+shoulder and a pitcher in her hand, along with the other servants, this
+passionate woman came out of the kitchen and met her with a torrent of
+abuse, and ordered her to give up the linen immediately. At first Mary
+was too stunned to reply, but when she understood the charge, she
+answered meekly that it was impossible she could have taken the linen,
+as she had passed the whole day in the hay-field with the other
+servants; that a stranger might easily have taken advantage of a moment
+when there was no one in the kitchen to commit the theft. This
+conjecture turned out to be the true one, but the farmer's wife was not
+to be turned from her conviction.
+
+"Thief," she cried coarsely, "do you think I am ignorant of the theft
+of the ring, and what difficulty you had to escape the executioner's
+sword? Begone as soon as possible. There is no room in my house for
+creatures like you."
+
+"It is too late," said her husband, "to send Mary away now. Let her sup
+with us, as she has worked all day in the great heat. Let her but
+remain this one night."
+
+"Not even one hour," cried his wife passionately; and her husband,
+seeing that advice would only irritate her more, remained silent.
+
+Mary made no further attempt to defend herself against the unjust
+accusation. She immediately made her simple preparations for her
+departure, wrapping up all that she had in a clean napkin. When she had
+put the little bundle under her arm, thanked the servants of Pine Farm
+for their kindness to her and protested once more her innocence, she
+asked permission to take leave of her friends, the old farmer and his
+wife.
+
+"You may do that," said the young farmer's wife, with a scornful smile;
+"indeed, if you wish to take with you these two old people, it will
+give me great pleasure. It is evident death does not mean to rid me of
+them for some time."
+
+The good old people, who had heard the altercation, wept when Mary came
+to bid them good-bye. However, they consoled her as well as they could,
+and gave her a little money to assist her on her journey. "Go, good
+girl," said they to her, "and may God take care of you."
+
+It was towards the close of the day when Mary set out with her little
+bundle under her arm, and began to climb up the mountain, following the
+narrow road to the woods. She wished before leaving the neighbourhood
+to visit her father's grave once more. When she came out of the forest
+the village clock struck seven, and before she arrived at the graveyard
+it was nearly dark; but she was not afraid, and went up to her father's
+grave, where she sat down and gave way to a burst of grief. The full
+moon was shining through the trees, illumining with a silver light the
+roses on the grave and the basket of flowers. The soft evening breeze
+murmured among the branches, making the rose trees planted on her
+father's grave tremble.
+
+"Oh, my father," cried Mary, "would that you were still here, that I
+might pour my trouble into your ears! But yet I know that it is better
+that you are gone, and I thank the Lord that you did not live to
+witness this last affliction. You are now happy, and beyond the reach
+of grief. Oh, that I were with you! Alas, never have I been so much to
+be pitied as now. When the moon shone into the prison which confined me
+you were then alive; when I was driven from the home which I loved so
+much you were left me. I had in you a good father and protector and
+faithful friend. Now I have no one. Poor, forsaken, suspected of crime,
+I am alone in the world, a stranger, not knowing where to lay my head.
+The only little corner that remained to me on the earth I am driven
+from, and now I shall no longer have the consolation of coming here to
+weep by your grave!" At these words the tears rushed forth afresh.
+
+"Alas," said she, "I dare not at this hour beg a lodging for the night.
+Indeed, if I tell why I was turned out of doors, no one perhaps will
+consent to receive me."
+
+She looked around. Against the wall, near her father's tomb, was a
+gravestone, very old and covered with moss. As the inscription had been
+effaced by time, it was left there to be used as a seat. "I will sit
+down on this stone," said she, "and pass the night by my father's
+grave. It is perhaps the last time I shall ever be here. To-morrow at
+daybreak, if it be God's will, I shall continue my journey, going
+wherever His hand may direct me."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIV.
+
+A STRANGE MEETING.
+
+
+Mary sat down on the stone near the wall shaded by the thick foliage of
+a tree which covered her with its dark branches. Here she poured out
+her soul in fervent prayer to God. Suddenly she heard a sweet voice
+calling her familiarly by her name, "Mary, Mary!"
+
+The late hour of night and the solitude of the graveyard and her
+loneliness made Mary start with fear. Looking up she saw the beautiful
+face and figure of a woman, dressed in a long flowing robe. Frightened
+and trembling, Mary was about to fly.
+
+[Illustration: "Looking up she saw the beautiful face and figure of a
+woman."
+_See page 104._]
+
+"Dear Mary," said the lady, with tenderness in her voice, "do not be
+alarmed; I am not a spirit, but a human being like yourself. God has
+heard your fervent prayers, and I have come to help you. Look at me; is
+it possible you do not know me?"
+
+The moon was shining brightly upon her face, and with an exclamation of
+surprise, Mary cried out, "Is it you, the Countess Amelia? Oh, how did
+you get here--here in so lonely a place at this hour of the night, so
+far from your home?"
+
+The Countess raised Mary gently from the ground, pressed her to her
+heart, and kissed her tenderly.
+
+"Dear Mary," said she, "we have done you great injustice. You have been
+ill rewarded for the pleasure which you gave me with the basket of
+flowers, but at last your innocence has been made known. Can you ever
+forgive my parents and me? We are ready to make amends as far as it
+lies in our power. Forgive us, dear Mary."
+
+Mary was distressed at these words, and begged the Countess not to talk
+of forgiveness. "Considering the circumstances," she said, "you showed
+great indulgence towards me, and it never entered my mind to nourish
+the least resentment towards you. I had grateful thoughts of all your
+kindness, and my only sorrow was that you and your dear parents should
+regard me as ungrateful enough to be guilty of stealing your ring. My
+great desire was that you might one day be convinced of my innocence,
+and God has granted this desire. May His name be praised!"
+
+The Countess pressed Mary to her heart, and bathed her face in tears.
+Afterwards she looked at James's grave and, clasping her hands, she
+cried out passionately, "Oh, noble man, whose body lies here, whom I
+learned to love in my tender youth, whose affectionate counsels I have
+often received, and whose fervent prayers I have so often listened to,
+why cannot I see your face to ask pardon for all the injustice done
+you? Oh, if we had only taken more precaution, if we had placed more
+confidence in an old servant who had always shown unimpeachable honesty
+and faithfulness, perhaps thou hadst still been living with us!"
+
+"Believe me, good Countess," said Mary, "my father was far from feeling
+the least resentment towards you. He prayed for you daily, as he was
+accustomed to do when he lived at Eichbourg, and at the hour of his
+death he blessed you all.
+
+"'Mary,' said he to me, a little before he died, 'I feel confident that
+those whom we once served will one day recognise your innocence, and
+recall you from exile. When that day comes, assure the Countess and
+Count and Amelia that my heart was full of respect and love and
+gratitude towards them till my last breath.' These, my dear Countess,
+were his last words."
+
+The tears of the good Amelia flowed copiously. "Come, Mary," said she,
+"and sit down here with me on the stone. We are safe here in the
+sanctuary of the Lord. Let me tell you of all the strange events that
+have happened."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XV.
+
+THE YOUNG COUNTESS'S STORY.
+
+
+Having made Mary sit down beside her, the young Countess began her
+story.
+
+"God is surely with you, dear Mary," said she, "and has taken you under
+His protection. I see now that He has guided my steps here in order
+that I might find you for whom we have sought so long. Simple as are
+the events which I am about to relate to you, we can see in them a
+chain of truly providential circumstances.
+
+"From the time that your innocence was discovered I had no more rest.
+You and your father were always pressing on my mind, wandering without
+home and friends. Believe me, my dear Mary, I have shed many bitter
+tears on your account. My parents were also deeply distressed at the
+injustice they had unwittingly done you, and sought for you everywhere;
+but, as you know, without being able to obtain any trace of you.
+
+"Two days ago we came to a hunting-lodge of the Prince in the forest,
+not far from this village. For twenty years at least this castle has
+not been visited, the only occupant being a gamekeeper. My father had
+gone on business, and had spent the whole day in the forest in company
+with two noblemen whose wives were staying at the castle. It had been a
+very warm day, and the evening was very fresh. The setting sun, the
+mountain covered with pines interspersed with picturesque rocks offered
+such a beautiful spectacle that I begged permission to take a walk.
+Accompanied by the gamekeeper's daughter I set out, and as we passed
+along we found the graveyard gate open, and the tombstones gilded by
+the light of the setting sun.
+
+"Since my childhood I have always had a pleasure in reading
+inscriptions and epitaphs on tombstones. I am moved when one tells of a
+young man or woman carried off in the bloom of youth, and I feel a sort
+of melancholy pleasure if it concerns a person who had reached advanced
+age. The verses themselves, poor as they may be from a poetical point
+of view, stir serious feelings within me, and I never fail to carry
+away with me from a graveyard good thoughts and pious resolutions.
+
+"Entering the graveyard with the gamekeeper's daughter, I began as
+usual to read the inscriptions. After a little while the girl said to
+me, 'Come, I will show you something very beautiful. It is the grave of
+an old man, who has neither tombstone nor epitaph, but it has been
+ornamented with taste and beauty by the tender piety of his daughter.
+See, you can just distinguish it through the thick leaves of these
+pines--the beautiful rose tree and the basket of flowers.'
+
+"You can imagine, dear Mary, the shock I received, when at the first
+glance I recognised the basket of flowers which had never been out of
+my mind since that sad day when you left Eichbourg. If there had been
+any doubts in my mind as to it being the same basket, the initials of
+my name and the coat-of-arms of my family would have dispelled them.
+Turning to my companion, I asked if she knew anything of you and your
+father. She told me all about your life at Pine Farm, your father's
+sickness and death, and your great grief. After hearing all that the
+gamekeeper's daughter could tell me, I went to the minister, only to
+hear the same story with very much praise of yourself added. I would
+have gone off to Pine Farm immediately, but while the story was being
+told me, time had passed rapidly, and it was now already quite dark.
+'What shall I do,' said I; 'it is now too late to go to the farm, but
+to-morrow at daybreak we will set out.' Your good friend the minister
+sent for the schoolmaster to charge him to go and bring you without
+delay to the castle.
+
+"'My dear young friend,' said the schoolmaster, 'you need not go far to
+look for her. She has gone to her father's grave to weep there. Alas,
+poor child!' he continued, 'I saw her sitting there from an opening in
+the steeple when I went this afternoon to wind up the clock.'
+
+"I at once determined to find you, and the minister wanted to accompany
+me, but I begged to be allowed to come to you alone, that my first
+meeting with you might be as affectionate as I desired. While I came
+here the old minister went to tell my parents where I was, and to
+prepare them for your arrival. This accounts, my dear Mary, for my
+sudden appearance before you. You can now see, through God's
+providence, this basket of flowers which separated us has reunited us
+by your father's grave--that father who is now inhabiting the home
+above."
+
+"Yes," said Mary, clasping her hands and raising her grateful eyes to
+heaven, "God has done it all. He has had pity on my tears and on my
+needs. How can I thank Him for His goodness and His boundless
+tenderness?"
+
+"I have still one thing to tell you yet," answered the Countess Amelia,
+interrupting her, "and it is one which seems to me singularly touching,
+and inspires me with an awe for the justice of God who directs our lot
+even when we are unconscious of it. My maid, Juliette, had but one
+thought, one desire. It was to banish you from my heart and to take
+your place in my affections. It was with that design that she made up
+her terrible falsehood, and her wicked plan succeeded too well. But
+that very falsehood was the means of her afterwards losing her place
+and our confidence, and that made you dearer than ever to our hearts.
+Juliette endeavoured to estrange you from me for ever, and your
+banishment was a constant subject of triumph to her.
+
+"You know how that, in her wickedness, she threw this basket at your
+feet with an insulting laugh. Well, it was exactly this event which was
+afterwards, although she little thought it then, to reunite us for
+ever. For was it not indeed through this basket on your father's grave
+that I discovered you to-day? Truly, those who have the love of God
+have nothing to fear from any enemies. God knows how to turn to our
+advantage all the ill that wicked people do to us; and our most cruel
+enemies, although for a while they may bring us to unhappiness, can do
+nothing but contribute to our real and lasting happiness. We may say in
+this case that our safety comes from our enemies.
+
+"But now, dear Mary," said the Countess, "tell me what brought you so
+late to your father's grave, and why, when I found you, you were
+weeping so bitterly."
+
+When Mary had told her story, of how they had driven her from the Pine
+Farm on a false charge, the Countess was astonished still more at the
+providence which had brought her and Mary together.
+
+"Yes, indeed," said the Countess to Mary, "it is by God's will that I
+have found you to-day, just when you were again plunged into the
+deepest distress. You were imploring His assistance with burning tears
+running down your cheeks. This is another proof of what we have been
+speaking, that God knows how to turn to our advantage the ill which our
+enemies design to do us. The farmer's wicked wife, who drove you from
+her house, thought she would make you unhappy. Without knowing it she
+has brought you to my arms and those of my parents, who, as well as
+myself, are desirous of making your life happy.
+
+"But it is now time to set out," said Amelia. "My parents will be
+anxious at my long absence. Come, dear Mary, I will never leave you any
+more. Let us go to my parents."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVI.
+
+HOW THE RING WAS FOUND.
+
+
+The road to the castle towards which the Countess now led Mary, lay
+through a long and dark walk of tall old linden trees. For a while they
+walked in silence together, each wrapped in her own thoughts, but at
+last the Countess said to Mary--
+
+"Oh, I must now tell you how the ring was found. My father's affairs
+requiring his presence at Eichbourg, we left Court earlier than usual
+this year--in the beginning of March. When we arrived at the Castle,
+the weather was very boisterous, and one night in particular we had a
+tremendous storm. You remember the great pear tree we had in our garden
+at Eichbourg? It was very old, and bore scarcely any fruit. That night
+the wind, which blew with great violence, had shaken it so much that it
+threatened every moment to fall, and my father ordered it to be cut
+down.
+
+"My father, and mother, the children, and servants, and indeed all of
+the people in the Castle, came into the garden to see it fall. As soon
+as it was cut down, my two little brothers ran immediately towards a
+magpie's nest in the tree, which had for a long time been a coveted
+object, but had hitherto been out of their reach. Now they seized upon
+the nest and busied themselves examining its contents.
+
+"'Look, Albert!' said Augustus, 'what is that shining among the twigs?
+How bright it is!'
+
+"'It sparkles like gold,' said Albert.
+
+"My maid, Juliette, ran forward to look at it, and immediately uttered
+a scream.
+
+"'Oh,' she cried, 'it is the ring!' and became as pale as death.
+
+"The children extricated the ring from among the twigs, and carried it
+in great glee to my mother.
+
+"'Yes, indeed it is my ring,' said my mother, with deep emotion. 'Oh,
+good and honest James! oh, poor Mary, what injustice we have done you!
+I am glad enough to find my ring again, but if I could find James and
+Mary, I would gladly sacrifice the ring to repair the wrong which we
+have done them.'
+
+"I was curious to know by what chance the ring was carried into the
+magpie's nest at the top of the tree, and the old huntsman, Anthony,
+gave a ready explanation.
+
+"'Neither the gardener James nor his daughter could have hidden the
+ring in this place, that is very clear,' said he. 'The tree was too
+high, and it would have been impossible to climb up so far. Besides
+which, they had not time to do so. Mary had scarcely returned to the
+house when she and her father were both arrested. Magpies are greatly
+attracted by anything that shines, and if they can find anything
+sparkling, they carry it off immediately to their nests. One of these
+birds must have stolen the ring, and carried it to the tree. That is
+all the mystery. The only thing that astonishes me is that an old
+hunter, as I am, should not have thought sooner of this explanation.'
+
+"The old man spoke with deep feeling and with tears in his eyes, but
+they were tears of joy at seeing your innocence proved.
+
+"'Anthony,' said my mother, 'I believe you are perfectly right, and now
+I remember quite distinctly that very often these birds came from the
+top of this tree to my window, that the sash was open when the ring
+disappeared, that the table on which I put the ring was close to the
+window, and that, after having shut the door and bolted it, I went into
+the next room, where I stayed for some time. No doubt one of these
+mischievous birds saw the ring from his nest, and, while I was in the
+other room, he must have darted in and carried it off.'
+
+"My father was deeply troubled at the conviction, which he could not
+resist, that you and your father had been unjustly condemned.
+
+"'My heart is almost broken,' said he, 'for having done these good
+people so much injury. My only consolation is that it was not done from
+ill-will, but in ignorance and error.'
+
+"My father now turned to Juliette, who in the universal rejoicing at
+the discovery of the ring remained silent and pale.
+
+"'False woman,' said he, 'deceitful servant! How could you have the
+hardihood to lie to me and to the judge, and to compel us to commit an
+action unwillingly, the iniquity of which now calls for vengeance? What
+tempted you to plunge into suffering an old and honest man, and his
+poor and virtuous daughter?'
+
+"'Officers, do your duty,' he said to two constables, who had assisted
+in cutting down the tree, and who now approached the unhappy Juliette
+to carry out my father's orders. 'Let her be put in chains,' he added,
+in a grave tone,--'the same chains that Mary wore,--and let her be
+thrown into the same prison in which she caused Mary to languish. She
+must suffer all that Mary suffered, only that, unlike Mary, she has
+deserved it. What she has been able to hoard of money or clothes shall
+be taken from her, to compensate, if it be possible, the unhappy old
+man and his daughter who have had to suffer an unjust sentence. The
+officer who conducted Mary out of my dominions shall also conduct
+Juliette, just as she is, to the same place.'
+
+"No one had ever seen my father so exasperated, never had any one heard
+him speak in such passionate tones. For a while every one was silent,
+but at last the officers and servants gave voice to their sentiments
+and thoughts.
+
+"'It is well done,' said one of the officers, seizing Juliette by the
+arm; 'when one digs another's grave he must fill it himself.'
+
+"'That is what is gained by telling falsehoods,' said the other
+officer. 'It is true that no thread is so fine that it cannot be seen
+in the sunshine.'
+
+"'It was a pretty dress which the young Countess gave to Mary,' said
+the cook in her turn, 'that made Juliette angry. In her rage, and not
+knowing well what she was about, she began to tell lies, and then it
+was impossible to retract without acknowledging her guilt. The proverb
+is true which says that, once the devil has us by the hair, he will
+hold fast to us afterwards.'
+
+"'It is well, it is well,' said the coachman, who had just finished
+cutting the tree, and who still had the axe over his shoulder. 'Let us
+hope she will mend her ways, if she does not wish to be worse off in
+the next world. The tree that bears not good fruit,' said he, shaking
+his axe, 'shall be cut down, and cast into the fire.'
+
+"The news of the finding of the ring spread through Eichbourg in a very
+short time, and every one ran to the place, so that in a little while a
+great crowd had gathered. The judge who condemned you came also, and
+every witness of the discovery was as eager as possible to tell him all
+about it.
+
+"You cannot imagine, my dear Mary," the Countess proceeded, "the effect
+that the story produced on the good man. Notwithstanding his severity
+respecting you, he is a man of great probity, and one who has all his
+life tried to administer justice with strict fidelity.
+
+"'I would give half of my goods,' said he, in a tone that went to the
+heart of every one who heard him--'yes, I would willingly have given
+everything I possess if this misfortune had not happened. To have
+condemned innocence is a frightful thought.' Then, looking round him at
+the people, he said, in a solemn voice, 'God is the only infallible
+judge, the only one that cannot be deceived. He knows everything. He
+alone knew the hiding-place in which the ring had remained until now.
+The judges of the earth are near-sighted and prone to be deceived. It
+is rare here below that innocence suffers and vice triumphs. The
+invisible Judge, who will recompense one day all good actions and
+punish all bad ones, has decreed that even here innocence shall not
+always suffer from suspicion, nor hidden crime remain always
+concealed.'"
+
+While Amelia had been relating this interesting narrative, Mary had
+been lifting up her heart in silent thanksgiving to God for clearing
+her character from every stain of suspicion and establishing her
+innocence in the minds of her friends. By the time Amelia had finished
+her story, they had arrived at the door of the castle.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVII.
+
+REPARATION.
+
+
+The Count, the Countess, and the guests who were at the castle, were
+assembled in the drawing-room when Amelia and Mary entered. The worthy
+minister had arrived before them, and had been reciting to a
+deeply-interested audience, the story of James and Mary and their life
+at Pine Cottage. He had painted in a touching manner the conduct of the
+good old man during his residence at Pine Farm, emphasising the love
+and respect which he bore to the Count and his family. He told of
+Mary's activity, of her filial piety, and her patience and modesty,
+until tears streamed from the eyes of his hearers.
+
+At this moment the Countess Amelia, holding Mary by one hand and in the
+other the basket of flowers, entered the brilliantly-lighted room. Mary
+was welcomed by all, and loaded with congratulations. The Count himself
+took her kindly by the hand, and said, "Poor child, how pale and thin
+you look. It was our hasty judgment that brought your misery upon you,
+and we must now spare nothing, that happiness may once more be restored
+to you, and that the faded flowers may once more bloom on your young
+cheeks. You were driven from your father's house, but in future you
+shall have it for your own property."
+
+The Countess kissed Mary, pressed her to her heart, called her her
+daughter, and, taking from her finger the ring which had caused so many
+misfortunes, she said, "Here, my dear child, although your piety is a
+great deal more precious than the large diamond which sparkles in this
+ring, you must accept this present as a feeble compensation for the
+wrong you have suffered, and as a token of the sincere attachment and
+maternal tenderness I feel towards you."
+
+With these words she held out the ring to Mary, who was almost overcome
+with so much kindness and ready to sink under the weight of the
+benefits she had received. Her tears flowed freely, but they were tears
+of joy.
+
+"Poor child," said one of the guests, "take what the Countess offers
+you. God has given the Count and his wife fortune, but He has given
+them something more precious--hearts which know how to make the best
+use of riches."
+
+"Why do you flatter us?" said the Countess. "This is not a _generous_
+action, it is an act of _justice_."
+
+Still Mary hesitated about accepting the valuable gift, and turned with
+streaming eyes towards the minister, as if to ask his advice.
+
+"Yes, Mary," said the venerable man, "you must keep the ring. You see,
+my good child, how God is blessing your filial piety; for whosoever
+sincerely honours his parents shall be better for it. Take the valuable
+present with gratitude, and as adversity found you resigned to the
+Divine will, so in prosperity show yourself grateful to your heavenly
+Father--grateful to His dear name, benevolent and kind."
+
+Mary put the ring on her finger and attempted to express her thanks,
+but tears checked her utterance, and were thus the best expression of
+her gratitude. Amelia, who sat by her with the basket of flowers in her
+hand, was delighted with the generous proceedings of her parents. Her
+eyes shone with affection for Mary; and the minister, who had often
+observed how envious children generally are when their parents exercise
+their benevolence towards other people, was deeply touched by this
+disinterested love of Amelia. "May God," said he, "reward the
+generosity of the Count and Countess. May all that they have done for
+the poor orphan be rendered to them a hundredfold in the person of
+their own dear daughter!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVIII.
+
+PINE FARM REVISITED.
+
+
+The Count and his family were just on the eve of leaving for Eichbourg,
+and next morning at break of day all was bustle in the castle,
+preparing for their departure. In the midst of all the preparations,
+however, Mary was not forgotten, and each one vied with the other in
+the attentions they paid to her.
+
+Mary's clothes, which she had bought during her residence at Pine Farm,
+were made of the coarsest material and of the plainest cut. But one of
+Amelia's friends, a young lady of the same age and size as Mary, at
+Amelia's request presented Mary with a complete outfit, which, without
+being extravagant, was more in keeping with her new situation. In
+answer to Mary's modest protest against donning what seemed to her,
+extravagantly grand garments, Amelia said, "You are my friend; you are
+henceforth to be my companion; you are also to live with me. You ought
+therefore to dress yourself differently from a farm servant."
+
+After breakfast they started on their journey homeward, and Mary sat
+beside Amelia in the carriage, with the Count and Countess opposite.
+First of all, however, the Count gave orders for the coachman to drive
+them to Pine Farm, that he might become acquainted with the people who
+had entertained Mary and her father so kindly. It was not long before
+they gathered from Mary's answers that the old people at Pine Farm were
+far from being comfortable, and that their declining years were not so
+peaceful as they had a right to expect.
+
+The arrival of a nobleman's carriage at Pine Farm caused no little
+excitement. No sooner had the young farmer's wife seen the carriage
+stop at the door than she hastened towards it.
+
+"Sir," said she to the Count, "allow me to assist you and also the
+ladies, your daughters, I presume."
+
+So saying, she presented her hand to one of the young ladies, when,
+recognising her to be Mary herself, she uttered an exclamation of
+surprise, let go her hand as if she had touched a serpent, and drew
+back in great confusion.
+
+The old farmer was working in his garden when the Count with his family
+and Mary alighted; and when they went to the good old man, took him by
+the hand, and thanked him for his kindness towards Mary and her father,
+the worthy farmer was deeply moved.
+
+"Oh," said he, "I owe that good man more than ever he owed me. The
+blessing of heaven came with him into our home, and if I had followed
+his advice in everything, I should have been much better for it at this
+moment. Since his death I have no pleasure in anything but this garden,
+which I began to cultivate at his suggestion. Since I have not had
+strength to follow the plough, I have occupied myself here, and I seek
+among the herbs and flowers the peace which I can no longer find in my
+own house."
+
+In the meantime Mary had gone to look for the old farmer's wife in her
+little room, and she now came forward leading her by the hand. The
+worthy woman was quite overcome by the strange circumstances in which
+she found Mary, and the excitement of the moment; and when she came
+forward to meet the Count and Countess, it was with a timid air, and in
+evident distress at finding herself the object of so much attention. By
+and by, however, she and her husband heard the story of the finding of
+the ring, and so great was their affection for Mary that they cried for
+joy like children.
+
+"Did I not tell you," said the farmer, addressing Mary, "that your
+filial piety would receive its reward? You see, my prophecy is already
+fulfilled," and his wife, who had recovered her self-possession, said,
+"Yes, yes; your father was right when he said, 'He who clothes the
+flowers, well knows how to take care of you.'"
+
+While this conversation had been going on, the young farmer's wife
+stood at some distance, consumed with jealousy and anger.
+
+"Well, well," she said to herself, "there is no saying what will happen
+in this life. That miserable beggar whom I turned out of my house--look
+at her now, dressed like a young lady of high rank. Who would have
+thought of such a thing! Every one, however, knows who she is, so she
+cannot impose on any one in this town. They know that yesterday she was
+sent from here with a little package under her arm, to go into the
+country."
+
+The Count had not heard this abusive language, but a glance at the
+woman's face was enough to show him that she was nursing angry
+passions. "She is a wicked creature," he said to himself, as he walked
+round the garden in a very thoughtful mood.
+
+At last he stopped before the old farmer. "Listen, my good old friend,"
+said he, "while I make a proposition to you. I have given Mary a piece
+of ground on my estate, which was rented and cultivated by her father.
+But Mary is not ready to take up housekeeping. What should prevent you
+from retiring there? It will suit you, I am certain, and the owner will
+not exact any rent from you. You can cultivate the herbs and flowers in
+which you find your pleasure, and you will find, in the pretty cottage
+which is attached to the ground, rest and peace in your old age."
+
+The Count's wife, Amelia and Mary joined in urging the old man to
+accept this generous offer. But there was no need for persuasion. The
+old people were happy to be taken from their uncomfortable
+surroundings, and gladly agreed to the proposal.
+
+At this moment the young farmer came home from the fields. His surprise
+was as great as his wife's when he saw the carriage at his door drawn
+by four white horses; for never in the history of the farm had a
+carriage stopped there before. When he heard of the proposal which the
+Count had made to his father and mother, he gladly consented to it,
+although he was deeply grieved to part from his old parents. His
+consolation was found, however, in thinking that they were going to be
+happier than they could possibly be with his wife.
+
+As for his wife herself, the only remark she made was to say in a
+spiteful way to the Count--
+
+"It is a great favour you are doing us in ridding us of two old people
+who are nothing but a burden!"
+
+Promising to send for the old farmer and his wife as soon as everything
+was ready, the Count and his family, accompanied by Mary, now stepped
+into the carriage and drove off. Here for a time we will leave Mary and
+follow the fortunes of the occupants of Pine Farm.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIX.
+
+RETRIBUTION.
+
+
+In course of time, when arrangements had been made for their reception,
+a carriage was sent from Eichbourg to bring away the old farmer and his
+wife. Their son was grieved to the heart when the time came for them to
+go, but their daughter-in-law had counted the days and hours until the
+time of their departure, and felt nothing but vindictive pleasure at
+being rid of them. Her joy, however, received a severe check from a
+note which the coachman presented to her, in which the Count informed
+her that she and her husband should pay all that had been stipulated
+for the support of her father and mother-in-law; and that the price of
+their living valued in money, according to the current market price,
+should be paid to them every quarter. Realising her helplessness, she
+became violently angry and turned round to her husband, saying, "We are
+over-reached. If they had stayed here, it would not have cost us half
+as much." Her husband was secretly pleased to think that he was still
+permitted to help his parents in their old age, but he took good care
+not to show his joy before his wife.
+
+The old people set off in the carriage the next morning, followed by
+the blessings of their son and the secret ill-wishes of their
+daughter-in-law.
+
+But the unnatural conduct of this wicked woman was visited with the
+trouble which is always the lot of avarice and inhumanity. Her
+secretly-cherished god was gold, and she had lent the bulk of her money
+to a merchant to use in his business, on his promise to pay her a large
+interest for the loan. Her greatest pleasure was in making
+calculations, as to how much her money would amount to after a certain
+number of years, with all the interest and compound interest added.
+Suddenly, however, these golden dreams received a rude awakening. The
+manufacturer's speculations proved unfortunate, and he shortly
+afterwards failed in business, and his goods were sold by order of the
+sheriff.
+
+The news came as a thunder-stroke for the farmer's wife, and from the
+moment that she heard of the catastrophe she had no repose. Every day
+she kept running to the lawyers, or to her neighbours to complain of
+her hard lot, and the nights she spent in weeping and scolding her
+husband. From the wreck of her fortune of ten thousand florins she
+received only a paltry hundred or two, and so deeply did she feel the
+loss of her money that she openly declared her wish to die. The result
+of the continual worrying induced a fever which never left her. When
+her husband wished to send for a physician she would not consent to it,
+and when, in spite of her objections, he at last sent for one, his wife
+in a passion threw the medicine he prescribed out of the window.
+
+At last her husband saw that she was seriously ill, and he requested
+the minister of Erlenbrunn to come and see her. The good old man
+visited her frequently and talked to her affectionately, in order to
+induce her to repent of her sins, and to detach her heart from the
+things of this earth, that she might turn to God.
+
+But this advice made her very angry. She looked at the good man with
+utter astonishment. "I do not know," she said, "for what purpose the
+minister comes to preach repentance to me. He should have delivered
+such a sermon to the merchant who stole our money. Yes, there would
+have been some sense in that. As for me, I do not see that I have any
+reason for repentance. As long as I was able to go out I always went to
+church, and I have never failed to say my prayers. I have not ceased
+all my life to do my duty and to behave myself like a virtuous
+housewife. I defy any living soul to slander me. And of all the poor
+people who have come to my door, not one can complain that I sent them
+away without giving them something. Now, I should like to know how any
+one can behave better!"
+
+The venerable pastor saw that she was justifying herself before God,
+and he tried by adopting a more direct tone to lead her to contrition.
+He showed to her that she loved money more than anything else in the
+world, and that the love of money was idolatry. He showed her that the
+bursts of anger in which she had indulged were heinous sins before God,
+that she had totally failed in the most beautiful of all Christian
+virtues--filial affection; that by her greed of money she had made her
+husband unhappy, cruelly driven away the poor orphan Mary, and even
+turned away her husband's parents, those whom she ought to have
+cherished as if they were her own.
+
+He showed her also that, with a fortune like hers, a little piece of
+bread given to a poor man to get rid of him did not fulfil the duties
+which God expected of her, that in spite of all her boasting of going
+to church she was none the better of it, for her prayers had come from
+a heart unwarmed by love, and could not ascend to the throne of God. In
+this faithful way did he talk to her, but only with the result of
+making her burst into a fit of passionate sobbing.
+
+The illness from which she suffered was a long and trying one. She
+spent whole nights in coughing, and yet the ruling passion of avarice
+was so strong that she would scarcely take sufficient nourishment to
+sustain her. No consoling thought came to her to mitigate her
+suffering. She was utterly unwilling to resign herself to God and to
+submit to His will.
+
+The good minister tried in every imaginable way to bring her to a
+better frame of mind. During the last days of her life she was
+occasionally a little softened in her manners, but she never evinced
+any true repentance. In the flower of her age she died, a sad instance
+of the effects of avarice, passion, and love of the world.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XX.
+
+FORGIVING AN ENEMY.
+
+
+And now we must return to Mary whom we left in her new surroundings.
+
+Immediately after leaving Pine Farm, Mary went with the Count's family
+to the city, in which they spent part of every year. While they were
+there, a clergyman came one morning to their residence and asked to see
+Mary. He told her that he was charged with a message for her from a
+person who was very ill and probably near death, and who desired
+anxiously to speak to her. The clergyman said that the person was not
+willing to give her message to any one but to Mary herself.
+
+Mary could not imagine what the woman could want with her, and she
+consulted the Countess as to what she ought to do. The Countess,
+knowing the clergyman to be a pious and prudent man, advised Mary to go
+with him, and at the minister's request old Anthony the huntsman
+accompanied them. After a long walk to the outskirts of the town, they
+arrived at last at a house situated in a side street, which presented a
+most gloomy aspect. "Here is the house," said the clergyman, knocking
+at the door, "but wait a little."
+
+After a few moments he returned for Mary, who then entered with him
+into a most miserable room. The window was narrow and dark, and some
+broken panes were patched with paper. The only furniture which the room
+contained was a miserable truckle-bed, covered with a more miserable
+mattress, and a broken chair, on which stood a stone pitcher, with
+neither handle nor cover.
+
+On the miserable bed lay stretched a figure which to Mary's eyes seemed
+more like a skeleton, but which she gradually made out was the form of
+a woman, in the last stages of illness.
+
+In a voice which resembled the rattle of death, this miserable creature
+sought to speak with Mary, who trembled in every limb. It was with the
+utmost difficulty that she could make out what the poor woman said, but
+at last she learned, to her horror, that the frightful phantom was
+Juliette, who at the Castle of Eichbourg had been the beginning and
+cause of all her distress. After being turned away from the Castle, she
+had gone from bad to worse, until she had sunk into her present state.
+
+Lying upon her miserable bed, death staring her in the face, remorse
+had overtaken her, and her one wish was to have Mary's forgiveness.
+Learning in some way, that the Count and his family were in the city,
+she begged of the clergyman who was visiting her to ask Mary to come to
+see her. The poor woman, judging Mary by herself, had entreated the
+clergyman not to mention her name in case Mary would not come.
+
+Mary was affected to the heart when she heard Juliette's story, and she
+shed tears of sympathy with her old enemy. She assured her that she had
+forgiven her long ago, and that the only feeling she experienced was
+that of the deepest pity for her.
+
+[Illustration: "Mary was affected to the heart when she heard
+Juliette's story."
+_See page 142._]
+
+"Alas," said Juliette, "I am a great sinner; I have deserved my fate.
+Forgetfulness of God, contempt of good advice, love of dress, flattery,
+and pleasure were the first causes of misery, and these have brought me
+to my present state. Oh," cried she, raising her voice to a shriek, and
+weeping bitterly, "that is nothing to the fate which I fear awaits me
+in the world to come. You have pardoned me, it is true, but I feel the
+weight of God's anger now settling on my soul."
+
+Mary conversed long and earnestly with her, endeavouring to point her
+to the Saviour of the world, who would receive her if she truly
+repented. At last she was obliged to leave her without being satisfied
+as to her state of mind, but the idea of the unhappy Juliette dying
+without hope continually pressed on her mind and weighed down her
+spirits. She recollected her little apple tree in blossom, withered by
+the frost, and what her father had said on that occasion. The most
+consoling words he had said on his deathbed presented themselves to her
+mind, and she renewed the promise she had made to God to live entirely
+to His glory.
+
+To the Countess she related her discovery, and that generous lady sent
+the unhappy Juliette medicine, food, and linen, and everything which
+might tend to relieve her illness. But it was too late, and at the age
+of twenty-three the once beautiful Juliette, reduced to a mere skeleton
+and disfigured by disease, died without having given evidence of a
+changed heart towards God.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXI.
+
+CONCLUSION.
+
+
+The next spring, when the country was covered with verdure and flowers,
+the Count, accompanied by his wife, and daughter, and Mary, went to his
+home at Eichbourg. Towards evening they approached the village, and
+when Mary saw in the light of the setting sun the familiar church
+steeple, the Castle, and the cottage where she had spent so many happy
+years with her father, she was so deeply touched that tears started to
+her eyes.
+
+But in the midst of the sorrowful memories which the scene called up in
+her mind, there came to her a devout feeling of thankfulness for the
+wonderful way in which God had led her back.
+
+"When I left Eichbourg," she said, "it was in disgrace, and without
+ever expecting to come back again. The ways of Providence are
+mysterious, but God is good."
+
+When the carriage stopped at the Castle, the servants and officers
+belonging to the Count's household were waiting to receive them. Mary
+had a warm welcome from them all. Every one showed the greatest joy at
+seeing her again, and their congratulations on her innocence having
+been proved were manifestly sincere. The old judge who had sent her
+into banishment was among those who welcomed her most cordially. Taking
+her hand in the presence of all the servants, he asked her pardon for
+the mistake he had made. He expressed his gratitude to the Count and
+Countess for having so nobly repaired the injustice, assured them that
+he reproached himself for the misfortune, and that he was willing to do
+everything in his power to discharge his debt.
+
+The exciting day came to an end, and Mary was glad to escape to her
+chamber. Next morning, the sun shining brightly into her room woke her
+early. As soon as she was dressed she ran to visit her father's
+cottage, and to walk once more round the old familiar garden. On her
+way she met numbers of the villagers, and all of them showed great
+happiness at seeing her.
+
+The old farmer and his wife, who had now been settled some time in the
+cottage, were delighted to meet her again. They kissed her
+affectionately and assured her of the happiness of their new life.
+
+"When you were without a home," said the farmer, with tears in his
+eyes, "we received you and your father into our own, and now that we
+are old and had no place that we could call our own, you give us this
+charming cottage in which we might spend our declining years."
+
+"Yes," said his wife, "it is always well to be generous and hospitable.
+We never know how soon we shall receive it again."
+
+"Well, well," said her husband, "I am glad we did not think of that
+then. We took Mary and her father in without hope of reward. However,
+the maxim is not the less true, 'Do good to others and you will always
+find some one to do good to you.'"
+
+When Mary entered the cottage, the sight of the place where her father
+used to sit raised a host of sad but sweet recollections in her mind.
+She walked round the garden and kissed every tree planted by his hand,
+seeing in each an old acquaintance. The little apple tree which had
+been their favourite, was just now covered with blossom, and before it
+she stopped to meditate for a little on man's brief life, which fades
+away before the tree which he has planted. In the arbour where she had
+passed so many happy hours with her father, she rested a little, and
+gave herself up to reflection. Looking around on the garden, which he
+had cultivated so diligently by the sweat of his brow, she fancied that
+she could still see him, and tears streamed from her eyes, when she
+remembered that he had gone from her for ever. But one thought soothed
+her heart and made her calm, the thought that he had gone to a better
+world, and was now reaping the reward of his beautiful life.
+
+As long as Mary lived she spent some weeks every spring at the Castle,
+cherished and honoured by every one there, and endearing herself to the
+people of the village, and particularly to the children, among whom she
+was a great favourite. Her delight was to take them apart and to talk
+to them of the Saviour, and she had the happiness of believing that
+many of them under her instructions gave their hearts to God.
+
+A monument had been erected to her father in fulfilment of a promise
+which Amelia had made to Mary that evening when she found her sitting
+on her father's grave. It was an elegant monument of white marble,
+ornamented with an epitaph in gold letters. Besides the name of the
+deceased, his age and occupation, nothing in the way of epitaph was
+added but these words of Jesus--
+
+        "I am the Resurrection and the Life:
+    He that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live."
+
+Underneath these words a beautiful basket of flowers had been cut from
+a design drawn by Amelia herself. Underneath the basket was written--
+
+    "_All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof as the
+    flowers of the field. The grass withereth, the flower fadeth, but
+    the word of the Lord endureth for ever._"
+
+The erection of this monument gave great satisfaction to the good old
+minister of Erlenbrunn. The dark background of the fir trees threw the
+monument into relief, and gave it a very beautiful appearance; and when
+the rose tree planted by his grave was in bloom, and its branches
+covered with roses bent over the marble, which was of dazzling
+whiteness, the sight was a striking one. The humble old man's monument
+was the most beautiful ornament of the rural churchyard, and the good
+minister never allowed strangers to leave the church without taking
+them to see it.
+
+When some people observed that it was a good idea to have put a basket
+of flowers on the tomb of a man who was at the same time a gardener and
+a basket-maker, the old minister would say--
+
+"But it is something better than a good idea. The basket of flowers tells
+more than you know, and it is not without reason that our villagers look
+upon it as the symbol of a touching story. The ground on which we tread
+has been bathed with a daughter's tears."
+
+Then he would pour into the attentive ears of strangers the familiar
+story of the basket of flowers, concluding his recital with the
+assurance which this whole story is intended to illustrate: That piety
+towards God and truth towards men will never fail to triumph over the
+malice of the worst of foes.
+
+Let our readers who have followed this touching story be assured that
+under all circumstances it is best to do as Mary did--walk in the fear
+of God, love and obey their earthly parents, stand fast by the truth,
+and under all circumstances trust fully in God. Thus they will live
+happy and die with a sure prospect of eternal glory.
+
+
+THE END
+
+
+
+
+_Printed by_
+MORRISON & GIBB LIMITED
+_Edinburgh_
+
+
+
+
+
+
+End of Project Gutenberg's The Basket of Flowers, by Christoph von Schmid
+
+*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BASKET OF FLOWERS ***
+
+***** This file should be named 24160.txt or 24160.zip *****
+This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:
+        http://www.gutenberg.org/2/4/1/6/24160/
+
+Produced by David Clarke and the Online Distributed
+Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
+
+
+Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions
+will be renamed.
+
+Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no
+one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation
+(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without
+permission and without paying copyright royalties.  Special rules,
+set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to
+copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to
+protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark.  Project
+Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you
+charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission.  If you
+do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the
+rules is very easy.  You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose
+such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and
+research.  They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do
+practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks.  Redistribution is
+subject to the trademark license, especially commercial
+redistribution.
+
+
+
+*** START: FULL LICENSE ***
+
+THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE
+PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK
+
+To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free
+distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work
+(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project
+Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project
+Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at
+http://gutenberg.org/license).
+
+
+Section 1.  General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm
+electronic works
+
+1.A.  By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm
+electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to
+and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property
+(trademark/copyright) agreement.  If you do not agree to abide by all
+the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy
+all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession.
+If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project
+Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the
+terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or
+entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8.
+
+1.B.  "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark.  It may only be
+used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who
+agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement.  There are a few
+things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works
+even without complying with the full terms of this agreement.  See
+paragraph 1.C below.  There are a lot of things you can do with Project
+Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement
+and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic
+works.  See paragraph 1.E below.
+
+1.C.  The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation"
+or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project
+Gutenberg-tm electronic works.  Nearly all the individual works in the
+collection are in the public domain in the United States.  If an
+individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are
+located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from
+copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative
+works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg
+are removed.  Of course, we hope that you will support the Project
+Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by
+freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of
+this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with
+the work.  You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by
+keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project
+Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others.
+
+1.D.  The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern
+what you can do with this work.  Copyright laws in most countries are in
+a constant state of change.  If you are outside the United States, check
+the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement
+before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or
+creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project
+Gutenberg-tm work.  The Foundation makes no representations concerning
+the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United
+States.
+
+1.E.  Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg:
+
+1.E.1.  The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate
+access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently
+whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the
+phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project
+Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed,
+copied or distributed:
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+1.E.2.  If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived
+from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is
+posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied
+and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees
+or charges.  If you are redistributing or providing access to a work
+with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the
+work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1
+through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the
+Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or
+1.E.9.
+
+1.E.3.  If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted
+with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution
+must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional
+terms imposed by the copyright holder.  Additional terms will be linked
+to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the
+permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work.
+
+1.E.4.  Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm
+License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this
+work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm.
+
+1.E.5.  Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this
+electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without
+prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with
+active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project
+Gutenberg-tm License.
+
+1.E.6.  You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary,
+compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any
+word processing or hypertext form.  However, if you provide access to or
+distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than
+"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version
+posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org),
+you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a
+copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon
+request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other
+form.  Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm
+License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1.
+
+1.E.7.  Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying,
+performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works
+unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9.
+
+1.E.8.  You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing
+access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided
+that
+
+- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from
+     the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method
+     you already use to calculate your applicable taxes.  The fee is
+     owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he
+     has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the
+     Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation.  Royalty payments
+     must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you
+     prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax
+     returns.  Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and
+     sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the
+     address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to
+     the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation."
+
+- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies
+     you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he
+     does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm
+     License.  You must require such a user to return or
+     destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium
+     and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of
+     Project Gutenberg-tm works.
+
+- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any
+     money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the
+     electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days
+     of receipt of the work.
+
+- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free
+     distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works.
+
+1.E.9.  If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm
+electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set
+forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from
+both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael
+Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark.  Contact the
+Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below.
+
+1.F.
+
+1.F.1.  Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable
+effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread
+public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm
+collection.  Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic
+works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain
+"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or
+corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual
+property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a
+computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by
+your equipment.
+
+1.F.2.  LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right
+of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project
+Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project
+Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project
+Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all
+liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal
+fees.  YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT
+LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE
+PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3.  YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE
+TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE
+LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR
+INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH
+DAMAGE.
+
+1.F.3.  LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a
+defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can
+receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a
+written explanation to the person you received the work from.  If you
+received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with
+your written explanation.  The person or entity that provided you with
+the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a
+refund.  If you received the work electronically, the person or entity
+providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to
+receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund.  If the second copy
+is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further
+opportunities to fix the problem.
+
+1.F.4.  Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth
+in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER
+WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO
+WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE.
+
+1.F.5.  Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied
+warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages.
+If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the
+law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be
+interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by
+the applicable state law.  The invalidity or unenforceability of any
+provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions.
+
+1.F.6.  INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the
+trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone
+providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance
+with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production,
+promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works,
+harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees,
+that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do
+or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm
+work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any
+Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause.
+
+
+Section  2.  Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm
+
+Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of
+electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers
+including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers.  It exists
+because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from
+people in all walks of life.
+
+Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the
+assistance they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's
+goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will
+remain freely available for generations to come.  In 2001, the Project
+Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure
+and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations.
+To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation
+and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4
+and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org.
+
+
+Section 3.  Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive
+Foundation
+
+The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit
+501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the
+state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal
+Revenue Service.  The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification
+number is 64-6221541.  Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at
+http://pglaf.org/fundraising.  Contributions to the Project Gutenberg
+Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent
+permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws.
+
+The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S.
+Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered
+throughout numerous locations.  Its business office is located at
+809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email
+business@pglaf.org.  Email contact links and up to date contact
+information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official
+page at http://pglaf.org
+
+For additional contact information:
+     Dr. Gregory B. Newby
+     Chief Executive and Director
+     gbnewby@pglaf.org
+
+
+Section 4.  Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg
+Literary Archive Foundation
+
+Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide
+spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of
+increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be
+freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest
+array of equipment including outdated equipment.  Many small donations
+($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt
+status with the IRS.
+
+The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating
+charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United
+States.  Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a
+considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up
+with these requirements.  We do not solicit donations in locations
+where we have not received written confirmation of compliance.  To
+SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any
+particular state visit http://pglaf.org
+
+While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we
+have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition
+against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who
+approach us with offers to donate.
+
+International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make
+any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from
+outside the United States.  U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff.
+
+Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation
+methods and addresses.  Donations are accepted in a number of other
+ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations.
+To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate
+
+
+Section 5.  General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic
+works.
+
+Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm
+concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared
+with anyone.  For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project
+Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support.
+
+
+Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed
+editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S.
+unless a copyright notice is included.  Thus, we do not necessarily
+keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition.
+
+
+Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility:
+
+     http://www.gutenberg.org
+
+This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm,
+including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary
+Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to
+subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks.