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diff --git a/37942.txt b/37942.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..9748002 --- /dev/null +++ b/37942.txt @@ -0,0 +1,8502 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of A Tale of the Kloster, by Brother Jabez + +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: A Tale of the Kloster + A Romance of the German Mystics at the Cocalico + +Author: Brother Jabez + +Illustrator: Frank McKernan + +Release Date: November 6, 2011 [EBook #37942] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A TALE OF THE KLOSTER *** + + +Produced by: Bethanne M. Simms, Bill Yeiser and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + + + + [Illustration: "'Thou queen of the Roses of Saron, art thou + holding court in thy temple of beauty?'" Page 216.] + + + + + A Tale + + OF THE + + KLOSTER + + A Romance of the German Mystics + of the Cocalico + + _By_ BROTHER JABEZ + _Illustrations by_ FRANK MCKERNAN + + _Oh, blessed solitary life, + Where all creation silence keeps! + Who thus himself to God can yield + That he ne'er from him strays, + Hath to the highest goal attained, + And can without vexation live. + Faith, toleration, love, and hope, + These all have come to his support._ + + --JOHANN CONRAD BEISSEL. Translation + from the German by Julius Friedrich + Sachse, Litt. D. + + PHILADELPHIA + Griffith & Rowland Press + 1904 + + COPYRIGHTED 1904 BY + + ULYSSES S. KOONS + + Published December, 1904 + + From the Press of the + American Baptist Publication Society + + TO THE MEMORY OF + + My Mother + + THIS STORY OF THE LITTLE BAND + OF BROTHERS AND SISTERS + OF THE KLOSTER + IS LOVINGLY DEDICATED + + + + +INTRODUCTION + + +A great New England historian has said that "The colony of Pennsylvania +was not only more heterogeneous in population than any of the others, +but it actually was the principal center of distribution of the +non-English population from the seaboard to the Allegheny Mountains. All +of the population of the Carolinas, as well as in Virginia and Maryland, +entered the country by way of Pennsylvania, and this migration was so +great, both in its physical dimensions and in the political and social +effects which it wrought, that Pennsylvania acquires a special interest +as the temporary tarrying place and distributing center for so much that +we now call characteristically American."[1] + + [1] "Dutch and Quaker Settlements." John Fiske. + +It is undoubtedly true that into none of the other colonies did there +flow such a tide of German immigration, bringing with it many a hardy +Swiss and French Huguenot refugee from the Palatinate, along the lower +Rhine. + +Up to the Revolution there were more Germans in Pennsylvania than in all +the other colonies together. Benjamin Franklin, it is well known, +feared that the State might become a German province. Among the causes +of this resistless tide of immigration were: Religious zeal, fostered by +the teachings of William Penn and George Fox and their followers, and +Penn's far-sighted pledge of tolerance as to liberty of worship, +sectarian ambition, escape from religious persecution, and bad +government. + +Especially were the first-comers inspired by religious zeal, and it was +to this that such old settlements as Bethlehem and Germantown and +Ephrata owe their founding. Later, when the tide rose to a thousand +German immigrants a month, a great majority came with the simple desire +to earn a livelihood in peace and safety--a desire played upon by the +glib-tongued, unscrupulous land agents of that day so successfully, that +shipload after shipload of poverty-stricken German peasantry, enduring +uncomplainingly the sufferings and hardships of hunger, thirst, and +foetid air of the crowded hold and consequent ship-fever, poured into +the port of Philadelphia and immediately took the oath of allegiance. + +Quaint and curious names they had, as is evidenced by many an ancient +shipmaster's list--patronymics indicative of trade, occupation, +profession, personal characteristics, nicknames, names that by a slow +but sure process of anglization have lost much of their humor and +flavor, and are now so changed in spelling and sound as hardly to be +recognized in their original form. + +But with all the fears of pauperism and disease and racial deterioration +and establishment of inimical foreign institutions, this mass of crude, +uncouth peasantry, with their unpronounceable names, besides bearing the +brunt of Indian depredation and massacre during the French and Indian +wars, became the ancestry of perhaps not less than one-third of the +population of Pennsylvania to-day. + +Beneath the unpromising exterior of these peasants were firmly fixed the +virtues that give strength and stability, if not mercurial +brilliancy--piety, industry, patience, thrift, peaceful dispositions, +and intense love of home. The men were homemakers; the women were +homekeepers. Devoted tillers of the soil, politics and business had few +charms for them. + +Although in such counties as Bucks, Lehigh, Lancaster, Dauphin, +Northampton, York, Carbon, and Monroe, there are many communities +inhabited almost entirely by Pennsylvania-Germans, still retaining their +peculiar dialect, nevertheless their German church service and German +newspapers are rapidly becoming things of the past. + +The present generation of Pennsylvania-Germans is going to the public +schools, normal schools, and colleges, and in other respects is becoming +thoroughly English; for however strongly the more conservative ones may +cling to the old habits and traditions, it is true that ere long +Pennsylvania-German and such things as Pennsylvania-German singing +schools, "Fostnacht" festivities, "frolics," and "vendues," will be +matters of tradition. + +Perhaps no phase of their history is more interesting than that of their +early religious experiences. In no other of the American colonies were +there at such an early date so many altars raised to the various +faiths--orthodox, sectarian, mystic, and separatist, Lutheran, Moravian, +Quaker, Mennonite, Dunker, Seventh Dayer, and New Mooner. But though +differing in creed and tenet, and frequently hurling at each other their +broadsides, as their controversial pamphlets were called, all these +sects were conspicuous for their thrift, industry, and religious +devotion; for though many of their beliefs were extremely mystical and, +showed every vagary of pietism, one great fundamental idea inspired and +possessed these people, namely, to live in the utmost simplicity of +habit, manner and speech, garb and diet, in strict conformity with the +practices of the early church, and as close as possible to their Lord +and Master, to whose service their lives were consecrated. It is because +of this idea conscientiously lived out that this Commonwealth is so +greatly indebted to them. + +The author has selected as a type the Kloster at Ephrata (a name +fragrant with biblical suggestiveness), the founder of which, Conrad +Beissel, was a strong, intensely earnest, impetuous religious leader, +who in a few years gathered about him a number of zealous men and women, +some of them of considerable learning. In less than a decade there arose +a semi-monastic community which developed into a religious, educational, +commercial, and industrial settlement that at an early date set up in +that far-away wilderness, many miles distant from the chief city of the +province, the third printing press in the colony, and the first to print +with both German and English type. + +The little town, or "mountain borough," of Ephrata lies about eighteen +miles southwest from the flourishing city of Reading and not more than +thirteen miles northeast of Lancaster, with its memory of the +Continental Congress, in the rich, fertile valley of the Cocalico in the +northern part of Lancaster County. + +The Ephrata of the present day, numbering possibly three thousand +inhabitants, is situated at the foot of the gentle northwestern slope +of the Ephrata Mountains. A broad main street that easily ascends +toward the southeast leads up close to the "Ephrata Mountain Springs," +a famous resort in the days before the war of the Rebellion. But +directing one's way in the opposite direction, leaving the little town +with its banks and hotels and industrial establishments, the unfailing +accompaniments of these prosaic, unsentimental days, the wide, +ancient thoroughfare leads northwestward, the business features giving +way to the neat, pleasant, comfortable homes so characteristic of the +Pennsylvania-Germans. The houses, with the peculiar feature of their +gable ends toward the side instead of facing the street, are well set +back in the grassy yards enriched with glorious dahlias in crimson and +gold and ivory white, purple asters, bright geraniums, flaunting +hollyhocks, and all the other well-beloved, old-fashioned favorites, +while from the opulent garden in the rear, most likely a magnificent +sunflower in solitary gorgeousness turns his dark, golden-fringed eye +to his god of fire and light, now and then the whisper of some truant +breeze swaying the stately head of the ardent devotee into a +half-wistful glance out over the dusty road. + +But neither these nor the spacious front porch, with its luxurious +trellised vines and the inviting benches before the front door, receive +more than an admiring and half-envious glance, and are left behind as +the road passes over the arches of the old stone bridge that spans the +Cocalico, flowing along the northwestern edge of the town. In the angle +formed by the northern bank of the stream and the southern side of the +turnpike road, but a short distance beyond the point of the angle where +the road leaves the bridge, lie the Kloster grounds, formerly known as +"The Settlement of the Solitary" (_Lager der Einsamen_), but now locally +referred to as "The Kloster," a full and excellent description of which +is contained in "The German Sectarians of Pennsylvania," by Julius +Friedrich Sachse, LITT. D., in which he has, after years of patient +labor given us a most admirable, critical, and legendary history of the +Ephrata Kloster. + +Within the confines of this out of the way nook the author has placed +the personages of this romance, which he fondly hopes may be of interest +not only to Pennsylvania-Germans, but to all who delight in a story +which is only a story. Over a century and a half has elapsed since the +Sisterhood and Brotherhood were in the zenith of their little world, and +it were well-nigh impossible to reproduce at this late day with absolute +fidelity such matters as dress, customs, manners and habits, religious +rites and ceremonies; and yet, thanks to the exhaustive investigations +of Mr. Sachse and others, the author has been able to pattern forth in +the warp and woof of this tale more or less distinctly, considerable +that relates to the homely architecture, the cloistral life, worship, +rites, ceremonies, and beliefs of these peculiar but devoted, +plain-living, high-thinking Sisters and Brothers. + +To reproduce their speech, even if possible, were of course sadly out of +place at this day; for the German, even of the early settlers, was +represented by such various dialects as Swabian, Wuertemberger, +Bavarian, Swiss, Hessian, Palatinate, and others; and though these were +all German dialects, yet since those days there has been such a copious +infusion of English words, that to-day Pennsylvania-German, though "it +is still, in the articulation of its bones and its general form and +spirit, the tongue of the Rhine country,"[2] is none the less neither +German nor English, but "a hybrid, non-descript jargon,"[3] at best an +Americanized dialect of the German, but a dialect able to produce +beautiful flowers in the fields of lyric poetry under the cultivation of +such as Harbaugh, Hark, Zimmerman, Zeigler, Fisher, Grumbine, and +others. + + [2] "The Pennsylvania-German Dialect," by Lee L. Grumbine, Esq. + + [3] _Ibid._ + +Pennsylvania-German being a dialect not of the almost universal English +tongue but of the German, and what is especially to the point, a fast +declining dialect with but a small remnant who can speak and understand +it in the vernacular, the author feels not only that he should by +employing this dialect address himself to an exceedingly small audience, +but might, moreover, justly incur the charge of pedantry and +affectation. + +Thus while it is true that the greater number of the Sisters and +Brothers of the Kloster were Germans and spoke the mother tongue in +their daily intercourse, yet after all language is only the means of +conveying ideas, thoughts, and these we know have a language understood +by all. + +Moreover, this volume is not presented from the standpoint of the +antiquarian or philologist. The Brothers and Sisters of Ephrata, though +celibates, sworn to the love of the celestial Eve and the heavenly +Bridegroom, were none the less flesh and flood, subject to the same +passions and temptations as the men and women of the present day. They +too had "eyes, hands, organs, dimensions, senses, affections, passions," +and were "fed with the same food, hurt with the same weapons, subject to +the same diseases, warmed and cooled by the same winter and summer." In +a word, they were men and women of like passions with ourselves. + +It is of such men and women the author writes; men and women unused "to +the courtliness of state, unskilled in the hollowness of vain +compliment, untutored in the frippery and polish of artificial society, +unacquainted with the insincerity and diplomacy of the wider world, +removed from kith and kin and thrown upon their own resources among +strangers and amid new surroundings."[4] + + [4] Grumbine. + +The author, that he may not be held to have drawn too deeply from his +neighbor's well, fully acknowledges his great indebtedness to his +friend, Mr. Sachse. Indeed, to do exact justice, it must be said that +this volume contains nothing more than a romance wound about the facts, +incidents, traditions, and descriptions, taken by the author from the +"German Sectarians," with the kind permission of Mr. Sachse. + +Acknowledgment of indebtedness should also be made to Rev. J. Max Hark +and Hon. Samuel W. Pennypacker, Governor of Pennsylvania, for the use of +translations, portions of which are prefixed to Chapters XV. and XIX. It +should also be added that the initial letters used through the book, as +well as the design on the cover, are made from reproductions of pen-work +drawings executed by the Ephrata Sisterhood. + + THE AUTHOR. + + CONTENTS + + CHAPTER PAGE + + I. FLIGHT FROM THE WORLD 1 + + II. "PETER THE HERMIT" 10 + + III. SONNLEIN 21 + + IV. WE LEAVE THE HERMITAGE 30 + + V. EPHRATA 40 + + VI. CONCERNING TAXATION 51 + + VII. THE RIGHT PREVAILS 69 + + VIII. OUR FIRST LOSS 77 + + IX. A LOVE FEAST 86 + + X. THE BROTHERHOOD OF ZION 94 + + XI. BROTHER AGONIUS AND HIS PROPHECY 108 + + XII. SISTER BERNICE IS COMFORTED 127 + + XIII. THE COMET AND BROTHER ALBURTUS 135 + + XIV. OUR SISTER LEAVES US 146 + + XV. THE GREAT COMET 155 + + XVI. A FAR JOURNEY 165 + + XVII. IN A STRANGE LAND 176 + + XVIII. SONNLEIN COMETH TO MAN'S ESTATE 193 + + XIX. WHEN HEARTS ARE YOUNG 207 + + XX. SISTER GENOVEVA IS GONE 223 + + XXI. BROTHER ALBURTUS 235 + + XXII. SONNLEIN TAKETH THE ORDEAL 249 + + XXIII. A MIDNIGHT VISIT 265 + + XXIV. MINE ENEMY'S HIDING-PLACE 281 + + XXV. THE END OF THE WITCH 295 + + XXVI. THE TWAIN ARE MADE ONE 305 + + XXVII. RETROSPECT 324 + + + + +CHAPTER I + +FLIGHT FROM THE WORLD + + Happy the man who has the town escaped; + To him the whistling trees, the murmuring brooks, + The shining pebbles, preach + Virtue's and wisdom's lore. + + The whispering grove a holy temple is + To him, where God draws nigher to his soul; + Each verdant sod a shrine, + Whereby he kneels to heaven. + + --Ludwig Heinrich Christoph Hoelty. + + +For a clearer understanding of what I have here written in the fond +desire that there may be those who delight in a tale simply told, even +though it be of my brothers and sisters who lived their quiet, peaceful +lives, with now and then, 'tis true, a jarring note, consecrated to +their faith, in the solitude of a new-world wilderness, I must set +forth, without weariness to the reader, I hope, somewhat of the humble +pilgrim whose now old and time-worn hands pen these lines. + +I, Johann Peter Mueller, son of a reformed minister, under the inspection +of _Kreis Kaiserslautern_, was born in the year 1710, at Altzborn +Oberamt Kaiserslautern in the Palatinate, studied at Heidelberg, +matriculated 1725 at that university and in my twentieth year +volunteered in response to the urgent calls for clergymen from the +province of Pennsylvania. + +Leaving my beloved father and mother and _Vaterland_ in the summer of +1730, I floated on a raft down the Rhine to Rotterdam, embarking there +for America on the good ship "Thistle," and after a long, uneventful +voyage arrived at Philadelphia, August 28, 1730, taking the oath of +allegiance the following day, which oath I am proud to say I have always +kept. Almost immediately upon my arrival I applied to the Rev. Jedediah +Andrews, for ordination, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church in +Philadelphia. + +After asking me a great many questions he advised me to apply to the +synod. This excellent advice was acted upon so promptly that in three +weeks after my arrival the notes of the synod recorded, "It is agreed by +the synod that Mr. John Peter Miller, a Dutch probationer lately come +over, be left to the care of the presbytery of Philadelphia to settle +him in the work of the ministry." + +In pursuance of this resolution the presbytery appointed three ministers +to examine me for entrance upon my holy office, and what they required +of me is best shown by a minute of the meeting where I "came under +Tryals and after a previous Test of his ability in Prayer, Examining him +in the Languages, he read his sermon and Exegesis on ye Justification +and Various suitable questions on ye Arts and Sciences, officially +Theology and out of Scripture." + +Briefly, the presbytery licensed me as a candidate to preach the gospel +"where Providence may give him opportunity and call," and for four years +after my ordination to the ministry I preached the word, during which +period I received much assistance from Conrad Weiser, one of my church +officers, who for years was consulted by both the civil and military +authorities in times of need and danger, he being an efficient Indian +interpreter to the government. + +I officiated among my countrymen in Philadelphia and Germantown, and in +the Skippack Valley, besides visiting the more widely scattered +congregation in the province. I was also called upon to take regular +charge of the Tulpehocken Church, together with the Union Congregation +of the Lutheran and Reformed which had been formed by the Germans living +in the valley of the Cocalico and the Bucherthal. This region was +almost wholly settled by those of the Lutheran and Reformed faiths, the +circuit being known as the Canestoga congregation. Ere long a church for +the United Congregation was built about six miles northeast of Ephrata +on a commanding hill beyond the Bucherthal, the Moden Crik (Muddy Creek) +Church. + +Having preached to mine own people for several years, I quit the +ministry and returned to private life, not, however, without much prayer +and meditation; for about that time the Ephrata community was in its +infancy. I had never had much inclination to join it, because of the +reproach and contempt which lay against the community by the orthodox +churches of the province; but my inward conductor brought me to that +dilemma, either to be a member of this new institution or consent to my +own damnation. I chose the first, and received baptism into the +congregation in May of 1735, together with Conrad Weiser and a number of +families from the Union Church. We were baptized by Conrad Beissel, +whose inspired eloquence had finally prevailed upon me to take this +step. + +I did not much differ from a poor criminal under sentence of death when +I was led into the water. However, the Lord our God did strengthen me +when I came into the water, and then I in a solemn manner renounced my +life with all its prerogatives, without reservation, and I have found, +in all my long life, that all this was put into the divine records, for +he hath never failed to assist me in times of need, and these have been +many. + +But much wrath and indignation was engendered against us by our baptism. +We were called "seceders," "rebels," "Beisselianer"; others said we had +been deluded by the witchcraft and sorcery of Beissel; still others said +that our conversion was the work of the Evil One; others were for +bringing civil action against us; but in all the noise and smoke of this +great tumult, Brother Weiser successfully prevented any charges being +brought against us. Pastor Boehm, my old Skippack rival, hath kindly +said of me in this matter in his report to the Amsterdam Synod: "This +Miller at the same time drew the Tulpehocken church to himself, against +whose false spirit I frequently warned them; but they continued to +adhere to him like misguided, silly people. Finally, the fraud against +which I warned them so honestly and continuously has come to light, and +this Miller publicly went over to the dissolute Seventh-day Tumpler +sect, and had himself baptized Tumplerwise in the Canestoka, in the +month of April, 1735. He took out ten families, Reformed and Lutheran, +from the Tulpehocken congregation, who did as he did." + +May the Lord forgive him for his narrow sneer as I have long ago, for it +hath ever been my rule not to bear spite or malice, no matter how +grievous the injury, knowing full well that what the Roman philosopher +hath said is true, and that is, "Malice drinks one-half of its own +poison." + +Brother Weiser, I regret to say, did not possess himself of the same +spirit; but on the contrary always resented every insult, and it is +still current among us that shortly after he left the Kloster in later +years to accept a justice's commission offered him by Governor Thomas, +our Brother Weiser, while riding the road to Reading, met the Reformed +pastor of the Cocalico, on his nag. Brother Weiser, foolishly forgetting +the spirit of humility of the Kloster, cried out to the pastor that he +surely must think himself above his Lord whom he professed to serve. +Asked for an explanation, Brother Weiser replied that where an ass was +good enough for the Saviour it should be good enough for his followers, +to which came the quick rejoinder that this was perfectly true, but as +Governor Thomas had appointed all the asses as justices, people were +forced to ride upon horses. + +Within two days after our baptism, and in order that we might cut +ourselves entirely loose from our former mode of life and thought, we +determined that all books which were now considered _libri heretici_, +such as the Heidelberg Catechism, Luther's Catechism, the Psalter, and +Arndt's "_Paradies Gaertlein_," should be utterly consumed by fire. In +short, all devotional literature of the old faith not in accord with +our new departure, we gathered from the various families that had been +converted, and not a few from mine own little library, and upon the +appointed day Brother Weiser and the converts and myself assembled at +the little cabin of Brother Fiedler, and there solemnly condemned the +pernicious volumes to be burned. + +The "_Paradies Gaertlein_," however, had a peculiar sanctity attached to +it by the German settlers; for it was firmly believed that it was +protected by Divine interposition from both fire and flood. I had heard, +even in my boyhood days, many a story of the miraculous preservation of +this book. Some present objected to its being included, for surely the +Lord would save it. Others, as ardent in their new faith as they had +been in the old, no more honored the book as sacred, but were now firmly +convinced that as its immunity hitherto had been from the Evil One, the +greater the reason it must be destroyed with the others. + +The brush heap was accordingly prepared in front of Brother Fiedler's +cabin. Each of the participants gathered up an armful of the doomed +volumes, and at the word filed out of the little doorway headed by +myself, followed by the schoolmaster. Arriving at the brush heap it was +soon set afire, and the various books were solemnly consigned to the +flames by Brother Weiser and the schoolmaster and others, with the +solemn invocation "Thus perish all priestcraft!" Afterward the ashes +were scattered to the four winds, and we departed feeling that we had +thus cut ourselves off from the faith of our forefathers and had this +day taken a step pregnant with glorious promise for the future. + +It was said the next day, and I firmly believe this was an invention of +our enemies, that one of Brother Fiedler's family found among the now +cold ashes the little "_Paradies Gaertlein_," a trifle charred on the +edges, the leather cover shriveled and blackened, the clasps almost +burned to a crisp, but the leaves still holding together, and not a page +of the print in the slightest impaired. Its preservation soon became +noised abroad, and was greatly used as an argument against us by those +who opposed our step. As for me, despite the many foolish and malicious +charges that have been made against my soundness of mind for taking part +in this thing (which I defend on the ground of necessity and possibly +due somewhat to youthful zeal) I never believed that the book had been +saved but for the reason that when it was thrown into the pyre it was +tightly clasped and by chance fell to one side of the flames, and as I +have often noted paper tightly pressed together yields but grudgingly to +the flames. Many good people, however, believed the miracle story and +feared extreme punishment for condemning such a sacred volume to +destruction, and the demand became so great for the book that an edition +was later printed by Christopher Sauer, of Germantown; but strange to +say not one of his great output was able to withstand either fire or +flood when it came into contact with these elements. + + + + +CHAPTER II + +"PETER THE HERMIT" + + Where I may sit and rightly spell + Of every star that heaven doth shew, + And every herb that sips the dew; + Till old experience do attain + To something like poetic strain. + These pleasures, Melancholy, give: + And I with thee will choose to live. + + --Il Penseroso. + + +Within a few weeks after the events already narrated, Brother Beissel +made another visit to Dulpehackin with the intention of forming the +converts into a new congregation, with myself as leader. When this +proposal was made to me, I requested over night for reflection and +prayer. In my zeal I had thought my recent baptism had cleansed and +purified me from all fleshly lusts and from all such heaven-separating +vanities as pride and ambition; but that night witnessed within me such +a struggle between evil ambition on the one hand, and the desire to +surrender myself completely to my Maker on the other, as I shall never +forget. + +To be elder of the as yet little band of followers of Brother Beissel, +what might it not lead to? For I doubted not at the time but that the +little band would eventually grow into a large congregation whose +influence should be far-reaching. Like the mustard seed it might grow +and increase until the whole world were living as one grand, consecrated +sisterhood and brotherhood. + +Some such splendid temptation the Evil One dangled before my eyes during +that long night, but with the dawning my mind became clearer and the +last star had just closed its eyes when I felt stealing over me a +feeling of sureness that I would do what was right, and with that I felt +myself pervaded with a sense of ineffable peace. + +When Brother Beissel saw me in the morning, anxious for my reply, I told +him I must decline his offer as I intended to withdraw into the +solitudes and live unmolested from the frailties and follies of the +world. + +He acquiesced with a cheerfulness which I confess hurt the remnant of +pride in me and which, I fear, hath ever been imperfectly suppressed, +for I had hoped he would show his appreciation of me and what I was able +to do by expressing at least some regret. But that pride is ever the +forerunner of a fall is, indeed, true, and my chagrin was not relieved +any upon Brother Beissel's calmly announcing, as if it had all been +prearranged, that he would appoint as teacher, or elder, of the +congregation, Bro. Michael Wohlforth, whom I knew and respected for his +sturdy love of our cause, but who, by reason of the infirmity of a harsh +tongue and violent temper--and I regret to say it, though in +charity--was not too well fitted for an office that requireth a gentle +tongue, there being, as human flesh is made up, a limit even to +Christian forbearance. + +At that time, in May, 1735, the Solitary Brethren and Sisters had +dispersed in the wilderness of Conestogas, each for himself, as hermits, +and I, following that same way, did set up my hermitage in Dulpehackin, +at the foot of a mountain, on a limpid stream; and that they who in +these days live in their large, comfortable houses may know what the +hermits' homes were like, I shall set forth how my own little hut, or +cabin, was built, as a great many cabins of the first settlers were +after the same pattern. + +These be the dimensions of the proper model, which I set down in all +particularity, so that if there be of my readers who ever take +themselves to a life of solitude they may know how the true hermit +should be housed, for I know there be many that have not this knowledge +and thus are in exceeding danger of running after some vulgar variation +of the ideal model: Length, twenty-five feet; breadth, twenty feet; +height under joist, eight feet six inches. The measurements must be no +more, no less. The door should open toward the south to catch the sun, +and above the doorway must be a small overhead piece, or porch, six feet +from floor to ceiling. As I was fully six feet, if not more, my head and +my pride received at first many a hard knock whenever I forgot that a +hermit, at least if he be tall, must not walk with too haughty a stride. +For the foundation we, my faithful adherents and myself, took four large +stones, as flat and even as we could find, about a foot thick, and laid +them for the corners, so that the floors of our huts would be clear from +the damp ground; but, and this was not so desirable, not only the +smaller wild animals would creep underneath, but occasionally some +straying serpent would stick its repulsive head out at me and make me +regret that a hermit's hut must needs offer such attractions to these +monsters. + +Upon the stone foundations the ground logs were laid. These were notched +at the ends and fastened with hickory pins. Smaller logs inserted into +these longer ones formed the floor joists, though in most cases a solid +log floor was laid. The cabin was then raised upon the ground joists, +the logs being run upon skids by the help of wooden forks, the corners +of the logs being notched so as to bring them as close together as +possible. In this work I could not give much help, for this notching and +fitting together was done by experienced ones, called the axe, or +cornermen. The less experienced of us carried the logs and ran them up +into place, the doors and windows not being cut until all the logs were +resting snug and secure in their places. But with all the care in +fitting the logs closely, there were cracks and crevices that had to be +filled with a mixture of loam and dry grass, so that the cabin might be +proof against rain or snow and not give too draughty ventilation. For +the rafters we took chestnut saplings, hewn flat on the top, and these +were usually covered with shingles of flat oak, although it sometimes +occurred that a temporary thatch or sod roof had to serve until the oak +shingles were prepared. Last of all came the fireplaces and chimneys. +Both of these were built of loam and stones outside, at one end of the +cabin. Thus from the simple materials that lay at our hands and +feet--the trees, the stones, and the earth--our cabins were built, and +though small and insignificant as the worldly-wise consider things, were +not too small to hold heads and hearts that thought and throbbed greatly +for God and man. No iron was used, for as at Ephrata, when it came to +be organized into a community, we ever regarded iron as an evil metal. +The temple of Solomon was built wholly without iron, and according to +the Rosicrucians, from whom we had learned much concerning the mysteries +of the Infinite, we were taught that no dwelling or building consecrated +to the Almighty could have iron in it, as that metal was the emblem of +darkness and destruction--nay, of the Evil One himself. + +My little hut, so securely built, is still there, as are the old trees +in the orchard I planted in those early days. Sometimes in later life, +when even the Kloster wore upon me, I have resorted to this sequestered +spot, quietly and unbeknown to the others, there to renew my faith and +strength by undisturbed communion with God, reading and pondering with +never lessening delight upon this little page out of his wonderful book +of nature, for it was a lovely nook, an ideal retreat. The little +_Muehlbach_, clear and cold and sparkling and pure as the water of life, +came dancing joyously down the dale, kissing many a wild flower looking +at its mirrored sweetness as it hung over the bushy brink. Many a time +have I wandered along its wooded sides, drinking in, in all its fullness +and completeness, the solemnity, the holy stillness of the long aisles +of stately pine and heavy fir and balsam, with their fragrant odors +rising from this woodland temple like incense toward heaven. + +The only sounds that broke the stillness were the murmurous song of the +stream, the chirp of insects, and now and then the choiring of the +feathered songsters of these delightful glades. Such was the +incomparable spot selected by me, now a recluse, for my probation and +retirement, and here I fondly imagined I might live in beatific and +solitary communion with Him; but I see now that this blissful idleness +was not to be mine; for his service means more than a mere folding of +the hands and pious meditation and contemplation of his beauty, his +goodness, and his mercy. + +Here I lived in all the simplicity that seemed to me best comported with +the life of a hermit. My bodily wants, though oft clamorous, displeasing +me much as showing how close I still was to earth, had to be content +with exceeding little; my little cabin sheltered me from storms--a hard +bench to sleep on, a long cloak of most humble make and material to form +my covering; for drink, the pure water from a near-by spring, varied +sometimes by acorn coffee; and for bread and meat, a bread made from +acorn flour. + +There may be those who care to know how this acorn coffee and acorn +bread were made, not only by me, but by Brother Beissel and others who +were leading lives of solitude; and lest some think we were utterly daft +in relying upon this for sustenance, it may be said that it was not +original with us; but we were taught that from the earliest days of man +the oak, wherever it grew, furnished him both meat and drink from the +acorn and contained all that was necessary for his nourishment. + +For making bread the acorns were first soaked in water, or steamed, to +free the bitterness; they were then dried and ground into meal which was +afterward worked up in the usual manner. This bread, which we in German +called _Eichelbrod_, had as much sustenance as _Pumpernickel_ (a +favorite bread among the German peasants), but was wont to occasion more +trouble for the digestion. + +As a substitute for coffee the largest and soundest acorns were +selected, only the thoroughly ripe ones being used. They were then +hulled and taken out of their cups, cut into quarters and scalded with +boiling water, after which they were drained and allowed to cool. After +being placed in a bake oven until they were thoroughly dry, they were +finally roasted and ground, in which state they were ready for use. + +To make acorn coffee we would take about a drachm of the grindings for +every three cups of boiling water, which we poured over the powdered +acorns and boiled for about ten minutes. I must confess I never cared +very much for this concoction for it lacked both the taste and gentle +stimulation of the regular coffee. This acorn coffee was accredited with +wonderful medicinal and mystical properties and was supposed to drive +all hereditary taint or distemper from the system. Indeed, even now it +is frequently given to children afflicted with scrofula. I recollect +that afterward in the early days of our community life at Ephrata there +came to us one Jean Francois Regnier, a French-Switzer, whom we regarded +as a visionary, as he claimed to have been awakened in his seventh year +and professed great holiness. He was the special apostle of the acorn +diet, not only claiming it to be good for food and as a substitute for +coffee, but he also made a sort of vinegar from acorns and an excellent +sort of whiskey which we used only in illness, but never as a drink, for +our community never permitted the use of strong liquors to corrupt the +body and inflame the imagination. Brother Regnier also made a sort of +_Analeptikum_, or tonic, to be used after any serious illness. For this +purpose the acorns were to be buried when the moon was in a certain +quarter, I forget which, until they had lost their bitterness, after +which they were dried, roasted, and powdered and mixed with sugar and +certain aromatic herbs. + +For myself I never could see much in this acorn diet, for I grieve to +say that all my life I have had a most unpriestly appetite. I fear I was +never made for scanty fare. Be this as it may, I know that the +Rosicrucians taught that the oak furnished the first food for mankind, +the acorn being the meat and the honey-dew (_Honigmueth_) the drink. The +Rosicrucians also taught that the rustle of the foliage of the oak +denoted the presence of the Deity and even at Ephrata the Zionitic +Brethren were wont to wander in the forest and appeal to the oracles of +the oak, as the Druids had done in Britain hundreds of years before. It +was also fully believed that when the time of the complete restoration +of brotherly love should come there would come with it the primeval +simplicity, when man's entire sustenance would be drawn from the oak. +All these things were exceedingly difficult for me to believe, and I was +even suspected of heresy because I could not subscribe to these +extravagant beliefs. + +Thus housed and fed I hoped to live out my days; but how utterly foolish +is the boasted wisdom and foresight of man; for how true it is that we +never know what a day may bring forth! When I went to my rest one night +not many days after my retirement to this spot I had no thought but that +here in this quiet, peaceful retreat, far away from the distracting +cares and temptations of a gain-seeking, pleasure-loving world, I should +live a calm, serene life, consecrated by daily communion with Him who +filled it. + +In this mind, while above the roof of my hut the night glowed with +stars, sown by my Creator as thickly over the blue fields of heaven as +the husbandman scatters his seed across his broad acres, I sank into +sweet, refreshing, dreamless sleep; and yet not wholly dreamless, for it +seemed to me, far in the night, I heard a light footstep near and saw a +woman's form filling the doorway that stood open as was my habit, night +and day, and then I thought I heard a cry--the cry of a child--but which +to my sleep-deadened ears was also like unto the scream of some wild +creature of the dense mountain forest behind my hut; for I often heard +such cries and occasionally detected the stealthy footsteps of the wild +beasts that prowled near my dwelling, under the dark mantle of night; +but dream or no dream, I heard nothing more and slept on undisturbed +until the light of the dawn shining through the doorway bade me arise. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +SONNLEIN + + And when the sun begins to fling + His flaring beams, me, Goddess, bring + To arched walks of twilight groves. + And shadows brown, that Sylvan loves, + Of pine, or monumental oak, + Where the rude axe with heaved stroke + Was never heard the nymphs to daunt, + Or fright them from their hallowed haunt + There, in close covert, by some brook, + Where no profaner eye may look, + Hide me from day's garish eye. + + --_Il Penseroso._ + + +The dawn was still blushing at the greeting of the sun when, as usual, I +took my way with bowed head to an old monarch pine, my altar, to greet +the day with prayer. Absorbed in pious meditations I knelt down; but +just as I was closing my eyes, I felt something lightly strike, or push, +my knee. Still unheeding I knelt, when a more vigorous push made me +turn to see what venturesome creature had the temerity to disturb my +adorations. I shall never forget the bewilderment that encompassed me +when I beheld beside me, lying at the foot of the old pine, the form of +a child, almost covered with leaves and cones. But this little visitant, +of earth or heaven, child or cherub--I scarce could believe mine own +senses! In truth, I know not how long I knelt there, mouth agape, eyes +wide open and hands outstretched. But finally I recovered myself +sufficiently to see that miracle or no miracle, the being was a reality. +And then brushing aside the leaves I scrutinized the little foundling +more closely; for sleeping it was, as sweetly and trustfully as if in +the _Mutterchen's_ arms, instead of on the hard bosom of mother earth +with a wilderness about it. The little head with its tangled mass of +dark, silky hair was resting against a large, sheltering root that +reached out from the base of the pine, in a broad, tender arm-like curve +about the babe. Recently dried tears had furrowed the not over-clean +face, flushed with sleep, with grimy little water courses. A stained and +tattered white baby cloak afforded scanty covering for the child; for +beneath the frayed edges extended the poor, tiny, wayworn feet, which, +like the chubby hands, were torn and scratched with thorns, filling my +soul with pity, and with indignation at the wretch who could thus +desert an innocent child; and my wrath was not diminished when I felt +that hair and face and hands and feet were damp with dew. + + [Illustration: "In truth I know not how long I knelt there." Page 22.] + +And yet the dear stranger slept on so unconscious of such trifling +things as dew and hard, earthen cradle, I could not find the will to +awaken the little one. Instead, I turned again toward the east and +raising mine eyes to Him I implored and beseeched him, with all the +power I could put into my petition, to guide and direct me in the care +and conduct of this lost, orphaned one; for somehow--I never knew why--I +accepted the idea unhesitatingly that this child had come into my life +to be a part of it to the end of my days. My prayer ended, I saw that my +charge still slept. I quietly sat down on a rock near by and watched and +waited for the awakening. + +How long I sat I know not, motionless as to body but of a verity sadly +puzzled in mind as to how the child came there and what I should do with +it in my hermit life amid such wild surroundings. From the leafy coverts +about me came the calls and the chattering of the birds greeting the +morn with such lusty will I was almost minded to join in, but wisely +refrained lest my heavy voice arouse the sleeper and mayhap drive far +from me the cheerful songsters. A saucy red squirrel with waving, +rearward plume came down the old pine, stopping now and then to bark +defiance at sleeper and watcher. Still nearer the red rover came, his +proud plume fairly quivering with excitement. Once he rushed down in a +burst of half-hearted confidence, coming almost to my feet, looking up +at me as though challenging to mortal combat--and then with might and +main he scampered back again, his long tail almost brushing the face of +the little slumberer, as the bold tree-dweller rushed far up into the +branches of the pine, as if he never again would be so rash and +heedless. + +At last, however, the little form at the foot of the tree moved uneasily +and the yawnings and twistings showed that the awakening had come; and +so it had. The little one sat up rubbing its eyes and blinking and +winking, when suddenly it saw me and then such a full-lunged cry burst +forth as drove the red squirrel in precipitate flight far into the +depths of the forest and also drove me into a state verging upon +imbecility; for verily I knew not what to do. The more I tried to soothe +the child, the louder it yelled and truly my patience was tried most +sorely. But I have since learned that the cry of a healthy child, +however lusty, does not last long and so after many rubbings of the eyes +and gradually subsiding sobs, and sundry sniffs, the little wanderer +took out of my large, awkward hands the pretty wild flower I had +plucked, and actually laughed as the big, dark eyes looked trustfully +into mine. + +I asked it in German to tell me its name--where was the _Mutterchen_? +but the big eyes grew bigger still and a quivering of the underlip +warned me I was only frightening the poor child. If not German, surely +English, and again I asked, and this time in English, "What is thy +name?" My little visitor looked at me gravely and then as if surprised +that I should not know, said--a trifle crossly, I thought--what sounded +to me like "Tass." "Tass what?" I insisted gently, but he only replied +more firmly as he rose to his feet holding on to my hand, "No Tass Wot, +Tass!" And then as if a great thought had come to him he said proudly, +"Me gone be man some day; me find faver." "Very well, 'Tass,' where's +_Mutterchen_--I mean mother, mamma?" But the mention of "mamma" was too +much for the over-burdened little heart and flinging himself into my +arms, his tiny hands clasping my neck, he cried as if he never would be +consoled again. But I did the only thing I could do, let him cry; and I +have since learned that it is an excellent thing not only for the tiny +folk, when troubles press heavily on their little souls, but even for us +larger children to cry it out and have done with it. + +But when he was through crying for the time at least for his "mamma," +another problem stared me in the face like some hungry beast; for the +poor child cried over and over with irritating persistence, "Me wants +sumfin to eat"; and "me hungry"; or "Me want watta," or "Me want mik." +The "watta" I readily interpreted was water, which was soon supplied to +him from the fresh, sweet product of the spring in the rear of my hut; +but what "mik" meant I could not for some time decide; for I did not +recollect that I had ever heard such a word in German, or English, or +Latin, or Greek, or Hebrew, or any other language. At last it struck me +it was an English baby word for milk. But I hardly knew how to get him +that, since I kept no cows or goats. In short, in my hermit's life I +never saw any milk and I could not run the risk of destroying the +child's stomach with my acorn coffee; yet I did not know how to get him +the milk, for which he cried incessantly. It was some distance to the +nearest clearing where I could procure milk and it was much too far for +him to walk, and indeed, rather far for me to carry him. Moreover, I did +not care as yet to introduce him to the simple-minded but suspicious +settlers, for I knew full well what a harvest of insults and taunts I +should reap from my enemies who had not gone out with me should I +suddenly appear with this little boy. + +But if I could not take him along I did not see how I could leave him +behind. However, I took him into my hut, and for the first time it +seemed bare and cold and cheerless. I ventured a small piece of a loaf +of acorn bread on which my teeth had been paying penance for over a +week. He ate the hard dry crust as though it had been the choicest +morsel and then calmly announced that he wanted "moe." + +"Merciful Father," thought I, "where am I to find food for this little +glutton?" as I respected his request by handing him such a generous +portion of the loaf as I thought would surely keep him quiet for the +rest of the day. + +It was evident I must take account of his appetite, and leaving him in +the hut, closing the door behind me and fastening it so, as I thought, +that such a small child could not open it, I marched forth to the +nearest settler's, to one of the families that had followed me in my +baptism by Brother Beissel. + +After loading me up with _Swartzbrod_, a rough sort of rye bread, but +exceedingly wholesome, and with a small crock of apple butter and some +smoked meat of the pig, besides giving me a jug of fresh milk, the good +sister remarked with that inquisitive hunger for news that is ever +present in the lonely dwellers of the wilderness, whether I had company, +because I took so much more than usual. + +In my confusion, I hurriedly said "Nay," but recollecting I must not +lie, I shouted back as I started off rapidly, "Yea, a little, not much," +leaving the good sister staring at my retreating form as though she +greatly feared much piety had made me mad. + +As I approached the clearing, burdened with my rich cargo--even to this +day I smile when I think how eager and anxious I was to get back and +find that boy safe--I saw that the door of my hut was wide open. I +fairly gasped with apprehension. Had he been spirited away as +mysteriously as he had come? I rushed into the cabin letting my load +fairly fall from me as I looked about everywhere and into the most +foolish places for this strange child. Then out again and to the old +pine where I had first found him; but he was not there; back again +toward the hut, my heart in my throat, I went, but how joy possessed my +soul when hearing a gurgling and a bubbling and a laughing and crowing +behind me I turned about like a flash and there sat the blessed rogue, +his bare legs and feet swinging and splashing, kicking up and down, in +my spring. + +When he saw me he looked up with such a glad knowledge of me that I +forgot to scold him for his vandalism and catching him in my arms I +carried him crowing and kicking to the hut, where he filled himself so +full with milk and ment and the fresh rye bread that I was greatly +alarmed immediately lest he might become ill from his gorging; but he +minded it not in the least and ere many hours had gone by was clamoring +for more, so that I doubted not the rest of my hermit life would be +spent in making trips to the settlements for something to eat for this +hungry mannikin. + +Indeed, I should like to tell of all his bright ways and the wonderful +things he would say all during the remaining summer we lived here in +this lonely spot. At first he often cried for "mamma," but gradually he +seemed to forget her and greatly delighted me by calling me "faver," +which in later years he changed to the more affectionate _Vaterchen_. I +tried almost every day for a long while to get him to tell me his name, +but beyond assuring me it was "Tass," I never could learn anything. At +first, I called him _Soehnlein_, but soon after, upon reflecting that he +was English and not German, it seemed but just that I should make his +name at least half in his mother tongue, and this I did by calling him +Sonnlein, for a precious little son he was to me. + +The cloak I preserved most carefully hoping that some day it might help +me find my boy's parents; especially did I care to keep it because I had +noticed worked on it in pretty red letters the initials "C. S.," but +beyond this there was absolutely nothing about the cloak or any of the +child's clothing in which I found him, to tell who he was or whence he +came; nor did any reports come as to any lost child, so that I was +confirmed in my first belief that he was mine for the rest of my days. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +WE LEAVE THE HERMITAGE + + In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct + thy paths. + + --Bible. + + +Thus our souls came closer and closer to each other, day after day, and +grew into a love that bound us together as one for life. It seemed as +though the father and mother love he had lost were all given to me; for +children must turn their love toward somebody or something, as surely as +the rivers run to the sea whence they come. As for me, I doubt not that +the love which is in every man, more or less, saint or sinner, turned me +so strongly toward this pretty little fellow, with all his taking ways, +as if he had been my own flesh and blood. + +In this sweet companionship we drank in together the springtime splendor +all about us, when the brook flashed bright as silver and the wooded +hill in the rear of my hut was gay with the songs of the little birds, +their delicate harmonies frequently emphasized by the harsh cawing of +the crows flying in a thin line overhead, while from the deep recesses +of the forest came now and then the long drum call of some proud +partridge calling to himself with lordly air, so I imagined, his +numerous wives, or, perchance, bidding indignant defiance to some +intruding brother partridge. + +But the glory of the spring soon merged into the glowing beauty of +summer, and all too soon for me and Sonnlein, who like the birds and the +beasts were ever out of doors, came the fall, with its magnificent +coloring of hill and woods; but none the less the shortening days and +the keen air were portentous of the dying year and the cold, dreary +winter that ere long would shut us off still more from my followers from +whose visits I received such great comfort and delight. + +But the inevitable, inquisitive mischief makers also came all too +frequently, and these, especially they that held me as a heretic, +presuming on my meekness of temper could find no sneer or taunt or +insult too mean not only for me but even for my innocent boy, who the +malicious ones pretended to believe was a child of mine and some +nameless woman's. + +Had my persecutors known how my soul raged within me, the chains of my +will being scarce stout enough to hold my wrath, when they thus +insulted Sonnlein and spat even on him as being the "devil's spawn," +just as they oft spat on me, they had not been so bold; for though I +always have had the heart of a priest my Maker saw fit to give me the +strength and stature of a warrior, so that it had been no great task for +me to pick up my tormentors bodily and hurl them headlong into the +brook--and at times I wondered whether I had not been justified had I +done so. But my wise father had early impressed on me that any weakling +can resent injury, while only a truly great nature can forgive; that the +more we learn to forgive, the more we grow like Him who suffered +everything and forgave all. So in all the afflictions mine enemies +heaped upon me, especially through my boy, the chains, I rejoice to say, +always held, though greatly strained, and instead of revenging myself I +merely uttered an inward prayer for my tormentors, and in the long years +allotted to me--so wonderful is God's wisdom--it hath fallen to me more +than once that they who treated me so vilely came to see the error of +their ways and were glad thereafter to hold me in their esteem and +friendship. Truly, time and loving patience conquer all evil. + +As the fall advanced I found though I had left the world, the world had +not left me, and the melancholy temptations which troubled me every day +did prognosticate to me misery and afflictions, so that Sonnlein not +infrequently seeing me in this gloomy state would confide to his +playmates, the birds and flowers, that I was cross. Indeed, I came to +the conclusion that under the pretense of holiness, I was doing nothing +but nourishing my own selfishness, and I knew full well that selfishness +cometh only from the Evil One. + +But while I was in this state matters were shaping themselves for my +redemption from this narrow, hermit's life; for when I withdrew from the +world a number of brethren and sisters were living the solitary life +dispersed in the wilderness of the Canestogues; but strangely enough and +yet perhaps not so strange--for the right human heart leaneth toward the +companionship of others--during the summer a camp was laid out for all +the Solitary at the very spot where now the Kloster stands, and where at +that time Brother Beissel, the leader of the hermits, among whom were +the four Eckerling brothers, lived down in the meadow, near a spring, +and nigh the Cocalico, which name hath its ancestry from the Indian +_Hoch-Hale-kung_, meaning "the den of serpents," for that the low lands +along this stream were infested with water snakes. + +The little camp on the Cocalico grew rapidly, accessions coming from +many directions. The Germantown Dunkers after the death of their +patriarch, Alexander Mack, a veritable saint, sent no less than +seventeen members. Others came from Falkner Swamp, from Oley and +elsewhere, so that the settlement soon grew into large proportions. But +for all these good people there was no cabin or house large enough for +the holding of worship, as the little hermit huts were barely big enough +for their own occupants. The largest building within the _Lager_ was a +cabin built against the hillside, wherefore this cabin was called the +_Berghaus_ (Hill-house); but even this was too small to hold the love +feasts and the meetings. + +While matters were thus progressing on the Cocalico, I was greatly +surprised one morning, just as day was breaking, to see Brother Beissel +coming toward my hut, Sonnlein for a wonder being still asleep. As he +saw me, he hastened forward with his gentlest smile; for though he could +be as stern and forbidding as Jove, our brother could, when it pleased +him, use all the wiles and arts of Mercurius; so that, though I have +ever been loth to suspect others of aught ill, I could not help +wondering what new thing was on foot for tempting me. + +"Surely, my dear brother, I marvel not that thou preferrest this +paradise to our mean little place on the Cocalico," he said; for he +always affected great humility, even though with all his godly zeal he +was exceedingly proud and stubborn and often harsh and violent. + +"Paradise it may be," I replied quietly, "and yet every earthly paradise +hath its serpent to lead the sons of Adam into sin." + +"Thou meanest the child?" he insinuated. + +"Nay, not the child," I repeated with unbecoming heat. "Were it not for +his dear companionship I had been unable long ago to remain apart from +the world." + +"It is verily true the hermit life hath its temptations and +tribulations," remarked Brother Beissel, so quietly I should not have +suspected anything had it not been he was watching my face closely all +the while. But with all my simplicity I was not such an utter stranger +to his dissimulation that he could wind me about his fingers like wax. + +"So," I merely responded, "it hath, verily." + +After a few minutes, during which he coughed lightly a few times and +scratched the ground with his stick, he inquired indifferently, "Hast +heard of our change on the Cocalico?" + +"Naught much," I replied, also indifferently, being determined to make +him come to the point, if it took all day, for I knew he had something +at heart which in good time I should hear. + +"Hast heard we have almost completed a large building where our Brothers +and Sisters may worship?" he inquired. + +"I have heard so," I made answer, still with seeming indifference. + +And then he paused even longer than before and scratched the earth +thoughtfully, neither of us saying a word. Then he resumed as though +partly speaking to himself and partly to me: "This house which we have +erected to the glory of God we have called Kedar, 'the house of +sorrowfulness'"; after another pause, "it containeth a hall for the +meetings and likewise still larger halls furnished for holding the love +feasts. There are also a number of _Kammers_ intended for the Solitary, +after the manner of the early Greek Church." + +"Ye have built wisely," I said, still quietly. + +Then the longest pause of all, at the end of which he placed his hands +meekly across his breast, saying to me as he turned about to leave: +"When thou art minded to leave thy hermit's life, we shall give thee +welcome at Ephrata." + +He had actually proceeded, but slowly as if in deep thought, almost +beyond the farther boundary of my little orchard, when he turned about +gravely and came back again like one who had forgotten something. "Now," +thought I, "shall I see the kernel of the nut he hath been cracking"; +for I had not stirred, knowing he would return, and as he came toward me +he said, watching me closely: "Our good Brother Michael Wohlforth +exhorteth the Solitary with exceeding harshness and violence." + +"Still they should heed him for I hear he is a godly man," I replied. + +"But Brother Weiser and his followers can no longer bear Brother Michael +Wohlforth's temper." + +"A little temper will not hurt the Solitary." + +"But Brother Wohlforth hath been recalled as teacher," continued Brother +Beissel. + +"There be many among you to take his place," I assured him. + +"Nay, not so many, for upon the recalling of Brother Wohlforth, he was +succeeded by Brother Emanuel Eckerling." + +"A worthy man," I said strongly. + +"But he preacheth too long; sometimes he discourseth even six hours +without a stop." + +"Surely he is of most excellent zeal," I murmured, smiling inwardly. + +"The Solitary incline to think six hours be too long even for +preaching," said Brother Beissel doubtfully. + +"Six hours' preaching doth seem of rather great length," I admitted; +"still an eloquent man maketh the time fly on swift wings." + +"But our good Brother Emanuel is not eloquent. Before he hath spoken +half an hour, most of the Solitary be asleep, so that this thing is a +great disgrace to us." + +"Surely the Brethren are not so rude and ungodly?" I asked innocently. + +"Yea, I grieve that he too was recalled, and now we have no one that +seemeth suitable." + +"Thou hast forgotten thyself," I reminded him. + +But he felt not the point. Instead he blurted out as I liked better to +hear him, forgetting all his serpent's slyness--which I dislike greatly +in man or woman--"We want thee, Brother Miller. The Solitary all want +thee. We must have thee. I am enjoined not to return without thee." +Brother Beissel could be just as outspoken as he could be insinuating. +"What sayest thou?" + +"Doth the invitation extend to the child?" said I pointing to my boy who +had by this time come out to me and was hanging shyly to my hand, and +looking with no great favor upon Brother Beissel. + +"If needs be he come with thee, the invitation extends to him," he +replied, although I thought reluctantly. + +"Then we come," I promised him, whereupon our brother turned to say +"Good-bye," but the strange feeling between Sonnlein and Brother +Beissel, for some reason or other never wholly left either. + +But even though I had chosen with so little hesitation to cast my lot +and Sonnlein's with our Brothers and Sisters at Ephrata, I found that my +hermit's life, with all its lack of companionship and intercourse with +kindred souls was after all very dear to me, so that I was almost +resolved to recall my promise; but in my bewilderment I turned to Him +for help and guidance, and after long and earnest prayer it became +clear to me it was my duty that Sonnlein and I join ourselves to Brother +Beissel and his followers. + +The simple preparations for our departure were soon made. My hut and the +little garden adjoining and my apple orchard were consigned to the care +of one of my nearest adherents, and in a few days after Brother +Beissel's visit, Sonnlein and I, my back loaded with my books, among +them a number of volumes on the law, of which science I have been all my +life an eager student, started out together sorrowfully enough for +Brother Klopf's cabin, where he and his household, as well as Conrad +Weiser and Hans Michael Miller and their families, and several men and +women were gathered waiting for me and Sonnlein. + +A brief season of the morning was spent in praise and prayer, after +which we solemnly proceeded on foot--except Sonnlein, who had to be +carried much of the way on our backs--to Ephrata, and by evening we were +in the welcoming folds of the little community of which Sonnlein and I +and most of the Dulpehackin converts became an abiding part. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +EPHRATA + + That we may lead a quiet and peaceful life in all godliness + and honesty. + + --New Testament. + + +In this wise Sonnlein and I came to Ephrata, the "fruitful," or like +Bethlehem of Judea, the "House of Bread," and in this beautiful, +peaceful camp, whose narrow domains embraced the rich, green meadows +along the northern banks of the gentle Cocalico and the higher ground, +named by us Mount Sinai, rising from the meadows, Sonnlein and I were +destined to learn, after the long lapse of years, the mystery of his +coming to me. Surely, then, I may look for forgiveness if at times I +delay my story to tell somewhat of the manner of our life with the rest +of the Solitary in this little forest-hidden corner of our large world. + +When our little party arrived at Ephrata, we received a grave but none +the less soul-satisfying welcome; but as the Solitary always had great +regard for the value of time, we new-comers, without waiting to be bid, +at once added our labors toward the completion of Kedar, which though by +now was under roof, was unprepared for its sacred purposes. + +I fear no contradiction when I state that this structure was different +from anything then to be found in the New World. As in the building of +our cabins, there was no iron whatever used in the construction of +Kedar. The material used was the timber we cut from the trees in the +forest about us. The spaces between the framework and the floor joists +were filled with wet clay from the banks of the Cocalico and cut grass +from the meadow, the sides then being coated with a thin layer of lime +prepared from the rocks near by. This filling was a peculiarity also of +all our large later structures and had the advantage that it made the +house warm in winter and cool in summer, and what was also exceedingly +desirable, this filling was impervious to vermin. Incredible as it may +seem, even our fireplaces and chimneys were built of wood and lined with +this mixture. + +In height, Kedar was of three stories, of which the chief one was in the +middle. This contained the _Saal_, or meeting room, as well as the +rooms necessary for holding the _agapae_, or love feasts. The first +story, or ground floor, was divided off into small rooms or cells called +_Kammern_, for the Solitary. These cells were so exceedingly small that +the Solitary had barely room to turn about though there was but one +Solitary to each _Kammer_. The white walls, in their symbolism of +heavenly purity, were utterly bare of ornament. There were no paintings +or pictures, magnificent or otherwise; in their stead the occupant of +his narrow cell had but to look out of the only window, glass and small, +and soothe his longing by gazing on a most glorious picture of rich +meadow, sparkling stream, waving forests, dim, distant mountains, and +blue sky above, all painted and framed for us by Infinite power and +love. The only furniture was the hard, narrow, wooden bench that ran at +a right angle along the length and the adjacent width, and on these +religiously uncomfortable beds, with their flesh-mortifying wooden +blocks for pillows, the Solitary, after their daily toil, could sleep, +unvexed by troublesome consciences, with such peace and refreshing as +many a king in all his idle luxury might well envy. The only mitigation +against the chilling winter was our daily dress and the heat that +sometimes drifted in to us from the fire-place in the little hall at the +end of the narrow corridors leading into the _Kammern_. + +The uppermost story of Kedar was given to the spiritual virgins who had +pledged themselves to a communal life. Shortly after, the ground floor +was handed over to the strictest of the single Brethren for a similar +purpose, these being Brothers Wohlforth, Meyle, Just, and Theonis, while +two of the Eckerlings, Israel and Gabriel, as well as Brother +Kalckglaeser and Sonnlein and myself, as being the most important in the +community, outside of Brother Beissel, who occupied his little cabin in +the meadow, were quartered in the _Berghaus_. + +Even before Kedar was wholly finished, _Nachtmetten_, or night meetings, +were instituted by the Solitary. These were religious meetings held +every midnight; for it was at that hour the great Judge was expected to +come. At first they lasted four hours from midnight, but as this allowed +so little time for necessary rest, two hours were held sufficient. It +was arranged that the Brethren should hold their devotions first at +these night meetings and after they had filed out of the _Saal_ the +Sisters would enter for their hour of prayer; but this was soon changed +so that the midnight prayers were held jointly. This arrangement soon +gave rise to such gossip and scandal among the enemies of our community +that Brother Beissel exhorted the Brothers and Sisters to pray earnestly +that these evil-minded ones might still their tongues; but though we +prayed earnestly and in all faith these gossiping tongues were +something even prayer and faith could not stop and so after these joint +meetings had continued a few months our good Brother Sigmund Landert +proposed to Brother Beissel that Kedar should be kept exclusively as a +Sister House, in which event Brother Landert promised he would out of +the wealth God had vouchsafed him, build a house adjoining Kedar, the +new structure to be used exclusively for assembly purposes, provided, +however, that he and his two daughters be received into the settlement. + +Though Brother Beissel objected at first, matters so arranged themselves +finally that through the generosity and devotion of Brother Landert and +another Brother, Hermann Zinn, a large edifice was constructed on the +hillside, the _Bethaus_, House of Prayer. Besides the large _Saal_ for +joint meetings and public worship there were ample room for the love +feasts, and at the time of the completion of the _Bethaus_ the _Saal_ +was the largest and most imposing room for public worship in the +province. At one end, toward the east of the _Saal_, was a raised +platform for the gray-bearded fathers, while on either side of the +length of the _Saal_ ran the _Por-kirchen_, or galleries for the +Solitary, the Brothers sitting on one side and the Sisters on the other. +The body, or main floor of the _Saal_, was for the secular members, or +householders, as we called them; for be it known our community was not +composed entirely of Brothers and Sisters pledged to lives of celibacy, +but in addition to these we had a large number of members from the +country round about us, husbands and wives and their children, who +believed as we did, that the Seventh Day was the true Lord's Day, and +who differed from us in belief in this only that they practised not +celibacy. + +The _Bethaus_, like Kedar, was built entirely of wood, and clay and +grass for the filling, the walls inside being made snowy white with +lime, the only decoration being a number of proverbs and sentences of +Scripture written in ornamental German characters, in script, known as +_Fracturschrift_, which became famous far and wide for its beauty, and +even now, after the passage of over half a century, these proverbs and +sentences remain on the walls of our meeting-houses as clear and +beautiful as the day they were first written. + +Upon the completion of the _Bethaus_, the Brethren who had been +quartered on the ground floor of Kedar were again relegated to the +cabins and henceforth Kedar was handed over to the Sisterhood, and the +_Saal_ upon the second floor now became the chapel of the Order of the +Spiritual Virgins, and from that time on, while the night meetings of +the Sisters were held in the _Saal_ of Kedar, the Brethren held their +meetings in the _Saal_ of the _Bethaus_ for a number of years. + +Thus, these buildings were the foundation for a more perfect communal +life and in pursuance of which all the provisions were delivered to the +Sisters in their kitchen, who daily prepared a supper for the entire +settlement, in the large dining hall, the Brothers and Sisters divided +from each other by a screen, everything being done in order and +reverence according to the leading of the Holy Ghost. + +About this time too occurred the first, so far as I know, of those +mysterious manifestations that for so many years were a great +bewilderment and anxiety not so much to the rest of the community as to +me, for that with rare exceptions it chanced I must be the chief witness +of the doings of this strange being that so long harassed us. + +Even before Kedar was fully completed--being, however, far enough +advanced for dedication to its glorious purposes--Brother Beissel made +great preparations for a general love feast; and _Einlader_, or +inviters, were sent throughout the province, especially among all the +German Baptists and English Sabbatarians, requesting them to participate +in the dedicatory services. As the time approached, ample preparations +were made for a great multitude; for from all the reports brought unto +us by our messengers we could not doubt but that there would be a great +gathering in our humble little community to take part in the dedication, +and to this day--and I like not to be considered superstitious--I +cannot account for the failure of the dedication other than through this +mysterious influence; for as a matter of fact but few strangers +presented themselves, the only exception being that quite a number of +English Sabbatarians from the French Creek visited us and took an active +part in the exercises. + +But not only were we greatly depressed by the failure of the invited +ones to come and add to the glory of the occasion their presence and +their praise and prayer, but the night preceding the love feast was +exceedingly dark and cloudy. Moreover, as the darkness grew the clouds +seemed to gather heavier and heavier overhead, so that toward midnight +the gloom and depression were almost overpowering, so much so that about +an hour before midnight, Sonnlein being sound asleep, I arose--so +unaccountably disturbed and troubled I could not sleep--and made my way, +why or how I know not, for I seemed almost as one walking in his sleep, +toward the cabin where Brother Beissel was slumbering down in the +meadow. Suddenly, although I saw not his little hut, I heard a howl like +one in pain coming from the direction where I knew our brother's hut +should be. Then another cry as in pain and a sound as if some one were +beating another with great force and violence. I rushed blindly on in +the darkness stumbling and floundering until ere I knew it I had run up +against what with feeling around I found to be a hut. From within came +moans and groans but the beating had ceased while with the moaning and +groaning were mingled a sort of snarling and growling and muttering as +of some wild beast. I had just reached the doorway, the door being wide +open, when suddenly there rushed out a something which as it passed +struck me a most violent blow across the eyes fairly staggering me so +that all I could do was to make a wild clutch at the beast, or fiend, +that was now speeding away leaving a trail of snarlings and growlings +and cacklings such as human being could scarce make. + +Recovering from the smarting blow over my eyes, I groped my way inside +only to hear Brother Beissel say feebly, "Art come again, thou Prince of +Darkness, to persecute me?" + +"'Tis not the Prince of Darkness, brother; whatever hath been here hath +fled; 'tis Brother Miller," whereupon with all his bravery he leaned +against me for support, seeming to find great comfort in my being there. + +"Surely the Evil One hath troubled me most sorely this night," said our +leader more strongly now. + +"But I smell not brimstone or fire, brother; dost thou?" I asked. + +"Nay, but I tell thee 'twas the foul fiend himself; most grievously did +he beat me with his long tail." + +"With his tail, brother--surely thou meanest not that?" I protested. + +"But I tell thee Beelzebub took his tail in his claws and beat me. Did I +not see him in all the darkness, lift his forked tail on high and bring +it down on me; and all the while he spat and snarled as though he were +about to rend me asunder." + +"Why didst not cross thyself?" + +"The foul one came so sudden. I verily believe he rose up through the +floor. I heard him not open the door and I sleep lightly." + +"Yet thy door was open wide when I found thy hut; and if 'twas the +devil, he left not the way thou sayest he came; for devil or beast as it +rushed out the door, this evil thing struck me across the face so it +still burneth." + +"'Twas the Prince of Evil," still persisted Brother Beissel; "full well +he seeth how we are shaking the walls of his foul kingdom. He thinketh +to terrify us all by assailing me, your leader," and even in the +darkness of the cabin I could see our commander straighten himself up as +though he feared not a legion of devils, and in truth, Brother Beissel +feared neither man nor devil, and I know now that it was my brother's +undaunted will and courage more than aught else that ever gave him such +sway over my gentler, cowardly nature. + +Knowing he was firm in his belief I cared not to dispute with him then +that I thought it might not be the Evil One; but that, perhaps, some +wild animal had strayed into his hut or else some of our enemies had +taken this dark night for an opportunity to beat him, it being well +known that among the German settlers were those who were greatly +incensed at our leader for that the wives of some of them had left their +homes and joined the spiritual virgins; and, indeed, there were those +who upon hearing of the matter the next day declared that no doubt our +leader had been persecuted by some one of our unfriendly neighbors. But +most of the Solitary were just as firm in the belief which our leader +unhesitatingly proclaimed, that the Prince of Darkness, being greatly +exercised with our inroads into his kingdom had sought our leader in +person, thinking no doubt to terrify him from further fighting against +the powers of sin. Be that as it may, while I at the time hardly knew +which side to join with, I myself felt certain in later years that our +community in the person of Brother Beissel had received the first +manifestation of that evil influence I had such good cause to dread for +so many years. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +CONCERNING TAXATION + + E'en if a vicious man were like a leaky vat, + That wastes what it receives, pour in, for all that! + If vat and man are not in too decrepit plight. + Keep pouring in thy gifts. How soon a crack soaks + tight. + + --Lessing. + + +And now, early in the year 1737, occurred a matter which hath been held +up against our community as a great reproach; for by reason of this +thing, which I shall set out fully, hewing to the line, caring not +whither the chips may fall, we were regarded by many who were ignorant +of the truth, as disturbers of the peace; others accusing us of being +misers, while still others went so far in their condemnation as to hold +us guilty of nothing less than treason. + +The whole trouble arose out of what was known as the "Single Men's Tax," +our province having passed an Act some twelve years prior to our first +introduction to it, providing that "those single men whose estates shall +not be rated at fifty pounds, they shall be assessed after the rate of +three shillings a head upon a tax of one penny per pound, both for poor +rates and city and county levies." + +There were then, as before and ever since, those who had no regard for +the sanctity of religion, no appreciation for what religion preserves +better than all our courts and justices, namely, the safety and security +of the State. For, let it be known to our credit, though we like not to +boast of ourselves, we on the Cocalico did not spend all our time in +pious devotions and speculations upon the mysteries of the infinite. +Hard manual labor marked much of our lives, and I glory to say that this +labor was not for ourselves alone. Up to this time, indeed, works of +charity had been our chief occupation. Canestogues was then a great +wilderness, but a wilderness into which many a poor German settler came +to cut out of the deep woods a little clearing for his grain, and to +build a log cabin he could call his home. These poverty-stricken +brethren from the _Vaterland_ often called upon us to assist them in +building houses for them. To these calls we always responded, and for +many a summer we were kept continually employed in hard carpenter's +work, so that by this too great consideration for the needs of our poor +neighbors our own poverty was so increased that we wanted even things +necessary for life. + +Not only did we build their homes and help them till the soil, but we +also bestowed such great care on our lands in the plowing, sowing, and +reaping, that we often were blessed with such rich harvests that out of +our bounty we supplied the poor for miles around with grain and flour, +when their own crops, through inexperience, or improvidence, or rust, or +drought, had failed. + +Substantial assistance was never refused to such as needed it. The +Solitary, whether sister or brother, always imbued with God's priceless +gift of charity, were swift of foot to all calls of mercy and humanity. +In the early days of our Kloster life we would not employ any +four-footed animals to do our heavy work, thinking it unchristian to put +on them what we should ourselves bear; and thus all our hauling and +carrying and plowing was done by our own hands and feet and with our own +backs. I recall full well how the Brethren and the Sisters, instead of +mules and oxen, pulled the plows through the hard soil of our fields for +the planting and sowing. Our life being orderly and systematic, we had +time for devotions, and for work, and for charity, each receiving its +due proportion, but the greater proportion falling to works of charity +and benevolence. Indeed, this was the chief reason, and not because of +any foolish superstitions, that the greater part of our devotions were +held at night. + +But though we lived in this primitive manner of the early Christians and +did all these works of charity, yet there was a number of persons who +appreciated not our charity, or our stern but simple piety, and the +hardships of our mode of life. + +Such was the township constable, who, hungry for his worldly fees, was +bent upon making the Brethren pay this "Single Men's Tax." With this +purpose the worthy dignitary, much swollen with the importance of his +high office, descended upon us one day, as a chicken hawk swoops down +upon some unsuspecting domestic fowl, and with a loud voice and +boisterous manner demanded that we pay the tax, all the while shaking +his head and holding his nose in the air as if he already scented the +fees that would fill his rapacious pockets. + +His coming, and more his loud, gruff manner, threw great consternation +into our hitherto peaceful camp. Brother Martin at first sight of the +fat impressiveness of the bloated form of the constable, and on hearing +his loud voice of command, shrank behind me and whispered timidly, "Is't +the king come for his tax?" + +"King! thou simple one!" I scowled at him, "King's fool, more like!" for +I did not much admire the overbearing airs of this unmannerly tax +collector, who, like many another of his stripe, evidently thought +because we were a plain, simple folk, we were easily frightened by the +show of any authority of the law, especially when emphasized by bulk and +big voice in the representative. But our bawling officer soon found that +while we were ever a law-abiding people, not seeking to quarrel with any +one, yet we were not accustomed to hide in terror every time the law +appeared; so instead of rushing forth in great haste with our taxes in +our hands and beseeching the collector to accept them and leave us in +peace, Brother Beissel, unheeding the constable's commands to hurry up +and not delay him, summoned all the Solitary Brethren to the _Saal_ to +have our views in the matter. And at once there were formed two opposing +parties; one, headed by Brother Weiser--or Brother Enoch as was his +cloistral name--arguing that it was just and right to pay unto Caesar his +tribute as commanded by Scripture, and counseling that the tax be paid +and thus all trouble be avoided. The contrary party, of which I was the +chosen head, contended the assessments should not be paid, because by +our manner of life we were entitled to immunity from all taxation. And +to support this I reminded my brethren that in the Eastern countries +monks and hermits paid no taxes, it being a matter of well-known history +that when the monks and hermits collected by their labors every harvest +so much grain as to supply regularly all the prisons in Alexandria with +bread, Theodosius Magnus and other Christian emperors declared all such +monks and hermits free from taxes. I could not see that we were in any +wise inferior to the ancient hermits, and if not, it were contrary to +custom to deny us the same immunity. + +Brother Beissel interrupted loudly, forgetting his usual subtility, +"Brother Jabez, I doubt much whether our constable will feel bounden by +the practices of the early church." + +"That I will not," growled the constable, who had been admitted to the +council; "the Act does set forth the tax must be paid, and the tax will +I have ere I leave." + +"But the Act doth not apply to us, I tell thee, or else I should counsel +immediate obedience to thy demands," I said as calmly as I could; "we +refuse not to pay this paltry tribute because we care overmuch for the +little money we have; but we do not think it right for us to pay." + +"Of that I know not," came another cavernous growl from the depths of +the constable. "I know I leave not till I am paid the tax." + +"Well, I for one shall pay it not," I cried out. "If our Kloster labors +were merely for the enrichment of our coffers, then I should pay the tax +as being my share of the support of the province. But we work not for +ourselves further than is necessary for our slender needs. The overflow +of our abundance hath ever gone to the poor and needy settlers far and +wide. If we came not to the relief of these, then would the province +have the burden of their support. In all ages it hath been the custom +and the law to grant immunity of taxation to the church and to those +whose lives are spent in charity. I say I shall not pay the tax, for it +is neither right, nor custom, nor law." + +"If thou payest not the taxes thou goest to jail, for so the Act +declares," bellowed the constable. + +"So be it," I replied quietly, "and I fear not but I shall have worthy +company." + +"Thou goest not alone with this ungodly man," answered me Brother +Elimelech--his secular name being Emanuel Eckerling--as he stood bravely +by my side. + +"I too go with thee into the camp of the Philistines," said Brother +Jephune, brother to Elimelech, also coming to my side. + +Another of the Eckerlings, Brother Jotham, stepped over to me and said +quietly: "Even if it be to the stocks or the gallows I go with thee." + +"And if I go with thee, Brother Jabez, as I surely will, then thou hast +all the sons of my mother with thee," said Brother Onesimus. + +"With all these Eckerlings--Emanuel, Samuel, Gabriel, and Israel--I fear +naught, not even our formidable friend, the tax collector," I said +gayly, not at all disturbed by his fierce looks and scowls at me, whom +he regarded as the instigator of all this little rebellion, although in +truth there were more than the Eckerlings and myself who thought it not +right to pay the taxes. But thus it ever hath been, for doth not the +Scriptures say that out of the ten thousand who gathered to fight under +the banner of Gideon only three hundred were worthy to be led against +the enemy? + +"The devil take ye all for a lot of pious fools if ye go not with me at +once," thundered the constable, choking with wrath, so that I greatly +feared from his purple face he might perish from the palsy. + +"The devil, or his deputy, may take us now if he be ready," I said to +him, which but the more enraged him, so that he rushed from us puffing +and wheezing as he floundered across the meadow, the very swaying of his +broad back expressing his indignation at our disregard for the majesty +of the law. + +"Brother Jabez," said Brother Enoch, as the majesty of the law +disappeared down the road beyond the meadow, "dost thou know if we pay +not the levy we shall be arrested and taken to jail?" + +"If the constable be a man of his word, I doubt not thou art a true +prophet," I replied, "but thou knowest Ecclesiastes sayeth there is 'a +time of war and a time of peace.' It seemeth my duty to oppose this +unjust tax, and now is the time to set our faces firmly against the +levy. If we five must go alone, so be it." + +Just then some one laid hold of mine arm, and turning about I saw +Brother Martin--Martin Braemer being his secular name--our tailor. I +asked him: "What hast to say, Brother Martin, shall we pay the taxes?" + +"Will they hang us if we pay not the king's officer?" he asked, still +with the image of the king in his eye, looking first at me and then at +Brother Enoch and then at the four Eckerlings. + +"That I do not know," I said, after a pause. "Brother Enoch," said I, +turning to him, "thou art learned in the laws of the province. What will +be done with us?" + +"Most likely ye will be imprisoned until ye promise to pay the taxes," +said our learned brother, who afterward became one of the justices of +our province. + +"And our good Brother Jabez is so stubborn in this, if we pay not the +levies, then must we abide in jail for all our days," sighed Brother +Martin, "for I know he will never make such promise." + +"Ye tailors are ever a timid folk," I broke in with some impatience. +"'Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.'" + +And yet with all the differences about the taxes, when the constable +returned with five or six neighbors who liked not our Sabbatarian views +and who answered willingly to the summons to arrest the "rebels" and +"heretics," as it pleased them to call us, I rejoiced exceedingly to see +that not only the whole Brotherhood but even the Sisters were united in +their determination to oppose the tax. And so when the constable and his +eager minions came rushing across the meadow as though they were about +to storm some walled city, they found us quietly gathered at the foot of +Mount Sinai, our hands meekly folded across our breasts, no one saying a +word, except that Brother Beissel, as guardian of our flock, stood +somewhat in advance of the Brothers and Sisters, with me close to him, +to meet the first onset of the doughty constable and his deputies. + +As they came nigh, they paused, and then came to a full stop as they saw +this goodly array of Brothers and Sisters. Whereupon Brother Beissel +spoke up to the constable: "'Are ye come out as against a thief with +swords and staves to take us?' Ye need not come in such haste and +violence; our good neighbors, though they seem overly anxious to help +thee in this, must say we have never done violence toward any one. We +are gathered here to go with thee and to have our cause heard by the +justices." + +This was more than our constable had bargained for, for they were hardly +prepared to convoy such a gathering, and we could but smile, Brother +Beissel and I, and even the Brothers and Sisters, to see the +consternation that now reigned on the side of the constable and our +officious neighbors. Drawing closely together they held such a lively +conference, in which each seemed bent on out-talking the others, that it +was no great difficulty for us to hear everything that passed between +them. The constable was for taking me alone, because he regarded me as +the ringleader; another argued just as violently that our superintendent +and I should be taken, as we were the leaders of the community and +therefore represented them; still another loudly claimed that the four +Eckerlings and myself should be taken as being guilty of open treason +for saying we would not pay the taxes; and still another thought we all +should go. + +Finally, it was decided to take only the Eckerlings and myself, and as +Brother Martin cried out from behind my back that he would not pay the +tax, he too was added to our number. As soon as this result was achieved +by our adversary the constable, he stood forth and in a loud voice +called our names and demanded that we stand forth, that we were +arrested, and that we must go with him to Lancaster to be heard before +the justices. It was with great difficulty that we prevailed upon +Brother Beissel and the remaining Brothers and Sisters that they could +not accompany us, for they were all determined that in this we must +make common cause. Finally, however, I succeeded in showing them that +we six represented the community and were willing to stand trial for the +sake of all, and that it would be the duty of the rest to remain at home +and look after the sewing and the spinning and the preparing of the +fields for the spring planting and to take care of the sick and poor and +needy. + +Thus matters at last having been settled, another problem stared our +enemies in the face. They demanded that we provide some conveyance in +which to be taken to Lancaster, which was some thirteen miles from us. +To this I replied that we had none; that we always traveled afoot. +Knowing this to be true, they had no more to say other than that they +would furnish conveyances at their own expense, wherein we could ride to +Lancaster. This also we said we could not do because it was our custom +never to ride but always to walk, with staff in hand like the early +pilgrims. When this conclusion was made known to the constable I +thought, in all truth, he would now surely die in a fit; for he howled +and stormed and raged like some one possessed with a thousand devils; +but we merely stood quiet, saying not a word until the storm had +somewhat subsided and he was sufficiently sensible to understand that if +we were to go to Lancaster it would be on foot and not otherwise. Thus +we departed after--with some misgivings it is true--I had first had a +promise from Brother Beissel that he would look after Sonnlein until I +came back again, the constable and his deputies in the lead, and we +following in single file, with our staffs in hand, quietly and +peacefully. + +At first our captors were disposed to heap on us all the indignities and +insults they could think of, pulling us by our long beards which they in +their humor were pleased to liken to goats' beards, and calling us +"he-goats," "men with women's frocks on," "bleached fools," "Beissel's +lambs," and spitting on us every now and then; to all of which we raised +not our hands or opened our mouths but followed meekly, as was our +custom to bear all insult and indignity. Uphill and down again, through +dale and valley, long stretches of forest broken only at rare intervals +by some little clearing with its humble log cabin, we trudged along +patiently and uncomplainingly only that the constable and his deputies +who at first set out with such a high pace as though they intended to +devour the way in a few steps soon found that even their spite and anger +could not furnish endurance for such a pace. Gradually they slackened, +the constable, by reason of his great bulk and this unaccustomed +exercise puffing most violently and every now and then growling at our +stubbornness and our pig-headedness in making them travel afoot and +roaring and swearing most vile oaths that we should pay dear for this +great contempt of the law. + +Indeed, before we were more than half-way to our destination our +constable, not being built for walking, was suffering severely in his +feet and limbs from these unaccustomed exertions, which we, inured to +such trifles, minded not in the least. His deputies, who looked as lean +and hungry as he looked prosperous, also were in sore straits; for they +too found this walking not much to their taste. It finally came to such +a pass, while we were yet some miles from Lancaster that the constable +announced savagely, looking at us as though he would have liked to hang +us from the branches of the nearest tree, that he could not walk any +farther. A short consultation with the rest of the Brethren, and I +stepped up to him sitting at the foot of a tree, puffing, and mopping +the sweat from his forehead, and said to him respectfully that if he +would tell us where to present ourselves we would go straight ahead and +give ourselves up to the justices. At this he glared at us, if anything +more savagely than ever, and declared it to be a scheme to escape. +Whereupon I merely replied, "Very well, we shall wait here, then, until +thou art ready to proceed with us." + +"No doubt ye would," he howled; "for I doubt not it gives ye great +pleasure to see what a sorry state ye have brought me to by your +pig-headedness." + +"Perhaps thou canst find a conveyance if we press on, and thou canst +ride the rest of the journey?" I suggested to him gently. + +He was not to be soothed, however, for he merely growled: "I know no +place between here and the justices' courts where I can find beast or +wagon to carry me." + +"Dost thou object if we carry thee there, we and our kind neighbors who +are helping thee?" I asked. + +"Now are ye quite crazy, for do ye see anything by which ye can carry +me, or do you intend to take me on your backs one at a time and thus +carry me a laughingstock into Lancaster?" + +"If thou wilt wait and hear the plan we have formed in our minds thou +wilt perhaps have more respect for our foolish brains," I assured him. + +"Well, what is this great plan of thine?" + +"Sit there until thou seest, and if it do not please thee thou needst +not take it." So saying I dispatched one of the leanest deputies who I +thought could best stand the strain of walking, back a short distance to +a cabin we had passed on our way, for a hatchet and some strong cord, or +ropes, or perchance, nails. He grumbled and growled, but upon the +constable's bidding him go on our fool's quest, the deputy left us. +While he was gone, my brethren and I made search in the forest about us +for such timber as we could make into a litter and when the deputy +returned, scornfully handing me the hatchet and some strong cord, we cut +down a number of saplings suitable to the constable's weight, and with +these formed a sort of litter on which he could sit or lie, as it might +please him, while the rest of us carried him along. He was much loth to +trust himself to what he considered a frail support for his mighty +frame, but after showing him it was strong enough to hold him, he +finally stretched his length thereon, sending the deputy back with the +hatchet, while we waited his return. + +But the constable still doubting, growled, but more softly, I thought, +"Now what good is all this litter; who shall carry me? My deputies, who +are themselves tired, cannot carry me all these miles to Lancaster." + +"Nay," replied I, "but we six Brethren are young and strong and we will +take hold of the poles and carry thee as far as we are able, after which +thy deputies may relieve us until we regain our breath and strength when +we shall again take thee on." + +He sat up and said slowly and still doubtfully: "Do ye mean to say ye +will do this for me?" + +"That we will cheerfully," we all assured him; "though thou hast not +treated us over kindly it is not in our minds to remember what thou hast +said and done." + +"You are not up to some trick?" + +"Thou hast good reason to believe we be men of our word," I replied +somewhat stiffly; "my brethren are not given to trickery." + +The deputy having now returned, my brethren and I took the first turn +and hoisting to our shoulders the long poles extending beyond the +framework on which our constable sat in royal state, we trudged along +quietly but cheerfully, even though our burden was not a light one, our +neighbors, the deputies, under the direction of the still distrustful +constable, attending to it that we departed not from our proper course, +which none of us had the slightest intention of doing. Yet I must record +that the human heart, as the Holy Book sayeth in its omniscient wisdom, +is a deceitful thing, even in the best of us; for we had not gone far +with our rude conveyance when we came to a most foul and dirty pool +directly in our way. Brother Martin, being so small and slight and by +reason thereof in great danger of destroying the evenness of the +litter--which of course would not have been well for the choleric temper +of the constable--was placed at my corner, in front of me, so borrowing +from my height and strength that the litter would carry more evenly, and +also our beloved little tailor be not overly taxed by the burden. + +But surely the Evil One doth ever find an easy entrance to idle minds, +wherefore we of the Kloster always made it our rule to be busy as far +as in us lay. Now in our anxiety to save our Brother Martin from undue +labor, we had made the mistake of leaving too little on his shoulders, +wherefore instead of having his mind on pious things, he was bent upon +evil toward the constable; for it grieves me to say that as we came to +this filthy pool and were about to step over it, Brother Martin turned +his head about and gave me a sly look and made a motion of his body as +of dropping our end of the lifter, which foul deed, had we done it at +this juncture would most surely have dropped the majesty of the law into +this slimy pool. In truth, so powerful is the mere suggestion of evil to +our weak, sinful natures that ere I fully thought what I was about, I +had responded by bobbing down a trifle, but recalling myself in due +time, straightened up sternly, giving Brother Martin such a withering +glance as made him faithful for the rest of the journey, if not for the +remainder of his days. + +Fortunately, our constable never knew how near he was to a ducking, and +as we stepped carefully over the pool--at which he looked with some +apprehension--and proceeded thoughtfully on our way, very seldom +relieved by the deputies--for whom the farther we had come the more the +heat of their persecuting zeal had abated--I could see assurance in the +constable's features that we were rising higher and higher in his +regard. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +THE RIGHT PREVAILS + + The Lord trieth the righteous; but the wicked and him + that loveth violence his soul hateth. + + --Bible. + + +In brief, we traveled in this way until we reached the City of +Lancaster, which to us seemed all bustle and confusion. The constable, +as became his dignity, alighted from his litter and took the lead, with +his deputies following, and we after the deputies, in single file, +creating great excitement, especially as it was conjectured by some that +we were Papists--this by reason of our monkish cowls and long cloaks and +abstracted air. Others of the idlers whom we passed jeered us and spat +on us as being spies--of what, I am certain I never could learn--and +that we were to be hanged as traitors. + +As no one had known of our coming, the idlers and the busybodies were +unprepared to give us such greeting as they no doubt would have +relished, and we were led without any great difficulty to the +court-house where, upon refusal to pay the taxes and in default of bail, +we were committed to prison. Here we were held in a cold, bare room +which we minded not; for our jailor permitted us to occupy it together, +which gave us great joy, and we complained neither at the confinement +nor the coarse food, but the rather spent our time in praising God and +most of all praying for our persecutors, all of us being unshaken in the +hope that deliverance would come from above and that in due time our +prison door would be opened unto us. + +At last--and in this I believe our constable had a grateful part--when +Tobias Hendricks (whose name I write here that his good deed may shine +far out into the world), a venerable old man and himself a justice of +the peace, came forth and offered bail for us, though knowing none of us +except by rumor and repute, taking our bare word for our appearance in +court when wanted, we were released from our captivity, and quietly and +undisturbed we started out for our beloved Kloster, and upon the twelfth +day of our departure with the constable and his eager deputies, we six +Brethren once more filed into our little camp on the Cocalico, where we +were greeted with all the love and affection that the sobriety of our +lives permitted. + +Not many weeks thereafter, the May Court convened in Lancaster and we +six Brethren, agreeable to our promise, put in our appearance before the +commissioners and assessors of taxes who, when they saw before them +these six gentle Brethren, in the bloom of youth, who had raised such a +warfare against the world, the fear of the Lord came upon our judges so +that they did not speak to us otherwise than friendly and offered us +every favor. + +The first question put to us was, "Will ye be lawful subjects of the +king?" To which we replied--but in all respect--that as we had already +pledged allegiance to another King we could therefore obey the earthly +king only so far as his rights accorded with those of our eternal King. + +To this our judges did not demur but asked another question, namely, +whether we would pay the taxes? To which we replied respectfully as +before, but firmly, not the head tax, because we acknowledged no worldly +authority's right over our bodies, since they had been redeemed from men +and the world. Moreover, we considered it unjust that, as we were +pledged to spend our lives in our present condition, one of great +benefit to the country about us, we should be measured by the same +standard as vagabonds and be made to pay the same tax as they; that we +desired not to be considered disobedient, because it was our rule to +live peaceably with all men so far as within us lay, for thus we were +enjoined by the Scriptures; but that if the judges would consider us a +spiritual family we would be willing to pay of our earthly possessions +according to what was just. + +All this was granted us and remains unchanged to the present day; for +the fear of God came upon the gentlemen who were our judges when they +saw before them men who in the prime of their ages, by penitential works +had been reduced in flesh, so that our judges used great moderation and +granted us our personal freedom under condition that we should be taxed +as one family for our real estate, the judges even asking us how much +tax in our judgment would be just and fair--in short, for us to assess +our own rate. + +This we refused to do, but finally, after much persuasion, we suggested +to the judges that a tax of forty shillings against our settlement as a +whole would be fair. This proving satisfactory to the board of judges, +we were discharged, and with exceeding gratitude to these gentlemen for +their benevolent treatment of us, which was so different from the +persecutions we often endured from our neighbors, who were so often +bounden to us for our charity, we set out with light hearts and winged +feet on our long tramp through forest and field for the Kloster. + +It was late in the day and darkness had already come upon us when we +left the city of Lancaster, but our joy made the journey seem short and +by midnight we arrived in the settlement just as the night watch was in +full session. + +In all my long life I have never forgotten and shall never forget how we +appeared to our Brethren that night as we came to the narrow doorway +leading into the _Saal_, I being in the lead. We could hear the fervent +prayers that were being offered for our release and for a moment while +the Brethren within were kneeling all unconscious of our nearness, I +held up my hand and beckoned the Brethren behind me to wait a moment +while we stood there silently gazing upon the bowed forms of the +worshipers. + +I have myself attended more than one of our midnight funerals of some +dear Brother or Sister, and though wonderfully impressive and touching +to one's heart, even they never touched me more deeply than this +impressive sight before us. As we peered into the large _Saal_, with the +upper galleries shadowed in darkness, the only light the flickering +tallow candles in front of each of our devout Brethren, we saw the dark, +mysterious shadows in the corners of the _Saal_ with ourselves standing +in such a gloom we were not perceived. But for a few moments we stood +thus with a great peace filling our hearts, when suddenly we walked +quietly in, the prayer still in progress, and with heads bowed and hands +crossed upon our breasts like the penitents of the olden days ranged +ourselves in front of the platform whereon stood our beloved brother and +leader, Conrad Beissel, erect, austere; and so far as we could judge +from his immovable features, wholly undisturbed by our unexpected +arrival, though well we knew that this seeming indifference was but one +of discipline and self-control and that the heart within the sturdy +frame was beating warmly for each and every one of us. + +The invocation in our behalf being ended there was for a few moments as +we stood before our leader a silence so profound as to be almost +painful. Then suddenly the powerful voice of Brother Weiser rang +throughout the hall in that magnificent, soul-stirring war-hymn of the +_Vaterland_ and the Reformation, a hymn as strong and rugged as the +mighty warrior who wrote it, "_Eine Feste Burg ist Unser Gott_." + +The first line had not yet been completed when it was taken up by all +present until the strains of the full-voiced battle cry sounded and +resounded throughout the hall. For the time our Brethren had forgotten +all the repressing influences of our Kloster life and poured forth their +flood of praise and thanksgiving from their very hearts; for such +singing had never before shaken the walls of the _Saal_. + +After the hymn was ended thanks were duly offered and the night watch +closed with a powerful address by Brother Beissel on the power of the +beast upon earth, and while I feel not at this late day like stating +aught that might savor of malice or revenge, I find in looking over our +old records this note made with reference to our recent experience, +namely, "Upon those neighbors, however, who had gloated over the +misfortunes of the Brethren there fell the terror of the Lord so that +they hurriedly left these regions"; and thus the beast received his +reward. + +After the services were over and the Brethren were wending their ways +toward their _Kammers_ for their much-needed rest I asked our +superintendent about Sonnlein; for though I had said naught of him +during these occurrences, yet he was in my heart and in my anxiety most +of the time. I can still see and hear our leader, almost shocking me by +laughing, a thing he was most rarely guilty of, as he said, "Thy +Sonnlein is safe enough in thy _Kammer_, but I assure thee not only did +I pray and hope for thy deliverance for thine own sake and the sake of +our Kloster, but I do confess in all love for thee and thy boy that +hadst thou not soon returned to take care of him I had either been +compelled to give up my life here or give up thy boy." + +I fear I did not even take time to thank him, but hastened to my cell +where I found my boy soundly sleeping. + +It was no doubt thoughtless for me to waken him, but I could not help +it, and when he did awake to throw his arms about my neck and hold me +tight, I felt that, perhaps, it was no great sin after all to rouse him +from his sleep. After very many questions as to where I had been and why +the bad men had taken me, and all such questions as only an eager, +trusting child can ask, I finally told him it was time to go to sleep, +which he did without any great difficulty. + +As he lay there sleeping in all the sweet innocence of childhood and +health, I looked first at him and then out through the little window at +the perfect beauty of God's handiwork in his heavens, and then I went to +my rest, proud to be a son of him who created me in his image and who +had put me into a world which, though full of dark and evil deeds, yet +held in it, if we only looked aright, so much of beauty and joy and +peace and love. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +OUR FIRST LOSS + + Let nothing make thee sad or fretful, + Or too regretful; + Be still; + What God hath ordered must be right, + Then find in it thine own delight, + My will. + + --Paul Fleming. + + +The year 1738 is deeply graven on my memory, because it marked the first +death among the Solitary, our Brother Martin Braemer. Secondly, because +his death followed so swift upon the appearance of that strange being, +woman, witch, or devil, who, time and again, thrust herself so violently +into our lives. + +In the first month of the new year, and on a day when the sun was +shining clear and bright, there being no snow on the ground, I was on my +way to the Brother woods for an armful of firewood for the hall. Close +upon where the Brother woods merged into the Sister woods stood a mighty +oak within a little clearing on the Brothers' side, a favorite haunt of +the Solitary for their rare moments of rest from their daily work. + +I had about reached the clearing under the shelter of the wide-reaching +arms of the old oak when suddenly, for I was in my customary fashion of +deep meditation with mine eyes toward the ground, I walked into Brother +Martin, almost overthrowing him, for that our tailor was so small and +slight. However, we gravely saluted each other as though naught had +happened; for each knew it had been a mere accident, and were about to +pass on when I caught sight of his face, and saw from his more than +usual pallid features and the twitching lips that he was suffering from +some great shock. Never of robust health he had not been well lately, +and I thought he was suffering more than usual from his infirmity. + +I hailed him with brotherly solicitude, "Thou art not well, Brother +Martin! I fear the Solitary press upon thee too sorely for thy keeping +of them clad as becomes their orders." + +"Nay, nay, Brother Jabez," he replied gently; but I could hear the +trembling and the fear in his voice, "It is not my labors, which though +toilsome, lie pleasantly on me, because I love my work, and those for +whom I labor and strive to please seem to love me for what I do for +them"; and indeed this was true, for his gentle, unaffected devotion to +us and Him we served made our Brother Martin universally loved. + +"But surely," I insisted, "thou'rt not well; thou'rt disturbed and +suffering, that I see plainly. I beseech thee tell me what so sorely +weighs on thee." + +He looked up at me, his pale, bloodless lips quivering, and whispered +into mine ear, clutching mine arm and leaning on it as though he needed +my protection, "I have seen the Evil One in woman's form," and then he +gasped, "I shall surely die." + +"Nay, nay, my brother," I replied, as though laughing at his foolish +fears, "'tis true the Evil One comes to us at times in woman's form to +lure us, as Solomon sayeth, 'to the gates of hell'; but when the fiend +comes as such it is not in horrid, repulsive shape, but like those +beautiful beings who came to Saint Anthony with such artful, seductive +enchantments that none but saint could say them nay. Surely if this Evil +One hath appeared to thee thou needst not look for thy immediate +dissolution, but mayst expect some grace from the fair devourer." + +But my poor brother would not be comforted, and merely stood shaking his +head, saying mournfully, "This was no beautiful enchantress; no +seductive siren, as thou sayest; 'twas the foul fiend in his foulest, +most awful form, long, tangled hair falling every way over a face +through which there gleamed eyes on fire with the hatred of hell. I saw +the eternal enmity of the Evil One in those piercing eyes." + +"Where was all this, Brother Martin?" for I saw he could not be laughed +out of his terror. + +"Just beyond the oak," he replied; "she was standing in a thicket +covered with tangled vines as foul and poisonous as herself. I had all +unthinking almost walked into her when suddenly I heard a snarl like +some ravenous beast; I saw her horrible claws uplifted as though she +were about to spring on me and tear me limb from limb. I jumped back, my +heart almost standing still, thinking naught but that my end had come. +She came no farther, but contented herself with crouching there and +glaring at me with those awful eyes of hate that seemed to burn into my +very soul." + +"Canst thou go with me where thou hast seen this witch or devil?" I said +boldly, although I had not overly much stomach for the venture. + +As I said this he drew back and trembled violently as he cried out, +"Nay, not even for the very hope of a safe hereafter would I go to that +accursed place." + +"Then remain there, thou gentle coward, whilst I go," commanded I. + +Again he clutched me by the arm and cried out, "Nay, go not, Brother +Jabez; even if she touch thee not her look will blast thee like +lightning." + +"I fear her not," bragged I, and strode away, leaving him shuddering +with the terror that had not yet grown cold, and with apprehensions for +me. + +I had no trouble in finding the thick bush and entangling vines Brother +Martin had pointed out to me. As I approached its dark, forbidding +front, I trembled like a leaf, and then grew angry at my weakness. Then +I went on, resolutely forcing my way into the vile vines that caught me +all about my face and body and limbs so that I was ready to affirm +naught human could penetrate such a wilderness; but though I looked +carefully for any signs that would show that some one or something had +thrust itself into these exasperating vines I could find nothing, even +though I had in all these years learned much of the ways of the woods +and its signs. + +In great bewilderment I was about to turn back to chide Brother Martin +with having seen nothing but a creature of his own imagining when I saw +in a small gully at the farther boundary of the thicket a footprint, +small, a woman's surely, in the soft, clayey soil. Had the imprint been +that of a cloven foot I could not have been more startled; for I knew +that the Sisterhood seldom, if ever, came to the Brother woods, and the +good wives and daughters of the near-by settlers were too timid and +honest to trespass on our lands. Much perturbed, for I knew this thing +boded evil to our community, I walked slowly back to my waiting brother, +vague remembrances strangely flitting through my mind, but making no +impression at the time, of how Sonnlein had come to me, and the midnight +beating of our Brother Beissel. + +I found Brother Martin, still pale and fearful, anxiously wanting to +know what I had learned. "Nothing," I said, "of witch or devil, but the +substantial print of a woman's foot." + +"Was there no smell of brimstone? No cloven footprint?" he persisted. + +"Nay, thou simple one, else I had told thee. Say thou naught of this; +for they who would not believe thee would only laugh at thee, and if any +believe what could that avail?" + +"Nothing, dear Brother Jabez, nothing," he said mournfully, a strange, +fixed look in his wild eyes. "A woman with an evil eye once looked upon +my little brother as he lay laughing in the cradle my father had hewn +out of a log. Until then the child was strong and healthy, never having +been sick; but from that day he wasted away, with naught that could help +or cure him, and within a month we laid him down in his little +resting-place in the orchard nigh our cabin. They whom the evil eye look +upon live not long." And then, as one who goes forth to certain death, +he looked up at me smiling bravely through all his fears and said, "If +my time hath come, let it come quickly, His servant waiteth." + +I found it impossible to free him from this melancholy mood, and so we +walked back slowly and sadly to our _Kammers_, saying nothing more. + +A week passed, Brother Martin quietly, with resignation, doing his lowly +duties each day; but we all could see he was in failing health. Only he +and I knew, however, that the tortures of mind he was enduring far +outweighed the lesser pains of the flesh; for I hesitate not to say of +saint as well as sinner, that until death be actually at hand, they fear +alike the inevitable end. + +On a Friday night, just a week from the Friday our brother had seen this +thing, the midnight services being over, and the Brethren and Sisters +having returned to their _Kammers_ to rest their weary heads on their +hard wooden blocks, we were startled by the ringing of the Kloster bell. +Clear and loud it pealed through the cold quietness of the night. Like a +flash, though I had not thought of it before, I cried out to Brother +Obed, who had the adjoining cell, "'Tis Brother Martin," though not more +than a half-hour had expired since we had returned, he with us, from our +midnight devotions. + +Suddenly the pealing notes ceased, and then came the slow, solemn +tolling of the bell, a custom followed ever after on the death of any +of our number, until forty-eight were measured out, which I knew was +about our brother's age. His cell was on the floor below, where I +hastened as soon as the last year of his life had been tolled. A number +of the Brethren, with bowed heads, stood sadly in the narrow _Kammer_, +in the still narrower doorway and corridor. I had been filled, ere I saw +him, with a dread that his death agony might have had its terrors +increased a thousand-fold by the awful memory of the witch; for I knew +he had never forgotten it. But when I looked down on the slight form and +peaceful face resting on the hard bench and still more mortifying +pillow, I saw no trace of any overpowering, death-dealing vision. +Instead, his face, though greatly wasted and altered, was as composed as +though he had merely fallen asleep in the arms of his beloved. The +little window looking out from his _Kammer_, as soon as the last spark +of life had died out, had been opened so that his soul could take its +flight unhindered and unmolested to that place of pure delights "where +the wicked cease from troubling and the weary are at rest." + +At the funeral, which was the following midnight, as we carried the body +out of the _Berghaus_ a bucket of water was poured upon the sill and +swept up, and the door immediately closed so that his spirit could not +return again to its earthly home, and to make further assurance against +such a return three crosses were marked upon the door jamb with red +earth. + +We buried him who had thus passed away in the prime of his life, down in +the meadow nigh to where in later years we built our Brother house. It +was a dark, stormy night, no moon and no stars to lighten up the gloom +of the sky or the still deeper darkness in our hearts; but with our +fagot torchlights sputtering fitfully, almost blown out by the wind at +times, we laid him to rest at the midnight hour with all the honors and +rites and ceremonies of our holy order. + +Thus, on this weird, stormy night, in such contrast to the peace and +gentleness of this earnest, zealous warrior of the faith who for almost +nine years had abided with us, we left in the meadow his mortal remains, +but took back with us the remembrance of his godly services and his +truth and fidelity unto his profession and brotherhood during his short +life. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +A LOVE FEAST + + But when a lady chaste and fair, + Noble, and clad in rich attire, + Walks through the throng with gracious air, + As sun that bids the stars retire-- + Then where are all thy boastings, May? + What hast thou beautiful and gay + Compared with that supreme delight? + We leave thy loveliest flowers and watch that lady + bright. + + --Song of Walter Von der Vogelweide. + + +It accords not well with my ideas of humility and self-effacement that I +should ever be writing of myself, and yet it seemeth not possible to +tell this tale without bringing into it much that befell me in +connection with those who were so dear to me, and of whose lives it is +my pleasure and pain to relate. + +And of those who were so precious to me there were none so dear to me +as my Sister Bernice, not even Sonnlein; for however beloved he was of +me he was none the less of my sex, while my dear sister was of that sex +which a true man, so it appeareth to me, can no more help holding with a +more or less tender feeling than he can help breathing. + +I know this will seem unto many as foolishness, especially as I--like my +Brother Beissel, who had published his "_Ehebuechlein_," or "Booklet on +Matrimony," denouncing marriage as the penitentiary of carnal man--have +ever been an advocate of the beauty and superiority of the virgin life; +but in my reading of history I have noted how more than one man much +stronger than I, changed utterly his beliefs and principles for the love +of some daughter of Eve. + +It is not that I have never been greatly attracted by the charms of my +sisters, whom we in Ephrata regarded not so much opposite as +complementary to our own, man's nature. I loved my mother dearly; her +love hath been as a sweet fragrance to me in all my long life, and in +many a trial and temptation have I felt her presence near, strengthening +and upholding me in the right. And however cold and indifferent I may +have borne myself outwardly to the gentler ones, still I never could +speak otherwise than tenderly, and even reverently to them, as it seemed +to me their pure, finer natures deserved; so that it hath ever grieved +me to hear any one belittle a woman. + +I shall never forget the first time I saw the slight, delicate form and +sweet face of Sister Bernice. It was at one of our love feasts +(_Liebesmahl_), which with us was not like among the other +denominations, merely symbolic, but was patterned after that of the +early Christians; for we took a regular meal--and not merely a wafer or +cake--in utter silence before communion, the love feast being an +introduction to the more solemn part of the evening's service. + +I remember full well how the Brethren were sitting on one side of the +long table in Kedar, with heads uncovered, the Sisters on the other side +not with their enveloping bonnets, but bedecked with the pretty prayer +covering, which they always seemed glad to wear, which was a neat lace +cap with strings beneath the chin. + +After the reading of the Scriptures I raised my head, and then for the +first time in my life saw the Sister opposite me--Bernice. I do not +think she saw me or in any way observed me, for she seemed rapt in +ecstatic adoration, her eyes turned upward and her lips slightly parted, +as if she already saw and heard the glories of that heavenly home she +was to visit ere many years passed over her fair head. + +I shall never forget that look, that face, nearer an angel's than any I +have ever seen. An unaccountable pity swept over me, and that pity I +fear was the beginning of another feeling I dared not own. But my +dangerous thoughts were soon interrupted by the preparations for the +_pedelavium_, or feet-washing. Small tubs of tepid water were brought +into the _Saal_. The Elder washed the feet of the Brethren and the +eldest Sister performed the same humble service for the Sisters, each +Brother and Sister after the feet were dried receiving from him or her +who washed the feet, a shake of the hands and the kiss of love and +charity. A wicked wish came into my heart, grieving me days after for my +perverse, unspiritual longing, that I might take the place of the eldest +Sister, for I could willingly suffer the kisses of all the other Sisters +for merely one touch of the lips of that young angel opposite me. + +Fortunately, the Brothers and Sisters were so busy in their devotions, +no one noticed whether or not my face reflected my guilty longings, for +I was so absorbed in them that when the Elder came to me, instead of my +feet I thrust my hands down into the tub, and was about to place them on +the Elder's towel, when he, unobserved by the rest, gave me a little +nudge and said in a low voice but sternly, "Art crazy, brother? knowest +not thy hands from thy feet?" + +I gazed at my hands for a moment, and then as I realized my folly, I +dropped my feet into the tub with such a splash that Brother Lamech who +was seated next awaiting his turn, being utterly swallowed up in worship +and forgetting whether or not his feet had been washed, hastily stuck +them out past me into the Elder's lap just as I was placing mine own +feet there. For a moment the Elder looked at us both in such solemn, +puzzled disgust, that in spite of my natural gravity I almost laughed +outright, which would have been most sacrilegious. Happily, our Elder +was a quickwitted man, and drying our intermingled feet as best he +could, he passed quietly to the rest who had not seen the little +complexity down the line. + +The feet-washing being completed, and we all having resumed the covering +of our feet, we turned around on our benches toward the table, the +Brothers and Sisters again facing each other. Then came the evening +meal, which with us consisted of lamb soup as the chief dish, while +bread and apple-butter were served to the strangers and visitors +gathered in the hall. Brother Beissel having breathed a fervent blessing +on the meal we turned to it in absolute silence. And yet not in utter +silence, for if ever heart spake to heart I know mine was clamoring most +violently, and I verily believe hers was too, for now and then, not +slyly nor shamefacedly, the sweet face opposite me would look up and the +tenderest shadow of a smile would be wafted to me. I know little of +these things, but I believe our hearts turned each toward the other +without the power to stay them, just as certain as flowers turn toward +the light and warmth of the sun. Those gentle smiles, as innocent and +guileless as a child's, filled me with a happiness, an ecstatic bliss I +had never felt at any other love feast. It was, ah me, truly a feast of +love. + +I suppose we had sat there forever in perfect happiness and content, had +not the evening services interrupted our foolish bliss. I shall not +describe what followed of the service, for they were similar to the love +feasts that are still observed by our little congregation; the giving of +thanks at the end of the meal, the holy kiss, when Brother kissed +Brother and Sister kissed Sister. But if ever the kisses of my Brethren +seemed stale and unprofitable--may I be forgiven for saying this--'twas +then, when there was so near in being but so far in possibility, a kiss +from my dear young sister. + +Alas, what a garrulous old fool I am to be writing of such things at my +age. But I cannot help it, for if ever I had a true idea of what +heaven's bliss would be like it was that night. If such transcendent joy +could come from sweet flesh and blood on earth, though in angelic shape, +what joy must it be to wander forever the boundless realms of heaven +enraptured with the love of the celestial virgin. + +That night as I lay down on my hard bench in my _Kammer_, I felt for the +first time as though it were too small to hold all the joy of human love +and the pain of a conscience guilty of treason to its celestial virgin. +What little sleep visited mine eyes that night brought visions of the +dear sister in the form of our spiritual Eve, and when morning came I +was so miserably happy, if I may so say, between the two loves I hardly +knew what to do. Nor was I helped much during the day when I overheard +our Elder remark to Brother Joseph that he had never seen such +beautiful, soul-absorbing observance of a love feast as that shown by +Brother Jabez and Brother Lamech the night before. + +This was more than I could bear, and I laughed so heartily that Sister +Maria, who afterward became the spiritual leader of the Sisterhood, +suddenly coming upon me held up her hands in pious horror at such +unspeakable levity. I did many a penance that week before I felt myself +absolved from my impious frivolity. I have often thought since then how +many a time we are praised when we deserve blame and blamed when we +merit praise; and indeed it hath been a rule of my life never to be +unduly elated by praise, or on the other hand unnecessarily depressed by +censure. I have always set one against the other, and in this manner +have contrived with my weak, erring temper to preserve a fair show of +equanimity and serenity. + +But I was resolved that I, Brother Jabez, the associate superintendent +of the community, would not give way to this midsummer madness, and so +far as I could see, Sister Bernice was of the same mind. I saw but +little of her, and when we did come nigh each other, which was seldom, +her averted gaze told me she too was struggling against our sinful love. +And so day after day passed around, filled with its various duties, +neither Sister Bernice nor myself giving any sign, so far as either of +us was aware, of our poor, forbidden love, though often in the long +after years I wondered whether all our self-denial of this sweet, human +love was not a greater sacrifice than He required of us. + + + + +CHAPTER X + +THE BROTHERHOOD OF ZION + + Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man + upright; but they have sought out many inventions. + + --Bible. + + +This poor love for my Sister Bernice was not the only thing that +troubled me about this time, which was in the same year that Brother +Braemer passed away. It was during this very year of 1738 there occurred +one of the most important events in the history of our community, and +this was the formation of the Zionitic Brotherhood by the Eckerlings and +their deluded followers, and the erection of a large building for the +use of their mystical society. While Brother Beissel and Brother +Wohlforth and myself and our followers rejoiced to see that from all +parts of our province and the adjacent provinces men and women and their +children flocked to us and became part of our community--so that our +secular congregation was now the largest Sabbatarian settlement in the +colonies--yet our hearts were oft weighed down with apprehensions as to +the outcome of the doings of these Eckerlings, to whose foolish and +ambitious schemes there seemed no end. + +These Eckerling brothers were the strangest mixture of worldly wisdom, +on the one hand, and the most perverse and ridiculous religious beliefs, +on the other, I verily believe, I have ever seen. While we taught and +enjoined the purity and simplicity of the mode of life of the early +Christians, the Eckerlings must continually be running after strange +gods, so that at this time and for many years thereafter we were in +great danger of total disruption; for experience clearly showeth the +Scriptures say truly, a house divided against itself must fall. + +Thus by our increased membership and by the scheming of our Eckerlings +it came about that the Solitary Brethren clamored for a building similar +to the Sisters' house, Kedar, and while for a time the project was kept +in abeyance by lack of money, which commodity was never dangerously +plenty with us, yet finally, Brother Benedict (and I say this to his +praise), a young Swiss from Kilcheryturnen, a scion of a rich family of +Berne, who had joined our community, came forward with the necessary +funds. Whereupon it came to pass notwithstanding our opposition, so I +find it in our _Chronicon_, that, "Inflamed by the love of God, he +resolved to devote his fortune to the erection of a convent"; which was +accepted as coming by divine direction, and his proposition granted. +There was in the settlement a pleasant elevation from which one had a +beautiful view of the fertile valley and the mountains lying opposite. +Of this height the Brethren in the hill house at that time held +possession. When now it came to the selection of a site, the most held +that the valley along the Cocalico creek was the most desirable on +account of the water. The superintendent, however, went up the hill +until he came within the limits of the property of the hill house, and +there was the site chosen. By this the spirit of wonders indicated at +the very beginning that the Brotherhood would at first build its +structure on the heights of reason and thus soar aloft until at length +by a great storm they would be cast down into the valley; all of which +was afterwards fulfilled in the minutest detail. + +The site for the new chapter-house having been settled, the eager +Eckerlings, like children hastening toward a new toy, could stand no +delay. The Brethren must be pressed into immediate service, and every +one joining in the work as though this heathenish temple were +unanimously desired, in a wonderfully short time we had cut and framed +the timbers, and a day was fixed in the month of May when the building +was to be raised with much ritual and ceremony. + +In those days when home or barn or mill was to be built the "raising" +(by which we meant the putting into place the large, heavy timbers for +the framework) was made the occasion of a great gathering. From miles +around, the sturdy, broad-shouldered farmers and their deep-bosomed and +hardly less broad-shouldered wives, and even the children, would come +trooping along to take part in the raising, the men attending to the +heavier work of the building while the women folk took care of the more +delicate labor of the cooking, and when we had our raising there was +such a swarming from far and wide that the Sisterhood, aided by the +visiting wives and daughters, were driven to make such mighty +preparations for the hungry workmen we sometimes wondered where all the +food was to come from; but our kind helpers, knowing the rigorous state +of our larder and relishing not overmuch our thin and ghostly fare, +brought along such a rich store of meats and jellies and preserves as +threatened to ruin forever the stomachs of the Solitary. I grieve, +moreover, to say that on this occasion many a Brother--I among them--and +even Sister, did in the hilarity and good cheer vary so much from our +usual temperance as to suffer in body and mind for some days after our +well-meaning friends had left us. + +Not the least of the joyousness of this raising was that in the evening +when we were gathered, tired and hungry as wolves, about the long, +wooden tables in Kedar, Sister Bernice and I in those few days saw more +of each other than in all the months since that blissful love feast. It +hath often puzzled me, even now I know not the explanation, that it +happened every meal-time Sister Bernice waited on me; for the Sisters +and the wives insisting the men must be fed first, knowing no doubt our +fretful natures when hungry, gave zest to the meals by adding their +womanly presence in the serving of the food. So, as I have said, it +chanced that Sister Bernice waited on me, and whether or not the others +observed the foolishness of our sweet love, I only know that when, most +unaccountably, in handing me the meats, and the bread and the like, her +hands would touch me, I came more than once so near grasping those +wonderful little, soft things in mine, that most of the meal-time I was +distressed lest I do some utterly foolish thing that would make my dear +sister and me the laughingstock of every one present, and this I +determined must not be, at least for her sake. + +Once, though, when the Evil One prompted me no one was looking, and I +pinched gently the dear hand that for a moment rested lightly on the +table, just by my arm, whereat she smiled at me with such well-nigh +irresistible sweetness it seemed now I must simply take her in mine +arms and say to all, "This is my Sister Bernice; I am her Brother Jabez. +We love each other better than life"; but some remnant of common sense +and my ever-present cowardice in all matters pertaining to love saved us +both from any noticeable outbreak of our sweet delirium. Ah, me! Ah, me! + +But if there was great hilarity and good cheer after the labor of the +day when the appetites of all did full justice to the food that came out +of the Sisters' kitchen, even this was nothing compared with the bustle +and noise and hurrying to and fro that attended the raising of the +timbers into their place; for even the heaviest pieces had to be placed +by sheer physical strength, the broad-shouldered, iron-muscled giants +puffing and straining at their tasks; it seemed to me as though Hercules +and Atlas had come to earth again, in the forms of these powerful +farmers and woodsmen. As was to be expected, great rivalry, though in +the best of humor, existed between these giants as to which could put up +the heaviest timbers and the most speedily, and sometimes, though more +in fun than for the value of the thing, wagers were laid as to who +should prove the stronger. Where there is such a spirit work goes on +rapidly, and in a very few days the large posts and the beams and joists +were all up and our kind helpers ready to leave us to complete the +lighter but more tedious portion of the task. Fortunately we had among +us Brethren who were skilled carpenters, so that by fall the building +was ready for actual occupation, though it was not finished until five +years later. + +This building was erected on a hill, called by the Brethren Mount Sinai, +within the bounds of the _Lager_, while the structure itself was called +Zion. It was three stories in height. The lower floor consisted of one +large room, known as the refectory, connected with which were three +small chambers, _Kabinettchen_. Of these, two served as pantries for +storing the provisions and necessaries for the forty days' seclusion +which, according to the beliefs of our Eckerlings, were necessary in +connection with certain rites to attain perfection. The remaining +chamber consisted of receptacles for the paraphernalia used by the +Eckerlings in their ceremonies. The second floor of Zion was a circular +chamber without any window or means of admitting light from the outside. +In the center on a pedestal was placed a lamp which was kept burning +continually during the forty days' rite. + +Thirteen cots or pallets radiated from the pedestal like the spokes of a +wheel. This chamber was known as "Ararat," meaning thereby the heavenly +rest the Almighty had vouchsafed exclusively to his chosen people, just +as the ark of Noah had settled down on the mount of that name, there to +rest forever. + +The third or upper story of Zion was the mystical chamber, where the +arcana of the rite were unfolded to the Secluded. This room was entirely +plain and measured exactly eighteen feet square, having a small oval +window in each side, opening to the four cardinal points of the compass. +The only access to this chamber was through a trapdoor in the floor, and +it was in this chamber that the ceremonies and rites were performed by +the thirteen Brethren who were striving for their moral and physical +regeneration and seeking communication with the spirit world. + +Zion was no sooner advanced sufficiently for occupation than the +necessary provisions and paraphernalia were obtained and preparations +were made by thirteen of our Brethren to undergo the ordeal, which, like +the other rites and ceremonies taught by the Eckerlings, were nothing +more than what was known as the "strict observance," or the Egyptian +cult of mystic Freemasonry. + +At the conclusion of certain religious services, among which was the +repeating in concert of the fortieth Psalm, a procession was formed and +thirteen elect of the Brethren were escorted up the hill to the doors of +the building, which, as soon as the adepts had entered, were securely +locked to prevent any intrusion or interruption during the forty days' +retirement from the outside world. + +I had been greatly surprised to see that of the thirteen selected for +the ordeal, Gabriel Eckerling, or Brother Jotham, had been chosen prior +instead of the eldest of the Eckerling brothers, Israel, or Brother +Onesimus. + +As the doors closed upon the last of the misguided thirteen, I turned to +Brother Beissel and said, "Why hath not Brother Onesimus been chosen +prior?" for it was well known to all of us that the eldest of the +Eckerlings was the real leader in all these schemes. + +Brother Beissel looked at me quietly for a moment and then said so low +only I and Brother Wohlforth, who was standing near, could hear: "It +meaneth naught other than that Beelzebub hath some deep plan laid for +our undoing. What sayest thou, Brother Wohlforth?" + +"I know not what it meaneth, but I feel sure it portendeth some evil, +for our Brother Onesimus would not relinquish the honor of being prior +if it were not that he hath somewhat else to attend to to complete his +plans while our thirteen idolaters are practising their abominations." + +"Perchance," I suggested, "our Brother Onesimus thinketh it necessary to +keep watch over us while the others are shut up in Zion for their forty +days' regeneration." + +"I doubt not thou art right," said our leader, and Brother Wohlforth +also seemed to think that Brother Onesimus did not deem it wise to +incarcerate himself for forty days and leave us unwatched by him for +that time; but his own slyness in time proved his overthrow. + +I have not space here to set forth in detail all the practices of our +thirteen neophytes, which at this time were known only to the Eckerlings +and their followers, being, as I said, a sort of Freemasonry, but in +later years I learned from Sonnlein a great deal concerning this ordeal +and it may be that, later, I shall have somewhat to say of it. + +I do know this, however, that at the end of the forty days the thirteen +emerged, claiming they had successfully completed the ordeal, with +physical bodies as clean and pure as though new-born, their spirits +filled with divine light, visions without limit, mental power +sunbounded, and no other ambition than to enjoy a state of complete rest +and peace while waiting for immortality, so that each could say at the +end, "I am that I am." So far as I could see, and I say this not in +levity or prejudice but as being absolutely true, all the change I could +see beyond their looking even thinner and paler than before, each of the +regenerated could say more truly instead of, "I am that I am," "I am +what I was before I entered." I could not see in all my later life that +physically or mentally or religiously these adepts were any different or +better than the rest of us, but seemed subject to the same weakness and +infirmities as the unregenerated, only that the silly thirteen did ever +after by their aversion for labor show they really believed they had +attained a state of complete rest. + +All of which goes to show that in every community error is bound to come +and that there are ever those who, not content with serving God in the +simple manner he hath set forth in the Scriptures, must devise all sorts +of foolish and even difficult modes of living the Almighty doth not ask +for and which, I doubt, not do not please him. + +However, while our _Vorsteher_, or superintendent, and Brother Wohlforth +and myself were not in accord with the Eckerlings and their followers in +establishing the Zionitic Brotherhood, who were ever looked upon with +awe and veneration by the secular members, we did all in our power to +live peaceably with them, Brother Beissel even bringing out a hymn book, +known as the "_Weyrauch's Huegel_" (Incense Hill), for the use of the +Brotherhood as well as for general circulation among the Germans in the +province. + +According to the ritual of the Eckerlings, _Weyrauch_ meant nothing more +than _Gebet_, or prayer. It was taught that the gum, made after a +mystical formula and kept exclusively for religious uses, when ignited +during supplication or prayer became corporeal and was wafted in +fragrant clouds to heaven. _Huegel_, or hillock, also denotes an object +held in special veneration, as the rising sun first gilds the hilltops +in the east, and it is well known that from time immemorial hills have +always been designated as holy ground and were the chosen places for +offering sacrifices, so that the title of the hymn book meant to the +adepts more than a mere hill of incense. It typified the book as a +volume of prayer which, if properly used would, like the visible flames +of the burning incense, go direct to the throne of grace. + +But this peace offering, besides containing a few old, popular German +hymns, being chiefly made up of hymns composed by Brother Beissel and +the rest of the Solitary, like so many other peace offerings failed to +effect its purpose. Not only did the Eckerlings grow more and more +swollen in their power and arrogance, but the printing of the book +itself was greatly delayed; and as our good Christopher Sauer, the +printer, of Germantown, to whom it was intrusted for publication, saw +fit to make himself a censor of the hymns, it so occurred that when the +four hundredth hymn was set up, a personal controversy, exceedingly +bitter, arose and ended in an estrangement lasting fully ten years, +during which our leader and our printer hurled at each other most +violent accusations, the printer evidently being firm in his mind that +our leader regarded himself as somewhat of a pope or a Christ, before +whom all others must bow. + +Indeed, there were during Brother Beissel's leadership many false +stories current about him, rising through superstition or enmity, the +coarser part of the people regarding him as a great wizard, fully +believing that the spirit whom he served had at times made our brother +invisible; wherefore it is related that a justice of the peace sent a +constable after our leader with a warrant, taking care to send an +assistant. As the constable and his assistant came toward the cabin down +in the meadow where our leader lived, they saw him go into his cabin +with a pitcher of water; they followed him, and while one stationed +himself at the door, the other searched the house from top to bottom, +but no superintendent was to be found. Greatly bewildered and even +alarmed at such witchcraft they departed, and after they were some +distance from the house, on looking back they saw our leader come out as +though naught had happened. + +It is also true, and I regret to say it, that many of our Brothers, and +even the Sisters, who seem ever given to idolizing, fell to the other +extreme and, as in the case of John the Baptist, wondered whether our +leader might not be Christ. Even Brother Onesimus once tried to poison +my mind against our superintendent by remarking that even he thought +that, perhaps, our leader might be Christ, whereupon I rebuked our +Brother Onesimus so soundly for his folly, I never again heard him +repeat such nonsense. + +Thus it went back and forth so that it seemed the conflict between our +leader and the printer were never to cease, the printer publishing it +far and wide that our superintendent was born under a strange +conjunction of the stars and that a number of planets manifested in him +their characteristics: from Mars, our superintendent had his great +severity; from Jupiter, his friendliness; from Venus, that the female +sex ran after him; while Mercury had given him the arts of the comedian; +and not content with this, our printer must even go so far as to say of +our superintendent: "In many points he is very close to Gichtel and +still closer to the little beast described in Revelation 13:11, which +represents his peculiarity in spiritual things. His figure is such that +if one beseeches him he has the horns of a lamb, but if one touches his +temper a little he speaks like a dragon, and is, indeed, not to be +regarded as the first great beast, whose number is 66. He is not so +beast-like, but is also not clean Godly, but is humanly peculiar and no +other than CVnraDVs BeIseLVs DcLVVVI--666." + +All of which goeth to show that when one man hateth another beyond all +reason, the hater maketh a greater fool of himself than of him who is +derided. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +BROTHER AGONIUS AND HIS PROPHECY + + No great genius was ever without some mixture of madness, + nor can anything grand or superior to the voice of + common mortals be spoken except by the agitated soul. + + --Aristotle. + + +Brother Agonius, his real name being Michael Wohlforth, or Welfare, as +he was known among the English settlers--what a shock, notwithstanding +our boasted fortitude and resignation, his death was to us! + +He was born, as became his warlike soul, at the fortress of Memel, on +the Baltic Sea. Coming to this New World in his early youth, he at once +joined himself to the Pietists, the Hermits of the Wissahickon; but he +remained not long there, for his fiery, intrepid zeal left him no other +mind but that he must journey to and fro, near and far, even making a +long and dangerous journey to the Germans of North Carolina, preaching +to them as he did to every one, in season and out of season, wherever he +went, to repent their godless lives and to submit themselves wholly to +the Master's will. + +Upon his return, in 1723, from that distant province, he joined himself +to our _Vorsteher_ who, as "Brother Beissel," was then living the life +of a Solitary in the depths of a forest not many miles north from +Ephrata, which at that time had not yet been founded. In the solitude of +this forest these two hermits, so alike in their energetic, impetuous, +stubborn zeal, lived a life of silent contemplation and adoration of the +mysteries of the Creator for some time, and from thenceforth even though +they differed not infrequently with all the force and outspoken +directness of their strong-willed natures, yet were they firm friends +and companions until death separated them. + +I recall how in later years in our Kloster life at Ephrata, when we had +built Kedar and the other houses of worship, as I have already related, +he became alarmed at their size, and deprecated especially the +innovation of the innocent bells, so that for a time he withdrew from us +and again became a hermit, in the mountains of Zoar, some five miles +from the Kloster; but he soon resumed his life with us to remain as a +valued co-worker for the rest of his days. + +And now that he was gone, how we missed him! His boldness, +aggressiveness, his fearlessness and fidelity in proclaiming far and +wide his doctrine as to the Seventh Day Sabbath made his death a heavy +loss not only to our community, but to all the Sabbatarians, German and +English, in the province. He would travel on foot, no matter how hard +and toilsome the way, staff in hand, in pilgrim garb, and no matter +whether by country roadside or in the slave markets in the streets of +the chief city of our province, in church or meeting-house, wherever he +could find an audience, large or small, to listen to his voice, he would +stand boldly forth, yet in the spirit of humility, and exhort and +admonish with all his power, in German or in English, speaking both with +equal ease, oblivious of taunts and revilings and persecutions, that his +hearers live in obedience to God's commands as to the Sabbath day. + +To Brother Beissel and to me the death of our brother came with far +greater force than to the rest of the Solitary. Even more than our +superintendent and myself he was unalterably opposed to the Eckerlings +and their unchristian innovations; for it can be said in all moderation +that hardly would we three succeed in overthrowing some especially +offensive scheme of the Eckerings when one of the remaining four would +present something new to torment us. + +One of their abominations, which originated in the busy mind of Emanuel +Eckerling, Brother Elimelech, was the baptism of the living for the +dead, and so persistent and subtle were his arguments that he finally +won over to him our superintendent in spite of all that Brother Agonius +and I could do to save our leader from this tremendous foolishness. + +So it came about that on a certain day a procession was formed of the +Brotherhood of Zion, the Spiritual Virgins, and the secular +congregation, and as they wended their way slowly and solemnly down the +hill and across the meadow to a pool in the Cocalico, Brother Agonius +and I having steadfastly refused to countenance in any way the thing, +were nevertheless compelled to say to each other that our Brothers and +Sisters were an impressive sight. The solemn procession having arrived +at the pool special hymns were sung and fervent invocations were made, +intended no doubt to ascend, but which to my wrathful mood seemed more +fit to descend. + +I care not to dwell longer on this irreligious proceeding than to say +that, with Brother Beissel as administrator, Emanuel Eckerling was +immersed for his dead mother, and Alexander Mack the younger, for his +dead father, although these departed ones had both been baptized in +their own flesh in Germany. Indeed, this baptismal fever became so +virulent that everybody, irrespective of faith, was becoming baptized +for some deceased relative, so that I gravely wondered whether or not +some utterly daft ones would be baptized for Adam and Eve. + +Another scheme of the Eckerlings, into which our leader fell without the +slightest hesitation, was that instead of "Brother Beissel," he should +be called "_Vater Friedsam_" (Father Friedsam, meaning the peaceful +one). This suggestion caused great uproar among us which finally settled +itself into an agreement that the Solitary should call him "Father," and +the secular congregation, "Brother," and so it remained for a number of +years, but as for me, I always called him "Brother"--"_Timeo Danaos et +dona ferentes_." + +Would I could say I were done telling of these Eckerlings, for it +seemeth to require as long to get rid of them here in the writing as it +did to get them out of our community. About this time a pilgrimage from +Ephrata was made by Brother Beissel and Brothers Elimelech and Onesimus +and one or two others of the Solitary to the Dunker settlement at +Amwell, in our sister province of New Jersey, with whom we had become +acquainted about two years prior hereto. The charge of this pilgrimage +was in Brother Elimelech, but he was with our Amwell Brethren only a +short time when he succeeded in making as much trouble for them as he +had already made for us. First, because when he preached he kept on and +never knew when to stop so that even though his hearers were used to +long sermons the utmost patience could not endure his protracted +discourses. Secondly, because of his proposing midnight watches and the +like, such as had been fastened on us, so that finally he was dismissed +and returned to us in disgrace. But as there is some good in all +misfortune so it resulted that out of the strained conditions in the +Amwell congregation a number of their brethren, among them Dietrich +Fahnestock, Conrad Boldhauser, Johannes Mohr, Bernhard Gitter and +several others with their families, came to us and either joined the +Solitary or our secular congregation. + +Hardly had this storm subsided than our Brother Onesimus, thinking no +doubt it was his turn, concluded that even though properly baptized and +notwithstanding he had taken the vows of celibacy, yet there was nothing +to prevent him from re-entering the world and marrying, so he advised +the Brotherhood to make a new covenant with the Virgin Mary as the +patroness of their Order. + +As a visible sign of their betrothal to the virgin, Brother Onesimus +advised that the Brothers and Sisters all cut the tonsure. Brother +Beissel, who always counseled chastity and celibacy, fell into this +folly of the Eckerlings just as readily as he had into the former ones +and hardly had the prior convened the Brotherhood in the chapter house, +where each Brother in turn kneeling down repeated his pledge of celibacy +and had his hair cut and his crown shorn, when our leader, not to be +outdone by the prior, called together the Spiritual Virgins, in their +_Saal_. + +After reconsecrating the assembled Sisters to the heavenly Bridegroom, +Brother Beissel, with the assistance of another Brother, cut the hair of +each of the Sisterhood in the manner of the primitive Christian church, +after which the crowns of the Sisters were likewise shorn, our +superintendent gathering up the tresses and carrying them to Zion where +he laid them upon the altar expressing the wish that he might live until +the Sisters' heads were gray--and it was further resolved and ordered +that the tonsure was to be renewed every three months and in the +meantime no one was to put shears to his or her head. Thus was another +madness inflicted upon us. + +Our prior continuing to exalt himself in his priesthood, had our Sisters +make for him a robe or costume such as is described in the Bible as +having been worn by the high priest in the temple, and when our prior +presided thereafter at the _agapae_ and baptisms he presented to the +unsophisticated a most gorgeous sight, while to me the whole thing was +disgusting. Following the tonsure and the priestly robe Prior Onesimus +introduced night-watches and processions, which resulted not only that +our superintendent was virtually superseded by our cunning prior, but +what was far worse, these abominations, so foreign to our simple +Sabbatarian precepts, becoming known to the surrounding country brought +additional ridicule and contempt upon us and for many years wherever we +went we had hurled at us such epithets (_Schimpfworte_) as _Glatzkoepfe_ +(bald heads), _Vollmonde_ (full moons), _Bettel-Moenche_ (beggar friars), +and _Pfaffenmucker_ (Papish double-dealers). Not only were we compelled +to listen to such nicknames, but by reason of this aping of the monastic +customs of the Middle Ages we incurred the ire of the Scotch-Irish +settlers, hard-headed Presbyterians, between the Octoraro and the +Susquehanna, so that no matter what we or our friends said to the +contrary these stubborn old Covenanters were sure we were nothing but a +nest of Jesuit emissaries, and the "croppies," as our Presbyterian +friends were wont to call us were decried from their pulpits as well as +held up to scorn by the members of that church wherever and whenever the +opportunity afforded. + +Still the Eckerlings went on in their unceasing activities. Having built +Zion according to their own ideas, they were, however, not contented; +for as they had left no room for the congregational gatherings all the +assemblages and love feasts were held in the house of prayer adjoining +the Sister house, Kedar; but as the Zionitic Brotherhood had to +traverse the intervening distance in all kinds of bad weather and as the +nightly processions had to take their way toward the habitation of the +Spiritual Virgins all sorts of unfavorable comments were made by the +outsiders, who, judging from their own evil minds, did not hesitate to +call into question the honesty of the Brethren in their adherence to +their vows. + +Thus it was determined to erect a building which should be a combined +prayer and schoolhouse, to adjoin Zion and be large enough to +accommodate the secular congregation as well as all the Solitary within +the community, and so rapidly did the work progress and so favorable was +the weather (although it was late in the fall not a drop of rain or +flake of snow or frost appeared until the middle of the following +January), that the work on the chapel went on without intermission or +hindrance, so that by the following summer, Zion's _Saal_, as it was +called, a stately three-story structure, was completed, the lower floor +being for worship and the second for the love feasts and _pedelavium_ +and the third being divided into small cells for the Solitary Brothers +of the Zionitic Order. In July of 1740 the last joint services were held +in Kedar, to which all the Sabbatarians, far and near, were invited, not +excepting the Welsh and English Brethren in Nantmill and Newtown, +invitations being scattered broadcast even among the Germans beyond the +Schuylkill, and to all who came the hospitality of the community was +most cordially extended. After that time Kedar fell exclusively to the +Order of Spiritual Virgins. + +Not two weeks later the Brotherhood of Zion dedicated their new temple, +at midnight, the prior not losing the opportunity for making the +occasion remarkable for an interminable number of processions, +incantations, prayers, and mysterious ceremonies, said to date from +Pharaoh, from whose bondage we, unlike the children of Israel, did not +seem able to free ourselves. + +About a month later, our Brother Beissel, being now the acknowledged +superintendent of our entire community, must surrender himself so +completely to the vanities of the Eckerlings that in the presence of the +whole congregation, from among whom I saw Sister Bernice look at me with +shy pride, he solemnly consecrated Brother Onesimus, Brother Enoch, and +myself to the priesthood, by the laying on of hands, after which with +most solemn and ancient ceremony we had conferred on us the +centuries-old Order of Melchizedek, although what this order had to do +with our Christian life, I confess I have never yet found out, only +consenting to the doubtful honor in order to appease our +superintendent's displeasure, whose rigorous spirit often pressed on my +slower one. + +And now, our superintendent, assuming the role of Grand Master of the +Zionitic Brotherhood, deposed Brother Jotham and in his stead, despite +the protests of himself and his following, appointed Brother Onesimus, +Prior, or Perfect Master, of the Brotherhood. Our new prior, however, +was even worse than his brother and applied the discipline of the order +so rigidly that I was compelled to write to a friend, that "Now was +there between the poor devotees of Ephrata and the wool-headed African +slaves no other difference than that we are white and free slaves," and +indeed, I fear I almost felt toward the Eckerlings like the English king +who wondered whether there was no one to rid him of his enemies. + +At the risk of trespassing too far on the patience of those who may read +this, I shall narrate of the clock and bells donated to the community by +my father, and which the Eckerlings obtained permission to place in the +steeple over the roof of the _Saal_. This clock held an ingenious +attachment for chiming the bells and for ringing them at certain times +during the day and night, to call us to our various and now almost +innumerable devotions. When this bell was rung at midnight, not only did +the Solitary arise from their wooden couches, but for miles around, +whenever the notes of the bell could be heard, all the families arose +also and held their worship at the same time; but though the fires of +first love for their faith burned strongly among the secular members at +this time, yet it finally came about that the congregation demanded a +house where they could worship unhindered by the exacting rules and +ceremonies of the Brotherhood of Zion, who seeing in this an excellent +opportunity for securing their temple wholly to their own uses, fell in +with might and main to prepare the frame and timbers for another prayer +house, nominally for the exclusive use of the secular members. + +And now, though all our houses of worship were on the higher ground, the +site for this new temple was chosen down in the meadow, and this less +pretentious _Saal_ still survives, while its loftily situated and proud +predecessors have long ago passed away. Thus as the Lord hath promised +doth he exalt the lowly and bring down the haughty. + +In size the new prayer house was to be forty feet square and that many +feet in height, thus symbolizing the perfect number, although it hath +been claimed that some of the builders wondering what might happen if +they followed not the perfect proportions, made the width two feet +narrower and the height somewhat greater than forty feet. Be that as it +may, I have not seen in these fifty years since the building was put up +that the variation, if there were such, hath made any difference for +good or ill. + +But the good fortune attending us during the building of the _Saal_ +forsook us now, for many delays and heavy disappointments fell upon us +ere our task was performed; for the weather during the fall and winter +of 1740 and 1741 was exceptionally hard, there being the severest storms +and the extremest cold. Never since have I seen such cold and sleet and +ice and snow as during that awful winter. The Cocalico was completely +hidden under its thick covering of ice and snow so that a stranger would +not have known there was a stream there. At times the snow was three +feet deep on the level, and where it had drifted from the winds, cabins +and outbuildings were completely covered over. Families were imprisoned +in their homes. Cattle died from want of fodder. Even the wild beasts in +the forest, though knowing so well how to take care of themselves, died +of hunger, so that deer were found dead in the woods. Indeed, it was no +infrequent sight to see the pretty animals, usually so timid, driven by +their great hunger to the very cabin doors for food, sometimes even +mingling with the cattle. The settlers, especially of the more remote +districts, suffered greatly from lack of bread, and had little to live +on but the carcasses of the deer found in the swamps. Even the Indians +suffered on account of the lack of game. Often during the night there +would be borne to our ears the strangest sounds, heavings, and +groanings from the ice-bound, rebellious Cocalico, the walls of our +buildings even seeming to strain and crack as though they would fall +asunder. Sometimes at long intervals during those dark, bitter, cold +nights there would fall from the depths of the sky the trumpet calls of +wild fowls, winging their way I know not whither, but still, I know, +within His care. At times, these shrill cries came with such strength +and suddenness that Sonnlein would jump up out of the soundest sleep, +cuddling up close to me as though only I could save him from those +mysterious, threatening voices. + +But the Solitary, despite the severity of the winter, pressed on at +every relaxation of the weather toward the completion of our new prayer +house, and as the spring opened, we being now joined by the congregation +at large, the work went on rapidly, though the building which our +superintendent named "Peniel" (being the name Jacob gave to the place +where he wrestled with God), was not made tenantable until the following +December, when it was duly consecrated to God. + +All during this hard winter I could see that Brother Agonius, his hardy +frame worn out by excessive zeal, was suffering keenly from the cold, +piercing winds, and I felt with deepening sadness, day after day as I +saw his infirmity increase, that our brother must soon cease to be among +us. How bravely he fought to remain with us and how uncomplainingly he +faced the inevitable end, his rugged heart mellowing and ripening into +sweeter and more resigned humility before being plucked from its stem by +the Master's loving hand! + +Spring had not yet yielded itself to summer--for it was only the latter +part of May when the fields and the woods were gay with flowers--when +what he stubbornly maintained was only a slight weakness passed into the +serious illness that in a few days ended his labors on earth. But such +was his unyielding will that on the Sabbath before his death he was at +meeting, and the following evening there were good hopes for his +recovery. + +About an hour before midnight--Sonnlein having gone to sleep soon after +dark--I bethought me to go to our brother's _Kammer_ and give him such +comfort as he might need. I found him alone in his little cell sitting +feebly on his wooden bench, so that I could see he was suffering great +weakness. At first he resisted my gentle persuasions to lie down and +rest, but finally consented thereto, even, after much coaxing, letting +me spread my robe under him and rest his head on it; for he was so thin +I could not bear to see his poor frame with nothing between it and the +hard board's. + +I rejoiced to see him drop off into a deep sleep that I fondly hoped +would last until the morning; but there was a something about his sleep +so unnaturally deep and profound I feared it might be the forerunner of +his speedy dissolution. + +It was close now to the midnight hour and soon there rang out from the +darkness the clear notes of our bell calling the Brothers and Sisters to +their wonted devotions. Scarcely had the first stroke died away when I +was startled almost out of my wits to see Brother Agonius sit up +straight on his bench, looking ahead with a fixed, steady stare. + +"What seest thou, brother?" I asked softly and I know my voice trembled, +for I understood not his strange gazing. + +But he heeded me not in the least only that he appeared to be muttering +to himself. Then his voice, becoming more firm, he said, still as though +to himself, "Ye foolish Eckerlings; flee ye from the wrath to come!" + +"What meanest thou?" I asked wonderingly; but still he heeded +not, only muttering as before something about the Eckerlings +of which now and then I would catch some few words, which seemed +to me like, "O ye Eckerlings; ye poor Eckerlings; driven +away--alone--captured--tortured--separated--persecuted--homeless"; +and then my brother sighed as though a world of woe oppressed him +and murmured, "Repent ye; repent ye"; all this time my flesh +creeping with dread as the low tone of the dying man uttered this +marvelous prophecy; for such, in truth, it was. + +Finally he lay down again, but still muttering and mumbling, only lower +than before. Once he mentioned my name and it seemed to me he said +pityingly, "Poor Brother Jabez," and then after a long pause, "Poor +Sister Bernice," and then after a still longer pause, during which I +waited anxiously for what might follow he said more clearly, "The fight +will not be long; comfort thou him, Lord"; so that I could not keep out +a great fear for that he should couple my name with my dear sister's so +strangely; for I had oft heard that dying ones see not only the past but +even the future with great clearness, and I could not help the dread +that held my heart as though with a hand of ice. + +When the Brethren dropped in after their devotions our brother was again +suffering such agony that he declared--being in his senses again--his +sacrifice on the cross was now complete, wherefore he did not know +whether any saint had ever suffered such martyrdom, and while the +Brethren were singing at his request the hymn, "The time is not yet +come," he asked that they intercede with God that he might open to him +his prison door. + +As his end drew near he asked that certain psalms and parts of Tauler's +"Last Hours" be repeatedly read to him, after which he asked to be +anointed in the manner of the first Christians. This was done, Brother +Beissel applying the chrism. On the Wednesday following, Brother +Agonius kept looking keenly toward the hour-glass, for it had been +revealed to him that his end was to come at the ninth hour of that day. +And so when the ninth hour came he sat up straight on his wooden bench, +but immediately fell over scarce breathing; but he revived again and +asked feebly whether he had not died. With the end of the ninth hour he +passed away with the senseless sands of the hour-glass. + +The next day his mortal remains were placed in a neat coffin where the +Brethren and Sisters and the settlers of all denominations for miles +around could gaze once more upon the face and form of this unconquerable +Christian soldier and martyr and pay their last respects to the memory +of our eloquent exhorter. I shall not dwell upon the rites and +ceremonies that made his burial so solemn and memorable. As his body was +lowered into its resting-place in the meadow a little to the east of +Brother Beissel's cabin, a special funeral hymn was sung by the +Sabbatarians, composed for the occasion by his lifelong friend, our +superintendent. + +After the singing of the hymn the Brotherhood of Zion, being nearest +about the grave, closed with its mystic rites the funeral ceremonies, +the Sisters in a tearful group standing beyond us, and all being +surrounded by the sincere friends of our departed brother, and the +curious ones who ever attend such sad occasions. + +A modest tombstone marks his sleeping-place, bearing the following +German inscription by Brother Beissel, which I translate freely thus: + + HERE REPOSES THE GODLY WARRIOR + + AGONIUS + + DIED ANNO 1741. + + _Aged 54 years, 4 months, 28 days._ + + Victory brings the crown + In the fight for faith, grace, and renown. + Thus blessings crown the warrior true + Who bravely sin and Belial slew. + Peacefully he passed to his chamber of rest + Where now he is free of all pain and distress. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +SISTER BERNICE IS COMFORTED + + Girls and gold are the softer the purer they are. + + --Jean Paul Richter. + + +The beautiful flowers that grew down in the meadow where we laid our +Brother Agonius in his chamber of rest, like him were soon gathered up +into the arms of the Master Reaper. The enchantments of the long, hot, +summer days had worked silently but surely the entrancing spells that +now spread over field and forest the glowing vestments of the early +fall. + +But one day as I was resting at the foot of the venerable oak where +Brother Martin had been hastened to his death by that strange woman not +many years before, suddenly I heard a piercing shriek from the thick +woods back of me and a wild, terrified rush toward the little clearing +where I was standing erect, fairly astounded. In a moment more Sister +Bernice fell almost headlong at my feet, whence I lifted her unconscious +with fright and terror into my arms. + +Hardly knowing what to do I stood there helplessly gazing at her sweet +face and then at the crown of hair that lay like a golden fleece over my +arm, her hood having fallen to the ground, so that I was thankful some +remnant of womanly vanity had saved her from the hideous tonsure. But I +bethought myself to lay her gently on the ground, her head, a dear +burden, in my lap, fanning her face as best I might with my large, +toil-stained hands. At last the fluttering eyelids and the gasping +breath told me of returning consciousness. At first she opened her eyes +and gazed at me wonderingly, vaguely, and once she closed them as if to +shut out some awful sight. I rubbed her hands, her wrists, softly +smoothed her brow, and spake to her gently, "'Tis naught but Brother +Jabez; thou needst not fear him. What hath he done?" and by such soft +entreaties and with tender pressures of the hands I sought to soothe her +to herself again. + +Finally, she sat up weakly, but leaning so sweetly and helplessly +against me--it being necessary to hold her safe with mine arms for great +fear she might faint again--that I longed to sit there forever. She, +however, after a while freed herself somewhat from my too careful +protection and said "Nay, my dear sister, my--Bernice, I never had much +faith in such wild tales," said I, as she lifted those clear, trusting +eyes to mine. And may I be forgiven for this unblushing, unscrupulous +lie; for did I not know of the witch of Endor? Many a tale had I heard +in the _Vaterland_ of the malign influences of the evil eye, so that now +I felt a vague dread I dared not make known to my poor little sister, +who had flown to my arms as a birdling to its nest. + + [Illustration: "In a moment more Sister Bernice fell almost headlong + at my feet." Page 128.] + +"Think not of her more, my sister; she cannot harm thee now, dear +Bernice." Upon which boastful assurance she smiled confidently enough +and said with a look I would not have changed for a kingdom, "That I +know quite well, thou great giant; wast thou ever afraid, Brother +Jabez?" + +"Never," I responded valiantly, recklessly adding another lie to the +record I this day seemed bound to cover with falsehoods. + +"Oh, that I could be so brave, Brother Jabez; but I have ever been weak, +such a coward; the _Vaterchen_ and the _Mutterchen_ always shielded me +as though I were in all truth a baby." Here she paused as if to catch +her breath, and then slowly again as with difficulty she said quietly, +"I have been growing so weak lately, I wonder what ails me?" + +And now my selfish joy, after all these gloomy months without sight of +her, gave way to a pain that shot through me like an arrow as I saw how +much more delicate and ethereal she had become since that blissful love +feast. For a moment my soul was in hot rebellion at all the hardships +and privations that made our Kloster life almost unbearable to the +strongest and which were so heavy on the frail shoulders of this sweet +angel at my side. Something of my wicked wrath must have expressed +itself against my will, for she suddenly looked up at me alarmed, crying +out, "What is wrong, Brother Jabez? Thou hast such a hard, angry look +in thy eyes, such as I have never seen there before." + +"I am not in anger, Sister Bernice" replied I, softening my evil looks +to fit my words, "merely thinking hard--exceeding hard." + +"And dost thou look so stern and fierce and frown so, when thou art lost +in great thoughts?" she asked looking up so innocently I felt myself an +unregenerate and abandoned soul for such shameless lying. "If thou +dost," she went on slowly, "I shall be afraid of thee." + +"Yea, sister," I lied again unhesitatingly, "thou hast yet to learn that +like many other silly men and women I save my smiles and cheerfulness +for those whom I know the least and am sternest and coldest to those +that know me and love me best." + +"That I know to be false," she cried out, smiling up at me brightly, in +such a way I thought I never could let her go; "thou art not a +hypocrite. Who in all our Kloster does not know and love our big +brother, Brother Jabez, for his kindness, his patience, his tenderness, +his charity, for every one, good or bad, and most of all for that +mischievous Sonnlein?" + +All this sweet-sounding anthem to my unmerited exaltation made me so +sinfully happy and irreligiously proud I fairly forgot myself in my +foolish joy, so that I pressed the gently resisting girl--for a mere +girl she was--to my breast, and was about to insult her trust and purity +by an unhallowed kiss, and doubt not I had done this great wickedness, +had I not seen too near for me to venture on such indulgence, the form +of some Sister straying our way. + +I hurriedly urged Sister Bernice--who not seeing the approaching Sister, +marveled much at my sudden coldness and failure to complete the sweet +enterprise on which I had embarked: "Go thy way, my best beloved sister; +think no more of witches; I shall not let them harm thee." And with that +she smiled more heavenly than before, but obeyed my will and betook +herself to her _Kammer_, while I passing on in the opposite direction, +went straight for that accursed spot where Brother Martin had been the +first ill-fated one to see that grisly shape. + +But though I searched most diligently, scrutinizing the vines, the +brush, the ground, I saw no sign of her, and I was making my way back, +sorely puzzled, to the oak, when suddenly I heard a quick rustling among +the leaves, such as a bird might make, and turning sharply, beheld, not +more than a child's throw, in the gloomy shades of that thick, dark +forest, the bent, crouching form of that hideous hag, a wild-eyed, +savage-featured she-fiend! + +The memory of poor Brother Martin, the terror of my harmless, innocent +Bernice, moved me to such anger as never before or since overcame my +patience and moderation. + +"Thou witch, or devil, whatever thou art," I yelled at her in my passion +as I pulled out of the ground a stone as large as my clenched fists, "it +is in mine temper to crush thee where thou standest, polluting these +holy grounds, thou pestilence!" + +With that she rushed forward fiercely for a few steps as though with +clawlike hands and fanglike teeth she would rend me to pieces; but now +that my blood was on fire, I quailed not, whereat she suddenly stopped, +the more especially as my hand was drawn back ready to hurl the stone +should she come any nigher. + +As she stood there glowering and glaring at me, snarling and choking for +the world like some angry beast, I marveled not that the others had been +terror-stricken at such a forbidding shape. Again I commanded, drawing +up my figure to its full height, "Begone thou vile beast ere I forget +myself and slay thee as I would a snake!" and with that I advanced on +her, my face distorted with such anger--for the passions are ever +destroyers of comeliness--I doubt not she knew, if, indeed she had a +mind for knowing, that I meant my threats. + +I was but a few paces from her, when she made a spiteful sweep at my +face with one of her talons that would have sadly marred me had I been +reached, and then, bent and crouching, she slunk away sullenly, still +snarling and muttering inarticulate sounds. I stood there until her evil +shape was swallowed up by the woods, and then I first knew I was shaking +like a leaf and that I was as wet as though I had just come out of the +Cocalico. + +In this frame I walked back slowly to my _Kammer_, so sick at heart with +forebodings of evil I dared not think of, which not all the joy of +having had Bernice in my arms could make me forget. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +THE COMET AND BROTHER ALBURTUS + + Night's curtains now are closing + Round half a world reposing + In calm and holy trust; + All seems one vast, still chamber, + Where weary hearts remember + No more the sorrows of the dust. + + --Mathias Claudius. + + +Hardly had Peniel been completed and dedicated, when there occurred an +event that wrought great consternation, not only in our little community +but among all the settlers in the province. This was nothing less than a +comet. Many firmly believed this celestial visitant to be the precursor +of war and its kindred evils, famine and pestilence; for full many of +our German settlers had still fresh in their minds the fiery comet that +had appeared in the sky of the _Vaterland_ immediately before the +Thirty Years' War, when the Palatinate was devastated from end to end +and almost depopulated. Thus it was feared this fiery, flaming star +foretold similar bloodshed and disaster in this hitherto peaceful New +World. Many of our Brotherhood thought the flaming tail was a bundle of +switches, with which the Almighty was about to punish the unrepentant +and unregenerate. + +To our brother hermits of the Wissahickon the comet was looked upon as a +harbinger of the celestial Bridegroom, for whose coming they had so long +devoutly waited. + +I remember well the night this wonderful star appeared. It was early in +the year 1742. The Kloster bell with its sweet tones was calling the +Brotherhood of Zion to their midnight devotions. I still see our long +slender line in cloaks and cowls file out of the narrow corridors, and +silently and reverently take up our march toward the Hall of Prayer on +Mount Sinai. There was no moon, but through the clear, frosty air was +spread the light of a multitude of stars that twinkled brightly over +head. Not a twig stirred on the leafless trees. Everything was quiet, +Kedar and Zion looming up distinctly on the hillside, and the sharp roof +of Peniel, down in the meadow, seemed wrapt in deep slumber. + +As the notes of the bells died away there was absolute stillness, save +for the creaking and crunching of our wooden shoes on the frozen +ground. We had passed over half the distance to the prayer house, when +suddenly we saw in the eastern heavens a blazing star, with its bright, +fiery tail flashing upon the face of the sky. I shall never forget the +awe that took possession of us so that we trembled with fear, Brother +Obed who was next to me, his teeth chattering violently, whispering +hoarsely it was the judgment day and Gabriel would blow his horn. I +myself was not without a feeling that something dreadful was about to +happen, for it was the first comet I had ever seen, and I knew not what +it portended. Still, I am glad to say I was not so utterly bereft of my +senses as most of my poor brethren seemed to be. + +Brother Alburtus, however, was least concerned of all, a peaceful smile +lighting up his face as though the celestial Bridegroom were coming on +some fiery chariot to take him to heaven; but Brother Onesimus fell on +his knees on the hard ground, and prayed for mercy and that the great +evil and calamities foreshadowed by the fiery messenger in the heavens +might be turned aside and that the Almighty would hear our prayers. + +And then I felt moved to quote the sublime words of Job: + + Is not God in the height of heavens? + And behold the height of the stars, + How high they are. + +After the first shock of this sudden apparition was somewhat abated, +Brother Beissel ordered the bells rung throughout the community, and +deputed me to order all out for religious services in Peniel, where we +prayed and sang until the dawn, some of us fondly hoping as the daylight +appeared and the glare of the comet died away our prayers had been +answered, only to find the direful visitant in the sky on the following +night and many nights thereafter. + +Brother Obed held that the comet augured the end of the world and +Brother Philemon agreed thereto; for he recollected, which we all +remembered now, that Brother Agonius some weeks before his death, had +earnestly prophesied the long-looked-for millennium was at hand. + +Special prayers as provided for in our ritual were said, and certain +Brothers, detailed for that office, read these prayers at the services +of the Sisterhood and the congregations of the households at Peniel. +This liturgy consisted of the reading of the fourth Psalm, closing with +a special invocation, these being changed each day according to the +secret ritual of the Zionites. The sign for Sunday being the Lion; the +corresponding angel Raphael, and the planet Chamma, the Sun. For Monday +the sign was the Crab, the angel Gabriel; and the planet Lewanna, the +Moon, and so on, a different sign and angel and planet for each day of +the week, the sign for the Sabbath being the Waterman and the Goat, the +angel Chephziel; the planet Sabbathai, or Saturn. + +Brother Jephune, who was skilled in astronomy and astrology, informed us +the comet was near the equinoxes of the heavens the first night and in +the tail of the Eagle the following night. For a few nights the heavens +were so hidden by heavy clouds and fogs we did not see the comet again +until the following Saturday, when the star stood near Lyra, having +taken a northward course; by the next night the comet had flown to the +tip of the Swan's wing, and so rapid was the wanderer's flight it +traveled five degrees north within twenty-four hours. The next night the +comet entered the head of the Dragon, after which the awesome visitor +vanished again into space, many of the Brethren stoutly maintaining it +had been swallowed up by the Dragon. + +But the long-looked-for millennium did not come either with the comet or +its vanishing, but happily, on the other hand, neither did those dire +disasters and calamities fall upon us which many had predicted; and +though it was a long time before we outlived the fear inspired by this +erratic body, if another had come shortly after there is little doubt in +my mind our terror would not have been quite so great, for this is the +nature of man. + +Nevertheless, the star made a wonderful and more or less lasting +impression upon all of our community, and from this time a number of our +hymns date, which afterward were incorporated in the collection named by +our superintendent, "_Paradisches Wunderspiel_" (Paradise Wonder Music). +These hymns were full of prophetic insight and represented the mysteries +of the last days so clearly it seemed to many of us as though the +kingdom of heaven were already at hand. + +But what troubled me far more than this flaming star was that which +occurred the very next day after the comet disappeared. A few years +after Sonnlein and I came to Ephrata, there joined the Solitary one whom +I have already mentioned as Brother Alburtus, that being his Kloster +name. What his real name was no one in our community seemed to know. And +lest it be thought strange that we knew not who he was, it behooveth me +to enlighten the reader by explaining that at Ephrata we seldom, if +ever, demanded of man or woman desiring to join us, other than whether +they had renounced the world and were willing to serve God in the simple +manner we had agreed upon as being the best for our Master's cause. + +And thus it came about that in our tolerant little republic all were +welcome, no matter what their previous faith, Protestant or Catholic, or +what their condition, high or low, rich or poor. Nor did we inquire +overmuch into the past life of any who desired to join us; for what +concerned us more than the past was the manner of life our brethren and +sisters lead after joining us, and in this were we exceedingly strict. + +But our Brother Alburtus was always a puzzle to me as, indeed, he was a +great mystery to the rest of the Brotherhood and Sisterhood, though we +all were regarded as peculiar by outsiders. He was very tall, even +taller than I, and broad-shouldered, so that even with his habit of +walking humbly, with bowed form, he yet towered a veritable giant above +all the rest of the Brotherhood. A pronounced roll in his gait, such as +men receive who have served long on the sea, inclined many of us to +believe such had been the greater part of his life, and there were +rumors current in the neighborhood that our Brother Alburtus had been +captain of a vessel; while still others--especially the busybodies, who +always imagine evil of others--gravely asserted he had been a pirate and +had sought refuge among us from those who sought his capture; but the +only thing I ever saw as supporting the charge of piracy was a long, +livid scar across our brother's brow, giving his otherwise gentle and +benign countenance a rather forbidding aspect. Whether or not he had +been a rover of the seas I never learned; from his face I could not +believe he had been a bloodthirsty pirate, though I know full well that +oft beneath the form and features of a saint dwell the thoughts and +passions of the Evil One; for the Scriptures say the human heart is a +deceitful thing. + +But this I do know, and in later years it was a great comfort to me, +that in all the twenty or more years our brother was with us he lived a +life of such saintly peace and gentleness as put to shame many a Brother +who professed more but acted not so well. Whatever his past life, I felt +sure with us he lived a true Christian; for a man cannot well live a +hypocrite long with his fellow-men and not be found out. + +Yet he had two great peculiarities we often marveled at and of which one +was, that no matter where or when one saw him, he would ever be clasping +and rubbing his hands together. Day after day, month after month, year +after year, all the time I knew him, I believe I never saw him but that +he was clasping and rubbing those hands and looking at them in a +strange, abstracted sort of way, and even when the Brotherhood were at +their meals, if he was not attending to the needs of the inner man, he +would be still rubbing and clasping those hands, which looked white and +peaceful enough to me, so far as I could see; but the suspicious +ones--and they are ever a plenty--in our community and in the country +round about were firm in the belief that those hands had been stained +with the blood of men and even fair women and dear little children, and +for whose deaths he was doomed for the rest of his life to imagine he +saw the blood there which he must ever be trying to rub off. + +Mine own opinion was that our Brother Alburtus, who was one of those +absent-minded ones who never know what they are doing, had simply fallen +into this habit, which, as is the nature of habits, became a very part +of him. + +His other peculiarity was that often without leaving word with any of us +he would wander off, or as I have often thought, lose himself in the +woods, sometimes being absent weeks at a time; but as he always returned +safely, albeit his body and his cloak a trifle the worse for his +ramblings, we never attempted to restrain his freedom. He and Sonnlein +seemed to have great regard for each other and this too made me love our +harmless brother, and often I saw the two, Sonnlein leading the way, +tramp off to the woods on some wonderful trip of discovery. + +As I have said, this matter which I wish to relate came upon us the day +after the comet left. I was walking in the Brother woods not far from +the old oak that had witnessed more than once the manifestations of the +old witch. It was a cold, raw day so that I felt it needful to have my +cowl over my head and I was greatly surprised and yet not entirely +so--for he always walked about as if he regarded not the weather--when +Brother Alburtus meandering bareheaded in the woods walked past me, +clasping and rubbing his hands as ever, looking abstractedly at them and +I felt sure never seeing me though his cloak almost brushed mine. + +He had gone but a few steps beyond me when suddenly from out of a +thicket there flew at him what for the instant I could not tell whether +it was wild beast or human being; but as something bright flashed in the +air like a knife or dagger I saw it was that horrible old hag, who in +another moment would have surely killed our brother, standing there +simple and helpless, had I not despite all the scratching and clawing, +torn the vile form from him and hurled her crashing to the earth so that +she rolled for a few yards from me. + +I was too much startled and in such passionate anger at this assault +upon our gentle, unoffending brother to say aught as the foul shape lay +writhing and twisting but a second or two where I had hurled her. Then +as she arose slowly from the ground as in pain--though I had heard one +could not hurt a witch--and hobbled off into the forest I bawled after +her: "Again have I let thee go, but 'tis the last. The next time thou +dost assail any of us I shall surely kill thee"; for I was so beside +myself with cruel, wicked rage I knew not what murderous threats were +coming from my unbridled tongue. + +And then I turned to Brother Alburtus and was surprised to see him +standing there looking vacantly into space as if naught had happened, +not even asking me what it was that had so violently attacked him, so +that I wondered whether he even realized that I had saved his life. Thus +I thought it not worth while to ask him why it was this strange woman +had tried to kill him, as with all her violence she had never attempted +actual harm to the others of us to whom she had appeared. + +But what I failed that day to understand and for many long years was a +riddle to me, came out clearly in the end. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +OUR SISTER LEAVES US + + O death, where is thy sting? + O grave, where is thy victory? + + --New Testament. + + +Well hath he of great afflictions said, "Man is born unto trouble as the +sparks fly upward." Thus I said unto myself the night following the +fright of my Sister Bernice as I sought in vain for sleep, for I felt +the shadow of some heavy sorrow hanging over us. Not even the prattle of +Sonnlein, or my unremitting daily toil, God's antidote for corroding +care, could efface from my mind the wan features of Sister Bernice, the +extreme delicacy of her fragile form, and the shock she had received +from the witch. + +And yet, for so He hath ordained, as time dragged its slow length away, +my forebodings almost vanished, and the days were beginning to pass +"swifter than a weaver's shuttle," so I was not without hope that, after +all, my fears had been the result of a too tender solicitude for my dear +sister. + +Thus almost a year passed away in which I saw her in fleeting glimpses, +but not to hold sweet converse with her or once again to feel the touch +of that hand I longed to harbor in mine and shelter from all the storms +of life. How my poor human nature struggled with me those days, so that +at times I thought I must take her in mine arms and with Sonnlein flee +to some retreat where we could pass the rest of our days in perfect love +and peace! + +But "happy is the man whom God correcteth," for after all we are not fit +for heaven until all the dross hath been tormented out of us, leaving +the pure gold for his kingdom. + +Whether my sister was enduring all these pangs of unspoken, forbidden +love I knew not; I only knew that if by chance our eyes met, which was +all too seldom, I thought I could see in their pure depths a tender, +beseeching longing for me. + +And now the glory of autumn had passed away. The fields about the +Kloster lay cold and bare. The naked branches of the trees shivered in +the chilling airs. How bleak and cheerless the world seemed in these +early days of winter before the touch of ice and snow had transformed +the fields and the forests into fairyland! + +The last day of November was drawing to its close. The Brethren had +partaken, in solemn thankfulness, of our simple evening meal and I had +gone to my _Kammer_, first putting Sonnlein to rest, after having +recounted to me all the marvelous happenings of the day, and was about +myself to lie down to sleep, when hearing a step near, I looked up and +saw Brother Beissel, even graver and sadder than usual. "Brother Jabez, +Mother Maria hath come saying she would see thee and me." At once a +great fear gripped my heart--something about Bernice. + +"I am ready to see her, brother," said I quietly, rising to my feet. +Just outside the door of Zion, for she would not come in, stood our +prioress, a deep sadness in her usually hard and inscrutable features. + +When she saw us, she waited first for Brother Beissel to bid her speak, +and then she said quietly, with tears in her voice, for which I ever +felt grateful to her: "Sister Bernice is leaving us; she is dying." And +then duty overcame grief and pity, and looking up steadfastly into our +faces, Mother Maria said, almost sternly, I thought: "Our Sister Bernice +doth entreat us that before she die Brother Jabez may see her. I told +her gently 'twas 'gainst the rules of our order for Sister to be in Zion +or Brother in Kedar." + +We stood silent for a few moments, and then, looking at me as though he +would read my very soul, Brother Beissel said to me softly: "Art thou +and our Sister Bernice aught to each other?" + +"But for our vows the world would know we loved each other," I said +humbly, but looking not unsteadily into those eyes that seemed to read +men's hearts like open books. + +"Now I know for a surety that which thy troubled face hinted to me of +late, my Brother Jabez. I know thou hast fought a hard fight. I command +thee go see our sister, thy Bernice; no fear of idle tongue or hard +letter of the law shall keep us from the true promptings of the spirit." +And then, pushing me gently along, he said: "Go, haste. Mother Maria, it +is my wish that thou take our brother to our sister; be thou the only +one present." + +And thus this wonderful man, who had in him all the fiery, unyielding +hatred of sin of a Jeremiah, and yet a woman's tender sympathy, bound me +to him, though oft we differed in opinion, for life. + +When Mother Maria and I entered the narrow doorway leading from the +corridor into the cell where Bernice lay, the Sisters gathered there +were sent obediently to their cells, though the hearts of each of the +gentle nuns longed to be present to soften the last moments of their +young sister who for so many years had been a dear companion. Only +Mother Maria and I remained with Bernice. At first, in the dim light of +the little paper lantern, she did not seem to notice me as I knelt down +beside her, Mother Maria standing in the doorway and so thoughtfully +filling it that no one could see into this little chamber already +hallowed by the presence of the angel of death. + +As I knelt there I took one of my sister's dear, white, wasted hands +into mine, and lifting into my arm her head, from which flowed the +golden masses of hair that gilded the hard, wooden pillow, I murmured to +her, "Bernice"; and as she opened those eyes that had ever the look of +heaven in them, I breathed softly to her, "Tis thy Brother Jabez; dost +not know me?" + +And then she looked at me with understanding in her gaze and whispered +so weakly I thought my heart would burst with love and grief: "I know +thee; I am so happy." And as she said this, she smiled so sweetly I held +her closer in my arms, our souls meeting in our first kiss. + +For many moments I knelt sheltering her dear head in mine arms, each of +us unspeakably happy that now even, though in the hour of death, we +could say freely with our lips that which our hearts had told each other +long ago. Outside was stillness, and so inside the hall. Mother Maria +still kept her watch in the doorway, grim and sad, as though she neither +saw nor heard my sister and me. + +"I could not leave thee without telling how I loved thee," she +whispered, lifting up the hand I had not imprisoned in mine, and +resting it on my shoulder, where it lay like a lily. "I tried so hard to +forget thee, but since that love feast--thou knowest which one--thou +wast ever with me." + +"That love feast was paradise, my beloved sister; but thou must not talk +so much, I fear." + +"Nay, I know my end is near; I am not afraid now." + +In a few moments she whispered shyly, "Dost remember the witch?" + +"Yea, I could have slain her for frightening thee so." + +"But when thou didst take me into thy great arms and soothe and pity me +like some little child, I was almost glad I had seen the witch." + +"Thou foolish girl, how canst care so for such a great, clumsy, stupid +brother like me?" + +She lay a few minutes as if she could not whisper more, and then, after +I thought she had forgotten what I had just said, she whispered, but +more feebly than before, "Thou'rt not clumsy or stupid; thou art so +strong but so tender--I love thee better than life." And then she seemed +so exhausted I was obliged to lay her head off my breast to her pillow +thinking she could breathe more easily, but the gentle pressure of her +hand on my shoulder and the nestling touch of the one on my own told me +she preferred it thus. + +I know not how long I held her in mine embrace, but she again opened +her eyes and whispered, pausing between each word, "Thou wilt be with me +in heaven?" + +"Yea, _mein Liebchen_, forever and forever," I murmured holding her to +me still more closely, whereat she smiled and whispered, but so low and +broken I could hardly hear it, "I am so happy," and then I felt a +shudder pass through the dear frame in mine arms; her head fell limp and +lifeless from my shoulder, and I knew that from within the narrow walls +of the bare, cold cell, and out through the dark night, there was +winging its way to heaven the soul of my sister, my Bernice. + +For a long while I knelt holding her in mine arms, the tears raining +down my face as never since childhood. Then I laid her down on the bench +which could no longer crucify the earthly habitation of my Bernice; I +kissed the dear face for the last time, and then rising, I said as +calmly as I could to Mother Maria, "Our sister hath gone to her home," +and then I left the "House of Sorrow" with the light of a great peace in +mine heart, for though I knew that earth had lost much of its sweetness, +yet the bitterness of my short sojourn here was as naught compared with +the added bliss heaven now held for me. + +Thus Sister Bernice was the first flower to die of the Roses of Saron +and the first of the Solitary to be laid away in the little God's Acre +down in the meadow by the roadside. Mine own wish, had it been +expressed, would have been that our sister be buried in the simplicity +which marked her gentle life, but those in authority thought it best to +make her burial an occasion for all the imposing honors and ceremonies +of our Order. + +At midnight, while earth and sky were held in intense darkness--the +chill, wintry winds sighing a mournful requiem more sad and mournful +even than the chanting by the heavy-hearted Sisters and Brothers, of the +dirge composed in loving memory by Sister Foeben--six of the Brothers +clad in their long cowls tenderly and reverently carried the body of our +dear Bernice from Mount Sinai down to the narrow little _Kammer_ where +all that was of earth of her could rest in peace until the call of the +last day. + +My heart was too full to note all this but dimly and to hear but faintly +our footfalls upon the hard ground and the solemn tolling of the convent +bells, the flickering rushlights shedding a weird, ghostly light over +the sad, thin line of mourners. + +Tenderly as a fond mother lays her child to sleep at evenfall we laid +our sister to rest with all the symbolic beauty of the ritual of the +Brotherhood of Zion and then having performed our last sacred offices +for our departed one, we filed slowly back to our cells. The room Sister +Bernice had occupied in Kedar was now closed to remain so for some +time, and upon the walls of her _Kammer_ was hung a legend, or +_Segenspruch_, composed by our Brother Beissel, and lovingly executed by +the Sisters in their beautiful Gothic penwork: + +"_Bernice, Freue dich in ihrem gang unter der Schafweide, und sey +freundlich u. huldreich unter den Liebhabern._" + +Which meaneth: "Bernice, enjoy yourself in your sojourn among the sheep +pastures and be affable and gracious among the suitors." + +Ah me, ah me! + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +THE GREAT COMET + + The Lord his signs makes to appear, + To call us to repentance: + A monstrous comet standeth there + That we our sins shall flee from, + But we, alas! scarce give it a thought + For each one thinks it cometh not, + The punishment and danger. + + +The winter winds had swept o'er the grave of our dear sister not a +month, and hardly had our little camp on the Cocalico been restored to +its usual evenness of temper after the wordy warfare Brother Hildebrand +and I, under the leadership of Brother Beissel, had waged against our +ancient foes, the Moravians at Bethlehem--for they believed not in +celibacy--when we were again roused to a high pitch of excitement by +that which was no less than a second comet which, following closely upon +the one that flashed so suddenly upon us the preceding February, left +no longer any doubts even in the minds of the most skeptical and +unbelieving, that we were within the portent of some great crisis. + +It was on the evening of Christmas a number of the Brotherhood, among +them the Eckerlings and Brother Weiser--for though he had gone back to +the world he oft revisited us--our superintendent and Sonnlein and I, +were gathered on the highest point of Mount Sinai, nigh to the Brother +woods. The sun had hardly sunk from view and the twilight begun to +deepen over the unbroken expanse of forest and upon the slopes of the +distant hills to the west, when suddenly Brother Jephune, our +astronomer, clutched Brother Weiser by the arm, and exclaimed in +awe-struck tones, "See, look, the comet!" as he pointed all in a tremble +to where the sun had just disappeared. + +Startled by his voice and his intense gaze, we turned sharply. I could +see naught but a single small star, shining dimly, but I held my peace. + +Brother Weiser was the first to break the strain in a cold, calm, +judge-like tone, "I see naught but a small star; Brother Jephune, thou +seest ever visions." + +"It were better for thee, our Brother Enoch, didst thou see more visions +instead of having thine eyes stubbornly sealed against the mysteries of +God," quietly interrupted Brother Onesimus. + +"Brother Jephune, mine eyes are yet strong. I see naught but a star, nor +do our brethren see thy comet," said our leader. + +Brother Jephune apparently heard not his critics, for he still stood +motionless and gazed most intensely upon what appeared to us an innocent +star. + +Suddenly he turned to us again and whispered, "'Tis the very comet of +last winter. I told ye the sun had swallowed it and now the sun hath +spit out again the fiery monster," and then he wailed, "Woe, woe, be +unto all the ungodly who shall be destroyed by this fiery serpent!" + +Because I did not always agree with the many foolish and unscriptural +speculations of the Eckerlings, they oft accused me of irreverence and +lacking in spirituality. Be that as it may, and although I knew many +comets had appeared to the eyes of men since the creation without any +apparent change in the rules and order of the universe, yet I felt the +same awe that enveloped our little group. Calling Sonnlein to me I said +to him as we all clustered about him, "I have taught thee somewhat of +the stars; thine are the youngest eyes here. Look thou carefully. Is +that yonder pale star such as thou seest at night?" + +And then with our awe reflected in his childish face he gazed steadily +at the star, and then turning as in doubt, he said to me as though the +others were not present, "'Tis a star, _Vaterchen_." + +"What knoweth such a child?" exclaimed our astrologer peevishly. + +"Have patience, my good brother; look again, my son; make a funnel of +thy hands; thou knowest how I taught thee to," I said gently to +Sonnlein, who in loving obedience put his hand rounded like a spyglass +to his eye, and again he looked steadily at the apparition. Then my boy +turned again to me and said simply, "It is but a little star, +_Vaterchen_," and as if it were of no importance he added, "There is +something like smoke behind it." + +"Smoke! What nonsense is this?" cried Brother Enoch in disgust. + +"Smoke," shouted Brother Jephune, "the child seeth that which I tell ye +I see, ye blind scoffers. Was the smoke like a tail or a bundle of +switches--had it shape?" he cried eagerly. + +"Like a tail," said Sonnlein timidly. + +"Oh, wondrous sight of innocent childhood," murmured the astrologer, "to +see what world-blinded eyes cannot see!" + +And indeed a comet it was, for it rapidly increased to great size and +brilliancy, and for two months from early evening until after midnight +flamed fiercely across the northwestern sky, a fearful, awesome sight, +even to the least superstitious among us. + +Brother Jephune, and many with him, accepted the star, since it had +appeared on the twenty-fifth day of the month, as the one prophesied in +the Zohar, which was to hang in the heavens for seventy days, to be seen +of all men as a warning, at the end of which time there would arise a +great tumult and confusion upon the earth, to be followed by the +universal peace of God's kingdom. The settlers in the country round +about us relying upon Num. 24 : 17, 18, fully believed this was the +"Star out of Jacob," and that a sceptre should arise to smite the evil +in the earth; that the millennium was nigh, and Brother Beissel taught +with his usual fiery zeal that when the fulfillment of the prophecy +finally came, our Mount Sinai would be the center of the New Jerusalem +in this evening land; that the Brotherhood of Zion would be chosen as +the Priests of the Temple, and many there were who though hitherto they +had hardened their hearts against our preaching and our charity, now +through fear and superstition hastened to be gathered under the +protecting wings of our community. + +In this perturbed state we were for over two months, when on an evening +a number of the Solitary Brethren were again gathered at almost the same +elevated spot on Mount Sinai, hard by the Brother woods that we had +occupied the evening Brother Jephune and Sonnlein had been the first to +see the comet. + +We had been standing in utter silence for a long while, when Brother +Gabriel turned to Brother Weiser, and said as though in reproof, "And +still thou believest this strange vision in the sky foretelleth naught?" + +"It speaketh to me of the wondrous power and majesty of God," replied +Brother Enoch reverently, "naught else." + +"And yet thou knowest in 1680 there appeared a comet in the +_Vaterland_--oft have I heard my father tell of it--not so great as +this, nor with so long a tail. After that comet there followed a long +and weary war, from which our beloved _Vaterland_ hath never recovered. +Dost thou not fear this fiery star, so much greater than the other, +portendeth war and famine and pestilence to this New World?" + +"Nay," I heard Brother Enoch say, "the holy word promiseth all such dire +calamities because of man's wickedness, not because of comets." + +"But comets may be the sign of His displeasure, as the rainbow is the +sign of his covenant with Noah," persisted Brother Gabriel. + +"I only know the holy book sayeth naught of comets." + +"The comet is the fiery sword of the Lord whereby he shall cut down all +the scoffers and the ungodly," interrupted Brother Jephune warningly. "I +tell thee there will be much sickness and death, and as the comet will +disappear in Pisces, so I read its course, it presages misfortune to all +the fish within the waters, and in this our Brother Christopher Sauer, +of Germantown, agreeth." + +"And yet, Brother Jephune," rejoined Brother Weiser with a faint smile, +"the innocent fish have not sinned." + +"Brother Sauer also reporteth," continued our astronomer, unheeding the +mockery in Brother Weiser's voice, "the good people in New England take +it seriously to heart that God is threatening a great judgment upon the +evil ones of earth." + +"And heed thou, Brother Weiser," enjoined Brother Gabriel, "thou sittest +not in the seat of the scornful when the judgment cometh." + +"Nor thou with the sorcerers and those who practise enchantments!" +retorted Brother Enoch. + +"What else doth our Brother Christopher say of this glaring visitant?" +asked Brother Beissel in the hope of pouring oil upon the troubled +waters. + +"The printer sayeth that while the star first appeared in Aries, the +habitation of Mars, and set in Pisces there shall come great changes, +disturbances, wrath, confusion, and disorder, upon the nations of the +earth. This cometh from Mars. As Pisces is the dwelling-place of Jupiter +it foreshadoweth equal disturbances in spiritual things; there will be +many changes and great confusion followed by dreadful quick-coming +judgments. As the star latterly hath so rapid a course, and burns like +unto a great flaming torch with a long, fiery tail, he holdeth that the +destruction of the religious Babylonian order is near at hand." + +"Sayeth he no more--what cometh after all this destruction of evil? +Surely light must follow darkness!" inquired our leader eagerly. + +"Even so; for our learned Christopher sayeth, and I agree with him, that +a newer, better order will follow. The comet seemeth again to be moving +toward the sun as if to effect conjunction with it in the middle line. +This foretelleth that the comet, the evil, shall be swallowed up by the +sun, the source of light and life. Thus the darkness of sin shall +disappear from the face of the earth and the light of His grace, and +mercy shall shine forever from the hearts of men." + +"Even so, Lord, let it be," said our leader most solemnly, "let thy +kingdom come quickly." + +To which we all responded in equal solemnity, "Amen." + +And then just as we were about to take our way back to our _Kammers_, +there arose without the slightest warning such a savage, blood-freezing, +wailing cry from the woods hard by us, that by one accord each gripped +the other by the arm as if in the presence of some awful, common danger, +my poor Sonnlein rushing into mine arms almost speechless with terror. + +In truth, each for the time was paralyzed with that cry that sounded +like the wail of a soul in the torments of the damned. Finally, Brother +Gabriel whispered, his teeth chattering so that he could scarcely utter +a word, "'Twas the Evil One, he knoweth his end is nigh." + +"Doth not Revelation say Satan is to be bound and thrust into the +bottomless pit?" gasped Brother Beissel. + +"Heard ye not the clanking of the chains?" whispered Brother Onesimus. + +"What was't, _Vaterchen_?" whispered Sonnlein, who was still shivering +in my embrace. + +"Some wild beast that hath strayed nigh;" for in my hermit days I had +more than once heard the panther's terrifying howl, in the darkness of +the night. + +"Was't an Indian, _Vaterchen_?" + +"Nay, my son," replied Brother Enoch for me, "the Indians are at peace +with us. 'Twas no human voice." + +"Was't some wild beast, thinkest thou?" asked Brother Gabriel. + +"Nay, it sounded not so to me; I know not what it was. It is a great +mystery to me," replied Brother Enoch slowly, which was a great deal for +our clear-headed brother to admit. + +"'Twas the cry of the Evil One, naught else," declared Brother Jephune. + +"And in this I agree with thee," solemnly spake our leader; "great and +gracious is our Lord to show us these marvelous signs of his coming. Let +us go to our rest in peace and gladness, and await the dawn of his +kingdom in the earth." + +And so we went full of such devout hopes to our narrow cells; but +somehow I could not shake from my mind that the cry came from our old +enemy, the witch. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +A FAR JOURNEY + + With God--over the sea; + Without him--not over the threshold. + + --Russian Proverb. + + +At the time of which I write this, the fall of 1744, Prior Onesimus and +his three brothers were in the ascendency, and for a time it seemed as +though Brother Beissel would be completely overthrown in his rule by +these designing Eckerlings; but they who thought our superintendent easy +to overcome reckoned without their host, for while to the worldly minded +he had not the graces and attractiveness that marked our prior, our +superintendent, though harmless as a dove, had the wisdom and subtilty +of the serpent, and thus at this time, when the strain between these two +had increased from day to day, Prior Onesimus, no doubt for purposes of +his own, conceived the idea that we make a pilgrimage to the Sabbatarian +communities in Connecticut and Rhode Island. I recollect full well that +when he made his desire known to our superintendent, suggesting possibly +a short absence would tend to heal their differences, Brother Beissel at +once gave his consent. + +But if our prior had thought to surround himself with his own followers +and thus make this enterprise redound solely to his credit he was +greatly mistaken, for the superintendent quietly suggested the prior +take with him his own brother, Jephune, and Brother Timotheus (Alexander +Mack), and myself as traveling companions, the prior being promised by +our superintendent that in the meantime he would attend to the prior's +duties at the meetings. This was not exactly to our prior's liking, but +Brother Beissel pointed out that these brethren were selected in order +to insure the success of the expedition as well as the welfare and +comfort of the party. Thus the prior would represent the Zionitic +Brethren and the Theosophists of the community; Brother Timotheus, the +secular congregation and the Baptists in general; Jephune, our mystic +and astrologer, would serve as the physician of the party; while I was +to be the theologian and interpreter. + +Thus it was arranged and we at once began our brief preparations for the +journey: extra soles for our wooden sandals, the points of our pilgrim +staffs sharpened, a day's provisions for the inner man, a copy of the +"_Weyrauch's Huegel_," and a few of Brother Beissel's "_Theosophische +Episteln_" for the spiritual man. I have it on my records that this +occurred on the Friday of September 21, 1744, almost a year since our +dear sister had left us, on the night of which an unusually solemn love +feast was held in the _Saal_, at Zion, in our honor. The services lasted +far into the night, even the hours between the midnight prayers and the +dawn being passed in prayer. The next morning being our Sabbath we all +were present at the meeting of the congregation, where every one bade us +a most loving God-speed. + +But in all these simple preparations and pious services I confess I had +nigh forgotten my Sonnlein, and when the thought of him came to me on +that Sabbath Day as to what he would do in my absence, I feared I should +have to seek my release from the superintendent, for I am proud to say, +never did boy hang to his mother's skirts more closely than did Sonnlein +follow upon my heels, so much so it became a byword in our little camp +that it could be depended on when one of us appeared, it would not be +long until you saw the other, and indeed we were inseparable. During the +day he would trot after me wherever my duties took me, whether in the +fields or in the printing room, or rambling in the woods for wild +flowers, and as he grew older he insisted upon attending the midnight +devotions, just as the grown-up Brothers and Sisters. With the exception +of my brief sojourn in Lancaster in the matter of the levies, we had +never been separated for more than a few hours at a time, and I knew if +I left him now for this long journey the poor boy would be utterly +disconsolate. I also knew full well that our Brother Beissel, though not +a hater of children, still had little patience with them, and I doubted +much whether he and Sonnlein could stand the trial of my long absence. I +called Sonnlein to me and told him I was about to go away for a great +many weeks. At once he danced and jumped about me in a most uncloistral +manner, apparently never doubting for a moment that, as in the past, he +would be with me; but when I said to him, "'Tis a far journey, Sonnlein, +too far for thee," I saw the tears in his eyes, though he tried to keep +them down as he asked: + +"Am I not to go with thee, _Vaterchen_?" + +"Nay, I fear not, Sonnlein; 'tis a long way over rough roads and through +tangled paths, through great, lonely forests, where there are wild +beasts, and then the wild sea to make thee sick. We know not what +hardships we may have to endure." + +"But I can walk, _Vaterchen_; I am not afraid of the lonely woods, not +if I am with thee." + +"But how about the sea?" + +"Thou canst give me physic," he replied so innocently I could not +refrain from laughing, whereat he pouted and grumbled, "I'm not afraid +of the sea, and on land I can walk as well as 'Old Air-smeller.'" + +"What!" I cried in amazement. "Whom dost mean by such irreverent name?" +I demanded. + +"Brother Jephune," he confessed; "he sticketh his nose into the air when +he walketh about, so he falleth over everything." + +"Is't needful you call him such name?" + +"So the neighbors call him." + +"Must do what foolish ones do?" + +"Nay;" and then, looking up with repentance writ all over him, he said, +"May I go? I can walk and I won't mind the water. Thou knowest I am fond +of water," which was the truth, for when he was not with me he was +swimming or fishing in the Cocalico, or hunting in the woods when the +Cocalico was too cold. + +Indeed, I doubted not he could endure the journey as well as most of us, +for he was a hardy, active boy, and with our healthful life had never +known a day of sickness. I liked no better to be separated from him than +did he, and had he quietly taken my suggestion to remain I had been +greatly disappointed; but when I broached the matter to my brother +pilgrims they at first demurred, and yet they loved my boy, for with +all his mischievousness he was always ready and willing to do the +bidding of any of them. Finally, upon my persuasions, they acknowledged +it would be safe for him to make the journey. Accordingly I prepared a +little pilgrim's staff for him and saw that he had a stout pair of +sandals, and with a little bag of provisions for him we started out at +six o'clock of that Sabbath evening on our journey, the assembled +Brotherhood and Sisterhood watching us from Mount Zion until we were out +of sight. + +But once fairly upon our way, we walked, as was our custom, bareheaded +and silently, in single file, Prior Onesimus at the head and myself at +the rear, all except Sonnlein, who neither kept silence nor in file, +almost exhausting me with his innumerable questions; at one moment he +would be ahead of us and the next in the rear, now stopping to gather a +handful of nuts that had dropped from the trees along our way or else to +pluck the wild grapes that hung in royal purple from the luxuriant +vines, and then rushing after me, tempting me to share his feast. + +At first our course led us through the settlements of our German +brethren in the eastern part of Lancaster County; thence among our +English brethren in Nantmill, where we stopped for a few days and held +several missionary meetings. From the Falls of French Creek we took the +road among the German families; thence across the Schuylkill to the +German settlements along the roadside leading to Germantown. A somewhat +prolonged stop was made with our brother mystics on the Wissahickon, +among whom we found much solace and comfort; thence a short visit to the +brethren of the faith in the city of Philadelphia; thence our missionary +tour took us to the Pennepack. + +Thus far our pilgrimage had taken us mainly among the brethren of our +own belief, and yet wherever we went our bare, cropped heads, long +beards, white cloaks and cowls, our silence and manner of traveling, +attracted considerable attention and even ridicule and grossest insults. +Sonnlein, however, being never late in informing the curious ones who we +were; and while I admonished him frequently against his too great +freedom with strangers, there is no doubt that by his frankness he saved +us much annoyance, for I have long ago learned that one will be forgiven +much if he only be open and candid, no matter how wicked he be; but if, +like a turtle, he keep within his shell and mind his own business like a +good, honest turtle, every idler and good-for-naught must hurl stones at +him to crack his shell. + +After crossing the Neshaminy Creek at the falls we were ferried across +the Delaware--a wonderful sight to Sonnlein--and entered our sister +province of New Jersey. Arriving at Amwell, we were greatly rejoiced to +find the converts baptized some six years before by some of our brethren +still keeping up their organization and considering themselves a branch +of the parent community at Ephrata. + +We remained here for some time and then parted from our dear brethren in +mutual sadness, for we knew not whether we should ever see each other +again. + +And now our journey took us through long stretches of forest and for +miles and miles our way was but a narrow path among tall, solemn pines +so thickly grown and so crowded with brush and vines underneath as to +have a most gloomy and depressing effect even upon the most cheerful of +us. Now and then we came upon some little stream or pond that looked +almost black under the shadows of the bordering pines. These streams and +ponds were the only changes in the landscape excepting the occasional +sand hills, and the only sound to break the monotony would be the note +of some bird. Houses we saw not for hours and even for days, and many a +night we slept within the folds of these dark and gloomy forests, our +roof the thick, heavy branches of the pines, through which, on clear +nights, the stars smiled down cheerily. + +But though the nights were already cold and frosty and I feared +exceedingly Sonnlein would suffer from the exposure, still with a fire +burning all night to keep us warm and to frighten away wild beasts we +minded not the hard, rough earth with the thin carpet of pine twigs and +needles any more than our hard benches in our _Kammers_. Sonnlein +invariably slept between me and Brother Timotheus, thus being sheltered +somewhat from the winds that even the thick forest could not entirely +keep from us. + +After some days' travel in this wise we finally came to the region +between the Shark and Squan Rivers, where we found a little community of +about fifteen adult members, Sabbatarians, who had migrated from +Stonington, Connecticut, and Westerly, Rhode Island, and who had signed +a covenant binding themselves to live and walk together as Christian +people, although they had no church or pastor. A number of meetings were +arranged in our honor, and at these I preached and admonished them to +remain steadfast in their faith, so that I was gratified to note our +efforts resulted in a church's being organized, Brother William Davis, +the elder, although in his eighty-first year, being chosen pastor. + +Leaving Shrewsbury, as this church is referred to in our records, we +wended our way southward until we came to a place on the west shore of +Barnegat Bay, almost directly opposite the outlet of this beautiful bay +into the ocean. Here was another settlement of New England +Sabbatarians, who were known as "Rogerines," a band of about twenty-one +persons. They received us with open arms and we were most hospitably +entertained by Brother John Culver--the most prominent among the +Rogerines--who had made several visits to Amwell and to Ephrata and upon +whose earnest invitation we had come to Barnegat. These good people +looked upon us as holy men, so that they brought their sick to us in the +hope that they might be healed by the very laying on of hands and +prayer, as our Rogerine brethren used no medicines nor would they employ +physicians, relying upon strictly scriptural means for relief from +illness. While we agreed not on all doctrinal points, still in so much +of our manner of life and belief we were in such perfect accord that our +stay was exceedingly refreshing to our souls, and it was through these +good people as much as anything else we extended our visit to New +England, stopping on our way to visit one John Lovell, an old +Pythagorean, who lived as a hermit in the dense woods about four miles +from Burlington, throughout the seasons, without fire, in a cell made by +the side of an old log, in the form of an oven, not high enough or long +enough to stand upright in or lie extended. + +I mean not to be harsh or unjust to this surly hermit, who lived more +like a beast than man, but in his boyish straightness of speech +Sonnlein spoke out full well what was in my mind and I doubt not in my +brethren's also when he said, "Brother Lovell hath his soul from a pig +or else would he not be so dirty," for we did not believe that our Lord +any more than mortal man cared to look upon dirty, sour faces. We held +that a contented mind showed itself in a bright, cheerful face, and thus +it was our habit at Ephrata, with both Brother and Sister, always to be +satisfied and to bear ever a glad countenance, even though the +bitterness of death were upon us, and for this we have the Scriptures. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +IN A STRANGE LAND + + Oct. 10, 1744. I went to John Bolles to see 4 men Yt + come from beyond Barnegat, with long beards 8 or 9 inches, + and strangely clothed, no hats and all in white, but they + were not there.--Extract from diary of Joshua Hempstead, + of New London. + + +From the hermit's hut we proceeded to New Brunswick, and by good fortune +found, as though especially waiting for us, a vessel about to sail for +New England. Our journey thus far had been mainly among friends; but +now, even though we had a letter of introduction from our Barnegat +brethren to the Rogerines in New London, we could not with all our faith +and fortitude repress the dismal forebodings of trials and persecutions +we should encounter there on account of our beliefs--all except +Sonnlein, to whom this pilgrimage was full of marvel and delight, and +now that he was about to go out upon the sea his joy knew no bounds, +for verily he was born under Pisces. + +But having put our hands to the helm we would not look back, and Brother +Onesimus having secured passage for us we set sail, and barring that our +good prior was most wretchedly seasick all of the voyage, while Sonnlein +was sick but the first day, when he would have neither food nor physic, +we landed near New London in less than a fortnight, safe and sound, +hundreds of miles from home, in a strange country, no friends, and so +despised because of our white dress and our otherwise monkish aspect +that whoever saw us fled as though we were the plague. + +Fortunately, our letter rescued us from much annoyance, for a prominent +member of the Rogerines, Brother Bolles, hearing of our arrival came to +us and on reading our letter received us affectionately and harbored us +so hospitably, not far from the town, that we soon forgot our +forebodings. And yet no sooner did our coming become known in New London +than did a new danger arise against us, for the very day we landed the +little seaport was wild with excitement over the news that France had +joined issue with Spain against England. This coincidence coupled with +our unusual manner and garb was too weighty a proof to be disregarded +that we were Jesuit priests, French spies in disguise. Forthwith +officers presented themselves at the quiet little homestead of our +Brother Bolles, arrested us, and marched us into New London, and had all +the threats hurled at us by the excited inhabitants while on our way to +the justices been executed, we had been undone. + +Happily our host, a respectable and influential citizen, personally +vouched that we were Protestants by birth and profession, whereupon our +freedom was at once given us, and we were once more taken in charge by +the Rogerines of New London, by whom we were so held in kindness and +esteem that whenever we stirred abroad we had in our train no less than +fifty persons, among them black men--of whom Sonnlein was sore afraid, +never having seen human beings of such color--and Indians, the former +being servants, and for whose spiritual welfare their masters were as +solicitous as of their own, which thing we much admired. + +We found the people of this region in a state of great religious +excitement, the Congregationalists and the New Lights being especially +bitter against each other, so that wherever representatives of these +beliefs came into each others' presence they did nothing but argue and +dispute; and so far was this pernicious custom carried that when a +Congregationalist met a New Light, unless both were deaf and dumb, they +would seat themselves on chairs, while about these wordy knights of the +gospel would gather the listeners, in a circle, disputants and +listeners often giving vent to the most violent passions, all of which +greatly shocked my brethren and me, yet showing us that, the world over, +men are much the same when it cometh to difference in belief. + +At the time of our visit they mostly disputed about the perseverance of +the saints, and if the saints were as persistent in meek obedience and +loving deeds as were these wordy warriors in their vociferous arguments, +I have not the slightest doubt but that the saints have received rich +reward. However, my brethren and I did all in our power, in patience and +long-suffering, to allay the bitterness of this unseemly strife that +left no peace whatever in this and the neighboring towns; and I rejoice +to say our presence and persuasions did much toward this desirable end, +for in all their heat they could not but see we had no other motive than +to speak the truth, fairly and impartially, and with due consideration +for the views of the contestants. + +We soon grew to love and esteem our good Rogerine brethren, and I feel +we endeared ourselves to them. We had much in common; we like them were +regarded by the world as a peculiar people. Even the tolerant laws of +Penn were not always sufficient to save us from persecutions, just as +our New England brethren, because they conformed not to the beliefs in +power, suffered fines, imprisonments, and even the awful indignity of +public whippings for His sake. + +Unlike us they practised not celibacy, but they held firmly to the +doctrine of non-resistance and that the reading of set public prayers +and preaching for pay was utterly unscriptural. They agreed also with us +in regard to keeping the seventh day instead of the first, the +administration of the Lord's Supper, and baptism by immersion. But like +their Rogerine brethren on Barnegat Bay it was contrary to their tenets +to employ physicians or to use medicines in case of sickness, although +for ordinary ailments some of the less extreme Rogerines used the +customary remedies and were excellent nurses, being ever ready to +minister to the sick. + +Having thus so much in common it would seem there should have been no +danger of any serious disagreement between us, and yet it tried my +brother pilgrims and myself sorely to prevent open rupture by reason of +our being unable to admit all our good friends claimed as to the +scriptural manner of healing. Finally, upon mutual promises that if any +one on either side should become angry the discussion should stop +immediately, we took up the question of healing. + +Thus spake the _Rogerine_, calmly: "We base our beliefs on the teachings +of the New Testament." + +_Brother Onesimus_, _similiter_: "We also base our mode of life on the +Bible." + +_Rogerine_, still calmly: "The Almighty not only hath infinite power to +cure diseases, but hath also blessed willingness so to do." + +_Brother Jephune_, gently: "We admit the Almighty hath the power, but +whether he hath the willingness we are not ready to say." + +_Rogerine_, a trifle ungently: "The treatment the physicians give is +bungling and dangerous and greatly uncertain. Were a dozen doctors to +treat the same man that man would receive physic for twelve different +diseases. Christ's cures were all perfect." + +_Brother Timotheus_, graciously: "Truly should physicians be modest men, +for theirs is a difficult art in that so many different diseases have +similar symptoms. And yet we regard healing as an art, though imperfect +as is all human art. Christ was perfect preacher as well as perfect +healer, yet there be bungling preachers as there be bungling +physicians." + +_Rogerine_, positively: "Christ healed without physic and the disciples +had his promise of such cures for all who asked in faith." + +_Brother Jabez_, humbly: "Though Christ healed without physic, +nevertheless he pointed to the use of natural means by the spittle on +the blind man's eyes and washing in the pool of Siloam. Naaman bathed in +the Jordan seven times. Is it not written we are created in his image? +Doth that not mean that these wonderful bodies of ours and our +surpassing marvelous minds were made to perform wonderful and marvelous +things? Ye will also admit that not only did Christ heal the halt, the +lame, and the blind, but that he also fed the five thousand with but a +few loaves and fishes; Elijah was fed by the ravens; the widow's cruse +of oil never failed. No doubt the Almighty hath power to heal us better +than the physicians, who oft work in darkness, and to feed us better +than the husbandmen, who are not always certain of their harvests." + +_Rogerine_, indignantly: "Would ye ask of Him that while we sit here +idle, with grain in the fields for bread, and abundance of fish in the +sea for ment, we should expect him to feed us like idle, helpless +children?" + +_Brother Jabez_, smiling subtilely: "Why not? If with our God-like +powers we do not search into the healing properties of the herbs of the +fields and the salts of the earth, and try to heal ourselves, it seemeth +to me we have just as much Scripture to sit still and let him feed us." + +_Rogerine_, indignantly: "Brother, thy speech seemeth almost +blasphemous. We hold our views from the Scriptures." + +_Brother Jabez_, still mildly: "So do we; but it is with the Scriptures +as in the law; he who sticketh to the letter loseth the true meaning. My +beloved brethren, for indeed ye are so to us, he who readeth not God's +holy word in the Spirit cannot understand it and findeth therein many +inconsistencies and grounds for unsafe doctrines. We too believe that +faith can perform miracles, but the Almighty never intended we should +nourish and heal our bodies by dependence on miracles, or else would not +he have given us these miraculous bodies and minds." + +_Rogerine_, quietly: "We thank thee, brother, but are not convinced we +are in error. Let us not imperil our love by useless argument." + +"So be it," I replied, and thus the discussion was safely ended. + +But so great was the faith of one of our Rogerine brethren, we were +told, that when the smallpox raged in Boston some twenty years before, +he journeyed one hundred miles to the infected city to prove his faith +would save him from the terrible contagion; for it had been his custom +for over forty years of his life to minister to those sick of that +disease. This time, however, he caught the distemper, which developed +after his return home and brought him to his grave, as well as two other +members of his family; and in this connection, to show how we poor +mortals are prone to carry our beliefs and doctrines to most foolish +lengths it was also told me, by the Rogerine brethren themselves, and +not by their enemies, that a few years prior to our visit a certain +skin disorder had broken out among the congregation; but as their faith +forebade the use of medicines they knew not what to do. In this +predicament a church meeting was called to deliberate how they might get +rid of the disorder and yet preserve a clear conscience. After a most +prolonged meeting and the profoundest deliberations in which holy writ +was thoroughly searched for precedent, it was solemnly resolved that +this most uncomfortable disease, which we were told was the itch, was +not a bodily ailment; but was a noxious animal which had burrowed into +their flesh. Of course, there being in their belief nothing to prevent +the destruction of wild animals the usual remedies for this particular +species were accordingly applied, whereupon the "itchy beasts" were duly +slain and eradicated, and the consciences of our pious brethren +preserved. + +From New London we made an extended visit to our Sabbatarian brethren of +the Newport and Old Hopkinton churches, in the province of Rhode Island. +Here too, our appearance created much excitement but fortunately +provoked no arrest. Our visit here, like all our visits, was a season of +great refreshing for our souls, and it is my belief that we helped and +strengthened our brethren as they did help and strengthen us. + +Upon our return from Rhode Island to New London we were entertained by +our good brother Ebenezer Bolles, one of the town's wealthiest +merchants. At that time he lived a single life, being a blessed virtuous +man. We tried to persuade him to remain in this most perfect and holy +state, but shortly after we left he married. Many years afterward we +heard at Ephrata with great sorrow that he had passed away; that a few +days before his death, being then in good health, he had been cutting +some vines of the poison variety, whereby he was poisoned, and his body +swelled to a great degree. He would not allow a physician to be near +him; nor would he receive the most simple medicines. Just before he +expired, when in great pain, he seemed desirous of some help, but the +Brethren and Sisters would not allow it, lest he deny the faith. + +I confess I was exceedingly displeased with myself that on our visit to +our Rogerine brethren I had not spoken more strongly against their +pernicious doctrine of the utter reliance on their so-called scriptural +healing, for I doubt not the physicians could have saved Brother Bolles, +even though ivy poison yields not easily to herbs or salts. + +When we made known to our Rogerine friends our determination to depart +for Ephrata, they insisted on paying our passage to the city of New +York, and when the day at last arrived in which we were to leave this +"fruitful garden of God," as it is referred to in our records, our +departure was made a gala day in their little seaport, into which we +had made so unpropitious an entrance. A large concourse of persons, +irrespective of denominations, including many souls converted by us +during our stay, accompanied us to the wharf, and after pressing upon us +numerous gifts--so that we returned home richer than when we +left--wished us a loving God-speed. + +As our vessel passed out into the sound, even though we were returning +to our beloved Kloster, we could not wholly subdue our sadness at +parting with these dear friends, who so long as we were in sight wafted +their blessings to us. I think none of us even spake a word so long as +we could discern our friends; but favorable winds soon swept us from +their view, and then as we turned to each other again each of us, even +Sonnlein, expressed his sorrow in a deep sigh. + +With the exception that Brother Onesimus, who was but a poor waterman, +was seasick again all the voyage, nothing worthy of note occurred until +we set foot in the chiefest city of the province of New York, where our +monastic garb again attracted much attention and suspicion, so that we +were arrested as Jesuits from New Spain; and again a kind gentleman, a +justice, knowing our circumstances, interceded so effectually we were +promptly released, whereupon we shook the dust of that city from off our +feet and immediately started on our long journey for Ephrata, by way of +Philadelphia, and it was not long when we were at New Brunswick again, +whence we journeyed by foot to Trenton, where we crossed the Delaware +and soon were in our own Philadelphia, among dear friends. Here we +stopped for a few days with our Brother William Young, to rest before +continuing our journey to Ephrata, which still lay ninety miles to the +west, only that Sonnlein, with his ceaseless activity and insatiate +boyish inquisitiveness, gave himself no rest whatever, but must be +continually about this great city, especially at the wharves, where the +incoming vessels, with their cargoes from all lands under the sun, were +to him a perpetual wonder. + +Our rest in this great, noisy, worldly city being at an end, for which I +was not sorry, though our brother did all he could for our comfort and +entertainment, we set out over the king's highway for Lancaster, whence +we intended to reach Ephrata by way of the Reading road, for the season +being now late we could not risk the less traveled ways, for even the +best highways were now in a difficult condition. Sonnlein, however, +being by this time such a veteran pilgrim, seemed not to mind what to +our prior, and Brother Jephune particularly, was a most tiresome +journey, our worthy sky-gazing brother floundering into every muddy bog +in our way. + +When we reached Lancaster we were, with all our endurance, so worn out +we were necessitated to make another brief stop, but as soon as our +bodies would obey our wills in any wise cheerfully, we started again for +Ephrata, arriving weary and footsore within sight of Mount Sinai just as +the sun was setting behind the hills. Falling on our knees we offered up +to our Father our heartfelt thanks for our safe return, for indeed it +was much to be thankful for that after our long wanderings we all had +been brought back as safe and well, albeit a trifle weary and worn, as +when we had started on our pilgrimage. + +A little farther on we made a short stop with one of the house-fathers, +as the brethren of our secular congregation were called, intending to +time ourselves to arrive at Zion for the midnight devotions, once more +to be enraptured by the strains of celestial music from the lips of our +beloved brothers and sisters. + +Our good house-father and his family were minded to make a great ado +about our gaunt and haggard features, as though we had passed through +great tribulations little less than martyrdom, all of which sympathy, +though we liked not to confess it, was sweeter to our ears than even the +voices of our choiring Brothers and Sisters, only I could not see how +Sonnlein merited any great compassion, for the rogue, though he fared +like the rest of us, looked as ruddy and healthy as any of our good +house-father's chubby, rosy children who swarmed about us inquiringly, +not fearing us in the least, which thing pleased us greatly, for we did +not like to be dreaded by the little ones. + +When we thought it time to leave for the midnight services, our +brother's little ones being long before with all their unquenched +curiosity packed to bed, we started, as usual, in single file for the +Kloster, Sonnlein lagging a few steps behind me. + +We had almost reached the Kloster confines when, while our way was yet +under the dark shadows of the overhanging trees that shut out the stars, +I heard a scuffling noise behind me, and turning quickly saw Sonnlein in +the grasp of some dark shape that was striving against all his squirming +and fighting to drag him into the thick woods. Without a thought I +hurled my pilgrim staff, with all my strength, lance-like into the +bushes 'gainst the beast or being hanging over my boy, and then for a +moment closed my eyes with an awful fear my staff might crush him; but +it had hardly left my hand when a piercing cry of agony cleft the air, +and then, retreating from us, came fainter and fainter a moaning and +snarling as when some desperate beast receives a mortal wound. + +We found Sonnlein lying limp and almost lifeless by the way, and as we +gathered about him and one of us struck a light from our tinder box, I +saw my boy's throat was scratched and torn and bleeding, but happily not +profusely. + +"'Twas such a devil's cry we heard when we saw the comet, dost +remember?" whispered Brother Jephune hoarsely, for the matter had +startled us greatly. + +"What wast, Sonnlein?" I asked him now that he had come somewhat to his +senses and was on his feet, for beyond the choking and fright he seemed +not much hurt. + +"'Twas some beast with great claws caught me by the throat so I could +not cry for help," he replied all in a quiver. + +"Well, it hath gone now; no doubt my staff struck it right fairly. Get +on my back while I carry thee; we must make haste else shall we be +late," said I, first marking the spot with my eyes where I had hurled my +staff. + +Great was the surprise of our dear brothers when we filed silently into +the _Saal_, Sonnlein having come down from my back, for we arrived +wholly unannounced. After the loving greetings were exchanged over and +over, our superintendent ordered a general love feast in Peniel for the +following Sabbath to celebrate our safe return and to listen to our +report, we having kept an exact diary of our pilgrimage. A full account +of the whole journey was written from this diary and the doings of each +of us, except Sonnlein, which he minded not in the least, being too +young for such older weakness. This account was then handed over to our +superintendent and became the property of the Brotherhood. + +After the events of this pilgrimage were over, we each resumed his usual +work and devotions as calmly as though we had not been so long away, +only that the day after we arrived I easily found the bushes into which +I had with such unchristian violence hurled my staff. I found my +traveling comrade lying full length in the depths of the wayside +thicket. The iron point was reddish like as if with blood, but I could +find no ghastly trail of blood leading away from the staff, but after +close examination of the soft earth I did find what I believed were the +prints of a woman's shoes, for I knew they were not those made by +Sonnlein. + +Could it be that our old enemy, the witch, had done this thing? Who or +what was this baleful influence that hung over our sacred Kloster like +some foul miasma? Did this being merely embody the evil that must ever +be present in all earthly things? Whence came it? No matter how I turned +it over and over in my mind I could not solve the mystery. So far, +though our paths had frequently come close to the other, they had not +yet crossed in direct conflict, and yet I felt, and even longed, that +some day I should come face to face with the sphinx and either she or I +be destroyed. There had never seemed any disposition to seek direct +injury to me, and yet of all our Brotherhood I apparently was chosen to +witness most of her hellish manifestations. Why? I could not tell, for +surely I knew not I had ever wittingly injured any one. + +So weighted down was I by my unexplainable dread that for many a day I +had little inclination for work or study or prayer. I could see too, +that Sonnlein, though he and the rest knew naught but a wild beast had +flown at him, was greatly impressed when I warned him he must not wander +into the woods until he was older and abler to take care of himself +against the beasts, which warning, it eased my mind much to observe, he +heeded as well as a strong, healthy boy can heed anything. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +SONNLEIN COMETH TO MAN'S ESTATE + + For the Lord hath created a new thing in the earth, a + woman shall compass a man. + + --Bible. + + +Many were the changes that came over our little community while my boy +was growing into a man! + +It was not long after the Solitary had united themselves at Ephrata that +the Eckerlings conceived various enterprises whereby our cells should be +filled with what to so many weak mortals is as precious as honey to the +bees, namely, money. + +In our early life our chief labor was the tilling of the soil, for which +we had by reason of our scanty means and our own peculiar views the most +primitive methods, so that we not only dragged the plow but even drew +our carts, and oft when we traveled we resembled a caravan of camels, +so heavily laden were we. I can still see when the plowing came to be +done the whole Brotherhood trooping around the hill of Zion. Under the +Eckerlings, however, we consented to the use of beasts of burden for our +heavy work; but in reparation of what many of us considered an unjust +use of these animals we treated them with exceeding kindness. + +Our first industry under the Eckerlings was the building of a bakehouse, +which we used not only for our own modest requirements but even in the +interests of the poor settlers, no charge being made whatever for the +bread or the baking. + +Another movement looking toward our enrichment was the planting of a +large orchard of over a thousand apple trees, as well as a row of fruit +trees entirely surrounding the Kloster grounds. The Eckerlings also +proposed to set out a vineyard on the hillside; but this met with such +determined opposition the project was abandoned, for we feared it might +lead to winebibbing among us, and this we could not have, as we +permitted the use of fermented liquors only when actually necessary as +physic. + +Then came a small grist mill, the first to be put up in this region, +which we purchased shortly after the death of Brother Agonius. The mill +we entirely rebuilt in stone, increasing its capacity to three run, and +day after day for a number of years the splash, splash of the water +wheel and the rumbling murmur of the mill stones were sweet music in the +ears of the Eckerlings and their followers. + +Soon after came a sawmill; and then what was, perhaps, more important to +us, the paper mill, whereby we made not only all the paper for the +printing of our various hymns and books and pamphlets, but also +furnished much of the paper that was used at this period throughout the +province, our Brother Christopher Sauer making frequent demands on us. + +Within a few years an oil mill was put up, the stones of which were +unlike any others in America. This oil, like our paper, was not only +used in our printing, but was sent far and wide for the making of +printer's ink. There were looms for weaving linen and cloth, and a mill +where the homespun made in the community and by the neighbors was fulled +and prepared for use; and as there was no end to the money-making +projects of the Eckerlings, a tannery was erected, where both tanning +and tawing were carried on, in the meadow a short distance west of where +we later built the Brother House. + +Then of necessity, as one evil deed ever requires its fellow, followed a +mill for grinding the oak and hemlock bark. This leather, by such as +were hostile to us, was called in derision "Jesuit leather," but the +nickname did not in the least injure the quality of the leather or +impair the demand for it, for--and I say it not boastfully--this +leather, like our paper and cloth and flour and other products, was all +of good, honest quality, and sought far and wide for its excellence. + +The Brothers and Sisters thought more of how well they could do that +which they were called upon to do than how much they were to receive for +it. Thus they ennobled their work and gave dignity to their humble +labors, all of which honesty of work and affection for it was expressed +in the quality of the products; nothing slipshod, nothing half-finished +in haste was permitted; nothing could go forth from our hands unless it +was as sound and wholesome and perfect as our means and skill could make +it--and surely there is nothing more honorable in man than to serve his +Maker and his children by faithful, honest, affectionate toil. + +To meet the demands of our various industries horses and wagons were +procured, so that three teams were almost constantly kept upon the road. +Agencies were established in Philadelphia and elsewhere for the purchase +and sale of our different products, and material, and my records show +that among such agents were well-to-do citizens of Philadelphia, as +Johannus Wuester and Christopher Marshall, the former being the same +gentleman who in later years honored us by plucking from our little +garden one of the most beautiful of the Roses of Saron, our dear Sister +Anastasia. + +But as we had a printing press we must needs have a book bindery, and in +a short time we had the largest and best-equipped bindery in the +colonies, and I must say in justice to the Eckerlings, that however I +disagreed with them in many of their various enterprises, I always felt +we owed them much for establishing the printing press and the bindery, +for man without books is as a plant without light. + +Even the Sisters were not forgotten, for in addition to the domestic +duties that ever so fitly fall to the lot of woman, they were constantly +engaged in spinning, besides assisting in the lighter work of the +fields. Many of the Sisters acquired great skill in embroidery and in +calligraphy; and hundreds of our hymns, composed by our superintendent, +the Sisters, and the Brethren, were written in the beautiful style of +the Sisterhood, so that even now after the lapse of almost half a +century since our sisters--many of them now resting in their narrow +graves along the roadside--placed their love and devotion for their +Master in their humble tasks. We greatly prize our hymn books--the notes +and letters and graceful decorations coming from our sisters' hands +shining forth still in all the clearness and purity of their first +writing. + +In this wise matters went on until our Eckerlings almost proved our +undoing, for it gradually became noised about that we were nothing more +than merchants, tradespeople using our kloster life as a cloak to give +us the appearance of honest, devout people, caring naught for gain; and +there was much truth in what our printer at Germantown published, that +in a short time the ringing and clinking, tinkling, clanking, and +dangling at Zion, Ephrata, Kedar, Peniel, and Saron would equal Rome, +Jerusalem, Nazareth, and Babylon. + +The only remedy for this show and excessive love of money lay in the +removal of the Eckerlings. This all the rest of the Solitary who loved a +simple life knew must come sooner or later, and yet they dreaded the +coming. Wherefore they groaned heavily in spirit under the bondage of +the Eckerlings for seven long years. Then, and I have not space to +relate how all this came about, were the Eckerlings dethroned, and their +lording it over us brought to a certain end. + +On a bright day in August the Solitary Brethren arranged in a circle +about a heap of burning brush fed by most willing hands, we consigned to +the glowing embers all the books and writings of Onesimus, among them +being his polemic against the Moravians; and three days later the +Sisterhood of Saron repeated a similar ceremony, upon which occasion two +of his German broadsides and a pillar against the Moravians as well as +his hymns were consumed by the fire. And to make sure naught of +contamination remained with us, on the sixth day the brethren of the +Secular Congregation gathered all the writings and mementos of Onesimus +and committed them also to the flames. + + [Illustration: "We consigned to the glowing embers all the books + and writings of Onesimus." Page 198.] + +Not many weeks later the prior and his brother, Jephune, with Timotheus +and several other followers, fled about four hundred miles toward the +setting of the sun, until beyond all Christian government they reached a +stream which runs toward the Mississippi, New River by name, where they +were joined soon after by the rest of the Eckerlings. + +With their exit an immediate change took place. The mills were +immediately closed, and word sent abroad that all our agreements were +cancelled--only we would fulfill our standing orders--but that hereafter +no grain or seed or logs or rags would be purchased by us, excepting +such as would be absolutely necessary for our own use. Our horses and +wagons and oxen were sold, and the different helpers who were not of our +belief discharged, for we were determined that, as we had come here to +serve God and not Mammon, God we would serve. But in spite of our +resolution such was the excellence of the flour and the wheat and the +oil, and the quality of the paper and cardboard we had made, that for +many years demands were made upon us repeatedly; but I rejoice to say no +effort was made in all the long after years again to reinstate these +things for anything except our own uses, and when two years later three +of our mills were lost by fire, which certain malicious ones attributed +to our superintendent, and which could not be extinguished either by our +wooden fire charms or our incantations, not one of us greatly regretted +the event, so far as the loss of the mills themselves were concerned, +only that we felt the loss of the large stores of wheat and other grain. +Thus as Brother Lamech hath well said, "Did the fire, with God's +permission, make an end to all the mammon which the Eckerlings, by their +flaying, scraping, miserly conduct had gathered in the former +household." + +And now I feel I must turn again to my Sonnlein, who by this time was a +sturdy boy of about thirteen, and that it may be known from his actions, +instead of my great love for him what manner of boy he was, I shall tell +of his first fight, that is, the first one I knew of; and this I can say +of him, even though he was not a perfect example of the doctrine of +non-resistance, he cared naught for fighting, but suffered in silence +many a taunt and vile insult that made the blood rush to his cheeks; for +not only did the neighbors' children--learning this from their +idle-tongued parents--call him a "nobody's child"--for as he grew older +he soon found there were ever ready ones to poison his happiness by +telling him of his unknown parentage--but the elders themselves oft +nicknamed him "Brother Jabez' chicken," for that he was always under my +wing. + +But one hot day in summer--and I take an unholy pleasure in writing +this--Sonnlein and a lot of other boys and girls, were paddling +bare-legged in the cool waters of the Cocalico, nigh the turnpike ford, +filling the air with their thoughtless shrieks and laughter, so that the +quiet-loving Brothers and Sisters were sorely tried in patience. +Suddenly the harmless shrieks and laughter rose into a tremendous +uproar, and so unusual was this tumult to mine ears I started hurriedly +for the ford, fearing some awful calamity had befallen the children. As +I came nigh I saw a lot of boys of all ages and sizes--so I wondered +where they all came from--gathered in a struggling, yelling mass in the +meadow along the creek, a fringe of frightened, white-faced little girls +in the background--each boy, large and small, with might and main +pressing forward toward the center of the howling little maniacs as if +something of great moment were proceeding there. And indeed there was, +for I was almost on them before they saw me or heard me call out +sternly, "What meaneth all this noise?" When they did hear me and see my +form hanging over them like some great thunder cloud they fled quickly, +only that some from a distance in derision of my tonsure cried out at +me, "_Alter_ _Blatkopf_" (old baldhead), so that like Elisha I wished +the bears to eat them up. + +All but two had fled, and they were rolling about in the grass, now one +on top and then the other, then to their feet, striking, clawing, and +scratching like nothing so much as two angry cats; but suddenly the +smaller but more active one, who seemed to me strangely like Sonnlein, +delivered a marvelously directed blow full upon the upturned nose of the +other, bringing forth a goodly stream of rich, red blood, whereupon the +bleeding one put across the meadows, his hand to his face, bawling at +the top of his lungs, the victorious gladiator following a short +distance and crying after the vanquished, "Dost want some more of +'Brother Jabez' chicken'?" and then horrors upon horrors, I saw through +all the mud and dirt and disordered hair, and the fierce, distorted +features, 'twas my boy Sonnlein! + +He saw me about the same time, and then the angry face fell into one of +shame as I called to him, "Come hither!" He came obediently enough, +saying nothing; but the wild passion of conflict could not die out at +once, and as he stood there, digging his toes into the earth and casting +sullen, rebellious glances at me, such as I had never received from him, +and sorely they wounded me, he blurted out, "He began 't." + +"Have I not often told thee," I demanded, as much in sorrow as in +anger, "thou must not fight? Would couldst see thyself now to know how +much like the beasts we become when we stoop to fight and tear each +other asunder." + +Still he said, but less defiantly, "He began 't, I tell thee." + +"Art thou not sorry for breaking his nose?" I asked. + +"Nay, he began 't; I had to fight. He hath been calling me names and +trying to stir up a quarrel. Now he hath what he looked for." + +"Couldst thou not have left him? Thou hast legs to carry thee," I +reminded him. + +But he only replied more firmly, "I'm glad I beat him, and that right +well. He will trouble me no more." + +And then as I took him by the hand and we were about to go to our cells +I noticed within a few steps one of the little girls who had formed part +of the frightened group in the background. She seemed about my boy's +age, perhaps a trifle younger, with such deep blue eyes and long yellow +hair, I thought of our Sister Bernice, only that our poor sister was +never so rosy-cheeked and strong looking as this pretty little maid +standing timidly nigh, and finally bursting into a plaintive appeal, +"Don't whip him, Brother Jabez, it was Johann's own fault." Johann I +suppose being the name of the still fleeing one. + +"And why should I not punish Sonnlein for fighting, my little sister?" I +asked gently. + +"Because," she replied falteringly, and I could see her face was red as +fire. + +"'Because' may be reason sufficient for little girls, but not for big +men," I replied still gently. + +"Johann called him names," she rejoined. + +"But surely hard names break no bones. If we fought whenever we heard +ill of ourselves we should have little time for else than fighting. Now +tell me truly why did they fight?" + +And then I felt Sonnlein tugging at my hand and looking up at me more +shamefaced than ever as he cried out, "Let us go, _Vaterchen_, I told +thee why we fought," all the while frowning at our little sister as +though warning her not to say anything. + +I am not overly inquisitive, but now I was resolved to know all, so I +said to her sternly, "My little sister, tell me the truth," and then +more tenderly I said, "thou knowest Brother Jabez would not hurt thee or +Sonnlein--not overmuch." Upon which great assurance she spake up as +bravely as she could between the sobs that would not keep back, "Johann +said I must be his wife when I was grown up, and Sonnlein said I was to +be his wife, and--and--I--I--said so too." + +"Well, what then?" I asked between stern surprise and tenderness as she +wiped the tears from her eyes. + +"Why, then we will keep house together," she replied innocently. + +"I meant not what ye were going to do. I meant what did Johann do after +thou didst promise thyself to Sonnlein?" + +"Why Johann called Sonnlein bad names and struck me in the face and +Sonnlein hit him." And then she said with such proud defiance I was +greatly shocked, "Sonnlein licked him." + +"And so ye two are to be man and wife when ye are grown up? What is thy +name?" I asked turning to the little shrew. + +"Mary." + +"Well," and I spake out strongly, "let me not hear of this again, else +will I tell thy parents, Mary; and as for thee, Sonnlein, if I hear +aught of this man and wife wickedness again thou shalt have opportunity +to celebrate thy first whipping." Thus did I threaten in my unwisdom +these poor, innocent children. + +"Ye do promise ye will never again speak to each other such nonsense?" + +Whereat they both promised so willingly they would not that I greatly +doubted the promise would stand any great strain. + +As Sonnlein and I turned back again to the Kloster, leaving Mary to find +her way home without the protection of her young knight, he looked up at +me innocently and asked as sweetly as though he had never known such +fierce feeling as fighting, "Wast never in love, _Vaterchen_?" + +I was about to reply with unwonted crossness, "What is't to thee," but +just then I caught a glimpse of the mound, not more than a stone's throw +to our right, beneath which lay our Bernice, so I merely remained quiet +and answered not at all, only I could not help thinking that even +Ecclesiastes sayeth there is a time for love and a time for war, and +though Sonnlein was rather young for me to predict what his manhood +would be, it will be seen that my fond hopes were none of the brightest +for making him a gentle, peaceful celibate. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +WHEN HEARTS ARE YOUNG + + Come, Corinna, let me kiss thee! + Come, my dearest, to me here! + I would know why joy should miss thee, + I would have thine answer clear. + Smiling sweetly said she, "No," + Then demurely yielded so. + + --Francis Daniel Pastorius (of Germantown). + + +How the years slipped by! Twenty years ago my Sonnlein had come to me a +little toddler. Now he was a tall youth--even taller than I--strong and +straight as the pine under which I found him; full of healthful animal +spirits that sometimes in their exuberance give me vague fears as to +what his active, enthusiastic nature might lead him to. Thus far he had +done naught to shake my confidence in him. He was a constant solace to +me. Brother Obed, with unwearying patience for Sonnlein's lively ways, +was exceedingly proud of his acquirements, for between Brother Obed and +me Sonnlein had not only learned to speak our mother tongue like one of +us, but even in Latin and Greek he was no indifferent scholar. We had +also taught him the arts of rhetoric and logic and mathematics, and had +versed him in literature and history, poetry and music. + +But above all mathematics, history, language, and literature, Brother +Obed and I had taught Sonnlein what we knew and what we could teach him +to find out for himself about this world of ours, this delightful book +of nature our Creator gave us to read and search with no less diligence +than his written word, and so the moon and the stars by night, the sun +by day, the ever-recurring seasons, calm and tempest, the sparkling +streams, waving trees, the sweet and lovely flowers, the creatures that +fill God's earth, man, bird, and beast--all these were taught so that +our boy understood them as so many manifestations of his power and +beauty and love and tenderness for us who were created in his image. And +that our boy might have the best of all guides for the interpretation of +this visible life and the unseen world beyond the gates of death, we +taught him gently but persistently God's holy word, for in our simple +view of life it seemed a great shame that one should know all about the +kings and princes of this fleeting earth but know naught of the Prince +of princes and the King of kings. Thus our boy, we fondly trusted, was +prepared to fill any place in this world according to his gifts, happily +for himself and others. + +But I dare not pretend that he was a youthful saint, for frequently to +my poorly concealed amusement and the evident chagrin of our +superintendent, Sonnlein often put the former to utter rout in the +discussion of some of his finespun interpretations of holy writ. Indeed, +I fear there was no love lost between our estimable leader and my boy, +for Sonnlein had that inexorable logic, that sure keenness of mind that +pierces a sophistry as a skillful archer wings his arrow to the center +of the mark. At times Sonnlein's apparent want of reverence, his seeming +irreligion, his lack of deference for Brother Beissel's peculiar views, +threatened to disrupt the brotherly relations that ever existed between +our superintendent and me, his associate; for with all his sternness, +his austerity, his unbending will and ambition, I recognized that our +leader was no ordinary man, and while not a scholar he was a man of +great and many talents--all in all, just the one to hold together our +little community. + +The trouble was that while Sonnlein had much of the sweet reasonableness +and charity that comes from the study and contemplation of the +humanities, he added to his poetic, philosophical temperament the energy +and will that mark the man of action. An ardent, impetuous, positive +nature like his was bound to clash with one like the superintendent's, +and more than once it called forth all my wits to prevent actual rupture +between the two, which would have scandalized us sorely. Thus it was +that while I frequently reproached Sonnlein for his irreverence for +Brother Beissel, I just as often placated the latter by pleading +Sonnlein's youth and inexperience. + +I recall especially one occasion when our leader had delivered a long +discourse on one of his pet theories, that in heaven we should have the +same occupations we had followed here. Sonnlein's brief comment, so it +was brought to mine ears, was he pitied grave-diggers and the like if +that was all the reward they were to receive. In our Kloster there were +tattlers and talebearers, just as in more worldly places, and our leader +hearing of the thing, which I knew Sonnlein had said more in jest than +in disrespect, came to me in high dudgeon and demanded Sonnlein make +open apology before all the Brotherhood. This I knew full well Sonnlein +would not do and I besought our worthy leader to overlook the matter and +forgive him. I shall never forget how he almost yelled at me, his small +frame quivering with righteous indignation beneath my towering stature. +"Forgive him! So sayest thou ever. I verily believe thou couldst forgive +the devil!" + +"In truth, dear brother, I oft have done so," I replied, smiling quietly +and looking down into his angry eyes meaningly. + +He straightened up and, as he walked savagely away, delivered this +parting shot: "No doubt; thou hast had abundant opportunity in thy +precious Sonnlein!" + +It was my turn to flush now, but happily I controlled myself and said +nothing, consoling myself with the reflection that our superintendent's +witty retort would go far to appease his indignation and that by the +morrow he would greet me with his accustomed affection and good-will, +for in order to make others love us it is only necessary to make them +love themselves, and many a rascal by this knowledge hath overcome many +a wise man. + +That night I spake to Sonnlein kindly but firmly, reminding him how +poorly it accorded with his manhood's estate to indulge in such levity; +that even if he could not always agree with the hair-splitting +speculations of our worthy superintendent, it were surely wiser to hold +one's tongue lest that unruly member poison all our peace. + +"But," replied he gently, as was ever his way toward me, "_Vaterchen_, +Brother Beissel hath something about him that everything he says and +does irritates me. It passeth my understanding why he alone of all our +Brothers and Sisters so affects me. I sometimes fear I hate him and +that he returns the same feeling, yet I know not that he hath ever +harmed me. I promise thee to curb this tongue of mine. Good night, +_Vaterchen_; _schlafen Sie wohl_," and so saying he went meekly to his +_Kammer_, from whence I could soon tell by his deep, regular breathing +what I had said was not greatly disturbing his sleep. + +Late in the afternoon of the following day, being now in the wane of +what we have since learned to call the "Indian summer," I was wandering, +somewhat aimlessly I confess, along the borders of the Sisters' close, +when suddenly, on lifting mine eyes from the earth, I perceived one of +the Sisterhood directly in my pathway, but a short distance ahead, +sitting quietly on a projecting root, which, springing from the base of +a towering chestnut tree, formed a comfortable seat. + +She had not observed me, I felt sure, and thinking not to disturb her +meditations, for I doubted not she was rapt in contemplation of the +heavenly Bridegroom, I stepped quietly aside into the cover of a near-by +thicket. I hardly had done so when, not far beyond the Sister, a rich, +deep voice rang out in an old German hunting song: + + "Out into the woods three hunters went, + On the white deer's chase their wishes bent." + +From my hiding-place I saw the form at the foot of the tree sit more +erect in listening posture, and as the face was uplifted, the fair +features of Sister Genoveva met my gaze, such a pensive wistfulness and +tenderness informing every feature of the lovely face turned unwittingly +toward me, I somehow thought of my Bernice, who so soon was called to +her celestial Bridegroom. + +Again the fine, strong voice rang out, still nearer: + + "Down under the fir-trees' shade they lay, + The same strange dream came to each that day. + + "THE FIRST. + + "'I dreamt I beat on a sheltering bush, + From out its fold sprang the deer, husch, husch!'" + +And now I caught occasional glimpses of the gray fox-skin hunter's cap +Sonnlein wore when on the chase, for I had recognized his voice full +well. Some one else too seemed to know, for I could not help seeing, +e'en though I never have known much of the signs and symptoms of love, +that Sister Genoveva's pensiveness had given way to a gentle smile that +brought an added charm to the wonderful loveliness of the most beautiful +woman I have ever seen. + +Still nearer came the trumpet tones: + + "THE SECOND. + + "'And as he sprang from the hound's hoarse laugh, + I branded him deep on the hide, piff, paff!'" + +Where had the scamp learned to sing with such faithfulness to the sense? +I heard plainly the "hound's hoarse laugh," the "piff, paff!" And again +I wondered where he had learned to sing so true. Surely not from our +leader; no AEolian harp about these manly, resounding notes: + + "THE THIRD. + + "'And as on the earth him slain I saw, + Lustily into the horn I blew, trara!'" + +That "trara," like the blast of a hunting horn, transported me to my +boyhood days in the _Vaterland_, where often I had heard the huntsmen +call to each other in the thick forests and mountain glens. + +And then mockingly came the stanza: + + "So there they lay and bragged these three-- + And there, ran by them the white deer--free!" + +Surely the light-hearted boy, for boy he always has been to me, was +meant for a minnesinger. + +And now he was so nigh only a thin wall of brush separated him, all +unconscious, from Sister Genoveva and me, as she sat in the little +clearing at the foot of the tree. Her eyes were now sparkling with +merriment; delicate dimples of mirthfulness played hide and seek over +chin and cheeks, despite the dignified efforts to maintain a sober mien +as became one of the holy Sisterhood. Surely she was thinking of the +surprise in store for him when he should burst the bushy barriers--and +see her. It seemed to me she might have left the spot, for certain it +was there was no lack of opportunity. Once, in faith, I was about to +call to her sternly, but I could not, for verily I believe we both were +held by the witchery of his song. + +Then came the last verse, still strong and clear, with its vein of +mockery: + + "But hardly was he within their sight + He was gone again over deep and height + Husch, husch! piff, paff! trara!" + +The echoes of his stentorian tones had hardly died away when he was on +us. Rather, I should say, he was in the presence of Sister Genoveva, for +I was safely ensconced in the thicket, resolved now to see the meeting +to its conclusion. And what a picture they made in that leaf-strewn +clearing, all red and brown and gold with the jewels of the dying year, +the chestnut stretching its arms out over the two forms as if in a +blessing! + +Not all the studied plainness and cloistral severity of the black dress +could suppress the womanly grace and beauty of the full, rounded form of +Sister Genoveva; nor could the hideous hood, which had fallen on her +shoulders, have hidden from view those sweet features, so delicately +strong and full of noble calmness and serenity--and yet no cold, +marble, nun-like face, for the full red lips, the rosy flush of the +rounded cheeks, the dimpled chin, and the warmth of those luminous, deep +blue eyes betokened an affectionate and loving heart; and now that I saw +her with such opportunity to scan her without myself being seen, I could +understand the reports that had come to me of the wonderful influence +she already exerted over the Sisterhood by reason of her clear vision, +her piety, her strong will, her even temper, and above all that +largeness of heart that made her sought even more than _Mutter_ Maria in +the troubles and fears and temptations that even our simple, secluded +life could not wholly shut out from our little world. + +But if she was the perfect Eve in this little paradise under the +spreading chestnut, Sonnlein was no unworthy Adam. I knew not which of +the two most satisfied my carnal eye with their fresh, young, healthful +beauty. From beneath his gray cap his thick black hair hung in heavy, +wavy masses about his neck and shoulders. His ruddy, sunburned face +glowed with the spirit and animation of his song. At first, when he +burst upon her, he started back in surprise, and then he called to her +in gentle gayety, as he dropped on one knee, cap in hand, bowing +gracefully (so that I wondered where he had caught those courtier-like +airs which not at all pleased my plain ways), "Thou queen of the Roses +of Saron, art thou holding court in thy temple of beauty?" + +And then, for I could have sworn when he burst upon us she had been +thinking of him in maidenly tenderness, she looked up indifferently, +even coldly, and rebuked him, "Shame on thee to disturb these sacred +grounds with thy worldly, boisterous song, thou noisy reveler. Thou +idle, mighty Nimrod, where are the fruits of thy chase? Perchance" (and +I saw a sly twinkle in her eyes that his abashed face did not observe) +"thou didst dream too long under the fir tree and the white deer escaped +thee? Gay garments torn from innocent beasts to add to vain adornment do +not make one a great hunter." + +"Nay, Sister Genoveva," he replied more earnestly, "no white deer ran +through my dreams; no fir trees' shade soothed mine eyes to sleep. Wide +awake was I, and yet I dreamed of a fair, sweet rose that I, even though +it had thorns to prick me, would wear next my heart." + +"Indeed, thou poet, thou speakest as though inspired with love. Surely +it is time thou dost take the vow of loyalty to the celestial Virgin and +join the consecrated Brotherhood; why delayest thou so long? In her love +thou wilt find no thorns." + +"But, dear sister, I want the rose with the thorns" (how delicately he +emphasized the "with"). "Canst thou not see whom I mean, or dost thou +not care to know?" + +And then I saw the delicious mockery leave her face and voice as she +said to him in solemn tones, "Nay, my brother Sonnlein, I dare not know; +for thy sake as well as mine I must not know. Thou art possessed by some +idle fancy the Evil One hath put into thee. Thou must not disrespect me +by making my woman's heart struggle 'gainst my vows of celibacy." + +He lifted his head and looking into her eyes that met his so fearlessly, +his passionate heart burst forth into a very torrent of love, so I +wondered she could withstand him. "I do love thee, sister," murmured +tumultuously the low, warm voice, "with all my heart and mind and body +and soul. I do not hold thee lightly in my respect or I had spoken of +this long ago; but my respect for thee, for _Vaterchen_, for our Holy +Order forbade; but I can no longer withhold myself." And then +masterfully he stood erect and in strong, earnest tones declared, "I for +one am not ashamed of human love. I should rather be ashamed of myself +did I not love such as thou art to me." And then, the eloquent diplomat, +"Brother Beissel, whom the Roses of Saron worship as little less than +God himself, hath he not declared, is it not the very foundation of your +vows of celibacy that man was first a spirit containing both the +elements of man and woman; that this spiritual virgin, the _Sophia_, +left him? Then was woman formed from a rib of his side, whereby man lost +his woman's attributes and retained merely man's? Thou must not smile +and shake thy head, my sister. Thou art, I care not if the wide world +know it, my _Sophia_, my angel, my celestial virgin, that left me in my +creating. Canst marvel and deem me mad or blasphemous because I long to +come to mine own other self again, to have thee, mine own sweet rib, +evermore at my side, beneath my heart, caressing it and content to hear +it murmur its undying love for thee--my sister, _mein Liebchen_--tell +me, dost thou not love me?" + +How like one inspired he pleaded! Surely she would yield, for I saw the +steady light in her eyes falter, and for a moment she clasped her hands +meekly before her, like a humble captive before some proud conqueror, +but just for a moment--strange is the heart of woman--and then I was +most inconsistently displeased to see her lift her gaze all unabashed to +his as she said lightly, "What an orator thou art; now know I what we +oft have marveled at, how thou wheedlest our good Brother Jabez into so +much forgiveness for thy indifference to our holy life." + +"So our good brother is wheedled," thought I, indignantly at first, and +then smiling in a superior manner at the impossibility of such a thing +as my being wheedled. + +But my boy was not one of those who could easily be laughed away from +his purpose, for I had taught him--in season and out--never to let +sarcasm or ridicule have the slightest effect on him when he had once +chosen his ground and knew he was right. If he did feel Genoveva's +gentle mockery he showed it not, but instead did what I never could have +had the courage to do, unless upon modest invitation, and that was to +step resolutely forward and take Sister Genoveva by the hands and hold +her thus against her feeble striving to free herself while he said to +her boldly, "Thou dost love me or else wouldst not tease me so!" + +"Hast forgotten our promise to good Brother Jabez when thou didst fight +Johann, that we would never again talk to each other of love?" + +"That promise hath no life; we were but children, and secondly, 'twas +drawn from us by fear. Such promises _Vaterchen_, who knoweth the law, +himself sayeth are not binding." + +"Oh, thou lawyer," thought I to myself; "thou'rt far too worldly-wise +for a minnesinger." + +"Thou dost love me," he again said strongly. + +"Thou tyrant to hold me against my will. Loose thy hold or else I shall +not doubt I dislike thee," she declared right vehemently, though it +seemed to me she might have struggled more earnestly to loosen his +grasp. + +But like a true-hearted man he obeyed her request, dropping her hands +and saying softly, "Thou dost not hate me, then, thou cold-hearted +nun?" + +"Nay, naught of reason have I to hate thee, Sonnlein"--and how sweetly +she said his name--"but dost not know, thou mighty hunter, woman expects +little less than perfection in him she would love," and then she said +maliciously, so I could not fathom her, "surely thou dost not think +thyself perfect?" + +"As to thy last," he rejoined, "I shall make answer, I am human. I leave +it to woman to be perfect"--the flatterer. "As to thy first I doubt not +thy sex ever looks for perfection in our imperfect sex, and it strikes +me this accounts more for our Sisterhood than does their love for their +heavenly Bridegroom, whom they see not until after death." + +"Thou irreverent scoundrel," thought I. + +"And yet," continued he, "when I think of him for whom our Sister Eunice +lately left the Roses of Saron, it seemeth as though some of thy sex at +least look not for perfection." + +"Still I say our foolish hearts yearn for the ideal, but when we love +the attainable we forgive everything, and this is woman's weakness." + +"Nay, sister, 'tis her most glorious strength that she, an angel, can +stoop down and make him see heaven in her." + +"That I had the gift to speak with such a golden tongue," thought I, and +then fortunately for us all--for I liked not my spying, and yet I could +not leave unnoticed--Sonnlein chanced to see Brother Alburtus approach. +Suddenly that scamp of mine kissed her full on her sweet lips. How she +blushed and said not a word, as he held her close to him for a moment +whispering passionately, "Thou must love me as I love thee, forever!" +and then as they both saw Brother Alburtus perilously nigh, she quietly +sat down again at her former place, most demurely, while Sonnlein passed +on toward his _Kammer_. + +As Brother Alburtus came upon her he stopped for a moment, hand rubbing +hand as usual, looked at her in grave absorption and passed on as though +she were not there. + +And then I could have sworn I saw peering at her, and next at the +departing form of Brother Alburtus, the loathsome features of that awful +woman whom I had not seen for over ten years, from the shelter of a +tangled clump of vines and brush, which I solemnly promised myself +should be cut down on the morrow, root and branch. + +Stealthily I crept out of my hiding-place and proceeded to where it +seemed I had seen the witch, but as I came near I saw naught, and yet as +I walked slowly away there came faintly to mine ears as though receding +from me, that horrible, cackling laugh I had reason to hold in so much +dread. + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +SISTER GENOVEVA IS GONE + + O thou whose glory fills the etherial throne, + And all ye deathless powers, protect my son! + + --Iliad. + + +Twilight was fast deepening into night when I returned to my _Kammer_ in +the large Brother House, or Bethania, which we built a few years after +the departure of the Eckerlings, down in the meadow, nigh the Cocalico, +and facing the Sister House, or Saron, Brother Beissel's cabin sitting +circumspectly between the two houses of our Order. + +Here, as in Zion, Sonnlein and I had adjoining cells. I was not greatly +surprised as I entered mine, to hear him whistle softly a worldly tune, +though where he had caught it I knew not--surely not from me--for our +sober lives never favored such godless puckerings and twistings of the +lips! + +Then he hummed the blasphemous thing for a while, changing into +whistling again, and in his humming and whistlings making such vain and +perverse changes, flying from high to low, from loud to soft, mingling +with it all such sundry quiverings and queer little runs and trillings, +until not able to stand it longer--for it seemed he would never stop--I +marched sternly to the doorway of his cell, flung back the light door +and spake to him, "Art crazy or in love?" + +"Both, _Vaterchen_, both!" he fairly shouted, as he grabbed me ere I +knew what was up, and spun me around so I could hardly keep my feet. + +"Surely thou'rt mad," I gasped feebly as I sank down on his bench, "Hast +been drinking?"--though I knew he had not. + +"Yea," he shouted again even louder than before, "from the loving cup of +the gods!" + +"Be not so boisterous, thou blasphemer! Wouldst have the Brethren think +thee drunk?" + +"The Brethren are not about; I am not so wild I know not how to save thy +gentle reputation, _Vaterchen_"--and in truth in his adventures he ever +regarded me. + +"Still it poorly becometh thee to act like a thoughtless boy," I +remonstrated. + +"Surely, _Vaterchen_," he laughed gayly, "if thou didst but know what it +is to be in love thou couldst not scold me so!" + +"Every man to his trade," I replied dryly, not trusting myself to look +at him; "my trade is preaching and trying to behave myself. Thine +appears to be loving," saying the latter as sarcastically as my dislike +for sharp words and my love for him would allow. + +But he only laughed the louder as he said, "'Tis a trade that never had +to advertise for apprentices." + +"Cease thy levity; canst not be sober-minded? If thou must make music we +have hundreds of noble hymns in our books." + +"They are not framed to my mood, but"--and now in truth he looked more +serious and manlike, as I most admired him--"dost thou agree with our +superintendent that marriage is a sinful state?" + +"Dost ask for mere curiosity, or hast found some foolish woman who +careth for thee?" I asked with seeming ignorance. + +He flushed at this, and then said gently, the schemer, "Nay, but +sometime I might see one foolish enough, as thou sayest, to love me and +perchance I might commit in all ignorance the grievous sin of marriage." + +"I commend thy great thoughtfulness," said I, looking at him in a way +that made him in turn look at me as though wondering whether I knew more +than I cared to tell. "To relieve thy anxiety I shall tell thee, which I +would not have proclaimed from the housetops, there being those who +hold to stricter views, I do not regard marriage as sinful. The word of +God sayeth not so. In truth it esteemeth marriage highly. We base our +views of celibacy on what Paulus sayeth, thou rememberest, 'For I would +that all men were even as I myself,' meaning unmarried." + +"But Paulus himself wrote that he spake this by permission and not of +commandment." + +"True, and so say I, now that I am older and wiser. We practise +celibacy, and praise it because we believe that, as good soldiers of the +Lord, we can go better to battle than if we are impeded by wives and +children." + +A long pause and then anxiously, as though much depended on my reply, he +asked with a touch of reverence in his voice, "Wouldst think it wrong +for any of our Sisters to marry?" + +"Our vows are binding only on our consciences. We compel no one to +celibacy. Each follows his own will. Thou knowest many of the Brethren +and Sisters who were married when they joined our order left us again to +live together and no one said them 'nay,' but our single Sisters and +Brethren have almost invariably remained with us." + +"If I were to marry one of the Sisterhood, wouldst thou condemn either +of us?" he asked eagerly. + +"When thou'rt sure thou hast found one to break her vows for thee it +were time to ask me that," I admonished him; and then, as I arose to +return to my cell, I said smiling, not meaning it with malice, "thou +knowest much may happen between sunrise and sunset." + +Hardly had I said this--and oft it hath come to me how like it was to +the fulfilling of a prophecy--when the Kloster bell rang out from Mt. +Sinai strong and clear as though calling us to face some sudden danger. +Alarm was writ plainly on our faces as we looked out of the little +window, fearing to see the glare of fire against the sky, but we saw +nothing. Soon the hall and corridors were filled with the anxious +brethren, for it was still a few hours from midnight, and each of us +knew something of great moment must be about to cause this hurried +ringing so early in the night. + +As Sonnlein and I hastened out of the corridor and the low doorway for +Brother Beissel's cabin, the rest of the anxious brothers trooping after +us, we saw our prioress and a number of the Sisters gathered about our +leader in front of his cabin, the changing light from the fat lamps +showing clearly enough the fear and consternation oppressing us. + +As our leader saw me, he called me to him and said, his voice trembling +in spite of him: "Our Sister Genoveva cannot be found; no one hath seen +her since sunset." + +I could feel Sonnlein's grip on my arm like the hold of a drowning man, +but he said nothing. + +"I myself saw her then in the Sisters' close, sitting at the foot of a +large chestnut tree," said I slowly, for I could not help thinking of +that evil face I now felt certain I had really seen peering at our +sister from behind the thicket. + +"She may have gone to some of the neighbors to attend some sick one," +suggested Brother Beissel, but saying it as against his own belief. + +"But first she would have left word with us," the prioress reminded him, +"for such is our rule." + +"Still, there may have been sudden illness that left no time for word to +us," persisted our leader. + +So far, no one had said a word as to the great fear that I knew was +clutching the hearts of my Brothers and Sisters, which was that the +Indians had either killed or carried away our Genoveva; for over a year +had gone by since the French and Indians had taken up musket and +tomahawk against the English settlements, and though we had thus far +been spared the horrors of this savage war, yet we heard now and then of +awful massacres of the whites by the Indians not many miles to the north +and west, among the outlying settlements off our province, so that the +whole country, by reason of these barbarous deeds and the want of proper +defense, was in a great state of excitement and apprehension. + +Calling Brother Alburtus to me, I asked him slowly and distinctly, for +he seemed oft not to understand one: "Thou wast in the Brother woods and +the Sister woods at sunset. Didst see signs of Indians, the red men?" + +But he only shook his head with his accustomed vacant air, so that +Brother Beissel exclaimed impatiently: "'Tis waste of time to question +him; he never seeth aught." + +"Brother Beissel, if thou wilt send of the brethren among the neighbors +to inquire of our sister, Sonnlein and I will go to the Sister woods," +and with this I turned about for Sonnlein, but he was gone as though he +too had been swallowed up, for I had felt him but a moment before at my +elbow. My flesh was beginning to creep and prick with unmanly fright +when one of the brethren spake: + +"He hath just gone with a fagot to Mt. Sinai," and as I looked where my +brother pointed, I saw the occasional glimmer of a light through the +trees and bushes. + +Without waiting for a light, though the night was dark and overcast with +heavy clouds, threatening rain, I dashed after my boy as fast as the +gloom and my knowledge of our Kloster ground would let me. + +When I reached him he was already at the chestnut tree, kneeling, torch +in hand, closely searching the ground. As I came nigh I saw his face +was hard and drawn, and though I could see his hands tremble, his voice +was firm as a rock as he commanded me, as he never spoke to me before, +to stand back a moment. + +All around the base of the tree he looked, missing, as I thought, not a +leaf or twig or stone, I wondering now at the patience of him who never +since I had known him had been overly patient. + +Then slowly he got up from the ground, still holding his torch close to +the earth, and started off, now stopping as in doubt, then holding aside +a branch or vine in his way, I all the while following as meekly as a +little boy his parent, but rejoicing now that Sonnlein's living in the +woods so much had taught him what I knew so little of. On we slowly and +surely went, he often stooping down and scrutinizing the earth as though +he had lost his guiding marks, but always finding them again, until we +had gone down over the hill and were aiming toward the Cocalico where it +wound its course fully a half-mile below the Brother House. + +A great fear again chilled me to the bones. Our sister had thrown +herself into the cold waters of the creek rather than weakly surrender +herself to love for man! But when I had seen her last she seemed not +over-weighted with grief or remorse. Nay, not self-murder! + +And now as we were following the right bank of the Cocalico and were +treading the wet, soft earth, I could see plainly now and then what a +child could have seen--through the weeds and grasses, footprints of +three people, one of whom I felt sure was our sister, for some of the +prints were small and delicate, such as would be made by the wooden +soles of her sandals. Other of the prints from their size were those of +a grown man, but whether white or Indian I had not sufficient woodcraft +to tell. The other marks were too small for a man's and yet not +Genoveva's, being differently shaped. + +We had not gone far along the Cocalico, when suddenly the grassy bank +spread out into a stony, gravelly beach, where the deep pool we had been +following dwindled away to a shallow, rippling stream. On this hard +beach I at once lost the footprints, but Sonnlein never hesitating led +the way, still silent and grim, to the water's edge, and there again I +plainly saw the foot-marks in the soft mud among the stones. + +He paused but a moment as he looked at the marks, and then plunged into +the stream without waiting to see whether or how I might follow. My +selfish indignation at his indifference to me lasted but the space of a +lightning's flash, for I immediately thought of the great trouble that +had come to my boy, and without any ado I plunged into the icy waters +that, despite its shallowness, caught me knee-deep at times, and with +such savage eagerness as I feared more than once would sweep my feet +off the slippery bed of the stream and no doubt drown me, for in my +neglect of earthly things I had never learned to swim. + +But with all my floundering and splashing I did at last reach the +farther side, where I found Sonnlein following the shore looking closely +for the footprints, of which I could see none. But suddenly we found +them again quite a distance below where we had emerged from the +Cocalico, and I realized now that the captors had practised the old +trick of walking in the water some distance to destroy all pursuit. + +But now Sonnlein's fagot was almost burnt out and the rain was beginning +to fall, lightly as yet, though I knew it would soon be drenching us to +the skin, and by washing away the footprints make it impossible to +follow any further. + +I tried to call Sonnlein's mind to the utter folly of hoping to +accomplish aught in the darkness and the rain, but his only reply was to +make a fresh torch from the dead branches of an old tree overhanging the +creek. Lighting the sticks from his fast expiring fagot, he suddenly +turned to me, as if for the first time since we had left the chestnut +tree he were aware of me, and said shortly, "Stay thou here till I come +back," and with that he plunged into the heavy brush, mine eyes +following anxiously as far as I could the light of his torch. + +It was not long until, with all the straining of my sight, I no more +could see aught of his light, and then heavy-hearted--as I had not been +for many a year--and wet and shivering from the cold rain that was +beating down faster and faster, I crouched up close to the dry side of +the old dead tree, and patiently awaited in all the misery of my body +and mind the return of my boy. + +Not that I feared he could not take care of himself, for I knew he had +the strength of a lion and the quickness of a cat, but I knew his +determined, persistent nature, and that he would go to the ends of the +earth, if needs be, for her he loved. + +How long I waited under the old tree I remember not. Through all the +rushing of the rain and the sweeping of the winds, I heard faintly the +Kloster bells, and I knew it must be midnight. I could see in mind the +Brothers and Sisters file out of Bethania and Saron for our little +chapel for the accustomed devotions, and I found much comfort because I +felt sure earnest, loving prayers were ascending to Him to watch over +our sister and my boy and me, and bring us back safe and whole to the +fold. + +But mortal flesh is ever weak, and as I stood and waited with the storm +howling about me, wondering where our sister was in all this wind and +rain, wondering where my boy was and when he would come back to me, I +lost heart and faith. Besides the wind and the rain and the murmuring +of the creek, everything was absolutely silent. I seemed utterly alone +in the world. I thought to myself, Who or what am I in all this great +universe? What careth God for me? While in this weak mood an owl hooted +overhead, and though I had never before found the hooting of owls aught +but sad and mournful, this one sounded to me almost as sweet as our own +dear bells. And then I thought of what our Master had said about a +sparrow's fall--and I doubt not he also regardeth owls--so that I felt +better again. + +And great need I had of comfort, for hour after hour I waited for my +boy. I was drenched to the skin and so cold I shook like a leaf. More +than once as I had made up my mind to wait no longer I started to leave, +but then crouched closer to the tree again, ashamed of myself for +wanting to leave my post. Still as the long, awful night grew toward +morning and the faint light of a gloomy dawn came on, I thought to wait +longer were of no avail, and so in great anguish of mind, heeding not +the lesser pains of the flesh, I made my way back, heavy-eyed and still +more heavy-hearted to my cell, drying myself as best I might, and then +throwing myself on my hard bench to seek in sleep some peace for body +and mind. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +BROTHER ALBURTUS + + When death immortal stays the mortal pulse. + + --Lucretius. + + +When I write here that I slept until after the seventh hour--which was +midday with us--I fear it may be thought I missed not much our sister +and my Sonnlein, but I like not to be misjudged, for though I slept so +long and even soundly, it was because of a healthy body and for the +still better reason that it was the rule and habit of Brother and +Sister, so far as we could school our weak, rebellious flesh, never to +fret or worry or complain about anything, whether, as blind mortals +regard things, it were good or ill. + +But when I did get up stiff and sore, my first thought was of Sonnlein, +hoping he had returned by now, but as I opened the door into his +_Kammer_ my hope sank within me as I missed not only his presence but +everything else that would indicate he had returned during my sleep. + +Inquiry among the Brethren confirmed my fears. He had not returned. No +one had seen him since the night before nor had they learned anything of +Genoveva among the neighbors. I reported first to our superintendent +what Sonnlein and I had found and how he had gone on against my will, +but I said nothing about my dread of the witch, for while I was sure she +had something to do with our sister's disappearance, yet the footprints +had shown some other than the witch among the captors. + +Our leader at once called a meeting of the Brothers and the nearest +house-fathers and set before them the substance of my report. It was +soon agreed, as I had expected, that the red men had stolen our sister. +But what was to be done was not so easy to decide. Even if the rain had +not washed away the footprints none of us were sufficiently skilled to +trace the savages. To make matters worse, this war with the French again +aroused all the distrust our monastic mode of life so often inflicted on +us. The old accusation was revived that we were Jesuits, through whom +the French and Indians were continually receiving secret information +that enabled them to perpetrate massacre after massacre with impunity. +Indeed, so important in this respect did our enemies make us and so +bitter was the feeling against our little community that finally the +governor of the province was actually prevailed upon to appoint a +commission to inquire into these charges that rankled in our breasts in +spite of all our humility and fortitude. + +We could endure much in the way of false accusation, but we loved in our +quiet, peaceful way our chosen home in this new world, and while, with +our view of war, we refused to bear arms against the French and Indians, +we were always zealous to do all we could for our province, and this we +proved fully when in after years the colonies fought for independence we +gave up freely of our property, never asking to be repaid therefor, to +the cause of our beloved Washington--ever our friend--and not only our +property and our services, but many a Brother and Sister cheerfully and +lovingly gave up his or her life in nursing the hundreds of soldiers +that lay dying of fevers in the halls and cells of our Kloster. It is +for the sake of these dear martyr Brothers and Sisters I write this, +which to others may seem idle boasting, but which is the glorious truth, +as the records will show to him that careth to read. + +The governor's commission came in due time and with great pomp and +ceremony to our humble little camp, but as we hid nothing from them and +answered freely and fearlessly the questions as to our mode of life, +these gentlemen soon left, satisfied that we were not Jesuits nor +spies--traitors, but were what we claimed to be, quiet, peaceful monks +and nuns, serving faithfully according to our peculiar ideas the same +God and the same country as those who were so unnecessarily alarmed +about us. + +But all the distrust and suspicion and hatred in the minds of those who +would not have it other than that we were spies did not keep us from +writing out hundreds of notices of the capture of our sister. These we +spread as far and wide as the state of affairs would let us, and, as day +after day passed without bringing to me my Sonnlein or any word of him, +I also sent out notices of his departure. + +In our great trouble it came to me that our justice, Brother Weiser, +might help us, for not only was he ranger, taking care of all stray +horses and cattle, but as Indian interpreter for the government in this +cruel war he saw much of what was going on and of necessity met a great +many people. Acting upon this thought, I sent him a letter setting forth +in full about our sister and my boy, knowing our stern but great-hearted +brother would make our loss his and leave nothing undone to restore to +us our own. + +But over a month went by without a word or sign of our lost ones and to +most of us they were now as dead; but though my mind and heart were oft +assailed with a great dread that I should never again see my boy in this +world, yet through all the dark clouds that hung over me there would now +and then fall on me the bright sunshine of hope. + +Another month went by. It was midwinter, and though I knew Sonnlein, +like me, never made any great worry about the weather, no matter how +severe, I could not help wondering where, if he were still alive, he had +place to lay his head in all this broad earth. + +While in this mood I received a long letter from Brother Weiser. He had +as interpreter taken part in many negotiations with the Indian chiefs in +various parts of the province. At every opportunity and wherever he had +been he had sought information about Genoveva and Sonnlein. It grieved +our brother much that he had been able to learn nothing anywhere. There +had come to him strange tales from some of the Indians he had met about +a tall, strong white man who was wandering from village to village and +tribe to tribe seeking for his white squaw. The Indians had a name for +him which meant one who wandered about searching without ceasing. There +had also come equally strange stories to our brother of a young white +hunter who was fighting among the hills and valleys of the Blue +Mountains to the north and west beyond the block-house forts with +untiring and savage ferocity against the French Indians, by whom the +young hunter was known as "The Firebrand," some of the Indians regarding +him as mad for that he rested not night or day, as it seemed to them; +that the savages believed he bare a charmed life and that all the red +men feared him exceedingly. More than this our good brother could not +tell us, but somehow it left no doubt in my mind that this young +wanderer, this fiery hunter, must be none other than Sonnlein, roaming +the wilds so far away in the undying hope that somewhere he would find +our beloved Genoveva. + +In this uncertain, harassing state stood the welfare of my Sonnlein and +our sister, when one day thinking even more than usual about him, I +found myself wandering along the banks of the now icebound Cocalico. Ere +I knew how far I had wandered thus aimlessly I had arrived at the place +where Sonnlein and I had crossed the creek on that awful night. I could +see through all the ice and snow where the pool narrowed at the stony +beach and on the opposite side some distance down the creek stood the +old, dead tree from whose gaunt and gnarled limbs the owl had hooted to +me to be of good cheer. + +I crossed the snow-covered ice and slid and walked along the bank until +I came to the old tree, where I paused for a moment to consider the +direction Sonnlein had taken when he left me that night. And now, like +him, I plunged into the undergrowth that overran the lowlands in this +little valley of the Cocalico. Often I slipped and stumbled over some +log or stone or brake through the snow into a hole or gulley, so that I +marvel now I did not break my legs. The branches and the vines caught me +about the arms and feet and more than once stung me across the face, but +it seemed I had only a great overpowering desire to press forward in the +direction I knew Sonnlein had gone. + +In this wise I stumbled on in the snow for some distance without seeing +any sign of any human being. As I stopped for a moment, nearly exhausted +with my wild enterprise, to catch my breath, I gave a great start as I +saw but a few paces ahead of me tracks in the snow, and which, as I +hurried on, I saw to be the footprints of some grown person. The tracks +were running directly across my path, and whereas I had been pursuing my +mad course to the southwest, the footprints of this unknown person were +pointing toward the southeast. + +I had not the slightest idea that they were Sonnlein's and yet I know +not why I suddenly determined to follow them. It may be that all +unconsciously something told me they were the footprints of our Brother +Alburtus who but a few days before had disappeared again from the +community so that at the time in my own trouble I had paid little heed +to his absence. + +As I went on, the tracks, showing clearly in the deep snow, left the +lowlands for the hills, winding in and out among rocks and trees and +bushes all the time going higher and higher into the mountains; and now +and then I would see a little trampled space as if the unknown one had +paused for a moment to rest, or, perhaps, to look down over the +beautiful, snow-covered valley. + +In this wise I went on and on until finally I was way up in the +mountains that range themselves to the south of our Kloster grounds and, +indeed, occasionally through the openings in the trees I could see Mount +Sinai and the towers and roofs of our little monastery. + +I believe I had gone but a short distance beyond my last view over the +valley when suddenly I turned about sharply to my right whence I thought +I heard a low moan. My next thought was that my fancy had played some +trick on me, but as I stood in complete silence looking about in every +direction I heard again this same sound as of one in pain, and as I +pushed forward I noticed that the footprints turned toward the direction +of the sound and I saw a large rock in front of me, the snow on it +displaced and disturbed here and there as if some one had mounted it. I +was about to scale the slippery height when again I heard the moaning +sound so near I thought it must almost be at my feet and yet I could see +nothing; but a moment later as I broke through a thicket I started +back horrified to see at one side of this great rock the cloaked form +of our Brother Alburtus prostrate in the snow. + + [Illustration: "Again I spake to him. 'Dost not know me, + Brother Alburtus?'" Page 243.] + +Then as I rushed to him and lifted his head on my arm I saw the blood +rushing freely from a long cut directly across his brow so that I might +have thought the scar he so long carried had been opened by the force of +some fall. I could see too, he had not been hurt long, for the blood +flowed too freely for that. With the pity and horror in my heart was +also a strong feeling of guilt that we had so carelessly let our brother +leave us without following and protecting him in his aimless wanderings. + +When first I lifted up his head I saw that he was unconscious, but I +wiped away the blood as best I could and bound the ugly wound with +pieces from my cloak, and then rubbed his face with snow. After a long +while he opened his eyes and looked at me wonderingly. + +"'Tis thy Brother Jabez," I said gently; but he only looked at me with +meaningless gaze, his hands lying so still and helpless it would have +rejoiced me to see him rub them together as of old. + +Again I spake to him, "Dost not know me, Brother Alburtus?" But still he +seemed not to regard my words, and leaving him for a brief space, +fearing his lying in the snow would be his death even if the wound would +not, I brake from the trees and bushes about me armful after armful of +twigs and branches making a bed of them on the southern side of the rock +where he would be sheltered from the cold winds and we could catch the +warmth of the sun shining down through the trees. Then I dragged him +tenderly upon his rough bed making him as comfortable as I could, +rubbing his hands to warm them and then putting them within his cloak so +they might not freeze, during all of which he seemed not to pay the +slightest attention to me. + +After a long wait he tried to lift his head, and I said to him, "Art +feeling better, Brother Alburtus?" whereat he looked at me in great +wonderment and said weakly, "Dost not know me, Thomas? Where am I? What +is wrong with my head?" + +"He mistaketh me for our Brother Thomas," thought I, and so I said +smiling to him, "Nay, 'tis Brother Jabez; thou hast wandered from our +Kloster and hast fallen from this high rock, Brother Alburtus." + +But he only glared at me as he replied in such weak anger that my heart +smote me, "Why dost thou torment me so, Thomas? Thou knowest I am David +Seymour, thy own brother!" + +"What meaneth he?" thought I to myself; "surely his hurt hath taken his +mind from him so he knoweth not he is Brother Alburtus." Thinking it +best to humor him I spake gently, "Yes, 'tis thy brother; what aileth +thee?" To which he answered feebly, "The tree hath fallen on my head; +take me to the cabin to 'Lisbeth and the baby." + +"Surely," thought I, "we know not what we say when the mind is wrong," +but still thinking it better to humor him I merely said, "Yea, as soon +as help cometh we shall carry thee to them," whereat he smiled +gratefully and lay back more contentedly. + +But though I sat and shivered by the side of our brother for hour after +hour, sheltering him from the cold with my cloak, I could see as the +afternoon wore on, and his sighing and groaning grew fainter and weaker, +that his days were numbered, and so with the sun's setting behind the +hills to the other side of the valley, there was opened for our +brother's coming, not the door of his humble cabin but instead the +ever-shining gates of those mansions beyond the skies He hath prepared +for his well-beloved children. + +But now that the spirit of our brother had left its earthly prison +house, I stood for a few moments and prayed earnestly that his soul +might see clearly that which on earth had been shown darkly as through a +glass, to our bewildered brother. + +Then it came to me like a great shock, what was to be done with his +body? At first, it seemed to me I could not let it lie in these cold, +dreary mountains. And yet I could not unaided bear him to the Kloster. +Neither was I certain I could find my way back on the morrow with the +Brethren, for these hills were utterly strange to me. And yet, for such +was my faith, though it may seem harsh to some, why could he not rest +here as well as anywhere else? The imperishable, immortal soul had gone +to its Maker; that which remained was merely the earthly shell that +would mix with the elements, no matter where buried. + +Much against my will I finally persuaded myself I must leave him in this +wild, lonely spot. But I could not leave him exposed to the winds and +the rain and the beasts of the woods, and yet I had nothing to dig up +the hard frozen ground to make him a grave. And then just as I was about +to give up in despair thinking I could do no better than cover him with +brush, I saw a short distance farther up the mountain two long rocks, +meeting at one end, but spread out at the other like a sharp angle, the +opening toward me. Like a flash it came to me I could enrich these rough +rocks by using them as a resting-place for Brother Alburtus. + +I hastened up the hill and swept and scraped the snow out from between +the rocks, making a bed of twigs on the hard earth. But it was no light +task getting the great form of our brother up that steep slope, and more +than once it seemed I must give up. But at last I did get him lying +snugly between the two huge stones. Then I made a roof over him by +laying heavy branches across the rocks, on top of the branches placing +such heavy stones as I could loosen from the hard ground. In this manner +I also closed up the end of my brother's death _Kammer_, and to help me +find the spot, should I have call to revisit it, I rolled a large stone +at the upper end of the little vault, and after a last prayer for the +soul of our sainted brother, I left, sad at heart, but rejoicing I had +been able to do these last honors for our dead. + +It was dark when I started down the mountains and so rough and slippery +was the way I had many a fall ere I reached the foot; but the longest +and most toilsome way hath nevertheless an end, and though the night was +well on when I reached my cell, I arrived none the less, safe and sound, +only that our brethren were greatly alarmed at my absence, fearing I too +had been captured by the Indians. + +At the midnight meeting I recounted to my brethren the doings of the +day, the death of Brother Alburtus, but not saying anything of his last +words, requesting rather consideration as to what should be done with +his body. As the greater part of us thought nothing could be done while +the way was so rough and slippery with rocks and snow, we decided to let +our brother rest for the time at least in his strange grave; but we held +special services in his memory and in his cell we hung, as was our +custom, a tablet, on which were inscribed in beautiful letters by the +Sisterhood the words: + +"Blessed in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints." + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +SONNLEIN TAKETH THE ORDEAL + + There are more things in heaven and earth than are + dreamt of in your philosophy, Horatio. + + --Shakespeare. + + +Over a month had passed away since the death of our Brother Alburtus and +his lonely burial far up in the mountain. My brethren, though at first +of a mind to bring him to our little graveyard in the meadow, at last +reluctantly came to my way of thinking that he should be left to rest +undisturbed where I had laid him. + +Often as the days came and went I wondered what Sonnlein would say when +he returned, to find his dear Brother Alburtus gone. Oftener still in +those dreary days I would ponder and puzzle over the dying words of our +brother. I could understand how by the great shock of his fall he did +not know me, for I had seen more than once what a misty veil cometh over +the sight of the dying so that they know not at all even their most +beloved ones. But what I could not solve was why he called himself by a +name I had never heard before. Was David Seymour his own, right name or +the name of some friend of earlier days, and did our brother in his last +moments imagine himself that other one? And 'Lisbeth and the baby, were +these wife and child, or merely long-buried memories of acquaintances +revived in the very shadow of death? With all my pondering and puzzling +I could not solve the matter, and gradually it left me, though never +wholly cast aside. + +Indeed, with the wandering away of our Brother Alburtus and his dying up +in those lonely mountains, and the loss of our Genoveva and my boy, my +cup of woe was well-nigh running over. The winter was now on the wane, +almost three months having elapsed since Sister Genoveva and Sonnlein +had gone, and still we knew no more than when they left us; for though +our justice kept me and our little Kloster in most affectionate +remembrance, I receiving many letters from him in all his great work and +responsibility, yet he had nothing to tell us other than not to lose +faith and courage; and for this we loved him, even though he gave us no +knowledge of our lost ones. + +But surely it is cowardly and ungrateful in man or woman to complain +because the infinite Father doth not always explain to our narrow, +little minds why and wherefore he doeth this or that, for I have ever +found that if one will but possess his soul in patience and cease +repining and keep on doing his work all will come out right in the end. + +So on a beautiful moonlight night, after I had retired to my _Kammer_, +shortly after the midnight services and had fallen into my usual sound +sleep, I felt, or at first dreamt I felt, a shaking of my arm; but as I +was about to turn over in my drowsy state, I received another shake of +the arm, this time so decided I no longer doubted I was awake. As I sat +up more frightened than I care to tell, I saw bending over me a +form--surely it could not be! but then as I heard my boy call me, +"_Vaterchen_," with such sadness and despair and weariness in his voice +as I thought would make my heart burst with very pity for him, I clasped +him in my arms and kissed him and wept over him as some mother over a +long-lost child. Such a simpleton was I, as all will agree, and yet I +doubt not I should do the same thing over again were there similar +occasion for it. + +I know not to this day whether or not my boy wept, but his voice was +soft and gentle as a woman's as he said to me, "I could not wait till +morning." + +"If thou hadst let me sleep till morning and not know of thy coming I +would never have forgiven thee," I assured him joyfully, holding him by +the arms. And then I turned toward the door of my _Kammer_, and was +opening it when he said, "Where art going? Surely thou'rt not tired of +me so soon?" + +"Nay, to tell our leader and the Brothers and Sisters of thy return. It +were selfish to keep all this great joy to myself," and again I turned +toward the door, first lighting my fat lamp; but then as the flame grew +up I saw my boy was so faint and weak he would have fallen to the floor +had I not caught him to me and helped him to my bench, making him as +easy as our hard life would allow. + +And surely I was well repaid for what I had suffered in all these +months; for as I lay down on the floor of my cell--not finding it to my +liking to let him go to his own--he whispered tenderly before he dropped +off to sleep, "Thou'rt the same old _Vaterchen_;" and this praise, with +my poor weakness for kind words, I held snug and warm in my heart for +many a year. + +Thus we both slept long into the morning, only for once in my life I +slept not so soundly; for I could hear that Sonnlein was tossing and +murmuring in his sleep, contrary to his former habit, for like me he had +always been good at sleeping. + +With the bright light of the morning I saw plainly now what his voice +and bearing had told me but faintly in the night; for as he lay asleep, +stirring often uneasily I could see that he was but a mere skeleton, his +face gaunt and haggard, with great hollows under the deep set eyes, and +the beard he had let grow was tangled and unkempt. A sudden fear +clutched my heart that he had come home but to die. + +But truly the healing powers God hath placed in these bodies of ours are +wonderful things to set us straight if they be given a chance to work in +peace and quiet; for though I must spread the joyful news of Sonnlein's +return to our leader and all the Brethren, not forgetting the Sisters, +who were of a mind to make a great hero of my boy, and though the +Brethren passed my cell more quietly than ever often during the day, not +one with all the desire to give him greeting would disturb his rest; for +he slept on until evening, not even waking ere then to take the lamb's +broth our prioress had prepared for him. + +But early in the night he sat up, and said, "Such a sleep have I not had +for many a day." + +"Art not hungry?" I asked anxiously, "shall I not warm this lamb's broth +Mutter Maria hath made for thee?" + +"Blessings on our good Mutter Maria!" he cried out with some return of +his old, fun-loving spirit, "but if thou lovest me," he said, as he +gulped down greedily the broth--and I dislike hasty feeding--"bring me +the lamb itself, for I am hungry as a wolf." + +And, indeed, when I did coax our good prioress to give me such a load of +things as she declared was not safe to give him, it did seem to me as +though I had food enough for ten men; but he merely smiled when I +cautioned him against eating all this stuff, and in less time than I can +tell it he had actually eaten up everything so clean not a crumb was +left, so that I had not been surprised had he lifted the dishes to his +face and licked them off, as he had often done in his childhood. + +Thus for a few days I made him take abundance of rest and sleep, and +between the Sisters and me he suffered not for food, but I refrained +from asking anything of his absence, thinking it better to wait until he +were more himself again. + +But one evening, as we were sitting in my _Kammer_, about a week after +his return, neither of us saying a word for a long while--for with all +his lively nature he was never so garrulous as I--not being able to curb +my curiosity longer, I finally asked him, "What hast thou learned of our +Sister Genoveva?" + +"Nothing," he replied sadly, "though I have sought everywhere for her." + +"Hast been among the Indians?" + +"Yea, and more than one of the French devils hath gone to his long +home," he replied savagely. + +"Hast been among the Conestogas?" these being a peaceful Indian tribe +living in a little town or village not many miles beyond Lancaster, +toward the Susquehanna. + +"I went there straight on leaving thee, for that way pointed the +footprints." + +"Could the Conestogas tell thee nothing?" + +"Nay, could not or would not--I know not which--though a half-witted one +whispered to me when he thought none could hear, that he knew where the +white sister was; but on pressing him for fuller knowledge he merely +pointed back toward the northeast, whence I had come, saying, 'Up, high, +with old woman,' but I paid no great heed to him, for he was not right +in his head." + +"That night what didst thou make of the footprints?" + +"One was Genoveva's, that was plain to be seen; the largest, an Indian +warrior's; the third, a squaw's or young Indian lad's, I have never made +up my mind which," and then he said nothing more for a long while, but +at last he looked at me suddenly, saying as though much puzzled, "Would +that I knew what the half-witted one meant; it hath been with me day and +night lately, so that I had no other will in me than to come back, for +it is in my mind that Genoveva, if she be still alive, is not far away." +After a bit he looked up at me as though he were ashamed to ask, "Dost +believe, _Vaterchen_, that if she be nigh her spirit hath called me +back?" + +To which I could only say, "I know not, though there be among us who +claim they have had such communication, both with the living and the +dead." + +And then in all the simpleness of a boy he asked, "Dost think our sister +was caught up into the heavens like Elijah?" + +Ere I knew what I was saying I replied with some heat, for his question +seemed like blasphemy to me, "Nay, nay, Elijah was a saint!" + +"Dost mean Genoveva was not good enough to be taken up like old Elijah?" +he cried out angrily at me, as he had never yet spoken to me. + +"Quietly, my Sonnlein, quietly; my reply meant not that I think not +highly of our sister; but though we have holy writ that Elijah was +translated, yet there have been, as thou knowest, many good men and +women since that time who have had to go to heaven by way of the gates +of death. I do not think our Genoveva was taken up to heaven, and in +this I mean no disrespect." + +But he heeded not the gentle reproof in my voice, and after a while he +asked, "Dost believe in the state of innocence taught by Brother +Onesimus and his brethren while they were with us, and of whom thou hast +told me so often?" + +"Nay, I ne'er had much faith in their heathenish practices," I replied +shortly. + +Still he persisted, "They who pass through the ordeal of purification +come forth with limitless vision and with mental powers unbounded." + +"Who hath infected thee with this disease?" I asked crossly. + +"I remember now that the day before Genoveva was taken from us Brother +Benno, who was one of the thirteen that took the ordeal--and thou hast +said thyself he was of the number--told me that since he had been +purified he had often spoken to the spirit of his dead mother, and hath +from here even seen his brother, who liveth in the _Vaterland_." + +"Brother Benno is an exceedingly pious man," was all I could say. + +"Dost not believe he speaketh the truth?" + +"To the contrary I should be the last to doubt his word; but in my short +stay on earth I have heard pious men and women tell of things which to +my thick understanding were not possible. It never seemed to me that man +or woman could in the short space of forty days attain to physical and +spiritual perfection. What I have seen of my fellow-man compelleth me to +hold that even the longest lifetime is much too short for the making of +ourselves in any wise so much as near perfect." + +But he only replied slowly, as if not convinced, "Still Brother Benno +may be right; at least it can do no harm to try." + +"Try what?" I said very quietly to hide my dread his remark had put in +me. + +"The ordeal. I have tried everything else. This one thing remains for me +to do." + +To which I made stern answer, "All this nonsense cometh from the Evil +One; thou art tired, discouraged, worn out in body and spirit. Rest for +a few days, and with new strength and courage thou wilt have no +inclination for such foolishness." + +To which he made no reply, but I could see his mind was, with all his +love for me, set on going through this pernicious thing. And that it may +be known why I dreaded this ordeal, which I hoped after the Eckerlings +left us would never be undergone again by any of us, I shall set forth +the manner in which the neophyte sought first physical regeneration, in +order that he might be properly prepared for moral regeneration, and +thus attain perfection. + +This was the way of it: the seeker for perfection must with a single +attendant retire to a hut or cave in the forest on the night of the full +moon in the month of May, and for forty days live thus secluded in +fasting and prayer. No drink was allowed other than rain water which had +fallen during the month of May. This and dry bread crusts were all the +nourishment the neophyte could have. After being weakened by such rigid +fasting for sixteen days, on the following day the recluse, that his +physical nature might be further subjugated, had several ounces of blood +taken from him, after which certain white drops were administered, +though what their composition I never cared to know, only it was not +poisonous, and for this remnant of good sense I give cheerfully to the +originators of this iniquitous ordeal their proper dues. + +Six drops of this elixir, which was prepared only by adepts, were taken +at night and a like quantity mornings, the dose being increased by two +drops a day until the thirty-second day when some more blood was drawn +upon the rising of the sun, the seeker for perfection then retiring to +his couch to remain there until the completion of the forty days. + +At sunrise of the following day, being the thirty-third, the first grain +of _materia prima_ was to be taken, this being the universal and +invisible principle out of which God made all things and which he had +created to confer immortality upon man when first made in paradise, but +which substance, by reason of man's fall, was lost to the race, only to +be thereafter obtained by favor of such adepts as were within the +highest circles of the Rosicrucian brotherhood. + +My hope is that they who may care to read this tale will have more +patience in the reading of this Rosicrucian folly than I have had in the +writing of it; for surely, whenever I think of this worst of all +wickedness inflicted on us by the Eckerlings, it requireth all the +Kloster restraint and moderation to keep me from strong and strange +words. + +But spiteful words seldom cure things, so I shall tell of this _materia +prima_; for such was its power that the moment the neophyte took it he +lost all speech and recollection. Three hours later convulsions and +heavy transudation set in. After these subsided, the serving Brother +changed the couch and a broth made from lean beef and sundry herbs was +given. On the next day another grain of the _materia prima_ was taken, +in a cup of this broth, after which in addition to the convulsions and +transudations a delirious fever would set in, which ended with a +complete loss or shedding of the skin, hair, and teeth of the subject. + +On the thirty-fifth day a bath of a certain temperature was given the +neophyte and on the following day the third and last grain of the +_materia prima_ was taken in a cup of precious wine, after which the +seeker fell into a gentle, undisturbed sleep, during which a new skin +appeared, and also the hair and teeth shed two days before were +miraculously renewed. On his awakening he was placed in an aromatic herb +bath. + +On the thirty-eighth day of the ordeal an ordinary water bath in which +saltpeter had been dissolved was taken, the votary then resuming his +habit and exercising his limbs, and on the following day ten drops of +the elixir of life, or "grandmaster's elixir" or "balsam" were +administered in two large spoonfuls of red wine. + +The fortieth day ended the period of perfection, and the votary being +now restored to the state of innocence man had before the fall, left his +hut or cell with the power to lengthen his earthly existence to the +limit of five thousand five hundred and fifty-seven years, in perfect +health and contentment. + +After this came the forty days moral regeneration, which if successfully +passed, gave the seeker power to communicate with the spirit world. + +Small wonder that I was strongly set against this perilous and utterly +foolish thing. But I found the next day Sonnlein was stubbornly resolved +he would undergo it; and though I had great comfort in the thought that +it wanted some months ere May were here, yet, even this solace was +quickly denied me, as he declared his intention of suffering the +purification at once. To this even our poor, benighted Brother Benno +objected, for he held that the slightest deviation from the prescribed +particulars of the process would render the whole without avail. + +But as Sonnlein declared he would go off in the woods and take the +ordeal himself--and I knew in his sicklied state he would do so--Brother +Benno and I finally compromised with the stubborn youth by going to +"Ararat," the second floor of Zion, where Sonnlein took one of the +thirteen cells for himself while Brother Benno and I each took an +adjoining cell. + +Here in this deserted old chapter house, relic of the pride and folly of +the poor Eckerlings, we lived all alone for almost a week, and never in +my life was week longer; for though Brother Benno and I attended all the +services, yet the solicitude of the Brothers and Sisters was such--they +believing that we had moved Sonnlein to the hill for purer air in his +illness--that Brother Benno and I were not permitted to do any of our +usual work. + +This, indeed, suited our purpose most opportunely, for Brother Benno +desired to keep constant watch over the treatment, while I was resolved +to keep strict watch over my boy's safety. + +Thus the first day, the second, and the third and even the fourth, and +the fifth day passed, during all of which I was not permitted once to +see my boy. Nor did I even hear anything, for Brother Benno and Sonnlein +dared not so much as exchange a word. Only that on every opportunity I +would seek Brother Benno and in a whisper, so my boy could not hear, +would I get report of him, Brother Benno invariably saying Sonnlein was +a most obedient votary and that he was in good health, though weak. Thus +I allowed myself to become a sharer in this wicked thing. + +But on the night of the fifth day, after coming from our midnight +devotions, Brother Benno having given me his usual favorable report, I +sought repose in my cell, though it seemed as I lay awake for a long +time I could hear Sonnlein turning uneasily in his cell and murmuring +continually in a great fever. Then for a long while all was quiet only +that I thought I could hear him breathing heavily in his sleep. +Reassured by this I dropped off into a heavy sleep, for in my anxiety I +had kept vigil in my _Kammer_ almost every night. It seemed to me I had +not slept long, but I know now I slept almost until daybreak, when in my +sleeping I heard a rumbling like thunder and then as a flash of +lightning illumined my narrow cell, followed closely by a crash of +thunder--for such storms have we at times even in winter--I jumped up +fully awake and shaking like a leaf, though I never feared much the +noise of thunder. And then without knowing what I was doing and heedless +of Brother Benno's injunctions, I rushed into Sonnlein's cell, my heart +almost standing still as I noted in all the darkness that he was gone! + +I rushed madly for Brother Benno's cell, but my agitated steps had +roused him from his slumber, and as I met him in the corrider I clutched +him so that he shrank from me in fear as I howled at him, "Sonnlein, my +boy, where is he?" and then ere my startled brother could reply I heard +from down the meadows, mingling with the crashing and rumbling of the +thunder Sonnlein's voice crying out again and again, "Genoveva! +Genoveva!" + +I know not how I got out of Zion or whether or not Brother Benno was +following as I darted down the hill for the Cocalico, once in a flash of +lightning imagining I saw my boy plunge into the creek for the other +side. But though I ran to the spot in all the darkness and the storm and +though I rushed wildly through the stream, and into the woods on the +farther side, all the while crying out his name, I had no reply, and at +last feeling now as though I had indeed more than I could bear, I +returned half-dazed to my cell in Bethania, not wishing ever again to +set foot in that house of evil on the hill. + +Brother Benno informed all the Brothers and the Sisters that Sonnlein +had wandered away in his sickness and though everybody in the Kloster +and also the good neighbors sought most earnestly and lovingly, even +wading the icy creek for him, thinking most likely he had been drowned, +naught of anything was found of my boy. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + +A MIDNIGHT VISIT + + In the meantime the wants of the body are also to be restrained + and attention given so that the voice become angelic, + heavenly, pure, and clear, and not strong and harsh, by a + coarseness of food, and consequently prove valueless. But to + gain the right tone, so that no unseemingly harsh screeching + and creaking be heard in place of the proper melody. + + --Brother Beissel. + + +Surely God's ways for setting things right are not the ways of man's +narrow wisdom! How often doth he take the lowly, simple, and even +hideous things of earth to confuse the lofty and the wise whose faith +and love have been weakened with much learning. + +A number of weeks had gone by since Sonnlein had been swallowed up in +the wilds, for in truth he could not have left less trace of himself +than if the earth had opened up and engulfed him; but finally the +mystery was solved, and if I come slowly to the mark I humbly ask the +forgiveness of all those who are not inclined to wait patiently for an +old man's laggard step. Thus it came about. From the very founding of +our Kloster we paid great attention to music, especially singing, and I +would that I had time and space to write fully about the system of music +invented by our leader, with the assistance of one of our housefathers, +Ludwig Blum, who was a master singer and also versed in composition. + +But as we had been careful in everything else to conform as little as +possible to the spirit of the world, instead shaping ourselves in +everything to the heavenly spirit, so also it was in respect to singing. +As hath been said, "_Musicam divini quid spirare_," if she sounds out +the praises of the Most High, for which purpose she is solely +calculated; so that we like not to see her noble character abused by +theatrical diversions and her heavenly sweetness marred by their curled +compositions; for it is well known they sometimes dwell two minutes on +one syllable which is nothing else than a great nonsense. We also held +it to be a great mistake to join all sorts of instruments with vocal +music, without consideration, thereby eclipsing the dignity of the human +voice; for the human voice is a most noble instrument, by which man may +reveal his most intimate recesses; for when God made himself known in +his created work he spake the word, "Let there be light," and surely it +was far more sublime than if it had been announced with a flourish of +braying instruments. + +For this reason we at Ephrata did not concern ourselves greatly about +instrumental music, though indeed, when our superintendent prepared our +system of music he knew very little except some notes which he had +learned on the violin; but such was our leader's genius and his +independence of spirit and energy that instead of borrowing anything +from the so-called masters he took his style from the music of nature, +our singing, in a word, being an imitation of the AEolian harp. +Naturally, 'twas a style very peculiar, as the worldly minded regard +things, in concords and execution, the tones issuing from the choir like +very soft instrumental music and carrying such a sweetness and softness +and spirit of devotion as seemed almost superhuman to the listener. + +To carry out this idea of the AEolian harp, the music was set in two, +four, five, and sometimes even seven parts. All these, save the bass, +which was set in two parts, high and low, were led and sung exclusively +by the females, the men's voices resembling the deep tones of the organ +and in combination with one of the female parts producing a contrast +which was an excellent imitation of the hautboy. + +And in the perfection of this heavenly art we spent much time and +labor, for we felt that we were no greater than the angels, who +themselves when they sang at the birth of Christ had to make use of such +rules as we employed; and for that we held music was truly an angelic +art our leader gave us very many rules, especially as to our diet, for +the refining of our voices. The Brothers and Sisters being formed into +different singing classes, were each put upon a distinct diet with the +intention so to affect the vocal cords and mold them that they would +give forth the required pitch assigned to each class. + +Thus the diet for the bass singers was entirely different from that of +the tenors, while the second bass and the baritone varied as greatly as +that selected for the soprano and the alto, and it being absolutely +necessary to know what sorts of foods quicken the spirit and make the +voice subtle and thin and to the contrary make the voice coarse and +sluggish and heavy, our leader took great care that all those selected +to sing should abstain from the use of foods which in great injustice +man is accustomed to take from the animals, such as milk, which causeth +one heaviness and uneasiness; and cheese which maketh one fiery and +hot-brained; and butter, which maketh one so lazy and stolid one desires +neither to sing nor pray; and eggs, which awaken various and evil +desires; and even honey was forbidden, for as our brother held that +though this sweet essence of the flowers causeth light eyes and a +cheerful spirit, it maketh the voice not clear. + +Even among the vegetables we had not free scope, for beans came under +the ban as being too weighty a food and making one heavy in spirit; but +above all things our leader held that the spirit of this art since it is +of such virgin purity can suffer no love between man and woman; for love +in young hearts inflames them so exceedingly as to make the sufferers +entirely unfit in mind and heart and voice and spirit. And, indeed, to +this extent I agree fully with our leader, that people in love are not +only useless for music but for almost everything else. + +As to drink, our brother taught it had been settled long ago that in the +straight path there is naught hath greater righteousness than the +innocent, pure water just as it comes from the well, or made into soup +to which a little bread was added. Otherwise, all cookery whereby water +is deprived of its beneficent nature and changed by unseeming art into a +sort of delicacy our leader ever regarded as sinful, an abomination of +abominations. + +After our leader had assumed the role of _Capellmeister_, singing +schools were held upon certain evenings in the Sister House, the +sessions lasting four hours, during the third, fourth, and fifth, and +sixth hours, corresponding in wordly time from eight o'clock to +midnight; and so on this night, the brethren being in snow-white +garments, which our ruler insisted upon as representing the necessary +purity of heart and mind, he himself strictly adhering to this, met us +as usual at the low doorway of Bethania and led us in long procession to +the Sister _Saal_, the Sisters proceeding thither from Saron in the same +manner, led by the prioress. The Brethren as usual took their places, +being divided in their respective classes about their proper tables on +the floor of the _Saal_ while the Sisters took the places set apart for +them behind the latticed galleries above. + +It was seldom we sang through an entire session of these evening schools +that some brother or sister did not receive a severe scolding from our +leader; for he ruled these classes with an iron hand, so that often +there were bitterest dissensions where all should have been peace; for +at the slightest sign of levity or frivolity there would descend upon +the offender such an avalanche of rebukes and scoldings as were, indeed, +hard to bear even by the meekest of us. + +This night was no exception, for though we sang our hymns one after the +other in the utmost peace and order until after the fifth hour (eleven +o'clock), suddenly the storm came, for our sisters Keturah and Priscano, +being so busily engaged in some, I doubt not, trivial talk, noted not as +another hymn had been taken up and was passing around the hall from one +class to the other, that their response had come, and forgat utterly to +sing, so that we all were fairly amazed, and sat with bowed heads for +the blast we knew would sweep over us; and instantly it came, so +fiercely that if one had not known our leader it might have been thought +he were a man of the most violent and unchecked passions. + +I had often heard him scold, and, indeed, had more than once felt the +force of his temper in that I had never much voice for singing, and more +than once was I rebuked for singing out of tune, which to our leader was +as great an hurt as if one had stuck him with a sword, but this night so +outrageous was the affront our poor sisters had given him he fairly +seemed beside himself with righteous rage, so that, looking up at him +out of the corner of my eye, his figure with all its insignificance of +size seemed truly majestic. + +I know not how long we had been compelled to sit there shivering and +cowering like disobedient children, when suddenly we heard a voice, to +me familiar enough, from the rear of the hall near the doorway, cry out +half-sneering, half-snarling, "Thou fool!" Then as we all turned about, +frightened almost beyond the telling by this unearthly voice, we saw +crouching in the dark shadows about the doorway the form of her whom, +though unknown to the rest, I knew well to be my old enemy, the witch; +but from the terrified Sisters huddled together in the galleries and +from the awe-struck Brothers below not a hand or voice was lifted +against the apparition, even our fiery little leader for the once +forgetting his anger and his fearlessness, making the sign of the cross +on his breast as he shrank back from the menacing shape at the other end +of the _Saal_. + +For what seemed an age she stood there glaring at us. Then she +straightened up straighter than I had ever seen her, and there was in +her voice such unusual sadness and dignity and lack of hate I greatly +marveled as she cried out, even pityingly, "Ye poor fools, to fear him," +pointing her long finger at our leader, and then, breaking out more +fiercely, she snarled, "How many homes have been destroyed by his false +teachings! Oh, thou needst not threaten me, a poor, weak, crazy woman, +thou brave giant!" she sneered at me as I started forward with menacing +mien. + +"What dost thou here?" and then a sudden thought flashed through me, our +leader and all the brothers and sisters marveling greatly at this show +of spirit in their meek Brother Jabez as I cried out boldly, "What hast +done with our sister, thou she-devil?" + +And then she forgot all her brief softness as she screeched back at us, +"Ye fools, now ye know what it is to have one stolen from ye," and then +she snarled defiantly, "Come and get your sister if ye can, ye +women-men!" and with this she rushed out of the doorway, leaving us +utterly bereft of our wits. + +But then I leaped for the doorway, our leader crying out, "Hold him; the +witch will kill him!" but I shook off savagely the hands of the Brothers +trying with great love of me to hold me back from pursuing the grisly +shape, for now I was on fire with the resolve to follow and learn once +for all where this being held herself and who she was. + +Although the early part of the night had been dark, I saw as I burst out +of the doorway that the moon had come up, making the Kloster grounds as +bright as day, so that I had no difficulty in seeing the fleeing figure +skirting the foot of Mount Sinai and speeding down the meadows along the +Cocalico. I doubt not I could have quickly overtaken her, but such was +not my purpose. I had but one thought now and that was to follow her to +her retreat, and, having this in view, I rejoiced that the moonlight +showed plainly the form of the witch. But the moonlight, if a help in +this way, was a hindrance in that if she looked back she could not but +see me even though I took advantage of the shadows of every bush and +tree. + +Somehow I was not at all surprised that she followed the course of the +creek to the very spot where Sonnlein and I had crossed that night; but +surely she would not attempt to pass over on the thin ice that still +lingered on the pool ending at that stony beach where the swift stream +had weeks ago worm away its icy covering! And yet so feather light did +she skim over the thin, treacherous surface, and with such gliding, +ghostlike ease, I was almost minded to give up the chase, fearing, +though I had never believed such vulgar tales, she might fly away on a +broomstick, or through some other hocus-pocus elude me and I make all my +desperate endeavor for naught. And for all I knew she might, if pressed +too hard, turn on me and change me into some vile beast, for I had heard +of such things. + +But not for long did I hesitate by reason of these childish fears. There +was no turning back now, come what might. I placed one of my heavy feet +delicately on the thin ice, and, then bearing on it my weight more +heavily, I went through to my knees, almost falling full length into the +pool, for the ice would not begin to hold my great weight. + +There was but one way left, and, fearing I would lose sight of her did I +pause longer, I dashed into the swift current below the pool with such +hotheaded recklessness that ere I knew it and with all my slipping and +stumbling I was safely on the other side, and though I wasted no time +then in idle philosophizing, which hath ever been a weakness of mine, I +have often thought since and have come to the conclusion that there be +times when one loseth all by dilly-dallying. + +As I shook the water off me like some big dog I plunged into the brush +with the same recklessness I had crossed the creek, though now my wet +garments by their weight and their clinging about my legs impeded my +progress almost beyond endurance; but as I stood panting and almost +choking for breath I saw at no great distance ahead in a little, moonlit +glade, mine enemy, still not looking back, so that I felt relieved to +know she had not yet seen me. + +On and on we went in this manner, she seemingly without effort, while I +stumbled and fell repeatedly over rocks and gullies and fallen trees, +yet beyond being severely shaken and bruised I received no great hurts. +Of a sudden, as we reached the foot of the mountain she changed her way, +hitherto toward the southwest, abruptly to the southeast, almost at the +same spot I had come on the footprints of Brother Alburtus that sad day. +She too, now as I continually kept nigh enough to catch sight of her +among the bushes and trees, followed that same winding way up the +mountain side, higher and higher. Once she turned half about and stood +still as though listening carefully, and ere I could hide behind a tree +I thought she saw me, but if so she gave no sign by hastening her +flight, if flight it could be called, for she appeared in no great +hurry. But now and then she would turn sharply about and stand still for +a moment as if listening, and always when I was in plain view. + +We had now come nigh to the very spot where I found Brother Alburtus +dying in the snow. Farther up the mountain I could see plainly his rocky +tomb, and then, though I had glanced but a moment aside from my pursuit, +she had completely vanished. I looked about me in every direction, but I +could see naught of her, nor could I as much as hear the faintest sound. +And then as suddenly as though it had come out of the earth, I saw on +the top of that great rock whence our brother had fallen such a sight as +for a moment almost benumbed me with fear; for there standing out clear +in the bright moonlight was the tall figure of some dark being, so that +my first overpowering fear was the witch had suddenly changed her human +shape into that of the Evil One. + +For a few moments I stood almost powerless with fear, the forbidding +shape on the rock being also absolutely motionless, with its front +toward me; and then, so that I have often wondered what it was gave me +such unusual boldness, I felt a sudden strength take hold of me and such +a courage as feared naught, as I cried out fiercely, "Be thou Belial +himself, or the son of Belial, I shall fight thee!" and with that I +tore from its earthly fastening a young sapling most like my wrist, and +having twisted off the top I advanced threateningly with my club, at +which the figure on the rock gave a most unearthly screech or howl, such +as for a brief moment chilled my resolution; but on again I went, +yelling back, "Thou mayest spit and snarl all thou hast a mind to, thou +foul one!" as I crossed my breast, knowing that the Evil One ever +feareth the sign of the cross. + +Suddenly I saw the right arm of the dread figure draw back, and like a +flash something came hurling at me that would have dashed out my brains +had it not been that He who doth watch over his own had placed between +me and my foe a small branch, light and trifling almost as air, and yet +great enough in his hands to turn aside the missile, so that instead of +catching me fair on my brow, it barely escaped the side of my head. + +Tearing my cloak from me and tossing it and my club aside, I dashed +ahead, and ere my foe knew it I was on the rock, and we were in each +others' arms struggling with all our might to hurl the other down, and +if ever I needed the great strength that so often in my life I had been +foolishly ashamed of as being unworthy of my calling I needed it now; +for whatever my antagonist was I speedily found it flesh and blood like +myself; for that he was not burdened with much clothes as was I, my +hold often slipped from his greasy body as we rolled over and over, now +I on top and then he, each grasping for the other's throat or trying to +trip or throw the other down from the rock. + +Surely my only salvation now was that in spite of my great love of +books, yet have I ever loved the open air, and in my Kloster life was +never afraid of my share of hard, daily toil, so that e'en now I felt +that my foe, with all his strength and quickness, had not an easy task +cut out for him. Finally I wrenched myself from his hold, and then, both +breathing so hard it was no great difficulty to know we were in deadly +earnest, we stood apart glaring at each other and waiting for returning +strength to renew our fighting. + +All the while I kept my eye closely on him, prepared for any sudden +spring or trick that my sly foe might try on me, and now as we stood +there scowling at each other I saw plainly if it were the Evil One he +had assumed the form of an Indian. Neither of us said a word, but all at +once I saw my dark antagonist draw himself together and like a stone +from a catapult hurl himself at me; but that which was meant to +overpower me by its suddenness proved my enemy's undoing, for--and I +believe to this day Providence was with me--an old trick came back to me +I had learned in my student days in the gymnasium, but of which I had no +thought it still were within me. + +And thus it was as my foe came flying upon me, I suddenly dropped on one +knee, and ere he knew what I was about, I had caught him with both hands +fairly under his middle, and then with all my power and strength gave +such a mighty upward heave as with his own impulse threw him back over +me so that he landed clean on the other side of the rock, where I heard +him fall with a tremendous crash. And then, so savage is the human +heart, I rushed to the edge of the rock eagerly hoping I had killed him +outright. And, indeed, there he lay still enough, so that I knew whoever +my foe had been, it had not been the evil one, for surely no mere man +could kill Beelzebub. + +As my breath and strength returned to me, though for a long time I was +so weak in my limbs I could do little less than totter, I picked up my +cloak and wrapped it about me; but with returning strength came a great +horror that I had killed a human being, and unless one be of a gentle +heart he knoweth naught what awful feeling possessed my soul as I +thought upon my savage deed which, though I had done it in self-defense, +yet seemed to me little less than murder. + +For the time all thought of the witch was cast aside, my only fear being +now that I had killed the Indian. I hastened to his side, and though I +found him bleeding from some wound in the head, yet the violently +throbbing heart told me there was life there so that my own heart +leaped up with a great joy and hope I had not killed him; and--praises +be to His name--as I knelt there anxiously waiting for return of sense +to him, my red foe finally came to himself and sat up, holding his +wounded head, which I had now bound up, and rubbing himself about his +back and limbs so that I feared perchance these had been broken; but to +my great joy--for now I thought no more of fearing him--from sitting up, +he gradually, with many gruntings and groanings, stood erect as he could +in all his weakness, and then, as he seemed for the first time conscious +of me, he grunted in broken English, "Big woman-man, big chief; me only +papoose; me go back to Conestogas and be squaw; white chief-woman must +help self," and then before I could speak and ere my scattered wits knew +what all this talk meant, he limped away down the mountain-side and was +soon lost to sight. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV + +MINE ENEMY'S HIDING-PLACE + + Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the + morning. + + --The Bible. + + +My vanquished foe had hardly disappeared down the mountain when I +recovered sufficiently from my dazed state to recall the witch, who I +feared had escaped me while I was engaged in desperate conflict with the +red man. No man who hath not gone through such adventures can understand +what a weakness and loneliness came upon me way up there in that wild +spot, with no foe to fight or witch to pursue; for surely idleness +afflicts one with many foolish fears and vain imaginings. + +I crawled stiffly, now that I had cooled off somewhat, to the top of the +rock and looked carefully in every direction, straining my ears for any +sound of her; but I saw and heard nothing. I fairly groaned in my +childish despair. It seemed to me I must find out this night the haunt +of this sorceress. And then, as I jumped down from the great stone so +heedlessly I almost fell, something leaped out of the dark shadow of the +rock with such suddenness I shrank back trembling like a leaf; but as I +saw, despite my shattered wits, the form of the witch fleeing still +higher up the mountains, I rushed after her with such a vengeful whoop +as startled even myself; but with all my violent efforts she gained +steadily on me, for that she knew the way, dodging in and out among the +trees and bushes with the greatest ease, while I stumbled and fell +repeatedly bruising and tearing my hands and knees almost beyond +endurance. + +Yet how truly it hath been said that often victory cometh when we are +ready to give up; for as I was passing a cluster of tall, gloomy looking +pines only a few paces from me, I saw a white-clad figure which as I +advanced cautiously toward it, suddenly rushed forward and ere I could +hinder threw itself into mine arms with a cry that was nigh to weeping, +"Brother Jabez!" As I recovered from my amazement and stepped back into +the moonlight I could hardly believe my senses, not knowing at first +whether it were another trick of the witch; for she who lay so quietly +in my protection was none other than our Sister Genoveva! + +But she was not senseless as I first supposed; for in a moment or two +she stood up by herself, though trembling, and said with a great +gladness, "The Lord be praised thou didst overcome thine adversary." +Then with a vanity I trust King David never had, I boasted to my sister, +"Didst see me fight the red man?" + +"Yea, and when thou didst throw him so mightily I feared thou hadst +killed him; for I knew thee not until I saw thee leave the rock in such +hot haste after this poor creature." + +"Where hath she gone?" I asked eagerly. "I have vowed not to rest until +I track her to her vile retreat, though she take me to the gates of the +lost." And then our sister smiled so brightly I was hurt that she should +feel thus at such a time, as she said, "Wouldst like to see her vile +retreat, as thou callest it?" + +"For that and for thee I am here." + +Still smiling she said more softly, and it seemed to me almost +teasingly, "Art strong enough to stand a great surprise?" + +To which I replied boastfully, "After such a night of surprises can I +endure anything." + +With that she took me lightly by the arm and led me into the shadow of +those dark pines and when in the very midst of them, I saw what appeared +to me like one of the cone-shaped houses of poles covered with skins the +red men are wont to live in, only this one was larger than any I had +ever seen before and so hidden by the enfolding branches of the pines +that one might have passed it within a few feet even in daylight without +knowing there were human habitation nigh. + +"See," said Sister Genoveva, "this is the vile retreat of her whom thou +callest the witch. 'Tis substantial, I assure thee; 'twill not vanish +into the air." + +And then, as she stepped down and lifted aside a flap that gave entrance +to the structure, the moonlight shining through the opening fell full +upon the form of some one lying within, seemingly asleep, just beyond +the glowing embers of a bright fire that spread a soothing warmth +throughout the rude dwelling. As I hung back, not knowing but that I was +under some spell of the witch and that all this enchantment would be my +undoing, Sister Genoveva assured me of herself by pushing me forward +gently, saying, "'Tis not she whom thou hast frightened away by thy +unseemly screeching," and as I still hung back for--I say it to my great +shame--I feared perhaps the witch had changed herself into the form of +our sister to lure me to my destruction, our sister said to me +mockingly, "Surely a fighting man like thee is not afraid!" With that I +stepped forward with a brave showing, for the man that can endure being +called coward by woman is beyond recall. + +But then as my feet sank into the soft floor--for it seemed thickly +strewn with the skins of wild animals--the prostrate form moved uneasily +and murmured weakly, "Genoveva," and before she could hold me back I +flung myself down beside my boy, calling to him like one crazy with joy, +"Sonnlein! God be praised for his mercy!" forgetting the witch and +Sister Genoveva, knowing only that in his wonderful way he had brought +me back to my own again. + +Best of all he knew me and though I feared the shock of my sudden coming +might increase his illness he soon drove away my fears by saying, with +such simple faith, and the tenderness illness often brings even to men, +as made me more wickedly vain than ever, "I knew thou wouldst come." + +Much had we to say to each other after all our grievous trials, for +Sonnlein would talk against all the admonishing from Sister Genoveva, +and once when she insisted more firmly than before that he cease talking +and go to sleep he retorted softly, slyly winking at me--though I detest +winking--"Surely thou art not going to scold me ere we are married?" + +"Married!" I burst forth, "much time hast had to make love if thou hast +been sick since thou left us, and I doubt not thou hast been nigh to +death." + +But he merely smiled more wickedly than before as he said, "When a man +is too old or too sick to make love 'tis time for him to die, and I +feel not like dying, I assure thee." + +So long as he had such nonsense in him I knew he was not in any critical +illness. Indeed, Genoveva declared he was gaining so rapidly she knew +not what to do, for that he was all the time promising she must be his +wife so soon as he were well. + +But finally, for with our Kloster discipline still upon us even in all +these wild surroundings, in that we came slowly to what we most cared to +hear, I prevailed upon our sister's modesty--for she would not have it +that she had endured anything unusual--to tell me about her capture and +long stay from us; but she insisted in making so light of all she had +suffered and endured in body and mind that her story was over much too +soon, though Sonnlein fell most ungallantly asleep ere she was half-way +through, greatly tempting me to waken him with the reminder that he was +the one who acted as though he and Genoveva were already married; but no +doubt his illness was adequate apology; for truly no man worthy the +name, so it seemeth to my inexperience, could even wish to sleep while +his lady love were talking to him; though I have heard it stoutly +averred that after marriage a great change cometh over the man so that +he goeth to sleep whenever he feeleth like it even though his _Liebchen_ +be talking to him; but this I never could believe. + +But it is not seemly that I, a monk, should attempt instruction in love +and marriage, and therefore shall I turn to our sister's tale of her +capture; and very discreetly she said nothing about Sonnlein's meeting +her under the chestnut tree; nor did I think it wise to refer to the +matter for fear--though I never doubted her word--the temptation for +falsehood would be too great; for it hath ever seemed to me a most +dreadful thing that the fair sisters, whom the Lord hath created so like +unto the angels, should ever be guilty of untruth. + +But here I am preaching again, as usual, so that it seemeth I shall +never get to our sister's story. Yet now shall I proceed to it without +further deviation. And thus it was: She was sitting under the tree but a +short time after Brother Alburtus had passed her when suddenly some one +from behind grasped her roughly by the arm and as she turned about, in +her first thought believing it had been some jesting one stealing upon +her, she looked up and saw bending over her threateningly the tall form +of a red man, with an evil-looking old woman directly back of him. As +our sister was about to cry for help he made such menacing motions and +gestures that she knew it would be foolish to make resistance; but +instead she went with them as they led the way down Mount Sinai through +the meadows, and along the creek, crossing it where Sonnlein and I had +seen the footprints. + +At first their course was to the southwest from the Kloster, and in this +direction they had gone for some miles, and though in the darkness that +soon came upon them they went slowly through the thick woods, the +captors not seeming inclined to be harsh to our sister, yet so oft did +she stumble and the swinging branches strike and sting her face that she +was compelled to stop for rest. + +But now, though our sister understood not their speech, the red man and +the old woman seemed to be disputing, the former wanting, our sister +made out, to go back to the mountains, for thus he would point while the +witch would shake her head and beckon to the southwest; but at last she +consented to the red man's persuasion, for suddenly they changed almost +directly about, so that for a moment our sister had the cheering hope +they were going to take her back to the Kloster. + +This hope, however, lasted not long, for instead of returning to the +Kloster her captors soon turned toward the mountains. Beyond the +spiteful glances the witch would cast at our sister there seemed no +inclination to injure her; but though the way through the valley had +been rough it was as naught to the unbroken path up the steep hillside +in the darkness of the night, for they had no light, only that the red +man went ahead as freely as though it were midday, with our sister next +to him, and back of her the witch, to prevent escape. + +At last they came to the great rock, from whose top a view could be had +down over the valley of the Cocalico. The red man having ascended the +high stone looked long and carefully in the direction of the Kloster. +All at once he called the witch to him and pointed out something of +great interest to both, causing Genoveva to climb upon the rock and look +in the direction he was pointing. She saw now and then a light moving +down from what she guessed to be Mount Sinai toward the Cocalico in the +direction she and her captors had taken, and she doubted not that some +one was coming to her rescue. + +But though her hope was again revived it was but for a brief season, for +heavy clouds had gathered after nightfall, and even while yet on the +rock a few scattering drops of rain fell, so that her captors after a +few moments more of careful examination of the valley proceeded up the +hill and led her to this hiding-place. Hardly had they reached its +shelter when the rain came down, and she knew as it came faster and +faster none of us would be able to find their trail. + +In this lonely spot she had been all these months with no other +companion than this strange woman, who seldom spoke to our sister, but +would often sit muttering to herself. Sometimes she would leave her +hiding-place, and be gone for days and even weeks at a time, and had it +not been that the red man, who seemed to have a shelter somewhere nigh, +had supplied Sister Genoveva with the flesh of wild animals and other +food she would have starved; for when the witch was absent our sister +had thought to make her escape, but every time before she had gone far +the red man would suddenly appear, and without saying a word lead her +back to the hut. + +Nor could she learn from him the reason of her capture and who the witch +was, as he--according to the silent nature of Indians--would say nothing +more than that the witch was friend to his tribe, "Conestogas," had +often taken care of them in sickness, and was regarded by his people as +having wonderful powers. + +Thus day after day and night after night she lived here during all the +cold of winter, though snugly enough housed within the shelter of these +pines, that sometimes with all her hope and faith, it seemed she must go +mad; but she never failed, no matter whether rain or snow or biting +cold, to rise at the midnight hour and seek peace and comfort in praise +and prayer. Often she heard the clear tones of the Kloster bell, even at +this far-off height, if the wind were not in the contrary direction, and +saw the cheering lights that shone out from Mount Sinai and from the +wide scattered settlers' huts throughout the valley, so that she felt +not utterly alone in the world. + +Then she came to that which she knew I most cared to hear, and that was +how Sonnlein had come to her. And the manner of this has always seemed +to me little less than miraculous, for it is beyond me to explain it +otherwise. All that night that Sonnlein was with Brother Benno and me in +the chapter house, our sister--the witch at that time being in her +hiding-place--could find no rest. It seemed impossible for her to fall +asleep. She held her usual midnight devotions from the rock looking down +toward the Kloster, so that she might feel she were praying with us, and +though this gave her some peace, yet when she returned again to the hut +and lay down to sleep she found no rest; but toward the morning she +finally fell asleep, but only to have it filled with a strange dream; +for it seemed to her she saw Sonnlein lying on a hard couch in one of +our _Kammers_, worn and wasted and suffering from some great illness, +and then suddenly he arose from his couch and rushed from his cell and +out of Zion down over the hill toward the Cocalico, calling her name, +once, twice, a number of times, whereat she struggled to go to him but +could not! She awoke with a great start only to hear a heavy storm +roaring all about her; but though she knew she was awake she still saw, +or imagined she saw, Sonnlein rush through the creek and into the woods +on the other side, as though he were coming directly to her. + +At first she tried to shake the matter from her mind as merely a dream, +but she could not do so. Something even against her own persuading +seemed to tell her that Sonnlein was seeking her, that she must go to +meet him, and ere she knew what she was about she found herself outside +the hut, rushing in all the storm down the mountain as fast as she +could, the witch closely following. + +Our sister could not tell how long or how far they had gone in this +wild, headlong manner, but they were not far from the foot of the +mountain, when suddenly at no great distance above them, seemingly the +very way they had come, she heard a faint cry, "Genoveva!" + +Not knowing whether she were bewitched or really gone mad from all these +months of loneliness, she stood like one dazed; but then again, and even +a third time, she heard her name as though the one calling were going +farther up the mountain. The witch too heard the cry and together they +hastened up the hill, but hearing no longer the calls; and in this wise +they came back again to the great rock, and there, so that she could +hardly believe her own eyes, it now being broad daylight, lay the figure +of a man face downward as though he had fallen that way, who as they +turned him about she saw was Sonnlein. + +Here I interrupted our sister most foolishly by asking, "What didst +do--kiss him?" To which unmanly question she made no reply, only that I +feel sure had it not been so dark in the hut, the moon having gone down, +I should have seen exceedingly rich blushings on the face of our dear +sister. + +But she and the witch, the latter seeming to have the strength of a man +(and in truth Genoveva was no weakling) carried Sonnlein into the hut, +where he lay for weeks with a raging fever, and though she and the witch +watched over him and nursed him, our sister despaired of his ever coming +to himself again. Had it not been that the witch possessed wonderful +knowledge of the herbs she gathered in the woods and made into physic +for Sonnlein, our sister felt he surely would have died. But for some +reason the witch became greatly devoted to Sonnlein, nursing him as +tenderly as though she were his own mother, sometimes seeming jealous of +our sister, so that until this night the witch had not left the hut +since they had found Sonnlein lying on the rock; but gradually under the +witch's care he had come to himself again, and was now quite strong and +in his own mind, only that he was continually pestering our sister that +she must marry him. + +To this I made question, "But being a Rose of Saron thou wouldst not +marry him?" + +And to which she replied softly, "So have I oft told him, but he sayeth +he careth naught what I say, that he will marry me whether I have him +or not, and thou hast so spoiled him all his life by letting him have +his own will I fear I can do naught but let him have it in this." + +I merely made reply, "May thy reward be great for sacrificing thyself so +willingly to the result of my over-indulgence!" whereat she laughed so +merrily, 'twas like music, for though quick to feel the soft sting in my +retort she was too great-hearted a woman to be hurt at what she knew was +only meant in jest. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV + +THE END OF THE WITCH + + For now we see through a glass darkly; but then face to face. + + --New Testament. + + +Thus we sat and talked until the morning light streaming through the +partially opened entrance to the hut showed me more fully my boy, still +sleeping soundly; and for this we were thankful, knowing how much better +than all physic is the healing power of sleep. I could see now by his +thin face and wasted hands that he had been through a dangerous illness; +but his breathing was so even and there was such absence of fever, I +said gratefully to Sister Genoveva, "Thou hast saved Sonnlein's life." + +But she replied, blushing at my praise, "Nay, 'tis to the witch thou +must give thy gratitude. She hath wonderful wisdom with the herbs she +findeth in the woods." + +And then for the first time in all these years, it came to me that, +perhaps, I had misjudged this woman whom I held in such abhorrence. 'Tis +an awful thing to think evil of an innocent person! + +Suddenly I asked our sister, "How did she treat thee?" + +"At first I feared she meant me harm, for she would look at me with an +evil glare as though she felt like killing me; but the red man spake +something to her whereat she seemed less sullen so that I lost fear of +her." + +"Thou dost not look as if thou hadst been pining away with fear," I +said, smiling to our sister; for as I glanced at her with such +admiration as made her blush again, I marveled not how my boy could be +so bent on having her to wife; for I had seen him make love to her when +he was in the full flush of health, and if a man when he be well can +feel tenderly toward a woman, how much dearer must she be to him when +she appears in the guise of a ministering angel. + +Not that our sister was one of those delicate, etherial ones whom a man +must watch over like some frail flower; for the clear, honest light of +day showed fully what the deceitful moonlight had only half revealed; +the pure, healthful beauty of that graceful, rounded form and sweetly +calm, noble face, so full of womanly strength and character not in the +slightest dimmed or marred by her hard life in this wilderness, far +harder even than the rigorous life of our Kloster; for though this rude +hut were proof enough 'gainst wind and cold and rain, yet I could see +from its meagre furnishings that she had endured more than usually falls +to the lot of woman, so that it came to me, if Sonnlein were set upon +marrying her, surely in all this wide world could he not find a fitter +mate, in body, mind, soul, and spirit, as man and woman should be mated. + +But now it came to me I must get Genoveva and Sonnlein home again, for +in this dreadful war with the French and Indians, I knew not what the +witch might do; for though the Conestogas had been accounted a +peace-loving tribe, yet there were many of the white settlers who +charged the Conestogas with secretly assisting the French red men, and +indeed, not many years after this, the Paxton boys killed a number of +Conestogas in their little town. + +Much against my will I was compelled to leave our sister and Sonnlein +alone in this unprotected hut, while I with a great joy in my heart that +made me forget my hurts and loss of sleep, tramped down the mountains, +laughing to myself at the good news I should break to my admiring +brothers and sisters. + +I arrived at the Kloster while the morning was still young, and reported +briefly to our leader of my having found Sonnlein, saying naught yet to +the Solitary of Genoveva, for I preferred to keep this as another joyous +surprise, and though the Brothers and Sisters were of a mind to make +much of me as one having been snatched from the very jaws of death, not +doubting the witch had killed me, I finally, after each curious one had +heard with more or less fullness of detail of my wonderful experience, +succeeded in getting made a stout litter, and securing eight Brethren as +bearers for Sonnlein. + +With me proudly in advance I led my little band of God's warriors, by as +unobserved a way as possible--dreading show and excitement--up the +mountain to the great rock, my brethren walking in silence as usual, but +I know inwardly burning with a great zeal for their loving mission. + +For some moments my brethren and I stood on the great rock with its +beautiful outlook over the delightful valley where lay our little +Kloster, and then I told them of how I had found here our Brother +Alburtus and how I had placed him in his stone grave, which I pointed +out to them; nor could I keep my vanity from telling how I had +overthrown my red adversary, so that Brother Haensly looked at me with +such awe I was not greatly displeased. + +Then, at my bidding, my brethren followed me up the hill toward the hut, +my heart now beating hard for fear the witch and her red man had in the +meantime carried our sister and my Sonnlein away again, for everything +seemed so quiet and I saw no sign of Genoveva. + +But as we came nigh the clustered pines, being in the lead I caught +glimpses of Genoveva coming toward us, though I said not a word to my +followers until we were almost upon her, who, stepping out suddenly from +behind a bush almost killed my little band with fright, for to many of +the Solitary she had long been held as dead. + +Yet as they saw me greet her boldly, they, though still in great +bewilderment, gathered about us, Brother Haensly, slyly reaching from +behind Brother Theonis, feeling her skirt to make sure she was no +spirit; whereat she had him come to her much as a mother draweth to her +some mischievous, beloved child, so that our diminutive brother's face +reddened like a girl's. + +We stood but a few minutes thus when from within the hut, so that my +brothers were given another start, came a low call, "Genoveva," at which +it was her turn to redden like a rose, as she said, "Thy Sonnlein hath +so little patience; he surely is getting well," and as she turned to go +to him we all trooped after her into the hut, almost filling it, each +one greeting Sonnlein with such affection as to make my eyes wet in my +foolish pride that my brethren cared so much for my boy. + +And then against all his declaring he would not be carried like some +great baby to the Kloster, we took a number of the skins from the hut +and made a soft couch for him on the litter; but before leaving, we went +where lay our Brother Alburtus, at the relating of whose sudden taking +away Sonnlein and Genoveva were much grieved. And because our brother +had received such unusual burial, it seemed fitting to us ere we +departed to honor his memory by singing and prayer. + +Then sadly and silently, with slow and careful steps we carried Sonnlein +safely to the foot of this rugged mountain. Here we rested for a short +time, and then by as unobserved a way as we had come we arrived at the +Kloster early in the afternoon, where we all received such joyful +welcome as I shall never forget, only that there were among the Solitary +some who seemed never fully able to forgive Genoveva for returning to +life after they had so long maintained she had been translated like the +prophets of old. + +Sonnlein was at once taken to his cell adjoining mine, in Bethania, +where with the nursing I gave him and with Brother Gideon's physic, not +forgetting the feeding the Sisters and the housemothers, near and far, +insisted he must have, it was not long ere he was up and out and so +continually tagging after Genoveva that our Sisters and not a few of the +Brothers must needs feel greatly scandalized. + +But now I must tell of this strange woman whom I in my hasty judgment +had ever thought was of the Evil One. + +One day, a few months after the return of Sonnlein and Genoveva, we were +thrown into the greatest alarm by the sudden appearance of a red man +among us one bright spring morning. As he came across the meadow from +down the Cocalico, seeing he was alone I stepped out with Sonnlein from +the timid group of Brothers and Sisters to meet the intruder; but on +seeing me he lost all his pride as he said meekly, "Woman chief dying up +hill, want white rose and sick brother," pointing to Sonnlein, "come see +her," and then he looked at me carefully and said, "Big brother come +too." + +Though our leader and many of the Brothers and Sisters sought to +dissuade us from going with the red man, dreading it meant nothing but a +scheme for taking us into captivity, Sonnlein and I, and even Genoveva, +were resolved to go with the savage, for we somehow felt he told the +truth. + +Once again we went that long toilsome way to that far-off mountain hut, +and by noon we all were standing within the rude dwelling where lay the +witch dying, as we could clearly see. + +At first she seemed so near the dark shore she saw us not, and then as +though she noted neither the red man nor me nor Genoveva, the dying +woman gazed lovingly at Sonnlein, and murmured, "David, my David, thou +hast been away so long"; and then as Sonnlein, obeying some gracious +impulse, knelt down beside her she folded her feeble arms about him, +holding him as though she never would let him go. Outside the birds were +flitting from tree to tree, chirping merrily, as though death and sorrow +never came to them; but else all was so quiet we could hear naught but +the heavy breathing of this poor woman. Great tears stood in our eyes, +even the red man bowing his head sadly for her whom his tribe held in +such high regard. + +But with all the solemnity of a soul's leaving its mortal home, my mind +was fixed upon the mystery of the life of her who had always seemed to +me so hideous, but who now in the refining hour of death had lost her +forbidding aspect, so that I could believe that before suffering and +hate had poisoned her whole being she had been a comely woman. + +With such thoughts in my mind we watched over her, Sister Genoveva, with +her woman's finer sensibilities, doing all she could to make the end +more easy; but mine enemy--now mine enemy no more--still seemed to see +only Sonnlein, caring for naught else. + +Later in the afternoon she passed quietly away like a slowly expiring +lamp; but just a few moments before her soul's flight, the dark veil +that hung between her and the long ago was lifted slightly as we heard +her murmur to Sonnlein: "Charles, where is Charles?" and then she seemed +to wait for some one's coming, but soon forgot her wish, and lay +quietly, her arms slipping from Sonnlein's neck, and we knew her stormy +life was over, and though we had strict views as to who could enter into +the joys of the blessed, yet a fervent prayer went up from my heart that +He who pitieth us as a father pitieth his children, would take her to +him as one of his own. + +As Sonnlein arose and looked long and earnestly at the poor handful of +dust lying at his feet, I could see that he too was turning over in his +mind the mystery of this old woman; but he said nothing, and then +Genoveva bent down and brushed back the tangled gray hair and folded the +hands over the now quiet breast and straightened out the already +stiffening form. + +But the long May day was drawing to its close, and it came to us that +ere we left we must make proper and respectful burial of the dead. With +the suddenness of a flash of light an overpowering thought came to me +that we should lay her alongside our Brother Alburtus. When I suggested +this to Sonnlein and Genoveva, both, with all their sorrow, rejoiced I +had thought of this, and even the Indian, when our plan was explained to +him, grunted his approval by saying, "Big brother, good man." + +Fortunately, though the stones were large and exceedingly heavy, yet by +our combined strength and the using of pieces of wood as levers we +worked the rocks far enough apart to make a resting-place for her +alongside Brother Alburtus, whose mortal frame, by reason of the purity +of the air and the cold in this mountain height had suffered no great +change since the day of his burial. + +And then having placed her whose life had been so troubled and +tempestuous by the side of him whose days had been so gentle and +peaceful, Sonnlein and Genoveva sang over them softly a few of our +noble, heaven-inspired hymns, I following with a short prayer that this +poor woman might see Him face to face, after which we closed up the top +and ends of the little vault with heavy stones, knowing that at the last +great day some bright-winged angel would find even this lonely sepulchre +and roll away the stones. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI + +THE TWAIN ARE MADE ONE + + Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth + favor of the Lord. + + --The Bible. + + +That a bundle of contradictions is poor human flesh! Here have I been +all my life preaching the beauty and sanctity of single life, and am I +not the same man who once at the command of Brother Beissel printed an +argument against the Moravians for that they practised not celibacy and +being called to task by our leader for the moderation of my views, I +added so much salt to my polemics that Brother Beissel was greatly +pleased and I doubt not our spiritual enemies completely overwhelmed? + +But here am I now in my old age delighting in telling of the day when my +boy and our beloved Genoveva were made one, our dear sister having +finally consented to give up her celestial Bridegroom for an earthly +one. + +Over a year had slipped by since the death of that poor woman, and how +often I tried to solve the mystery of her life by the light of her last +words, her strange devotion to Sonnlein in his illness, her clinging so +to him in her last moments; and then the death of Brother Alburtus would +come to me, and how he thought himself another person, calling himself +David Seymour; but though my mind would continually hang over these two +so that at times I thought I had caught the answer, yet I was often on +further reflection compelled to confess I had not the solution of all +this mystery, which I often feared would never be made clear. + +And now sweet May had come again, to me ever one of the most pleasing +months of the year, when the dandelions and the buttercups gleam in our +meadows like stars, and the meek little violets nestle lovingly in the +deep grass, while from the fields and the woods come the clear notes of +the birds, mate calling unto mate with such delicious tenderness that I +often wonder whether there be not a heaven for flowers and birds, and +for everything He created. And yet I mean not the same heaven for all, +for I like not snakes and bugs. + +Indeed, 'twas either the enchanting spring days or else this getting my +boy and our Genoveva wedded that seemed to go to my head like wine; for +half the time I was flying about the Kloster grounds like a bee in a +bottle, and yet if it ever be necessary for one to keep his wits from +bumping against the other surely it is when there is intrusted to him +the tremendous responsibility of tying together two young hearts in +wedlock. + +My Brothers and Sisters, though at first consistently opposing +themselves to all this marrying, finally--for so great was their love +for Sonnlein and Genoveva--took almost as great interest as I in the +matter, especially the Sisters, notwithstanding their vows; for I have +observed that the weaker sex can no more keep away from weddings than +honey bees from the flowers. + +After much talk with the Sisters--and even the Brethren deigned to give +most grave and solemn suggestions which I gratefully accepted and wisely +disregarded--it was decided the wedding, or _Hochzeit_, should be held +in Peniel, which as will be recalled we built in the meadow during that +dreadful winter just before the death of our poor Brother Agonius. + +So great a delight did our little community find in the wedding to be, +that not only were invitations sent out to all the housefathers, their +good wives and sturdy sons and buxom daughters; but we even sent +invitations to our English Brethren in Nantmill and Coventry and to our +German Brethren on the Wissahickon; for we were not ashamed to let the +world see that although we had high regard for our views of celibacy, +yet we knew when it became us to bow gently to that which could not be +helped, for surely when two be bent on marrying each other naught +availeth to hinder them. + +And now that we had decided upon such grave matters as the fixing of the +day, the selection of the person to perform the ceremony, our justice, +Conrad Weiser, having graciously accepted that honor, and the sending +out of the invitations, the Sisters immediately set to work for the +feeding of the great multitude we earnestly hoped would come, for on +such a day we must feed our guests well and not subject them to the +thinness of our Kloster fare. + +Then too, though Sonnlein concerned himself not much about his wedding +suit, the Sisters made great ado that their beloved Genoveva could in no +wise be properly married unless she had most beautiful garments +befitting such a wedding as this; so that between the baking and sewing +and all the other endless things that women ever seem to regard +necessary for weddings, I fear that at our midnight meetings Sisters and +Brothers did not always have their thoughts turned toward the heavenly +Bridegroom and the celestial Virgin, the hymns having more of love in +them than ever before. Whether this was mere coincidence I know not, +and I leave this for wiser men to determine, only that Brother Beissel +the day before the wedding complained to me he verily believed it were +next to useless to hold any more midnight services until we got through +with this marrying business; that even so solemn and stern a Sister as +the prioress seemed now to think only of one thing, which was that +Genoveva should be married in proper state. + +But even wedding days, like all other days, are bound to come around if +only one waiteth patiently and hath found a mate, and so Sonnlein's +came, a perfect spring day, neither hot nor cold, but just such a day of +mild, pleasant air and cloudless sky as might make one content to live +on this earth forever. I have heard it said the most solemn one on a +wedding day is he who is to be married, some claiming this to be due +because he feeleth that thereafter he hath lost his freedom as being +subject more or less to the will and wishes of another. Whether this be +true I know not, only I can set it forth that Sonnlein greeted the morn +of his wedding day not at all as one going to a prison other than one +walled and barred by the love of his Genoveva. + +So, early in the forenoon of that wonderful day, a great multitude was +gathered on the grassy plot between Saron and Bethania as we had not +seen for many a year, so that even Brother Ezechial, with all his dread +of womankind, came at Sonnlein's call to his cell and finally consented +to peer out of the little window, but in great trepidation, seeing so +many plump forms and rosy faces, the merry, tempting daughters of Eve +laughing and talking--whenever their elders ceased to remind them we +liked not such levity--like a lot of chattering birds. + +"Art not sorry thy cell overlooks the Cocalico, good brother?" asked +Sonnlein soberly. + +"'Tis an awful sight!" whispered Brother Ezechial, shaking all over and +turning his eyes from the gay medley below. + +"Meanest thou the old one yonder who hath such fierce look?" said +Sonnlein, pretending he missed our brother's meaning. "Thou needst not +look at her. See, haste thee, that pretty maid is smiling to thee! Art +not going to reply to such challenge?'" + +"God forbid!" exclaimed Brother Ezechial fervently as he turned hastily +from the window and in mortal fear shut himself in his cell, though I +never have believed one should be this much afraid of woman. + +Shortly after midday we all, that is, all of the great crowd that could +possibly get in, were crowded into the large _Saal_. At the farther, or +eastern end of the hall, in the middle of a small platform, sat our +one-time Brother, now Justice Conrad Weiser, grave and impressive, as +became the dignity of his high office, and yet not deeming it unworthy +of the occasion to appear in such resplendent apparel as confirmed many +a good Brother and Sister that our justice was, alas, beyond redemption; +for from his long, black swallow-tail coat gleamed a row of gold +buttons, his waistcoat being a color as I can liken only to the soft +richness of a ripe plum; and more proudly sinful than all this were the +silver buckles where the long black silk stockings met the dark knee +breeches, and even on his black slippers were large silver buckles, the +buckles and the buttons twinkling and glowing like little lamps, so that +we all were quite dazed with the dignity and radiance shed upon us by +our good justice. + +To the front of our justice and a trifle to his right, being also on the +little platform, sat our worthy _Vorsteher_, the lifetime apostle of +celibacy, with such a look of humble resignation upon his face as would +have softened the stoniest heart, even though he was clad in all the +solemn grandeur of the sacred robes, which, in imitation of those worn +by the Jewish high priests, the Eckerlings had wheedled him into +wearing. + +To the front and left of our justice sat our prioress in the robes of +the priestess of the Roses of Saron, stiff, stern, and erect as ever, +her tight, evenly pressed lips giving her the inscrutable look of a +sphinx, though well I knew our _dura mater's_ heart was beating warmly +for our beloved young sister. + +And now having disposed of the high dignitaries, I come to my boy and +his Genoveva, he sitting directly behind our leader and not at all +abashed, though I have ever understood it becometh a bridegroom so to +appear, for he fairly shone with health and happiness, so that more than +one wistful glance was shot slyly at him by the softhearted girls; but +as to what he had on, bless me, even though he was my beloved Sonnlein, +I cannot recall, only that he was clothed as was the custom of the young +men of the secular congregation, some plain black cloth, so near as I +can tell, forming the staple of his attire. + +To Sonnlein's left and behind our prioress and beyond the splendor of +our justice sat our Genoveva, and though I know little of cloths and +fabrics, especially of woman's dress, if my memory faileth me not she +was clothed somewhat after the manner of the Sisterhood, only instead of +the plain, coarse black dress or grayish ones they sometimes wore, her +snow-white gown was of some wonderful material such as I had not seen +since my student days and which gleamed and shimmered much as I have +seen the sunlight play on the ripples of the Cocalico. + +And whereas the Sisters ever had their beauty enveloped in those +hideous hoods, so completely hiding their virginal faces from the +brothers, Genoveva, being already within the freedom that marriage +brings to woman, had on no hood, not even a veil to hide that crown of +golden hair waving so gracefully and simply from her brow and tied in +the back with some beautiful band or ribbon formed into a cunning bow, +among the folds of which were ensnared the sweet little violets Sonnlein +had plucked for his bride, and these little violets she hath to this +day, for thus is the heart of woman. + +There were those, indeed, among the Sisters who had gravely asserted our +sister could not be properly married without a veil, but Sonnlein and I +being of one mind that everybody would desire to see how beautiful was +our Genoveva, we stoutly held it were almost ungodly to hide her 'neath +a hideous veil. And so as she sat there blushing modestly whenever +Sonnlein glanced at her, which the rascal was doing most of the time, I +know many a man's heart envied my boy, for surely never did I see +anything to equal her simple, high-souled, woman's beauty. + +Thus I write it down that when one hath the gift of loveliness one need +not gorgeous raiment. + +Directly in front of the low pulpit from behind which shone the majesty +of the law was myself, on a short bench, feeling very big, as though all +the glory of this wedding were mine. In front of us and facing our way +sat the Brotherhood on the long benches running across the hall, cloaked +and cowled, hands folded meekly across the breasts, tonsured heads +bowed, and eyes looking neither to the right nor the left, though +assuredly there was abundance of attractive provocation. Even our +Brother Ezechial had been prevailed upon to leave the safety of his +retirement for the awful perils of the crowded _Saal_. And our good +Brother Gottleib, who ever maintained that all jewelry was made in the +workshop of the Evil One, for once overcame his scruples sufficiently to +wear the gold ring--containing a bit of holy writ inscribed in +Greek--that proclaimed our brother a duly initiated member of the Holy +Order of the Mustard Seed. + +Back of the Brothers and under the galleries, along the north and the +south sides of the hall, were the gray-bearded housefathers, and behind +them, filling every vantage place within the sacred walls, were the +sturdy sons of the housefathers and the male friends and guests who had +flocked from all directions to see a Kloster wedding. + +And lest it be thought that I, being a surly monk, lack the gallantry +due the weaker vessels, I shall mention that in the broad, northern +gallery of the hall were clustered the Roses of Saron, while the robust +wives and rosy-cheeked daughters of the house elders and the female +friends and guests were assembled in the southern gallery. + +These galleries, or _por-kirche_, as they were called, were screened +with lattice work, following the custom of the synagogues in Holland and +Germany, wherein the women were relegated to the screened galleries, +for, with Paulus, we held that women should keep silent in the churches +and remain modestly in the background, and I rejoice that I can write in +all truth that our Sisters in the northern gallery, like our Brethren on +their benches below, maintained strict and decorous silence. I cannot +say so much for the wives and daughters in the southern gallery who from +behind their lattice kept up such a whispering and commotion and +bustling and peering about as greatly offended our order-loving souls, +even our leader, who had it ever in him to be all things to all men and +who could be pleasant as well as stern, frowning most severely, so that +half the time I was in a tremble lest he would burst forth into one of +his scoldings. + +But at last there was some semblance of order in the crowded _Saal_, and +then, at the word from our leader, our Brothers and Sisters rose to +their feet and sang a number of our hymns, and surely never was our soft +Kloster music more heavenly sweet, a great hush falling upon all the +rest in the hall, for such power hath pure music over the human heart. + +And then, Brother Weiser having first read from the Bible, discreetly +selecting a chapter that had naught of marrying in it, motioned +Sonnlein and Genoveva to stand forth, whereupon they stood up, she in +womanly grace and modesty and he as proud as any lord, my boy, by reason +of his royal stature and his being on the platform, fairly towering over +us as our justice called out whether any one had aught to say why these +two should not be made husband and wife. + +For a moment there was absolute silence and then from the rear of the +hall came a loud, brutal voice from one not of our number, I rejoice to +say, who in season and out of season had lost no opportunity ever since +my baptism by Brother Beissel to heap upon me every foul insult and +taunt and ridicule. And now with a hateful devil's smile on his face and +a foul fiend's spiteful laugh, my persecutor cried out, "What name doth +our good brother's Sonnlein give his wife?" + +Had lightning fallen upon us from the clear sky I know we had not been +more dazed, for though we had provided for everything else, it had never +come to us that Sonnlein must have a name to give his bride! For a +moment a great bewilderment held me fast, and then, as mine enemy +laughed loudly again at our consternation, not heeding the angry looks +of the more excitable of our housefathers and their sons, I could see +that it required all of Sonnlein's will to keep him from this ungentle +intruder who with his evil heart seemed to find most exquisite delight +in our torment as he laughed more brutally than before, "Call thyself +'Mueller,' Sonnlein, and thou goest not wrong, I swear." + +At this vile insult I thought Sonnlein would fly from the platform and +rend the villain limb from limb, for such passion was in my boy's face +as I had rarely seen, but I gently pressed him back while I spake +quietly but steadily so all could hear, "If Sonnlein careth for it and +our sister will bear the burden of so humble a name as Mueller I give it +gladly," and then I cried out proudly, "For all that mine enemies and +the enemies of our holy Order may think or say to the contrary, 'tis a +name my boy need not be ashamed of!" + +"And the only one that belongs to him, thou bald-pated hypocrite!" +sneered mine enemy so all could hear, whereat I so forgot myself to cry +out--for it is foolish to lose one's temper and bandy foul names--"Thou +liest!" but I was beyond all endurance and had I said the word I could +see by the lowering looks of our adherents it would have gone ill with +this hate-poisoned man, but I controlled myself, though how I know not +to this day, and again I spake softly, "I entreat you all to hold +yourselves in patience but a few moments until my return," whereupon I +left the _Saal_, some following me anxiously with their eyes, fearing my +peace-loving spirit was making me run away from all this untimely +quarrel. + +In a few moments I was back again holding something under my cloak out +of sight while I related how Sonnlein had come to me and about the dying +words of Brother Alburtus and the last moments of that poor woman, and +as Sonnlein and Genoveva and the Brothers and Sisters added their +testimony so far as they knew I could see the great wonderment creeping +over the faces of all present, even mine enemy, despite his hate and +unbelief, remaining quiet for once. + +And then, having brought the assemblage to this mood, I suddenly pulled +out from beneath my cloak the little white baby garment I had found on +Sonnlein that morning in the woods in the long ago hermit days. Holding +up the stained and soiled cloak so all could see, I fairly shouted to +mine enemy, "Come and see the pretty letters on this child's cloak, 'C. +S.,'" and lifting mine hand on high, I declared solemnly, "Before the +Great Searcher of Hearts I swear I know not how those letters came there +or what they stand for!" + +And then came a thrilling cry from the rear of the hall, "Praise the +Lord, 'tis David's boy!" and then some one rushed forward through the +crowd that fell back who for a moment I thought was our Brother Alburtus +returned from the dead, some of the Brothers and Sisters and of the +secular members actually whispering in their fright, "'Tis Brother +Alburtus." + +But the stranger heeded not the commotion only pressing forward the +tears running down his face, and shaking in every limb, as he caught +Sonnlein's hands in his, holding them as if he never would let go, +saying over and over, "My brother David's son; my brother's only son!" + +Finally as the stranger became more composed, he turned to me. "Didst +ask the child its name when thou didst find him?" + +"Yea, the first thing I sought was his name, but he only would say +'Tass,' and such name have I never heard. To this day I know not what he +meant, though often have I thought on it." + +"Oh, thou wise, simple monk! 'Tass' was naught more than baby for +'Charles,' which his unpractised lips could not frame into other than +'Tass.' We all called him 'Tass' for a pet name." + +I could not doubt 'twas so, for I could see more than one of the +housefathers and the housemothers exchange nods and smiles with the +nighest one as much as to say, "How stupid our Brother Jabez hath been +not to see this long ago!" But how was I to know, not having any great +knowledge of the little ones? + +Then turning to our justice I bowed humbly, and said, "Brother Weiser +thou art a justice, and if I mistake not hast power and authority to +administer an oath or an affirmation." + +To which our justice gravely responded, "Such power reposeth in me by +virtue of my commission as justice." + +"I shall ask, then, good brother, that our friend who sayeth his name is +Thomas Seymour be affirmed that he will speak the truth." + +And then as the stranger faced about toward the pulpit, our justice with +his full, round voice that ever sounded to me like some strong, deep +toned bell, said to the stranger: + +"Dost thou, Thomas Seymour, solemnly and truly declare and affirm that +thou wilt tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, +and so thou dost affirm?" + +To which the stranger as solemnly replied, and yet distinctly in the +breathless silence of the hall, "Yea!" + +And now, after all these long years, my boy found his own, right name; +and mine own reputation, often so bitterly assailed by those who held +not with our mode of life, was cleansed from all stain and dishonor; for +truly "a good name is better than great riches." + +And thus our good brother, Thomas Seymour, whom many present with us +this day vouched to be one of our most devout and influential English +Sabbatarians, from Coventry, had come all this long journey merely to +honor us with his presence; but in the providence of God destined to +find his brother's son and to have all this dark mystery about Brother +Alburtus and the witch and Sonnlein made as light as day. + +Briefly, as our Brother Seymour related it to us, he and his brother +David, known to us as Brother Alburtus, with his wife Elizabeth and +their boy, Charles, our Brother Thomas being a bachelor, had lived +together in Coventry. By the fall of a tree, which they were felling +nigh their cabin, Brother Alburtus received the great gash across his +brow, the hurt taking his mind from him so that one day he wandered away +leaving no more trace of his departure than if he had been taken up into +the sky, only that he had frequently after his hurt spoken ramblingly +about joining the hermits on the Cocalico. Inquiry among the Solitary +showed he was not with them; for it was not until some years after +Sonnlein and I came to Ephrata that Brother Alburtus joined our +community, and where and how he lived ere that no one ever knew. Some +weeks after he had left his wife, she, unable longer to endure her +suspense, left suddenly with the little boy, while our brother Thomas +was absent from the cabin. She and the child also were swallowed up so +completely by the wilderness that with all his long searching naught +could he find of them, though he had visited the Conestogas, on a rumor +that there was a white woman living with them, but they could not or +would not tell him aught. At last, almost heartbroken and despairing of +finding the lost ones, whom he now believed to be dead from the wild +beasts, or starvation, or the Indians, he left Coventry, not returning +again for over ten years after the loss of his brother David and his +wife and child. + +More we never learned, but it was clear to all that the fearsome witch +was the wife of Brother Alburtus, that he was David Seymour, the brother +of Thomas Seymour, and that Sonnlein was the baby. Many an eye was +dimmed in the _Saal_ at the plain, unadorned recital of our brother's +tale, as we thought of all the long years of darkened mind that had held +our Brother Alburtus, so that he knew not his own boy though so nigh; +but most of all our hearts went out in a great sorrow for that poor +woman who half crazed by unwearying search and ever-recurring +disappointment had suffered all these years the bitter pangs of +separation from husband and child; and I know many a silent prayer arose +from our hearts for those two who at last were sleeping side by side in +that rude, mountain grave. + +Indeed, it was a relief to our strained feelings when Johann, who long +ago had forgiven the beating Sonnlein had given him, turned toward mine +enemy yelling at him, "If thou leavest not at once with thy devil's +grin, thou wilt be hurled into the creek," whereat mine enemy, abashed +for once, slunk out of the hall like a whipped beast. + +Surely there is not much else to relate of this marriage, though I shall +never forget how lost and lonesome I felt, like a father bereft of his +son, when our justice asked Sonnlein--and ever hath he been Sonnlein to +me--"Dost thou, Charles Seymour, take this woman, our Genoveva, to be +thy lawful wedded wife," my boy responded proudly, "Yea." And then, as I +remember it, our justice asked our lovely Genoveva a like question if +she would take him to be her husband, and upon her low "Yea," our +justice pronounced them husband and wife, and promptly saluted her with +such a willing smack as made even the Sisters titter, while poor Brother +Ezechial hung his head still lower, blushing to his very ears. + +The next day Sonnlein and Genoveva left on their honeymoon with his +uncle for Coventry, and though Coventry be not to the end of the world, +it seemed to me as though all the world had left me, only that she +kissed me ere she left, whereat I blushed so through all my long beard, +that Sonnlein laughed so heartily I liked it not; but had he known how +long I cherished the memory of that kiss, the only one for many a long +year, ah me, my boy had not laughed so boisterously I know. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII + +RETROSPECT + + Moreo'er, the shields so steady and the consecrated swords, + O God, that I were worthy to join the victor lords. + Then should I like the others achieve a prize untold, + Not lands that have been promised, nor king's or noble's gold, + But oh, a wondrous crown, and for evermore to wear + A crown which poorest soldier can win with axe and spear. + Yea, if the noble crusade I might follow o'er the sea, + I evermore should sing, All's well! and nevermore, Ah me! + Nevermore, Ah me! + + --Walther Von der Vogelweide. + + +And now, after the long lapse of many years since my boy and our +Genoveva were made one--and yet how short the time hath been--one of my +chiefest delights is to dwell on the past. Mine eyes are no longer +turned toward the future with eager questioning as in my youth. In mine +old age I am like unto an old tree standing alone, a solitary landmark +of the decline of our Kloster, the setting sun casting my shadow toward +the morning. The Kloster hath never survived the indomitable spirit of +its founder, Brother Beissel, and his sturdy associates. Slowly but +surely its power hath diminished. Since the days our warrior, Brother +Wohlforth, left us many others of our number have gone to their eternal +reward. Brother Obed, our schoolmaster, with his kindly, genial soul, +long ago have I missed him from his accustomed place, and the +Eckerlings, of whose sad fate we heard years after they left us, they +too, with their dreams of commercial conquest, have passed away to that +realm which harbors neither bargain nor sale. + +The first great loss that came to us was our Brother Enoch, our justice, +who died but a few years after that never to be forgotten wedding; but +not many years before his death there was great rejoicing among us to +know that the serious breach between our leader and our justice had been +closed, and though our justice had greatly grieved us when he allowed +himself to be fooled so to accept a commission from the governor, yet +when we saw the door of our brother's long spiritual captivity had been +opened we welcomed him gladly, so that his old acquaintances of the +Kloster all told him the lost piece of silver was now found. Not long +after, our congregation assembled for a love feast at which he, by +partaking of the holy sacraments, was reincorporated into our spiritual +community, although we willingly after his death yielded to his mother +church the honor of having garnered in his body. + +He died on a Sunday after a violent attack of colic, and was buried on +his farm at Heidelberg, not a great distance from us to the northeast, +where with his children and a number of Indians he awaits the call of +the last day. + +And now I come to the closing years of our beloved leader--and surely +these were full of trouble. For a number of years prior to his death it +became manifest to all of us that physical infirmities were fast growing +upon him. But far more grave than these were the estrangements he +suffered more or less from both of our Solitary Orders, though it +seemeth not becoming to set forth here the false and bitter accusations +made against our leader so that his cup of bitterness was pressed to the +full. + +All during the winter of 1767-1768, besides the distress of mind and +spirit, he suffered from many diseases, chiefly a wasting cough, and at +the beginning of July of 1768 his various ailments became so aggravated +he was most of the time in great pain, so that he was forced to exclaim +more than once to me--and I rejoice now I never deserted him--that he +was nailed to the cross; but such was his stubborn will and fortitude +that he refused to acknowledge any physical sickness, but would often +say his sufferings were mere spiritual throes preceding his new birth. +He also found great comfort in the firm persuasion, which many of his +most intimate followers held with him, that he would be spared the pains +of a bodily dissolution and would be translated into the realms of bliss +as Enoch and Elijah of old; but in this, like his predecessor on the +Wissahickon, Magister Johannus Kelpius, our leader was destined to make +his exit in no wise different from ordinary mortals. + +Notwithstanding his grievous infirmities our leader attended to the +duties of his office to within eight days of his end, when for the last +time, in his priestly robes, he officiated at a love feast, and seeing +that his end was nigh he consecrated Brother Philemon and Brother +Eleazer and myself to the priesthood, from which his successor should be +selected. While in such suffering he received word, only three days +before his death, that one of our oldest housemothers was breathing her +last, and that she wished to see our leader even if he could not speak +to her. So with him leaning on my arm we went to our dear sister's, +thereby fulfilling her wish. + +"At last," so our _Chronicon_ states, "Wednesday, the sixth day of July +of the year 1768 came when he laid aside his mortal raiment." + +On that morning, having rallied somewhat, he attended prayers in the +Sisters' _Saal_, and sought earnestly for reconciliation with our +prioress, but in vain. As he returned to his cabin, sad at heart--for +with all his fiery nature he ever strove to merit his favorite name, +Father Friedsam Gottrecht (Father Peaceful Godright)--none of us thought +his departure was so near; for the powers of darkness, as he said, could +not prevail upon him to lie down. + +Meanwhile the Brethren kept a constant watch, for many of our little +flock looked for great happenings, feeling assured the powers of death +would have no easy struggle with such an old soldier of the cross, who +was neither accustomed to call on men for mercy nor to yield to the +powers of darkness. + +But by the time the sun had stood at midday, we could see the end was +near, and all the Solitary and the near-by householders gathered about +him in his little cabin, soon filling it, many standing outside the +doorway. On his little bench, as hard and uncomfortable as any of +ours--for he scorned any comforts denied to his disciples--sat our +little ruler, gaunt, wasted, his features thin and drawn, and eyes +sunken. Around him clustered the Brethren of Bethania, sad and silent, +but not shedding any tears to annoy his stubborn spirit. Back of the +Brethren stood the Sisters, some of the shorter ones on a bench, and +most of them weeping quietly despite their fortitude. All was silence +and expectation. But though within the cabin reigned the darkness of +death, outside under the glowing sun all was life and brightness, like +the glorious radiance that would burst through the gates of death, for +our beloved leader. + +Over an hour we stood, not saying a word, but all the while our brother +becoming weaker and weaker from the great heat and the stifling air in +so small a cabin. At last he broke the silence and asked the Brethren to +bless him and receive his memory into their fellowship. Then I anointed +him with the holy oil, and as I spread the sacred chrism upon his +forehead I gave him my blessing with the laying on of hands, after which +all the Brethren in turn gave him the kiss of peace to take with him on +his journey. + +After this tender ceremony was over he consented, after my continued +persuasion, to lie down on his bench, resting his head upon the wooden +block that had served him so many years. He lay quietly for a while with +eyes closed, and then as if gazing into the very depths of eternity, he +partly raised himself on his elbow and exclaimed, "_O wehe! O wehe! O +wunder! O wunder!_" (Oh, woe! Oh, woe! Oh, wonder! Oh, wonder!) and then +fell back, his spirit soon after taking its flight peacefully from its +earthly home to that still more wonderful home of which oft during his +stay with us he had received such gracious visions. + +Immediately upon his death messengers were sent out near and far with +slips prepared by the Sisters, inviting the people to the funeral of our +_Vorsteher_ which, on account of the great heat, was set but two days +following his death, the Brethren meanwhile preparing the body for +burial, the Sisterhood keeping vigil, five Sisters constantly watching +and reciting prayers for our dead. + +On the day of the funeral our usual customs were observed, such as +sweeping the floor of his cabin, pouring a bucket of water over the +door-sill, and the chalking of the three crosses upon the side of the +doorway. And there were those who, following an old German superstition, +went about and informed every hive of bees within our grounds and for a +considerable distance without, of the death of our leader, it being +firmly believed that the bees would swarm if this notice to them were +neglected; and also every barrel, keg, and crock of wine and vinegar and +pickles and sauer kraut and preserved fruits, in order not to be +spoiled, had to be turned on the shelves or skids. + +The funeral services were held in the great _Saal_ we had built many +years before at a right angle with Bethania, where our brother had so +often preached. After a sermon by me there were addresses by Brothers +Philemon and Obed. We sang special hymns, and never did our Kloster +music, in which our leader had ever taken such great pride, sound more +sweet and heavenly. When the services were over in the _Saal_ the body +of our _Vorsteher_ was carried to the graveyard close by, followed by +the immense throng in spite of the short notice gathered from every +direction. Before lowering him into his last resting-place, the lid of +the coffin was again raised, so that according to our ritual the sun +might once more shine upon his body. Then his body was turned slightly +to the right side, being kept in place by a piece of sod, thus ensuring +perfect rest in his grave. The lid was then closed down, and the little +form of our great-souled leader was lowered into the dark cell, there to +repose until the trumpet of the angel shall call him forth to receive +his crown. + +On the same day our brother died, a Sister who lately joined the Roses +of Saron passed away, and this being joined to the death of the +housemother but a few days before, gave the Solitary firm assurance that +the departed spirits of our sister and the housemother had been deputed +to attend the spirit of our _Vorsteher_ and minister to it. + +Often during his life he had promised he would return in spirit to the +Kloster after leaving this world. Many of the Solitary as well as the +settlers about us firmly believed this. It hath ever been a matter of +much thought with me whether or not the spirits of the dead ever +revisit their beloved ones on earth. It seemeth to me it should and must +be so, and yet have I never been vouchsafed such visions. But only two +days after his burial our leader appeared to Brother Luther and Sister +Catharina, in their cells. He also appeared to our Brother Ezechial, who +for some fancied grievance had been the only one of our number not to +attend the funeral and gave our disgruntled brother most earnest +admonitions, so that Brother Ezechial became a changed man, for the +better let it be said. Later on, our leader's visits to the Solitary +became nightly occurrences, and indeed he even appeared to one of our +Germantown brethren. + +Be these things as they may, for I record not what I saw--merely what I +heard--this I know to be true, that with all his failings and +short-comings our Kloster reached its greatest renown during the rule of +our little leader. Naught but a poor journeyman baker had he been in his +early days; of little learning, but to a man of such great talents as +his, the lack of learning from books hindered him little. In his +lifetime he originated, with some help from others, our wonderful +Kloster music, himself composing fully one thousand pieces of music, +printing over four hundred of them, and full of beauty and prophetic +insight are they, so that we hold them as great treasures. And with all +his fiery nature, there was in this man such tenderness and humility +that in time most of the estrangements of his early Kloster life were +fully reconciled, thereby confirming what he ever maintained, that he +was a lover of peace. + +But I shall not longer darken my story with the deaths of my beloved +Brothers and Sisters. I still have my Sonnlein and his devoted Genoveva. +After that blissful day, they went with his uncle, living with him, he +being a bachelor, until his death, after which, his estate having come +to Sonnlein, he and Genoveva, at my earnest persuasions, took up a farm +near by, which Sonnlein tilleth like a good husbandman, only that he +never hath outlived his love for hunting and fishing, even though he is +now on toward middle age. But such hath ever been the simplicity of his +life that he hath the strength and spirit of one in his thirties. + +As for our beloved Genoveva, she too is of those blessed ones who never +grow old--for surely time seemeth to have no influence on that fair face +and graceful form. What a sweet, noble woman she is! Indeed, it is +Sonnlein's oft-repeated jest, that he is exceedingly jealous of old +_Vaterchen_; to which Genoveva maketh gentle retort that she never quite +understandeth how she came even to think of Sonnlein while I was about. +But she is all devotion to her Sonnlein and her children; and what a +brood of healthy, happy-hearted, romping, noisy boys and girls they are, +so that often they are reproved for worrying so much their grandfather +Jabez--to such dignity have I attained. But with all their sitting on me +and sliding over me and pulling my beard and hanging to my cloak +wherever I go, I would not for worlds have them otherwise. + +The eldest one, a tall, grave, solemn-eyed youth, who is ever at his +books, and asketh me most serious questions, hath been named Jabez, +against my earnest protestations. + +A second, a lively young imp, who careth for everything but books, they +have called Peter, he no doubt representing my more worldly life ere I +joined the Kloster, as Jabez standeth for my stricter life thereafter. +Indeed, I often aver that had I more names Sonnlein and Genoveva would +make use of every one. There is too, a precious little toddler whom they +consented at my request to call Sonnlein, all my names being used up. + +Beside the cradle in which lieth a plump, rosy, crowing, happy baby, our +little Genoveva, stands a sweet-faced little maid, with hair of gold and +heaven's own blue eyes, whom, though I have ever been a great stickler +for impartiality, I cannot help loving a trifle the best; for Genoveva, +with that marvelous insight women seem to have above men in matters of +the heart, hath named the little maid Bernice. Ah me! + +As for me, I cannot help feeling that mayhap I did not use all of my few +talents faithfully. I wonder sometimes whether I did not bury some here +in the solitary life of the Kloster. Not that we were selfish, or mean, +or lacked in love for our Father; but perhaps, aye, I fear it is so, man +cannot best serve man by withdrawing from him. I see clearly now it was +not the Master's way. He taught neither fasting nor feasting; neither +vigils nor sluggish sleep. Even within the sacred bounds of our Kloster, +sequestered from the world, things were not--it pains me e'en now to +say--as holy as they should have been. Hate, spite, envy, greed, lust, +passion, ambition, intrigue, quarrelings, bickerings, misunderstandings, +false, bitter charges, prevailed within the monastery no less than +without. I understand now what the deep-sighted Luther meant when he +said that the world is in the heart of man and not in his surroundings. +It is even so, and because it is so, I cannot withstand the arguments of +those who contend truthfully that the life of the monk and the nun, +sweet and holy though it may be, is not so large and noble and useful as +the life of him and her who with duty for a watchword and purity of +heart for an armor and the word of God for a sword go forth to battle +with sin wherever his horrid form may be seen. + +But thanks to the priceless inheritance of a strong, healthy body, +preserved by temperance in diet, serenity of mind, and abundance of +labor in the open air close to the heart of God, mine old age hath not +yet become a reproach to me. Still, like the Preacher, I feel it will +not be many days ere the keepers of the house shall tremble, the +grinders cease because they are few, and those that look out of the +windows be darkened. I have endeavored always to bear victory and +defeat, joy and sadness, with evenness of spirit. I have not complained +overmuch here and surely when the silver cord is loosed for me or the +golden bowl be broken and I meet Him face to face in the boundless +fields of eternity, I know naught but bliss will be mine; and yet with +my poor earthly sight and understanding, I shall long to meet there and +be with them for evermore, father, mother, the Brothers and Sisters of +the Kloster, Sonnlein and his beloved Genoveva and their dear children; +but dearer than all these I want again to clasp to my breast the sweet +flower cut off while still in its budding, my Bernice. + + [Illustration] + + * * * * * + +Transcribers Note: + +Obvious printer errors corrected. + +Spelling "house-father" and "housefather" retained. + +Spelling "penwork" and "pen-work" retained. + +Spelling "gully" and "gulley" retained. + +Spelling "ice-bound" and "icebound" retained. + +Spelling "subtilely", "subtility", and "subtilty" retained. + +Spelling "wrapt" and "wrapped" retained. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of A Tale of the Kloster, by Brother Jabez + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A TALE OF THE KLOSTER *** + +***** This file should be named 37942.txt or 37942.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/7/9/4/37942/ + + + +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. 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