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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/38922-8.txt b/38922-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..f2d529d --- /dev/null +++ b/38922-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,9792 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Pine Needles, by Susan Bogert Warner + +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: Pine Needles + +Author: Susan Bogert Warner + +Release Date: February 18, 2012 [EBook #38922] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PINE NEEDLES *** + + + + +Produced by Chris Curnow, Lindy Walsh, Julia Neufeld and +the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + +Transcriber's note: + +Text enclosed by underscores is in italics (_italics_). + +Small capital text has been replaced with all capitals. + +Punctuation has been normalized and obvious printer errors have been +corrected. + + + + +PINE NEEDLES. + + + + + Warne's Star Series. + + PINE NEEDLES. + + BY THE AUTHOR OF + "_THE WIDE, WIDE WORLD_." + + "They that say such things declare plainly that they seek a + country."--_Heb._ xi. 14. + + [Illustration: Publisher's Mark] + + New Edition. + + LONDON: + FREDERICK WARNE AND CO. + BEDFORD STREET, STRAND. + + + + +_NOTICE TO THE READER OF "PINE NEEDLES."_ + + +This little book might have been entitled "Christian Heroes," for its +contents would have justified the name. The stories reported in the +"Missionsblatt" of the late Pastor Louis Harms of Hermannsburg, of +lovely memory, will surely delight all who love either heroism or +Christianity, and are not able to enjoy the narrations in their original +German dress. The author has framed them in a light frame of her own, +but the stories are left in their integrity and simplicity, with +omission of scarcely a dozen words. + +_February 1, 1877._ + + + + +PINE NEEDLES AND OLD YARNS. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + + +The Franklins were coming to Mosswood. + +This might have happened, Maggie thought, a good while ago; but, +however, the view had not been shared by Mrs. Candlish; and a whole year +had passed away since the joyful coming home of the family to their old +possessions. The winter was spent at Mosswood in quiet gladness and +gradual strength-gaining; the spring brought a return to all the +favourite out-door amusements and occupations of the family. Summer was +the proper time for company, and the house had been filled till the end +of September. Then Mrs. Candlish declared she was tired and must run +away, or she would be obliged to entertain people till November; and she +joined her husband in a trip to California, which, half for business and +half for pleasure, Mr. Candlish had resolved upon taking. At that +juncture the children begged for the Franklins; and their mother was +willing. "As I cannot be here," she said, "it will not be necessary to +extend the invitation to Mrs. Franklin. You may have the others, and do +what you will with them." + +"I should think," remarked Maggie, "if Meredith and Flora heard what +mamma said, they wouldn't like it much." + +However, they did not hear it, and if they guessed at the substance of +it I don't know; but Flora had too much curiosity, and Meredith too much +affection engaged, to be over scrupulous. So they came, and were +welcomed, I was going to say, uproariously. It just fell short of that. +For even Esther privately declared to her sister that "nobody was so +nice as Meredith Franklin." + +Now, after seeing them, the next thing was to make them see Mosswood; +and many were the consultations Maggie and Esther had already held over +plans and means. Nothing could be settled after all till the guests +came. And when they came, the whole first evening was spent in joyous +talk and recollections. But the next morning before breakfast Maggie and +Meredith met at the house door. Meredith had been out walking. + +"How do you like it?" she asked daringly, clasping his hand, while her +eyes looked love and pleasure hard into his face. + +"It is the most beautiful place I ever saw in my life!" + +"And it is such a nice day," said Maggie gleefully. "What shall we do +to-day?" + +"Let us be out of doors!" + +"Oh yes, we'll be out of doors," said Maggie; "but where shall we go?" + +"Nowhere out of Mosswood--if you ask me. I don't want anything else." + +"Well, Mosswood is pretty good," said Maggie, "because, when you are at +Mosswood you have the hills and the river and all, _besides_ Mosswood, +you know--O Meredith! I have thought of something!" + +"I dare say," Meredith answered smiling. "That is quite in your way." + +"This is something nice. Suppose we go out and have dinner in the +woods?" + +"I should say it was a capital plan." + +"We used to do that in old times, before ever we went away. And we have +got a nice little cart, Meredith, to carry our dinner, and whatever we +want; and--Oh, it's nice! it's nice!" exclaimed Maggie, jumping on her +toes for delight. "I'm _so_ glad you're here! and I'm _so_ glad to go +into the woods again to dinner." + +"We want only one thing," said Meredith. + +"What's that?" + +"Mr. Murray." + +"Uncle Eden! I'll write to him." + +"Let us all write to him. Every one put in something. That will bring +him, maybe." + +"Yes, that will bring him!" Maggie echoed; and I do not believe that for +the rest of the morning she took another flat step. On her toes, was the +only way that her spirits could go. The first thing after breakfast was +the Round Robin to Uncle Eden. Maggie began it, as the youngest. + + "DEAR UNCLE EDEN,--Flora and Meredith are here while mamma and papa + are gone to California. We are going out in the woods to dinner; + and we all want you. Do please come, if you can get away from Bay + House. We want you as much as anybody can be wanted. + + "MAGGIE." + +Then Esther wrote-- + + "DEAR UNCLE EDEN,--It is quite true. We do all want you very much. + Fenton is coming, and I am afraid nobody will keep him in order, if + you are not here. + + "ESTHER." + +Then Flora-- + + "I think we would all be very glad to see Mr. Murray. I am sure one + sincerely glad would be + + "FLORA FRANKLIN." + +Last, Meredith-- + + "DEAR MR. MURRAY,--You know how true is all the foregoing. And yet, + though I cannot suppose I should be gladder to see you than + everybody else, it does seem to me that I _want_ to see you more + than any of the rest can--because I have so many questions to ask, + and feel that I need so much advice. I hope you may find that you + can comply with our joint earnest desire. + + "MEREDITH FRANKLIN." + +After all were done, Maggie begged for the paper, to add a word that +nobody else must see. This was what she said-- + + "DEAR UNCLE EDEN,--I want to say a _private_ word to you. I feel + somehow as if it was not just exactly respectful to Meredith and + Flora that they should be here with nobody but just us. Don't you + think so? But if you could come, it would be all right. We are + going in the woods to dinner to-day--Oh, I wish you were here! + + "MAGGIE." + +This joint epistle finished and sealed, and some other despatches for +Leeds got ready, it was time to see about making preparations for the +woods. Where should they go? Question the first. + +"To the old Fort." + +"To the Happy Valley." + +"No, to the Lookout rock." + +"Not to-day, Esther. Let's keep that for Uncle Eden. +Suppose--suppose"---- + +"The Plateau." + +"It seems to be an _embarras de richesses_," said Meredith laughing, +"and I do not wonder. Let me help you. Suppose we go up on this height +just east of us; isn't the view pretty from there?" + +"The South Pitch! Oh, it's _lovely_ up there!" cried Maggie. "You look +down on the house, and you look down the river, and it's shady and nice. +It's just lovely! That is best for to-day. Then, other days, we'll take +the other places. Now, we must get ready." + +"What?" said Flora. + +"Oh, you must get your work, or books if you like; whatever you like; +and Meredith must find a book, too, I suppose; we always take books and +work, and then we talk; but once when we took nothing, then we didn't do +anything. Esther and I must prepare the waggon; cart, I mean." + +"What is to go in the cart? Cannot we help you?" said Meredith. "And, +where is the cart, in the first place?" + +"Oh, it's up in the wood-house loft; we haven't had it out this year +yet, you know. Ditto, maybe you'll tell Fairbairn to get it down, will +you?" + +"Who is Mr. Fairbairn?" + +"Oh, the gardener. He's out there somewhere. Esther and I must go to +Betsey for things." + +"I suppose I shall know Fairbairn when I see him," said Meredith +smiling, as he put on his hat. + +In a quarter of an hour the cart stood at the door, and Esther and +Maggie and Flora were busily packing "things" in baskets. Meredith came +to put his hand to the work. + +"It is so hard to remember everything," said Esther. "We always forget +something or other, and then somebody has to go back for it. Now, here +is all the china, I think. Oh, stop! have we put the teapot in?" + +"Who wants tea?" said Meredith. + +"In the woods? Oh, we always have tea in the woods, and sometimes +coffee." + +"Make a fire to boil the kettle?" + +"Why, _of course_!" + +"How should I know it was of course? Well, tea is very good in the +woods, I have no doubt. Don't forget the tea." + +"But I should have forgotten the sugar, if you hadn't spoken." + +"And the salt! don't forget the salt; we always do." + +"We don't want salt to-day; we have nothing to eat it with." + +"Yes, we have." + +"No, we haven't; there is cold ham, and bread, and butter, and +apple-sauce." + +"Take the salt," said Meredith, "and give me a few eggs, and I'll make +you a friar's omelet." + +"A friar's omelet! What is that?" + +"You'll see. Only I shall want a dish to mix it in, you know." + +Delightful! The dish was fetched from the kitchen, and the omelet pan. +Ham and apple-sauce Betty had packed for the party already; rolls and +butter, spoons and knives and forks, a pitcher of cream, napkins--I do +not know what all--went into the other baskets, and were finally stowed +in the cart. A light porter's cart, it was; roomy enough; and yet it +grew pretty full. The tea-kettle must find a place; then books and +knitting and paper. Then thick shawls to spread upon the rocks, to make +softer seats for the more ease-loving. Fairbairn carried a tin pail with +water. All these arrangements took up time; so the morning was well on +its way and the dew long off the grass, when at last the procession set +forth. Meredith drew the cart, which he was informed he must do +carefully, or the cream would slop over, and, possibly, other damage be +done. + +It was not a long way they had to go this morning. Bordering upon the +lawn and shrubbery, to the east, rose a little rocky height, which, in +fact, prevented the dwellers at Mosswood from ever seeing the sun rise. +But the hill was so pretty, they forgave it. Towards the house it +presented a smooth wall of grey granite; on the top it also showed +granite in quantity, there, however, alternating with moss and thin +grass, and overshadowed by cedars, oaks, and pines, with now and then a +young hemlock. The soil was thin; the growth of trees in consequence not +lofty; nevertheless, very graceful. No cultivation, hardly any dressing, +had been attempted; the purple asters sprung up at the edge of the +rocks, and huckleberry bushes stood where they found footing; here and +there a bramble, here and there a bunch of ferns. Now the oak leaves +were turned yellow and brown; the huckleberry bushes in duller hues of +the same; moss was dry and crisp, and ferns odorous in the warm air. + +To reach the top of the height a circuit must be made. There was no path +leading straight from the house. Through the grounds at the back of the +house the way wound along between beds of acheranthus and cineraria +which made warm strips of bordering, with scarlet pelargoniums lighting +up the beds beyond in a blaze of brilliance. Turning then into a +carriage road, the party followed it to the north of the height which +Maggie had called the South Pitch, and struck off then southwards into +a little, mossy, rocky, hardly-traced path under the trees. + +"This is easy enough," said Meredith, guiding his cart somewhat +carefully, however, to avoid severe jolts which would have endangered +the cream. "I do not see where the pitch is yet." + +"Ah, but you will when you get to the south end," said Maggie. "Look +out, Ditto, here's a rock in your way. And these huckleberry bushes are +very thick." + +Following on over rocks and bushes, they soon came to the place Maggie +meant, and Meredith rested his cart and stood still to look. From the +southern brow of the little hill, the ground fell steeply away; so +steeply that the eye had unhindered range over the river which lay +below, and the hills bordering it, and the point of Gee's Point which +there pushes the river to the eastward. Not a tree-branch even was in +the way; river and hills lay in the October light, still, glowing, fair, +as only October can be. + +"Do you like it, Meredith?" asked Maggie wistfully. _Her_ opinion of +Mosswood had been long a fixed one. + +"I have never seen such a place!" + +"Uncle Eden had his tent up here one summer, and he cut away all the +branches and trees that were in the way of the view; for he wanted to +lie in his tent at night and be able to look out and see the river and +the hills in the moonlight." + +"And did he have this wall built too?" asked Meredith, seeing that the +platform where he stood was held up on the side towards the river by a +regularly laid, though unmortared, wall. + +"Oh," said Esther laughing, "that wall was laid a hundred years ago, +Meredith. Soldiers laid it; our soldiers; all Mosswood was fortified; +this is a breastwork." + +"Whom do you mean by 'our soldiers'?" + +"Why, the Americans," said Esther. "When they were fighting that war, a +hundred years ago. You'll find bits of breastwork all over Mosswood." + +"Well, that is delightful," said Meredith. "We are historical. Now, +what are we to do first? I move, we make our camp just here. We cannot +have a better place." + +So there a rock under a tree, here a bit of mossy bank, was taken +possession of; places were carpeted with shawls, and luxurious loungers +were at rest upon them. Fairbairn set down the pail of water and +departed; Flora got her worsted embroidery out of the cart, and Esther a +strip of afghan which she was ambitiously making. Maggie nestled up to +Meredith's side on the moss and laid her little hand in his, and for a +little while they were all quiet; these last two enjoying October. But +Meredith did not long sit still; he must go exploring, up and down and +all round the South Pitch. Maggie followed him, as ready to go as he, +and talking all the while. It was nothing but rocks and moss and trees +and brambles and ferns; with the delicious river glittering below the +rocks, and the glow of the hills coming to them through the trees, and +golden hickory leaves falling at their feet, and now and then a chestnut +burr or a hickory schale to be hammered open. Warm and tired at last +they came back to their place. And then the girls declared it was time +for dinner. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + + +A fire was the first thing. Meredith and Maggie gathered dry pine +branches and dead leaves, and Meredith built a nice place for the kettle +with some stones. Then they found they had no matches. + +"We _always_ forget something," cried Maggie. "Now, I'll run home and +fetch a box." + +Meredith went too. It was only a little more walk. Then the fire was set +agoing, and the kettle filled and put over. Maggie sat by to keep up the +flame, which being fed with light material needed constant supply. +Meredith threw himself down on the mossy bank and opened his book. For a +little while there was silence. + +"What are you reading, Ditto?" Maggie asked at length. She kept as good +watch of Meredith as of the fire. + +"You would not understand if I told you. It is a German book." + +"Is it very interesting?" + +"Yes." + +"I knew it was. I could see by your face; when you pull your brows +together in that way, I always know you are ever so much interested." + +"Well, I am," said Meredith smiling. + +"Would it interest me?" + +"I think, perhaps, it would." + +"Ah, Ditto, don't you want to try? Read us some of it. What is it +about?" + +"It is a Mission Magazine." + +"Missionary! Oh, then, we _shouldn't_ like it," said Esther. "I don't +believe we should." + +"And in it are stories," Meredith continued. + +"What sort of stories? about heathen?" + +"I like stories about heathen," said Maggie. + +"Stories about heathen and Christian, which a certain Pastor Harms used +to tell to his people, and which he put in the magazine." + +"Did he write the magazine?" + +"Yes." + +"Who was Pastor Harms?" + +"A wonderful, beautiful man, who loved God with all his heart, and +served Him with all his strength." + +"Why, there are a great many people, Ditto, who do that," said his +sister. + +"Most people that I have seen keep a little of their strength for +something else," remarked Meredith dryly. + +"Was he a German?" Maggie asked. + +"He was a German; and he was the minister of a poor country parish in +Hanover; and the minister and the people together were so full of the +love of Christ that they did what rich churches elsewhere don't do." + +"And does that book tell what they did?" + +"Partly; what they did, and what other people have done." + +"_I_ should like to hear some of it," was Maggie's conclusion. + +"Well, you shall. We'll try, after dinner. Flora and Esther may shut +their ears, if they will." + +"If you won't read something else," said Flora, "I suppose I would +rather hear that than nothing. I can get on with my work better." + +"And worsted work is the chief end of woman, everybody knows," remarked +her brother. "The kettle is boiling, Maggie!" + +All was lively activity at once. Even the afghan and the worsted +embroidery were laid on the moss, and the two elder girls bestirred +themselves to get out the plates and dishes from the baskets and arrange +them; while Maggie made the tea, and Meredith set about his omelet. +Maggie watched him with intense satisfaction, as he broke and beat his +eggs and put them over the fire; watched till the cookery was +accomplished and the omelet was turned out hot and brown and savoury. +The girls declared it was the best thing they had ever tasted, and Flora +thought the tea was the best tea, and Meredith that the bread and butter +was the best bread and butter. Maggie privately thought it was the best +dinner altogether that ever she had eaten in the woods; but I think she +judged most by the company. It was a long dinner! Why should they use +haste? The October sun was not hot; the sweet air gave an appetite; the +thousand things they had to talk about gave zest to the food. They were +not in a hurry with their tea, and they lingered over their apple-pie. + +When at last they were of a mind to seek a change of diversion, and +really the dinner was done--for talk as much as you will you yet must +stop eating some time--the plates and remnants were quickly put back in +the baskets and set again in the cart, tea-kettle and napkins cleared +away, and the mossy dining-room looked as if no company had been there. + +"This is first rate," exclaimed Meredith, stretching himself on the warm +moss. + +"And now, Ditto, you are going to read to us." + +"Am I?" + +"Yes, for you said so." + +"An honourable man always keeps his promises," said Meredith. But he lay +still. + +The two elder girls got out their work again. Maggie sat by and silently +stroked the hair on Meredith's temples. + +"This is good enough, without reading," he presently went on. "The moss +is spicy, the sky is blue, I see it through a lace-work of pine needles; +the air is like satin. I cannot imagine anything much better than to lie +here and look up." + +"But you can feel the air, and see the sky, and smell the moss, too, +while you are reading, Ditto." + +"Can I? Well! your ten fingers are so many persuaders that I cannot +withstand. Let's go in for Pastor Harms!" + +So he raised himself on one elbow, no further, and laid his book open on +the moss before him. + +"But it is in German!" cried Maggie, looking over to see. + +"Never mind, I will give it to you in English--I told you it was +German." + +"What is the first story about?" + +"You will find that out as I go on. Now, you understand it is Pastor +Harms who is speaking, only he was a famous hand at story-telling, and +to hear him would have been quite a different thing from hearing me." +And Meredith began to read. + +"'I will go back now a thousand years, and tell you a mission story that +I am very fond of. I found it partly in the parish archives of +Hermannsburg, and partly in some old Lüneburg chronicles. I say I am +very fond of it; for after the fact that I am a Christian, comes the +fact that I am a Lüneburger, body and soul; and there is not a country +in the whole world, for me, that is better than the Lüneburg heath'"---- + +"Oh, stop, Ditto, please," cried Maggie, "what is a 'heath'? and where +is Lüneburg?" + +"Ah! there we come with our questions. Lüneburg heath isn't like +anything in America, that I know, Maggie. It is a strange place. There +you'll see acres and miles of level land covered with heather, which +turns purple and beautiful in the latter part of the season; but in the +midst of this level country you come suddenly here and there to a lovely +little valley with houses and grain-fields and fruit and running water; +or to a piece of woods; or to a hill with a farmhouse perched up on its +side, and as much land cultivated as the peasant can manage. So the +people of the parishes are scattered about over a wide track, except +where the villages happen to be. And for _where_ it is--Lüneburg is in +Hanover, and Hanover is in Germany. You must look on the map when you go +home. Now I will go on-- + +"'And next to the fact that I am a Lüneburger, comes the fact that I am +a Hermannsburger; and for me Hermannsburg is the dearest and prettiest +village on the heath. My mission story touches this very beloved +Hermannsburg. From my youth up I have been a sort of a bookworm; and +whenever I could find something about Germany, still more something +about the Lüneburg heath, and yet more anything about Hermannsburg, then +I was delighted. Even as a boy, when I could just understand the book of +the Roman writer Tacitus about old Germany, I knew no greater pleasure +than with my Tacitus in my pocket to wander through the heaths and moors +and woodlands, and then in the still solitude to sit down under a pine +tree or an oak and read the account of the manners and customs of our +old heathen forefathers. And then I read how our old forefathers were so +brave and strong that merely their tall forms and their fiery blue eyes +struck terror into the Romans; and that they were so unshakably true to +their word, once it was given, that a simple promise from one of them +was worth more than the strongest oath from a Roman. I read how they +were so chaste and modest that breaking of the marriage vow was almost +an unknown crime; so noble and hospitable, that even a deadly enemy, if +he came to one of their houses, found himself in perfect security, and +might stay until the last morsel had been shared with him; and then his +host would go with him to the next house to prepare him a reception +there. + +"'But my heart bled too, when I read of their crimes and misdeeds, their +inhuman worship of idols, when even human beings were slaughtered on +bloody altars of stone, or drowned in deep, hidden, inland lakes; when I +read how insatiable the thirst for war and plunder among our forefathers +was, how fearful their anger, how brutish their rage for drink and play; +and when I read further, how the whole of heathen Germany was an almost +unbroken wood and moorland, without cities or villages, where men ran +about in the forests almost naked, at the most, clothed with the skin of +a beast, like wild animals themselves; and got their living only by the +chase, or from wild roots, with acorns and beechmast; then, even as a +boy, I marvelled at the wonderful workings of Christianity. Only one +thing I could not understand; how there should be nowadays in Christian +Germany so much lying, unfaithfulness, and marriage-breaking, while our +heathenish ancestors were such true, honest, chaste, and loyal men; it +always seemed to me as if a German Christian must stand abashed before +his heathen forefathers. And when I observed further, how many Germans +nowadays are cowardly-hearted, while among our heathen ancestors such a +reproach was reckoned the fearfullest of insults, it was past my +comprehension how a Christian German, who believes in everlasting life, +can be a coward, and his heathenish ancestors, who yet knew nothing +about the blessed heaven, have been so valiant and brave.'" + +"Ditto," said Maggie, interrupting him, "do you think that is all true?" + +"Pastor Harms would not have lied to save his right hand." + +"And--but--Ditto, do you think people in America are so bad as that?" + +Meredith smiled and hesitated. + +"Yes, Ditto," said Flora; "you know they are not." + +"I don't know anything about it," said Meredith. "There are not any +better soldiers, I suppose, in the world than the Germans, nor anywhere +such a band of army officers, for knowledge of their business and +ability to do it. But there are some cowards in every nation, I reckon; +and as there, so here. But among those old Saxons, it appears, there +were none. As to truth"--Meredith hesitated--"There are not a great many +people I know whose word I would take through and through, if they were +pinched." + +There was a chorus of exclamations and reproaches. + +"And as to marriage-breaking," he went on, "it is not at all an uncommon +thing here for people to separate from their wives or their husbands, or +get themselves divorced." + +"Why do they do that, Ditto?" Maggie asked. + +"Because they are not true, and do not love each other." + +"So you make it out that the heathen are better than the Christians!" +said Esther. + +"I do not make out anything. I am only stating facts. What is called a +'Christian nation' has but comparatively a few Christians in it, you +must please to remember. But I do think those old Saxons were +extraordinary people. I like to think that I am descended from them." + +"You, Ditto!" exclaimed Maggie in the utmost astonishment. + +"Why, yes, certainly. Don't you know so much history as that? Don't you +remember that the Saxons went over and conquered England, and England +was peopled by them, and ruled by them, until the Norman Invasion?" + +"Oh!" said Maggie with a long-drawn note of surprise and intelligence. +"But I didn't know those Saxons were like these." + +"No, nor did I. It interests me very much. Shall I go on with Pastor +Harms? + +"'The older I grew, the more eager I was to learn about Germany, and +especially about my dear Lüneburg country, with its most beautiful +heaths, moors, and woodlands. I cannot express the joy I took in the +great fights and battles which the German Prince Herman fought with the +mighty Romans. Herman was prince of the Cheruski; so the dwellers +between the Elbe and the Weser at that time were called. In his time the +never-satisfied Romans were bent upon subjugating all Germany, and sent +their most powerful armies into the country, clad in iron mail, armed +with helmets, bucklers, lances, and swords, and led by their bravest +generals. But Herman, with his almost naked Germans, fell upon them, +fighting whole days at a stretch, and beat them out of the land. See +now, thought I to myself, there were Lüneburg people along with him, for +_they_ live between the Elbe and the Weser. Or, when others of our +forefathers, who were in general called Saxons, boldly sailed over the +sea in their ships, and chased the proud Romans, together with the Picts +and Scots, out of England, and took the beautiful land in possession and +ruled it; then I was glad again and thought with secret delight--"our +Lüneburg people were there too, for those ships sailed from the mouths +of the Elbe and the Weser." + +"'But what adoration moved my heart, when I read that these very Saxons, +who conquered England, there came to the knowledge of Christianity and +received it into their hearts; and now from England, from the converted +Saxons, came numbers of Gospel messengers back to the German country, to +turn it also to the Lord Jesus. Among them was Winfried, the strong in +faith, who baptized more than 300,000 Germans, and was called the +apostle of Germany; there were the two brothers Ewald, who both +heroically died a martyr's death, being sacrificed by our forefathers to +their idols. After them others carried on the work, especially Willehad +and Liudgar, and the good emperor Charles the Great helped them, until +at last all Germany was Christianised, and became through the Gospel +what it is now. And I have often thought, how stupid are the unbelievers +who follow the new fashion of despising Christianity. We have to thank +Christianity for everything we are or have. Science, art, agriculture, +handicrafts, cities, villages, houses, all have come to us in the first +place through Christianity; for before that, as I said, our forefathers +ran about naked in the woods like wild beasts, and fed on roots and +acorns; and I used to think the best thing would be, to drive the +infidels and the scornful contemners of Christianity into the woods and +forests, draw a hedge about them, and let them eat acorns and roots in +the woods till they come to their senses. In young people's heads a +great many queer fancies spring up, which yet are not entirely unworthy +of regard; and I still believe that would be the best medicine for +infidels.'" + +"But, Meredith," said Flora, "the Greeks and Romans had cities and +villages, and sciences, too, and arts, without Christianity." + +"Quite true, but the Saxons didn't." + +"Perhaps, they would." + +"Perhaps, they wouldn't. The Greeks and Romans were wonderful people, +and so were the ancient Egyptians; but though they had arts, and built +cities, they had very little science. And science and Christianity have +changed the face of the Christian world. Well, let us have Pastor +Harms. + +"'But I must go back to my story. Whenever I happened upon an old +library, I searched it through to see if I could find something about +Germany, and especially about Lüneburg. And I do not regret the +quantities of dust I have swallowed in my way; although I did often +lament aloud to see so many fine old manuscripts almost eaten up with +dust and mice, about which nobody had troubled himself for who knows how +many years? But also I found many a one that repaid the trouble of the +search. From the sound MSS. I made extracts diligently. But I had a good +many vexations, too. For example, I have come to cities and villages, in +which last there were baronial manors. There I sought to come at the +books and MSS. of the olden time. And would one believe it? Old +collections of books had been sold entire, by the hamperful, to +trades-people for wrapping their cheese in. I was baffled. So much the +more precious became my extracts. From them I will tell you something +now, which I found about my beloved Hermannsburg. + +"'I may say in the first place to our dear country people, that the +whole of Northern Germany in early times was called the country of the +Saxons. How wide that was, may best be seen by the language. So far as +low German is spoken, so far extends the land of the Saxons; for low +German is their proper mother-tongue. So I am never ashamed of the low +German in our country; it is the true mother-tongue of our land and +people; my heart always swells when I hear low German spoken. This +entire Saxon nation was divided into three tribes. One tribe, which +dwelt for the most part towards the west, that is, in the Osnabrück +region and further west as far as the Rhine, was called the +Westphalians. The second tribe, which dwelt mostly at the east, as far +as the Elbe and further, was called the Eastphalians. Between the two +lived the third tribe, called the Enger or the Angles; for Enger and +Angle are all one. We here in Lüneburg belong to the Eastphalians. The +name is said to have come from the bright or pale yellow hair of our +forefathers. For clear yellow or pale yellow was called "fal." Our +ancestors wore this bright yellow hair long and hanging down, something +like a lion's mane; what so many young people nowadays would esteem a +splendid adornment. These forefathers of ours in the time of Charlemagne +were yet mere heathen and held to their heathen idol worship with +extraordinary tenacity and devotion. They were further a wild, bold, +stiffnecked people, with an unbending spirit, holding fast to everything +old, and with that, loving freedom above all else. They had no rulers, +properly speaking; each house-father was a despotic prince in his own +house, and lived alone upon his territory, just that he might be free +and rule his realm independently. Their common name, Saxon, came from a +peculiar weapon, the sachs; a stone war-mallet or battle-axe, which was +made fast to a longer or shorter wooden handle. In the strong hands of +the Saxons this was a fearful weapon, with which they rushed fearlessly +upon the foe, hastening to come to a hand-to-hand fight; for they liked +to be at close quarters with their enemies. + +"'Wild and terrible as their other customs were, was also their idol +worship. Their principal deity was called Woden, in whose honour men +were slaughtered upon great blocks of stone; their throats being cut +with stone knives. Not far off, some two or three hours from +Hermannsburg, are still what are called the seven _stone-houses_; in +other words, blocks of granite set up in a square, upon which a great +granite block lies like a cover. The men to be sacrificed were slain +upon these blocks of granite. Quite near our village too, there stood +formerly some such sacrificial altars. How fearful and bloody these +sacrifices were, appears from what an old writer relates; that it was +the custom of the Saxons, when they returned home from their warlike +expeditions, to sacrifice to their idols every tenth man among the +captives; the rest they shared among themselves for slaves. And upon +special occasions, for instance, if they had suffered severe losses in +the war, the whole of the captives would be consecrated to Woden and +sacrificed. That's the Woden we call one day of the week after.'" + +"We? One day of the week!" exclaimed Maggie; while Flora looked up and +said, "Oh yes! Wednesday." + +"Wednesday?" repeated Maggie. + +"Woden's-day," said Meredith. + +"Is it Woden's-day? Wednesday? But how come we to call it so, Ditto?" + +"Because our fathers did." + +"But that is very strange. I don't think we ought to call it +Woden's-day." + +"The Germans do not call it so, who live at this time round those old +stone altars; they say Mittwoche, or Mid-week. But the English Saxons +seem to have kept up the title." + +"Are those stone altars standing now, Ditto?" + +"Some of them, Pastor Harms says; and what is very odd, it seems they +call them stone _houses_; and don't you recollect Jacob called his stone +that he set up at Bethel, 'God's house'?" + +"Well, Ditto, go on please," said Maggie. + +"You don't care for archæology. Well--'The German emperor Charlemagne, +who reigned from 768 to 814, was a good Christian. He governed the +kingdom of the Franks; and that means the whole of central and southern +Germany, together with France and Italy; and all these, his subjects, +had been already Christian a long time. On the north his empire was +bordered by our heathen ancestors, the Saxons, and they were the sworn +foes of Christianity. Whenever they could, they made a rush upon +Charlemagne's dominions, plundered and killed, destroyed the churches +and put to death the Christian priests; and were never quiet. So +Charlemagne determined to make war upon the Saxons, partly to protect +his kingdom against their inroads, and partly with the intent to convert +them with a strong hand to the Christian religion. Then arose a fearful +war of thirty-three years' length, which by both sides was carried on +with great bitterness. The Saxons had, in especial, two valiant, +heroic-hearted leaders, called "dukes" because they led the armies. The +word "duke," therefore, means the same as army-leader. The one of them +in Westphalia was named Wittekind; the other in Eastphalia was named +Albion, also called Alboin. Charlemagne was in a difficult position. If +he beat the Saxons, and thought, now they would surely keep the peace, +and he went off then to some more distant part of his great empire, +immediately the Saxons broke loose again, and the war began anew. +Charlemagne was made so bitter by this, that once when he had beaten the +Saxons at Verden on the Aller, and surrounded their army, he ordered +4500 captive Saxons to be cut to pieces, hoping so to give a +disheartening example. But just the contrary befell. Wittekind and +Albion now gathered together an imposing army to avenge the cruel deed; +and fought two bloody battles, at Osnabrück and Detmold, with such +furious valour that they thrust Charlemagne back, and took 4000 +prisoners; and these prisoners, as a Lüneburg chronicle says, they +slaughtered--part on the Blocksberg, part in the Osnabrück country, and +part on the "stone-houses;" where the same chronicle relates that +Wittekind, on his black war-horse, in furious joy, would have galloped +over the bleeding corpses which lay around the stone-houses: but his +horse shied from treading on the human bodies, and making a tremendous +leap, struck his hoof so violently against one of the stone-houses that +the mark of the hoof remained. Wittekind elsewhere in the chronicle is +described as a noble, magnanimous hero; and this madness of war in him +is explained on the ground of his hatred of Christians, and revenge for +the death of the Saxons at Verden. + +"'At last, in the year 785, Wittekind and Albion were baptized, and +embraced the Christian religion. Thereupon came peace among that part of +the Saxons which held them in consideration, for the most distinguished +men by degrees followed their example; and it was only in the other +portions of the country that the war lasted until the year 805; when at +last the whole country of the Saxons submitted to Charlemagne, renounced +heathenism, and accepted Christianity. So hard did it go with our +forefathers before they could become Christians; but once Christians, +they became so zealous for the Christian faith that their land +afterwards was called "Good Saxony" as before it had been known as "Wild +Saxony." Charlemagne, however, was not merely at the pains to subdue the +Saxons, and to compel them into the Christian faith, but as a truly +pious emperor, he also took care that they should be instructed; and +wherever he could he established bishoprics and churches. For example, +the sees of Minden, Osnabrück, Verden, Bremen, Münster, Paderhorn, +Halberstadt, and Hildesheim, all situated in the Saxon country, owe +their origin to him. At all these places there were mission +establishments, from which preachers went out into the whole land, to +preach the Gospel to the heathen Saxons. + +"'Among those Willehad and Liudgar were distinguished for their zeal. +With untiring faithfulness, with steadfast faith, and great +self-sacrifice, they laboured, and their works were greatly blessed of +the Lord. Willehad finally became bishop in Bremen and Liudgar bishop of +Münster. They may with justice be called the apostles of the Saxons. In +a remarkable manner the conversion of our own parts hereabouts proceeded +from the mission establishment in Minden. Liudgar had lived there a long +while, and his piety and his ardour had infected the young monks +assembled there with a live zeal for missions. One of these monks, who +the chronicle tells came from Eastphalia, and had been converted to +Christianity through Liudgar's means, was called Landolf. Now when +Wittekind and Albion had received holy baptism, and so a door was opened +in the Saxon land to the messengers of salvation, Landolf could stand it +no longer in Münden, but determined to go back to his native Eastphalia +and carry the sweet Gospel to his beloved countrymen. He had no rest day +nor night; the heathen Eastphalians were always standing before him and +calling to him, "Come here and help us!"'" + +"There!" said Meredith pausing, "that's how I feel." + +Every one of the three heads around him was lifted up. + +"You, Ditto?" exclaimed Maggie, but the others only looked. + +"Yes," said Meredith, "I feel just so." + +"About whom?" said his sister abruptly. + +"All the heathen. Nobody in particular, Everybody who doesn't know the +Lord Jesus." + +"You had better begin at home!" said Flora with an accent of scorn. + +"I do," said her brother gravely; and Flora was silent, for she knew he +did. + +"But why, dear Ditto?" said Maggie, with a mixture of anxiety and +curiosity. + +"I am so sorry for them, Maggie." And watching, she could see that +Meredith's downcast eyes were swimming. "Think--_they do not know +Jesus_; and what is life worth without that?" + +"But it isn't everybody's place to go preaching," said Flora after a +minute. + +"Can you prove it? I think it is." + +"Mine, for instance, and Maggie's?" + +"What is preaching, in the first place? It is just telling other people +the truth you know yourself. But you must know it first. I don't think +it is your place to tell what you do not know. But the Bible says, 'Let +him that heareth say, Come!' and I think we, who have heard, ought to +say it. And I think," added Meredith slowly, "if anybody is as glad of +it himself as he ought to be, he cannot help saying it. It will burn in +his heart if he don't say it." + +"But what do you want to do, Ditto?" Maggie asked again. + +"I don't know, Maggie. Not preach in churches; I am not fit for that. +But I want to tell all I can. People seem to me so miserable that do not +know Christ. So miserable!" + +"But, Ditto," said Maggie again, "you can give money to send +missionaries." + +"Pay somebody else to do my work?" + +"You can tell people here at home." + +"Well--" said Meredith with a long breath, "let us see what Landolf the +Saxon did." + + + + +CHAPTER III. + + +"'What did this man do in the daring of faith? He first got permission +of his superiors; then he went aboard of a little boat, took nothing +else with him but his Bible and his Prayer-book, his few tools, a +fishing net, and food for several days, and then dropped down the Weser, +all alone, intending by that way to get to the Eastphalians. But his +chief strength was prayer, in which he lived day and night. When he came +to the place where the Aller flows into the Weser, he quitted the Weser +and went up the Aller, that he might look at the spot where those 4500 +Saxons were cut to pieces by Charlemagne, and on the ground pray for the +murdered men. For at that time it was believed that even the dead could +be helped by prayer, as is still the erroneous teaching of the +Catholics. Leaving that place, he wished to visit the "stone-houses," +that he might pray there too, where the captive Franks had been +slaughtered by the Saxons; and so he went on up the Aller and from the +Aller into the Oerze, all the while living upon the fish which he +caught.'" + +"Had he no bread?" said Maggie. + +"How should he?--going through wild woods and countries lone in his +boat? He would come to no bakers' shops, Maggie." + +"Just living on fish! Well, go on, Ditto." + +"'But all along on this journey he had not only caught fish, but also +everywhere preached the Gospel. And then must have been the first time +that the sweet name of Jesus was ever heard in our region. Perhaps when +you look at the map you will ask, why Landolf went this difficult way by +water, which was a very roundabout way besides, to get to the +"stone-houses," when he could have come across from Verden by a much +nearer and straighter route? Our chronicle gives two reasons: first, the +whole interior of the country at that time was almost nothing but thick +forest and deep morasses, through which there was no going on foot; and +secondly, he had been told in Verden, that if he wanted to visit the +"stone-houses," he must first go to the Billing of the long-legged +Horz-Saxons, who lived on the river Horz in Harm's "_ouden dorp_." Now +this river Horz is the Oerze; and the name, the chronicle announces, +comes from the fact that this river runs and leaps like a _Horz_--that +is, a horse; and because a great many horses were pastured on its banks. +For the chief wealth of our Saxon ancestors consisted in cattle, +especially in horses, which they used not only for riding and in war +expeditions, but reckoned their flesh a favourite food. And were a horse +but entirely spotless and white, it was even held to be sacred. Such +white horses were kept in the sacred forests of oak, where they were +used for nothing but soothsaying; for by the neighing of these white +horses the heathen priests prophesied whether a business, or a campaign, +that was in hand, would turn out happily or unhappily. For this reason +also our Lüneburg country since the earliest times has borne the free, +bounding horse in its escutcheon; and for the same reason most of the +houses in the country of Lüneburg down to the present times have their +gables adorned with two wooden horses' heads; and it is only lately that +this custom has somewhat fallen off. + +"'The Saxons, or as the chronicle writes, _Sahzen_, were called +"Horzsahzen," either because they lived on the Horz, or Oerze; or +because they were almost all of them horsemen and owned a great many +horses. They bore besides the honorary title of the "long-legged," for +our forefathers were distinguished by their unusual stature. It is +remarkable that the name "Lange" is still the widest spread family name +of any in our region, so that there are villages that are almost +exclusively inhabited by "Langen," among whom a goodly number might yet +be called "long-legged;" though many also have grown something shorter, +while they nevertheless bear the name of _Lange_. Well, that is all +one, so they only keep the old, tried faithfulness and honesty, and the +manly holding to their word, and the beautiful pureness of morals, for +which our forefathers were renowned. + +"'But now, what sort of a man is the _Billing_? Our chronicle translates +the word into Latin; _curatos legum_, that is, the "guardian of the +laws." _Bill_, you see, in old low German or Saxon, was a "law" which +had been confirmed by the whole assembly of the people; and the man who +proposed these laws, and when they were confirmed had the charge of +seeing that they were not transgressed, was called the _Billing_. The +Billing of the Horzsahzen was at this time a man named Harm, that is +Hermann; and he lived in Harm's _ouden dorp_--or Hermann's old village. +The spot where this old village of Hermann stood is now a cultivated +field, about ten minutes away from the present Hermannsburg; and this +field is still called at the present day _up'n Ollendorp_, and lies +right on the Oerze. To this place accordingly the brave Landolf +repaired, and was received kindly and with the customary Saxon +hospitality by Hermann the Billing. + +"'Hermann's dwelling was a large cottage, surrounded with pens for +cattle, especially for horses, which were pastured on the river meadows. +There were no stables; the animals remained day and night under the open +sky, and even in winter time had no shelter beyond that of the thick +forest with which the land was covered. The pens themselves were merely +enclosures without a roof. Landolf was entertained with roasted horses' +flesh, which to the astonishment of his hosts he left untouched. For by +the rules of the Christian Church at that time it was not permitted to +eat horse-flesh; they reckoned it a heathen practice. + +"'When Landolf had made his abode with the Billing for a while, he found +out that his host was in fact the principal person in all that district +of country, and as guardian of the laws enjoyed a patriarchal and +wide-reaching consideration. He was indeed no _edeling_ (or nobleman), +only a _freiling_--a free man; but he possessed seven large manors; on +which account later writers, as for instance Adam of Bremen, give the +Billing family the name of _Siebenmeyer_.' (_Sieben_ means seven, +Maggie.) 'The oldest son, who regularly bore the name of Hermann, was +the family head; and after the death of his father the dignity of +Billing descended to him. The younger brothers were settled in some of +the other manors, remaining nevertheless always dependent upon the +oldest. + +"'Now Landolf preached the Gospel zealously to the family whose guest he +was, and they listened to him with willing ears. But when he would have +declared his message also to the Saxons who lived in their +neighbourhood, Hermann explained to him that by law and usage he must +not do that, until permission had first been given him by the regular +assembly of the people. As the house-father he himself could indeed in +his own family allow the proclamation of the Christian faith; but a +public proclamation must have the decision of the people upon it, that +is, of the assembly of all the free men. Landolf had arrived in the +autumn--the stated gathering of the commons would not be till spring, +and indeed not till May; in the meanwhile he must be contented. Hard as +it was for Landolf to wait so long, for his heart was burning to convert +the poor heathen to Christ, he yet knew the people and their customs too +well to contend against them. So all winter he abode with Hermann. And a +blessed winter that was. It was the habit of the family, when at evening +a fire was kindled in the middle of the hut, that the whole household, +men, women, and children, even the servants and maids, should assemble +around it--the master of the house having the place of honour in the +midst of them. The house-father then generally told stories about the +heroic deeds of their forefathers; about the ancient laws and usages, +the knowledge of which was handed down from father to son; and Landolf +sat among them and listened with the rest, but soon got permission to +tell on his part of the wonderful things of the Christian faith. So then +he profited by the long winter evenings to tell over the whole Bible +story of the Old and New Testaments. And with such simplicity, and with +such joy of faith and confidence he told it, that the hearts of his +hearers were stirred. In addition to that, he often sang the songs of +the Christian Church, in a clear, fine-toned voice; and presently some +among them, the younger especially, began to join in the singing. His +Bible stories were in all their mouths; and the people had such capital +memories that, he says himself, he needed usually to tell a thing but +once or twice, and all of them, even the children, could repeat it +almost word for word. This is a common experience among people who have +no written literature; they are apt to be uncommonly strong in power of +memory. And when he prayed too, and he did it daily upon his knees, he +was never disturbed, although he prayed in the cottage, which had only +one room for all; instead, he soon had the joy of seeing that many +kneeled down with him and with him called upon Christ, "the God of the +Christians," as they phrased it. So the winter passed, May came, ice and +snow melted away, and everybody got ready to attend the great assembly +of the people. It was to be held at the stone-houses. Landolf travelled +thither as Hermann's guest, under his protection--Hermann even letting +him ride his best horse, by way of doing him honour before all the +people. With a noble train of _freilings_--that is, of free men--they set +forth. + +"'The first day, however, they went no further than about a quarter of +an hour from Harm's _ouden dorp_, to a sacrificial altar which was +placed close by what was called the Deep Moor (Deepenbroock, the +chronicle says). There Landolf was to be spectator of a terrible scene, +which shows as well the frightful savageness and cruelty of the Saxons +as their noble purity of manners. By about noon of the abovenamed day, +all the free men of that whole region had gathered together at the altar +of sacrifice. This altar consisted, as may still be seen by the +so-called _stone-houses_ now standing, of eight slabs of granite, set up +in a quadrangle; with four openings, or doors, towards the four quarters +of the heaven, broad enough to let a man go through; and covered over +on the top with another great granite block. The young warriors brought +up two prisoners, who had been taken in a late campaign and fetched +along. One of them was made to go under the sacrifice altar through the +north and south doors, the other through the east and west doors. Then +stepped forth two priests, having their long flowing hair bound with a +mistletoe branch, and a sharp knife of flint in the hand. You must know +that the mistletoe, which is still to be found in plenty in our woods, +growing especially on birch trees, was held among our forefathers to be +sacred. For since it does not grow upon the ground like other plants, +but upon trees, birches particularly, it was believed that the seed of +this plant fell down from heaven; and this belief was strengthened by +the remarkable manner of its growth, so unlike other plants, with its +forking opposite branches and shining white berries. After solemn +prayers, which were half sung half said, to the two gods Woden and Thor, +and the two goddesses Hela and Hertha, the captive men were one after +the other laid each upon his back on the altar, so that his head hung +down over the edge of the altar.'" + +"Oh, stop, Ditto!" cried Maggie. + +"Why?" + +"It is too horrible." + +"It is pretty horrible. But men did it, and men suffered it. Can't you +hear it?" + +"Men were dreadful!" + +"Men _are_ dreadful where the light of the Gospel has not come. 'The +dark places of the earth are full of the habitations of cruelty.'" + +"Tell me about those gods and goddesses." + +"Were those Saxon Druids?" Flora asked. + +"It sounds so. But I don't know the gods of the Teutons as well as I do +those of the Greeks; I can't tell you much about Woden and Thor, Maggie. +We'll look when we go home. Now, am I to go on?" + +"I suppose so. Oh yes, I want you to go on. But it is dreadful." + +"Well, the captives were laid on the altar, as I read, 'and the priests +cut their throats with their knives of flint. When the quivering victim +had ceased to bleed, the body was taken up by the young warriors and +cast into the Deep Moor, where it immediately sunk in the bog. Landolf +had not recovered from the shock--for he had never seen a human +sacrifice before, having gone while yet a boy into the country of the +Christians--when his attention was fettered by another dreadful drama. + +"'Some of the young men fetched a long and broad hurdle, woven of fir +branches, laid it down before the altar, and went away; but came back +again presently with a man and a woman, who had been accused and +convicted of breaking the marriage vow. An accuser stepped forth, and +repeated the charge before the Billing. The Billing then asked the +accused whether the charge was true? and admonished them to confess the +truth, since never yet had a free Saxon told a lie. And when the guilty +people had owned their guilt, first their relations came forward and +spat in their faces; then the man's weapons were taken from him, his +hands and feet and the woman's were tied together: and so tied they were +thrown into the Deep Moor, the hurdle covered over them, and this and +the underlying bodies, by their nearest relations first of all, were +trodden down into the deep morass. So came the marriage-breakers to a +shameful end and received the reward of their sin. + +"'Hermann told Landolf afterwards that there were three crimes which +they punished on this disgraceful wise--marriage-breaking, lying, and +cowardice; because such people were not held worthy to die the +honourable death of a warrior, and be slain with weapons. Landolf +answered "O Billing! you are terrible people! yet even as heathen you +hate the sins that you know. What would you be, if you were once +Christians, and the Lord Jesus gave you His light!" + +"'And as I write down these words from the old chronicle, I could cast +my eyes to the ground for shame and weep tears of blood over the deep, +shameful apostasy of the German Christianity of the present day. Christ +gives us His light now; we are Christians now; but where have purity, +truth, and courage hid themselves? Are there ten in a hundred German +Christians that keep a pure life, true lips, and a brave heart? I do not +think it. Open and secret impurity, coarse and polished falsehood, +disgraceful cowardliness, fear of men and men-pleasing, have infested +the whole German Christian nation, and will soon bring down the judgment +of God; for "the bruise is incurable, and the wound is grievous." Great +and small, men and women, old and young, all are tainted with the +plague. Our heathen forefathers were better and cleaner in these things +than we Christians--they will condemn us at the last judgment, and we +shall have to stand abashed before them. And you that read this, if you +prize the name of a German--if, as you should, you prize a thousand +times more the name of a Christian--ask your conscience whether it has +not been uneasy under the foregoing narration; and if it has, then +repent, you degenerate German, you hypocritical Christian; repent in +sackcloth and ashes, and on your knees implore your God, the living +Saviour: "Jesus, my Lord, thou holy God, give me a pure nature, a lip of +faithfulness, and a bold heart, through the faith that is in Thee." + +"'And now I must go on to tell what more befell that same day, in which +the devilish nature of heathenism among our forefathers was shown as +frightfully as in their murderous sacrifices. Far behindhand as our +ancestors at that time were in all civilisation, they nevertheless +already understood the art of preparing intoxicating drinks. For this +purpose they used especially the wild oats which grew all over, and the +darnel grass, of which a strong, intoxicating beer was brewed; and to +make it yet more stupefying, they added a certain marsh plant. And +scarce ever was there a sacrifice that was not concluded with a +drinking-bout. So it fell out at this time. Many writers tell, how among +the old Germans it was even made a boast to spend eight or even fourteen +days, one after another, in such carousals. On the occasion of which we +are speaking, indeed, they lasted only over the rest of that day and +through the night; for the next day the intent was to go on to the +stone-houses. But what horror must Landolf have felt even in that short +time! When all of them had got drunk, a quarrel sprang up; and as each +man had his weapons with him, his war-axe especially, the quarrel came +to duels between man and man; and soon blood was flowing from most of +the people, and several corpses lay here and there. The bodies were +burned, their ashes buried, and a round hillock of earth thrown up over +them; for, as it was thought, they had fallen in honourable fight, as it +became men to do. And when Landolf, full of astonishment, asked the +Billing, who of all the crowd was the only one that had remained sober, +whether they did not then punish people for murder? the Billing in +wonder retorted by the question, where the murderers were? There had +been nothing but an open, honest fight, which was to the honour of those +concerned in it. + +"'Yet another abomination Landolf saw on this occasion, which, however, +was in a remarkable manner mixed up with truth and noblemindedness. I +mean that while this drinking-bout was going on, a number of men, young +and old, amused themselves with gaming, of which they were passionately +fond. To be sure they had no cards, neither dice. But they had little +longish, square cornered, wooden sticks, shaved white, and with certain +marks painted on the upper side. Each man took a certain number of these +in both hands, shook them, and threw them up in the air. When they fell +on the ground, they were carefully looked at to see how many of them lay +with the painted side up, and how many with the unpainted; and whoever +then had the most sticks with the painted side up, he had won. Upon each +throw they set some of their cattle, a hog, a cow, or an ox, or a horse; +perhaps at last a specially prized drinking vessel, made out of a ure-ox +horn; even finally, what they held to be most valuable of all, their +weapons; and at last Landolf saw a young man, who had lost all he had, +cast his freedom upon the last throw; and when this too was lost, he saw +how frankly and without grumbling he gave himself up to be the slave of +his fellow-player; so fast the German, even amid the bewilderments of +sin, held to truth and the inviolable keeping of his word once given. +Liberty was truly his most valuable and precious possession, for which +at any other time he was ready to die, arms in hand. And yet he yielded +this treasure quietly up, when he had lost it at play, rather than break +his word and his faith; if he were the stronger, he did not defend +himself; he did not take to flight, though he might have a hundred +opportunities--the free man who gloried in his freedom, became a slave, +that he might keep faith. This was how Landolf found things among the +heathen; he wept bitter tears over it; but he never desponded: so much +the firmer grew his resolution to preach the Gospel to this people, and +make the true God known to them. For the thought always rose in him, +what might come of a people whom God had so nobly endowed, among whom +even in the abominations of idolatry there shone forth such traits of +pureness of manners and nobleness of thought, were they but once renewed +and born again by the glorious Christian faith. + +"'But if Landolf were to come to light again in these days, when we +_are_ Christians, what would he say of us? Outward culture truly he +would find--the face of the earth would indeed have changed. But if he +came into the inns, where drinking and gaming are going on, into the +so-called _Maybeers_, into the assemblies for eating and drinking, and +playing at weddings, and housewarmings, and christenings; or into the +private drinking and gaming parties in people's houses, the gaming hells +at the watering-places, the drinking carousals of students, the +companies of the noble, the so-called entertainments with which +everything must be celebrated in Germany--how confounded would he be, to +find that the drinking and gaming devil is still the ruling devil in +Germany! but, on the other hand, faith and truth are extinguished. It is +true what the old song says--"Most are Christians only in name. God's +true seed are thinly scattered, those who love and honour Christ and do +His pleasure!" Well, God mend it!'" + +Meredith shut up his book. + +"Ditto," said Maggie thoughtfully, "is it so bad here?" + +"How do I know, Maggie?" + +"But what do you _think_?" + +Flora lifted up her head. "Now, Meredith, don't go and say something +absurd." + +"What do you want me to say?" + +"Why, the truth! that there are a great many nice people in America." + +"I have no doubt, so there are in Germany." + +"Then that talk is all stuff." + +"Pastor Harms never talked stuff." + +"How do you know?" + +"I have read enough of him to know. He was one of those he calls God's +true seed." + +"Then what did he mean? Or what do you mean?" + +"Well, Flora, I will ask you a question: How many people do you know who +live to do Christ's will?" + +Flora did not answer immediately. Maggie on her part went to +calculating. + +"I know--I know--three!" she said slowly. + +"_Three!_" said Flora. "Who are they?" + +"That's not the question, Flo," said her brother. "How many do _you_ +know?" + +"Well," said Flora, "Mr. Murray is one, and you are another, I believe; +but there are other nice people in the world." + +"I know people drink," said Maggie, so gravely and sagely that the +others laughed. "I do know. I have seen them at our house. You needn't +say anything, Esther; I have once or twice when I have been at dinner, +when you were not at home. Not papa, of course, and they don't do it +now. Papa won't have wine on the table at all, but I saw how they did. +Some of the gentlemen began with whisky and water, and one took brandy +and water, before dinner began." + +"Oh stop, Maggie!" Esther exclaimed. + +"No, but I want to tell you. Then they took Greek wine or Sauterne with +their soup. Then they took champagne with the dinner. Then they had +port wine with the cheese--oh, I recollect, Esther--and then they had +Madeira and sherry with dessert, and claret and Madeira and sherry with +the fruit. And some of them drank every one. I am glad papa won't have +wine at all now. Uncle Eden wouldn't, a good while ago." + +"People used in England, not very long ago, to drink a bottle or two of +wine after dinner each man," said Meredith; "but it is not quite so bad +as that nowadays." + +Flora was vexed, but silent; she too remembered bowls of punch and +baskets of champagne in _her_ father's time. + +"And gaming--" said Maggie, and stopped. + +"What?" said Meredith. + +"I was thinking how fond Fenton was of it." + +"Oh hush, Maggie! he wasn't!" Esther exclaimed. + +"It was just the same thing, Uncle Eden said." + +"Where is Fenton?" said Meredith. + +"He's coming to-morrow. He likes champagne too, and other wine when he +can get it. And Bolivar--Bolivar put something in his lemonade!" + +"Why, Maggie," said Meredith, smiling and passing his hand gently over +the little girl's head, "you are taking gloomy views of life!" + +"I was only thinking, Ditto. But it seems to me so very strange that +people should be worse now than when they were heathen Saxons." + +"People are a mixture now, you must remember. The good part are a great +deal better, and I suppose the bad part are a great deal worse." + +"Worse than the heathen!" cried Flora. + +"Well, judge for yourself. But darkness in the midst of light is always +the blackest, and not only by contrast either." + +"If you think people are so awful, I should think you would go to work +and preach to them," said Esther. + +"I will," said Meredith calmly. + +"Then what will you do with Meadow Park?" + +"Oh, he proposes to turn that into an hospital." + +"An hospital!"---- + +"Flora is romancing a little," said her brother. "There are no +infirmaries put up yet. How sweet this place is! Do you smell the fir +trees and pines? The air is a spice-box." + +"The air a box!" cried Maggie laughing. + +"I mean it is full of perfumes, like a spice-box. And these old stones, +laid up here by the soldiers' hands of a hundred years ago, just make a +dining place for us now. But it's pretty! And the air is nectar." + +"You can choose whether you will smell it, or swallow it," remarked his +sister. + +"By your leave, I will do both. Well, shall I go on?" + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + + +"'The morning after the sacrificial feast at the Deep Moor, Landolf with +the Billing and the free men travelled on to the May diet, which was to +be held at the seven stone-houses, and before noon came to the place. +There were an enormous crowd of free men assembled, priests, nobles, and +commons. The place lies in the middle of a vast, level heath, on the +soft declivity of a rising ground, which on the other side falls away +sharply down to a boggy dell. I have already described the stone-houses. +There are seven of them, a number which must have been held sacred among +the Saxons. At least in our country the so-called "Huhnen" graves, in +which our forefathers lie buried, are always found either alone, or +constantly by sevens together in a wide circle. The spot on which the +stone-houses stand must have been sacred to Woden, for in the chronicle +it is called "Wuotanswohrt," and _wohrt_ in Saxon always means a +secluded, enclosed, sacred place, especially devoted to the +administration of justice; for courts of justice were held under the +open sky and always by day, as though to denote that justice is of +heavenly origin, courts the light of sunshine and shuns the darkness. +The word _wohrt_ is connected with _wehren_' (which means, to keep off, +Maggie), 'because everything unholy must be kept off from it, on which +account also such places were hedged in. Of the transactions at this May +diet, it is only told that a great sacrifice was offered, this time +consisting of fourteen men, two of whom were slaughtered upon each of +the stone-houses in the manner already described; that then cases of law +were decided according to the ancient usage; then the state of things +between the Saxons and the Franks was considered; and at this +opportunity Landolf, who as guest of the Billing had been present at all +the discussions, begged to be permitted to speak, and asked for leave to +preach Christianity in the country. Scarcely had he preferred his +request, when threatening and distrustful looks were directed upon him +from almost all present, and many a hand grasped to the war-axe; for at +the word _Christianity_, men's thoughts at once flew to the Franks, +those hitherto enemies of the Saxons, by whom after three and thirty +years of fighting they had at last been subdued. The Billing immediately +observed the excitement, and before any of it could get open expression +he himself was upon his feet. He related that Landolf was no Frank, but +an Eastphalian, and so of their own people and race; that when a boy he +had been taken prisoner by the Franks in the war and carried to the +Franks' country, where he had been converted to Christianity, and had +been a pupil of the good Liudgar, who himself was a Saxon and known by +report to all Saxons. That afterwards he had lived with this Liudgar in +the country of their brethren the Westphalians, and half a year before +this time had come to him quite alone and become his guest; and as his +guest he would protect the man, since he had done nothing contrary to +the customs and usages of the Saxon people. In his own home he had +permitted him to preach Christianity; and now here, in the assembly of +the people, according to ancient law and usage, Landolf desired to ask +whether he might be allowed to proclaim openly in the country the Gospel +of the God of the Christians. This must now be regularly debated in the +assembly of the people; and he gave permission to Landolf that free and +unmolested he might say out his wishes and tell exactly what the +Christian belief was. Then every one might give his opinion. + +"'Now Landolf rose up. His tall figure, his noble presence, and the +fearless, frank, spirited glance of his eye round the circle, made a +deep impression; and in noiseless silence the assembly listened to his +speech, the first preaching that ever was held in our country. This +short, simple discourse has so grown into my heart and I like it so +much, that I shall give it here.' Flora, are you listening?" + +"Of course." + +"I didn't know but you were too busy counting your stitches. I want you +to hear this speech of Landolf's. It is very fine. + +"'"In the name of God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, the only +true God. Amen. Men and brethren, hear my words. One hundred years ago" +(A.D. 960, according to the chronicle), "came two pious Christian +priests to you, to make known to your fathers the Gospel of Christ, the +true God; they were the dark and the fair Ewald. They were your own +relations, they came from England; they were your friends, they had left +England and come over the sea for the love of you; they were your +guests, they had been sheltered in your houses. They wanted to let you +know that God has become your Brother, that He might deliver you from +your sins. You would not let them preach in your land--you were free not +to do that; but you murdered them; here on these stones you slew them in +honour of Woden; your brothers, your friends, your guests, you murdered, +who had done you no evil. Since that time the true God, the God of the +Christians, has been angry with you. You number as many as the Franks +do; you are just as brave as they. Yet Charlemagne, the Frank, has +conquered and subdued you. How is that? God fought with Charlemagne; He +loved him--he is a Christian. God fought against you, for you have +killed his priests; you are murderers. You can kill me too. Do it; I am +not afraid of death; I am the servant of God; if you kill me, God will +take me up to heaven. God's anger will not depart from you, unless you +become Christians. Why will you not become Christians? Your gods are +good for nothing; they cannot help you; they have not been able to stand +before the Christian's God. Where is your _Irmensul_? Charlemagne has +broken it to pieces." (Irmensul was an idol image that stood at +Hildesheim). "Where is your _Wodensaak_? Charlemagne has cut it down." +(This Woden's oak stood at Verden on the Aller.) "Where is your +_Helawohrt_? Charlemagne has destroyed it." (The sacred place of the +goddess Hela was on the Aller, in what is now the suburb Heelen at +Celle.) "Where are your brave leaders, Wittekind and Albion? They have +become Charlemagne's friends and vassals; they are Christians. Do you +think it was Charlemagne that subdued them? No, a greater One, the God +of the Christians has subdued them. Charlemagne indeed often overthrew +them; but the Christian's God has conquered them. Do you know how that +came about? I have heard in Münster, and I will tell you. + +"'"After the last battle they lost--you know about that, your young men +bled there too--before peace was concluded, the brave Wittekind said to +his brother in arms, Albion, 'Come, let us go! we will pay a visit to +Charlemagne in his fortress, and take a look at his power; for he is the +greatest in the land.' So the bold heroes set forth; hiding their strong +frames under the dress of beggars; for they wished to remain unknown, +and to see and prove for themselves. Fear was not in their brave hearts. +They travelled and travelled for days and days; and wherever they came, +Christians gave them food. Then they questioned with one another--'Is +_this_ what Christians are?' They were many nights on their journeyings, +and wherever they came the Christians took them in, although they were +beggars. Then they asked one another, 'Is this what Christians are?' +Many a time they lost their way, in cities, villages, and fields; the +Christians set them right, and they said to each other in astonishment, +'Is _this_ what the Christians are?' At last they came to Ingelheim." +(The chronicle names Ingelheim, and not Aix-la-Chapelle.) "They went +through the city, admiring the handsome houses and magnificent streets, +till they came to a large house, the largest of all they had hitherto +seen. 'This must be Charlemagne's dwelling,' said they; 'for certainly +he is the greatest man among his people!' They went in--they heard +singing, that sounded as if it came down from heaven. They went further +in; there stood up in the chancel a man in a white dress (it was a +priest in white church robes) who was speaking: 'Hear, you who believe +the glad message; the great God in heaven loves you. He loves you so +much that He sent His dear Son Jesus Christ to you. Jesus Christ came +down from heaven; God's Son became your brother, so little and poor that +He lay in a manger in the stall for cattle. When He was grown up, He +preached everywhere and said, Sinners, turn, and I will save you. He +made the lame to go and the blind to see, and healed the sick, and +raised up the dead that lay in their graves. He shed His blood for +sinners; sinners put Him to death. He was still kind to them in His +death, and prayed for His murderers, Father, forgive them! for they know +not what they do. They buried Him. But can God stay in the grave? Lo! +after three days the earth quaked and the rocks rent; Jesus rose up out +of the grave, Jesus went up to heaven, and sits now again upon the +throne of His Father, God. He reigns; He commands: Repent, and I will +save you, you shall come into my heaven and reign with me. + +"'"So preached the priest. There stood the two heroes in astonishment, +but they were to be yet more astonished. Lo! a tall man steps forward +through the church up to the altar, where the priest was standing; and a +crown was upon his head. It was the King Charlemagne. The two heroes +knew him, and yet they did not know him. Was this the mighty hero, whose +flashing sword in battle struck and slew? Was this the man whose eyes +blazed with the fire of battle? He wears no sword here; his eyes sparkle +peacefully; as he stands before the altar, he humbly takes his crown off +and sets it on the ground; then he bows his knee upon the steps of the +altar and prays to Jesus Christ, the God of the Christians, and all the +people fall upon their knees, and the heavenly music of them who are +singing praises swells out again--'Glory to God in the highest, and on +earth peace, good-will to men.' Then Charlemagne rises and sits down in +a chair, and the man in white clothing preaches of Jesus, who came to +save sinners, and Charlemagne bows his high head so often as the name +of Jesus is named. Then the priest blesses the congregation--the service +is over. + +"'"It was not Charlemagne's house in which they were; it was God's +house, in which Charlemagne had been praying. God is greater than +Charlemagne, and so must God's house be the biggest in the city. The +brothers in arms went forth of the church. Before the church door there +was a great crowd of beggars, in garments like their own. Gentle and +kind, Charlemagne goes to the poor people, giving each one a piece of +money and saying, 'God bless it to you, my children; pray for me too.' +'Is that King Charlemagne?' the heroes asked each other by their +astonished looks. Then the king steps up to them, looks at them +graciously, and says--'You have never been here before, my friends; come +into my house, and I will give you your portion.' He goes on and they +follow him. They come into his house, which was smaller than God's +house. They go into his apartment; there he dismisses the attendants, +goes up to Wittekind and Albion, offers them his hand like a brother and +says: 'Welcome to my citadel, you brave Saxon heroes! God has heard my +prayer; my foes are becoming my friends. Put off your rags. I will dress +you as princes should be dressed!' And he had princely robes put upon +them, and said further--'Now you are my guests; and soon, I hope, the +guests of the Lord my God also.' The two heroes had not expected this, +that Charlemagne should know them in their disguise; much less that he +would treat them so nobly and brotherly. Fourteen days later, the priest +in white garments baptized them in the name of God the Father, the Son, +and the Holy Ghost; and they swore allegiance to the Saviour, Jesus +Christ. + +"'"You men, this is the way that your heroes have led the way for you. +Saxons, will you forsake your dukes? The curse of sin has been cleared +away from them. Now I have come to you; I too am a priest of Jesus +Christ; I would gladly teach you and clear the curse of sin away from +you, that you may be saved and come to heaven. Say, shall I preach among +you? or will you kill me too, as you killed the two Ewalds? Here I am; +but in the midst of you I am also in God's hand." + +"'Landolf ceased. The whole assembly had heard him in silence; even the +heathen priests had listened. Then the Billing lifted up his voice and +spoke: "Landolf, my guest and friend, thou hast spoken well, and thou +hast been a good man in my house; I will hear thee further. Brothers, +let us decide that Landolf shall be free to go about in our country and +preach. It is no dishonour to bow the knee before that God who is +Charlemagne's God and the God of the Christians; it is no shame to pray +to that God who has conquered our brave heroes. Decide!" + +"'Then stepped forth an old man with white hair, who was the oldest man +in the assembly, and spoke: "Cast the lot!" + +"'The young men made ready seven little sticks, square-cornered, of oak +wood, marked on the upper side with sacred signs. One of the heathen +priests, the chronicle calls him Walo, shook them in his hands and then +threw them up in the air. During this time, Landolf was upon his knees, +crying, "Lord, Lord, give the victory, that this noble people may come +to know Thee!" Then the sticks fall to earth, and behold! six of them +lie with the signs up, and only one with the signs down. This is +announced, and then the whole assembly cries out--"The Christian's God +has won!" and the Billing shakes Landolf by the hand and says, "Now go +in and out through the whole land; nobody will hinder you from preaching +the name of your God. But do not pass my house by; come back with me; I +will become a Christian." And now the assembly broke up; everybody went +home to his house, Landolf accompanying the Billing. When they were +again passing the stone of sacrifice at the Deep Moor, Landolf +said--"Billing, that is your altar-stone; is it not?" "It belongs to me +and my house." "There my first church shall stand," said Landolf, glad +and strong in faith. "May I build it?" "Build it my brother," answered +the Billing; "and when it is ready I will be the first to be baptized in +it. But the stone of sacrifice we will throw into the moor, that the +remembrance of it may be lost." + +"'Now did Landolf go to work joyfully; by day he wrought, and at night +he preached, and taught in the Billing's house, and in all the country +round. No longer than three months after, the little wooden church was +done--the first in this whole region; and the same day that Landolf +consecrated it, Harm the Billing with five sons and three daughters, and +the greater part of the friends of his family and of his farm servants, +received holy baptism, the water for which was fetched out of the +neighbouring Oerze. Now, of course, that church is no longer standing; +it was burnt down afterwards by the heathen Wends, and in its place the +large stone church in Hermannsburg was built. But to this day the field +where that first church stood belongs to the Hermannsburg parsonage, and +is still called _the cold church_. + +"'This was the foundation of the Christian Church in our valley of the +Oerze; and as Landolf had come from Minden, the whole Oerze valley was +attached to the see of Minden, while the rest of the Lüneburg country +came to belong to the see of Verden. + +"'Now the faithful Landolf laboured on indefatigably. He sent one of his +new converts to Minden and Münster, to get more helpers from thence for +his work. Twelve came, who were put under Landolf; and now for the first +time the work could be taken hold of vigorously. Landolf must have lived +and laboured until 830 or 840, and so blessed was his agency that the +whole country of the Horzsahzen was converted to Christianity. It is +brought forward as a proof of this, that at the great May diets held at +the stone-houses the following laws were unanimously enacted: no more +horse's flesh to be eaten; no more human sacrifices to be brought; no +more dead to be burned; and all Woden's oaks to be hewn down. And in +truth these laws do show the dominance of Christianity, for precisely +these things named were the peculiar marks of heathenism. Of the +interior condition of Christianity, little is told; only it is remarked +that the entire change in the country was so great and manifest, that +the bishops Willerich of Bremen and Helingud of Verden sent priests to +convince themselves with their own eyes whether what they had heard with +their ears was true; and these messengers had found not a single heathen +left in the whole region. As a good general, Landolf moreover understood +how everywhere to seize the right points where with the most effect +heathenism might be grappled with and overthrown. He always went +straight to the heart of the old religion. We have already seen how his +first church was built by the Billing's sacrifice stone. Westward from +Hermannsburg is what is called the Winkelberg, upon which was the +burying-place of the heathen priests, for the most part cultivated land +now, but the twice seven so-called Hühnen graves are still to be seen +there. At the foot of this hill he established what was called the +_Pfarrwohrt_, where the spiritual courts should be holden; and close by +this place he laid the foundation-stone of the Quänenburg, a house +surrounded with a moat, in which the young girls of the country might be +taught and educated (Quäne or Kwäne meant a young girl). Both places, +Pfarrwohrt and Quänenburg, are arable fields now, still belonging to the +parsonage. + +"'An hour above Hermannsburg the two rivers Oerze and Wieze flow into +each other. At that place, in an oak wood, the idol Thor was worshipped. +There Landolf was equally prompt to build a chapel, that the idol +worship might be banished. As he had consecrated the church in +Hermannsburg to Peter and Paul, so he consecrated this chapel to +Lawrence. Around this chapel the village Müden sprang up, so called +because the two rivers there flow into one another, or Münden. Then he +went further up the Oerze and erected a cloister and a chapel at a place +which was sacred to the goddess Freija. At that time a cloister was +called a munster. The village of Munster grew up around this cloister. +In the same way he went further up the Weize, where there was a wood +sacred to Hertha. In its neighbourhood he built a chapel which was +consecrated to Bartholomew. Around this chapel Wiezendorf arose. About +an hour and a half distant from Hermannsburg, there was a very large, +magnificent wood of oaks and beeches; such a forest was then called a +wohld. In this forest the heathen priests, the so-called Druids, were +specially at home; there, too, they kept the white horses which were +used in soothsaying. The wood extended for hours in length and breadth. +He could not give that the go-by; and that he might dash right into the +midst of it, he built at the spot where it was narrowest a chapel on the +one side to Mary _in valle_, and on the other side a chapel to Mary _in +monte_. The first means Mary in the valley, the second, Mary on the +hill. The villages Wohlde and Bergen have thence arisen. So he grappled +with heathenism just there where its strongest points were, and always, +by God's grace, got the victory; for the Lord indeed says: "My glory +will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images." And as +once the Philistine's idol Dagon fell speechless upon the ground before +the ark of the covenant of God, so in our Oerze valley everywhere fell +the altars of the idols before the sign of the Cross. + +"'Besides all this, Landolf and his companions were skilled husbandmen, +who themselves shunned no manual labour nor painstaking, and who knew +right well how to eat their bread in the sweat of their brow. So they +introduced agriculture universally, of which our forefathers at that +time knew little or nothing; and thus they were not only the spiritual +but also the material benefactors of the whole district. How much a +single man can do, who is wholly given to the Lord, and who is moved by +burning love to the Lord and to his fellows! God give all preachers and +teachers, and especially all messengers to the heathen, such a mind, +such a brave heart, such a single eye, such will to work! that some good +may be done. + +"'About the next hundred years I have found nothing said in the +chronicle. Probably things went on in such a quiet way that there was +nothing particular to say concerning them. But then comes the relation +of a noteworthy occurrence.'" + +Meredith shut up his book. + +"Well, aren't you going on?" said Maggie. + +"Presently. I want a run down to the shore and see how the water looks." + +"Why, it always looks just the same way," said Esther. + +"Does it? I am afraid something must be the matter with your eyes." + +"Oh, of course sometimes it blows, and sometimes it is smooth; but what +is that?" + +"Just according to your eyes." + +"Aren't all eyes alike?" + +"Not exactly. Some see." + +"What do you see in the water?" + +"There is one peculiarity of eyes," said Meredith. "You cannot see +through another person's. Come, Maggie, let us stretch ourselves a bit." + +Taking hold of hands, the two ran and scrambled down the steep, rocky +pitch of the hill, to the edge of the river. The wind was not blowing +to-day; soft and still the water lay, with a mild gleam under the +October sun, sending up not even a ripple to the shore. There was a +warm, spicy smell in the woods; there was a golden glow here and there +from a hickory; the hills were variegated and rich-hued in the distance +and near by. Meredith sat down on a stone by the water and looked out on +the view. But he was graver than Maggie liked. + +"Ditto," she said after a while, "you are thinking of something." + +"Of a good many things, Maggie. How good the world is! and men are not!" + +"What then, Ditto?" + +"One ought to do something to make them better." + +"What can you do?" + +"What could Landolf the Saxon? I do not know, Maggie; but one ought to +be as ready as Landolf was to do anything. And I think I am." + +"Then God will show you what to do, Ditto." + +Meredith bent down and kissed the earnest little face, "You are the only +friend I have got, Maggie, that thinks and feels as I do." + +"O Ditto! Uncle Eden?" + +"Well, I suppose Mr. Murray would do me the honour to let me call him my +friend," said Meredith. + +"And papa?" + +"Mr. Candlish is very good to me; but you see, I do not know him so +well, Maggie." + +"Well, he thinks just as you do. And papa goes and preaches in the +streets when he is in New York; in those dreadful places where the +people live that never go to church." + +"_That's_ like Landolf," said Meredith. "I almost envy men like that old +monk." + +"Why?" + +"All his strength laid out for something worth while--all his life. And +think how much he did! And I fret to be doing nothing, and yet I don't +know what to do." + +"You can ask Uncle Eden when he comes." + +"I hope he'll come! Now don't think any more about it, Maggie. This is +the prettiest place I ever saw in my life. I want to get out on that +water." + +"Now?" + +"Not now. Some time." + +"Oh, we'll all go," said Maggie joyfully. "We might go in the boat +somewhere and take our book and our dinner, and have a grand time, +Ditto!" + +Meredith laughed and said it was all "grand times;" and then he got up +and strolled along by the water, picking up flat stones and making ducks +and drakes on the smooth, river surface. This was a new pastime to +Maggie, and so pleasant to both that they forgot the book and the girls +left on the height, and delighted their eye with the dimpling water and +ricochetting stones time after time, and could not have enough. At last +flat stones began to grow scarce, and Maggie and Meredith remounted to +the rest of the party. + +"Well!" said Flora, "you've come in good time. We are going home." + +"Home!" echoed Maggie. + +"To be sure. Don't you think we want dinner some time?" said Esther; +"and we are tired sitting here. And it is growing late besides. Just +look where the sun is." + +There was nothing to be said to the sun; and the books and work being +stowed again in the cart, Meredith took his place as porter, and the +little company returned to the house. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + + +A little tired, and not a little hungry, it was very good now to have a +change, and be at home. The girls went to dress for dinner, while +Meredith, whose toilet was sooner made, sat on the terrace in the mellow +October light and dreamed. Dinner went off merrily. After dinner, when +it began to be dark, they all repaired to the library. A little fire was +kindled here, for the pleasure of it rather than from the need. The +afghan and worsted embroidery came out again under the bright lamplight; +but Meredith sat idly tending the fire. + +"Ditto," said Maggie, "can't we see about all those Saxon gods now?--or +don't you want to?" + +"Of course, I want to see about them," said Meredith, springing up and +going to the bookcases. "I want to know myself, Maggie." + +"Were they different from the Roman and Grecian gods?" Flora asked. + +"It is safe for people who cannot keep their ears open, to refrain from +questions," Meredith answered. + +"Why, I heard all you read," said Flora, pouting a little; "but how +should I know but those were the same as the Roman gods, only under +different names?" + +"If you please to recollect, you will remember that the two nations had +nothing to do with one another except at the spear's point. But if I can +find what I want, I will enlighten you and myself too," said Meredith, +rummaging among the bookshelves. "Here it is, I believe!" And with a +volume in his hand he came back to the table and the lamp; but then +became absorbed in study. Worsted needles flew in and out. Maggie +watched Meredith's face and the leaves of his book as they were turned +over. + +"Well, Ditto?" she said after a while. + +"What?" + +"Yes, _what_?" said Maggie, laughing. "Have you found anything?" + +"To be sure!" said Meredith, straightening himself up. "Yes, Maggie, +it's all here--in a somewhat brief fashion." + +"Well, who was Woden?" + +"Woden was the principal deity. He was the god of the moving air, and of +the light." + +"Like Apollo," said Flora. + +"Yes--more like Zeus or Jupiter. He was the all-father--the universally +present spirit: above all the other gods. He was the god of the sky. +They represented him with two ravens that sat on his shoulders, which +every morning brought him news of whatever was going on in _Midgard_." + +"What's Midgard?" + +"Our lower earth. And the abode of the gods was called _Asgard_." + +"We did not read anything about Midgard and Asgard to-day." + +"No, but I thought you might like to know. And then _Walhalla_ was the +place where Odin put half of the brave men who were slain in battle." + +"What became of the other half?" said Flora. + +"The goddess Freija took care of them. What she did with them, this book +does not say. I have read before of the 'halls of Walhalla,' I am glad +to know what it means." + +"Who was Freija?" + +"Wait a bit; I have not got through with Woden, or Odin. His two ravens +were called _Hunin_ and _Munin_--which means, Thought and Memory. That's +pretty! Woden is painted also as attended by two dogs. He was the chief +and head of the gods, you understand. Now Freija was one of his wives. +Naturally, she was the goddess of good weather and harvests--a fair kind +of goddess generally. Also the dead were in her care; the other half of +the heroes slain in battle came into her hands. She is painted riding +in a chariot drawn by two cats." + +"But, Ditto, if Woden was the sky god, I don't see why those old Saxons +should have fancied he would like such cruel sacrifices. Sunlight looks +bright and cheerful." + +Meredith mused. + +"Yes," he said, "it does look bright and cheerful--but, it hates +darkness." + +"What then, Ditto?" + +"Darkness means sin." + +"Oh, do you think that?" cried Maggie. "To be sure, I know darkness +means sin. But do you think those old Saxons"---- + +"They felt the difference between darkness and light, undoubtedly, and +they feared the sun-god." + +"But I don't see how they could think he was so cruel, though." + +"I suppose that is all quite natural," said Meredith musingly. "How +afraid we should be of God, if we did not know Jesus Christ!" + +"Were the old Hebrews so afraid of Him?" Flora asked. + +"Terribly. Don't you remember? they always thought they must die when +the Angel of Jehovah appeared to them? And how should people who never +heard of Christ guess that God is so good as He is? They feel that they +are sinners--how should they know that He will forgive?" + +"But to think to please Him by such awful sacrifices!" said Flora. + +"I suppose the idea was, to give him the most precious thing there was." + +"I shall ask Mr. Murray," said Flora. "It is all a puzzle to me. In the +first place, I do not believe such heathen people know they are +sinners." + +"Yes, they do. Certainly they do, all the world over, and this is one of +the ways they show it. 'How beautiful' among them must be 'the feet of +him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace!--that bringeth +good tidings of good; that publisheth salvation!'" + +"What a pity you hadn't lived in Landolf's time!" said Flora. + +"There are enough heathen left," said her brother, "and worse than those +old Saxons. Theirs was not a bad specimen of heathen mythology, by any +means. And yet, think of believing one's self given over to the tender +mercies of Woden and Thor!" + +"And yet by your account people were better than they are now!" + +"Some people--and some people," answered Meredith. "I must ask Mr. +Murray about that. I do not understand it." + +"We shall get work enough ready for him by the time he comes. Well, go +on with your Saxon mythology and be done with it. I do not think it is +very interesting." + +"Maggie and I are of a different opinion. But it was rather Norse +mythology. Sweden and Norway and Denmark were all of one race and one +faith. Norsemen carried it to Iceland, and it is odd enough that from +Iceland we get our best accounts of it." + +Maggie had mounted up with her knees in a chair and her elbows on the +table, leaning over towards Meredith, and now begged he would tell about +Thor. + +"Thor was the thunderer." + +"What do you mean?" + +"The god of thunder and lightning. He was the son of Odin, or Woden. He +is represented driving in a car drawn by two goats and with a great +hammer in his hand. This hammer was forged by the dwarfs, Kobolds, I +suppose, who dwelt in the centre of the earth." + +"What did he want a hammer for?" + +"To strike withal. And when Thor's hammer came down, that made the +thunder, don't you see? and his stroke was the thunderbolt." + +"I should think they would have been frightened to death in a +thunder-storm." + +"Not an expression those old Saxons knew anything about." + +"Well, I should think they would have feared Thor." + +"There is no doubt but they did. Those poor captives at the stone-houses +were slaughtered in honour of Woden and Thor, don't you remember? But he +was also the god of fire, and the god of the domestic hearth. Listen to +this: 'Among the pagan Norsemen, Thor's hammer was held in as much +reverence as Christ's cross among Christians. It was carved on their +gravestones; and wrought of wood or iron, it was suspended in their +temples.'" + +"Thor's hammer!" repeated Maggie. "Poor people!" + +"Nobody worships Thor now," observed Esther scornfully. + +"We call one of our days after him yet," said Meredith. "There is a +relic of the old Thor worship. Indeed all our days are heathenish in +name." + +"All?" said Flora, looking up. "What is Monday?" + +"Just the Moon's day, don't you see? Sunday is the Sun's day. Woden's +day and Thor's day, you know. Then Friday is of course Freija's day--or +Freyr's day--I don't know which. Freyr was the god of weather and +fruits--another impersonation of Odin. He rode through the air on a wild +boar, faster than any horse could catch him. An odd steed! And Tuesday +is Tyr's day, or Zin's day--it comes to much the same thing. He was +especially the 'god of war and of athletic sports.'" + +"Then there is Saturday left," said Maggie. "What is Saturday?" + +"I think it must have been Saturn's day--and so not Saxon, Maggie, but +Roman. The names of our months are all Roman, you know?" + +"Are they?" + +"Yes, but wait. Here is something curious. The Saxon devil was called +Loki. Now Loki had three children. Listen to this. 'One was the huge +wolf Fenris, who at the last day shall hurry gaping to the scene of +battle, with his lower jaw scraping the earth and his nose scraping the +sky.'" + +"What is curious in that?" asked Flora. "It is just like a children's +fairy tale." + +"But these are not children's fairy tales; and they mean something. How +did these old Norsemen know there would be a scene of battle at the last +day, and great destruction?" + +"How do you know it?" + +"The Bible." + +"Does the Bible say so, Ditto?" said Maggie. "Where does it say so?" + +"Many places." + +"Tell us one, Ditto." + +Meredith rose up and fetched a Bible and pushed his book of Norse +mythology on one side. Then he opened at the nineteenth chapter of the +Revelation. + +"'And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat +upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth +judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head +were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he +himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood; and his name +is called The Word of God. And the armies which were in heaven followed +him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out +of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the +nations; and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the +wine press of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And he hath on +his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF +LORDS. + +"'And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud +voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and +gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God; that ye may +eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of +mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and +the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great. + +"'And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, +gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and +against his army. And the beast was taken, and with him the false +prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them +that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his +image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with +brimstone. And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat +upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the +fowls were filled with their flesh.'" + +"I do not understand all that, the least bit," said Flora. + +"You understand there will be a war, and a battle?" + +"But that's a figure." + +"No, it's a fact. How should it be a figure?" + +"What do you understand by a 'sword proceeding out of His mouth?'" + +"That is in the description of Christ in the first chapter: 'And he had +in his right hand seven stars; and out of his mouth went a sharp +two-edged sword.'" + +"Well, isn't that a figure? What does it mean?" + +"Listen to the description of Christ that Isaiah gives: 'With +righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the +meek of the earth; and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his +mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked.'" + +"Well?" + +"And in Thessalonians: 'Then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the +Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with +the brightness of his coming.' And in Ephesians: 'The sword of the +Spirit, which is the word of God.'" + +"Well," said Flora, "that is not a real sword, with a handle and an +edge." + +"The Bible says it has two edges." + +"Nonsense! you know what I mean." + +"I know. Certainly, Flora, the weapons of that battle may not be weapons +of flesh and blood, or for flesh and blood; but the _battle_ is real, +don't you see? and the awful overthrow and destruction, and what I am +wondering about is, how those old Saxons knew there would be such a +battle at the end? and how they knew that the mischief would in some +sense come from the devil." + +"_Did_ they know it?" + +"The wolf Fenris was one of the devil's children, as they made it out. +And another was the serpent which Odin cast into the sea, where it grew +and grew till it had wound up the whole earth in its folds. That is very +curious!" + +"What, Ditto?" + +"How did they know _that_?" + +"Know what?" + +"Why, don't you see? The serpent is one of the Bible words for the +devil; here, it is a child of the devil who, coming to the earth, has +enveloped the whole world in his toils. The Bible says, I know, +somewhere, that those who are not saved by Christ are '_in_ the Wicked +one.' How did they know so much, and so little, those old people?" + +"Where did you find all those Bible verses just now about the sword, +Ditto?" + +"References here, Maggie." + +"Well, go on, Ditto. There were three children of the devil." + +"The third was the goddess Hel or Hela. She was the goddess of the lower +world, and was half black and half blue. I wonder! that must be where +our word 'hell' comes from. What dreadful old times! And times now are +just as bad, for a great part of the world. The goddess Hel was very +like the horrible Hindoo goddess Kali, they say here." + +"I don't believe those times were so much worse than these times," said +Flora. + +"You think human sacrifices are a pleasant religious feature?" + +"Not to the victims; but I suppose the rest were all accustomed to it, +and didn't feel so shocked as you do." + +"Landolf seems to have been a good deal shocked." + +"Are you going to read us anything more, Ditto, about those queer old +gods?" + +"There isn't much more that I need read, Maggie. I have told you about +the principal deities. They believed in quantities of lesser +ones--really, personifications of the good and evil powers of nature. +The elves and their king, and the dwarfs living inside the hills. The +dwarfs owned the treasures of the mines, and worked in metals and +precious stones." + +"I should like to believe in elves and fairies," said Flora. + +"Why?" + +"Oh, it's pretty and poetical. Fairy rings, and all that." + +"Would you like to think there were hidden powers in every piece of +water, and rock, and hill, which might feel kindly disposed towards you +and might not? which might suddenly play you an ill trick and make you +most mischievous trouble, for nothing but mischief." + +"Did people believe so, Ditto?" + +"Certainly. A great many people, in various parts of the world." + +"I would rather believe that God has it all in His hand," said Maggie +contentedly. + +"So would I, Maggie. And that Jesus has the keys of hell and of death." + +"I wonder when Fenton will be here," remarked Esther. + +"I hope--he won't come--till--Uncle Eden gets here," said Maggie very +deliberately. + +"Why not?" said Esther sharply. + +"He is uneasy," said Maggie, with a corresponding shrug of her +shoulders; "I never know what Fenton will take it into his head to do." + +"That is a nice way to speak of your brother." + +Maggie considered that. "I can't find any nicer," she said at length. + +"Then I wouldn't speak at all." + +"Never mind," said Flora. "One's brothers are always a mixture of +comfort and plague. And that is true of the best of them, Esther; you +never know what they will take into their heads to do." + +"Oh, Flora!"----Maggie began, and stopped. + +"You think there is a difference between brothers and brothers," said +Flora laughing. "Well, my experience is what I tell you." + +"Ditto," said Maggie suddenly, "are there any such stones as those queer +stone-houses in this country?" + +"Not that ever I heard of, Maggie. But in the old world, as it is +called, there are a great many, scattered over a great many countries. +Not all just like the stone-houses. Some are just single stones set up +on end. Some are two laid together, one resting on the other slantwise; +the stone-houses in Lüneburg seem to have been made of nine stones, one +lying on eight." + +"Did people offer human sacrifices on all of them?" + +"I fancy not. But I believe it is tolerably uncertain. Did you never see +a picture of Stonehenge?" + +Maggie knew nothing about Stonehenge. Meredith went to the bookcases +again and got another volume. This contained many illustrations of old +stone monuments of various kinds, and he and Maggie were soon absorbed +in studying them. + +"There!" cried Maggie, as he opened at one of the earliest +illustrations, "there, Ditto! that is very like--_very_ like--what you +read of the stone-houses. Isn't it?" + +"Fearfully like," said Meredith. "This is in Ireland. I dare say some of +those old Druids sacrificed men on it." + +"How could they set it up so? Look, Ditto--the top stone rests just on +one point at the lowest end. I should think it would topple down." + +"It has stood hundreds of years, Maggie, and will stand for all +time--unless an earthquake shakes it down. This dolmen is made of four +stones." + +"What is a dolmen?" + +"This is one. It says here in a note, that the name comes 'from the +Celtic word _Daul_, a table, and _Chen_ or _Chaen_, a stone.' A stone +table. And it says here that there are probably a hundred of such +dolmens in Great Britain and Ireland. How ever did the builders get +that enormous block poised on the tips of the other three?" + +Slowly and absorbedly the two went on exploring the pages of the book; +stopping to read, stopping to talk and discuss the questions of tumuli +and stone circles, dolmens and menhirs. The opinion of the author, that +the great circles commemorated great battles, and were raised in honour +of the dead buried within them, and that many dolmens had a sepulchral +character, was somewhat confusing to the Druidical and tragical +impressions left from the Saxon chronicle; which, however, at last got +an undeniable support. In the stones of Stennis, over which Maggie and +Meredith pondered with intense interest, one of the enormous up-standing +masses has a hole through it. And this stone, there is no doubt, was +dedicated to Woden. And so long had the superstition of Woden's worship +clung to it, that until very lately an oath sworn by persons joining +their hands through this hole, was reckoned especially sacred; even the +courts of law so recognising it. After that, Woden seemed to Maggie to +have strong claim to all the upright stones and altar-looking dolmens +that are found where the worship of Woden has once prevailed. Leaving +Stennis they went on to Runic crosses, German dolmens, and French +dolmens, and on and on, from country to country. When at last they +lifted up their heads and looked around them, they were alone. The girls +had gone off to bed; the worsted work lay, left on the table; the fire +was out; the minute-hand pointed to ten o'clock. Meredith and Maggie +glanced at each other and smiled. + +"We have forgotten ourselves," said he. + +"You see, Ditto," said Maggie, "we've been travelling. Oh, I wish I +could _see_ the Stones of Stennis, don't you? and the Stone of Woden?" + +"Well, now, you had better travel to bed, little one, and forget it all. +Don't see it in your dreams." + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + + +One expects steady weather in October; so it was really not +extraordinary that the next morning should break fair and quiet, with a +sunny haze lying over the river. Nevertheless, Maggie rejoiced. + +"What a pleasant day we had yesterday!" she exclaimed, as the party sat +at breakfast. + +"Are not all your days pleasant?" said Meredith. + +"Yes, but yesterday was uncommon. O Ditto! we didn't look at the map +last night!" + +"We were looking at stones." + +"Yes, but we must look at the map after breakfast. I want to find all +those places." + +"Take time," said Meredith, "and eat your breakfast. Lüneburg heath will +not run away." + +But, after breakfast, indeed, the great atlas was fetched out to the +sunny terrace in front of the house and laid on a settee, and Maggie and +Meredith sat down before the map of Germany with business faces. + +"Now, here is the Elbe," said Maggie, "it is big enough to be seen; here +is the mouth of it, just in a corner under Denmark, where those ships +went from." + +"What ships?" + +"Why, the ships in which the Saxons went over to England--the Saxons +that conquered England, Meredith." + +"You do remember," said Meredith smiling. "It is worth while reading to +you." + +"They sailed from the mouths of the Elbe and the Weser--and here is the +Weser. The mouths are pretty near together. Now, between the Elbe and +the Weser were--which Saxons, Ditto?" + +"Towards the Elbe and beyond it were the Eastphalians; those our story +belongs to, among whom Landolf went." + +"Well, here is the Aller, Ditto! they lived _there_, you know; that is +pretty far west. And here is Hermannsburg! Oh, I am glad we have found +that. And here is Lüneburg--all over here, I suppose. I suppose we +couldn't find the stone-houses, Ditto?" + +"I suppose not. But here is Verden on the Aller, Maggie, where +Charlemagne had those 4500 Saxons hewed to pieces. And here are +Osnabrück and Detmold, where the Saxons beat him again, and took the +4000 captives that they slew at the stone-houses." + +"Horrid Charlemagne!" + +"It was all horrid, what concerned the fighting. But here is Minden, +Maggie, from which good Landolf set out in his little boat, and dropped +down the Weser to go to the East Saxons." + +"And, then, when he got to the Aller he went up _that_; then he had to +row hard, I guess." + +"I guess he did a good deal of hard rowing, first and last, Maggie." + +"Then to get to the stone-houses he went further up the Aller and turned +into the Oerze. Here is the Oerze! Then the stone-houses must be +somewhere hereabouts, Ditto; for they are not very far from +Hermannsburg." + +"There is the little river Wieze, Maggie; and here, where it flows into +the Oerze, was that oak wood, sacred to Thor, where the village of Müden +now is. And here is the village of Munster where Freija was honoured. +All over the land, then, it was wild country, woods and morasses. And +now--think what Germany is!" + +"What is it, Ditto?" + +"It is the land of Thought, and Art, and Learning, and Criticism." + +"Look here!" broke in a lively voice behind them. "Do you know the sun +is getting up in the sky? and we have settled nothing. And here are two +heads over a map!" + +"It would not hurt a third head," said Meredith. "And Maggie and I have +settled a good deal, thank you." + +"But where are we going to-day?" + +"Yes," added Esther behind, "where are we going? I think it is time to +be getting ready, because it takes us a good while." + +"Esther," said Maggie, "Fairbairn and the men are going over to the pine +terrace to cut down some trees papa wants cut; let us go there and have +a big bonfire, and then Ditto will have plenty of coals for his friar's +omelet." + +"Betsey is making us a chicken pie." + +"Well, the omelet will do no harm besides." + +"No. It is a good way over to the pine terrace." + +"I don't care how far it is. So much the better. It is nice walking. Do +you care, Flora?" + +"She don't care," said Meredith. "Come, let us load up. If we have a +journey before us, best be about it." + +"And then, Esther," Maggie went on, "we can go to the Lookout rock to +read." + +"It will be sunny there." + +"Well, it's all nice on the pine terrace, and we can find plenty of +shade. Now, then, Ditto--if you'll bring up the waggon." + +The business of loading-up began. There were always some varieties every +time. To-day a basket of sweet potatoes formed one item, going to be +roasted in the great fire-heap which would be left from the bonfire. A +great chicken pie, fresh and hot, was carefully wrapped up and put in. +Meredith provided a hatchet to trim branches with. Worsted work and +afghan, of course; but the only book was in Meredith's pocket. The cart +was quite loaded when all was done; for you know, cups and saucers and +plates weigh heavy, if you put enough of them together, and the chicken +pie in the dish was a matter of a good many pounds, and potatoes are +heavy, too. Somebody had to carry the bottle of cream, and Fairbairn +went laden with a pail of water. + +The day was just another like the day before, but the direction of the +walk was different. The party turned to the left instead of to the +right, and leaving the flower-beds and shrubbery, entered a pretty +winding road which curled about through a grove of red cedars. The air +was spicy, dry and warm. A soft, rather thick, haze filled the air, +turning the whole world into a sort of fairy land. The hills looked +misty, the river still and dreamy; outlines were softened, colours were +grown tender. The happy little party, it is true, gave not much heed to +this bewitchment of nature, with the one exception of Meredith; Flora +and Esther were in a contented state of practical well-being which had +no sentiment in it; Maggie and her dog were a pair for jocund spirits +and thoughtless delight-taking. They both went bounding about, very much +taken up with each other; while Meredith pulled the cart steadily on and +feasted mentally on every step of the way. The road brought them soon to +the neighbourhood of the river again, and ran along a grassy bank which +sloped gently down to the edge of the water. The green sward was dotted +with columnar red cedars, growing to a height of thirty feet, with a +diameter of two or two and a half all the way, straight as a pillar. On +the other hand a low, rocky height grown with oaks and hemlocks overhung +the valley, and the rocky ridge seemed to sweep round to the front of +them in a wide amphitheatre, giving a sky-line of variegated colour, +soft and glowing under the haze. Travelling on, they got next into a +wood and lost the river. Here all was wild; the ground strewn with rock +and encumbered with low growth of huckleberry bushes, brambles, and +ferns. The road, however, was good; and Meredith drew the cart without +any difficulty. After a time the ground began to rise, for, in fact, +they were approaching the further end of the rocky ridge before +mentioned, where it swept round to the river. Midway of the height the +hill shelved into a wide plateau or terrace; at the back of it the +sharp, rocky hillside, in front of it a green slope leading down to the +river. The ground on the plateau was gravelly and poor; it gave foothold +to little beside white and yellow pines, which in places stood thick, in +other places parted and opened for spaces of mossy turf, where the too +shallow soil would not nourish them. Here, there was a wild wilderness +of natural beauty. Now and then a lovely low-growing white pine +spreading abroad its bluish-green branches; in other parts scraggy, +tall-shooting specimens of the yellow variety; at the hill-foot and on +the rocky hillside golden hickories and brown oaks and flaunting maples. +The turf was dry and warm, being in fact half moss; the openings and +glades allured the party from one sweet resting spot into another. + +"We may as well stop here," said Flora at last. "We might go round and +round all day, it is all so pretty. We must stop somewhere, if we are to +have any reading." + +"Let us go over yonder to the edge of the bank," said Meredith, "where +we can have a view of the river." + +At the edge of the bank the cedars began to occupy the ground, and +indeed hindered the view, but a few strokes of Fairbairn's axe set that +right, and the party sat down in the shade of some taller trees with a +lookout over the pretty conical cedars (not columnar here) down to the +water, and across to the green and gold promontory which on the other +side of the river closed the view. The girls got out their work. Maggie +sat down panting after a race with Rob Roy. Meredith lounged upon the +mossy bank and looked lazy. Presently the strokes of a couple of axes +began to break the silence. One, two; one, two; one, two---- + +"It only wanted that!" he exclaimed. + +"What!" said Esther. + +"That chopping. That ring of the axes. It completes the charm. This is +elysium!" + +"We have got to make our bonfire!" said Maggie starting. + +"Wait,--not yet; they have not cut down a single tree yet. Hark! there +it goes, crashing down. They have got to trim it yet, Maggie, before +there will be anything to burn." + +"And they must cut and trim a good many trees before there will be +enough to begin," said Esther. "It is more fun to have plenty to pile on +at once." + +"Then we shall wait a good while for our dinner," said Maggie. + +"Are you hungry? It is only half-past eleven." + +"No, I am not hungry yet, but a bonfire takes a good while, you know, +and I want to get to the reading." + +"Come! we might read an hour," said Meredith rousing himself up. + +"No, Ditto, that would bring it to half-past twelve, and that would +never do." + +"Well, then, I will go trim, and we'll have the bonfire going in a few +minutes. Where will you have it?" + +Maggie sought out a good spot, while Meredith took his hatchet and went +to work, clearing the lopped branches of their smaller leafy twigs which +were for the fire, and cutting in two the branches which were not worth +trimming. There was a nice piece of work then to drag them to the +bonfire place, for it was needful to choose an open, free space for +making the fire, where the flames would not mount or be blown into the +tops of trees that were to be left standing, and so scorch and injure +them. No such open space was at command in the close neighbourhood of +the cutting, so the stuff for the fire had to be transported some +distance. Maggie and Meredith worked away at it, and Maggie called +Esther and Meredith summoned Flora to help; and soon they were all +heartily engaged, and running to and fro with armfuls, or dragging +behind them on the ground the heavy umbrageous branches they might not +carry. Presently Meredith stopped and collected a little bunch of dry +sticks and leaves which he heaped together, tucked paper under, and laid +crisp hemlock and cedar cuttings on top. Then a match was kindled and +fire applied. They all watched to see it, lighting, crackling, +smoking,--then the slender upshoot of flame--and Meredith began to pile +on pine branches thick and fast. At first rose a thick column of smoke, +for the fuel was fat and resinous and the fire had not got under way. +Redoubling, soft, black and brown reeking curls, through which the sun +shot his beams here and there lighting them up to golden amber. "What +tints and what forms!" Meredith exclaimed. And then another light and +another colour began to come into the others; tiny up-darting shoots of +fire, another illumination rivalling and contrasting with the sunlight +which struck the column higher up. Meredith stood still to watch it, +while even Flora and Esther were dragging more branches of yellow pine +to the fire and throwing them on emulously, till the pile grew and grew, +and Maggie was working her cheeks into a purple state with her +exertions. Half-a-dozen thick pine branches flung on, and the fire would +be stifled and the smoke rise thicker and blacker, with the sunlight +always catching the upper curls; then crackling and snapping and +breathing, the fire would get hold, get the better, mount through the +thick, encumbering piney foliage, and dart its slender living spires up +into the column of smoke again. + +"Do see how he stands!" cried Flora. "Ditto, why don't you work?" + +"I am looking." + +"Did you never see a bonfire before?" + +"Never such a beauty of a one." + +"Beauty!" said Flora, coming to his side to look--"where is the beauty? +It is just a good fire. You are a ridiculous boy, Meredith. Go to work." + +"Oh, don't you think it is pretty?" cried Maggie, throwing down her last +burden and panting. "I think it is _lovely_! And do you smell how sweet +it is, Flora?" + +"She is a poor girl without nose or eyes," said Meredith. "Well, here +goes!" + +Taking hold of the work again, his powerful arms flung the branches and +tops of pine on the burning heap, while the girls ran for more. It took +a strong arm now, for the fire was so large and so fierce that one could +not come nigh it. Meredith kept the girls all at a distance and himself +fed the flames, till all the present stock of fuel was laid on, and the +wood-choppers went off to their dinner. There was no more to be done +then but to watch the show, and as the fire began to lessen and die +down, find a spot where the tea-kettle might be set, at the edge of the +glowing heap. It was no use to begin to read, they all agreed, till +they had their dinner. And soon the coffee could be made; and the four +enjoyed their meal as only those can who have worked for it. They had +their chicken pie and their roasted sweet potatoes, the omelet they for +to-day dispensed with, being all tired. They took their dinner on the +bank, there where they could look away down to the river and see the +hilly shores beyond on the other side; and Meredith averred that sweet +potatoes never were so sweet before. + +"Such air!" said he; "and such colouring!" + +"And it is just warm enough," added Maggie. + +"Well, I have got cooled off now," said Flora, "but I consider feeding +bonfires to be hot work." + +Then, when dinner was over, and the things packed into the cart, they +arranged themselves on the moss in a delicious feeling of resting and +refreshed langour; the girls took out their fancy work, and Meredith +opened his book. Maggie, who did not trouble herself about fancy work, +crept close to his side and looked with fascinated eyes at the strange +characters out of which he brought such delightful things to her ears. + +"'It was about the year 940, according to the chronicle, that a boy of +thirteen or fourteen years old was herding his father's cattle on the +waste land not far from Hermannsburg, when there came along a splendid +train of armed cavaliers riding their horses proudly. The boy looks with +delight on the shining helmets and coats of mail, the glittering spears +and the stately horsemen, and the thought rises in his heart--"Now that +looks something like!" All of a sudden the horsemen quit the road, which +here wound about crookedly, and come riding across country, over the +open land where he is keeping his cattle. That seems to him too bad, for +the field is no highway, and the ground belongs to his father. He +considers a moment, then goes forward to meet the riders, plants himself +in their course, and calls out to them--"Turn back! the road is yours, +the field is mine." There is a tall man riding at the head of the troop, +on whose brow a grave majesty is enthroned, he looks wonderingly at the +boy who has dared to put himself in his way. He checks his horse, taking +a certain pleasure in the spirited little fellow, who returns his look +so boldly and fearlessly and never budges from his place. + +"'"Who are you, boy?" + +"'"I am Hermann Billing's oldest son, and my name is Hermann too, and +this field is my father's, and you must not ride over it." + +"'"But I will, boy," answered the rider with threatening sternness. "Get +out of the way, or I throw you down"--and with that he lifts his spear. +The boy, however, stands fearlessly still, looks up at the horseman with +eyes of fire and says-- + +"'"Right is right; and you have no business to ride over this field, you +shall ride over me if you do." + +"'"What do you know about the right, boy?" + +"'"My father is the Billing, and I shall be Billing after him," answered +the boy, "and nobody may do a wrong before a Billing." + +"'Then still more threateningly the rider called out--"Is _this_ right +then, boy, to refuse obedience to your king? I am your king, Otto." + +"'"You Otto? our king? the shield of Germany and the flower of the +Saxons, that my father tells us so much about? Otto the son of Heinrich +the Saxon? No, that you are not. Otto the king guards the right, and you +are doing the wrong. Otto don't do that, my father says." + +"'"Take me to your father, my good boy," answered the king, and an +unwonted gentleness and kindliness beamed upon his stern face. + +"'"Yonder is my father's dwelling-house, you can see it," said Hermann, +"but my father has trusted the cattle here to me and I cannot leave +them, so I cannot bring you there. But if you are King Otto, turn off +out of the field into the road, for the king guards the law." + +"'And King Otto the first, surnamed the Great, obeyed the boy's voice, +for the boy was in the right, and rode back to the road. Presently +Hermann was fetched from the field. The king had gone into his father's +house and had said to him, "Billing, give me your oldest son and let him +go with me, I will have him brought up at court, he is going to be a +true man, and I have need of true men." And what true Saxon could refuse +anything to a king like Otto? + +"'So the brave boy was to journey forward with his king, and when Otto +asked him, "Hermann, will you go with me?" the boy answered gladly, "I +will go with you; you are the king, for you protect the right." + +"'So King Otto took the boy along with him, that he might have him +brought up to be a faithful and capable servant of the crown. Otto was +allied in the bonds of warmest friendship with Adaldag, the archbishop +of Bremen, a man who was distinguished for his learning, his piety, and +a lively zeal for the spread of Christianity among the then heathen +Danes and Norsemen. Otto could not confide the boy who had become so +dear to him to a better teacher; and so he sent him to Adaldag at +Bremen. Adaldag, too, recognised the great gifts which God had bestowed +on the boy, and had him instructed under his own eye by the most able +ecclesiastics; among whom a certain _Raginbrand_ is especially named, +who later was appointed to be bishop and preacher to the heathen in +Denmark, and laboured there with great faithfulness and a great +blessing. In Bremen Hermann grew up to be a good young man, loving his +Saviour from his heart; but also he was instructed in the use of arms +and in the business of the state, for Adaldag was at that time one of +King Otto's most confidential advisers. And now Otto took the young +Hermann into his court; and soon could perceive that he had not deceived +himself when his acuteness discerned the boy's lofty nature. Spirit, +daring, and keen intelligence shot in fire from the young man's blue +eyes; his uncommonly fine figure had been grandly developed by knightly +exercises; and, with all that, he was so humble-hearted, and attached to +his benefactor with such grateful, touching devotion, that Otto's eyes +rested on him with pleasure, and he often called Hermann his truest +friend, even called him "his son." But the loveliest thing in Hermann +was, that he never forgot his origin: he showed the most charming +kindness to those who were poor and mean; so that high and low at the +king's court respected as much as they loved him. So he mounted from +step to step, was dubbed a knight, attended the king on his journeys and +campaigns, and the king even intrusted to him the education of his two +sons Wilhelm and Ludolf. Still later he administered the most important +offices of state to the satisfaction of the king; and often travelled +through the country of the Saxons as _Graf_, _i.e._, a judge. + +"'That is: The judgment of criminal cases, or the tribunal of life and +death, in the whole German fatherland was vested in the king alone. +Therefore at certain times the royal judges made a progress through the +entire German country. They were called _Grawen_, from the word _graw_ +or _grau_' (that means, 'grey,' Maggie,) 'because ordinarily old, +experienced, eminent men were chosen for the office. These courts for +cases of life and death were holden by the Grafs under the open sky, in +public, and in full daylight, so that the judgment pronounced could be +at once carried into execution. Our chronicle takes this occasion to +relate a story about our Hermann Billing, which sets in a clear light +the pure character of this admirable man. In his journeyings as Graf, he +came also to his native place, to Harm's _ouden dorp_. It was then long +after his father's death; and as head of the family he had distributed +his seven manor-farms, as fiefs, partly to his brothers, partly to other +near relations. The great honours to which Hermann had been elevated had +become the ruin of these men; they behaved themselves proudly towards +their neighbours, and even took unrighteous ways to enlarge their +boundaries, secure in the belief that no one would dare to call them in +question about it, whilst they had such a powerful brother and kinsman. +Now, when Hermann, after the accustomed fashion, was holding the +criminal court on the _Grawenberg_ (where now the _grauen_ farm lies, +half an hour from Hermannsburg) there presented himself a certain +Conrad, a freiling, that is, a free man, and accused the holders of +Hermann's fiefs, that they had by violent and unjust means taken from +him half his farm and joined it to their own estates. + +"'Hermann's face, at other times so gentle and kind, grew dark, and with +deep sadness but with a lofty severity he ordered his brothers and +kinsmen to be brought before him. Conrad's charge was proved to be true, +for the Billings could not lie, even if they had done injustice. And +what did Hermann? When the acts of violence that his brothers and +relations had done were proved, great tears flowed down the cheeks of +the tall strong man, and he cried out with a voice which his tears half +choked, "Could you do that, and bear the name of Billing!" He said no +more, but was seen to fold his hands and pray with the greatest +earnestness. Then he spoke: "My brothers and kinsmen, make your peace +now with God; we look upon each other for the last time. You are guilty +of death; you must die; you have doubly deserved death, because you are +of the race of Billing." + +"'The priests, who were always in attendance on the tribunal of life and +death where Hermann was the judge, came forward; in the grounds of the +court they received the criminals' confession, and upon their penitent +acknowledgment of their sin, gave them assurance of forgiveness and then +the bread that represents the Lord's body. So, reconciled with God, the +seven men came back to the place of judgment; and after Hermann had +again prayed with them and commended the penitents to the Lord, he had +their heads struck off before his eyes.'" + +Meredith stopped perforce, for a storm of exclamations burst upon him. +"Horrible!" "Frightful!" "I never heard of such an awful man!" + +"I think he was rather an awful man," said Meredith. "I have no doubt +all ill-doers would have held him in a good deal of awe." + +"But his own brothers!" said Esther. + +"They were convicted criminals, all the same." + +"But don't you think a man ought to spare his own!" + +"A man--yes. A judge--no." + +"But a judge is a man." + +"I should think it was very disagreeable for a man to be a judge," said +Meredith. + +"But why?" asked Flora. "I should think it was nice, just for that +reason, that a man could spare people he wanted to spare." + +"Flora Franklin!" exclaimed her brother. "Is that your idea of a judge?" + +"It is my idea of a man." + +"But don't you know better? A judge has no business to spare anybody, +except the innocent; his duty is to see justice done--he has nothing to +do with mercy." + +"Nothing to do with mercy! O Meredith!" + +"Not as a judge. He is put in his place to see the laws executed." + +"Then you think that dreadful old heathen you are reading about did +_right_ to have his friends' heads struck off?" + +"I think he did just his duty." + +"Oh, _do_ you, Ditto?" cried Maggie. + +"He did not make the law, Maggie; he had only to see it obeyed. The law +was terribly severe; but I think the judge was very tender." + +"O Ditto!" + +"He was what you call a true man. He was no heathen, Flora. But nothing +would make him budge from the right. I think he was magnificent. I +wonder how many men could be found nowadays who would be faithful to +duty at such a cost." + +"You have strange notions of duty!" said his sister. + +"I am afraid you have imperfect notions of faithfulness." + +"Well, go on. I have no opinion of religion that is not kind." + +"The religion that is from above 'is _first_ pure, then peaceable,'" +said Meredith. + +"Go on," said Flora. "I suppose you would cut my head off, if you were +judge, and I had done something you thought deserved it." + +"If the law said you deserved it. But I think I would give my head in +that case for yours, Flora. It would be easier." + +"What good would that do?" + +"Keep the law unbroken and save you. Well, I will go on with my story-- + +"'When the sitting of the court was ended he sent his retinue to find +quarters in the other six of his manors, but he himself passed the night +at the principal manor-house on the Oerze, which he had himself built, +called the _Bondenhof_, that is, the "peasant's manor;" for in old Saxon +_Bond_ meant a free peasant. But what a night that was! Sleep never came +to his eyes; he passed that night and also the following day in praying +and fasting. When at last, by the Word of God and the talk of a faithful +priest he had got some comfort, at least a little, he vowed to the Lord +that he would build a church on this manor, the "Bondenhof," which +should be dedicated to the apostles Peter and Paul, like the first one +built by his forefathers at the Deep Moor, which in the course of time +had become far too small. And as with him to resolve and to do were +always the same thing, he did not quit the manor till he had laid the +foundation-stone of the new church and given order to have the building +vigorously carried forward. That was in the year 958. + +"'By this deed of rigid, impartial justice, which nevertheless was found +in beautiful harmony with a tender and good heart, the honour in which +people held him was raised to such a point, that everywhere they carried +him on their hands, and at his return to the royal court he was received +with wondering admiration. The great Otto folded him in his arms and +called him his most faithful knight, who served his God and his king +with equal fidelity. + +"'Soon thereafter followed Hermann's greatest elevation. Otto had +determined, you must know, in the year 960, to take a journey into +Italy, in order to compose certain troubles which had arisen through +the godless Pope John. But now his beloved Saxon country, out of which +Otto himself drew his origin, lay just in the north of Germany; and was +bordered on the north and north-east by the Danes and Sclaves, but +recently conquered, who indeed were in part nominally Christian, but in +part were still heathen, and the whole of them haters of Christianity. +Who would take care of Christian Saxony in the king's absence, which it +was possible might last for years? Then Otto's eye fell upon the +faithful Hermann, and he had found his man. Hermann was appointed to the +dukedom of Saxony, so that he might thus supply the king's place and +govern in his stead. When this was made known to the good Archbishop +Adaldag, who was to accompany the king in his journey to Rome, he +rejoiced aloud, and said to the king, "Now we can travel in peace and +have no care; for, O king, you can trust him with the land, and I can +trust him with my church; Hermann with God's help will protect church +and land both." And that is what the faithful man truly did. In the +following year the king really set out on his journey to Rome, and +Adaldag went with him. Otto set up a stern tribunal in Rome, deposed the +godless Pope John, and made good Leo Pope. Five years Otto spent in +Italy, and wherever he came he wrought righteousness and judgment, +punished the wicked and relieved the innocent and oppressed; being such +a prince as Germany has had few. In the year 962 Otto was solemnly +crowned kaiser by Leo at Rome, and thus acknowledged as the earthly head +of the whole Christian world. During all this time, the Saxons might +count themselves happy that they had such a true and valiant duke in +Hermann. The Sclaves ventured again to make a marauding incursion, +probably to try whether in Otto's absence they could not accomplish +something. One tribe of the great Sclavic race, namely, the Wends, dwelt +not on the other side of Elbe only, but also on this side, as far as the +neighbourhood of Melzen. These Wends, on the hither side of the Elbe, +reinforced by a strong party of their brethren from beyond the river, +undertook a campaign against Saxony; for they themselves were still +heathen and therefore had a hatred against the Christians. This hatred +was all the stronger because the Saxons under Otto had vanquished them. +In this campaign, so far as they went, they burnt and laid waste +everything, and in especial their aim was directed against the churches +and chapels and Christian priests; the former were burned and levelled +with the ground, the latter were put to death in tortures. So it befell +with that first church which Landolf had built at the Deep Moor; it was +burned down and entirely destroyed. Eight priests, who served this +church and the chapels lying in the neighbourhood, were slain, part of +them at once, part of them were dragged to the Wendish idol altar in +Radegast, not far from the Elbe, and there slaughtered in honour of the +heathen god; those chapels were likewise destroyed. Hermann was just +come to Bremen when this news reached him. He rapidly gathered his +warriors, came suddenly upon the robbing and plundering Wends at the +so-called Hühnenburg, obliged them to flee with great loss, and pursued +them without stay or respite into their own country; whereupon they sued +for peace, and promised they would keep quiet and accept the Christian +religion. He granted them peace, but went on to destroy their idol +temple in Radegast, and then returned in triumph home. He next applied +his whole energy to repair the destruction which had been wrought, to +rebuild the churches and chapels, and establish priests in them. And the +better to secure the land, and especially his own beloved inheritance, +against the like predatory incursions, he built strong fortresses, as, +for instance, the Hermannsburg' (_burg_ means a castle or fortress, +Maggie), 'the Hermannsburg, around which now the people began to build +again, who had fled away before the Wends; the Oerzenburg, the +Wiezenburg, &c.'" + +"Then _that_ is how so many names have come to end with 'burg,'" said +Esther. + +"Hermann did not build all the castles," said Meredith, "But yes--that +is very much how it has come. In those old Middle Ages, when the right +of the strongest was the only prevailing one, naturally there were a +great many castles built. Indeed all the nobles lived in castles, and +must. Just look at the pictures of the Rhine to see what the Middle Ages +were; see how the people had to perch their fortresses up on almost +inaccessible peaks of rock, where it must have been terribly +inconvenient to live, one would think. I suppose people knew little of +what we call _conveniences_ in these days." + +"Then round the principal fortresses, naturally, the villages grew up," +said Flora. "They would cluster round the castles for protection." + +"Well, I never thought before that one could see the Middle Ages through +the stereoscope," said Maggie. + +"Pretty fair," said Meredith. "Well, let us go on with Hermann. 'Through +his unintermitting activity all was soon in blooming condition again, +and no enemy dared to show himself any more. Before his end in the year +972, he had the joy of seeing the church, the foundation-stone of which +he had laid at the Bondenhof, consecrated on Peter and Paul's day. That +is this same church which is still standing in Hermannsburg, and in +which we hold divine service.'" + +"O Ditto! is _that_ church standing yet that Hermann built?" + +"And the very foundation-stone that Hermann laid is there to this day. +I'd like to see it! We have nothing old in this country. Imagine +attending a church that has stood for nine hundred years! He endowed +this church with a tenth, and gave almost the half of the fields and +meadows of the above-named manor to the Hermannsburger pastor. + +"'Of his remaining great deeds our chronicle says little; which is +natural, as it is and proposes to be only a Hermannsburg chronicle. In +the year 973, the same year that his great friend and benefactor Otto +died, died also Hermann Billing, the freeman's son who had come to be +Duke of Saxony. About his end the chronicle relates only that he was +sick but a few days; that he wished for and received the Holy Supper +before his death; admonished his son Benno, or Bernhard, who was his +heir: "My son, be true to your God and your kaiser, a protector to the +Church, and a father to your vassals;" laid his hands upon his head and +blessed him; and then extended his hand to all his weeping servants who +were assembled, commended them to the grace of God; and at last +prayed--"Into Thy hands I commend my spirit; Thou hast redeemed me, Lord +God of hosts." Then he softly fell asleep, and the same wonderful +sweetness which in life had given such a charm to his face, in death put +a very glory around his brow. + +"'King Otto the second honoured the true man's memory by confirming his +son Bernhard, or Benno, as Duke of Saxony.'" + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + + +"Is that all?" said Maggie. + +"All in this place, about Hermann Billing." + +"I like him very much!" said Maggie drawing a deep sigh. + +"Notwithstanding he was such an incorruptible judge!" + +"Notwithstanding he was such a hard, cruel man, you should say," said +Flora. "Ditto, you are ridiculous!" + +"It is a great mistake, you must remember, to judge a man of one time by +the lights or laws of another." + +"There's a law of nature," said Flora, "in _some_ people, which makes +them dislike to kill their relations." + +"There is a higher law than the law of nature. Nature did not prevent +Abraham from making preparations to offer up Isaac. It did not hinder +Moses"---- + +"I do not know what unnatural thing Moses did," said Flora; "but I +confess to you, I think Abraham acted much more like a heathen than like +a Christian in that event of his life." + +"Which only shows, that if you had been in his place you would have +failed to manifest Abraham's faith, and so would have entirely missed +Abraham's blessing. 'Because thou hast done this thing, saith the Lord, +and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son;' then the Lord went on to +heap blessing upon him." + +"I don't see how Abraham could do it." + +"Because he trusted God. It is not _trust_, Flo, that will not go any +further than it sees why." + +"Ditto, what are you going to read next?" said Maggie. + +"We'll see. Next thing, I think, will be the description Pastor Harms +gives of that old church which Hermann Billing built; Hermann the duke, +I mean. Don't you want to hear it?" + +"Oh, yes. The description of it as it is now?" + +"As it is now. But what a wonderful sort of a church is this we are in!" +said Meredith looking up. + +"Here, this bank, do you mean?" + +"This bank; and these pillars of tree-stems; and these wonderful Gothic +windows of tree-branches, through which the light comes broken by +transom and mullion. And the incense which fills nature's cathedral. And +the stillness. And the preaching." + +"Don't get highfaluten, Meredith," said his sister. + +"No; that would be a pity, here." + +"I never heard of silent preaching before." + +"The strongest of all." + +"Is it? Well, go on and read. My work gets on best then." + +"It is too lovely to do anything but look and breathe. The air is most +delicious. And nature seems so wide and free. I have an odd feeling that +I am floating with those clouds yonder, and flowing softly with the +river, and hovering about generally, like those eagles. Do you see those +eagles?" + +"Highfaluten again, Meredith," said his sister. + +"Well, one good poet has been highfaluten then before me. Don't you +remember, Maggie, something your uncle was repeating one day? I have +never forgotten it-- + + "'My soul into the boughs does glide.' + +"It is an odd feeling--but it makes me very rich for the present. This +is the loveliest place! And now you shall have the Hermannsburg church. +So Pastor Harms writes: + +"'It is a great thing indeed, and a beautiful thing, to know somewhat of +the origin and of the history of the church in which one worships and +serves God. When I step into our church, whether it be for holding +divine service or that I may pray there alone, every time, I feel my +whole inmost soul stirred. The very walk to the church through the +churchyard is edifying to me. The church at the beginning was situated +upon a little eminence, so that it was needful to mount several steps to +get to the church doors. Now one must go _down_ several steps from the +churchyard to reach the entrance of the church. How comes that! Since +the year 972 the churchyard has been the place of burial. The dust of +those laid within it has raised the ground-level, till now the church +lies lower than the churchyard. A hill has grown out of the dust of the +dead, and over this hill I go into the church. Does not this walk of +itself preach in the most impressive way: "Put thine house in order, O +man, for thou must die!" Then, when I step inside the church, what a new +sermon I get! Since 972 years after Christ, therefore since 880 years +ago, men have worshipped there the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost; +have sung in his honour the church's songs of praise; have thither +brought their children to be baptized; have heard the preaching of the +Divine Word there, have eaten and drunk the emblems of the Body and +Blood of the Lord there, have bowed their knees there, where now I bow +mine! It always seems to me, then, as if the veil were parted which +divides the church up yonder from the church down below. Where I am, +here have those who are fallen asleep once been and worshipped; and +where they are now, thither shall I go also. So in blessed faith I can +cry out, "A holy Christian church!" Not a place in the world is so dear +to me as the church, my beloved church. I have no paternal mansion; for +I am the son of a pastor, and pastors leave no inheritance for their +children; and yet I have a Father's house, the best there is in the +world, my beloved church; truly that is God's house, and God is my +Father, and so it is justly and truly my home. + +"'And how wonderfully God has guarded this house of His. What wars have +raged since this house has been standing, and it has remained uninjured. +Since the Thirty Years' War, Hermannsburg has been four times burned +down; this house has remained standing. Twice lightning has struck the +tower, and so shattered the foundations that only a little turret +stands now upon the riven walls instead of the slender one hundred and +eighty feet high spire which was there before; but the church remained +untouched. The interior has been altered; the many-coloured paintings on +the arched vault of the ceiling are gone; the many-coloured galleries +have disappeared; in the body of the church itself gallery over gallery +mounts up to the vaulted ceiling, to give accommodation for the hearers, +but the church itself has remained unchanged. And when I think of the +blessings that have gone forth from this house, what churches, chapels, +and cloisters have sprung from here, in Bergen, in Wiezendorf, in +Munster, in Müden, and the chronicle mentions many more; yes, when I +remember how from the castles founded by Hermann on the Oerze and Wieze, +the castellans of Oerze and Wiezendorf marched out so early as with Duke +Bernhard, to help bring the heathen people of Lauenburg and Mechlenburg +to Christianity; must not then the zeal of my forefathers kindle my own +zeal to bring the Lord's blessing, His Word and His sacraments, to the +heathen, to the very ends of the earth? And now that seems no longer +strange to me which seems strange to so many, that we from this place +should have undertaken to send out a peasant mission. It has not been +our own doing; it has come from our church and our history. Did the +peasant's son Hermann become Duke of Saxony? Was the blessing of +Christianity carried from here into all the region round about, even +into the countries on the other side of the Elbe? Why should not +Hermann's peasant church preach among the heathen the Saviour who has +been their own so long? May such a primeval blessing only make us right +thankful, right humble, right kind and loving, only zealous and fervent +in spirit. We see well enough that the Lord can use little things; +therefore let nobody despise us because we are small, and let us have +the joy of serving the Lord with our insignificant gifts and strength, +as well as we can. It is written in the Scriptures, "Destroy it not, for +a blessing is in it!"'" + +Meredith ceased reading, and there was a silent pause of a few minutes. +Crochet needles worked busily, Maggie sat pondering, Meredith lay back +on his elbow on the moss and looked down at the river. Here and there +the soft-pointed top of a young cedar rose up between, not hindering, +only as it were embellishing the view. In the silence, when the strokes +of the woodcutters halted, little sweet sounds broke in, every one of +them coming like a caress or a murmur of rest; two crows slowly flying +over and calling to each other, some crickets chirruping nearer by, a +little gentle rustle and lapping of the water, then a bugle-call from +the post opposite. Clouds hardly moved, winds were asleep, the air, +fragrant with the breath of the evergreens, scarcely stirred, +luxuriously warm and still. The colouring, too, in which all nature had +dressed herself, gave another touch of delight through every object +which the eye rested on. + +"What a sky!" said Meredith. "And what air! It's wonderful." + +"Ditto," began Maggie, "have they a _mission_ in Hermannsburg?" + +"Yes. They have a mission in Africa." + +"Why is it a 'peasant mission,' and what does that mean?" + +"Why, you see, Maggie, the whole people of Hermannsburg are just a +parcel of peasants, part in the village, and part, I believe, farming it +here and there on the Lüneburg heath. They are poor people; small +farmers, and the like. They have not much money to give; but when Pastor +Harms had been with them a while and proposed to them to set about +mission work, a dozen men offered themselves to go. They were already so +filled with his own spirit." + +"And did they go?" + +"They had to be put to school first. They were too ignorant to instruct +the heathen or anybody. So they were set to study under Pastor Harms' +brother for three years. While they were studying Pastor Harms undertook +building a ship which should carry them to Africa. The ship and the men +were ready together about the same time." + +"They could not have been a very poor people, I should think," said +Flora. + +"They were, though; but you see, they began by giving themselves to the +Lord; and when people do that, I guess they generally find that there is +a good deal else to give. Oh, they were poor enough; but it would cost a +great deal, you know, to pay their passage in a ship belonging to other +people, and the freight on all the goods they must carry, for they were +going out not merely to preach, but to establish a colony and live among +the heathen. And then, whenever new recruits for the mission were sent +out, the expense would have to be incurred over again, so they thought +the cheapest way in the end would be to build their own ship." + +"And they did build it?" said Maggie. + +"Certainly. The good ship 'Candace.' And everybody helped in some way. +The shoemakers made shoes, and the tailors made clothes, to go out with +the mission; the women knitted and sewed. Do you want to hear what +Pastor Harms says about it?" + +"Oh, yes, Ditto, please!" + +"Yes, read on--anything," said Flora. + +"Two men of the first twelve had died, and two others had proved false. +Eight left, to whom another eight joined themselves, who would go out as +colonists. Now I will read:-- + +"'So by God's grace, everything was ready. And now one should have seen +the busy industry, the lively expectation, the gleesome bustle, as the +last hand, I may say, was put to everything. In the Mission-house, what +learning and counselling and arranging; in the workshops belonging to +it, what smithwork and cabinetwork and tailoring; how our women and +girls sewed! Our village shoemaker worked with his might at the +foot-gear to be taken along; our village cooper did the same at the +great water casks for the ship; my brother went out with the Mission +pupils in leisure hours and picked berries which were to be taken along. +Here people brought dried apples, pears and plums; there buckwheat and +buckwheat groats; here rye, flour, peas, wheat; there sides of bacon, +hams, and sausages. Then again house-furnishing articles, tools, heather +brooms, trumpets and horns, even live hogs and poultry, and even +potatoes were hauled along--and all was to go. Even a fir-tree with its +roots was planted in a large pot filled with earth, in order that on the +ocean the travellers might light up a Christmas-tree. Then again came +packages of linen made up, and of stuff. And there was a great deal that +never came to Hermannsburg. Whatever was prepared on the other side of +the Elbe, in Hamburg, Lübeck, Haide, &c., was kept in Hamburg, and we +never saw it at all. In Hamburg alone there were handed over from female +friends of the Mission, one hundred and twenty-eight cotton shirts, all +finished and ready; from Haide forty striped shirts for the natives; +from Lübeck and Mechlenburg, besides beautiful under-linen, all sorts of +pictures and little things for the heathen; from some children here came +writing boxes, pens, and writing books for the heathen children. Also +from here, from Osnabrück, Schaumburg, Lüneburg, Bremen, and +neighbourhood, whole rolls of linen cloth. There was a stir and spring +of love that moved people's hearts. Every one of the emigrants was to +take a gun with him, for in East Africa there are a great many wild +beasts, lions, elephants, serpents, &c. Scarcely had this become known, +when guns, rifles, double-barrelled rifles, pistols, and daggers came +in, till we had enough to leave some for a future party that might be +sent out. Then would come our harbourmaster, or our captain, from +Harburg, to arrange this or that; then our pupils journeyed to Harburg +to bring money for the ship. One hardly knew where his head was.'" + +"Well, did they go to Africa, Ditto?" + +"The colonists and missionaries; yes, sixteen of them." + +"Whereabouts in Africa?" + +"The east coast, about Natal." + +"I haven't the least idea where Natal is." + +"You would do well to look it out on the map." + +"And are they there yet, Ditto?" + +"They went in the year 1853. It is not likely they are all there now. +But others followed them, Maggie, year after year, till now there are, I +believe, between twenty and thirty stations where they are settled." + +"All from Hermannsburg! Ditto, it is very curious! So many years ago, +Hermann's castles sent out soldiers to bring heathen Mechlenburg to the +Christian religion; and now Mechlenburg gives shirts and pictures for +Hermannsburg to send to other heathen in Africa." + +"What sort of heathen people are those they went to?" Esther asked. + +"Quite a good sort. Here is a description of them, written by one of the +brethren who sailed in that first trip of the 'Candace':-- + +"'I cannot make it out how the heathen can be as they are, although they +are day and night before my eyes. They are powerful, muscular men, with +open faces and sparkling eyes; they all go either quite naked or with a +very slight covering. A late law obliges them, however, to put a shirt +on when they are going into a city. They live in houses which resemble +beehives, into which you must creep. The whole stock of valuables which +you find in these huts is an assaghai (javelin), a club, a mat, a bit of +wood for a pillow, and a great horn for smoking. I have seen nothing +else in them. The people have almost no wants. So many wives as a man +has, so many huts has he also, one for each wife, and then one besides +for himself. The women are bought; paid for with cows and oxen; ten and +twenty oxen for a wife. These become then the man's slaves, and the man, +when he has got a good many wives, hardly does any more work himself. +The women must cultivate the maize and sweet potatoes, which is almost +all the people live upon. Once in a while they kill an ox; and then so +many come together to eat it that it is all disposed of at one meal. Our +German brethren aver that ten Caffres in twenty-four hours will eat up a +whole ox, skin and entrails and all, which they roast at the fire; that +afterwards, however, they can go fasting four days at hard labour. They +are fond of adorning themselves with coral and rings, and snuff-boxes +are to be seen in the hands of both men and women. They cork up the +snuff in their nostrils with a hollowed-out bit of wood, till the tears +run down their cheeks. The women are so hardly used that a mother with a +little five-days-old baby must go out to work in the hot sun with the +baby on her back, and the father does not concern himself at all about +the child. Of twins, one is almost always killed at once. In short, they +are not much above the beasts in their way of life; and the worst of all +is, they are almost inaccessible to the truth, and laugh at everything +sacred.'" + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + + +"Well," said Maggie, as Meredith paused, "I should think somebody ought +to go to those people!" + +"Hopeless work," said Flora, stitching away at her worsted. + +"No, it is not hopeless work," answered her brother. "As you would soon +see, if all the Churches had the matter at heart like Pastor Harms and +his Hermannsburg." + +"Everybody cannot give himself up to such business," said Flora glancing +at him. + +"Everybody ought." + +"O Ditto!" cried Maggie, "do you think _everybody_ ought to go to +Africa?" + +"Yes," said Flora; "that is just about what he thinks." + +"No, Maggie," said Meredith, "neither to Africa nor to other heathen +parts; not everybody. But everybody can give himself up to the work of +the kingdom, even if he stays at home. Most people must stay at home." + +"I don't understand," said Maggie with a shrug of her shoulders. + +"Don't you remember--'Seek ye _first_ the kingdom of God;'--that's all I +mean." + +"'First!'" Flora echoed. + +"_How_ 'first,' Ditto?" + +"Before everything else. The words mean that, if they mean anything." + +"How before everything else?" + +"See, Maggie. Suppose you and I have"---- + +"Now, Ditto, stop!" said his sister. "I do not want to hear any of that +stuff. What is it to Maggie? And Essie and I do not care about it." + +"And there comes Fenton," added Esther, springing up to go and meet him. +For Fenton it was, bounding up the bank at their left. + +Fenton was grown a good deal since our last sight of him; otherwise not +much changed. A handsome boy, with a good figure and a bright eye, and +also the old, somewhat supercilious upper lip. But he was glad to get +home, and greeted the party cordially enough; then, however, began to +criticise. + +"What are you all doing loafing here?" He had sat down on the bank with +the rest, and looked from one to another. + +"We do not use your elegant expression," said Flora; "partly perhaps +because we are not wont to indulge ourselves in that particular +amusement." + +"What _are_ you doing?" + +"You do not see anything to engage our attention in what at present +offers itself to yours," Meredith remarked. + +"Nothing offers itself to my attention," replied Fenton. "I don't see +anything except our old cart. Anything to eat in it?" + +"There is no pie left," said Esther, "for I gave the last of it to +Fairbairn; and Flora drank up all the cream. There's some sugar in the +sugar-bowl." + +Fenton went to get some lumps of sugar, and then stood looking down at +the party. + +"Aren't you going home to dinner?" said he. "I tell you, I'm raging." + +"Four o'clock," said Meredith, looking at his watch. "Just the pretty +time of day coming now." + +"It'll be dinner-time by the time you get the cart home and the girls +get dressed. What did you come out here so far for? I haven't had a +respectable dinner for six months. I am going to have some wine to-day, +if the governor _is_ away." + +"Governor!" cried Esther. "What a vulgar expression for Fenton Candlish +to use!" + +"Wine!" exclaimed Maggie. "You can't have any wine, Fenton; we don't +drink wine any more in _this_ house." + +"What's the matter!" + +"The matter is, papa has emptied his wine-cellar," said Esther in a +rather aggrieved tone. + +"Drunk it all up?" + +"No, no; sent it off and sold it." + +"What was the matter with it!" + +"Why, I tell you," said Esther, "it is thought improper for good people +to drink wine." + +Fenton's face was rather funny to see, there was such a blank dismay in +it. + +"And did mamma give in to that?" + +"I don't know what mamma thought," said Esther; "but papa sold the wine; +and our dinner-table does not have its pretty coloured glasses any +more." + +Fenton uttered a smothered exclamation which I am afraid would have +shocked his sisters. + +"I don't see what _you_ want with wine, Fenton," said Maggie; "papa +never let you have it." + +"Mamma did though," said Fenton. "That's the good of having two parents. +If one is crochety perhaps the other will be straight. Well, _I'm_ not +going to live if I can't live like a gentleman. I shall send to Forbes +to send me some wine." + +His sisters burst out into horrified exclamations and expostulations. + +"Papa'll see it in the bill," said Esther, "and he'll be very angry." + +"Uncle Eden is coming," said Maggie, "and it will be no use. He'd throw +it into the river." + +"Uncle Eden coming?" + +The girls nodded. + +"If I had known that _I_ wouldn't have come!" said Fenton looking very +dark. + +"I'd think better of it if I were you," remarked Meredith quietly. +"There goes more to the making of a gentleman than the drinking of +wine." + +"What do you mean?" + +"Just that. As for instance--self-control, noble thoughts, care for +others above himself, indifference to low pleasures." + +"Low pleasures!" repeated Fenton. "Do you call wine a low pleasure?" + +"Well, it brings people into the gutter." + +"Pshaw! not gentlemen." + +"I grant you they are not gentlemen after they get there." + +"What do you know about it?" said the boy not very politely. "Did you +ever drink it yourself?" + +"I never will again. A gentleman should be a free man; and wine makes +men slaves. I don't choose to be in bondage. And if it would not enslave +me, it does other people; and I would not give it the help of my +example." + +Fenton dropped the subject, but renewed his proposal that they should +return home. So shawls and worsted work were stored in the cart, and the +little book in Meredith's pocket; and the line of march was taken up. It +was indeed coming now to the lovely time of the day. Shadows long, +lights glowing in warm level reflections, all objects getting a sunny +side and a shady side, and standing forth in new beauty in consequence; +the day gathering in its train, as it were, to prepare for a stately +leave-taking by and by. Meredith and Maggie, loath to go, lingered the +last of the party; indeed he had the cart to draw, which was heavy, and +needed careful guiding in places over and between the rocks; and he +could not run on with the heads of the party. And Maggie walked beside +him, and put her little hand upon the handle of the cart which she could +not help to draw. How sweet it was! The light every moment growing +softer, not cooler; the colours more contrasted, as the shadows +lengthened; the bugle notes coming over the water now and then. Meredith +looked, and drew deep breaths of the delicious air; but Maggie walked +along pondering. + +"Ditto," she began, "do you think _everybody_ ought to do mission work?" + +"The dear Lord did not give the charge to _some_ of His people, did He?" + +"But how can they do it? Everybody cannot go to the heathen?" + +"He said, 'in all the world'--so that means at home as well as abroad, +doesn't it?" + +"Preach the gospel in all the world?" + +"Yes." + +"How can _I_, Ditto?" + +"You and I, let us say. Well, Maggie, suppose we ask Mr. Murray? But one +thing is certain; those who stay at home must furnish the money for +those that go." + +"Does it take a great deal?" + +"Not to send a few. But how long would a _few_ people be about telling +the gospel to all the world? Suppose one man had as much as the whole +State of New York for his parish?" + +"He'd never get through." + +"Exactly. And so it is nearly nineteen hundred years since the Lord gave +the command; and the heathen world is the heathen world still--pretty +much." + +"But, then, Ditto--to send a great many people, it would want a great +deal of money." + +"It does. What then?" + +"Maybe people cannot afford it." + +"Let us ask Mr. Murray about that." + +"But, Ditto, what do _you_ think? I know you think something." + +"Maggie, I think we should seek _first_ the kingdom." + +They were turning into the shrubbery grounds near the house, and Maggie +left the discussion. They were all ready for dinner, as far as appetite +went, and in a little while the five young people sat down at the board. + +"This is jolly," said Fenton, who took the head of the table. + +"Roast-beef, to wit?" said Meredith. + +"Roast-beef is a good thing if you are hungry, as I am; but I did not +mean that. It is uncommonly jolly to be out of the way of the +governors." + +Maggie looked up astonished. + +"'Rulers are not a terror to good works,'" said Meredith. + +"They're a nuisance, though." + +"Only to one portion of society. I hope you do not class yourself with +them." + +"Do you mean," said Maggie, making big eyes, "do you mean, Fenton, that +you are glad papa and mamma are in California?" + +"No. Only one of 'em. Mamma never interferes with me." + +"She leaves it to papa to do," said Maggie, with dignity and sageness. + +"I am glad she does. Shows her wisdom. I can tell what is good for me as +well as anybody else." + +"Always do it, I suppose?" + +"That's just my affair," said Fenton. "There is no use in putting chains +round a fellow--all the good of it is, he must just break the chains." + +"Do you call papa's commands, _chains_?" said Maggie. + +"Don't stare, Maggie; nothing is so vulgar." + +"I am glad Uncle Eden is coming, to make you behave yourself." + +"If he tries it on, I shall bolt," said Fenton. "I am out for some fun; +and if I can't get it at home I'll get it somewhere else." + +Meredith succeeded in turning the conversation to a pleasanter subject; +nevertheless Fenton's deliverances shocked his little sister several +times in the course of the dinner. Among other things, Fenton would go +down to the wine-cellar, to see if a bottle or two might not by chance +have been left; and though the key was not to be had and he came back +discomfited, Maggie could not get over the audacity of his proposition. +She was further and exceedingly shocked after dinner when Fenton +proposed to Meredith to have a cigar. Meredith declining, Fenton went +out to enjoy his cigar alone. + +"Fenton is grown very wild," said Maggie. + +"Boys can't be like girls," said Esther. + +"I don't see why they can't be as respectable as girls," said Maggie. + +"They never are, my dear," said Flora. "Comfort yourself. They will run +into what they don't like just to have their own way; because what they +do like is ordered or advised by some kind friend." + +"Not true without exception, Maggie," said Meredith; "but there is some +truth in it. Don't worry about Fenton. I don't believe he means quite as +bad as he says." + +"But smoking is so disgraceful--in a boy," said Maggie. + +"It is not disgraceful in a man," said Esther. + +"Well, it isn't nice," returned Maggie. "I always hate to come near that +Professor Wilkins, who always talks to me when he is here. He is kind, +but his breath is dreadful." + +Fenton was not so fond of the company of his cigar but that he soon +forsook it. And then his company indoors was hardly an acquisition. He +talked big of doings at the school where he was now placed, horrified +Maggie by showing that he was quite as lawless as in old times, and put +an effectual bar to any reading, or talk either, except of the sort that +suited himself. + +"What's up?" he asked at last. "What shall we do to make the time go?" + +"Time does not need any whip with us," said Meredith. "He goes fast +enough." + +"Oh, we are going out in the woods to dinner," said Maggie. + +"You were there to-day." + +"Well, we are going to-morrow--and every day. We have a bonfire, and a +nice lunch, and the girls work, and Ditto reads to us." + +"Jolly slow!" said Fenton. "I can't stand much of that. I shall go +a-fishing." + +"Very well," said Esther. "And come to us for lunch?" + +"Same place? It's too far off." + +"Then we'll go into the pine wood," said Maggie. "The pine wood is +nice--and the pine needles make a beautiful carpet--and we want to go to +a different place every day." + +So it was arranged. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + + +The same sweet weather continued again the next day; the air was even +warmer still, the leaves of oaks and maples, turning more and more, were +growing browner and ruddier, and the glow on the hills more deep. The +pine wood, however, which lay behind, that is, north of the house, at no +great distance, was uninvaded by this autumn glow. The soft, blue gleam +of the pines alone stood against the heaven's mild blue overhead, and +pine needles, brown and thick, carpeted the ground everywhere between +the rocks. For rocks were almost everywhere at Mosswood. Only on the +skirts of the wood one might see a flaming maple branch, or a golden +cloud of hickory here and there, and here and there a cat-briar vine +taking a tawny hue, or some low-growing cornus putting on lovely tints +of madder at the edges of its leaves. Through the wood the little party +wandered, not knowing where to choose to stop, and Meredith patiently +drew the cart along waiting for orders. At last, on a little rising +ground they found an open space, yet shadowed enough, from which there +was a lookout to the house in the valley; truly no more than the +chimneys could be seen; and a wider space of blue sky, and the hills +towards the south. This would do. Here were pine needles enough for a +carpet, and a felled pine log gave a convenient seat to those who liked +it. For Meredith and Maggie preferred the ground and the pine needles. +The cart was drawn up under the shade of a tree; afghan and worsted +embroidery were taken out; shawls were spread; and the party settled +themselves for a morning of comfort. + +"This _is_ good!" said Meredith delaying to open his book. + +"How perfectly delicious this warm smell of the pines is!" said Flora. + +"You use strong language, Flo, but for once not exaggerated. We have not +got the sound of the wood-chopper's axe to-day." + +"I'll tell you what you may hear, though, if you listen," said +Esther,--"the woodpecker-- + + 'The woodpecker tapping the hollow beech-tree;' + +only there are no beech-trees on the place. You may hear him on an oak, +though." + +"This hazy light under the pines--through the pines--is bewitching. O +October! O Mosswood!" Meredith exclaimed. "What is so pretty as these +autumn woods?" + +"What are you going to read us to-day?" said his sister. "Don't get +poetical." + +"I will read you one or two little bits first, which touch something +Maggie and I were talking of yesterday. We do not want a bonfire to-day; +it's too warm." + +"No; we will make just a tiny little blaze by and by, to boil our +kettle. It would be too warm for a bonfire; and there are no trees here +to be cut." + +"I should think not!" said Meredith looking up at the blue-green pine +needles over his head. "Well, here's a story for you." + +"Heathen?" asked Flora. + +"No, Christian. 'There was a man, once upon a time, whom God had richly +blessed. He had received a year's income of seven hundred thalers. Four +hundred of them he needed and used for his house and family wants, and +three hundred were left over. So he thought at first he would put the +money out at interest, and enjoy the comfort of receiving rents which +were growing while he was sleeping. As he was just setting about this, +he read in a mission paper about the wants of the heathen; and the +Sunday next following he heard a preaching about how the dear Lord is +the safest of all to trust money to, and gives the best interest. So he +made a short piece of work of it, and sent his three hundred thalers to +the dear Lord for the conversion of the heathen, and said, "Lord, take +Thou them; I got them from Thee, and there is all this left." "Wife," +said he, when he came home at evening, "I have done a good bit of +business to-day; I have got rid of my three hundred thalers, and am quit +of any care of the money, over and above." "Then you may thank the dear +Lord for that," said his wife. "And so I do," he answered. + +"'Do I not hear at this point, not merely many a child of the world, but +also many a believer, secretly half saying, "No, but what is out of +reason is out of reason!"--and so do I see a certain compassionate smile +playing about mouth-corners. But wait a bit; there is something coming +that is more crazy yet. The next year the man was overloaded with such a +blessing, that instead of seven hundred thalers, he made fourteen +hundred thalers, and he did not know where it all came from. Then what +does he do but take the surplus, one thousand thalers, and send it to +the mission. Is the story true? do you say. You can ask the Lord "in +that day;" he knows the story.'" + +"I like that," said Maggie. + +"Why?" Flora asked. + +"I think it is nice," said Maggie with a shrug of her shoulders. + +"I don't see it. What good to the man to have twice as much as he had +before, if he must give it all right away again?" + +"Why, he has the pleasure of giving it!" cried Maggie. + +"And it shows, at any rate, that he did not get poor by his first +venture," said Meredith. "And the Lord will reckon it 'at that day' as +all done for Him." + +"I don't think people are obliged to give away all they have got," said +Flora. + +"Suppose they do not reckon anything they have their own? The Christians +in the early times did not, if the Lord's work or the needs of others +wanted it more." + +"Extravagance!" said Flora. "Just enthusiasm." + +"Come, I will read you another story. But the poor woman who gave all +she had into the Lord's treasury was not rated as a fool by _Him_. I +will read you now-- + + +"'A PROBLEM ABOUT STUTEN MONEY. + +"'Most of you know, it is true, right well what _stuten_ money is, but +certainly all do not. Among us, when people go to church on Sunday, the +children and younger serving people of the peasants get a groschen to +take along, with which they can buy a stuten, that is, a white roll, at +noon when they come out of church; by the help of which they can stay in +the village and so go to church again in the afternoon. Now there are a +boy, a girl, and an old woman known to me, who have no other money but +the stuten money they get on Sundays. So each one of them falls to +considering how he or she can do something for the heathen. And they +arrange it on this wise. One of them every other Sunday eats no roll, +and thinks within herself, "I ate as much as I wanted this morning at +home, and I can do the same again this evening." The two others buy each +a small roll for half a groschen, and lay up the other half-groschen +every Sunday; and when the year comes round, they have all three of +them, counting the festivals, thirty groschen saved up, and bring them +with glad, smiling faces to go for the conversion of the heathen. And +upon being afterwards asked whether hunger did not often trouble them on +Sunday? they say, they have always felt as if they had had enough; and, +with God's help, they will do the same way next year.'" + +"What sort of a story do you call that?" asked Flora when her brother +paused. + +"I call it a story of what can be done." + +"And _I_ call it a story of what ought not to be done. Both the children +and the old woman needed their bread for themselves; it was not good for +them to go without it. And what is a groschen? or thirty groschen?" + +"What are 'two mites, which make a farthing?'" + +"Oh, that is in the Bible." + +"But it was in a poor woman's heart first, or we should never have had +it in the Bible." + +"Well, look at our luncheon," said Flora. + +"I will look at it when I see it. What then?" + +"Do you mean that we shall do wrong to eat it?" + +"Not at all." + +"How can those people be right and we not wrong?" + +"Yes, Ditto," said Maggie. "I do not understand." + +"Those people must give their groschen or give nothing. It was all they +could give." + +"But we might give more than we do, if we would live on bread and +water," said Flora. "If we are to give all we _could_ give, our luncheon +would come to a good many groschen, I can tell you." + +"We must ask Mr. Murray. I am not wise enough to talk to you," said +Meredith. "I hope he will come; we are getting work ready for him. +Meantime I will read you another little story. Maybe we shall find some +light. + + +"'AS POOR, YET MAKING MANY RICH. + +"'There was a poor day-labourer who lived by his work from hand to +mouth. He heard it read out of the Old Testament, that under the old +covenant every Israelite was bound to give to God the tenth of all his +incomings. That went through and through the man's head, and he thought: +Could the Israelites do that by the law, and should not we Christians be +able to do it by the love of Christ? So, honestly and faithfully, he +lays by the tenth of his daily wages; the Lord blesses him, so that many +a time he earns sixteen groschen a day; and at the end of the year he +comes with his hands full, bringing sixteen thaler twenty groschen for +the conversion of the heathen, and with hearty pleasure; and he says, +"The love of Christ constraineth me so, I have wanted for nothing."'" + +"Not much of a story," said Meredith, in concluding, "but a good deal of +a suggestion." + +"Suggestion of what?" asked his sister. + +"Duty. Certainly a Christian ought to be able to do more for love than +an old Hebrew did for law; and from this time I will imitate that old +German fellow." + +"But, Ditto," exclaimed his sister, "a tenth of _your_ income, you must +remember, is a great deal." + +"Not in proportion," said Meredith. "He would want every one of his +remaining groschen for his necessities; I should not. It seems to me, +the richer one is, the larger the proportion should be that should go to +the Lord's uses." + +"I shall ask Mr. Murray to make you reasonable!" Flora exclaimed. "Stop +talking, and go on with your reading." + +"The next story is about 'One Groschen and Two Pennies.'" + +"'It is true what the Bible says--"The Lord maketh sore, and bindeth up; +He woundeth, and His hands make whole." My heart learnt the meaning of +this word when a short time ago I had to expel two pupils from the +Mission-house, who had been led astray by Satan. This gave me great +pain, but it had to be done, for their sakes and for the sake of the +house; and it was somewhat alleviated in that they came back sorry and +penitent and were taken in again. + +"'To the honour of the Lord I will here speak good of the balm which +shortly after my great hurt He laid upon the wounds. May it have +somewhat of the sweetness of that ointment which filled the whole house. + +"'Soon after the departure of the pupils was made known, I had a visit +from an eight-year-old boy. He had a groschen in his hand and a +reading-book under his arm. He told me that he had found this groschen +fourteen days before on the way to church; that he had asked his father +to publish the discovery, and he himself had announced it in school. But +nobody had been found to own the groschen. I said to him: "Well, what do +you think, my child? does the groschen belong to you? will you buy +something with it?" The boy answered, "No, the groschen is not mine, so +I am not going to keep it. I will give it to the dear Saviour for the +poor heathen children, to get a spelling-book for them." When I +questioned him further, he said that once in the church, where his +father takes him every Sunday, I had said "whoever keeps what does not +belong to him is a thief; and"--he added with great seriousness, "you +said, a Christian child must not be a thief!" I received the groschen +now and thanked him. But the boy had not done yet. He asked me if it +were true that two of the pupils had been expelled from the +Mission-house. When with a sorrowful face I assented, he answered, "You +need not be so troubled about it. You can send me instead. I can spell +already, and I will soon learn to read." When the little fellow with +great earnestness had said that, I could not help folding him to my +breast in heartfelt gladness. Then I knelt down, and together with him +prayed that the Lord would some time make a true missionary of him. He +went away at last, but could not at first rightly understand how it was +that I had as yet no use for him. + +"'Soon after this, I receive a letter from a dear friend who had been +making a lively stir in the matter of the Mission among his school and +the parish to which his school belonged. The Lord had granted him access +to the hearts of great and small, and with cordial pleasure he had been +collecting till he should have a full thaler made up, which then should +be sent me. Now he wrote the thaler was made up, and he sent it, and +this was how it had come about. In a hospital, where he is accustomed to +hold devotional service for an hour, he had mentioned the conversion of +the heathen. The next day came a widow, shoved four groschen under one +of the books which lay on the table, and then, with a greeting from her +children, laid two groschen on the table, saying, "Now the thaler will +be made up!" To this Mission thaler, which indeed was made up now, a +little girl of nine years old had every Sunday contributed two pennies, +which she received from her mother to buy rolls with. Some time after, +the mother brought the child's two pennies again, silently; but it +struck our friend that she had great tears in her eyes. The thing was +soon explained. The child had fallen ill. Sunday her mother said to her, +"To-day you shall keep your roll for yourself." "No," the child +answered, "I could not be easy if I did. I promised my dear Saviour +once, that as long as you gave me two pennies to buy rolls with, I would +give the money on Sunday for the heathen." How glad that true mother's +heart must have been! She had reason to say, "But what a value these two +pennies had for me! I could not let them out of my hands at first, for +joy." God bless mother, child, and teacher! The Mission must indeed +thrive when such gifts are offered. From another dear friend of +missions, personally unknown to me, moreover, I received a contribution +for the Mission, in the making up of which both men and beasts had given +their help. The contributors were specially mentioned, the men at their +head; then at the conclusion followed, "A hen, so much and so much."'" + +"Well, Ditto," said Flora, "I will say, you do read the most +extraordinary stories." + +"Like them?" + +"No, I don't think I do much. Do you bring them forward as our examples, +hen and all?" + +"You might do worse." + +"But, Ditto," Maggie said anxiously, "you do not think we ought to go +without what we _want_, do you, for the sake of the heathen?" + +"Ask Mr. Murray that question, Maggie. Whose hat is that I see over the +wall, coming up to the gate?" + +Maggie jumped up to look, and then, with a scream of "Uncle Eden! Uncle +Eden!" sprang away down the path to meet him. The others dropped book +and work and followed her. The pine wood was screened off from the +shrubbery and pleasure grounds (but indeed all Mosswood pretty much was +pleasure grounds) by a low stone wall, in which wall a little gate +admitted to the entrance of the wood. By the time Mr. Murray, skirting +the wall, had come to that point, the group of young people had reached +it also, and there Mr. Murray received a welcome that might have +satisfied any man. Maggie threw herself on his neck with cries of +delight; Flora's bright, handsome face sparkled with undisguised +pleasure; even Esther looked glad, and Meredith's wringing grasp of the +hand was as expressive as anything else. Surrounded by them, almost +hemmed in his steps, questioned and answered and welcomed, all in a +breath, by the gay little group, Mr. Murray slowly made his progress +along the pine walk towards the present camping place. He had got the +round-robin, yes, and he had obeyed their summons as soon as he could +after clearing away a few impediments of business; he had made an early +start, and come all the way that morning from Bay House, and he was very +glad to be with them. Now what were they going to do with him? + +Saying which last, Mr. Murray stretched himself on the soft carpet of +pine needles and surveyed the tokens of work and play around the spot. + +"From Bay House this morning! And no lunch yet? That's good!" cried +Maggie. "Now, dear Ditto, the first thing is to give him something to +eat. He must be ravenous. If you'll build a fireplace, I'll make the +fire, and then we can have the kettle boiled in a very little time." + +Mr. Murray lay on his elbow on the pine needles and watched them as +Meredith built a few stones together to support the tea-kettle, and then +he and Maggie ran about collecting bits of pine and pine cones and fuel +generally. And then there was the careful laying of dry tinder together, +and the match applied, and the blue, hospitable smoke began to curl up +under and round the kettle, and an aromatic, odoriferous smell came +floating in the air. + +"This is better than anything I have seen for some time, children," he +said. + +"Ah, wait!" cried Maggie. "We have got stewed pigeons for lunch." + +Mr. Murray laughed. "What are you all doing out here, _besides_ eating +pigeons?" + +"We have set out with the determination to live out of doors," said +Flora; "and so we do it. This is the third day, and it is absolutely +delightful." + +"What are you doing?" + +"I see you looking at our worsteds--aren't they pretty colours, Mr. +Murray? Esther and I play with these, while Ditto reads to us. And we +have laid up a great deal of work for you." + +"In what shape, pray?" + +"Questions. Somehow, as we read, we get up difficult questions, that +nobody can answer, and that we are not all agreed upon; and then by +general consent we refer them to you." + +Mr. Murray watched the tiny tongues of flame which were darting up round +the tea-kettle, where Maggie sat supplying small sticks and resinous +pine cones to feed the fire. The scene was as pretty as possible; +Meredith roaming hither and thither collecting more fuel, and the shawls +and even the worsted lying about, with the gay, young figures, touching +up the gipsy view with bits of colour. He watched in silence. + +"Mosswood is the most delicious place we have ever seen," Flora went on. + +"Almost any place is good in October. How pleasant this veiled light is! +What are you about, Maggie?" + +"This is the pot of pigeons, Uncle Eden; we are going to get them hot. +The kettle boils; now would you like some coffee, Uncle Eden?" + +But Mr. Murray declared himself satisfied with tea. And in a little +while the scene became more gipsy than ever; except that gipsys are not +supposed to indulge in much refinement of china cups and silver spoons. +Everybody was picking pigeon bones, however; and bread and butter, and +cups of tea, and baked potatoes (which came out hot from the house, +brought in a basket by Fairbairn), and peaches and pears to conclude +with, were discussed with great enjoyment and amidst a great deal of +talk. Fenton arrived from the fishing to take his share; but I do not +think he was as glad to see his uncle as the others had been; and as +soon as lunch was over he took himself away again. Then cups and plates +and _débris_ were packed away into the cart; the little fire had burned +itself out; fingers were washed in Eastern fashion, somebody pouring +water over the others' hands; and at last worsted needles and knitting +needles came into play again, and the circle was made up around Mr. +Murray, who declared himself to be quite refreshed and rested. + +"Ready for questions, Uncle Eden?" + +"Are the questions very deep?" + +"Oh, yes, Uncle Eden; none of us can answer them." + +"They had need be profound! How did they come up?" + +"From Meredith's book. Ditto was reading to us some delicious stories +about the old Saxons, and their ways and their gods; and we have ever so +many questions to ask you, Uncle Eden." + +"Have you any more of those Saxon stories on hand, Meredith?" + +"Plenty, sir." + +"Then I wish you would go on and read another; and so I should perhaps +get into the atmosphere of your questions. Besides, I feel like being +luxurious and lazy in this warm, spicy air. Suppose we have a story now, +and the questions by and by?" + +They were all agreed to that. Maggie settled herself to listen +comfortably, and Mr. Murray lay on his elbow and looked thoughtfully +into the reader's face, or into the blue-green pine wilderness around, +or above to the quiet, clear blue which stretched over all; but if Mr. +Murray's body was resting, I am inclined to think his mind was busy +enough. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + + +"'The story that I am going to tell you now shall bear the heading, "The +Hearts of the Children turned to the Fathers." I read it with a deal of +trouble in an old, yellowed manuscript which the mice had gnawed at. But +it bears so entirely the impress of truth that it may speak for itself, +although the things happened more than a thousand years ago. I would +rather, if I could, give it again exactly as it stood written in that +manuscript; but I am unable to do so, because I only made extracts from +it. I found the MS. in the library of the Town House at Lüneburg, where +I was staying for a few days just then, and with the permission of both +the burgomasters of the city, I searched the Town House library through. +When later I came to live in Lüneburg for many years, these and other +old MSS. were no longer to be found; and I heard that a Jew, to whom the +burgomasters had sold a number of old suits of armour and weapons, had +probably demanded to have these manuscripts into the bargain, thinking +that he might in England dispose of them for a high price. The MS. was +entitled: "Res gestæ Landolfi, Apostoli Salzonum, qui Horzæ ripas ad +habitant;" _i.e._, "_Acts of Landolf, the apostle to the Saxons who +lived on the Oerze_." I have told you already many things about this +Landolf. It has been mentioned that he built the first wooden church in +this whole region of country, there where the heathen god Woden's place +of sacrifice had been; which place, under the name of the "cold church," +still belongs to the Hermannsburg glebe, ever since the church was +burned down in a predatory inroad of the Wends, and Hermann Billing +built the stone parish church in Hermannsburg. I have told you too of +this Landolf, how he had gradually converted the whole region to +Christianity, like a skilful general, consecrating to the Christian +faith for the worship of the true God, precisely those places where the +heathen had been wont to adore their false idols, so that the triumph of +Christianity could in nothing have been more forcibly manifested than in +this founding of Christian altars and chapels on the very places where +previously the heathen abominations had been enacted. + +"'One hour from Hermannsburg above on the Oerze, two little rivers, the +Oerze and Wieze, flow into one another. Such meetings of two rivers are +called in High German Münden, in Low German Müden; so accordingly the +village situated at the meeting of the two rivers above mentioned bears +the name of Müden. Just a little above the place where the Wieze flows +into the Oerze, in the middle of the latter river, lay a wonderfully +beautiful little island, almost like an egg in circumference, which had +a circuit of perhaps from ninety to a hundred paces. How often when I +was a child have I visited that little island, and stayed there for +hours at a time! In the whole surrounding region I knew no lovelier +place, and it was always a particular delight to me when I could wander +that way. On both sides of the island the swift-flowing, clear waters of +the Oerze went rushing past, transparent to the very bottom, over the +glistening sands of which, and among the long, thick, green tufts of the +water ranunculus hosts of nimble trout played and darted about. A little +bridge on each side connected the island with the two shores. If you +crossed the bridge which spanned the left arm of the Oerze, you came +into green meadows and the parsonage garden, which extended along the +left bank of the river, enclosed with a hedge as high as the trees. If +you went from the island over the bridge of the right arm of the Oerze, +you were in the courtyard of the parsonage, where the pastor's dwelling +stood. This island was entirely framed in with high oaks and alders; and +a number of mighty old oaks, with large trunks, and lifting their heads +high in air, grew on the island and wholly overshadowed it with their +green roof of leaves. So still it was, so cool, and so secluded, upon +this island that even the fiercest summer had no power over it; it was +green and fresh when everything around it was withered and dried up by +the hot sunbeams. And now as I write this it stirs me with pain to be +forced to say that this island has disappeared! How can that have come +about? It has fallen a sacrifice to the idol of Utility. The fine oaks +have been felled, and used for building timber; the alders have been cut +down and turned to firewood; the island is no more, for the two arms of +the Oerze have been dammed up, and a straight river bed carries the +Oerze now through green meadows which stretch along both shores. Yes, +these are beautiful too, these green meadows, and they are very +profitable also at the same time; but the wonderful beauty of the island +is departed, vanished with no trace of it left; and in the entire valley +of the Oerze there is not a place that can be compared to it. See, my +dear readers, this is what is done by the much bepraised "Enclosings," +which could have originated only in our earthly-minded age; and which +spare nothing, neither right nor usage; respect no old legend, no old +custom; have no eye at all for beauty, rate everything only according to +its utility, and cannot endure anything round, but favour only straight +lines and sharp corners. Even the very unreasoning beasts mourn over the +way in which the "Enclosings" are carried on. The valley of the Oerze, +once thickly peopled with nightingales on both shores of the river, now +has not a single one to show; the poor creatures love the thicket, the +dim light, the shade and solitude, where they sing their songs to God +and men; but the new-fangled clearings drive the whole away together. +That is no matter; to be sure their singing brings no money in. + +"'Well, on this old island in heathen times was the sanctuary of the god +Thor, or Donner, as he was likewise called by our forefathers. Among +these oaks and alders stood his altar, a big round stone of granite. +Near this great stone lay a vast number of what are called +thunderbolts; for every thunderbolt that a Saxon found he laid down at +Thor's, or Donner's, altar. Now if you do not know what thunderbolts +are, go to your pastors or to some other learned folk, and they will +tell you, and perhaps show you one. The learned call them Belemnites. +They are longish, round, wedge-shaped stones, pointed below, growing +broader above; at the point they are quite solid, and have a so-called +_Peddig_, that is, a fine, round core, as in the middle of a tree-stem, +which, however, is entirely turned to stone; towards the other end this +core grows thicker and more crumbly, and at last the stone becomes quite +hollow. These are petrifactions of sea animals, which have remained +since the time of the flood. In my childhood the people still called +these stones "thunderbolts," and the belief was generally prevalent that +in heavy thunder-showers such thunderbolts fall from the clouds upon the +earth. That belief had its origin in the heathen time. It was the belief +of our heathen ancestors, that Thor, or Donner, the son of their +principal deity Woden, was the god of thunder; a man with a handsome, +serious face and yellow beard, whose blast caused the thunder, and who +in thunder-storms drove through the air in a chariot drawn by goats, and +then in the lightning cast his thunderbolts on the earth, so that men +might fear and honour him. And he was not only the god of thunder, in +the belief of our forefathers, but the god of justice also. Whoever +wished to confirm a contract with his neighbour, made it before the +altar of Thor; and whatever had been promised "by Thor," could not be +taken back. Also, as people believed, he watched over all laws and +rights in the land; in the taking of oaths he was the witness appealed +to. And woe to him who perverted law and justice, woe to him who swore a +false oath; Thor's thunderbolt was sure to fall upon the audacious +transgressor and dash him to pieces. And so, from this it came that +every thunderbolt found was laid down at Thor's altar, as witnesses for +the god who guarded laws and rights, and punished covenant-breakers and +false swearers with his strong hand. He dwelt among oaks, elders, and +alder-trees; for which reason these trees, which were sacred to him, +were always found about the places where sacrifices were offered in his +honour. Our forefathers were known for their inviolable truth. Even the +heathen historian Tacitus says of them, that the word of a Saxon was +worth more than the oath of a Roman, and that among them good customs +were regarded with more reverence than good statutes among the Romans. +From this you can easily imagine in what high honour the god Thor was +held by our forefathers, and how sacred was Thor's place of sacrifice. +But alas! the full ferocity of heathenism also came out in the worship +of Thor; for human victims were slain in his honour whenever, through +some failure of faith keeping or breaking of a covenant, a curse rested +upon the community. And how often may not yonder little island as well +have drunk the blood of slaughtered men! + +"'Now in Landolf's time, when he and the Christian doctrine had already +been received at old Hermann Billing's, the priest of Thor's sacrificial +altar on the island I have described was a silver-haired old man, whom +the MS. calls Henricus, _i.e._, Heinrich, who also for long years had +been a faithful friend of Hermann. However, since Hermann had become a +Christian, Heinrich had proudly withdrawn from him; he held him to be a +covenant-breaker, and threatened him with the judgment of Thor, which +sooner or later would fall upon him because he had forsaken the faith of +his fathers. Hermann sought an interview with his old friend, but the +proud priest of Thor refused to give it. Now, when in the great assembly +of the people at the stone-houses, of which I have formerly spoken, +Landolf received permission to declare the Christian faith openly in the +whole country, he did not fail to visit among other places also the +sanctuary of Thor upon this island, and to preach the gospel to the +people who gathered there for the offering of sacrifices. Heinrich had +no liberty or power to hinder the preaching; but when it was done he +came out as its most decided opponent, and declared in unmeasured terms +that the Saxons who had turned or who should turn to Christianity were +covenant-breakers, on whom Thor's vengeance would speedily fall. In +flaming zeal, with these words he lifted one of the thunderbolt stones +which lay beside Thor's altar, showed it to the people, and threatened +that with such weapons Thor would punish the apostates. Then arose +Landolf's commanding figure, and looking at old Heinrich with a gentle, +happy, beaming smile, he spoke:-- + +"'"Brother, the Christian's God is better than your heathen god. See! +all this while He, the only true God, has borne patiently with your +heathen ways, has seen how you slew human sacrifices and became +murderers of your fellow-men; and instead of punishing you for your sins +and transgressions, He has borne with you in great love and patience; +and now still He is not lifting His arm of vengeance against you, but is +saying: 'Children, I have overlooked the times of ignorance; but now the +time of salvation has come, I open to you my arms of grace and pray you, +be ye reconciled to your God.' But _your_ god knows no love. Hermann has +not transgressed in anywise; he has only become a Christian; he simply +abhors the transgressions which he used to commit. He proves his love +towards you; he has kept his friendship for you; he has besought you; +'Brother, come let us talk together about our beliefs, and see whose +faith is the right one.' The God of the Christians has taught him to +love like this. But you, you hate the brother whom once you held dear, +who has done nothing to harm you; you refuse him so much as a friendly +interview; your heathen God has taught you to hate like this. Men," he +went on, turning to the people who stood around them,--"which is the +right God? the God who loves and teaches to love, or the god that hates +and teaches to hate?" + +"'The people maintained an agitated silence; it had become as still as +death, so that one could hear the very breaths that were drawn. +Thereupon Landolf raised his voice again, and told the people of the +love of our God, who parted His only-begotten Son from His fatherly +breast and sent Him down to poor sinners to take pity on them; and then +he went on to tell of the love of the Son of God, who forsook the throne +of His Father, came to men, took part with their flesh and blood, in the +heroism of love went about among men, followed by His faithful apostles; +everywhere as the Mighty One, God's champion, overcoming Satan, setting +men free who were fast in his toils, opening the eyes of the blind and +the ears of the deaf, making the lame to go and the sick to be well; +even laying hold of mighty Death with His divine hand and forcing him to +let go his prey; and how at last this true Hero of God, in order to save +the whole captive world from its common oppression under the evil one, +and that He might with justice and righteousness set them free, offered +Himself up for sinners, for them suffered death, went down into the +grave and Hades to overcome death, hell, and the grave; thence to rise +victorious, and to go back to His Father, and to sit down again upon the +throne of God, from which He had gone forth. And even there His love and +pity never rest; from thence He is constantly sending out His apostles +and prophets; and has sent me to you. Not to punish, not to condemn; no, +but to pray you, Be ye reconciled to God; to show you His arms of grace +spread to receive you; and to tell you, Come, for all things are ready; +the courts of heaven where Jesus reigns stand open to you. His blood has +redeemed also you; He will forgive your sins, and has prepared mansions +for you to dwell in. Repent and be baptized, that your sins may be +forgiven, and that you may be the children of God. + +"'After giving such testimony, Landolf kneeled down, as it was always +his wont to do after preaching to the heathen, and prayed to the Lord +Jesus that He would enlighten the minds of the heathen by His Holy +Spirit to receive the word of divine teaching, and that He would open +their hearts as once He opened Lydia's; he even had the boldness to ask +the Lord to witness for Himself, as the living God, among the people +there assembled.'" + +"What did he mean? a miracle?" Flora asked. + +"I suppose, something like the signs that used to be asked for among the +Jews in old time. Not a miracle exactly; and yet they were miracles +too." + +"What, Ditto? I don't remember," said Maggie. + +"Don't you remember how Samuel asked for a sign from heaven once, and +the Lord sent thunder, though it was a time of year when storms never +come. Then Elijah asked for a sign of fire, and the fire fell and burnt +up his sacrifice with the wet pile of wood on which it lay, and licked +up the water in the trench. Don't you recollect? It was that sort of +sign the Jews used to ask Jesus to give them, and He never would." + +"I wonder why," said Flora. + +"We must ask Mr. Murray. I do not know. Any more remarks? or shall I go +on?" + +"Oh, go on, dear Ditto." + +"'Landolf rose up, quiet and joyous. It seemed as if every man were +pondering in his heart the preaching and the prayer; all were yet +hanging upon his words, when up rose Heinrich's three sons, priests of +Thor like himself, along with his only daughter, a priestess of Freija, +whoso sanctuary was situated about three hours further up the Oerze. +They cried in an open outburst of rage,--"Our general assembly at the +stone-houses has led the people astray, in suffering the Christian +preacher to proclaim his Christian faith. Come over to us here, whoever +is true to the gods of his fathers! Death to apostates, and the +vengeance of the gods!" + +"'The people went over to the side of Heinrich's children. Landolf stood +alone. + +"'Landolf folded his hands in prayer, and looked up to heaven with +sparkling eyes; his heart accepted joyfully the martyr's crown, with +which he thought God would adorn him. Once more he fell upon his knees +to pray, and cried out in a clear voice, "O Lord, my God, I see heaven +opened. Lord, I come gladly, but bless this people. Bless these my +countrymen; do not charge their sins upon them; bring them to the true, +saving faith of the Christians; make them children of thy Church." Then +he stepped up to the people and said, "Put me to death. I go gladly to +my Jesus in heaven." + +"'Upon this, old Heinrich stepped out in front of this faithful witness +of the Lord, and with emotion he had hard work to keep down, he spoke: +"Thou hast a brave heart. Thou shalt not die a coward's death. I love +thee; thou art a hero, and thy Christ is a hero too. He died for +sinners, thou sayest, and has vanquished death and the grave and hell. I +will see if I can love Him. I cannot yet." + +"'Scarcely had he finished speaking, when Hermann hastily came up. He +had followed after his beloved Landolf, that he might see what turn +things would take; for he knew that he was gone to the island. He +stretched out his hand to Heinrich, and Heinrich did not turn away, but +grasped it. And then the old man brought them both into his house. In +the meanwhile the sky became overcast with dark clouds; before anybody +was aware, the heavens had grown black, the thunder rolled and the +lightnings darted. "Thor is driving in the clouds!" cried the young +priests; "he is angry at the Christians!" "The God of glory thundereth; +the Lord is upon many waters; the voice of the Lord divideth the flames +of fire," cried Landolf; and with Heinrich and Hermann he went over to +the island. The crowd stood there hushed; every eye was fixed intently +upon the black clouds and the flashing lightning. Then there came a +crash through the air, a blinding blaze darted out of the clouds, passed +through the crowd, and shattered to pieces the sacrifice stone. Not a +man was hurt. Then Landolf called out aloud: "'O Lord God, gracious and +merciful, long-suffering and abundant in goodness and truth, that +forgiveth iniquity and will by no means clear the guilty!' Brothers, the +Lord has spoken from heaven. It is not Thor that is God; surely else he +would not have destroyed his own altar and borne witness against +himself. The Lord, He is the God; He has shattered the altar and left +you alive; give the glory to God." + +"'The people dispersed. But Heinrich repaired to Hermannsburg with +Hermann and Landolf, to the dwelling of the former, and remained there +eight days; during which time he was instructed by Landolf in the +Christian faith. This teaching took deep hold of him; yet more did the +utter revolution in Hermann's domestic life. After the eight days, he +went back with the two to the little island, and was baptized in the +Oerze. And on the spot where the round stone had been, there was a +little chapel built, with an altar, and on the altar stood the image of +the crucified Christ. This was the second great victory that Landolf +fought for and gained. From that time forward Heinrich was his faithful +helper. All the great influence which until then he had enjoyed as the +much reverenced priest of Thor, he used now only for the glory of +Christ. It seemed as if the old, grey-haired man had become young again. +With all the zeal of a first love, with all a young convert's ardour, he +witnessed for the Lord Jesus Christ, the mighty Hero, the Conqueror of +Satan and of Thor, who had offered Himself a sacrifice for men and died +a hero's death; and in crowds the Saxons came over to him, and by crowds +they received baptism from Landolf. His own sons alone remained hard, +and his daughter was unmoved. This last, Ikia the chronicle calls her, +never entered her father's house again; and the three sons, Tyr, Freyr, +and Schwerting, who had so tenderly loved their father and so deeply +revered him, declared to him now that they were no longer sons of his, +since he was no longer priest of Thor. So then the venerable old man, +sometimes alone, sometimes with Landolf or Hermann for a companion, +every week set out to pay a visit to his sons and his daughter and +preach the Lord Jesus to them. In the winter he was not to be daunted by +the snow, nor in summer by the burning sands; leaning on his staff he +pressed on through it all. The love of Christ fired him, and love to his +children urged him forward; he would so fain take them with him to +heaven. He had brought them up in the idolatrous worship of Thor; if +they were lost, it seemed to him it would be by his own fault. Therefore +he made his weekly pilgrimages to them, since they avoided his house as +though it were spotted with the plague. And then, when he had preached +Christ to them, he went back to pray for them. Yes, he even made it a +persistent petition that the Lord Christ would not let him die until he +had seen his children walk in the Lord's way. + +"'A year and a half went by in this manner, and still the hearts of his +children seemed unimpressible and hard as stone. But Heinrich walked, +preached, and prayed indefatigably, until at last he gave way before the +strain and the burden of years. Eight days he lay on his bed, and yet +wrestled with God that he would not let him die before he had seen the +conversion of his children. He sent messages to them, telling them that +he was sick; they never came near him. He sent to entreat them to come +and receive his fatherly blessing; they answered, they did not want it. +And so all hope seemed to melt away. But the Scripture says with truth, +that Love is stronger than Death. And if human love upon earth is so +strong, how great and strong must not the love of Jesus be! + +"'One morning, Landolf was sitting beside his friend's couch, trying to +comfort him, and, as he thought, to prepare him for death, when in came +Schwerting, the youngest of Heinrich's sons, and spoke: "Father, Ikia +wants you. She is sick unto death, and wishes to ask you to forgive her; +she sent me to you. But you cannot come," he went on; "you are sick unto +death yourself, and it may be will die now before Ikia, your child; and +oh, she is so troubled, for she has never seen you again since that day +on the island, and that is her fault!" At this, something like the glow +of the sunlight swept over Heinrich's pale face, and leaning over to +Landolf's ear, he whispered to him: "Pray to Christ with me, that I may +go to Ikia, my daughter, and you will go along, that I may see her +baptized." And Landolf kneels down by his friend's couch and prays, and +Heinrich on his bed joins in the prayer, and they hold up to the Lord +the word that He had given--"If two of you shall agree on earth as +touching anything that ye shall ask, it shall be done for them of my +Father which is in heaven;" and they doubt not that He is the Almighty +and living God; therefore they ask that He will give strength and grace, +that Heinrich may come to his daughter Ikia and see her baptism. And +when they had finished praying, Heinrich rose up from his couch, bade +them bring his horse, begged his friend and his son to help him to +mount, and when he was seated on the beast's back he went forward, up +the Oerze, towards the sanctuary of Freija, where Ikia was priestess. +Landolf on one side, Schwerting on the other side, led the horse, and +supported the tottering old man. Whoever met the procession joined it, +for God's hand was plainly there, and after three hours of travelling +Heinrich reached Ikia. He found her dying, but still in full possession +of her senses. A happy smile flowed over her death-white features. +"Father," said she, "the Christian's God is the true God. His hand has +been too strong for me. I have been a godless child towards you; will +you forgive me?" "My child," said her father, "I have forgiven you, and +I have prayed to my God that He would not let me die till I have seen +your conversion and that of your brothers--till I have seen you turn +from false gods to the living God who has made heaven and earth, who has +died for sinners and made intercession for the transgressors. I forgive +thee, my daughter, and Christ also forgives thee, if thou wilt be +baptized for the remission of sins. See here," pointing to Landolf, +"here is the priest of the Lord. Let Landolf baptize my child before she +dies. Ikia, wilt thou be baptized?" She said, "Father, will Christ take +me?" "My child, I have received you and not been angry with you, and I +am a sinful man. And Christ, my Lord, is the Son of God; He died for +sinners, and now He lives, and has the keys of hell and of death. He +will receive thee, only believe." She turned her eyes inquiringly upon +Landolf, and he spoke; "Ikia, it is written in the Word of my God, 'This +is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus +came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.' So says the +holy apostle Paul. And Jesus spoke to the thief on the cross, who had +just been reviling him, but now had bethought himself, turned, and +said, 'Lord, remember me when Thou comest into Thy kingdom'--He said to +him, 'Verily, I say unto thee, this day shalt thou be with me in +paradise!'" "Then baptize me, father, before I die. I believe that +Christ is the Son of God." And Schwerting went out and fetched water in +a bowl, and handed the bowl to Landolf. But when Landolf had spoken the +prayer over the water, and was about to baptize Ikia in the name of the +Triune God, then down kneeled Schwerting at the side of his sister's +couch, and from the crowd of people collected before the open door +hurriedly broke forth two tall men and kneeled down by Schwerting's +side; and all three cried out, "Father, baptize us with our sister!" The +baptism was performed. And when it was done, and over the four newly +baptized had been spoken the Word--"The God of all grace, by whom you +have been born again in the washing of regeneration and renewing of the +Holy Ghost, strengthen you and uphold you firm in the faith unto the +end. Peace be with you,"--then the voice of old Heinrich, who had sunk +on his knees, came out in a shout of joy. "Lord, now lettest Thou Thy +servant depart in peace, for my eyes have seen the salvation which I +prayed the Lord for, that He would not suffer me to die before I had +seen the conversion of my children." And when he had said that, he bowed +his head and departed, and Landolf caught the dying man in his faithful +arms. Ikia however did not die; the Lord, who had quickened her +spiritually, gave her also her bodily life again. She recovered, and her +recovery was a new salvation. For soon after, Freija's altar was broken +to pieces, and an altar was dedicated to Christ on the same spot by the +staunch Landolf, who founded a cloister there, _monasterium_, as it was +called, from which the place took the name of Munster. Heinrich's body +was laid to rest in the churchyard at Hermannsburg. So were the hearts +of the children turned to their fathers; and it was not long before +heathenism had disappeared from the valley of the Oerze, and the Lord +Jesus was become the King to whom every knee in the country was +bowed.'" + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + + +"Uncle Eden," said Maggie, "do you like Meredith's story?" + +"Yes." + +"Do you feel like talking now, Uncle Eden?" + +"What about?" + +"But I mean--do you feel like _talking_--about anything?" + +"Depends on the subject, Maggie. Hark to that woodpecker!" + +"Mr. Murray does _not_ feel like talking, I know," remarked Flora. "He +feels--if he ever feels!--lazy." + +"No, Miss Flora, not exactly. And yet, how delicious this quiet is!" + +"And the smell of the pines!" + +"And the warm, luxurious air!" + +"And the light through the pine branches, and upon the coloured leaves +yonder." + +"Yes, and the blue of the sky," said Mr. Murray, who lying upon his back +had a good view. "Blue, through the pine needles. Such an ethereal, +clear blue; not like summer's intensity." + +"I like summer best," said Flora. + +"I like this. But what did you want to talk about, children?" + +"O Uncle Eden! a great many things. You see, we do not all think alike." + +"Naturally." + +"And we want you to tell us how we ought to think." + +"_You_ do," said Mr. Murray laughing. "That will answer for ten years +old. I am sure the others are more independent." + +"But we want to know what _you_ think, Uncle Eden--about ever so many +things. We have been saving them up till you came. Ditto wants to know +what Christians ought to do--about some things." + +"And I hope you will tell him, Mr. Murray," said Flora, "what Christians +ought _not_ to do--about some things." + +Mr. Murray raised himself up on his elbows and looked at the young +people around him. It was a very pretty picture. Fair young faces, that +life had not clouded, intelligent and honest; bright young figures in +all the freshness of neat attire and excellent personal care; the +setting of the green wood, the brown carpet of pine needles, the hazy +October air, here and there the crimson of a Virginia creeper, here and +there the tawny hues of a cat-briar or a wild grape-vine; stillness and +softness over all, the chirrup of a cricket, the cawing of two crows +flying over, the interrupted tap of the woodpecker, just making you +notice how still and soft it was; and then the bright, living young +faces raised or turned, and waiting upon him. Mr. Murray looked and +smiled, and did not at once speak; then he asked what subject came +first. So many answers were begun at once that all had to stop; then +Maggie, getting the field, said-- + +"We want to know how much a Christian ought really to give, Uncle Eden." + +"Say, rather--how much he ought to do," put in Meredith. + +"Yes," added Flora; "we do want instruction on that point. Some of us +are rather wild." + +"Too big a subject for the present time and place," responded the +referee of the little company. "To-morrow is Sunday; let us keep it for +to-morrow, and come out here, or to some other place, and discuss it." + +"That is delightful!" cried Maggie clapping her hands. "Now, what were +some of the other things, Ditto?" + +"About the Saxons. But Mr. Murray did not hear our first story." + +"Oh, I know. I guess he knows. You do know about the old Saxons, don't +you, Uncle Eden?" + +"I know there was such a people." + +"And you know they were very good and very bad--both at once; and we +wanted to know _how_ they could be so much worse, and yet so much +better, than people nowadays." + +"How 'so much better'?" + +"They told the truth, Uncle Eden." + +"There were no cowards and no marriage-breakers among them," Meredith +added. + +"And then how 'so much worse'?" + +"Oh, they were cruel! they offered human sacrifices; they were +frightfully cruel." + +"Yes," said Mr. Murray thoughtfully; "the contrast seems strange. They +were a noble people in many ways." + +"But Pastor Harms says they are not half so good now that they are +Christians," Maggie went on. + +"If that is true, there must be a reason for it." + +"Yes, Uncle Eden, of course." + +"And that reason cannot be found, in their Christianity." + +"But how is it, Uncle Eden?" + +"Human nature is very much alike at all times, my child." + +"But the old Saxons were not like the old Romans, Uncle Eden. The word +of a Saxon was better than a Roman's oath." + +"And the modern Saxons are not like their forefathers," said Meredith; +"at least, according to Pastor Harms." + +"I have no doubt he is right." + +"And Frenchmen are very different from Englishmen," added Flora. + +"And both from Americans. And the Dutch from all three. We might go on +indefinitely." + +"Yet they are all descended from Noah's sons," Meredith remarked. + +"It is a very curious subject, and rather deep for some of the present +company. Many things go to make the differences between one nation and +another. In the first place, the several families of Shem, Ham and +Japheth are all strongly marked." + +"Are they, sir?" + +"Then, among the tribes of any one family, differences grow up from many +causes. From the sort of country they inhabit, the climate that +prevails, the scenery their eyes rest on, the ease or difficulty of +obtaining food, and the means necessary to that end; from the religion +they believe in, their situation with respect to commerce and +intercourse with other nations; their habits of life superinduced upon +all these." + +"But the modern Saxons live where the old Saxons did, sir?" + +"Barely. The country was at that time all one wild tract of forest and +moor, where life had need be of the simplest; and where it was sustained +in great measure by the chase and by a rude husbandry. No cities, no +churches, no libraries, no merchants, no lawyers, no fine furniture, no +delicate living. Nobody therefore wanted money, and nobody tried to get +it. That makes all the difference in the world, children." + +"Money, Uncle Eden?" + +"Look at the map of Germany now; run your eye over the cities. Remember +the treasures of art in this and that gallery; the beautiful old +buildings almost everywhere; the great trading houses; the life of +complicated interests, political, literary, scientific, social, +critical, artistic, mercantile; think of the books, the pictures, the +statuary, the jewellery, the carvings and engravings, the luxurious and +magnificent living. Everybody wants money now, and nearly everybody +either has it, or is working hard for it." + +"Does money make so much odds in national character?" Meredith asked. + +"It is the root of all evil," Mr. Murray said smiling. + +"But, Mr. Murray, you do not seriously mean that?" said Flora. + +"The Bible says it, Miss Flora; not I." + +"But what can you have, or do, that is worth anything, without money?" + +"Exactly! That is the general opinion. So everybody is striving to get +money." + +"Well, people would stagnate if they did not strive for something." + +"Quite true. Nevertheless, the Bible award proves itself. If you examine +facts, you will find that the love of money is at the bottom of nearly +all the crimes that are committed; and at the root of all the +meannesses, speaking generally." + +"Then you would make out money to be a bad thing, Mr. Murray!" + +"Not money necessarily. But 'if any man _will be rich_, he shall fall +into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, +which drown men in destruction and perdition.'" + +"Then was that the reason, Uncle Eden, why those old Saxons were so +noble, because they had no money?" + +"One reason, I fancy. Along with trade and riches, don't you see, comes +the temptation to underhand and false dealings, that money may be got +faster; and so comes cringing for the sake of advantage, and flattery +for the same. And then, with luxury comes dislike of hardships, and +neglect of manly living, and people's moral sense gets weak along with +their bodily powers. Self-indulgence drives out the noble uprightness +that was maintained when people feared nothing." + +"But religion--Christianity?" said Meredith. "That ought to have made +more difference the other way." + +"So it would if it prevailed. But a name is not Christianity; and the +real thing is only here and there. The wheat in the midst of tares, as +the Lord said it would be." + +Maggie drew a long sigh. + +"The wheat must show itself for what it is," said her uncle smiling at +her, "and bear a fine head of fruit, to rebuke the tares. Your old +Saxons, however, were a fine stock to begin with." + +"I think I understand this question," said Meredith. + +"I do, too," said Maggie. + +"I am sorry Mr. Murray thinks so ill of money," remarked Flora. + +"Of the love of it, say." + +"But how can one have it--or not have it, for that matter--and help +loving it?" + +"So the danger comes in. And the difficulty of giving it all to Christ." + +"O Uncle Eden! you are getting upon another of our questions now." + +"And we have had enough serious talk for one time. Leave it till +to-morrow, Maggie." + +"Shall I read some more?" said Meredith. "Or have you heard enough?" + +"By all means, read. This is luxury." + +And Mr. Murray stretched himself comfortably on the pine needles and +clasped his hands under his head, repeating, "This is luxury!" while +Meredith opened his book again. + +"Another Saxon story, Ditto?" Flora asked. + +"Out of the Saxon chronicles. Yes. 'The story that I am going to tell +you now, happened in ancient times and at a place called Dageförde. + +"'Our forefathers, the old Saxons, were then divided into ediling or +nobles, freiling or free peasants, and serfs. A freiling, by name +Henning, lived on this farm, in the days when Hermann Billing was Duke +of Saxony. At that time--it is 900 years ago--our country was already a +Christian country, but still had hard fights to go through with the +heathenish Wends, who made inroads almost yearly into our Eastphalian +land, plundering and killing, and showing a special rage against the +churches and the priests. The strong arm of the two excellent emperors, +Heinrich and Otto, it is true, kept back these heathen and held them in +awe; but, notwithstanding, they availed themselves of every opportunity +to renew their murderous onslaughts. + +"'Now when once Kaiser Otto was gone to Italy, and staying a long while +away, they were minded to profit by his absence; for they supposed that +now they could burn and lay waste to their heart's desire, and with no +hindrance. So they came with a great host, burned down the churches, +killed the priests, dragged off men, women, and children, and treasures +of booty, and came as far as to this part of the country. It is told of +their frightful rage against Christianity, that on one occasion they +took more than twenty Christian priests, stripped off their clothes, cut +bloody crosses on their faces, breasts, bodies, and backs, and then tied +them by their feet to the tails of their horses, which they drove round +and round till their victims were dragged to death.'" + +"It cost something in those days to be a Christian," said Meredith with +something of a shudder. + +"There have been many such days in the history of the Church," said Mr. +Murray. "And yet, it pays to be a Christian. It did then." + +"I do not see, for my part, how people stood it, there and in other +places," said Flora. "I should think they would not have dared to +confess they were Christians." + +"They could not be Christians and not confess--neither in those days nor +in these days." + +"Why, Uncle Eden?" said Esther, who seldom said anything. + +"You know the Lord's declaration--He will own those publicly who own Him +publicly, _and nobody else_." + +"But why couldn't they own Him privately?" + +"Will you tell me how that is to be done, my dear?" + +"Why, by beautiful Christian living and acting," said Flora. + +"Don't you see, if such living could be found among those who are in +name and profession not the Lord's, it would fight all _against_ His +cause and Him? What sort of confessing of _Him_ is that?" + +Nobody answered, and Meredith went on. + +"'In the meanwhile the valiant Duke Hermann had gathered his faithful +followers and moved forward to meet the enemy. All the ediling and +freiling were called upon for such expeditions of war, none other having +the right to bear arms. The ediling served on horseback and the freiling +on foot, and each one brought his own weapons with him. And Henning, the +freiling of Dageförde, was among the Christian warriors who accompanied +the Duke. Not far from here is the Hünenburg, an extent of heath on +which there are a number of burial mounds. There it came to a battle +between the Christians and the heathen. The fight was long and bloody; +Christ led the one host, Satan the other. The Christians fought for +their faith, the heathen fought for their prey. Before the battle, +Hermann with his warriors had cast himself upon his knees and besought +the Lord Christ that He would be their leader. Therewith came the storm +of the heathen upon them, already certain of victory, for they were many +and the Christian number was small; Hermann, in his noble eagerness to +protect his poor people, not having had patience to wait for further +reinforcements. But the Christians stood immovable, like a wall, and the +heathen fell in heaps under their swords and spears. In the Christian +army there were twelve priests wearing white garments, who bore a white +banner with a red cross; and wherever the fight raged most madly, +thither they carried their banner, singing, "Kyrie Eleison, Christe +Eleison, Kyrie Eleison;" the Christian warriors dashing after them, +joining in the holy song, wielding their hacked swords, and with +irresistible force driving the heathen back. In vain the heathen sought +to slay the priests and to seize their white banner; every Christian +presented his breast as its bulwark against the foe. Whichever way the +banner turned, victory went with it. Louder and louder sounded the +"Kyrie Eleison," with more and more valour and joy of victory the +Christians pressed forward. Then one of the Wendish leaders, Zwentibold +by name, gathered once more the bravest of his people to make a stormy +effort for the banner of the cross. His rage of onset broke through some +ranks of the Christians; already he had penetrated to the near +neighbourhood of the priests; when a foot-soldier from among the +Christians manfully planted himself in his way and thrust his sharp +spear against the heathen's broad breast, so that the coat of chain +armour he had on was broken, and the spear pierced through his heart. +Now there was no stand made any longer; the heathen fled, and in terror +they cried out, "Christ has conquered! Christ has conquered!" + +"'Duke Hermann looked about him to see the brave freiling who had done +such a deed of heroism; it was Henning, the freiling of Dageförde. For +his reward, Hermann dubbed the brave man knight upon the field of +battle, and Henning returned to his house as an ediling. Though but for +a little while. For Hermann was minded to profit by his victory and +compel his stubborn enemies to keep the peace in future. So he pushed on +with his army, now greatly reinforced, into the country of the Wends, +and Henning went with his Duke. + +"'Not far from the Elbe there was a temple of the heathenish idol +Radegast; this temple stood within a strong fortress, called the +fortress of Radegast, where now the village of Radegast lies. The +heathen had collected and carried to this place all the treasures of the +prey they had seized in their plundering incursions. Hermann resolved to +storm this fortress, and therewith to destroy the bulwark of heathenism +on this side the Elbe. The heathen defended themselves with the bravery +of despair; many assaults were beaten back, and many a Christian fell in +death before the ramparts of the fortress. The tenth day of the siege, +the Christians held divine service and on their knees prayed the Lord of +hosts to give them victory. Then they rushed upon the place to take it +by storm; and among the foremost of those who clambered up the ramparts +of the fortress was Henning of Dageförde, who in order to inspirit the +Christians and terrify the heathen set up the field-song of the +Hünenburg--"Kyrie Eleison, Christe Eleison, Kyrie Eleison!" Just as he +had sung it through, an arrow from one of the enemy pierced his bold +heart; he fell to the ground in death, but as a dying conqueror, who has +gained the battle for Christ and with Christ. The fortress was won; +those of the heathen who would not yield were put to death. Hermann +dashed away a tear from his manly eye as he buried the brave Henning, +and he said to Hilmer, Henning's oldest son, a boy of sixteen, who had +come along to the war, "My son, you are early fledged. Your father was a +true Christian and a true Saxon; follow in his steps, and so long as I +live, I will be your father." Of all the enormous booty which Hermann +found in the Wendenburg Radegast, this noble man kept nothing for +himself. One half of the treasures he set apart, to rebuild with them +all the churches which the Wends had burned down; the other half he +distributed among his knights and warriors. Hilmer of Dageförde got his +share too, and indeed a double portion, one for himself and one for his +father. When he returned home, he took counsel with his mother what they +should do with it; and they agreed together that it should be used for +the glory of God. They erected a chapel in their own house, with an +altar and all the fittings of a church. Part of the money was applied to +this use, and with the remainder a chaplaincy was founded in the church +at Hermannsburg, which at that time was the only church in the whole +Oerze valley, with the stipulation that the chaplain should come every +Sunday to Dageförde and hold divine service in the chapel there. A +servant, with a led horse, must go to fetch him every time from +Hermannsburg, and bring him back thither again. This service at +Dageförde lasted till the Reformation. But when the evangelical faith +was preached in Hermannsburg by the valiant Pastor Grünhagen, who, as I +told you awhile ago in Tiefenthal, was converted to the pure Lutheran +doctrine by an artisan fellow who read him the little Lutheran +catechism, then this service at Dageförde ceased, because the possessors +of Dageförde held stiffly and firmly by the Catholic faith, and +obstinately rejected the pure doctrine. But now for a long time there +have been lords of Dageförde no more. The race died out; and when one +only of the family was left, he entered a Catholic cloister, where, in +the year 1616, he died. Then the reigning Duke gave the manor of +Dageförde to the lords of Lüneburg, and they again sold it to some +peasants, after they had divided the farm into two. So these farms have +again become what they were originally--peasant farms. God grant to the +present owners that they may stand firm and true to the pure faith of +our beloved church, that they may earnestly strive to be genuine +Christians and genuine Saxon peasants; then will it go well with them +and with those that come after them.'" + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + + +Meredith paused, half closed his book, was evidently pondering for a +minute, and then exclaimed, "I have learned something!" + +"Why, so have we all," said his sister. "What now particularly?" + +"I have got a hint." + +"What about? There is no fortress for you to storm, and you do not want +the treasure." + +"I think I should like to have lived in those times," Meredith went on. +"People were in earnest, Mr. Murray." + +"Yes. So are some people in these times." + +"But not the world generally; or only about making money. _Then_ people +were in earnest about things worth the while." + +"It does seem so from these stories," said Mr. Murray; "but, dear +Meredith, you may be equally in earnest about the same things now, and +with as good reason." + +"Isn't it more difficult, sir, when nobody else, or only a few here and +there, think and feel with you?" + +"Yes, more difficult; or rather, more easy to go to sleep; but so much +the greater need of men who are not asleep. What is your hint? I am +curious, with Miss Flora." + +"The way that fellow spent his treasure, sir. I was thinking, wouldn't a +chapel--that is, a little church--a little free church, at Meadow Park +be a good thing? The nearest church is two miles off; we can drive to +it, but the people who have no horses cannot, and the poor people"---- + +Meredith got a variety of answers to this suggestion. His sister opened +her mouth for an outcry of dismay. Maggie clapped her hands with a burst +of joy. Esther stared; and a smile, very sweet and wise, showed itself +on Mr. Murray's lips. + +"Quixotic!--ridiculous!" said Flora. "Isn't it, Mr. Murray? Ditto has +not money enough for everything, either. A church!--and then, I suppose, +a minister!" + +"Is it a bad notion, Mr. Murray?" inquired Meredith. + +"I should think not very." + +"Is it extravagant?" + +"Miss Flora thinks so." + +"Well, Mr. Murray, think what it would cost!" cried the young lady. + +"Not so much as a large evening party--that is, it ought not. I suppose +Meredith is not thinking of stone carvings and painted windows, but of a +neat, pleasant, pretty, plain house, where people can worship God and +hear the words of life." + +"That is it exactly," said Meredith. + +"Then I should say that one very fine evening entertainment would build +two." + +"But the minister! he must be paid," said Flora. + +"Yes, and I am not for starving a minister, either," said Mr. Murray. +"But what is Meredith to do with his income, Miss Flora?" + +"That's just what I want to know," remarked Meredith in an undertone; +while Flora answered with some irritation-- + +"He can let it accumulate till he has made up his mind." + +"'Riches kept for the owners of them, to their hurt,'" said Mr. Murray. +"Better not, Miss Flora. Remember, Meredith is only a steward. 'The +silver is mine, and the gold is mine,' saith the Lord of hosts." + +"Do you mean, Mr. Murray, that we cannot do what we like with our +money?" + +"You can do what you like with it, certainly." + +"But I mean, isn't it _right_ for us to do what we like with it?" + +"I should like to do that," murmured Meredith. + +"Miss Flora, the question is, rightly stated,--May a steward use his +lord's money for his own or his lord's pleasure?" + +Flora coloured and pouted. "But that makes religion----Why, I never +thought religion was strict like _that_. Then it isn't right to buy +jewels or dresses?" + +"Dresses--certainly." + +"But I mean, rich dresses--dresses for company. And pictures--and +horses--and books--and"---- + +"Stop, Miss Flora. The servant himself belongs to his lord; therefore he +must make of himself the very best he can. For this, books will +certainly be needed, and to some degree all the other things you have +named, except jewels and what you call _rich_ dresses. The only question +in each case is--'How can I do the Lord's work best? how can I spend +this money to honour and please Him most?' That will not always be by +the cheapest dress that can be bought, nor by checking the cultivation +of taste and the acquiring of knowledge, nor even by the foregoing of +arts and accomplishments. Only the question comes back at every step, +and must at every step be answered--'What does the Lord want me to do +_here_? Does He wish me to spend this money--or time--on myself, or on +somebody else?'" + +"Why it would be _always_ on somebody else," said Flora looking ready to +burst into tears; "and there would be no real living at all--no enjoying +of life." + +"A mistake," said Mr. Murray quietly. "The Lord told us long ago--'He +that will save his life shall lose it; and he that loseth his life for +my sake, _the same shall find it_.'" + +Flora put up her hand over her eyes, but Meredith's eyes sparkled. + +"Then you think well of my plan, Mr. Murray?" he said. + +"As far as I understand it." + +"How would the Pavilion do, for a skeleton of the church?" + +"O Ditto! the dear old Pavilion!" exclaimed Maggie. + +"Why not? I do not want to shut myself off from everybody now; and I +have the whole house--more than enough. And the Pavilion stands in a +good place near the road." + +Mr. Murray and Meredith went into a discussion of the plan, and Maggie +listened, while Flora after a while resumed her work and went moodily on +with it. At last Mr. Murray remarked-- + +"This is not so interesting to everybody, Meredith, and we have time +enough to talk it over. Suppose you go on reading." + +"Do you like these Saxon stories?" said Meredith pleased. + +"Very much." + +"There is some more hero about--not Dageförde exactly; but that same +fight, which I think you would like perhaps to hear." + +"And, Meredith, you did not read us about that minister who was +converted by the catechism," said Maggie. + +"No, that is another story--Pastor Grünhagen. I will read to you first +about the fight at the Hünenburg. + +"'The Hünenburg is situated in a deep dell in the midst of the heath +about an hour from Hermannsburg; and I will relate to you what I have +found in the chronicle about it. It is nine hundred years now since a +hard-fought and terrible battle took place here, which was fought +between the Christians and the heathen. At that time the pious and +Christian Kaiser, Otto the Great, ruled in Germany (A.D. 936-973), who +loved the Lord his God with all his heart. He had gone away out of +Germany into Italy, in order to free a captive queen who was kept in +prison there by some godless folk. But he would not leave Germany +without protection; therefore he made over this country to Duke Hermann, +to govern it and to take care of it. In like manner Adaldag, Archbishop +of Hamburg and Bremen, who went with the Kaiser, confided his dominions +to the same guardianship. Now the Wends, who lived on the other side of +the Elbe, especially in Mechlenburg, and had spread themselves abroad on +this side the Elbe also, were at that time still heathen. And now when +the Kaiser was absent, they thought the time was come for marauding and +plundering, hunting the Christians out of their country, or utterly +destroying them. So they summoned up all their warriors, and that so +secretly that the Christians knew nothing of it until they came breaking +into the country. As there was nowhere any preparation for defence +against them, they robbed and plundered all that came in their way, +burned down the churches, killed the priests, and dragged the rest into +captivity for slaves. Duke Hermann was just then in the Bremen +territory, from whence he had expelled the piratical Northmen (the +Danes). There the terrible news found him. In the greatest haste he +collected his warriors to come and save his country. For the Wends had +already penetrated to Lüneburg, as far as this heath, and had laid +everything waste with fire and sword; the Hermannsburg church was +destroyed by them at that time. Here upon this ground they had made a +strong encampment, and surrounded it with ditches and fortifications +like a fortress; they were from fifty to sixty thousand men strong, in +horsemen and footmen, and all of them alive with the same enraged hatred +of the Christians, and determined that every trace of Christianity +should be wiped away from the land. In August of the year 945 Duke +Hermann marched hither out of the Bremen country, over the northern +heights of Liddernhausen and Dohnsen. When he saw himself with his eight +thousand men on foot and two thousand horsemen confronted by the great +host of the Wends, he said to his faithful followers--"We must fight; +whether God will give us the victory, we must leave with Him." Then +stepped up one of his knights before him, who is called in the chronicle +"the brave Conrad," of the now extinct race of them of Haselhorst, and +spoke:-- + +"'"Let us get a token from God. I will go forward and challenge one of +the enemy to single combat; so will the Lord show us to whom He has +allotted the victory." + +"'Duke Hermann gave permission. The knight, followed at some distance by +a hundred men, who were to see that all was done in order, rode alone +into the defile and challenged Mistewoi, the leader of the Wends, to +send one of his people to meet him in single combat. Then stepped +forward Zwentibold, a Wend of giant stature, clad in a dragon skin and +with a shirt of link-mail over it, and on the head of his helmet the +black image of his god Zernebok; behind him also a hundred men to look +on. The Christian knight first called upon God to be his helper and +protection: "Lord remember how Thou gavest strength to Thy servant David +against the giant Goliath who had reviled Thy name; so now to-day +establish Thy glory among the heathen, and show plainly that Thou art +the true God." + +"'Upon that, with lances in rest, they charged upon each other; and when +the spears were splintered in that first shock, then it came to a fight +with swords, man against man. Suddenly comes a traitor's arrow from the +Wends flying through the air and kills the Christian's horse. But their +wickedness turns to their own knight's ruin. For as the Wend gallops up +to the fallen Christian, and is about to cut him down with a stroke from +above, up springs the Christian knight and thrusts his sword in under +the other's shoulder, so that he falls dead from his horse. The victory +is won! But hereupon comes new treachery. For now those hundred Wends +charge straight down upon the German knight. As his own attendants +perceive this, they hasten to his help, nothing loath; the armies on +both sides close in, and the fight soon becomes general. It is fought +with the utmost bitterness and bravery on both sides till evening fall. +But the Christians all the while press steadily forward. + +"'While the men wielded the sword, the wives of the Christians came out +to the field, drew away the wounded and sucked the blood from their +wounds (because they believed that the arrows of the Wends were +poisoned), bound them up, and encouraged their husbands and sons to make +brave fight. A company of twelve priests carried a banner with a red +cross on a white ground. The priests sang, "Kyrie Eleison!" ("Lord, have +mercy upon us!") "Christe Eleison! Kyrie Eleison!" and the people chimed +in. A terror of God went with them wherever they went and scattered the +Wends from every place where the white banner came. As one of the +heathen leaders with a company was making a determined rush upon the +banner, the peasant of Dageförde drove his spear through the chieftain's +coat of mail into his breast. Thereupon the heathen all fled. And all +the Christians fell upon their knees, and all cried out, "Lord God, we +praise Thee!" Then the priests spoke the benediction over the victorious +host. And they left nothing remaining of the enemy's camp, but destroyed +it entirely, because they would not suffer any heathen works upon their +ground. But the name has remained; for Hühnen was the name our +forefathers gave to all heathen; that came from the Huns in the first +place, who fell upon the Christians with such heathenish rage. So that +place is called Hühnenburg until this day. + +"'The church at Hermannsburg was rebuilt again after that time. And soon +also Christianity came to the Wends, and the Lord Jesus was conqueror +over them all.'" + +"You read part of that before," said Maggie. + +"Part of the story; but I thought you would like to have the whole." + +"Oh, I do. But I thought it was Zwentibold that Henning of Dageförde +killed, when he was trying to get at the white banner." + +"Maybe there were two Zwentibolds; or the story got a little confused +among the old chroniclers." + +"Then how is one to know which is true?" + +"It is difficult, very often, Maggie," her uncle said smiling. "Human +testimony is a strange thing, and very susceptible of getting confused." + +"What will you read next, Ditto? About the minister who was converted?" + +"Oh, no," said Flora. "Let the catechism alone. Haven't you got some +more Saxon stories, Meredith?" + +"Plenty. Which shall it be, Mr. Murray?" + +"Saxon, for this time." + + +"'THE REMMIGA FARM. + +"'As in my former narrations I have told of the glorious victory which +with God's help Landolf gained over the old priest Heinrich and his +children, I will tell you now of a third victory which the Lord granted +him. An hour from here was a farm which in the chronicle is called the +Remmiga manor; it was inhabited by a free man named Walo. His wife's +name was Odela, sometimes the chronicle calls her Adela. The name is +one, for the word Adel is often written and spoken as Odel in the old +manuscripts. The pair had a son, who bore his father's name. + +"'As owner of a head manor, Walo was at the same time priest of the +community, which dignity always went along with the possession of a +chief manor among the old Saxons. All the councils and courts of the +community were held under his presidency; he brought the sacrifices +thereto pertaining; and it is easy to imagine what consideration on all +these accounts he enjoyed. This consideration was still further +heightened by the fact of his knowledge of the old laws and customs, and +by his incorruptible truth and uprightness. Like Heinrich, he too was at +the beginning a determined enemy of the Christian religion. Landolf +visited him frequently and told him about the Lord Jesus, but Walo's ear +was deaf to the truth of the gospel. He knew from old legends that once +upon a time two brothers, the white and the black Ewald, who had +preached Christianity among the Saxons, had been by them sacrificed to +their idols. And so, with Saxon tenacity holding fast to the old +traditions, he told Landolf to his face that in justice he ought to +suffer the same fate which had fallen upon the two Ewalds; and that it +could not be carried out upon him, simply because the decision of the +people, taken by the national assembly at the stone-houses, once taken +became a law, according to which the free preaching of the gospel was +permitted. Landolf did not allow himself to be daunted by this, but +continued his visits and his teachings; for he observed that Walo, in +spite of all that, always listened with attention when he told about the +Lord Christ. + +"'One day Landolf came again to Remmiga. He found Walo sitting in front +of his dwelling, by the place of sacrifice, where the assemblies of the +district were wont to be held, still and sunk in his own thoughts. Near +him stood his wife Odela and his little son, who was perhaps twelve +years old. The boy ran joyously to meet Landolf and said--"It is nice +that you have come. I have just been asking father to let me go away +with you; I would like to hear a great deal about the Lord Jesus; I want +to be His disciple. Mother is glad; and," he whispered softly, "she +loves the Son of God too; but father feels very troubled, and don't like +it; he says he has lost his wife and his son to-day!" Odela gave Landolf +her hand and spoke aloud. "Yes, I love Jesus; I want to be His disciple; +but Walo will have none of it; and so I too will go with you, that I may +hear about Jesus and be baptized." + +"'Landolf hardly knew where he stood. Until this time Odela and her son +had listened in silence when he talked about Jesus, but never a word had +they spoken. Now they told him how, while he talked, the Lord Jesus had +so grown in their hearts that they could not get loose from Him again; +and they did not wish to get loose; for they wanted to be saved and to +come into the Christian's heaven, where Jesus is and the holy angels. + +"'Then up rose Walo, turned a dark look upon Landolf, and said to him, +"Thou hast led astray my wife and my son with thy words, and now I have +no wife and no son any more. Go out of my grounds; take my wife and my +son with thee; they have no love for me any longer; their love is for +Jesus." + +"'"O Walo!" Landolf answered, "seest thou not yet that thy gods are dead +idols? Dost thou not see that Jesus is the true, the living God? Jesus +has won their hearts; thine idols cannot win hearts; thou mayest see +that by thy wife and thy son. Let Jesus gain thy heart too. You shall +all three be saved." + +"'Walo shook his head. "He wins not my heart!" + +"'"Then," cried the servant of the Lord joyfully, "then shall thy wife +and thy son win thy heart for Jesus. Thy wife and thy son desire to be +baptized. Thou canst not hinder them: they are free; they are noble +born. I am going to baptize them now, this day, in thy presence; for +they believe in Jesus that He is the Son of God. But I know that thy +wife and thy son are dear to thee, and thou art very dear to them, only +Jesus is dearer yet. Let them remain with thee after they are baptized; +do not thrust them out from thy house. And if, when they are baptized, +they love thee still better than formerly, if they are more dutiful to +thee than formerly, wilt thou then believe that Jesus is mightier than +thine idols? Thou hast often told me that Odela is proud and passionate, +though in all else good and noble. Now if when she is baptized she +becomes humble and gentle, wilt thou then believe that Jesus can give +people new hearts?" + +"'Walo looked at the glad Landolf with an astonished face. "Odela humble +and gentle!" said he. "Yes, then I will believe that Jesus can make the +heart new; I will believe that He is God, and I will worship Him." + +"'"Give me thy right hand, Walo," said Landolf; "I know a Saxon keeps +his word and never tells a lie, and Walo before all others." + +"'They shook hands. Landolf did not delay. He went immediately for +Hermann and Heinrich, and fetched them to share in his joy and to act as +the sponsors. And oh, how gladly they came! That same evening Adela and +her son were baptized in the name of the Triune God; and Landolf +joyously reminded them that he had promised Walo his wife and his son +should win his heart for Christ. + +"'A year passed away, and on the very day on which Adela and her son had +been baptized, Walo also received baptism; for the Christianised Adela +had become humble and gentle, because Jesus dwelt in her heart; and +after their baptism she and her son had loved the husband and father +still more ardently, and had been more obedient to him than before. Walo +confessed, "they are better than I." Oh, the Christian walk, the +Christian walk! how mighty it is to convert! The walk of Christians is +the living preaching of the living God. + +"'And now a Christian chapel was erected by Walo at Remmiga, on the +place of sacrifice; and around the chapel there rose up a Christian +village, which established itself upon his soil and territory; a brook +ran through the new village, which was therefore called Bekedorf, and is +called so at the present day; it lies in the parish of Hermannsburg. The +chapel stood till the Thirty Years' War; it was burnt down then by +Tilly's marauders, and has never been built up again. But there is more +of the story. Walo died old and full of days, in the arms of his wife +and son. Landolf had gone home long before, and so had old Hermann and +Heinrich. But the young Walo had grown to be the most faithful friend of +Hermann's son, who was also named Hermann, and who by Kaiser Otto the +Great was made Duke of Saxony. So then, when Hermann Billing was made +the Kaiser's lieutenant of the kingdom in Northern Germany, upon +occasion of Otto's journey into Italy, Hermann made his faithful Walo a +graf, that is, one of the chief judges of the country; and he travelled +about and wrought justice and righteousness, and was, as the Scripture +says of an upright judge, "for a terror to evil-doers and the praise of +them that did well." He married Odelinde, a noble young lady, who also +loved the Saviour, and had been brought up by the good cloister ladies +at the Quänenburg. They led a happy and God-fearing life, but they had +no children. When now both of them were old and advanced in years, +Odelinde one day was reminding her husband of the blessing she had +received from the pious training of the cloister ladies; and she asked +him whether, as they had no children, and were rich, they might not +found another cloister with their money, in which noble young girls +should be educated by good cloister sisters. Walo complied with her wish +gladly; for he loved the kingdom of God, and at that time the cloisters +were simply the abodes of piety; they were not yet places of idleness, +but of diligence; not homes of lawlessness, but of modesty; not of +superstition, but of faith. + +"'About four miles from his place on the river Böhme lay a wide tract of +meadow land, bordered by a magnificent thick wood of oaks and beeches. +When Walo travelled through the country as graf, he had often been +greatly pleased with this spot; and it had occurred to him that such +beauty ought not to remain any longer given up to wild beasts, but +should become a dwelling-place for men. This thought recurred now +vividly to his mind. His wife desired to see the place too. So they went +to view it, and decided to build a cloister there, around which then +other human dwellings would grow up, but the cloister itself should be +the home of pious ladies whose special business should be the bringing +up of nobly-born young girls. The wood was rooted up' (_roden_ is to +root up); 'and on the _Rode_' (that is, the space cleared) 'the cloister +was built, which thereupon was called _Walo's Rode_; about which later +the village _Walsrode_ was settled, which still later spread itself out +into a little city, having the cloister to thank for its origin. Walo +not only built the cloister at his own expense, but also endowed it for +its support with the tithes of the Bekedorf village, which belonged to +the manor. It is but a little while since the Bekedorfers bought off +these tithes. + +"'I must state, however, that in my extracts from the chronicle there +occurs a divergence from the usual dates. That is, I have formerly read +under a picture of Graf Walo in the cloister church at Walsrode the +number of the year 986. In my extracts, on the other hand, it is said +that the cloister was founded by Walo in the year of grace 974, and +consecrated by Bishop Landward of Münden. The last can be explained by +the fact that the valley of the Oerze belonged to the see of Münden and +not to the nearer Verden, and therefore Walsrode also being founded from +hence, must be consecrated by the Münden bishop. But as to the +difference of the two dates, I can do nothing further to clear that up, +since I am no investigator of history, but have singly written down what +I have found.'" + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + + +"I like that," said Maggie sedately. + +"How curiously near it seems to bring the Middle Ages!" said Meredith. +"The picture of Graf Walo!--and Pastor Harms has seen it." + +"Why couldn't Walo build a schoolhouse without making a cloister of it?" +asked Maggie. + +"There were really reasons, apart from religious ones," Mr. Murray +replied. "You remember your views of old castles on the Rhine, perched +up on inaccessible heights?" + +"It must have been very inconvenient," said Flora. "Imagine it!" + +"It would have been worse than inconvenient to live below in the valley. +A rich noble could not have been sure of keeping any precious thing his +house held--unless his retainers were very numerous and always on duty; +and in that case the lands would have come by the worst. The only really +secure places, Maggie, were the religious houses." + +"What dreadful times!" said Flora. + +"So these stories show them." + +"Uncle Eden," said Esther, "it is time to go in and get ready for +dinner." + +"Is it? Oh, this pine wood is better than dinner! Look how the light is +coming red through the boles of the trees! Feel this air that is playing +about my face! Smell the pines!" + +"But you will want dinner, Uncle Eden, all the same, and it will be +ready." + +"Well," said Mr. Murray, rousing himself so far as to get up on one +elbow. + +"Where shall we go for our reading to-morrow afternoon?" said Maggie. + +"The Lookout rock," suggested Meredith. + +"Do you like that, Uncle Eden?" + +"I like it all, Maggie. If to-morrow is like to-day, I think the Lookout +rock will be very enjoyable." + +"And then you can look at the sky while you are talking to us," said +Maggie comfortably. + +"Why precisely at the sky?" Meredith asked laughing. + +"Oh, it's so beautiful up there sometimes." + +They sauntered slowly back to the house, through the sweet pines, under +the illuminating red rays which were coming level against the +tree-stems. Then out of the wood and among the flower-beds and shrubbery +surrounding the house; with the open view of sky and river, purple-brown +and ruddy gold lights flowing upon the sides of the hills, reflecting +the western brilliance, which yet was warm and rich rather than +dazzling. + +"I never saw such a place as this!" exclaimed Meredith for the fourth or +fifth time. + +"The world is a wonderful place generally," observed Mr. Murray +thoughtfully. "Rich--rich! 'the riches of His grace,' and the riches of +His wisdom." + +They were a very happy party at dinner. Fenton, it is true, came out +singularly in the conversation, and gave a number of details respecting +life at school and his views of life in the world. Mr. Murray's answers +however were so humorous, and so wise and sweet at the same time, that +it seemed Fenton only furnished a text for the most pleasant discourse. +And after dinner Maggie got out stereoscopic views, and she and others +delighted themselves with a new look at the Middle Ages. + +"What a strange thing it must be," said Meredith, "to live where every +farm and every church has a history; of course every village." + +"Haven't farms and villages in our country a history?" Maggie inquired. + +"No," said Esther; "of course not." + +"A few," said Mr. Murray. "Such New England farms, for instance, as +still bear the names 'Lonesome' and 'Scrabblehard.' But the histories +are not very old, and refer to nothing more picturesque than the +struggles of the early settlers." + +"What struggles?" Maggie wanted to know. + +"Struggles for life. With the hard soil, with the hard climate, and with +the wild Indians. But such struggles, Maggie, left an inheritance of +strength, patience, and daring to their children." + +"Why haven't we stories like those of the Saxons?" + +"Why!" exclaimed Fenton impatiently, "are you such a simple? There was +nothing here but red Indians till a little while ago." + +"We have not been a nation for more than a hundred years, Maggie," said +Meredith. + +"And before that, were the Indians here at Mosswood?" + +"No, no," said Fenton. "You had better study history." + +"As _you_ have," put in his uncle. "Won't you tell Maggie when the first +settlements of the English were made in America?" + +However, Fenton could not. + +"In the beginning of the seventeenth century it was, Maggie, that the +first colonies were established here. The Dutch came to New York, and +the Puritans to New England, and a little earlier the English colonists +to Virginia. We are a young country." + +"Is it better to be a young country, or to be an old one?" + +"The young country has its life before it," said Mr. Murray +smiling;--"like a young girl." + +"How, Uncle Eden?" + +"She has the chance still to make it noble and beautiful." + +"We can't have these grand old castles, though," said Meredith, looking +at the view of Sonneck. + +"Those are the picturesque scars remaining of a time which was not +beautiful--except to the eye. I suppose it was that." + +The conversation took a turn too historical to be reported here. + +The next day was a worthy successor of the preceding. All the party went +to church in the morning; on account of the distance, nobody went in the +afternoon. Mr. Candlish would not have his horses and servants called +out in the latter half of the day. The dinner was early; and so then +after dinner the party set out upon a slow progress to the Lookout rock, +carrying Bibles, and Meredith with his little German volume in his +pocket. + +Another such afternoon as the yesterday's had been! Warm, still, +fragrant, hazy; more hazy than ever. The outlines of the distant hills +were partially veiled; the colours on the middle distance glowing, +mellow and soft, all the sun's glitter being shielded off. Slowly and +enjoyingly the little company wandered along, leaving the lawns and +pleasure ground of flowers behind them; through the cedars, past the +spot where a day or two ago they had sat and read and eaten their +chicken pie. Past that, and then up a winding steep mountain road that +led up to the height of the point above. Just before the top was reached +they turned off from the way towards the left, whence glimpses of the +river had been coming to them, and after a few steps over stones and +under the trees which covered all the higher ground, emerged from both +upon a broad, smooth, top of a great outlying mass of granite rock which +overhung the river. Not literally; a stone dropped from the edge would +have rolled, not fallen, into the water; a stone thrown from the hand +easily might have done the latter. The precipice was too sheer to let +any but those sitting on the very edge of the rock look down its rugged, +tree-bedecked side. However, Mr. Murray and Meredith at once placed +themselves on that precise edge of the platform, while the girls and +Fenton sat down in what they considered a safer position. A hundred feet +below, just below, rolled the broad river; Mosswood's projecting point +to the right still shutting off all view of the upper stream, while the +jutting forth of Gee's point below on the other side equally cut off the +southern reach of the river. The trees at hand, right and left, above +and below, standing in autumn's gay colours; the hillsides and curves of +the opposite shore showing the same hues more mild under the veil of +haze and the distance. Not a leaf fluttered on its stem in the deep +stillness; but far down below one could hear the soft lapping of the +water as it flowed past the rocks. The stillness and the light filled up +the measure of each other's beauty. + +For a while everybody was silent. There was a spell of nature, which +even the young people did not care to break. Flora drew a long breath, +at last, and then Maggie spoke. + +"Uncle Eden, we came here to talk." + +"Did we?" + +"I thought we did--to talk and to read." + +"Nature is doing some talking, and we are listening." + +"What does Nature say?" + +"Do you hear nothing?" + +Maggie thought she _did_, and yet she could not have told what. "It is +not very plain, Uncle Eden," she remarked. + +"It becomes plainer and plainer the older you grow, Maggie,--that is, +supposing you keep your ears open." + +"But I would like to know what your ears hear, Uncle Eden." + +"It will be more profitable to go into the subjects you wanted to +discuss. What are they?" + +"I made a list of them, Uncle Eden," said Maggie, foisting a crumpled +bit of paper out of her pocket. "Uncle Eden, Ditto read to us some +stories which you didn't hear,--it was just before you came,--about poor +people who gave the only pennies they had to pay for sending +missionaries, and went without their Sunday lunch to have a penny to +give; and Flora said she thought it was wrong; and we couldn't decide +how much it was right to do." + +"It is a delicate question." + +"Well, how much _ought_ one, Uncle Eden?" + +"You do not want to go without your lunch?" + +"No, sir. Ought I, Uncle Eden?" + +"My dear, the Lord's rule is, 'Every man according as he purposeth in +his heart, so let him give. What you _want_ to give, that is what the +Lord likes to receive." + +"Don't He like to receive anything but what we like to give?" + +"He says, 'The Lord loveth a cheerful giver.'" + +There was a pause. + +"But, Mr. Murray," said Flora, "isn't there such a thing as a duty of +giving?" + +"There is such a thing." + +"That is what we want to know. What is it? What is the duty, I mean?" + +"What does the Bible say it is, you mean?" + +"Yes, sir, certainly." + +"I am afraid you will think the rule a sweeping one. The Lord said, +'This is my commandment, that ye love one another as I have loved you.'" + +Another pause. + +"But we were talking of _giving_, Mr. Murray." + +"Love will give where it is needful." + +"But will nothing but love give?" + +"Not to the Lord." + +"To what, then?" said Flora hastily. + +"To custom--to public opinion--to entreaty--to conscience--to fear--to +kindness of heart." + +"And isn't that right?" + +"It is not giving to the Lord." + +"Well, Mr. Murray, take it so; how much ought one to give, as you say, +to the Lord?" + +"All." + +"And be a beggar!" said Flora quickly. + +"No; only the Lord's steward." + +"That is exactly what I thought Mr. Murray would say," said Meredith. + +"Then it comes back to the first question, Mr. Murray. Suppose I am a +steward, how much must I give away out of my hand?" + +"If you are a good steward, your question will be different. It will +rather run thus--'What does my Master want me to do with this money?' +and if you are a loving servant, naturally the things which are dear to +your Master's heart will be dear to yours." + +"You are speaking in generals, Mr. Murray," said Flora frettedly; "come +to details, and then I shall know. What objects are dear to His heart?" + +"Don't you know that, Miss Flora?" + +"No, I don't think I do. Please to answer, Mr. Murray, what are the +objects, as you say, dear to His heart?" + +"All the people He died for." + +Flora paused again. + +"I can't reach all those people," she said softly. + +"No. Do good to all those who come within your reach." + +"What sort of good?" + +"Every sort they need," said Mr. Murray smiling. + +"Do you think it is wrong to wear diamonds, Mr. Murray?" + +"Certainly not,--if you think the money will serve the Lord best in that +way, and if your love to Him can express itself best so." + +A muttered growl from Fenton expressive of extreme disgust was just not +distinct enough to call for rebuke. + +"Then I suppose, according to that, I am never to buy a silk dress that +is at all expensive," said Flora, the colour mounting into her handsome +face. "And costly furniture of course must be wrong, and everything else +that is costly." + +"_Your_ conclusions--not mine, Miss Flora," remarked Mr. Murray +good-humouredly. "It is a matter of loving stewardship; and love easily +finds its way to its ends, always." + +"And Meredith wants to know what he shall do with Meadow Park," said +Maggie. + +"Yes. Ah, Mr. Murray! do say something to stop him," added Flora. "Do +not let him spoil Meadow Park." + +"To turn the Pavilion into a pretty little church would spoil nothing, +Miss Flora, as it seems to me." + +"No, but that is not all. Meredith is persuaded that he must make the +place a home for old women, and a refuge for sick people, and fill it +with loafers generally. Mamma and I will have to run away and be without +any home at all; and don't you think he owes something to us?" + +"I have not decided upon anything, Mr. Murray," said Meredith smiling, +though he was very earnest. "I just wish I knew what I had best do." + +"Pray for direction, and then watch for the answer." + +"How would the answer come, Mr. Murray?" asked Flora. + +"He will know when he gets it. Come, Meredith--read." + +"About the man with the catechism?" said Maggie. + +"If you like. It will be a change from the Saxon times," said Meredith. +And he wheeled about a little and reclined upon the rock, so as to turn +his face towards his hearers. "But what a delicious place to read and +talk, Mr. Murray!" + +"Nothing can be better." + +"This story begins with Pastor Harms's account of part of one of the +Mission festivals that used to be held at Hermannsburg every year." + +"Will that be interesting?" said Flora. + +"Listen and see. I pass over the account of the first day." + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + + +"'The first day's celebration of our Mission festival was at an end. It +was then not early, but still on until late in the night the sounds of +the songs of praise and thankfulness were to be heard in the houses, +from the parsonage out to the furthest outlying houses of the peasants, +and so it was also in the surrounding villages; for the parish village +could by no means accommodate all the guests who had come to the +festival, albeit not only the chambers and dwelling-rooms, but also the +haylofts were made lodging-places for the sleepers. And that was a +blessed evening, when so many brethren and sisters from far and near +could refresh themselves with one another's company and pour out their +hearts together. I thank God that so many pastors and teachers were +come, too, and also our faithful superintendent was not wanting. It is +right that the heads of the Church should not be missing at such a +festival. + +"'The next day--and we had prayed the Lord to give us good weather for +it--we were to go to a place in the midst of the lonely heath, called +Tiefenthal."' + +"What does that mean?" Maggie interrupted. + +"_Tief_ means deep. _Thal_ means valley." + +"'Deep valley,'" said Maggie. "But I do not understand what a _heath_ +is." + +"Naturally. We do not have them in this country, that ever I heard of," +said Meredith. + +"Neither here nor in England," said Mr. Murray. "For miles and miles the +Lüneburger heath is an ocean of purple bloom; that is, in the time when +the heather is in blossom. But there are woods also in places, and in +other places lovely valleys break the spread of the purple heather, +where grass and trees and running water make lovely pictures. Sometimes +one comes to a hill covered with trees; and here and there you find +solitary houses and bits of farms, but scattered apart from each other, +so that great tracts of the heath are perfectly lonely and still. You +see nothing and hear nothing living, except perhaps some lapwings in the +air, and a lizard now and then, and humming beetles, and maybe here and +there some frogs where there happens to be a wet place, and perhaps a +landrail; elsewhere a general, soft, confused humming and buzzing of +creatures that you cannot see, and the purple waves of heather, only +interrupted here and there by a group of firs or a growth of bushes +along the edge of a ditch." + +"O Uncle Eden!" cried Maggie, "have you been there? And do you know the +village, too?" + +"_The_ village? Pastor Harms's village--do you mean, Hermannsburg? Yes. +It is like many others. Two long lines of cottages, the little river +Oerze cutting it in two, beautiful old trees shading it,--that is the +village. The cottages are not near each other; gardens and fields lie +between; and at the gable of every house is a wooden horse or horse's +head; from the old Saxon times, you know. No dirt and no squalor and no +beggars nor misery to be seen in Hermannsburg. That, I suppose, is much +owing to Pastor Harms's influence." + +"Thank you, Uncle Eden," said Maggie with a sigh of intense interest. +"Now you can go on, Ditto. They were going out into the heath. All the +people?" + +"I suppose so. 'To a place in the midst of the heath solitudes called +Tiefenthal. Why? I had not told them that; I wanted to tell it to them +first of all on the spot. I had another reason besides, though; I wanted +to have the sun beat a little in African fashion on the heads of the +guests at our festival, so that our brethren in Africa might not be the +only ones hot. So at nine o'clock the next morning the great crowd of +those who were to make the pilgrimage with us from Hermannsburg, were +assembled at the Mission-house under the banner of the cross, which +fluttered joyously from the high flagstaff. It was hard for me not to be +able to walk with the rest, but I was only just recovered from a severe +illness. A pilgrimage is the pleasantest going on earth to me. One can +sing by the way so joyfully with the hosts that are moving along; one +can talk so cordially and so familiarly about the kingdom of God in the +crowd of the brethren; and now and then one gets a chance by a shallow +ditch to tumble one of one's fellow pilgrims over, especially one of the +children. I had to do without all that and get into a waggon. When I +came to the Mission-house, the procession set itself in motion towards +the high grounds of the heath. With sounding of trumpets and amid songs +of praise the crowds travelled on, for nearly two hours long, all the +while mounting higher and higher, and truly, for God had heard our +prayer, under a burning sunshine. Many a one had to sweat for it +soundly; even I in the waggon. It was a picturesque procession; a whole +long row of carriages and these crowds of people; the solitary heath had +become all alive. At last a not inconsiderable height was reached, where +the ground fell off suddenly into a steep, precipitous dell. This was +Tiefenthal. It is a very narrow valley, or rather a cut between two +hills, one of which is bare, the other covered with a luxuriant growth +of evergreens. Below stands an empty bee enclosure, called the Pastor's +Beefield, because it as well as the wood-covered hill belongs to the +pastor of Hermannsburg. From all the farms round about hosts of pilgrims +were coming at the same time with us, travelling along; and like the +brooks which after a thunder-shower plunge down from the hills to the +lower ground, even so the waves of humanity rolled towards Tiefenthal. +At last, then, I took my stand on the slope of the bare hill, surrounded +by the brethren who bore the trumpets in their hands, the blast of which +sounded mightily through the dell and broke in a quivering echo upon the +opposite hill. Countless hosts lay upon the two slopes and in the bottom +of the dell, and out of many thousand throats the song of praise to the +Lord rose into the blue dome of the sky. + +"'First was sung, with and without accompaniment of the trumpets, the +lovely hymn-- + + "Rejoice, ye Christians all, + His Son by God is given," &c. + +to the glorious melody, "Aus meines Herzens Grund!" Then, when the +mighty sounds died away, followed the preaching, upon Hebrews xi. +32-40.'" + +"Read that passage, Maggie," said her uncle. + +Maggie read: + +"'And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of +Gideon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthah; of David also, and +Samuel, and of the prophets: who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought +righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched +the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness +were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of +the aliens. Women received their dead raised to life again: and others +were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a +better resurrection: and others had trial of cruel mockings and +scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonments: they were stoned, +they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they +wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, +tormented; (of whom the world was not worthy;) they wandered in deserts, +and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.'--Uncle Eden, that +was a great while ago, wasn't it?" + +"_That_ was." + +"But I mean, people don't do so now, do they?" + +"Not here, just now, in America. But nothing is changed in human nature +or the relations of the two parties, since the Lord said to the serpent, +'I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and +her seed.'" + +"But does that mean _that_, Uncle Eden? I thought the seed of the woman +was Christ?" + +"It is. But the devil fights against Christ in the persons of his +people; and the 'seed of the serpent,' the children of the devil, hate +the children of God, from Cain's time down. 'If they have persecuted me +they will also persecute you,' the Lord said." + +"There is no persecution here, though, in this country, Mr. Murray?" +said Flora. + +"Not persecution with fire and sword. But nothing is changed, Miss +Flora. It will be fire and sword again, just so soon as the devil sees +his opportunity. So all history assures us. Go on, Meredith; let us see +what Pastor Harms made of his text--or doesn't he tell?" + +"I'll go on, sir, and you'll see. 'As you have just heard out of the +Holy Scriptures, so it has been, my dear friends, with the faithful +witnesses and martyrs of the truth; hacked to pieces, run through the +body, slain with the sword, or left to wander in the deserts, on the +mountains, in dens and caves of the earth, of whom the world was not +worthy. Even in the New Testament we read how Peter and Paul had to +suffer imprisonment, how Stephen was stoned, James beheaded with the +sword; how the Jews persecuted all the confessors of the most blessed +Saviour, dragged them out of their houses, threw them into prisons, and +took joy in stoning them. And even as the Jews began it, the heathen +have carried it on; and not hundreds or thousands, but many hundred +thousands of Christians in the ten great Christian persecutions sealed +their belief in the Lord Jesus and their faithful confession of His holy +name with their blood. In our last year's Mission festival in Müden, I +told you how the holy apostles Peter and Paul met their death like +heroes and martyrs; our beloved Hermannsburg church is named after them; +and I told you about Saint Lawrence, after whom the church in Müden is +called. "And to-day," you are questioning, "to-day are you going to tell +us about martyrs again? We conclude so, from the text you have chosen! +But wherefore always about martyrs?" My beloved, I have a special love +to the martyrs; and I do not know how it happens, at every Mission +festival they come with special vividness before my mind. I believe it +arises from this: that I am persuaded the ever-growing zeal for missions +among all earnest Christians is a token that before long the Church of +Christ will have to take her flight out of Europe; and so the +unconscious efforts of Christians is towards preparing a place for the +Church among the wilds of heathenism. And therefore I believe that the +times of martyrdom will cease to be far-off times for us any longer; +that the kingdom of Antichrist is drawing near with speedier and +speedier steps, is becoming daily more powerful; the apostasy from +Christ is becoming constantly greater and more decided; Christianity is +growing more and more like a putrid carcass, and where the carcass is, +there the eagles are gathered together. And therefore missions are +becoming more evidently the banner around which all living Christians +rally; for what is written in the Revelation xii. 14-17, will soon +receive its fulfilment. And when I see such great crowds of Christians +singing praise and keeping holy day, then the thought always comes to +me, How would it be if persecution were to break loose now? would all +these be true witnesses and martyrs, and rather bear suffering, and +yield up the last drop of their blood and endure any torments, than fall +away and deny Christ? Oh, and when I reflect how mightily in those times +of bloody persecution the Christian Church gave her testimony and fought +and suffered; what a power of Faith, Hope, and Love made itself known, +that could shout for joy at the stake; and when I think how cold, how +lukewarm, how loveless Christianity is now--I could almost wish for a +mighty persecution to come, to break up the rotten peace of Christians, +who have grown easy and luxurious and to arouse again the right heroism +of the soldiers of God. + +"'It is not only in the times of the Jews and the Romans, at the first +founding of the Christian Church, that such mighty battles of heroes +have been fought; the dear and blessed time of the Reformation has had +its martyrs, who for the pure Word and true sacrament of our beloved +Lutheran Church staked their persons and lives. Who does not know those +two faithful disciples, who amid songs of praise were burned at the +stake at Cologne on the Rhine? that Heinrich von Zutphen who had to give +up his life in Ditmarsh? those thousands who were murdered or burned by +the Catholic Inquisition? those thousands who had to pine away in the +prisons and cloisters of the Catholics? without reckoning the hundreds +of thousands in the religious wars stirred up by the Catholics, who made +the battle-fields fat with their blood, and have died for the faith of +their Church? And now I will tell you why I have brought you here to-day +to this Tiefenthal. We stand upon holy ground here, upon ground of the +martyrs. Hear what your fathers suffered for the sake of the pure, true +Word and sacrament. + +"'The story that I am going to tell you must have been acted out +somewhere between 1521 and 1530. For in the chronicle where I have read +the story mention is made of the Diet at Speier, but nothing is said of +the Diet at Augsburg.'" + +"Stop, Ditto, please," said Maggie. "What's a _diet_?" + +"The supreme council of the German Empire, composed of princes and +representatives of independent cities of the empire. The famous Diet of +Augsburg was held in 1530." + +"What was it famous for?" + +"Famous for an open, bold confession and declaration of the Protestant +faith by a few Protestant princes in the midst of the crowd of Catholics +assembled at the Diet." + +"Well, Meredith!" + +"'Nothing is said of the Diet at Augsburg. And certainly some mention +would have been made of it if it had already taken place, since our +beloved princes the Dukes Ernst and Francis of Lüneburg had their share +in the precious confession of faith. At that time there was in +Hermannsburg a young Catholic pastor, descended from a noble patrician +family; he was called Christopher Grünhagen, and was a kind-hearted man. +One day'"---- + +"Stop a minute, Ditto. Some people were Catholics then, and some were +Protestants?" + +"Why, that is how they are now, Maggie," said her sister. + +"But I mean, there--in Germany." + +"It is so still in Germany," said Meredith. "But then was just the +beginning of the Reformation, Maggie. Luther was preaching, and the +world was in a stir generally." + +"'One day there comes to Pastor Grünhagen a sort of artisan fellow, who +asked for a bit of bread. It was in winter time, and the poor man was +quite benumbed with cold. Pastor Grünhagen took pity on him, had him +served with food and drink, and made him sit down in the _Flett_ (that +is, the open hall of the house with its low fireplace) that he might +also warm his cold limbs. After the man had eaten, not forgetting to +pray either, he stretched his legs comfortably down by the warm hearth, +and then drew a small MS. book out of his pocket, in which he began to +read with eager and devout attention. Grünhagen wondered that the man +could read, and more especially that he could read writing. Now, indeed, +an artisan would take it ill if anybody were surprised to find him able +to read. But the fact that all of us, even the poorest and the smallest, +can read now, is just one of the blessings of the Reformation, under +which the first schools for the people were established. In those days +only scholars and priests could read, and the laity, even the nobles, +knew nothing about it. So Grünhagen steps up curiously to the remarkable +artisan who knows so much as to read, and asks him, "Pray what have you +there?" For all answer, the man hands him the book. Grünhagen takes it +and reads and reads, and the more he reads the more eagerly and +attentively he devours what he finds there. It was a copy of Luther's +smaller catechism. Like a lightning flash darts through his soul the +thought, "What stands in this book is THE TRUTH." He asks his guest now +where he has come from? The answer is, "From Wittenberg; I have heard +Luther preach there, and I brought away this catechism with me." + +"'Why he had a written copy of the catechism, and not a printed one, I +cannot tell you; perhaps he had not been able to buy a printed copy, and +had been at the pains of writing it out; but that is not said in the +chronicle. And now, while I am speaking of the catechism, I will show +you also that I am a scholar. Therefore know that Luther printed his +smaller catechism in the year of grace 1529; because in the two years +previous he had been travelling about all through Saxony, examining the +churches; and had found that the pastors were so stupid that they did +not know even the principal things. Therefore, and surely with the +assistance of the Holy Spirit, he wrote the small catechism, which I +hold to be the best of all human books. Before that, however, he had +already written some similar works; for example, a short exposition on +the ten commandments, the Creed, and the Paternoster; from which, on +account of its remarkable quality, I will quote a little. So in it +Luther says--"The first commandment is trangressed by every one who in +his difficulties turns to sorcery, the black art of the devil's allies; +every one who makes that use of letters, signs, words, herbs, charms and +the like; whoever uses divining-rods, treasure-conjurings, clairvoyance, +and the like; whoever orders his work and his life according to lucky +days, sky tokens, and the sayings of soothsayers. The third commandment +is trangressed by those who eat, drink, play, dance, and carry on unholy +doings; by those who in indolence sleep away the time of divine service, +or miss it, or spend it in pleasure drives or walks, or in useless +chatter; by whoever works or does business without special need; by +whoever does not pray, does not think on Christ's sufferings, does not +repent of his sins and long for mercy; and who, therefore, only in +outward things, as dressing, eating, and posture-taking, keeps the day +holy." + +"'I have brought forward this proof of learning only to show you that +good people are not quite so simple as perhaps they look; and now I will +go on with my story. + +"'Grünhagen was so delighted with the dear catechism that he says to the +workman, "Friend, you must stay with me long enough to let me make a +copy of your MS., for you won't get the book again before I have done +that." The friend was very willing to have it so; and now they made an +honest exchange one with the other. For the pastor ministered to the +poor, starved and frozen body of the artisan, and the artisan ministered +to the poor, starved and frozen soul of the pastor. Day by day his +accounts grew more and more fiery and spirited about Luther's powerful +preaching, about the many thousands who were streaming to Wittenberg to +hear the man of God, about the German Bible which Luther had translated, +about the glorious songs of praise which the Lutherans sung, about the +pure Sacrament in both kinds; that is, that in Wittenberg both the bread +and the wine were given to the communicants, and not the bread merely, +as is done by the Papists against the Lord's commandment. He told how, +amidst all the rage of his foes, Luther was so joyful and brave, that on +one occasion he said to the electoral prince of Saxony, who he saw had +become anxious, "I do not ask your princely grace to protect me, for I +am under much higher protection, which will take good care of what +concerns me." Grünhagen's whole soul was moved by these narrations. + +"'After a good many days he let the workman go, laden with gifts, and +with tears in his eyes dismissed him; for through him he had learned to +know the truth. And now he goes to study. Soon the little catechism is +fixed in his heart and his head; and now he procures Luther's other +works, and first of all the New Testament. And then he can conceal it +from himself no longer, that the Word of God and the sacrament are +basely falsified in the Romish Church, and that he himself, without +knowing it, has been all this while misleading the people; he who in his +office as pastor should have been a servant of God. This thought burns +into his inmost soul, so that he almost falls into despondency. But soon +he finds grace through faith in the dear blood of Jesus Christ. And now +in him also that word goes into fulfilment--"I believe, therefore have I +spoken." He begins to preach the pure Word of God, in demonstration of +the Spirit and of power; he begins to give to communicants the whole, +entire supper, the emblems of Christ's body and blood; and he teaches +the children the catechism. And how could he fail of fruit. The parish +of Hermannsburg stirs with life, the whole region is waked up, and +thousands come to hear God's Word. Oh, that must have been a blessed +time, when the Holy Ghost breathed thus upon the dry bones, and the +Light shined in the darkness. But then, too, the Cross could not fail; +for on the baptism of the Spirit follows always the baptism of fire; and +David in the very psalm quoted above says, "I believed, therefore have I +spoken. _I was greatly afflicted._" + +"'There was at that time in Hermannsburg a warden--that is, a steward +and judge in one person--who was called Andreas Ludwig von Feuershütz +(from whom the neighbouring property still keeps the name of +Feuershützenbostel), a rash, determined man, and very zealous for the +old Popish Church. Writing in those days did not amount to much; the +warden's scribes were his soldiers. So he went to the pastor, and +without any circumlocution forbade him to preach the Lutheran heresy, +adding, "If you don't stop it, I'll shut the door before your nose." +When Grünhagen rejected this demand as an improper one, and told him to +attend to his office, but leave the church to the pastor, the warden +grew wrathful, and called Grünhagen a renegade heretic; and the next +Sunday he actually did set his soldiers to keep the church doors and +closed the entrance to pastor and congregation both. The thousands who +followed their pastor were not unwilling to use violence against the +doer of violence; but Grünhagen prevented that, and tried to hold divine +service in his house, and, when that also was interfered with, in the +houses of the peasants. But wherever they might be, the warden would +come with his soldiers and break up the service. + +"'And this went on for many a week, and yet so great was the power of +Grünhagen's good influence over the believers, that no act of violence +was attempted against their tyrants. At last one day the following +peasants, Hans von Hiester, Michel Behrens, and Albrecht Lutterloh of +Lutterloh, Karsten Lange of Ollendorf, and the great Meyer from Weesen, +came to Grünhagen and told him they knew a spot in the heath, still and +solitary and remote, which neither highroad nor footpath came near; the +warden could not easily find it out: "Let us go there on Sundays and +hear God's Word from your mouth!" And so it was arranged. Quietly one +tells it to another, and no one betrays it. The next Sunday, while it is +still night, the house doors everywhere open, the indwellers come out +one by one, and travel in mist and darkness, by distant paths, through +moor, heather, and thicket, hither to Tiefenthal. Grünhagen is there, +and with him is his clerk, Gottlob, a believer, converted by his +pastor's means; and he carries the sweet burden of the church service. O +my beloved! here stood Grünhagen; here were your fathers who renounced +false idols and worshipped their Saviour according to the pure Word and +ordinance He has given; their songs of praise echoed here, here they +bent the knee; for a long while your fathers' house of God was here +under the blue heaven; here were the new-born children baptized in the +name of the triune God, and the grown men and women were fed with the +bread and wine which mean the body and blood of the Lord, and so +received new strength to mount up with wings of eagles. In this place +your fathers grew to a strength of faith which would waver no more. But +more trials were coming upon them. The warden was struck by the sudden +quietness; he had expected that new attempts would be made to get into +the church. He guessed that something was going on, and could not find +out what it was. So he set his soldiers on to serve as sleuth-hounds, +and they scented the game so well that they discovered the whole. Then +one Sunday morning he got up early and watched with bitter rage to see +how the people came out of all the houses, men, women, young men and +girls, old men and children, all quiet and yet so joyous, dressed in +their Sunday clothes, and hastening to Tiefenthal. Stealthily he +followed after them, and at their place of refuge heard them preach and +sing and pray. Suddenly he heard his own name spoken; it gave him a +great shock; he heard the pastor praying for his conversion and the +congregation saying Amen. Then a great surging and conflict of feelings +arose in his brazen heart. But the time was not yet come. He dashed down +the tears that would come into his eyes, and let his supposed duty get +the victory. Resolved to suppress the hated heresy that had almost made +him soft, but too weak to do it with the force at his command, he made +known the affair to the justiciary of Zelle and asked for help. The +Zelle justiciary, nothing loath, next Sunday dispatched two hundred of +his soldiers, who lay hid in the wood till the congregation had +assembled. Then they broke forth, surrounded our fathers, just as they +were gathered around their beloved pastor for the holding of divine +service, fell first of all upon Grünhagen himself and the crowd which +pressed round him, laid hold of him and dragged him off, and a hundred +others with him, to Zelle, with brutal ill-treatment. There the captives +were obliged to pass three days and three nights in the courtyard of the +official's house, in snow and ice (it was in November), and it was only +with difficulty that they could get a bit of bread to eat. Then they +were thrown into prison; and there for a long time our fathers had to +share the bonds and imprisonment of God's faithful servant; but no +threats, no contumely, no distress could move them to apostasy, from the +faith they had confessed. + +"'How long they lay there I do not know. At last, when the Dukes came +back from Augsburg, the hour of their freedom struck; they were let go, +and returned to their homes shedding thankful tears; the church was +again opened to them too, and the heroic Grünhagen preached the gospel +to his people anew with fresh power. Then also struck the warden's hour +of grace; he grew tender, and was overcome by the might of the blessed +gospel; and whereas he had formerly been a zealot for the mistaken +service of God, now he became one of the strongest friends of the pure +Lutheran doctrine in all the community. Out of gratitude the parish gave +to its beloved watcher for souls this Tiefenthal with the wooded hill +here, to be for all time the property of the parsonage, which it still +is to the present day. My beloved, we have come here to-day for +pleasure; are we to come here again perhaps some day in distress? You +answer possibly, "No, that is not to be apprehended; our times are too +humane." Yes! they are humane towards all that is _human_; _i.e._, +towards banqueting and drinking, dissolute living and deceit. But that +our times are not too humane towards what is _godly_, is testified by +the persecutions directed against the Lutherans in Baden and Nassau, +where various Lutheran preachers have had to pay fine after fine, and +lie in the common prison, because they preach and baptize and observe +the communion in the Lutheran manner, and whereto the preaching must +often be held in mountains and clefts of the rocks to be had in peace. +And besides, the kingdom of Antichrist is advancing with constantly +quicker and more decided steps. Even now it everywhere rains words of +abuse upon the saints, the praying people, the hypocrites, the +enthusiasts, the mad folk, and by whatever other names beside they may +call them. And who knows how soon the time may come when the word will +again be true,--"They will put you out of their synagogues," and +"whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service." I could if +I would read you letters that have come from many cities and villages, +filled with such threatenings and cursings and coarse words against me +that they would fill you with astonishment. Therefore ask yourselves +again seriously the question, would you also be ready to give money and +blood, body and life, for the Lord Jesus and for your faith? would you +also be ready to suffer bonds and imprisonment for the Lord's sake? If +it be so that you could not or would not do that, then you are not +worthy to bear the name of Jesus Christ; for whoever hateth not father +and mother, wife and child, farm and farm stock, and his own life also, +for Jesus's sake, he is not worthy of me, the Lord says. To confess +Christ in peace and in pleasant times, that is easy enough; but to do it +through distress and death, to stand fast in the baptism of fire, that +is another thing. Christians of nowadays are accustomed to easy living; +how would the cup of suffering taste to them? They are drowned in +delicate and luxurious habits; how would they bear privation? They have +corrupted themselves in cowardice and indolence; how should they be +strong and brave under persecution? And listen to me now, you who are +gathered here together in such numbers; what do you think? If the +soldiers all of a sudden came upon you, to run you through, or to carry +you off somewhere where there are no feather beds, would you stand it? +would you cheerfully give yourselves up to be dragged off? Or would you +make long legs, keep a whole skin, and deny your Saviour? O God! grant +that all of us may be able to cry with the Apostle Paul, "I count all +things but loss that I may win Christ." "I am persuaded that neither +death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things +present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, shall be able to +separate me from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord!" +Let us now sing with the sound of the trumpets our Luther's hero song-- + + "Ein' feste Burg ist unser Gott."'" + +"What does that mean?" said Maggie. + +"It means, 'The Lord is my strength and my fortress;' or, more +literally, Maggie, 'Our God is a sure stronghold.'" + +"'When this hymn had been sung, it was time for our noonday meal. So +after we had prayed the prayer before eating, the people arranged +themselves everywhere, in larger and smaller groups, on the green grass +or the brown heather, and with giving of thanks enjoyed the food they +had brought along with them. Those who had nothing took gladly the spare +bits of those who had too much. And all were filled; and beer, and +water, and even sugar-water, were on hand too to quench the burning +thirst. I had myself a further particular pleasure. A few of our +festival companions had brought with them some mighty pieces of +honeycake as a gift for me. That suited me exactly, and I had it packed +in with other things in my basket of provisions. Now you should have +seen the glee when I called the children to me and snapped off the sweet +bits for them. There came even a pretty good number of larger people, +who wanted to be children too, and have their bite after the children +had had enough. When we had eaten we had the prayer of thanks, and then +the beautiful song, + + "Now let us thank God and praise Him," &c." + +"'A blast of the trumpets proclaimed the renewal of divine service; and +again the people arranged themselves in their former places and order +for a new and last refreshing of their spirits.'" + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + + +"Is that all?" said Maggie. + +"All of that story," Meredith answered. + +There was a long silence. On hill and rock and river there was a +stillness and peace as if nowhere in the world could blood ever have +flowed, or wrangling been heard, or men been cruel one to another. So +soft and warm the sunlight brooded, and the dry leaves hung still on the +trees and not a breath moved them, and the liquid lap of the water +against the rocks far down below just came to the ear with a murmur of +content. There was nothing else to hear; and the silence was so +exquisite that it laid a sort of spell on everybody's tongue, while the +mild sunlight on the warm, hazy hills seemed to find out everybody's +very heart and spread itself there. A spell of stillness and a spell of +peace. All the party were hushed for a good while; and what broke the +charm at last was a long-drawn breath of little Maggie, which came from +somewhere much deeper then she knew. Mr. Murray looked up at her and +smiled. + +"What is it, Maggie?" + +"I don't know, Uncle Eden. I think something makes me feel bad." + +"Feel bad!" echoed Esther. + +"I don't mean feel _bad_ exactly--I can't explain it." + +"I suppose she has been thinking, as I have been," said Meredith, "that +it does not seem as if this day and my story could both belong to the +same world." + +"Ah!" said Mr. Murray, "this is a little bit of God's part, and the +other is a little bit of man's part in the world; that is all." + +"But, Uncle Eden, in those dreadful times it don't seem as if there +could ever have been pleasant days." + +"I fancy there were. Don't you think the people of Hermannsburg must +have enjoyed Tiefenthal, sometimes in the early starlight dawn and +sometimes in the fresh sunrise?" + +"Uncle Eden, I should always have been afraid the soldiers were coming." + +"On the other hand, those people always knew that God was there. And +there is a wonderful sweetness in living in His hands." + +"But yet, Uncle Eden, He did let the soldiers come." + +"_He_ did not go away, Maggie." + +"No; but those must have been dreadful times." + +"Well, yes. They were no doubt hard times. And yet, Maggie, it remains +true--'When _He_ giveth quietness, then who can make trouble?' Think of +Paul and Silas, beaten and bleeding, stiff and sore, stretched +uncomfortably in the wooden framework which left them no power to rest +themselves or change their position; in the noisome inner dungeon of a +Roman prison, and yet singing for gladness. People cannot sing when they +are faint-hearted, Maggie. The Lord keeps His promises." + +"I wonder how many people would stand Pastor Harms's test?" Meredith +remarked. + +"They are not obliged to stand it," Flora rejoined. "There are no +persecutions now; not here, at any rate. People are not called upon to +be martyrs." + +"Do you think the terms of service have changed?" said Mr. Murray +looking at her. + +"Why, sir, we are _not_ called upon to be martyrs." + +"No, but are you not called to have the same spirit the martyrs had?" + +"How can we?" + +"What is the martyr spirit?" + +"I don't know," said Flora. "I suppose it is a wonderful power of +bearing pain, which is given people at such times." + +"Given to everybody?" said Meredith. + +"Of course, not given to everybody." + +"To whom, then?" + +"Why, to Christians." + +"And what is a Christian?" said Mr. Murray. "Are there two kinds, one +for peace and the other for war?" + +"No, I suppose not," said Flora, somewhat mystified. + +"'Whosoever shall confess me before men, him will I also confess before +my Father which is in heaven.' So the Lord said. Now in times of +persecution, you know what confessing Christ meant. What does it mean in +these days?" + +"I do not think I understand the question, Mr. Murray." + +"In the Roman days, for instance, how did people confess Christ?" + +"I don't know. They owned that they were Christians." + +"How did they own that? They refused to do anything that could be +constructed into paying honour to the gods of the people. They might +have said in word that they were Christians--but nobody would have +meddled with them if they would have hung garlands of flowers upon +Jupiter's altar." + +"No," said Flora. + +"How is it in these days?" + +"What do you mean, sir?" + +"I mean, how is Christ to be confessed in these days?" + +"I don't know," said Flora; "except by making what is called a +profession of religion,--joining some church, I suppose." + +"Does that do it?" + +"I do not know how else." + +"Why, Uncle Eden," said Maggie, "how can one do it any other way?" + +"One cannot do it in that way, my pet." + +"_Not?_" said Flora. "How then, Mr. Murray?" + +"What do people join the church for, then, Uncle Eden?" Esther inquired. + +"Those who enlist in Christ's army must certainly put on His uniform. +But who shall say that the uniform does not cover a traitor?" + +"A traitor, Mr. Murray?" Flora looked puzzled. + +"Yes. There are many traitors. There were even in Paul's time." + +"Traitors among the Christians?" + +"So he wrote. 'Many walk, of whom I have told you often, and tell you +now again even weeping, that they are _enemies of the cross of Christ_.' +They were professors of His name, nevertheless, Miss Flora; but confess +Him before men, except in word, they did not. So my question stands, you +perceive." + +"How to confess Christ nowadays so that there shall be no mistake about +it?" Meredith added. Flora and Esther and Maggie sat looking at Mr. +Murray, as at the propounder of a riddle. Fenton pricked up his ears and +stared at the whole group. + +"What did those people do, Mr. Murray?" Flora asked. + +"Paul tells. He says of them that their 'glory is in their shame;' they +'mind earthly things.'" + +"How can one help minding earthly things, as long as one lives in this +world?" + +"One cannot, Miss Flora. But the characteristic of a Christian is, that +he seeks _first_ the kingdom of God." + +"How?" + +"First, to have the Lord's will done in his own heart; next, to have it +done in other people's hearts." + +"But you were talking of doing something to show to the world that you +are certainly a Christian, Mr. Murray?" + +"Yes, Miss Flora. Shall I tell you some of the ways in which this may be +accomplished?" + +"Yes, if you please. I am completely in a fog." + +"I never like to leave anybody in a fog. Now listen, and I will give you +some of the Bible marks of a real Christian. + +"'_Whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot +be my disciple._'" + +"But, Mr. Murray!"---- + +"Yes, that is just it exactly!" said Meredith, delighted. + +"How can one forsake all he has? Be a beggar?" + +"Not at all. Give it all to Christ, and be His steward." + +"Not to please yourself in anything!" cried Flora. + +"I did not say so. And the Bible does not mean so. For another Bible +mark of a Christian is, in the Lord's words-- + +"'_My meat is to do the will of Him that sent me._'" + +"But can't one do anything that one wants to do?" cried Flora in dismay. + +"Many things. But a Christian has no pleasure in what does not please +God." + +"How is one always to know?" + +"I am going on to tell you in part. '_Whatsoever ye do, do all to the +glory of God._'" + +"That don't tell _me_," said Flora. "How can I tell what will do that? +And how can one do _everything_ so? Little things--and life is very much +made up of little things. Dressing, and studying, and reading, and +playing, and amusing one's self." + +"O Flora?" Maggie cried; and "Why, Flora!" Meredith said, looking at +her; but neither added anything more. + +"The Bible says, '_Whether ye eat or drink, or whatsoever ye do_,'" Mr. +Murray answered. "In another place, '_Whatsoever ye do, in word or +deed_.'" + +"Well, Mr. Murray, I don't understand it; take eating and drinking--how +can that be done to the glory of God?" + +"You can easily see how it can be done _not_ to His glory. Any way that +is not becoming His servant is not to His glory. Therefore, in +excess--of things that do not agree with you and therefore unfit you for +duty--of costly dishes, which take the money that might feed starving +people." + +"But I can't feed all the starving people!" said Flora. + +"It is something to feed one. But I will give you another Bible mark, +Miss Flora, '_He that saith he abideth in Him_,' that is, in Christ, +'_ought himself also to walk even as He walked.'_ Now remember how +Christ walked. He was here, '_as one that serveth_.' He '_went about +doing good_.' He '_pleased not Himself_.' He '_did always those things +that please' God_." + +"But one can't be like _Him_," said Esther. + +"That depends entirely upon whether you choose to be like Him." + +"O Uncle Eden! He was"---- + +"Yes, I know, and I know what you are, and I, and all of us. It remains +true,--'God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of +His Son Jesus Christ our Lord;'--'chosen, that we should be holy and +without blame before Him in love.'" + +There was a pause of some length. Flora was silenced, but her eyes had +filled, and her face wore a pained and bitter expression. Meredith had +glanced at her and thought it better not to speak. Maggie was in a depth +of meditation. Fenton had gone scrambling down the rocks. Esther looked +somewhat bored. + +"Have you got your book there, Meredith?" Mr. Murray asked. + +"Yes, sir." + +"Read us something more. And after that you may all bring your +questions. We came here on purpose to talk, as I understood." + +"There are different sort of things here, sir. Shall I give you a +change?" + +"What you will-- + + "'O day most calm, most bright, + The fruit of this, the next world's bud-- + Th' indorsement of supreme delight, + Writ by a friend, and with his blood; + The couch of time; cares balm and bay; + The week were dark but for thy light; + Thy torch doth show the way.'" + +"That's better than anything I have got, sir," said Meredith. + +"No. But it is good. And just here and to-day the Sabbath seems dressed +in royal robes. I could not but think of those lines." + +"I confess, Mr. Murray, Sunday is nothing like that to me," said Flora. + +"You are honest, Miss Flora. That gives me some hope of you. No, +naturally the Sabbath does not seem like that to you yet.--Well, +Meredith?" + +"Is there more of it, sir?" Meredith's sister asked. + +"More than you would care for, Miss Flora.-- + + "'Sundays the pillars are + On which heav'n's palace archéd lies; + The other days fill up the spare + And hollow room with vanities.--'" + +"And yet that need not be true, either. Go on, Meredith. What will you +give us?" + +"Two stories, sir, on the words, 'Hold that fast which thou hast, that +no man take thy crown.'" + +"'On the twenty-fifth of June 1530, therefore three hundred and forty +years ago, as is well known, our Lutheran Confession of Faith was +delivered before the diet at Augsburg. There was the powerful emperor +Charles V., and his brother, King Ferdinand, besides a number of +electoral princes, dukes and bishops. Before this crowd of some three or +four hundred nobles, stood a little company of seven princes and two +represented cities; that is, the Elector John the Constant and his son +John Frederick of Saxony, Margrave George of Brandenburg, Duke Ernst the +Confessor and his brother Francis of Lüneburg, Landgrave Philip of +Hesse, Prince Wolfgang of Anhalt, and the two burgermasters of Nürnberg +and Reutlingen. These nine stood forth with the spirit of heroes, and +confessed, under signature of their names, that in this faith they would +live and die, and that no power of earth or hell should make them turn +from it. For the Lutherans were wickedly slandered, as men who no longer +believed in anything, and who therefore deserved no other than to be +rooted out from the earth. That was why the Lutheran princes had +requested that it might be granted them to declare their faith publicly +before the Diet; to the end that everybody might know how their belief +rested upon the Scriptures and stood in harmony with the universal +ancient Christian Church; and indeed had flung away only the false human +teachings which had found their way into the Church. For this purpose +the twenty-fifth of June was fixed. The electoral chancellor Beyer +stepped into the middle of the hall with the written Confession of Faith +in his hand. The evangelical princes rose and stood listening while it +was read, and testified that this was the faith they held, to which by +God's help they would stand unmoved. Then did all that were present hear +what the faith of the Lutherans was; there stood the doctrine of the +triune God, of original sin, of the eternal Godhead of Jesus Christ; of +justification before God through grace alone by faith in Jesus Christ, +&c., though I hope I do not need to tell you any more about it; I think +you all know the Augsburg Confession and have read it, for surely you +are all of you Lutheran Christians, and all Lutheran Christians know the +Augsburg Confession. But if there be one among you who does not yet know +this act of confession, let him be ashamed of himself, and get a copy +with all speed, and read it, and read it again. When it was read aloud +at Augsburg, the impression it made was very great; people saw that the +Lutherans had been shamefully slandered. Duke William of Bavaria +reproached De Eck with having represented the Lutheran doctrine to him +in entirely false colours. The doctor answered, he would undertake to +refute this writing from the Christian fathers, but not from the +Scripture. Then the duke returned, "So, if I hear aright, the Lutherans +are _in_ the Scriptures, and we near by!" + +"'There did the steadfast Lutherans keep that saying in their +hearts--"Hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown." +Ay, when before the beginning of the Diet the Lutheran ministers +earnestly besought the Elector of Saxony that he would not for their +sakes run into danger, but graciously permit them to appear alone and +give in their declaration before the emperor, the undaunted prince made +them answer--"God forbid that I should be shut out from your company; I +will confess my Lord Jesus Christ with you." + +"'This is one story about those words; now I will give you another--'" + +"Stop one minute, Ditto. Uncle Eden, I do not exactly understand all +that?" + +"What do you not understand?" + +"Who were all those people?" + +"The Catholic nobles of the German empire, with Charles the Fifth, a +very powerful emperor, at their head, and the chief Catholic church +doctors and dignitaries,--all that on one side; representing the powers +of this world. On the other side, a little handful of men whom Luther's +teaching had awakened out of the darkness of the Middle Ages, confessing +Christ before men; representing the feeble flock of His followers." + +"Yes," said Maggie thoughtfully. "Was there danger?" + +"There was great danger to whoever got into the power of the Catholic +lords." + +"Do you think the world is always against the truth, Mr. Murray?" Flora +asked. + +Mr. Murray answered in the words of the psalm--"'Why do the heathen +rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? The kings of the earth set +themselves, and their rulers take counsel together, against the Lord and +against His Anointed, saying, Let us break their bands asunder, and cast +away their cords from us.'" + +"But all times are not like those times of the Reformation?" + +"Not just. The world power strives against the Church in a variety of +ways, sometimes with force and sometimes with guile. The beast in the +vision, who has his power from the devil, sometimes makes war with the +saints; and sometimes 'he causeth all, both small and great, rich and +poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand or in their +foreheads; and that no man might buy or sell save he that has the +mark.'--Miss Flora, I believe the war times are the less evil and +dangerous. Well, Meredith, you bear interruptions philosophically. Go on +with your new story." + +"This new story 'happened more than two hundred years ago, at a place +called Galgenberg' (that is Gallowshill, Maggie), 'in the neighbourhood +of Hermannsburg. In old times a gallows used to stand there, on which +thieves and oath-breakers were hung.'" + +"Oath-breakers!" said Mr. Murray. "It seems the Saxons kept their hatred +of untruth. But I beg your pardon, Meredith." + +"It's half the fun, to stop and talk, sir. 'At that time the criminal +jurisdiction was located in Hermannsburg; and four times in the year, at +quarter-day, court was held here and the judgment carried into effect as +soon as delivered. To this end the justiciaries of Hermannsburg, Bergen, +and Fallingbostel came together here and held the court, after they had +first attended the weekly service in the church at Hermannsburg to +prepare them for their vocation; for quarter-day always fell upon a +Wednesday. However in those days perjury and theft were so rare, that +once it happened that twenty years passed away, with court held every +quarter-day, and nobody was sentenced. The justice of Hermannsburg had +two staves, one all white, and one parti-coloured. If he found no one +guilty, he broke the coloured staff; if, however, anybody was convicted, +then he broke the white staff, with the words, + + "The staff is broken, + The judgment is spoken, + Man, thou must hang." + +"'And then, after the pastor had prayed with the criminal, the sentence +was executed.'" + +"Fearful times, sir," said Meredith pausing. + +"Horrible!" echoed Flora. + +"Two sides to the question," said Mr. Murray. "I am musing over the +novelty of the combination. Twenty years without one man convicted of +theft or a false oath! Think of that, and you will comprehend the horror +of the crime which made such sudden work with the criminal." + +"I will go on," said Meredith.--"'Some old people are yet living who +have seen the gallows which stood on the Galgenberg. Now I will tell you +my story about the words, "Hold that fast which thou hast, that no man +take thy crown." It was in the Thirty Years' War, which from 1618 to +1648 raged between the Catholics and the Protestants. Through all this +miserable time the parish of Hermannsburg enjoyed the rare good fortune +of having a faithful shepherd over it; his name was Andreas Kruse; he +became pastor in 1617, and died in 1652. His successor, Paulus +Boccatius, gives him this testimony in the church register--"True as +gold, pure as silver. Ah, thou faithful and good servant, thou hast been +faithful over a few things; I will make thee ruler over many things." +For years at a time the church at Hermannsburg was closed to him. At +those times he went with his people into the wilds and held divine +service there. Furthermore, the whole of the neighbouring pastors were +either dead of the plague, or killed, or driven away; so that he took +care of all their parishes beside his own; and this he did for +twenty-five years. One good supporter he had in a bailiff called Andreas +Schlüter, who died in the year 1643, and lies buried in the churchyard +at Hermannsburg; a man after God's heart, who faithfully stood by his +pastor and often hid him away in his house for weeks at a time. The +pastor did not merely celebrate divine service; he had also preserved +the silver church vessels from the plundering hands of the enemy. These +silver vessels were used in the service of the Lord's supper; and after +it was over, the sacristan or clerk set tin ones in their place upon the +altar. They did not mean to act any lie by this means, however, for the +tin vessels were not made for the purposes of deception, but had been +there beforetime. Things went on in this way until the year 1633. At +that time Duke George assembled an army and marched against the imperial +forces His men were burning with an eagerness for the fight, which +delighted the duke. The enemy were stationed at Nienburg and Hameln. +Seeing that the duke was approaching them they drew back to Oldendorf in +the Hesse country, and there the duke got hold of them in the month of +June 1633. When his faithful followers asked him, "What shall the battle +cry be?"--"God with us!" answered the duke; and therewith they went at +the enemy bravely. And soon the foe were so fearfully beaten that they +scattered and fled in every direction--fifty imperial standards and +twenty cannon remaining in the duke's hands. + +"'Among the fugitives were the two imperial generals Merode and +Gronsfeld. The former was wounded to death and died at Nienburg. +Gronsfeld fled in such haste, that he lost his sword and plumed hat. The +duke kept these for himself, to be his share of the spoils. In their +flight the imperialists came through the Lüneburg country, with the most +frightful outrages which they committed by the way. Among these, the +record tells of a lieutenant captain, named Altringer, who came to the +village of Hermannsburg and plundered the inhabitants; he pushed his way +even into the parsonage, and asked the pastor "what he had to give him?" +"I am a poor man," the latter replied; "you may open all my boxes." They +did so, and--ten shillings was all they found. In a rage at this, they +beat the doors and windows to pieces, and summoned him--"You must have +some church furniture too--here, out with it!" The pastor answered, +"Have you been in the church yet?" "Those are tin vessels," said the +enemy; "you are bound to have silver ones as well. Where are they? give +them up." "No," said the faithful pastor, "that is what I will not do." +"Where have you hidden them?" "You are not going to find out." + +"'Upon this they condemned the brave man to the "Swedish drink." This +frightful punishment consisted in the following: The victim was brought +to the dung-pit, his mouth was forced open, a gag put between his teeth, +and then dung water poured down his throat; after which men stamped +with, their feet upon his bloated body, until either he confessed or +gave up the ghost. Now they had already brought Pastor Kruse to the +dung-pit. There, before they began, he prayed with a loud voice, "Lord +Jesus, have mercy on me." The lieutenant captain was moved with pity. +"No," he said, "this man shall not die by the 'Swedish drink.' To the +gallows with him! he shall hang." Arrived at the gallows he was there +asked again, "Where is the church service?" He answered, "I shall not +tell you where." Thereupon order was given to execute the sentence. But +in the first place he kneeled down and prayed for his enemies also, that +God would not lay this sin to their charge, but give them grace to +repent. Then he mounted the ladder, and the noose was already round his +neck; meanwhile a tall man coming from Celle stepped up behind a tree, +where, himself unseen, he could observe everything. At the same instant +people were seen on the other side coming from Hermannsburg, and making +signals with a white cloth to signify that they had got the church +vessels. Where had they found them? They considered that surely the +pastor would have buried them in the deepest part of his house, that is +in the cellar. But in what spot? This they discovered in the following +manner. They poured five or six pailfuls of water on the cellar floor. +At first for a while, it stood there; then all of a sudden it began to +run together towards one place and there sink in. "Ha, ha," said they; +"here is a hole in the ground; the things must be buried there." So they +dug it up and found the church vessels. When the pastor saw the +communion service in the hands of the enemy, then the tears rose to his +eyes. But as for the effect those people had hoped for, that is, that +his life might be saved, they found it would not do; the hard lieutenant +captain would not change his order; the man must hang. + +"'Then stepped out yonder tall man from behind the tree--it was General +Gronsfeld; and he spoke. "Will you put to death this man who in dying +prays for his enemies, and who weeps for his church service and not for +his own life? Set him at liberty!" The pastor stretched out his hands +to the general and implored, "Ah, my lord general, the church vessels!" +But he answered, "I cannot give you those back--they are the booty of my +soldiers; but your life is granted you." + +"'The parish people of Hermannsburg used the tin service for a long +while after that, till towards the end of the war silver vessels were +again provided. Kruse remained pastor here until 1652. He too kept that +saying in his heart--"Hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take +thy crown."'" + +"What awful times!" was Flora's comment when Meredith stopped reading. + +"The world has moved a little since then," Mr. Murray observed. "Let us +be thankful such barbarous cruelties are no longer practised by the +civilised part of the world; and civilisation is spreading." + +"But I don't think much of that story," Esther went on. "The man made a +great deal more fuss about the soldiers having his church service than +was at all necessary. That wasn't a thing to die for." + +"By his lights, and his love for the sacred vessels, it was. You must +take his point of view; and then you will find him, as I do, very +noble." + +"But it is very difficult to take other people's point of view, Mr. +Murray, especially when it is unreasonable." + +"Who shall judge?" said Mr. Murray smiling. + +"You mean, _I_ might be the one who was unreasonable." + +"Anybody might, occasionally. And it is of the very essence of charity, +Miss Flora, to take other people's point of view. Only so can you +possibly come to a right estimate of their action." + +"I don't like that story much, Ditto! I mean, not so much. I wish you +would read another," said Maggie. + +"I will read you another," said Meredith; "and it shall be very +different. + +"'The story that I am now about to tell you is such a one as certainly +nobody expects to hear from me; it is namely, the story of a +night-watchman. But there is no sort of reason why you should laugh at +this word, for indeed the story is a pretty one; and I wish all the +night-watchmen in city and country would take after this man and do as +he did; that is, provided they could do it from the bottom of their +hearts. A poor cottager in one of our country villages, some years ago, +out of curiosity, came to one of our mission festivals. There to his +astonishment he heard that the Lord Jesus will have all men to be saved, +that are in the whole earth, even the poor heathen; and that accordingly +He has commanded His servants, the Christians, to cast the net of the +gospel into the sea of the heathen world. He heard how the heathen are +to be saved, because Jesus died for all men; how they can nevertheless +no otherwise be saved than through faith in Him; because there is +salvation for sinners in no other but only in the name of Him who was +crucified for sinners and is risen again. Meanwhile however, by means of +this mission festival the dear man himself is taken in the net of the +gospel; for he sees that he also is a sinner, and therefore for him also +there is no salvation except in Him who forgives sins, because He has +made reconciliation for sinners with God. And now, finding himself +salvation in Christ, this experience of his convinces him that nobody +but Jesus can really help the poor heathen. But then since Jesus can +come to the poor heathen in no way but by his Word and sacrament, and +his Word and sacrament the heathen have not, it becomes very clear to +his mind that the Word and sacrament must be carried to them. This, +moreover, can be done only by messengers to the heathen, who must be +sent to them, because they have not got wings to fly thither. Then he +begins to ponder the question, how he can do something to help. So he +buys himself a mission-box, that he may always be putting something in +there when he has anything to spare. As nevertheless what goes in is +only the mites of poverty, it looks to him a great deal too little. He +makes the resolve now that every quarter of a year he will go round the +village with his box to collect for the mission. But this is a resolve +he cannot perform; for inasmuch as the mission is not known to the +people of his village, he reflects that where there is no heart for the +mission, naturally there are no gifts for it. And there he was quite +right, and did a wise thing to let his collecting project alone. So +about that he gives in, and quietly hangs up his mission box in his +room, on a nail opposite the door, so that every one who comes into the +room can see it. And people do observe it, and many a one asks what sort +of a thing that can be? He makes answer, it is for this purpose: that +whatever goes into it will be applied to the converting of the heathen. +And so in this way some few mites do actually get in; which, however, at +the end of each year bring but a small sum. Now as this sum is still far +too small to content him, he turns simply to the dear Lord Jesus, and +says to Him--"Dear Lord, as for going to the heathen myself, that I +cannot do: I am too old, and I have not learned enough. But because Thou +hast done so much for me and in me, I would like greatly to do something +for Thee, and truly a little more than I have done hitherto. So give me +Thy Holy Spirit, that I may know how to manage it; for without Him man's +knowledge is nought." Following upon such a prayer then, the Lord +appointed him to be nightwatcher. For without his having in the least +anticipated such a thing, the village community invited him to undertake +the service of the night-watch in the village. He made answer, he must +take the matter into consideration before God and with his wife. The +latter was not at first disposed to be pleased that he should wake while +others slept; and his own flesh also takes to it not kindly, to have to +wander about in the village in snow and rain, when it is cold and when +it is stormy, while everybody else is lying upon his ear. But his former +prayer recurs to him, the Lord is certainly now giving him something to +do; and so he says to the Lord Jesus--"My dear Saviour, if Thou canst +use me in this way, keeping watch in the village with Thy holy angels, +who are about us at all times, then give me strength and joy to do it!" +And as the Lord grants him both, the thing is settled, and in the name +of Jesus he accepts the office of night-watch. The custom in that place +makes it a rule, that on New Year's night the night-watch should sing +under people's windows a couple of pretty Christian verses, as it were a +New Year's greeting; to one this verse, to the next the other verse, and +so round at all the houses. New Year's day then, or the day after, he +may go round again visiting house by house, and wish happy New Year; and +the people give him according to their means and according to their +inclination a gift, smaller or larger, and these gifts belong to his +service earnings; it is no begging either, for the stipulation is made +at the time he is put in office. With true gladness of heart now in the +New Year's night he sings under all the windows in the village; and as +he does this, he seems to himself just the same as a priest of God; his +office seems to him a right holy one. And particularly where he knows +that a sick person is lying in a house he sings the loveliest verses of +faith and comfort, so that tears run down over his own cheeks in the +doing of it. That night is verily a night of triumph in his work; and he +begins to bear a cordial love to his calling, as one the Lord has given +him and has sanctified. To go round on New Year's day, however, and wish +the people joy, that is what he cannot make up his mind to; it is a +festival and a holiday; it belongs to the Lord; and it must be spent in +the church and with the Bible. But the next day he has time, and then he +will go; and then his mission-box occurs to him, which is still hanging +there on its nail. Now he knows what he is to do. He takes the box in +his hand and goes the rounds, house after house, and gives his good +wishes. Everywhere the people receive his hearty congratulations kindly, +and every one puts his hand in his pocket with alacrity to fetch out a +little present for him; the faithful man has indeed done his work so +honestly, and but just now has sung for them so heartily and such +beautiful verses! But he holds forth his box to his benefactors, and +begs them to put whatever they design for him in there, for what they +give is to go to the conversion of the heathen. So upon that one asks +him a question, and another asks him a question, and he has opportunity +to open his mouth with gladness and testify of the misery of the poor +heathen, and of the sacred duty of helping them, that so they may be +converted. And God gives His blessing both to deeds and word; and now +the man finds himself able to send in not a little, but a good deal, for +the conversion of the heathen, who lie so heavily on his heart. + +"'Do you ask where this happened and who did it? It happened in our +country, and six nightwatchers have done it. Who are they? Go along and +ask the Lord in the last day; He has got all their names written down. I +shall not tell them to you, for I will not rob them of their blessing. +It might happen, however, that one or the other of them may read these +lines. If that be the case, then I say to him, "Keep still and do not +betray thyself, that thou lose not thy humility."'" + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + + +"I must say, Ditto, you read us the most extraordinary variety of +stories." + +That was Flora's utterance. Meredith, however, sat looking very gravely +into the water, which was rolling its little waves along at his feet far +below. The sun had got lower while he had been reading; the lights and +colours were changing; shadows fell from the hill-tops and began to lie +broad on the river, cast from the western shore; but all softened in the +haze, which now was getting in a strange way transfused with light; and +a few little flecks of cloud were taking on the most delicate hues. + +"Mr. Murray," Meredith broke out, "that story is not exaggerated? I +mean, the doing of the people in the story is not, is it?" + +"Miss Flora thinks so." + +"Don't you, Mr. Murray?" said the young lady. + +"Let us hear your reasons, please." + +"Well, Mr. Murray, surely life is given to us for something besides bare +work. We are meant to be happy and enjoy ourselves a little, aren't we?" + +"Most certainly." + +"Those good men,--I dare say they were good men,--seem to me to have +been mistaken." + +"You think, for instance, they might have kept some of their New Year's +money to buy their wives new dresses?" + +"Yes; or to get a good dinner, which I suppose they never had; or a +carpet, suppose, for the bit of a room they lived in." + +"What do you say, Esther?" + +"Oh, I think just as Flora does, Uncle Eden. I think those people were +very extravagant." + +"Maggie?" + +"Uncle Eden, I do not know if they were extravagant; but it seems to me +they might have kept a _little_ for their own New Year." + +"You all overlook one thing." + +"What is that, sir?" several voices asked eagerly. + +"Those good men were not acting so very contrary to your principle. They +were doing, every one of them, what gave him the most pleasure with his +money. That is what I understand you to advocate. The only difference +is, that they found their pleasure in one thing, and you would find +yours in another." + +"But, Mr. Murray," Meredith began. + +"Yes, Mr. Murray," said Flora eagerly taking the words out of her +brother's mouth, "you have really not said anything. The question comes +round,--_ought_ we to find our pleasure in what they did, and in nothing +else?" + +"That is not the right way of putting it. The Lord does not demand that, +nor desire it; but that we should seek _first_ the kingdom of God. You +may remember too that the spirit of our life, if we are Christians, must +be the same as Christ's; for 'if any man have not the spirit of Christ, +he is none of His.' Now the motto of His life was, 'My meat is to do the +will of Him that sent me.' And that, Miss Flora, must make pleasing God +the great pleasure of a child of God." + +"That is what I think," said Meredith. + +"Then are we to have no pleasure?" Flora repeated. "I mean, no pleasure +of our own?" + +"I have been trying to explain that. I do not know any pleasure much +sweeter than pleasing some one that we dearly love; do you?" + +Flora looked very gloomy. + +"Put out of your head any notion of bondage or hard lines of action. 'I +_delight_ to do Thy will, O God!'--is the true way of stating it. And +that is the only sort of service, I think, that the Lord really is +pleased with." + +"Well, does He want us to do like those people, and give literally all +we have got, for the heathen, or the poor?" + +"The Bible rule is, 'Every man _according as he purposeth in his heart_, +so let him give.' If His heart will be satisfied with nothing less than +all, you would not forbid Him?" + +Meredith's eyes sparkled, and he looked at Flora, but she would not meet +him. + +"It may be and often is the case, that the Lord's best service requires +some of a man's money to be spent on things that seem personal; still, +if he loves God best, all will be really for God. Education, +accomplishments, knowledge, arts, sciences, recreation, travel, +books--provided only that in everything and everywhere the man is doing +the very best he can for the service of his Master and the stewardship +of his goods. That does not shut out but increases his delight in these +things." + +"That is enough!" exclaimed Meredith. "You have answered all my +questions, sir. I see my way now." + +"It will be a way apart from mamma and me, then, I suppose," said Flora, +her eyes filling and her cheeks reddening. + +"No," said Mr. Murray gently, "perhaps not. Meredith, we have had a +sufficient interval of talk; suppose you read again. I am selfish in +saying so; for while my ears listen, my eyes can revel in this wealth of +colour. What will you give us next?" + +"May I choose, sir? It touches what we have been talking about, another +little story. It is a story by the bedside of a sick day-labourer." + +"I don't believe we shall like it, Ditto," said his sister. + +"It will not hold us long. Let me try.-- + +"'It is a long while ago, that I was once standing by the bedside of a +sick day-labourer, who had a wife and four children. The man had been +ill for weeks, and the sickness had swallowed up all his money. Death +was near, and he was glad of it; he had only one remaining wish, that he +might receive the symbols of the body and blood of the Lord Jesus in the +Holy Communion. I administered them to him. + +"'We sang with a number of friends and neighbours who were gathered +together, the song, + + "Who knows how near my end may be!" + +"'He sang the words correctly along with us, for he knew the hymn by +heart. His wife and children sang too. As we stopped at the fifth verse, +I saw great tears in his eyes; but I said nothing at the time. The sick +man spoke his confession devoutly, and afterwards received the bread and +the wine which are in figure the body and blood of our Lord Jesus +Christ. His eye beamed with joy. Then after the blessing was said we +sang the most glorious verse of the same hymn,--"I have fed on Jesus' +blood," &c. The neighbours and friends went away, after they had +cordially pressed his hand and said to him, "In the Lord's presence +we'll be together again." I remained alone with the sick man and his +family. Then I asked, why he had wept when we were singing, whether +perhaps it was a trouble to him that he must go away from his wife and +children? He looked at me with open eyes, almost reproachfully, when I +said that, and answered, "Does not Jesus stay with them then? Has not +the Lord said He would be 'the father of the fatherless and a judge of +the widow'? No; they will be well looked after; I have prayed the Lord +that He would be a guardian to them. Isn't it so, mother, that thou art +not worried either, and thy heart is not anxious? Thou, too, hast faith +in Jesus!" "Surely," said the woman, "I believe in Jesus; and I am glad +thou art going to Jesus. In good time I will come after thee with the +children. Jesus will help me by His Holy Spirit to bring them up." +"Well--why did you shed tears then?" "For joy. I was thinking, if the +singing goes so lovely even down here, how beautiful it will be when the +angels sing with us. That was what made me weep, for joy, because such +blessedness is so near before me." And now he made a sign to his wife. +She understood the sign, went to the cupboard, and fetched out a little +sort of a cup dish, which was her husband's money-box. Six groschen were +in it, all that was left over of his possessions. He took them out with +trembling fingers, laid them in my hand, and said, "The heathen are to +have those, that they too may learn how to die happy." I looked at the +wife; she nodded her head pleasantly and said, "We have agreed upon +that. When all is paid that will be needed for the funeral, it will +leave just these six groschen over." "And what will you keep?" "The Lord +Jesus," said she. "And what are you going to leave to your wife and +children?" I asked the man again. "The Lord Jesus," said he; and with +that whispered me in the ear, "He is very good and very rich." So I took +the six groschen for the heathen, and put them, as a great treasure, in +the mission money-box; and it was hard for me to give them out again; +only if I had not paid them out, I should not have fulfilled the dying +man's wish. In the following night he fell asleep. We buried him as a +Christian should be buried, that is, publicly, with the ringing of the +bell, with preaching, singing and prayer; and there was no weeping done, +neither by his wife nor by his three oldest children, neither in the +church nor by the grave. But the youngest child, a boy of five years +old, who followed the bier along with the rest, wept bitterly. I asked +him afterwards, why he had wept so bitterly at his father's grave? The +child answered me, "I was so troubled because father didn't take me with +him to the Lord Jesus; I had begged him so hard to take me." "My child," +said I, "your father could not take you along with him; only the Saviour +could do that; you ought to have asked _Him_." "Shall I ask Him now +then?" he questioned. "No, my child. See--when the Saviour wants you, He +will call you Himself. But if He chooses that you shall grow to be a man +first, then you must help your mother and let her live with you. Will +you?" He said, "I would like to go to Jesus; and I would like to be big +too, so that mother can live with me." "Well, then, say to the Lord +Jesus that He shall choose." "That is what I will do," said the boy; and +was quite contented and pleased. + +"'The faithful Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ give us all a happy end. +Amen.'" + +There was the usual pause after Meredith had done reading. Flora, +however, could not keep back long her expression of opinion. + +"I protest!" she said. "Those people were utterly fanatical! Mr. Murray, +isn't it true?" + +"O Uncle Eden, do you think so?" cried Maggie. "I think it is +beautiful." + +"Maggie is too young to understand," remarked Esther. "Those people were +very unnatural, I think." + +"How?" said Meredith. + +"Yes, how?" Mr. Murray echoed. "I should like to hear the arguments on +both sides." + +"A man who is dying, and has a wife and four children," said Flora +solemnly, "has no _right_ to give his last six groschen away. I don't +know how much a groschen is, but that don't make any difference. He has +no right to to do it!" + +"You emphasise, 'a man who is dying,'" said Meredith. "Would the case be +different if he were a man living and going to live?" + +"Why, of course." + +"How?" + +"He would work then, and earn more. How stupid to ask, Meredith!" + +"But an accident might happen to him; or he might fail to get work; or +he might miss his pay." + +"Yes, of course. I think it would be fanatical even then. But when he +was dying, and couldn't do anything!"---- + +"But if in any case he must trust for a day--what does it signify? God +can send help in a day." + +"I should not think He would, when people throw away wantonly what they +have got already." + +"What is given to Jesus isn't thrown away," said Maggie. + +"And He always pays it back with interest," said Mr. Murray. "And what +is entrusted to Him is never neglected. I think that old German peasant +was very safe in his proceeding." + +"But so unnatural!" cried Esther. "Not to be sorry to leave his wife and +children!" + +"I have no doubt he was very sorry to leave them. The only thing is, he +was more glad to go to Jesus." + +"I cannot understand that." + +"Not till you know the Lord yourself; and I do not deny that one must +know Him well, to be so eager to go to Him. One does not easily leave +the known for the unknown." + +"Let me read another bit of a story, or history," said Meredith. "We +cannot come to an agreement by talking; these things must be _lived +in_--must they not, Mr. Murray?" + +"Yes, read. But see the sky!" said Mr. Murray. "And the colours along +the shore! Wonderful, wonderful! What a Sunday evening this is." + +Meredith sat silently looking for a few minutes. With every quarter of +an hour of the descending sun, the world was growing now more like a +fairy-tale world. The lights and the shadows and the colours were making +such exquisite work, that the bit of earth the gazers were looking upon +seemed not to belong to the earth of history or the life of experience, +but to be something unearthly, and glorified. With all that, the Sabbath +stillness! There was the lap of the water at the foot of the rocks; the +rustle of the dry leaves down below where Fenton was prowling about; the +call of the bugle sounding out some order for the dragoons on the other +side at the post; between whiles the absolute repose of nature. + +"I wonder if the new heavens and the new earth will be anything like +this!" said Mr. Murray with a long breath. + +"This is not like our common world. Well, Meredith--it is hard upon you, +but it is better than too much talking." + +"It is not hard upon me, sir. I am getting all my ideas cleared up. + +"'Holy Scripture saith, that the hearts of the children shall be turned +to the parents, and the hearts of the parents to the children. I will +tell you a story about that, which, I hope, may be of use; so much the +more, that in this regard one sees so much that is senseless. + +"'I knew a man once, who was the very ideal of a just living, upright, +honourable man; but Jesus he knew not. Among his fellow-men he was held +in general, well-deserved esteem; for he was pleasant and winning in +intercourse with them, and in his whole character there was something +naturally noble. No prayer was ever heard in his house, neither at +table, nor mornings and evenings, nor was ever the morning and evening +blessing read. But love and peace reigned in the house, between parents +and children, and master and mistress and servants; and nothing +dishonourable was tolerated. In other things, however, the way of the +house was the way of the world; card-playing was had there, now and then +dancing, and sometimes it might happen that an oath came out, when the +angry vein was swollen; nevertheless, worldly gaiety was never permitted +to go beyond bounds; the man would not suffer that. Nobody read the +Bible; though the man had a Bible which he had inherited from his pious +mother and held in high honour; it had the chief place on his +book-shelf; but it was made no use of, only now and then taken down to +have the dust brushed off it. This man had a whole flock of children; +and a wife who clung to him with such inmost affection, that many a time +when she heard his step on the floor she would call him into the room +where she was, and when he came in and asked what she wanted, would +answer him, "Oh, I only just wanted to see you, and now you may go off +again." In outward things he was pretty comfortable; made a living, but +also had a good deal of a burden to carry; was a diligent worker, +however, and by little and little got on in the world. He was not often +seen at church or the Lord's Supper; yet did not absolutely neglect +them. Nevertheless, the man had a special spite against _pious people_, +of whom in his life he had known a few. Those pious people of his +acquaintance can indeed not have been of the right sort; for from their +example he had come to the firm persuasion that pious people, all and +sundry, were no better than hypocrites. He used often to tell of a pious +man he had known, who used to read a great deal in the Bible and in +religious books, and used also to hold meetings for prayer in his house, +while at the same time he was a miser and put out his money to usury. +Another one he had known, who in externals made as fair pretences; but +with that was of such ungovernable temper and such unmeasured brutality +that on more than one occasion he had beaten a man nearly to death. +Therefore, as I said, he held all pious people to be a humbug.'" + +Meredith paused a moment, and Flora spoke up. + +"There!" she said, "_I_ know such people. Don't you think, Mr. Murray, +that sort of good people do more harm than good?" + +"What sort of good people are they, Miss Flora?" + +"Why, sir, I mean, like these Meredith was reading about. I know such +people. They are selfish, and envious, and get angry, care for nobody in +the world but themselves, and are not at all particular about telling +the truth." + +"Therefore _not_ good people." + +"But they are members of the Church, sir, and they go to the Communion." + +"Don't you know, the Lord forewarned His disciples that a large portion +of His so-called Church would be none of His? You need not be surprised +at it. It is just what He told us would be." + +"Then how are we to know?" + +"You can know with certainty about yourself," said Mr. Murray with a +smile. "It is not difficult to find out in your own heart whether Christ +or self comes first. For other people, you can afford to wait till the +judge comes, cannot you?" + +"You are thinking, Flo, are you not, that this man and his family were +just about the right pattern?" said her brother. + +"I think such people are pleasant," Flora confessed. "They make no +pretences. That man seems to have been just and kind and nice." + +"Ah, you make a mistake," said Mr. Murray again. "We all make pretences, +of one sort or another, true or false. Such people as you are speaking +of pretend _not_ to be Christians; and no doubt with perfect truth." + +"But is not God pleased with justice and kindness and benevolence?" + +"_With_ disobedience?" + +"Surely He commands us to love one another?" + +"He commands first that we love _Him_." + +"Isn't that loving Him?" + +"Love always shows itself towards the beloved one; _afterwards_ towards +the objects the beloved one cares for." + +"May I go on?" said Meredith as Flora paused. "I think my story will +illustrate this." + +"Go on, by all means. Perhaps an illustration will make it clear to +everybody." + +"'This man was a scholar in the law; and was already pretty well on in +years, when one of his sons, a special favourite with him on account of +his fine parts and who was just studying law at the time, at the +University, learned to know his Saviour, and turned to Him with all his +heart. The instrument of his conversion was a faithful minister, whose +preaching he had attended diligently, and with whom he afterwards came +into very intimate terms of intercourse. Now when this son's heart was +filled with intense love to his Saviour, such as I have seen equalled in +few men, nothing was more natural than that he should send longing +wishes towards the parents and brothers and sisters whom he loved so +tenderly; wishes that they too might learn to know the Saviour; and so, +in his letters, he poured his whole heart out, told them without reserve +what had gone on in his own heart, and how he was now rejoicing in the +certainty that his sins were forgiven and in the sure hope of +everlasting life. "Oh that all men were as happy as I!" he cried out in +his letters. For a long time he was left without an answer. At last came +a letter from his father, it ran thus: "My son, your letters were wont +always formerly to be a refreshment and a delight to me; now, on the +contrary, they are a vexation and a bitter grief. I see that you are +exactly in the way to become like those hypocrites of whom you used to +hear me tell. I beg that you will either write as you have been +accustomed to do, or not write at all." + +"'The son answered, "Father, you have always enjoined it upon me to tell +the truth; you always impressed it upon me that there is no more +contemptible and cowardly being than a liar, for he has not even the +spirit to be honest; and now do you want to compel me to be untrue? +Either I must write you what is according to my heart; for lie I cannot +and will not, neither will I make believe; or I must indeed do as you +say and not write at all." This startled the father, for he had in +former times said to his friends,--"The lad will not tell a falsehood; +he would sooner let his head be taken off;"--and he was honest enough to +write to his son, "Well, write what you like; if you are not a +hypocrite, you are a fanatic; but you shall tell no lies; there you are +right and I was wrong." + +"'Soon after this the time of the holidays came about, and the son took +his journey to his parents, to spend the holidays with them as it was +his wont to do; for it has been already remarked that love and peace +reigned in that house. As he came in, his mother met him with tears, and +looked at him in a very critical way, as if she feared he were not right +in his head; but he caught her heartily round the neck and kissed her +and hugged her, whispering at the same time, "Mother, don't look at me +with such a doubtful face; I have got all my five senses yet." Then he +went to his father in the sitting-room, and would have fallen on his +neck too but the father at first kept him off with all his strength; +till his son asked him, "Thou art my dear good father always, and always +wilt be so; am I thy son no longer? and why not? what have I done that +is wrong? is reading the Bible and praying anything wrong?" Then the +father kissed his son and spoke--"I must honour the truth, thou hast +done nothing wrong, my son!" For an hour or so they talked together +about the professors at the University, and about the lectures the son +had been attending there; and in the meantime the mother had got supper +ready, and they went to table. The son stood up, folded his hands and +prayed. With that the father thrust his chair back till it cracked, and +ran out of the room, and the mother full of anxiety ran after him. The +son, however, did not follow them, but after he had heartily prayed for +his father and his mother, he sat down, and with tears ate his supper. +When he found his parents did not come back, he sought his own room, and +once more poured out his heart before his faithful God and Saviour; then +he slept quietly until morning. Next morning naturally the first thing +was to go at his prayers again; then he read a chapter in his beloved +Bible; and went afterwards to the dwelling-room, as he was accustomed. +His father was there, sitting in his arm-chair, and turned pale one +minute and red the next. The son gave him his hand cordially and bade +him good-morning, and to his mother as well. "My son," his father then +asked him, "are you master in the house? or am I? The son answered, "Who +but you, father?" "Why do you take upon you then to introduce prayer at +meals, seeing you know that it is not our habit here?" "Father," the son +answered, "did I then say that you and my mother were to pray? I asked +expressly only, 'Come, Lord Jesus, be _my_ guest'--whereas elsewhere +usually the prayer is, 'be _our_ guest.' I knew it was not your custom +to pray; therefore it would have been an untruth to say, 'our guest,' +and that would have been assuming, too, for it would have been trying to +draw you in." "But why did you not let the whole thing entirely alone? +you knew very well we have no such regulation here." "Not for you, +father; for me, however, there is such a regulation; and if I had taken +my supper without praying, I should have been false to my God; and it is +certainly not your pleasure that I should be false towards God, since +you cannot endure any falsehood towards men." "No," said his father, +"you are not to be false; well, pray away, for all I care; but only when +we are alone, not when strangers are by, else we should become a +laughing-stock." "Father, I could not be untrue to God for my own dear +father's sake; should I for the sake of strangers? I am not ashamed of +my God and Saviour before any man, neither before strangers nor before +the king himself; and I will be faithful and true to my God. If it is +not your pleasure to have this thing done when strangers are present, +then do not call me to table." The father said, "Boy, where did you get +your pluck?" "I love the Lord," the son answered, "who has redeemed me; +I would go into death a thousand times for Him." "You are no hypocrite, +my boy," said the father; "well, for all I care, you may be pious, if +you only will not be a hypocrite." + +"'From that time the ice was broken; and I have myself seen it with my +own eyes, how father and mother and son used to read together in the +Bible, pray and sing together, and how the brothers and sisters one +after the other turned to the Lord. Rarely have I known a house in which +the Lord Jesus was so fearlessly acknowledged as in that house. And do +you know what of this history I would like to inscribe in your hearts, +yea, would like to burn into your hearts with letters of fire? It is +this. Let your Christianity be no lip work; let your religion not +consist in words; lip-work Christianity is hypocritical Christianity. +True religion is a fact. The genuine believer is upright and makes no +pretence, neither to God nor man. The heartfelt conviction--"Boy, you +are no hypocrite"--ought to be forced upon the beholder by the walk and +behaviour of every real believer; if that had been the case, the world +would present a different aspect from what it offers now. But most +people's Christianity is a fashion of speech; and so it is lying and +hypocrisy; therefore it can at one and the same time, like Pilate, +chastise and set free, pray and neglect prayer, confess and not confess, +just as happens to be convenient in the circumstances. It is not +required that you should preach to everybody you fall in with, as if it +were your vocation to set up lights for everybody's guidance; much more +would often be spoiled than mended in that way. But to be a Christian, +to walk as a Christian, and thus to confess one's Christianity honestly +in action, just because it is so and you are not going to be false +either towards God or towards men; that is the way in which the hearts +of the parents are turned to the children, and the hearts of the +children turned to the parents.'" + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + + +The sun had got low, in fact, he was dipping behind the dark line of +Eagle Hill; and everybody looked and watched. The bright ball of fiery +gold disappeared, leaving a trail of glory; lights glowed against +shadows on the hazy hill shore; little flecks of cloud in the west grew +gorgeous, and a low-lying rack of vapour in the south-east took on the +loveliest changes of warm browns and purples and greys. And as the sun +got further below the horizon, the cloud scenery became but the more +resplendent. + +"Mr. Murray," Flora began, "you will think I am always taking +objections." + +"Well, Miss Flora--what now?" + +"Please to criticise this story Ditto has been reading. I would rather +you did it than I." + +"By 'criticise' you mean, find fault?" + +"If you see reason." + +"Suppose I do not see reason?" + +"But do you not, really?" + +"Wherein?" + +"Mr. Murray, I like things kept to their proper places." + +"We are agreed there." + +"And I think it is a pity to make religious observances, or what are +meant for them, repelling and disgusting to other people." + +"Certainly. As how, for instance, Miss Flora?" + +"Well, I never like to see people--I _have_ seen it--make a show of +praying at table, where no general blessing has been asked by the person +at the head of the table or a minister. It just makes them conspicuous, +and as good as says that they are the only right people there." + +"That is not a pleasant impression to receive." + +"No, and I did not receive it. I thought it was a mistake. And quite +ill-bred." + +"But perhaps those people felt that they wanted a particular blessing, +where there was no general blessing asked as you say." + +"They might ask for it quietly, secretly." + +"Yes. Would they get it?" + +"Why, Mr. Murray! Doesn't the Lord always hear prayer?" + +"No. It is written--'He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, +even his prayer shall be abomination.'" + +"But what law is there about saying grace at meals, in public?" + +"There is this, Miss Flora. 'Whosoever shall confess Me before men, him +will I also confess'"---- + +"But everywhere, Mr. Murray? Must we be confessing _everywhere_?" + +"What places would you make the exception?" + +Flora was silent. + +"Public places in general?" + +Still Flora was silent. + +"Allow me to ask--Do you approve of the custom anywhere of asking a +blessing upon our meat?" + +"Certainly--in one's own house. Papa did it always. Meredith does it." + +"Then, Miss Flora, if it is a right thing to do at home, how is it not a +right thing to do abroad?" + +"Everywhere, Mr. Murray? Would you do it in a restaurant?" + +"If it is a right thing to do, Miss Flora?--why not in a restaurant?" + +"Or in somebody else's house perhaps, where it is not the custom?" + +"Why not?" + +"Why it seems to me like a sort of preaching to people; like saying to +them that you are better than they are; setting one's self up." + +"Pardon me--how can it be setting myself up, to thank my Father in +heaven for what He has given me, and to ask Him to let me have also a +blessing with it?" + +"Why couldn't you do it quietly?" + +"I should always in such places do it quietly; not aloud." + +"But I mean--without letting anybody know it?" + +"Why should not people know it?" + +"Excuse me, Mr. Murray; but I always think it is making a show--making a +pretence." + +"If it is a pretence, the worse for me, whether at home or abroad. But a +_show_ I want it to be, Miss Flora; a show that I am a child of God, and +love to own my Father's hand everywhere." + +"You are very good to let me talk just what I think, without being +offended," said Flora. "You will not think me rude, Mr. Murray? I really +want to know your opinions. Don't you think that in such things there is +a tacit implied reproof of the other persons present who do not as you +do?" + +"How can I help that?" + +"But is that polite?" + +"That question sinks before the other--Is it duty?" + +"I cannot see it to be duty," said Flora. + +"I have always been a little confused about it," said Meredith; "in such +cases and places, I mean." + +"It makes one very disagreeably singular," Flora added. + +"It is impossible to follow Christ fully, Miss Flora, and not be that +more or less." + +"_Disagreeably_ singular, Mr. Murray?" + +"I agree with you, I am sure, in thinking that it is disagreeable to be +singular." + +"But must one? I always thought it was such bad taste." + +"You perceive it is not a question of taste." + +"Why then of necessity?" + +"Because whoever follows the Lord fully will live in a way the very +opposite of that which is followed by the world. He will be marked out +from it--even as the Lord was Himself." + +"Still, one is not to make one's self unnecessarily odd," said Meredith; +"and I have until now been in doubt whether people did not do it in +this very matter of asking a blessing at tables where nobody else +followed the practice." + +"I am sure it is not unnecessary," said Mr. Murray. "I am sure that +thought is a temptation of the enemy. I am sure that the simple fact of +having, though in so small a matter, shown one's colours and confessed +Christ, is a help all through the day to go on confessing Him, as +occasion may serve." + +Silence fell after this, and some of the party noticed how the sky and +clouds were changing. The sun had sunk below the actual horizon now; +long since he had dipped behind Eagle Hill; and the gold and the purple +were fading from the racks of vapour which had caught and given the +colours so brilliantly. Pale purple, pale fawn, ashes of roses, then +soft greys succeeded one another. The eastern hills had lost their +light; the shadows were gone, night was softly letting her mantle fall +on the world. Still the little party sat on the rock, and looked, and +felt the soft breath of the air, and watched the fading glory. Nobody +wanted to move, and twilight would last long enough to let them get +home; and so they waited. Fenton, I suppose, had gone home, for they +heard the rustle of his footsteps no longer. By and by, as they watched +the grey strips of vapour which had been so brilliant a little while +ago, they began to change again. The greys took on a purplish warm hue, +which brightened and brightened, and then pure carmine began to touch +the soft under folds and edges of the clouds, increasing in vividness, +until over all the sky every speck and mass of vapour was glowing in +brilliant crimson. For a few minutes this; and then it too faded, and +rapidly the crimson sank to purple and the purple back to grey, and all +knew that the reign of night and shades would be broken no more till the +sun rising. Slowly the little party got up from the rock; unwillingly +they turned their backs upon it; lingeringly they left the place which +had been so pleasant, and took their way down the hill through the +gathering dusk. The walk was still very pretty; Maggie held her uncle's +hand, the others clustered round, and they went running and skipping +till the level land was reached, then slowly again, as if loath to have +the evening quite come to an end. + +It was pleasure of another sort to gather round the tea-table, bright +with lights and covered with good things. + +"I do not think," Meredith observed, "that I ever enjoyed more in one +day." + +"Lucky for you!" said Fenton. "I don't see the use of having Sundays, +for my part." + +"How can you help having them?" said Maggie. "They must come, just like +Saturdays, or Mondays." + +"That's deep!" said Fenton. "But if they must come, as you have +originally discovered, why can't one use them reasonably." + +"As how?" said Mr. Murray, preventing an eager outbreak of Maggie's. + +"Like other days. Why shouldn't I fish, for instance? or shoot +partridges? The fish don't know the difference. Why should one mope on +one particular day?" + +"I never do," said his uncle. "I am sorry you have such a bad taste." + +"As what, sir?" (fiercely). + +"As to mope." + +"How's a fellow to do anything else?" + +"Depends on himself." + +"Well, what's the use of my not fishing? Why shouldn't I fish on +Sunday?" + +"Don't you know?" + +"No, I don't," said Fenton. "That's just it. If I knew any good reason, +of course it would be different." And he sagely muttered something about +"priestcraft." + +"There are two reasons," said Mr. Murray calmly, while Maggie flushed up +and even Esther stared at her brother. + +"I never knew any," responded Fenton. + +"Do you care to know them?" + +"If they _are_ reasons," Fenton rejoined impudently, "it would be +unreasonable not to care." + +"Very true," said Mr. Murray smiling. "I will begin with the lesser of +the two. It is found in the nature of man, Fenton. Man is so +constituted that he cannot, year in and year out, stand a seven days' +strain. Neither brain nor muscle will bear it. That has been tested and +proved. In the long run, man cannot do as much working seven days, as he +can do working only six days." + +Fenton knew that what his uncle gave as a fact was likely to be a fact; +he had no answer ready at first. Then he said, "I spoke of fishing, sir; +that is play, not work." + +"As you do it, I suppose it is. But we are talking of the fact of one +day in seven being set apart from the rest, and the reasons. You see one +reason." + +"What's the other?" + +"The other is still more difficult to deal with. It consists in +this--that God says the day is His. As Ruler and King of the world, He +lays His hand upon that seventh day and says, This is mine." + +"I don't see any reason in that," said Fenton. + +"No. But you see the claim and the command. Those must be met, or +disobeyed at our peril." + +"What's the use?" + +"One great use is, to remember and acknowledge that God _is_ Ruler and +Owner of all. So when we cross the boundary between Saturday and Sunday, +we step over on ground that is not ours." + +"There is no good in being stiff and pokey," said Fenton. + +"No. It is only a stranger on the ground who can be that. One who knows +the Lord and loves Him is specially at home and free on the Lord's day." + +"But I thought the Jewish Sabbath was done away?" said Flora. + +"The formal Jewish Sabbath. But not the spiritual. If you study the +matter, you will see that Christ made careful exceptions to the literal +rule in only three cases--where mercy, or necessity, or God's service +demand that it shall be broken." + +"Don't you think a farmer ought to get in his hay on Sunday, sir, if he +saw a storm coming up?" Fenton asked. + +"I dare not make any other exceptions than the Lord made," his uncle +answered. + +"Don't you think trains ought to run on Sunday, Mr. Murray?" said Flora. + +"I must say the same thing to you, Miss Flora." + +"But in cases of sickness and accident, sir?" + +"Have you the notion that Sunday trains are filled with persons who have +been summoned somewhere by telegraph?" + +"No--but there are such cases." + +"Yes; well. Do you think, honestly, that thousands of people ought to +break the Lord's rule every Sunday, in order to give relief here and +there to the anxiety of one?" + +"I can tell you," Fenton broke out, "your doctrine is furiously +unfashionable. There is not a fellow in our school that doesn't do as he +has a mind to on Sunday." + +"Other days too, I suppose." + +"Of course." + +"That is just what, in your sense, a Christian gives up; not on Sunday +more than on other days. That is the difference between a Christian and +another man; one does his own will and the other the will of God, which +is also his own." + +Fenton muttered something to Esther, who sat next him, about an "old +foggy," but the subject of conversation was carried no further. Mr. +Murray purposely changed it, and the evening passed in very pleasant +talk, alternating with some Bible reading. Only, towards the close of +the evening Fenton started the question, "where they would go the next +day?" + +"Suppose we leave that for Monday to take care of," Mr. Murray answered. + +"But, sir, there might be some arrangements to make." + +"To-night?" + +"Perhaps; but at any rate I might want to give some orders in the +morning." + +"I don't think we should have a good time, if we consulted about it +now." + +"Why not, sir?" + +"You forget. It is the Lord's time. And if we want Him to give us His +favour on our expedition, it seems to me we had better not offend Him +about it beforehand." + +"But, sir!"---- + +"But, Mr. Murray!" put in Flora. "Just to _speak_ about things?" + +"Time enough to-morrow, Miss Flora. And this is the Lord's time, you +know." + +"But just _talking_--not doing anything?" + +"Doing a good deal in imagination. What's the difference? Study the +fifty-eighth chapter of Isaiah, the last two verses. Sir Matthew Hale +gave it as his testimony, that he found business concocted on Sunday did +not run off well in the week. No, we will leave the question till +to-morrow at breakfast, if you please." + +"I can't understand it!" said Flora, as she went upstairs. + +"Study those verses in Isaiah," said Meredith, who overheard her. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + + +A bright little party gathered round the breakfast table Monday morning. + +"Now, Uncle Eden," cried Maggie, "where shall we go to-day? It is Monday +now." + +"What is proposed?" + +Several plans were ready. + +"Down in the cove of the bay," said Fenton, "where the lower brook comes +in--then I can fish off Old Woman's rock till lunch is ready." + +"I propose the Indian falls," said Esther. "Flora and Meredith have +never seen them." + +"_I_ say, Fort Montgomery," said Maggie. + +"Fort Montgomery!" There was a general exclamation. + +"Where is that?" Meredith asked. + +"Seven miles down the river. Oh it is just lovely!" Maggie explained. +"We go down with the tide and come back with the tide, and spend the day +down on the hill there, opposite Anthony's Nose. I showed you from the +front door which Anthony's Nose is, Ditto." + +"That would be delightful. The day is going to be perfectly quiet and +warm and sunny--just the thing." + +"Seven miles," Fenton grunted. "Who's going to do the rowing?" + +"I," said Meredith. + +"And I," said Mr. Murray. + +"And we can take Fairbairn," said Maggie; "and we had better, for there +will be the baskets to carry." + +"Nonsense--I can carry baskets," said Meredith; "and get wood, and all +that." + +"I think we can do without Fairbairn," said Mr. Murray. "I like the +plan. It is just the day for it. If it only turn out to be just the time +of tide also!"-- + +"We'll soon see about that," cried the boys. There was a rush and a +whoop and a race to the boat-house, and then a more leisurely return. + +"It's all right," said Meredith. "Couldn't be better. It is half-past +eight now, and the tide just beginning to turn. It will be running down +till two o'clock--and just give us a nice current home." + +"And a good pull, too," said Ponton. + +"_That's_ all right, old boy. Come! don't you pull backwards. Now, how +soon can we be ready?" + +"Just as soon as we can get our lunch ready, and the things," said +Maggie. "You might pack the things, Ditto, and get them into the boat, +while we see about lunch." + +"What are 'things'?" + +"Why, cups and saucers, and tea-kettle, and matches and plates, and +paper to light the fire, and everything, you know." + +"Go off," said Mr. Murray, "and see about victualling the ship. I can +manage the cups and saucers." + +So Maggie and Esther ran to consult Betsey, who now held a nondescript +position of usefulness in the family, and was acting cook while Mrs. +Candlish was away--cook proper being absent on leave. + +"O Betsey! we are going out, to be gone all day; and now, what can we +have for lunch?" + +"Lunch, Miss Maggie!"-- + +"Yes, and you know we want a good deal. There are six of us." + +"You know, it's Monday." + +"Well, what of it?" + +"There h'aint so much as if t'was any other day. You see, yesterday it +was Sunday." + +"Oh well! what have we got, Betsey? I know you have got something." + +"There's bread, Miss h'Esther." + +"We want more than bread. And butter, and tea and coffee and all that. +We must have something more, Betsey. What _have_ you got?" + +"The chickens is nothing left of 'em; and that 'am bone h'aint got much +on it. I do think, Miss Maggie, ye consume a great deal in the woods!" + +"Of course we do. And we want a good, hearty lunch to-day, because the +boys and Uncle Eden will have a long way to row. Come, Betsey, make +haste." + +"There h'aint a living thing in the 'ouse, but h'oysters, and h'eggs, +and potatoes. That is, nothing cooked. And ye want dressed meat." + +"Oysters?" said Maggie doubtfully. + +"Capital," said Esther. "And sweet potatoes. We can bake them in the +ashes. And eggs are good. Meredith will make us another friar's omelet." + +"There's nothing else for ye," said Betsey, summing up. + +So Fairbairn carried a great bag of oysters down to the boat, and a +basket with the potatoes and eggs, and the kettle, and a pail to fetch +water in. And into other baskets went everything else that everybody +could think of as possibly wanting from the house. Affghan and worsted, +finally, and the merry party themselves. + +Ten o'clock, and a soft, fair, mild day as could ever have been wished +for. Not much haze to-day, yet a tempered sunlight, such as October +rejoices in. No wind, and a blue sky far more tender in hue and less +intense than that of summer. Little racks of cloud scattered along the +horizon were, like everything else in nature, quiet and at rest; no +hurry, no driving; no storms, no ripening sun-heat; earth's harvests +gathered in and done for that year, and nature at rest and at play. And +with slow, leisurely strokes of the oar, the little boat fell down with +the tide; she was at play too. Sunshades were not opened; shawls were +not unfolded; in the perfection of atmosphere and temperature there was +nothing to do but to breathe and enjoy. At first even talking was +checked by the calm beauty, the grand hush, of earth and sky. The boat +crossed over to Gee's Point, and from there coasted down under the +shore. There the colours of the woods showed plainly in their variety; +dark red oaks, olive green cedars, dusky chestnut oaks and purple ashes; +with now and then a hickory in clear gold, or a maple flaunting in red +and yellow. They all succeeded one another in turn, with ever fresh +combinations; on the opposite shore the same thing softened by distance; +overhead that clear, pale blue of October. + +"I do not realise that I am living in the common world!" said Flora at +last. "I seem to be floating somewhere in fairy-land." + +"It's October--that is all," said Mr. Murray. + +"Then I never saw October before." + +"Aren't you glad to make his acquaintance?" said her brother. + +"But how can one come down to November after it?" + +"Oh, November is _lovely_!" cried Maggie. "It is lovely here." + +"At Mosswood? Well, I can believe it. But at Leeds November comes with a +scowl and a bluster and takes one by the shoulders and gives one a +shake--to put one in order for winter, I suppose." + +"I don't think shaking puts anything in order," remarked Esther. + +"No. Now _this_--" said Flora, wistfully looking around her--"this comes +as near making me feel good, as anything can." + +"Take a lesson--" said Mr. Murray. + +"But after all, the months must be according to their nature," said +Flora. + +"Certainly. The difference is, that _you_ may choose what manner of +nature you will be of. It all depends, you know," Mr. Murray went on +smiling, "on how much of the sun the months get. And on how much of the +sun you get." + +"How can I choose?" said Flora. + +"How? Why, you may be in the full sunshine all the time if you like." + +Again the boat dropped down the stream silently. The way was long; +seven miles is a good deal in a row-boat; so they took it leisurely and +enjoyed to the full the consciousness that it _was_ a long way, and they +should have a great deal of it. By and by they came to a little rocky +island or promontory, connected with the mainland by marsh meadows at +least if by nothing more, to get round which they had to make quite a +wide sweep. When they had passed it and drew into the shore again, they +were already nearing the southern hills which from Mosswood looked so +distant and seemed to lock into one another. They had the same seeming +still, though standing out now in brighter tints and new and detailed +beauty. On and on the little boat went, coasting along. No further break +in the line of shore for a good while; only they were nearing and +nearing that nest of hills. At last they came abreast of one or two +houses, where a well-defined road came down to the river. + +"Do we land here?" asked Flora. + +"Not yet. Round on the other side of that bluff we shall come to a +creek, with a mill; that is the place. Are you in a hurry?" + +"I should like to sail so all day!" + +They floated down with the tide and a little movement of the oars; there +was absolutely no wind. The sloops and schooners in the river drifted or +swung at anchor. Hardly a leaf moved on a stem. The tide ran fast, +however, and the little boat slipped easily past the gay banks, with +their kaleidoscope changes of colour. This piece of the way nevertheless +seemed long, just because the inexperienced were constantly expecting it +to come to an end; but on and on the boat glided, and there was never a +creek or a mill to be seen. + +"Uncle Eden," said Maggie, "there _used_ to be a creek here somewhere." + +"Certainly." + +"There is none here now," said Flora. + +"That you see." + +"I can look along the shore for a good way, Mr. Murray. Are we going +quite down to those mountains?" + +"No. You will see the creek presently." + +"The banks seem without the least break in them." + +"It will not do to trust to appearances. Have you not found that out +yet?" + +"I tell you what, I'm getting hungry," said Fenton, who was taking his +turn at the oars. + +"Eleven o'clock. You will have to control your impatience for some time +yet," said Meredith. + +"I can tell you, this boat is awfully heavy," said Fenton. He had meant +to use a stronger word, but changed it. "Can't we get lunch by twelve?" + +"Oh no! we shall have some reading first, I guess," said Maggie. "Lunch +at twelve? Why, you never have it till one, Fenton." + +"Makes a difference whether you are pulling a dozen people and forty +baskets along," rejoined her brother. "It's an awful bore, to have to do +things." + +There was a general merry burst at that. + +"What sort of things, Fenton? Do you want to live like a South Sea +Island savage?" his uncle asked. + +"Uncommonly jolly, _I_ should think," responded Fenton. "Dive into the +surf and get a lobster, climb into a tree and fetch down a +cocoanut--there's your dinner." + +"A very queer dinner," remarked Maggie, amid renewed merriment. + +"I never heard that lobsters were fished out of breakers, either," said +Flora. + +"You seem to think it is no work to fight the breakers and climb the +cocoanut trees," remarked Mr. Murray. "However, I grant you, it would +not occupy a great deal of time. Is your idea of life, that it is useful +only for eating purposes?" + +"It comes to that, pretty much," said the boy. "What do people work for, +if it isn't to live! I don't care how they work." + +"Some people's aim is to get where they will do nothing," said Mr. +Murray. "Do you see a bit of a break yonder in the lines of the shore, +Miss Flora?" + +"Is it?--yes, it is the creek!" cried Maggie joyously. "It is the creek. +Now you can see it, Flora." + +It opened fast upon them now as they came near, quite a wide-mouthed +little creek, setting in among wooded banks which soon narrowed upon it. +Just before they narrowed, an old mill stood by the side of the water, +and there were some steps by which one could land. There the boat was +made fast, and the little party disembarked, glad after all to feel +their feet again; and baskets one after another were handed out. + +"What is all this cargo?" said Fenton, grumbling; "and who's going to +carry it to the top of the hill? Suppose we stay down here?" + +"And lose all the view?" said Maggie. + +"And the walk? and the fun?" said Esther. + +"Fun!" echoed Fenton. "Just take that sack along with you, if you want +fun. What ever have you got in it? cannon balls?" + +"Oysters." + +"Oysters! In the shell! Why didn't you have them taken out? What's in +this basket? this is as bad." + +"Cups and saucers, and spoons and plates, and such things." + +"We could have done without them." + +"How?" + +"Eat with our fingers." + +"You had better go to the South Sea Islands, and done with it," said +Esther. "Come--you take hold of one side of the basket and I of the +other." + +"No, Essie," said her uncle; "that would be very unchivalrous. Do not +ask Fenton such a thing. In the South Sea Islands men may make women do +the work for them; but not here. Come, my boy, here are three of us and +only a basket apiece; take up your burden and be thankful, and be +brave." + +I am afraid Fenton was neither; but he shouldered his basket; and being +an athletic fellow, managed to reach the top of the hill without more +muscular distress than the others showed. Of the state of his mind I +say nothing further; but the truth is, the way was rather long. Nobody +knew the shortest cut to the place they desired to reach; so they wound +about among thickets of low cedar, sprinkled here and there with taller +pines, going up and down and round about for some time. At last they +found their way to the top of the ridge, and wandering along in search +of a suitable place for their rest and pleasure, came out upon an open +bit of turf and moss on the highest ground, over which a group of white +pines stretched their sheltering branches. The view was clear over a +very long stretch of the river with its eastern shore; indeed they could +look up quite to the turn of the river at Gee's point; Gee's Point +itself hid Mosswood from them. + +With acclamations the party deposited their baskets and threw themselves +down on the bank. The gentle warmth of the sun was not shorn of its +effect by the least stir of wind; the moss and grass were perfectly dry; +and the lookout over river and shores was lovely. Sugarloaf showed now +true to its name, an elegant little cone. The sails of the two or three +vessels the party had passed in coming down the river were so still that +they served to emphasise the general stillness; they hung lazily waiting +for a breeze and could not carry their hulls fast or far. + +For a while the pleasure party could do nothing but rest and look. But +after a while Meredith roused himself to further action. He began +wandering about; what he was searching for did not appear, until he came +back with an armful of green, soft, pine branches. + +"Now if you will just get up for a few minutes," said he, "I will give +you a couch to rest upon." And he went on to lay the branches thick +together, so as to form a very yielding comfortable layer of cushions, +on which the party stretched themselves with new pleasure and strong +appreciation. Meredith had to bring a good many armfuls of pine branches +to accommodate them all; at last he had done, and flung himself down +like the rest. + +"When do you want your fire made?" said he. + +"Somebody else is hungry, I am afraid," said Flora. + +"I cannot deny it. But I can wait as long as you can!" + +"I am _very_ hungry," said Flora. + +"I believe I shall be," said Mr. Murray, "by the time our luncheon can +be ready. Here's for a fire!" + +They all went about it. To find a place and to arrange stones for the +kettle, and to collect fuel, and to build and kindle the fire. Stones +for the chimney-place were not at hand in manageable size; so Mr. Murray +planted three strong sticks on the ground with their bases a couple of +feet or so apart and their heads tied together; and slung the kettle to +them, over the fire. This was very pretty, and drew forth great +expressions of admiration. Then while waiting for the kettle to boil, +they all threw themselves on their pine branches again and called for a +story; only Fenton sat by the fire to keep it up. Meredith took his book +from his pocket and laid it on the pine branches, open before him. + +"You could not attend to anything very deep till you have had something +to eat," he said. "I will give you something easy." + +"Most of your stories are so profound," added Flora. + +"Never mind; listen." + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + + +"'The story that I am going to tell now happened here in Hermannsburg.'" + +"A great many things seem to have happened in Hermannsburg," Flora +remarked. + +"Yes. Just think what it must be to live in a village with a history. + +"'It is, for one thing, a beautiful story for passion week; and then it +gives a lovely picture of the relation in which princes and their +vassals at that time stood to one another. The Thirty Years' War had +brought frightful misery over our country. Havoc and devastation had +come even into the churches. So, for example, in this place; the +imperial troops had not only plundered the church and carried away +everything that was of value; for to be sure the people here were +Lutheran heretics; but they had even broken to pieces all the bells in +the tower, and driven off no less than five baggage waggons full of +brass metal, to be recast for cannon. And the last one, the big bell, +was broken up and about to be carried away by the Croats; the horses +were even put to the waggon; when suddenly the blast of trumpets and the +battle-cry, "_God with us!_" announced the coming of Lutheran troops, +and scared the Croats away. So the metal was left behind. After the +Thirty Years' War, gradually the people gathered together again; but the +number of them was very small, and many a farm had to lie waste for want +of both farmer and farming stock. There are said to have been at first +only ten families come back to our parish village, with four oxen and +two cows. Besides all that, towards the end of the war epidemics were +constantly prevailing, so that, for example, in this parish, in the +thirty years from 1650 to 1680, three pastors died one after another of +contagious epidemics; namely, Andreas Kruse'" (that was the fellow who +stood out so for his church vessels), "Paulus Boccatius, Johannes +Buchholz; and the fourth Justus Theodor Breyhan, who died in 1686, was +three times at death's door. Those were troubled times! + +"'This Breyhan was a childlike good man, whom his parish held in great +love and honour, for both in spiritual and in material things there was +no better counsellor for them. Like a true father he stood by the +bedside of the sick and the dying, to show them how to die happy, and +like a good father he comforted the survivors, and by the live and +powerful words of his preaching, poured new strength and fresh courage +of faith into all hearts. With all that, this man was a singular lover +of the _sound of the bell_. In his opinion it was a remarkable thing, +that the heavenly King would allow his bells to be cast of the same +metal in which earthly princes cast their guns; and his highest wish +was, to get a great church bell again. The metal indeed was still on +hand; but who would have it cast? There was only a little bell still +hanging up in the tower, which was called the Bingel bell, and dated +back to the year 1495 (it is there still) and had been too insignificant +to tempt the Croats. With that on Sundays people must be rung to church, +and with that the tolling for the dead must be done at funerals. It did, +it is true, give out a fine, lovely, clear note; but the good dear +Breyhan often wept great tears when he heard the sound of it; it seemed +to him that it was too disrespectful to the great King in heaven, that +he should have no better bell than that. He could hardly sleep at last +for thinking of it. Especially at the high festival days and in Passion +week, and on occasion of funerals, he was in great uneasiness. Then it +was in the fast season of the year 1680, he was again sick unto death, +and in his fevered fancies he was continually praying to the dear Lord +that He would not let him die before he could have the bell properly +tolled at his burying. He recovered, and on Good Friday was again able +to preach. The congregation wept for joy at having their beloved pastor +among them again, and never perhaps have more ardent thanks gone up to +God from the parish than did that day. The time of the Easter festival +passed by, and they rejoiced with one another over the glorious +resurrection of the Lord Jesus. The third day of the Easter festival (at +that time there were still always three feast days), he told the +congregation that they must pray for him faithfully; for the next day he +was going on a journey after a bell which in his illness he had promised +to the Lord. + +"'The next morning his honest old parish farmer Ebel was at the door +with a little farm waggon, and asked him where they were to go? and +whether it was to be a long or a short journey? You must know the man +was under obligation to take several long journeys for his pastor, +lasting some days, and several short expeditions of a day only each. "It +shall be a short one for to-day," the pastor answered. "I think with +God's help to ride to Zelle." So after Ebel had attended morning worship +in the parsonage, for he would not willingly have missed that, Breyhan +mounted into the waggon, set himself down upon a spread of straw, took +his hat off and said reverently--"In God's name!"--and then they went +forward, step by step, as the manner was then; for in those days people +were not in such a hurry as they are now. Before the city they stopped, +and with prayer and thanksgiving ate the breakfast they had brought +along with them. Then Breyhan took his vestments out of a clean linen +cloth and put them on, and one could see by his lips that he was +speaking to himself or praying. Good Ebel felt himself growing quite +devotional at the sight, and he drove into the city with twice the +spirit he had had before, because now everybody might see that he had a +pastor in his waggon.'" + +Meredith paused a moment to glance up at the river and hills opposite, +and Maggie broke forth, + +"The people in that country seem to be very unlike the people in this +country?" + +"You mean, nobody here would care so much about carrying a minister in +his waggon," said Meredith laughing. + +"Well--he wouldn't, would he?" + +"I am afraid not. More's the pity." + +"Why, Ditto?" said his sister. "What are ministers so much more than +other people?" + +"They are the King's ambassadors," said Mr. Murray, taking the answer +upon himself. "And you know, Miss Flora, the ambassador of a king is +always treated as something more than other people." + +Flora looked at him. "Mr. Murray," she said, "ministers do not seem like +that?" + +"When they are the true thing, they do." + +"But then besides," Maggie went on,--"how could anybody, how could that +good man care so much about a _bell_? What difference did it make +whether the bell was big or little?" + +"Superstition"--said Flora. + +"No, not exactly," responded Mr. Murray. + +"That other man cared so much about his silver service, and this one +about his bell--they were both alike, but I don't understand it," said +Maggie. + +"How would you like your father to have his table set with pewter +instead of silver?" + +"O Uncle Eden! but that--" + +"Or to drive a lame horse in his carriage?" + +"But, Uncle Eden--" + +"Or to wear a fustian coat?" + +"But that's different, Uncle Eden." + +"Yes, it is different. This concerns our own things; those matters of +the vessels and the bell concerned God's things." + +"Then you approve of building very costly churches, sir?" asked +Meredith, whose head was running on churches lately. + +"No, I do not." + +"How then, Mr. Murray?" said Flora curiously. + +"Because _the_ temple of the Lord, the only one He cares much about, is +not built yet. I hold it false stewardship to turn aside the Lord's +money into brick and mortar and marble channels, while His poor have no +comfortable shelter, His waifs want bread, and a community anywhere in +the world are going without the light of life and the word of +salvation." + +"What do you mean by _the_ temple of the Lord, Uncle Eden?" said Maggie. +"I thought there was no temple of the Lord now?" + +Mr. Murray pulled out his Bible from his pocket, opened and found a +place. + +"'Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but +fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the household of God; and are +built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ +himself being the chief corner-stone; in whom all the building, fitly +framed together, groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord; in whom ye +also are builded together, for an habitation of God through the +Spirit.'" + +"How lovely!"--said Meredith. + +"I didn't know that was in the Bible," said Flora. + +"The literal Jewish temple was in part a type of this spiritual one. And +as in Solomon's building, 'the house was built of stone made ready +before it was brought thither; so that there was neither hammer, nor +axe, nor any tool of iron heard in the house while it was in building,' +but the walls rose silently,--so it is in this temple. The stones are +silently preparing, 'polished after the similitude of a palace;' +silently put in place; 'lively stones built up a spiritual house;' so +the Lord says, 'He that overcometh, will I make a pillar in the temple +of my God.'" + +There was silence for a few moments, when Mr. Murray added, "_That_ is +the temple, Meredith, that I think the Lord wants us to build and help +build. I think any diversion of the money or strength needed for this, a +sad, sad waste; and no honour to the Lord of the temple, though it may +be meant so. Come, go on with Pastor Breyhan; I like him. His was a +true-souled care for God's honour. I hope he got his bell." + +Meredith went on. + +"'To Ebel's question, "where he should drive to?" the answer was, "To +the Stechbahn;" that was a road which lay opposite the ducal castle. +Ebel's wonderment grew greater and greater, but Breyhan kept still, +slowly dismounted, gave orders to Ebel that he should drive to the inn, +but he himself went straight on to the ducal castle. As he had expected, +for it was just eleven o'clock, he found the duke sitting in front of +the entrance to the castle. For about this hour the duke was wont to sit +there and allow everybody, even the lowest of his vassals, to have free +access and speech of him. If there were no petitions, or complaints, or +the like on hand, he would converse in the kindest and most affable way +with everybody, and many a peasant could boast that in all +simple-heartedness he had shaken hands with his liege lord. Breyhan +found the duke (it was George William) surrounded by a number of people. +However there can have been nothing of consequence going on, for when +the duke saw the pastor approaching, he signed him immediately to come +near. Breyhan presented himself; and related simply and in childlike +wise how things stood in Hermannsburg, and how the people had not yet +been able to get their affairs rightly under way since the terrible war. +George William listened kindly, and many a tear came into his mild eyes +as Breyhan told him of the sick beds and the dying beds. + +"'"You want to ask some help in your need?" demanded the duke. + +"'"No," was the answer; "we can manage as yet to get along with these +earthly troubles. But we have a spiritual trouble, that we feel more +keenly, and which we cannot deal with by ourselves, and in that you must +help us, my lord duke; this is what I have come for to-day." He told him +now all that he had on his heart respecting the bell; how that the +beautiful metal was there yet, but no means to get it cast, and that +that was for the duke to do. The duke was delighted with the childlike, +honest nature of the man, and his hearty confidence that the duke's help +was certain; and he could not help putting Breyhan's faith a little to +the test. + +"'"Dear pastor," said he, "you are suffering in a small way from the +after effects of the Thirty Years' War; on the other hand, I am +suffering the same thing on a great scale. Your village treasury is +empty, my castle treasury is empty, and the country's treasury to boot. +So I cannot shake down the money for you out of my sleeves. If all the +people in the land came to me to get their bells cast for them, what +would be the end of it?" + +"'Breyhan was of opinion that the case was somewhat different with +Hermannsburg. Since one of the duke's ancestors had founded the church +there, one of the descendants might well have a bell cast for it. The +duke, however, would not yet give in, but teased the petitioner with all +sorts of objections, just to see what he would answer; he loved clever +and witty speeches. Breyhan did what he could to satisfy the duke's +objections. At last it got to be too much of a good thing, and he said, +"My lord duke, I have now been a good while asking a boon of you, as a +humble vassal may ask his prince; but as asking does no good, I will now +_order_ you to have the bell cast. Perhaps you are not aware that I am +lord of the manor to you, and that you are my liegeman. A liegeman must +stand by his feudal lord with his goods and with his blood, with life +and honour. The bell we must have; it is needful for our holding of +divine service. You are not obliged to give us the whole bell; you are +only to have it cast. Now it does not indeed stand in your title-deed +that you must have a bell cast for us; therefore I cannot put you out of +your farm for not doing it. But it does stand therein written that you +must make hay for me three days in every year, and do a day's work for +me in every week, for which service each time you are to get a half +gallon of beer. Hitherto your bailiff has put a man to do it, and I have +consented; but if you do not have the bell cast, then you must come +yourself and make hay and cut wood." + +"'You should have seen the duke then. "My dear pastor," said he, "that +is something I did not know before, that you are my lord of the manor; +in that case, I must take shame to myself that I have let you stand here +all this while. Come into the castle with me." He seized his hand and +led him into the house, sent for his wife, and said in a solemn voice, +"See here, my dear wife, until now I have supposed that I was the first +man in the country; and now to-day I have come to know that the +Hermannsburg pastor stands highest, for he is lord of the manor to me. +Let preparation be made for his dining with us." While the servants made +ready, the duke sought better information, and learned now that he +actually held a farm in Hermannsburg from the Hermannsburg benefice, the +contract for which on every occasion of the coming of a new pastor, or +of a new duke's assuming the government, must be ratified over a cup of +wine, and upon which, besides the yearly service money, the above +obligations rested. The duke was so delighted at this, that he not only +promised Breyhan to yield obedience and have the bell cast, but he +begged him in the humblest manner that he would spare him in the matter +of the hay-making and wood-cutting, for he was not exactly in practice +in the matter of those two exercises; then jestingly he begged his wife +to apply to the pastor herself for him, to let grace take the place of +right. And as he was not slow to do this, all was soon settled. At table +Breyhan was requested to make the prayer, and the conversation went on +most charmingly about things of God's word. + +"'The faithful carter Ebel meanwhile did not know at all where his +pastor could be staying so long; and as he certainly understood so much +as that the duke had taken him into the castle, he got into such +trouble, because he thought something evil had befallen him, that he ran +into the castle and demanded to have his pastor back; not a little +wondering when he found him sitting at table with the duke. Still more +was he comforted, when from the duke's table itself a draught of beer +was given him. + +"'After the meal was over, Breyhan drove joyfully back to Hermannsburg. +The duke had not only granted his petition, but also declared that he +would come to the consecration of the bell, and would be a guest with +his lord of the manor. Breyhan promised him a friendly reception, but +made the stipulation that he should bring only his lady duchess along +with him, for his house was not prepared for entertaining guests. And +now the business went forward according to his wish. The bell was cast +in Hannover, and was, as Breyhan had desired that it might be, ready by +the fast time of 1689. It was adorned with a threefold inscription. At +the top stood: + +"'"PRAISE HIM UPON THE LOUD CYMBALS; PRAISE HIM UPON THE HIGH-SOUNDING +CYMBALS. LET EVERYTHING THAT HATH BREATH PRAISE THE LORD. Ps. cl." + +"'In the middle of the side stood: + +"'"George William, by the grace of God duke of Brunswick and Lüneburg, +patron of our churches." + +"'And below (this is a verse--I will translate it as well as I can): + +"'"_Through the grace of God I am alive again, and give you the call to +church by my voice. Come willingly, be brisk and ready, then will I also +speak out gloriously when you are going to the grave._" + +"'"_Anno 1681, Nicholas Greue in Hannover cast me._" + +"'Our ringing is still done with this bell, which has a very fine tone, +and whoever likes can still at the present day read on it the above +inscription. + +"'The Friday before Palm Sunday was fixed for the consecration of the +bell; the duke arrived the day before with his wife; spent the night +with his lord of the manor, attended the evening and morning worship and +the preaching on Friday the fast day, and was present at the +consecration of the bell, which took place immediately after divine +service. When the bell was drawn up into the tower, and hung upon its +scaffolding, ready for its first ringing, and when the first stroke +softly sounded, then Breyhan and the duke and duchess beside him, the +nobleman of Hermannsburg, who was called Von Haselhorst, and the +bailiff, whose name was Pingeling, together with the whole congregation, +fell upon their knees in the churchyard; and while the bell continued to +be softly rung, the prayer of consecration was spoken. After the +Paternoster, the full, sonorous notes of the bell pealed out, and there +was not an eye but had tears in it as the long-missed tones floated off +so gloriously through the air. The dear Breyhan's heart was bounding, +and full of joy he spoke out--"Lord, now lettest thou Thy servant depart +in peace." The afternoon they spent at home, only the duke could not +refrain from making a trial at the wood-cutting, which however did not +succeed very well; whereupon then the pastor magnanimously promised that +he would content himself with the observance hitherto rendered, and +never demand of the duke personally that he should make hay or do days' +works. Then the duke requested that for his sake the evening worship +might be held earlier to-day, for he wished to get back again to Zelle. + +"'From that time he came again once every year, either for Good Friday +or for Easter; and in the year 1686 he followed to the grave the remains +of Pastor Breyhan, who died in the thirty-fourth year of his age. The +evening of Wednesday before the sixth Sunday after Trinity (the date is +not given in the church book), when he felt his end drawing near, he had +the great bell rung once more; and while it was ringing, at which time +the greater portion of the parish, either in their homes or standing in +front of the house, were in prayer, with a glad gesture he fell asleep. +His dying lips prayed, "Christ, Thou Lamb of God, who takest away the +sin of the world, have mercy on me, and give me Thy peace, O Jesus. +Amen." + +"'The funeral was on Saturday. And as often as I hear the bell ring, I +cannot help thinking of the dear, good Breyhan and the kindly duke +George William, and the saying recurs to me--"The memory of the just is +blessed." + +"'Finally, I remark once more, that from this story I have taken up a +thorough disgust for the new-fashioned _law of redemptions_. By this law +the above-mentioned farm has lately been detached from the benefice. +Before that, I was the most distinguished man in the kingdom of +Hannover, for the king was my parochial tenant and I was lord of the +manor to him; _now_ I am an insignificant country pastor and such, it is +well known, have neither form nor beauty.'" + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + + +Fenton had been crying out that the kettle was boiling; and yet, when +Meredith stopped reading nobody was in a hurry to move. The little group +lying there upon the pine branches was as quiet as the day; and there is +no describing the beauty of that rest in which nature for the moment +seemed to be still. The delicate clear blue overhead; the still racks of +white cloud here and there upon it, doing nothing and going nowhere, +only lying fair on the blue; the breathless atmosphere in which an aspen +leaf would have hung motionless; the broad river below moving its strong +current so silently and so unobtrusively; there was no token of motion, +unless in a vessel which was slowly drifting down while her sails hung +windless by the mast; the profound quiet had something imposing. I +cannot tell how, some grave, sweet influence seemed to press upon every +heart in the company; and for a few minutes after the reader's voice +ceased, the stillness was significant. + +"We seem to be out of the world!" Flora remarked at last in an +undertone. + +"Why?" Mr. Murray asked. + +"I don't know. Confusions and disturbance are nowhere in sight. It is +all peace." + +"And purity," added Meredith. + +"How nice if one could live so!" Flora went on. + +"You may, to a great degree, live so," said Mr. Murray. "It will not be +always October, and your couch may not always be such a feathery one; +and yet, Miss Flora--I fancy that Pastor Breyhan lived in very much such +an atmosphere all his life." + +"The story is just in harmony with the day and the place; isn't it?" +said Meredith. + +"It is odd that one can be interested in such a story," said Flora. "And +yet I have been interested." + +"For that very reason, I suppose," said Mr. Murray. "There is something +breathing out, both from the story and the day, which we all know we +want,--unless we have got it already." + +"But, Mr. Murray, one cannot live in the world and be quiet," said +Flora. + +"There is a promise or two, however, to that effect. 'When He giveth +quietness, then who can make trouble?' And the Master said to His +disciples, 'Peace I leave with you.' 'He that cometh to me shall never +hunger.'" + +"I wish I knew what it means!" said Flora, furtively getting rid of a +tear which had somehow found its way into her eye. + +"I'll tell you what," cried Fenton, "if you don't come, the water will +all boil away. Don't you mean ever to have luncheon? I don't know what +you are thinking of, with your old stories!" + +This brought the party to their feet. And now, some went at unpacking +and arranging the things which had been brought along in bag and basket; +Flora lit the spirit lamp and set the coffee a-going; while Meredith and +Fenton put the potatoes in the ashes and took care of the process of +roasting the oysters. It was not so warm to-day that the fire was +disagreeable, which was lucky, as the oysters demanded a good bed of +coals; the potatoes likewise. Finally, Meredith set about making a +friar's omelet. When all was ready and the tea drawn, they sat round the +fire on the grass, and made a most miscellaneous and most enjoyable +meal. + +"Coffee! how good the coffee is!" said Meredith. + +"And did you _ever_ see such good roast oysters?" cried Maggie. + +"They ought to be good," Fenton growled; "they cost a precious sight of +work to get 'em up here." + +"And Ditto's omelet is so nice!"--Maggie went on. + +"If one could live in the open air!" said Meredith, "how good it would +be. I do not mean the omelet! but everything else. It's a great loss to +live in houses." + +"Lots of convenience, though," said Fenton. + +"Look at the heap of oyster-shells Fenton is throwing behind him!" cried +Maggie presently. + +"What's that to you?" said Fenton. "There are oysters enough. Don't +meddle. If anything is a nuisance it is a meddling girl." + +"How about a meddling boy?" Mr. Murray asked. + +"Boys don't meddle," said Fenton. "It is girls." + +"I suppose that is because the boys do the things that have to be +meddled with," said Maggie sagely. + +Fenton scowled, but the others laughed, and the meal went merrily +forward. + +"How much time have we?" Flora asked. + +"For what?" + +"For staying here, and reading. How long before we must break up and go +home?" + +"We can take our own time," said Meredith. "The tide will be good. +Indeed it will be only getting better and better. It will turn about two +o'clock." + +"We must get home in time for dinner," observed Fenton, however. + +"I really should think you might wait a while for that," said Esther. +"Uncle Eden, if anybody else comes here this fall, they will see exactly +what we had for lunch." + +"How so?" + +"There are the egg-shells, and potato-skins, and Fenton's heap of +oyster-shells." + +"You do not think we will leave them here? Besides, there are several +heaps of oyster-shells, I think; they are not all Fenton's." + +"Fenton's is the biggest. But what will you do with all these things, +Uncle Eden?" + +"Carry them away." + +"Where to, sir?" asked Fenton. + +"Down the hill." + +"Why, sir?" + +"How would you like such a quantity of rubbish left in the woods at +Mosswood, by some happy picnic party?" + +"This isn't Mosswood, sir." + +"No, it is some other wood." + +"But it is nobody's ground." + +"How can you venture to affirm that?" + +"Well, I mean, it is nobody's ground in particular." + +"That is more than you or I know, my boy, and is moreover highly +improbable. We are certainly not intruding on anybody's privacy; but we +have no right even here to leave things worse than we found them?" + +"And we have got to lug all this trash down to the river again?" + +"What do you think?" + +Fenton thought it was "no end of a bore;" nobody else, however, did +anything but laugh at him. After the oysters were all disposed of, the +oyster-shells went back into the bag, ready for transportation; Fenton +remarking with great disgust that they were just as heavy and took up +more room than before. Egg-shells and potato-skins were swept up; cups +packed away; coffee and teapot restored to the basket; hands washed; and +finally the group gathered again on their couch of pine branches to +enjoy every minute. They had a good space of time left them still, and +the day promised to finish its fair course without change, except change +of beauty. Fenton joined the group now, having nothing to do, and +hopeless of inducing them to break up before the last possible minute. + +"What are you going to give us this afternoon, Meredith?" Mr. Murray +asked. + +"I have been keeping it, sir; one of my best; a story out of the Thirty +Years' War. Shall I read?" + +"By all means." + +"'In the parish of Hermannsburg there is a forest-house, situated about +an hour and a half from the church village; the place is called Queloh, +and it lies in the midst of the forest. On the other side, about a +quarter of an hour further on is a beautiful beech wood, which goes by +the name of Buchhorst. In old times this place was inhabited by two +peasants who belonged to the wide-spread peasant family of Weesen. The +name of the one was Drewes, and of the other Hinz. They were both good +and God-fearing men, and with their whole hearts devoted to the dear +Lutheran church. Those were the times of the Thirty Years' War in which +they lived, and they had to bear their share in all the distresses which +that miserable war brought with it; they bore it also willingly, for the +Lord's sake. + +"'Although they had been stripped of their goods a number of times by +the Catholic soldiers, they had nevertheless preserved their most +precious things, that is, their books; their Bibles, singing books and +catechisms. These were, you must know, very necessary to them, for in +those days there were as yet no village schools. In the entire parish of +Hermannsburg there was but a single school, and that was in the church +village; and this school was attended by the children only for one year, +or it might be only half a year, previous to their confirmation. For all +the rest, every house-father must himself play the schoolmaster. And in +many respects, those must have been glorious times. Every evening when +the fire was kindled on the hearth of the so-called Flett'" (a sort of +hall or common room between the barn and the house), "'and the women +were busy on the hearth with their cooking, the house-father with the +whole of the household assembled around the fire--children, servants, +and maids. Then the little ones were instructed in spelling and reading, +in which business the servants and maids were faithful helpers of the +house-father. After that, the catechism was taken in hand; some +spiritual songs were sung; a portion was read aloud from the Bible and +talked about, in the course of which very lovely and profitable words +were often spoken; the old histories and legends and stories of the +country, handed down from father to son, came in for their share of +attention; the laws, manners, and usages which custom had made binding +were discussed; and the "Flett" hour was one so full of enjoyment and +so full of instruction that it was looked forward to during the whole +day by both old and young. And this "Flett" hour was a strong fortress +against the intrusion of innovations; and it can be shown, that the new +ways, that is, the godless new ways, never came until the "Flett" hours +were given up. This Flett'" (or great middle hall of the house) "'with +its hearth was as it were the home sanctuary, in a certain degree the +domestic altar. From there, too, the peasant could overlook his whole +house and prevent any disorders. Usually there was only one +dwelling-room in the house, called the "Dönz," which, however, was for +the most part used merely for eating and spinning, and served for the +whole, for grandparents and father and mother and children and men and +maids; for the meals were also in common; and that old people should be +portioned off and take what was called their part, was a thing unheard +of; it would have brought unending disgrace upon the peasant's head. It +was just as little thought possible that the peasant should take his +meals separate from his men and maid-servants; they all formed one great +family. + +"'I said awhile ago, that in the ravages of the war these people had +saved what they held dearest, namely, their books. They had managed it +in this way. In every "Dönz" the furniture consisted only of a large +table, a table with folding leaves'" (a Klapptisch--I don't know whether +that is a table that folds together, or a table shelf that folds up +against the wall), "'a cupboard, and some wooden chairs and stools; but +by the side of the stove there stood a "grandfather's chair" of more +pretension, covered with leather, in which indeed the peasant himself, +when he came home from the field in the evening, was wont to rest +himself for a while. The seat, also covered with leather, they had made +movable, so that it could be lifted up and shut down; and beneath this +seat the books were placed in security; nothing was to be seen of them +when the seat was shut down, and nobody would look for them there. And +it was quite needful that they should preserve their books so +carefully; for the Catholic soldiers in the Thirty Years' War waged a +regular war of extermination against Lutheran books. + +"'One evening, Drewes the father, that is, the farmer, was sitting in +his house, with his people around the hearth in the "Flett," and they +were just speaking of the great victory which the Lutherans under +General Torstensohn had fought for and gained at Leipzig; and the +house-father was giving his opinion that soon now surely enough blood +would have flowed, and that peace must be near. Upon that came his +neighbour hastily in and said,--"Neighbour, hurry and loose your cattle, +and let us flee to the wood; the emperor's forces are only half an hour +off." Quick everybody sprang up; the cattle were muzzled to prevent +their bellowing; the few bits of clothing and some victuals were caught +up; and away they went plunging into the thickest part of the forest, as +fast and as noiselessly as they could. Hinz closed the procession, and +when the cattle were got out of sight he took post behind a tree, that +he might see what the soldiers would do. He had not long to watch; for +it was scarcely a quarter of an hour later that bright flames went +crackling up into the sky; both houses together with the out-buildings +were in a blaze. The soldiers were enraged that they had found no booty, +and had set fire to everything. Hinz hastened now into the thick of the +wood after the others, and when he caught up with them he told them of +their misfortune. With that, they all fell upon their knees and thanked +God that he had saved their lives and their cattle; and it never came +into any one's head to weep so much as a single tear; they could build +huts for themselves in the wood; and their hearts did not hang upon +things of this world. But what is this? what could all of a sudden force +such a deep sigh from Father Drewes that it absolutely startled them +all? what could bring great tears into the eyes of that strong man, whom +nobody had ever seen weep before? "Godfather Hinz," he said with his +voice half stifled with pain,--"our books! our books! Ah, they are burnt +up by now! our own and our children's only treasure and comfort!" And +behold, they all then fell to weeping, men and women and children, men +and maids, as if their hearts would break. At last spoke out the old +Father Hinz, an eighty-years-old grey-headed man,--"Hush, children! if +our books are burned, our God and Saviour is not gone with them; we have +Him in our hearts; and His Word we have too, not only in the Bible but +in our memories. I will say out a chapter for you every morning and +every evening, out of my heart." Then they grew quiet, and he folded his +hands and began at once, and prayed first the twenty-third psalm, and +then the seventy-third psalm, and finally the eighth chapter of the +Epistle to the Romans; all verse for verse from the beginning to the +end.'" + +"The twenty-third and the seventy-third?" said Maggie interrupting. +"Which are they?" + +"Don't you know? The twenty-third begins,--'The Lord is my Shepherd; I +shall not want.'" + +"And it goes on,--" said Mr. Murray,--"'He prepareth a table before me +in the presence of mine enemies; he anointeth my head with oil; my cup +runneth over.'" + +"Not very appropriate," said Flora. + +"I thought very appropriate." + +"Why they were just in great want, sir; even of the most ordinary +comforts." + +"A good time to remind themselves of their extraordinary comforts." + +"What had they to justify them in talking of their 'cup running over?'" + +"Something which they know who know, Miss Flora, and other people would +try in vain to comprehend." + +"Well, the other word, 'I shall not want;'--they were in want already." + +"No," said Meredith, "excuse me. I have read what comes after." + +"They were in want, Ditto, certainly." + +"Only such want--never mind, I will not forestall my story." + +"What is the other psalm?" Flora asked. + +"Very beautiful in this connection," said Mr. Murray, who had got out +his Bible. "It begins,--'Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as +are of a clean heart.'" + +"There again!" said Flora, "what reason had they just then to think that +He was good?" + +"That is faith, Miss Flora." + +"Faith?" the young lady repeated. + +"Yes. Faith takes on trust, when it cannot see." + +Flora looked at the speaker. + +"The psalm goes on to describe the temptations to doubt which had beset +the psalmist on observing the prosperity of wicked people and the hard +times the Lord's people often had; and then how he saw his mistake; and +then he breaks out, 'Whom have I in heaven but Thee? and there is none +upon earth that I desire beside Thee. My flesh and my heart faileth, but +God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.'" + +"That is beautiful, and appropriate," said Flora. + +"As soon as a man gets where he can say--'Thou shalt guide me with Thy +counsel, and afterward receive me to glory,'--he can stand a few ups and +downs in this life. The choice of passages made by that old man was +beautiful in the extreme; and proved not only that he knew the Bible, +but that it was part of his life." + +"And the chapter of Romans?" + +"A worthy third in the trio. That is a chapter of triumph in the +Christian's privilege and hopes, ending--'Who shall separate us from the +love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or +famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?... Nay, in all these things we +are more than conquerors, through Him that loved us. For I am persuaded, +that neither death nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, +nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any +other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which +is in Christ Jesus our Lord.'" + +Flora's eyes filled, and she said nothing; and Meredith took up his book +again. + +"There is another word in that chapter that fits, sir--'All things shall +work together for good to them that love God.'" + +"It would certainly take faith to believe _that_," said Flora. "I can +imagine a little that other things and hopes might console people +suffering trouble in their persons and goods; but now, for instance, +what possible benefit could it be to those people to have their houses +burned, and to be driven into the wild wood with no shelter and nothing +or very little to eat, and likewise very little to put on?" + +"Well, I had better read," said Meredith. "Pastor Harms stops there, +after telling how old Drewes recited Scripture, and asks, 'Could my dear +readers all of them have done as much? just ask yourselves once quietly; +and whoever is forced to say, "I could not do it," let him be ashamed +from the bottom of his heart! + +"'A special impression was made by the words, "Though I walk through the +valley of the shadow of death," &c., and those others, "My heart and my +flesh faileth," &c., and again, "I am persuaded, that neither death nor +life," &c., and after they had all sat still a while, they raised their +heads up cheerfully, took each other's hands, and broke out with one +voice in the words-- + +"'"Dennoch bleibe ich stets an Dir," &c.'" + +"What does that mean, Ditto?" + +"'Nevertheless, I am continually with thee.' 'Then they went quietly to +sleep in the wood, and lodged there beautifully, warm and safe under the +wings of their God, and beneath the sheltering arms of the fir-trees; so +that the sun was already shining through the branches when they waked +up. Then they milked the cows, to get some breakfast for the children, +and after that they all gathered round the old father to remind him of +his promise. And the old man did not delay, but prayed first the +twenty-seventh, and then the forty-second and forty-third psalms, and +for the last, the twelfth chapter of the Epistle to the Hebrews; so +devoutly and so confidingly and so unhesitatingly, that they all could +not have supposed but that he was reading to them out of the big Bible +that had been under the arm-chair; and in most of the parts they prayed +with him word for word. Then they looked gratefully to the old man, and +after they had first asked the blessing, then drunk the milk, and at +last said grace, the others remained in the wood; but the two peasants, +Drewes and Hinz, with their two servants, set out to go back to the +place where their houses had stood. As they went off, the old Father +Hinz called after them, as if he were in a dream,--"Children, see about +the books too!" Slowly they drew near the place of the conflagration; +carefully listening and looking around them; but nothing was to be seen +or heard, all was as still as death, only the birds were hopping and +singing in the branches. At last they came within view of the place +where the fire had been; but just as they were about to run thither, a +low moaning came to their ears from the corner of the wood, near the +place of the fire. They were Christians, therefore they did not do like +the priest and the Levite, but like the kind-hearted Samaritan; they +went off towards the quarter from which the moans came; and what did +they see? Two badly-wounded soldiers, sitting in the two grandfather's +chairs at the corner of the wood. How came they there? The troops on +their march through had had these wounded fellows with them; who for +their weakness proved unable to go any further; so their comrades +determined to leave them behind. But to let the houses stand for the +sake of affording them shelter, was more than the inflamed rage of the +soldiers, disappointed at finding everything empty, could see their way +to. However to show some sort of humanity to their comrades, they had +dragged the two old chairs out of the houses to the corner of the wood, +placed the wounded men in them, and then completed their work of +destruction; following which they had all marched off. And now, when the +wounded soldiers saw standing before them the four men whose houses +their comrades had laid in ashes, they looked for nothing else but +death. But not anger nor revenge, but peace, yes, blessed joy, beamed +from the faces of those four men; God had certainly saved their beloved +books for them. Now they did not care that their houses were gone. The +soldiers were treated, not as foes, but as benefactors. They carried +them away into the wood where the rest of the people were; and when the +chairs were seen, and the seats were lifted up, and the books found +uninjured, then there was a thanksgiving and praising and glorifying so +loud and so glad, that the angels in heaven must have joined in; the +very little children ran to the books and kissed them devoutly and +gleefully. The two soldiers were tended as if they had been blood +kindred; milk was given them to drink; and now, also, since the host of +incendiaries had marched away, the way was open to fetch food again out +of the villages. It was proposed to bring the wounded men to the nearest +hamlet; but they were too weak for it; and they begged that they might +be kept in the huts in the wood. And now it came to pass that nothing +refreshed those two soldiers more than old Father Hinz's talk from the +Word of God, and his prayers. Even at the eleventh hour, they turned to +the Lord Jesus; and the pastor in Hermannsburg gave them the Holy +Communion after they had confessed their sins, had received the +assurance of forgiveness, and had declared that they believed in Jesus +Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, and were persuaded that His body +and blood were truly represented to them in the bread and the wine. This +communion was a right blessed day of joy for the inhabitants of the +wood. But God was preparing for them yet another special rejoicing. For +when the last hour of the two soldiers was drawing near, they summoned +the old father and the two peasants to their dying bed, thanked them +anew with tears in their eyes for the salvation which they had found for +their souls, and made over to them the legacy of their military +doublets; with the intimation, that after they were dead, they should +rip out the seams of them. This was done, when the men had first been +honourably buried; and now were discovered, sewed into the doublets, +such a stock of gold pieces, that not only the burned-down houses and +stables could be built again, but also the men and maids might receive a +handsome reward, and a new altar cloth could be given to the church at +Hermannsburg. + +"'The lord of the manor of Hermannsburg had assigned to the two soldiers +a place in his portion of the churchyard, where, at the north-east +corner of the churchyard wall, their graves were covered with a stone. +This stone lay there until, after the male line of the lord of the manor +had died out, the so-called Allodium was sold, and along with it this +stone. It bore the following inscription:-- + +"'"ANNO 1642 DOMINI NOSTRI JESU CHRISTI MORTEM OBIERUNT ET HOC LOCO +SEPULTI SUNT FRIEDERICUS WENCESLAUS BOHEMUS ET MARTINUS JURISCHITZ +LUSACIUS, QUI BIBLIA INSCII SERVAVERANT ET PER BIBLIA IN ÆTERNUM SERVATI +SUNT:" that is, + +"'"In the year of our Lord Jesus Christ 1642 died and are here buried +Friedrich Wenzel of Bohemia, and Martin Jurischitz of Lusatia; who +without knowing it had saved the Bible, and through the Bible have been +themselves saved unto everlasting life." + +"'On the other side of the stone stood the words--"Hinnerk Hinz and +Peter his son and Drewes Johan have had this stone erected for two gold +gulden out of the Landsknecht's doublet." + +"'Two years after the end of the Thirty Years' War, those two peasants, +of their own free will, pulled down their houses in the Buchhorst and +built them up again in the village of Wesen; for the reason, that after +the devastations of those years the wolves had so got the upper hand +that it was no longer possible to be secure from them. Twice, with great +difficulty, they had recovered their children from the wolves, which +already had them in their grip and were dragging them off; and then they +thought, to stay there longer would be to tempt God. Those two farms +are still in Wesen and are yet called Drewes' farm and Hinz's farm, +although the possessors in these latter days have long borne other +names. May God give us from this old story the blessing, that we may be +ever more as strong in the Bible and as firm in faith as the men of old +were.'" + + + + +CHAPTER XXI. + + +"That is one of your very prettiest stories, Ditto," cried Maggie when +he stopped. + +"Yes," said Flora, "I think so." + +"It must be a good story that can be listened to here," said Mr. +Murray,--"and I have been listening with great attention. I have been +thinking, while I was looking out over all this beauty and receiving so +much by my ears of another kind of beauty,--I have been thinking and +rejoicing to myself over the fact, how good our God is. 'Mountains, and +all hills; fruitful trees, and all cedars; young men and maidens; old +men and children: let them praise the name of the Lord.'" + +"Uncle Eden," said Maggie meditatively, "how _can_ hills praise the +Lord?--or trees?" + +"Don't they?" + +"How, Uncle Eden?" + +"_Don't_ they, I ask?" + +"But they could not hear anybody tell them to praise." + +"You are a literalist. How can 'the trees of the field clap their +hands'?" + +"Does the Bible say they do?" + +"It says they will. And it says 'Let the floods clap their hands; let +the hills be joyful together before the Lord; for He cometh!'--" + +"But that is very strange too," said Flora. "'He cometh to judge the +earth;' I know the chant; but it seems solemn and dreadful, and it is +sung in the minor key." + +"I know," said Mr. Murray. "The composer did not understand the +rejoicing either." + +"But how can any one, Mr. Murray?" + +"Those 'that love His appearing,' Miss Flora?" + +"I suppose I am very bad, Mr. Murray; but I tell you just how I feel. +That seems to me the most awful of times, and nothing but awful." + +"Perfectly correct, Miss Flora, and just as it is described in the +Bible. When the kings and the great men and the rich men will say to the +mountains and to the rocks, 'Fall on us, and hide us!'--" + +"But you talk of being glad?" said Flora, looking a good deal troubled. + +"Ay, but I was thinking of the other party," said Mr. Murray +gravely,--"from whom will go up a very different cry, a shout of +gladness--'Lo, this is our God! we have waited for Him, and He will save +us.'" + +"Save them from what?" + +"From all the oppressions and miseries inflicted upon them by the rulers +of this world; and more, from all the evils under which humanity has +been groaning ever since the fall. Then will strike the hour of the +world's freedom. That will be the time when the bridegroom cometh, and +they that are ready will go in with him to the marriage. Don't you think +they will be glad, who have been waiting in darkness and weariness for +so long? Then comes the marriage supper, and the everlasting union +between Christ and His Church. Should not the Church be glad!" + +"You said, 'they that are ready.'" + +"Yes." + +"Who are they?" + +"Do you remember the parable of the marriage supper? Don't you +recollect, one man had not on a wedding garment?" + +"But what _is_ the wedding-garment?" said Flora, who looked as if she +had some difficulty to keep her composure. + +"Shall I answer you in the words of one of old time?--'I will greatly +rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for He hath +clothed me with the garments of salvation, He hath covered me with the +robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, +and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.'" + +"Then it is something given," said Flora slowly. + +"Given, by the King to the guests; a free gift, Miss Flora, to all who +accept the King's invitation." + +Flora asked no more, but lay still on her couch of pine branches, +looking out on the calm and glorified hills. Nobody else broke the +silence; I think Fenton was gone to sleep; and the others were quiet. + +"The shadows are going the wrong way," said Flora at last. "I wish this +day would last longer!" + +"'A thing of beauty is a joy for ever,'" said Meredith. + +"Don't quote such a dreadfully hackneyed sentiment!" said his sister. +"How comes it, Mr. Murray, that beautiful things in nature never grow +hackneyed?" + +"They are always fresh. No two days in one's experience are just like +each other." + +"There never was a day in my experience like this one," said Flora. +"Ditto, aren't you going to read some more?" + +"It will be a variety, if I do." + +"We are made to like variety--as Mr. Murray has just reminded you." + +Meredith guessed that his sister cared more about putting off the hour +of departure than about the reading in the abstract; and he opened his +book again, for nobody else made any objection to Flora's proposal. + +"I shall read you," said he, "the story of a pastor and a farmer." + +"Those are the people your stories are generally about," said Flora. "I +hope the variety will lie in the treatment. Go on. I don't care what you +read." + +"'In a certain country, that I am not going to name, there is a parish +village. In the parsonage lives a pastor; it is not I, however. This +pastor faithfully serves our beloved church with the Word of God, which +he preaches in truth, and with the holy sacraments, which he administers +as he ought. And wherever this is done, the fruit will not be wanting; +for God has promised it, and He keeps His word still, although among +men there is little truth or faith any longer to be found. + +"'With temporal goods, however, this pastor is not specially well +provided; and were it not that he has a living God in the heavens, he +must many a time grow anxious and dispirited; which in truth he does not +always escape, as he himself humbly confesses. For if you have a small +benefice, a large family, and a couple of children at school to boot, +sometimes that gives even a believer the headache; though indeed there +is no need for that, were faith but strong and prayer simple enough. Now +there are cultivated fields belonging to the living; but as the pastor +cannot drive the plough spiritual and the plough agricultural both at +once, he hires out his ground; that he may give himself the more +diligently to the cultivation of hearts. From these hired-out acres +comes not a small part of his scanty means, and therefore it becomes a +very desirable thing that he should dispose of his ground suitably. With +most of his fields, indeed, this is not difficult, for they are fruitful +and favourably situated and easy to get a good tenant for them. But one +of his pieces of ground, and a pretty large one, lies on the slope of a +hill which is wooded at the top; this field nobody will take, because in +great rains loose earth and stones come rolling down over the slope from +the hill above, and in this way the whole crop may easily be destroyed. +It comes to my mind that the fault probably lies at the door of the +beloved Enclosings. In the course of them it might well happen that too +much wood has been cleared from the hill and sold. By that means the +soil has been laid bare and the rain floods can wash it off anywhere +they come. At any rate, nobody wants the field; and it always gives the +pastor a stab in the heart when he comes past it; and he does not +content himself with thinking, but he prays too, and promises that he +will give to the Lord Jesus, for the mission, a portion of the hire of +the field, if only a tenant may be found for it. + +"'And He in the heavens has heard the pastor's prayer. Not long after, +there comes a man of the parish, who is not in possession of ground +enough to make his farming suffice for the wants of his family, and who +therefore would willingly hire some more acres. He offers to take the +neglected field off the pastor's hands. The upright pastor does not hide +from him the reason why the field has hitherto found no tenant. But this +man, who loves the Lord Jesus, and who therefore is a hearty friend of +his pastor, declares that he has already quietly considered all that; +and he has thought among other things that it must be very important to +the pastor to let out this field, for to be sure the boys cost money; +and it is very desirable for himself to hire a field, since he also has +a great many mouths to feed. So both of them would be the better off. +The Lord must have the care of the thing, and that He is well able for; +he himself also would pray the Lord faithfully to this end, and he would +make it the one stipulation with his beloved pastor, that he would stand +by him and help him in faithful prayer. The two men gave each other the +hand upon that. The man hiring the ground had also told the Lord that he +would give Him a portion of the produce of the field for the conversion +of the heathen, and that all the same whether the produce were much or +little. But the man had said nothing about this to his pastor, and he +again on the other side had said nothing to the man about his own +contract with the Lord; so that each of them had thus kept in his heart +a secret for himself, which was known to the Lord alone. But surely I +know that the Lord thereupon looked kindly on both the men. + +"'Now in the autumn the farmer sets himself vigorously to work to get +the field in order; and the Lord gives His blessing upon it; up comes +the seed merrily, and the winter does it no hurt; the Lord has +graciously sheltered it. With a wet summer the corn really shoots up, +and stands so fine that it is magnificent to see. Both pastor and farmer +are heartily glad at the sight, and both at the same time have a secret +recollection of their vow, and are still more glad. But many of the +peasants, who are not lovers of the Lord, and therefore also not lovers +of their good pastor, and of the good farmer as little, feel no +pleasure, but a regular hateful grudge in their hearts; for indeed there +is everywhere a plenty of envy and spite to be found among unbelievers, +because they make their god out of what is earthly, and that is all they +care about. However they comfort themselves with the thought that when +the thunder-showers once come with their violent rain-pours, then surely +there will be stones and soil enough rolling down upon the field from +off the hill in the end to destroy all that is standing upon it. Verily +that is not a godly sort of satisfaction, but a true Satanic delight, +for Satan rejoices when any evil happens to people. + +"'And at last, the wish of the peasants seems to be fulfilled. There +comes up an uncommonly violent thunder-storm; the rain pours down from +heaven in streams, as if the clouds had burst; so that regular brooks +are flowing down the village streets. Then the envious people triumph; +there is no mistake about it, the field lying so exposed on the slope of +the hill must be thoroughly laid waste. Those two men, it may well be, +tremble too, for the storm is too frightful; but lose heart they do not; +on the contrary, the need drives them to more ardent prayer: "Lord, +help, and do not let the field be spoiled. Thou art the strong, almighty +God of Sabaoth, and Thy hand is not shortened, but Thine arm is +stretched out still." So they prayed; and when the storm was past they +went confidently up to the field, a good many accompanying them; and as +they were going, and while the many who went along could hardly hide +their delight, they were singing in their hearts the hymn-- + + "Was mein Gott will gescheh allzeit, + Sein Wille ist der beste; + Zu helfen ist Er dem bereit, + Der an Ihn glaübet feste."'" + +"Ditto, we don't understand that." + +"It means about this. 'The will of my God be done always. His will is +the best. He is always ready to help them who rest on Him in firm +faith.'" + +"'With that they are able to look up cheerfully and they are of good +courage. And when they arrive at the field, what do they see? The entire +field is unharmed. The stalks of grain lift their heads up bravely, as +if they too would give thanks for the beautiful rain which has so +refreshed them. But on both sides of the field a whole stream has poured +down from the hill, and nothing is to be seen but a wild mass of rocks +and stones. Whose is the strong hand which seized the rain flood, and +parted it just before it came to the field, and so gently led it down on +both sides of the field? Moved to the depth of their hearts, our two +friends were constrained to cry out--"The Lord, He is the God! The Lord, +He is the God! Give our God the glory." And it is to be hoped that many +of the unbelievers, if not aloud, yet quietly joined in the prayer with +them. + +"'And now, when the harvest was finished, and the farmer brought to the +pastor what he had promised to give the Lord of the produce of the +field, and then also the pastor's vow was made known to the farmer, the +two fell upon their knees again and thanked the Lord for His goodness, +because His mercy endureth for ever. Must not such gifts to the heathen +go with God's special blessing resting upon them?'" + +"Is that all?" said Maggie. + +"That is all," said Meredith smiling. + +"I do not know what to make of that story," said Flora. + +"Why?" + +"Storms come from natural causes." + +"Oh, do they?" said Meredith. "You do not believe then what the psalm +says--'He commandeth and raiseth the stormy wind'"---- + +"But that is poetry." + +"So is this," said Mr. Murray,--"'Who hath divided a watercourse for the +overflowing of waters; or a way for the lightning of thunder; to cause +it to rain on the earth, where no man is; on the wilderness, wherein is +no man; to satisfy the desolate and waste ground; and to cause the bud +of the tender herb to spring forth?'" + +"Well," said Flora a little abashed, "isn't it poetry?" + +"I do think, Flo," said her brother, "you have forgotten all our talks +around the breakfast table in Florida and elsewhere." + +"Here again," said Mr. Murray,--"'He saith to the snow, Be thou on the +earth; likewise to the small rain, and to the great rain of His +strength.' It won't do, Miss Flora, to resist the fact. And I would +remark, that the highest poetry is the highest truth also." + +"But do you think, Mr. Murray, if it is so, that God will change His +arrangements just for men's asking Him." + +"I don't _think_, I know it, Miss Flora. It is precisely the Lord's way. +But we cannot stop to talk about that now. My friends, do you see where +the sun is?" + +"Oh, must we go?" cried they all. + +"It is a pity, isn't it? But this would hardly do for a night's +lodgings; and if we are to sleep at home, we must take the necessary +steps." + +Slowly they gathered themselves up from their pine bushes, and shook +themselves; literally and figuratively, I might say. + +"What are you going to do with your oyster shells, Fenton?" his uncle +demanded. + +"I don't want to do anything with them," said the boy. + +"You always want to be a gentleman." + +"What has that to do with it?" + +"A gentleman never needlessly annoys anybody." + +"Nobody comes here," said Fenton grumblingly. But they all laughed so at +him that he pocketed his ill-humour and took his share in carrying the +wrecks of the feast down to the creek side. + +Then with the tide they swept up the river. I can never tell you how +pretty it was. The day had kept its character of clear quiet beauty +without change; and now as the sun began to get lower in the western +sky, and shadows stretched along under the shore on the river and fell +in lengthening patches or lines from hill-tops and trees, it did not +grow cold. Quiet and sweet the air was, even on the water; and the +rowers dipped and raised their oars in steady time, and in silence. +Nobody wanted to talk. They passed the island or promontory a little +above Fort Montgomery, passed on and on, keeping the mid-stream now, +passed Gee's Point, saw the boat-house looming up before them,--and were +at home. + +The very next day it rained. + + +THE END. + + +PRINTED BY BALLANTYNE, HANSON AND CO. + +EDINBURGH AND LONDON + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Pine Needles, by Susan Bogert Warner + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PINE NEEDLES *** + +***** This file should be named 38922-8.txt or 38922-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/8/9/2/38922/ + +Produced by Chris Curnow, Lindy Walsh, Julia Neufeld and +the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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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: Pine Needles + +Author: Susan Bogert Warner + +Release Date: February 18, 2012 [EBook #38922] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PINE NEEDLES *** + + + + +Produced by Chris Curnow, Lindy Walsh, Julia Neufeld and +the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 486px;"><br /><br /> +<img src="images/icover.jpg" width="486" height="600" alt="cover" title="cover" /> +</div> + + +<h4> +Warne's Star Series.</h4> +<hr style="width: 5%;" /> +<h1>PINE NEEDLES.</h1> + +<p class="center"> BY THE AUTHOR OF</p> +<h2>"<i>THE WIDE, WIDE WORLD</i>."</h2> + +<p class="center">They that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country."<br /> +—<i>Heb.</i> xi. 14.</p> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 150px;"> +<img src="images/i004.jpg" width="100" height="94" alt="Publisher's Mark" title="Publisher's Mark" /> + +</div> + + +<p class="center"><br /> +<br /> +New Edition.<br /> +<br /> +LONDON:<br /> +FREDERICK WARNE AND CO.<br /> +BEDFORD STREET, STRAND.<br /> +</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3><i>NOTICE TO THE READER OF<br /> +"PINE NEEDLES."</i></h3> + + +<p>This little book might have been entitled "Christian +Heroes," for its contents would have justified the name. +The stories reported in the "Missionsblatt" of the late +Pastor Louis Harms of Hermannsburg, of lovely memory, +will surely delight all who love either heroism or Christianity, +and are not able to enjoy the narrations in their +original German dress. The author has framed them in +a light frame of her own, but the stories are left in their +integrity and simplicity, with omission of scarcely a dozen +words.</p> + +<p><i>February 1, 1877.</i><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1">[1]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>PINE NEEDLES AND OLD YARNS.</h2> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER I.</h2> + + +<p>The Franklins were coming to Mosswood.</p> + +<p>This might have happened, Maggie thought, a good while +ago; but, however, the view had not been shared by Mrs. +Candlish; and a whole year had passed away since the joyful +coming home of the family to their old possessions. The +winter was spent at Mosswood in quiet gladness and gradual +strength-gaining; the spring brought a return to all the +favourite out-door amusements and occupations of the +family. Summer was the proper time for company, and +the house had been filled till the end of September. Then +Mrs. Candlish declared she was tired and must run away, +or she would be obliged to entertain people till November; +and she joined her husband in a trip to California, which, +half for business and half for pleasure, Mr. Candlish had +resolved upon taking. At that juncture the children begged +for the Franklins; and their mother was willing. "As I +cannot be here," she said, "it will not be necessary to extend +the invitation to Mrs. Franklin. You may have the others, +and do what you will with them."</p> + +<p>"I should think," remarked Maggie, "if Meredith and +Flora heard what mamma said, they wouldn't like it +much."</p> + +<p>However, they did not hear it, and if they guessed at the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2">[2]</a></span> +substance of it I don't know; but Flora had too much +curiosity, and Meredith too much affection engaged, to be +over scrupulous. So they came, and were welcomed, I was +going to say, uproariously. It just fell short of that. For +even Esther privately declared to her sister that "nobody +was so nice as Meredith Franklin."</p> + +<p>Now, after seeing them, the next thing was to make them +see Mosswood; and many were the consultations Maggie +and Esther had already held over plans and means. Nothing +could be settled after all till the guests came. And when +they came, the whole first evening was spent in joyous talk +and recollections. But the next morning before breakfast +Maggie and Meredith met at the house door. Meredith +had been out walking.</p> + +<p>"How do you like it?" she asked daringly, clasping his +hand, while her eyes looked love and pleasure hard into his +face.</p> + +<p>"It is the most beautiful place I ever saw in my life!"</p> + +<p>"And it is such a nice day," said Maggie gleefully. "What +shall we do to-day?"</p> + +<p>"Let us be out of doors!"</p> + +<p>"Oh yes, we'll be out of doors," said Maggie; "but where +shall we go?"</p> + +<p>"Nowhere out of Mosswood—if you ask me. I don't want +anything else."</p> + +<p>"Well, Mosswood is pretty good," said Maggie, "because, +when you are at Mosswood you have the hills and the river +and all, <i>besides</i> Mosswood, you know—O Meredith! I have +thought of something!"</p> + +<p>"I dare say," Meredith answered smiling. "That is quite +in your way."</p> + +<p>"This is something nice. Suppose we go out and have +dinner in the woods?"</p> + +<p>"I should say it was a capital plan."</p> + +<p>"We used to do that in old times, before ever we went +away. And we have got a nice little cart, Meredith, to +carry our dinner, and whatever we want; and—Oh, it's nice! +it's nice!" exclaimed Maggie, jumping on her toes for<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[3]</a></span> +delight. "I'm <i>so</i> glad you're here! and I'm <i>so</i> glad to go +into the woods again to dinner."</p> + +<p>"We want only one thing," said Meredith.</p> + +<p>"What's that?"</p> + +<p>"Mr. Murray."</p> + +<p>"Uncle Eden! I'll write to him."</p> + +<p>"Let us all write to him. Every one put in something. +That will bring him, maybe."</p> + +<p>"Yes, that will bring him!" Maggie echoed; and I do +not believe that for the rest of the morning she took another +flat step. On her toes, was the only way that her spirits +could go. The first thing after breakfast was the Round +Robin to Uncle Eden. Maggie began it, as the youngest.</p> + +<blockquote><p>"<span class="smcap">Dear Uncle Eden</span>,—Flora and Meredith are here while +mamma and papa are gone to California. We are going +out in the woods to dinner; and we all want you. Do +please come, if you can get away from Bay House. We +want you as much as anybody can be wanted.</p> + +<div class="signature"> +"<span class="smcap">Maggie.</span>"<br /> +</div></blockquote> + +<p>Then Esther wrote—</p> + +<blockquote><p>"<span class="smcap">Dear Uncle Eden</span>,—It is quite true. We do all want +you very much. Fenton is coming, and I am afraid nobody +will keep him in order, if you are not here.</p> + +<div class="signature"> +"<span class="smcap">Esther.</span>"<br /> +</div></blockquote> + +<p>Then Flora—</p> + +<blockquote><p>"I think we would all be very glad to see Mr. Murray. +I am sure one sincerely glad would be</p> + +<div class="signature"> +"<span class="smcap">Flora Franklin</span>."<br /> +</div></blockquote> + +<p>Last, Meredith—</p> + +<blockquote><p>"<span class="smcap">Dear Mr. Murray</span>,—You know how true is all the +foregoing. And yet, though I cannot suppose I should be +gladder to see you than everybody else, it does seem to me +that I <i>want</i> to see you more than any of the rest can—because +I have so many questions to ask, and feel that I +need so much advice. I hope you may find that you can +comply with our joint earnest desire.</p> + +<div class="signature"> +"<span class="smcap">Meredith Franklin.</span>"<br /> +</div></blockquote> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[4]</a></span></p> + +<p>After all were done, Maggie begged for the paper, to add +a word that nobody else must see. This was what she said—</p> + +<blockquote><p>"<span class="smcap">Dear Uncle Eden</span>,—I want to say a <i>private</i> word to +you. I feel somehow as if it was not just exactly respectful +to Meredith and Flora that they should be here with nobody +but just us. Don't you think so? But if you could come, +it would be all right. We are going in the woods to dinner +to-day—Oh, I wish you were here!</p> + +<div class="signature"> +"<span class="smcap">Maggie.</span>"<br /> +</div></blockquote> + +<p>This joint epistle finished and sealed, and some other +despatches for Leeds got ready, it was time to see about +making preparations for the woods. Where should they go? +Question the first.</p> + +<p>"To the old Fort."</p> + +<p>"To the Happy Valley."</p> + +<p>"No, to the Lookout rock."</p> + +<p>"Not to-day, Esther. Let's keep that for Uncle Eden. +Suppose—suppose"——</p> + +<p>"The Plateau."</p> + +<p>"It seems to be an <i>embarras de richesses</i>," said Meredith +laughing, "and I do not wonder. Let me help you. +Suppose we go up on this height just east of us; isn't the +view pretty from there?"</p> + +<p>"The South Pitch! Oh, it's <i>lovely</i> up there!" cried Maggie. +"You look down on the house, and you look down the river, +and it's shady and nice. It's just lovely! That is best for +to-day. Then, other days, we'll take the other places. Now, +we must get ready."</p> + +<p>"What?" said Flora.</p> + +<p>"Oh, you must get your work, or books if you like; whatever +you like; and Meredith must find a book, too, I +suppose; we always take books and work, and then we +talk; but once when we took nothing, then we didn't do +anything. Esther and I must prepare the waggon; cart, +I mean."</p> + +<p>"What is to go in the cart? Cannot we help you?" said +Meredith. "And, where is the cart, in the first place?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, it's up in the wood-house loft; we haven't had it out<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[5]</a></span> +this year yet, you know. Ditto, maybe you'll tell Fairbairn +to get it down, will you?"</p> + +<p>"Who is Mr. Fairbairn?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, the gardener. He's out there somewhere. Esther +and I must go to Betsey for things."</p> + +<p>"I suppose I shall know Fairbairn when I see him," said +Meredith smiling, as he put on his hat.</p> + +<p>In a quarter of an hour the cart stood at the door, and +Esther and Maggie and Flora were busily packing "things" +in baskets. Meredith came to put his hand to the +work.</p> + +<p>"It is so hard to remember everything," said Esther. +"We always forget something or other, and then somebody +has to go back for it. Now, here is all the china, I think. +Oh, stop! have we put the teapot in?"</p> + +<p>"Who wants tea?" said Meredith.</p> + +<p>"In the woods? Oh, we always have tea in the woods, +and sometimes coffee."</p> + +<p>"Make a fire to boil the kettle?"</p> + +<p>"Why, <i>of course</i>!"</p> + +<p>"How should I know it was of course? Well, tea is +very good in the woods, I have no doubt. Don't forget +the tea."</p> + +<p>"But I should have forgotten the sugar, if you hadn't +spoken."</p> + +<p>"And the salt! don't forget the salt; we always do."</p> + +<p>"We don't want salt to-day; we have nothing to eat it +with."</p> + +<p>"Yes, we have."</p> + +<p>"No, we haven't; there is cold ham, and bread, and +butter, and apple-sauce."</p> + +<p>"Take the salt," said Meredith, "and give me a few eggs, +and I'll make you a friar's omelet."</p> + +<p>"A friar's omelet! What is that?"</p> + +<p>"You'll see. Only I shall want a dish to mix it in, you +know."</p> + +<p>Delightful! The dish was fetched from the kitchen, and +the omelet pan. Ham and apple-sauce Betty had packed<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[6]</a></span> +for the party already; rolls and butter, spoons and knives +and forks, a pitcher of cream, napkins—I do not know what +all—went into the other baskets, and were finally stowed in +the cart. A light porter's cart, it was; roomy enough; and +yet it grew pretty full. The tea-kettle must find a place; +then books and knitting and paper. Then thick shawls to +spread upon the rocks, to make softer seats for the more +ease-loving. Fairbairn carried a tin pail with water. All +these arrangements took up time; so the morning was well +on its way and the dew long off the grass, when at last the +procession set forth. Meredith drew the cart, which he was +informed he must do carefully, or the cream would slop +over, and, possibly, other damage be done.</p> + +<p>It was not a long way they had to go this morning. +Bordering upon the lawn and shrubbery, to the east, rose a +little rocky height, which, in fact, prevented the dwellers at +Mosswood from ever seeing the sun rise. But the hill was +so pretty, they forgave it. Towards the house it presented +a smooth wall of grey granite; on the top it also showed +granite in quantity, there, however, alternating with moss +and thin grass, and overshadowed by cedars, oaks, and pines, +with now and then a young hemlock. The soil was thin; +the growth of trees in consequence not lofty; nevertheless, +very graceful. No cultivation, hardly any dressing, had +been attempted; the purple asters sprung up at the edge of +the rocks, and huckleberry bushes stood where they found +footing; here and there a bramble, here and there a bunch +of ferns. Now the oak leaves were turned yellow and +brown; the huckleberry bushes in duller hues of the same; +moss was dry and crisp, and ferns odorous in the warm air.</p> + +<p>To reach the top of the height a circuit must be made. +There was no path leading straight from the house. Through +the grounds at the back of the house the way wound along +between beds of acheranthus and cineraria which made +warm strips of bordering, with scarlet pelargoniums lighting +up the beds beyond in a blaze of brilliance. Turning then +into a carriage road, the party followed it to the north of +the height which Maggie had called the South Pitch, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[7]</a></span> +struck off then southwards into a little, mossy, rocky, hardly-traced +path under the trees.</p> + +<p>"This is easy enough," said Meredith, guiding his cart +somewhat carefully, however, to avoid severe jolts which +would have endangered the cream. "I do not see where +the pitch is yet."</p> + +<p>"Ah, but you will when you get to the south end," said +Maggie. "Look out, Ditto, here's a rock in your way. And +these huckleberry bushes are very thick."</p> + +<p>Following on over rocks and bushes, they soon came to +the place Maggie meant, and Meredith rested his cart and +stood still to look. From the southern brow of the little +hill, the ground fell steeply away; so steeply that the eye +had unhindered range over the river which lay below, and +the hills bordering it, and the point of Gee's Point which +there pushes the river to the eastward. Not a tree-branch +even was in the way; river and hills lay in the October +light, still, glowing, fair, as only October can be.</p> + +<p>"Do you like it, Meredith?" asked Maggie wistfully. +<i>Her</i> opinion of Mosswood had been long a fixed one.</p> + +<p>"I have never seen such a place!"</p> + +<p>"Uncle Eden had his tent up here one summer, and he +cut away all the branches and trees that were in the way +of the view; for he wanted to lie in his tent at night and +be able to look out and see the river and the hills in the +moonlight."</p> + +<p>"And did he have this wall built too?" asked Meredith, +seeing that the platform where he stood was held up on the +side towards the river by a regularly laid, though unmortared, +wall.</p> + +<p>"Oh," said Esther laughing, "that wall was laid a hundred +years ago, Meredith. Soldiers laid it; our soldiers; all +Mosswood was fortified; this is a breastwork."</p> + +<p>"Whom do you mean by 'our soldiers'?"</p> + +<p>"Why, the Americans," said Esther. "When they were +fighting that war, a hundred years ago. You'll find bits of +breastwork all over Mosswood."</p> + +<p>"Well, that is delightful," said Meredith. "We are<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[8]</a></span> +historical. Now, what are we to do first? I move, we +make our camp just here. We cannot have a better place."</p> + +<p>So there a rock under a tree, here a bit of mossy bank, +was taken possession of; places were carpeted with shawls, +and luxurious loungers were at rest upon them. Fairbairn +set down the pail of water and departed; Flora got her +worsted embroidery out of the cart, and Esther a strip of +afghan which she was ambitiously making. Maggie nestled +up to Meredith's side on the moss and laid her little hand +in his, and for a little while they were all quiet; these last +two enjoying October. But Meredith did not long sit still; +he must go exploring, up and down and all round the South +Pitch. Maggie followed him, as ready to go as he, and +talking all the while. It was nothing but rocks and moss +and trees and brambles and ferns; with the delicious river +glittering below the rocks, and the glow of the hills coming +to them through the trees, and golden hickory leaves falling +at their feet, and now and then a chestnut burr or a hickory +schale to be hammered open. Warm and tired at last they +came back to their place. And then the girls declared it +was time for dinner.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[9]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER II.</h2> + + +<p>A fire was the first thing. Meredith and Maggie gathered +dry pine branches and dead leaves, and Meredith built a +nice place for the kettle with some stones. Then they +found they had no matches.</p> + +<p>"We <i>always</i> forget something," cried Maggie. "Now, I'll +run home and fetch a box."</p> + +<p>Meredith went too. It was only a little more walk. +Then the fire was set agoing, and the kettle filled and put +over. Maggie sat by to keep up the flame, which being fed +with light material needed constant supply. Meredith threw +himself down on the mossy bank and opened his book. For +a little while there was silence.</p> + +<p>"What are you reading, Ditto?" Maggie asked at length. +She kept as good watch of Meredith as of the fire.</p> + +<p>"You would not understand if I told you. It is a German +book."</p> + +<p>"Is it very interesting?"</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>"I knew it was. I could see by your face; when you +pull your brows together in that way, I always know you +are ever so much interested."</p> + +<p>"Well, I am," said Meredith smiling.</p> + +<p>"Would it interest me?"</p> + +<p>"I think, perhaps, it would."</p> + +<p>"Ah, Ditto, don't you want to try? Read us some of it. +What is it about?"</p> + +<p>"It is a Mission Magazine."</p> + +<p>"Missionary! Oh, then, we <i>shouldn't</i> like it," said Esther. +"I don't believe we should."</p> + +<p>"And in it are stories," Meredith continued.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[10]</a></span>"What sort of stories? about heathen?"</p> + +<p>"I like stories about heathen," said Maggie.</p> + +<p>"Stories about heathen and Christian, which a certain +Pastor Harms used to tell to his people, and which he put +in the magazine."</p> + +<p>"Did he write the magazine?"</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>"Who was Pastor Harms?"</p> + +<p>"A wonderful, beautiful man, who loved God with all +his heart, and served Him with all his strength."</p> + +<p>"Why, there are a great many people, Ditto, who do +that," said his sister.</p> + +<p>"Most people that I have seen keep a little of their +strength for something else," remarked Meredith dryly.</p> + +<p>"Was he a German?" Maggie asked.</p> + +<p>"He was a German; and he was the minister of a poor +country parish in Hanover; and the minister and the people +together were so full of the love of Christ that they did +what rich churches elsewhere don't do."</p> + +<p>"And does that book tell what they did?"</p> + +<p>"Partly; what they did, and what other people have done."</p> + +<p>"<i>I</i> should like to hear some of it," was Maggie's conclusion.</p> + +<p>"Well, you shall. We'll try, after dinner. Flora and +Esther may shut their ears, if they will."</p> + +<p>"If you won't read something else," said Flora, "I suppose +I would rather hear that than nothing. I can get on with +my work better."</p> + +<p>"And worsted work is the chief end of woman, everybody +knows," remarked her brother. "The kettle is boiling, +Maggie!"</p> + +<p>All was lively activity at once. Even the afghan and the +worsted embroidery were laid on the moss, and the two +elder girls bestirred themselves to get out the plates and +dishes from the baskets and arrange them; while Maggie +made the tea, and Meredith set about his omelet. Maggie +watched him with intense satisfaction, as he broke and beat +his eggs and put them over the fire; watched till the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[11]</a></span> +cookery was accomplished and the omelet was turned out +hot and brown and savoury. The girls declared it was the +best thing they had ever tasted, and Flora thought the tea +was the best tea, and Meredith that the bread and butter +was the best bread and butter. Maggie privately thought +it was the best dinner altogether that ever she had eaten in +the woods; but I think she judged most by the company. +It was a long dinner! Why should they use haste? The +October sun was not hot; the sweet air gave an appetite; +the thousand things they had to talk about gave zest to the +food. They were not in a hurry with their tea, and they +lingered over their apple-pie.</p> + +<p>When at last they were of a mind to seek a change of +diversion, and really the dinner was done—for talk as much +as you will you yet must stop eating some time—the plates +and remnants were quickly put back in the baskets and set +again in the cart, tea-kettle and napkins cleared away, +and the mossy dining-room looked as if no company had +been there.</p> + +<p>"This is first rate," exclaimed Meredith, stretching himself +on the warm moss.</p> + +<p>"And now, Ditto, you are going to read to us."</p> + +<p>"Am I?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, for you said so."</p> + +<p>"An honourable man always keeps his promises," said +Meredith. But he lay still.</p> + +<p>The two elder girls got out their work again. Maggie sat +by and silently stroked the hair on Meredith's temples.</p> + +<p>"This is good enough, without reading," he presently +went on. "The moss is spicy, the sky is blue, I see it +through a lace-work of pine needles; the air is like satin. +I cannot imagine anything much better than to lie here and +look up."</p> + +<p>"But you can feel the air, and see the sky, and smell the +moss, too, while you are reading, Ditto."</p> + +<p>"Can I? Well! your ten fingers are so many persuaders +that I cannot withstand. Let's go in for Pastor +Harms!"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[12]</a></span>So he raised himself on one elbow, no further, and laid +his book open on the moss before him.</p> + +<p>"But it is in German!" cried Maggie, looking over to see.</p> + +<p>"Never mind, I will give it to you in English—I told you +it was German."</p> + +<p>"What is the first story about?"</p> + +<p>"You will find that out as I go on. Now, you understand +it is Pastor Harms who is speaking, only he was a famous +hand at story-telling, and to hear him would have been +quite a different thing from hearing me." And Meredith +began to read.</p> + +<p>"'I will go back now a thousand years, and tell you a +mission story that I am very fond of. I found it partly in +the parish archives of Hermannsburg, and partly in some +old Lüneburg chronicles. I say I am very fond of it; for +after the fact that I am a Christian, comes the fact that I +am a Lüneburger, body and soul; and there is not a country +in the whole world, for me, that is better than the Lüneburg +heath'"——</p> + +<p>"Oh, stop, Ditto, please," cried Maggie, "what is a +'heath'? and where is Lüneburg?"</p> + +<p>"Ah! there we come with our questions. Lüneburg heath +isn't like anything in America, that I know, Maggie. It is +a strange place. There you'll see acres and miles of level +land covered with heather, which turns purple and beautiful +in the latter part of the season; but in the midst of this +level country you come suddenly here and there to a lovely +little valley with houses and grain-fields and fruit and running +water; or to a piece of woods; or to a hill with a farmhouse +perched up on its side, and as much land cultivated +as the peasant can manage. So the people of the parishes +are scattered about over a wide track, except where the +villages happen to be. And for <i>where</i> it is—Lüneburg is in +Hanover, and Hanover is in Germany. You must look on +the map when you go home. Now I will go on—</p> + +<p>"'And next to the fact that I am a Lüneburger, comes +the fact that I am a Hermannsburger; and for me Hermannsburg +is the dearest and prettiest village on the heath.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[13]</a></span> +My mission story touches this very beloved Hermannsburg. +From my youth up I have been a sort of a bookworm; and +whenever I could find something about Germany, still more +something about the Lüneburg heath, and yet more anything +about Hermannsburg, then I was delighted. Even as a boy, +when I could just understand the book of the Roman writer +Tacitus about old Germany, I knew no greater pleasure +than with my Tacitus in my pocket to wander through the +heaths and moors and woodlands, and then in the still solitude +to sit down under a pine tree or an oak and read the +account of the manners and customs of our old heathen +forefathers. And then I read how our old forefathers were +so brave and strong that merely their tall forms and their +fiery blue eyes struck terror into the Romans; and that they +were so unshakably true to their word, once it was given, +that a simple promise from one of them was worth more +than the strongest oath from a Roman. I read how they +were so chaste and modest that breaking of the marriage +vow was almost an unknown crime; so noble and hospitable, +that even a deadly enemy, if he came to one of their houses, +found himself in perfect security, and might stay until the +last morsel had been shared with him; and then his host +would go with him to the next house to prepare him a +reception there.</p> + +<p>"'But my heart bled too, when I read of their crimes and +misdeeds, their inhuman worship of idols, when even human +beings were slaughtered on bloody altars of stone, or +drowned in deep, hidden, inland lakes; when I read how +insatiable the thirst for war and plunder among our forefathers +was, how fearful their anger, how brutish their rage +for drink and play; and when I read further, how the whole +of heathen Germany was an almost unbroken wood and +moorland, without cities or villages, where men ran about +in the forests almost naked, at the most, clothed with the +skin of a beast, like wild animals themselves; and got their +living only by the chase, or from wild roots, with acorns and +beechmast; then, even as a boy, I marvelled at the wonderful +workings of Christianity. Only one thing I could not<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[14]</a></span> +understand; how there should be nowadays in Christian +Germany so much lying, unfaithfulness, and marriage-breaking, +while our heathenish ancestors were such true, honest, +chaste, and loyal men; it always seemed to me as if a German +Christian must stand abashed before his heathen forefathers. +And when I observed further, how many Germans +nowadays are cowardly-hearted, while among our heathen +ancestors such a reproach was reckoned the fearfullest of +insults, it was past my comprehension how a Christian German, +who believes in everlasting life, can be a coward, and +his heathenish ancestors, who yet knew nothing about the +blessed heaven, have been so valiant and brave.'"</p> + +<p>"Ditto," said Maggie, interrupting him, "do you think +that is all true?"</p> + +<p>"Pastor Harms would not have lied to save his right +hand."</p> + +<p>"And—but—Ditto, do you think people in America are +so bad as that?"</p> + +<p>Meredith smiled and hesitated.</p> + +<p>"Yes, Ditto," said Flora; "you know they are not."</p> + +<p>"I don't know anything about it," said Meredith. "There +are not any better soldiers, I suppose, in the world than the +Germans, nor anywhere such a band of army officers, for +knowledge of their business and ability to do it. But there +are some cowards in every nation, I reckon; and as there, +so here. But among those old Saxons, it appears, there +were none. As to truth"—Meredith hesitated—"There +are not a great many people I know whose word I would +take through and through, if they were pinched."</p> + +<p>There was a chorus of exclamations and reproaches.</p> + +<p>"And as to marriage-breaking," he went on, "it is not at +all an uncommon thing here for people to separate from +their wives or their husbands, or get themselves divorced."</p> + +<p>"Why do they do that, Ditto?" Maggie asked.</p> + +<p>"Because they are not true, and do not love each other."</p> + +<p>"So you make it out that the heathen are better than the +Christians!" said Esther.</p> + +<p>"I do not make out anything. I am only stating facts.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[15]</a></span> +What is called a 'Christian nation' has but comparatively +a few Christians in it, you must please to remember. But +I do think those old Saxons were extraordinary people. I +like to think that I am descended from them."</p> + +<p>"You, Ditto!" exclaimed Maggie in the utmost astonishment.</p> + +<p>"Why, yes, certainly. Don't you know so much history +as that? Don't you remember that the Saxons went over +and conquered England, and England was peopled by them, +and ruled by them, until the Norman Invasion?"</p> + +<p>"Oh!" said Maggie with a long-drawn note of surprise +and intelligence. "But I didn't know those Saxons were +like these."</p> + +<p>"No, nor did I. It interests me very much. Shall I go +on with Pastor Harms?</p> + +<p>"'The older I grew, the more eager I was to learn about +Germany, and especially about my dear Lüneburg country, +with its most beautiful heaths, moors, and woodlands. I +cannot express the joy I took in the great fights and battles +which the German Prince Herman fought with the mighty +Romans. Herman was prince of the Cheruski; so the +dwellers between the Elbe and the Weser at that time were +called. In his time the never-satisfied Romans were bent +upon subjugating all Germany, and sent their most powerful +armies into the country, clad in iron mail, armed with +helmets, bucklers, lances, and swords, and led by their +bravest generals. But Herman, with his almost naked +Germans, fell upon them, fighting whole days at a stretch, +and beat them out of the land. See now, thought I to myself, +there were Lüneburg people along with him, for <i>they</i> +live between the Elbe and the Weser. Or, when others of +our forefathers, who were in general called Saxons, boldly +sailed over the sea in their ships, and chased the proud +Romans, together with the Picts and Scots, out of England, +and took the beautiful land in possession and ruled it; then +I was glad again and thought with secret delight—"our +Lüneburg people were there too, for those ships sailed from +the mouths of the Elbe and the Weser."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[16]</a></span>"'But what adoration moved my heart, when I read that +these very Saxons, who conquered England, there came to +the knowledge of Christianity and received it into their +hearts; and now from England, from the converted Saxons, +came numbers of Gospel messengers back to the German +country, to turn it also to the Lord Jesus. Among them +was Winfried, the strong in faith, who baptized more than +300,000 Germans, and was called the apostle of Germany; +there were the two brothers Ewald, who both heroically +died a martyr's death, being sacrificed by our forefathers to +their idols. After them others carried on the work, especially +Willehad and Liudgar, and the good emperor Charles +the Great helped them, until at last all Germany was +Christianised, and became through the Gospel what it is +now. And I have often thought, how stupid are the unbelievers +who follow the new fashion of despising Christianity. +We have to thank Christianity for everything we are or +have. Science, art, agriculture, handicrafts, cities, villages, +houses, all have come to us in the first place through Christianity; +for before that, as I said, our forefathers ran about +naked in the woods like wild beasts, and fed on roots and +acorns; and I used to think the best thing would be, to +drive the infidels and the scornful contemners of Christianity +into the woods and forests, draw a hedge about them, +and let them eat acorns and roots in the woods till they +come to their senses. In young people's heads a great many +queer fancies spring up, which yet are not entirely unworthy +of regard; and I still believe that would be the best medicine +for infidels.'"</p> + +<p>"But, Meredith," said Flora, "the Greeks and Romans +had cities and villages, and sciences, too, and arts, without +Christianity."</p> + +<p>"Quite true, but the Saxons didn't."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps, they would."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps, they wouldn't. The Greeks and Romans were +wonderful people, and so were the ancient Egyptians; but +though they had arts, and built cities, they had very little +science. And science and Christianity have changed the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[17]</a></span> +face of the Christian world. Well, let us have Pastor +Harms.</p> + +<p>"'But I must go back to my story. Whenever I happened +upon an old library, I searched it through to see if I +could find something about Germany, and especially about +Lüneburg. And I do not regret the quantities of dust I +have swallowed in my way; although I did often lament +aloud to see so many fine old manuscripts almost eaten up +with dust and mice, about which nobody had troubled himself +for who knows how many years? But also I found +many a one that repaid the trouble of the search. From the +sound MSS. I made extracts diligently. But I had a good +many vexations, too. For example, I have come to cities +and villages, in which last there were baronial manors. +There I sought to come at the books and MSS. of the olden +time. And would one believe it? Old collections of books +had been sold entire, by the hamperful, to trades-people for +wrapping their cheese in. I was baffled. So much the +more precious became my extracts. From them I will tell +you something now, which I found about my beloved +Hermannsburg.</p> + +<p>"'I may say in the first place to our dear country people, +that the whole of Northern Germany in early times was +called the country of the Saxons. How wide that was, may +best be seen by the language. So far as low German is +spoken, so far extends the land of the Saxons; for low +German is their proper mother-tongue. So I am never +ashamed of the low German in our country; it is the true +mother-tongue of our land and people; my heart always +swells when I hear low German spoken. This entire Saxon +nation was divided into three tribes. One tribe, which +dwelt for the most part towards the west, that is, in the +Osnabrück region and further west as far as the Rhine, was +called the Westphalians. The second tribe, which dwelt +mostly at the east, as far as the Elbe and further, was called +the Eastphalians. Between the two lived the third tribe, +called the Enger or the Angles; for Enger and Angle are +all one. We here in Lüneburg belong to the Eastphalians.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[18]</a></span> +The name is said to have come from the bright or pale +yellow hair of our forefathers. For clear yellow or pale +yellow was called "fal." Our ancestors wore this bright +yellow hair long and hanging down, something like a lion's +mane; what so many young people nowadays would esteem +a splendid adornment. These forefathers of ours in the +time of Charlemagne were yet mere heathen and held to +their heathen idol worship with extraordinary tenacity and +devotion. They were further a wild, bold, stiffnecked +people, with an unbending spirit, holding fast to everything +old, and with that, loving freedom above all else. They +had no rulers, properly speaking; each house-father was a +despotic prince in his own house, and lived alone upon his +territory, just that he might be free and rule his realm +independently. Their common name, Saxon, came from a +peculiar weapon, the sachs; a stone war-mallet or battle-axe, +which was made fast to a longer or shorter wooden +handle. In the strong hands of the Saxons this was a fearful +weapon, with which they rushed fearlessly upon the foe, +hastening to come to a hand-to-hand fight; for they liked +to be at close quarters with their enemies.</p> + +<p>"'Wild and terrible as their other customs were, was +also their idol worship. Their principal deity was called +Woden, in whose honour men were slaughtered upon great +blocks of stone; their throats being cut with stone knives. +Not far off, some two or three hours from Hermannsburg, +are still what are called the seven <i>stone-houses</i>; in other +words, blocks of granite set up in a square, upon which +a great granite block lies like a cover. The men to be +sacrificed were slain upon these blocks of granite. Quite +near our village too, there stood formerly some such sacrificial +altars. How fearful and bloody these sacrifices were, +appears from what an old writer relates; that it was the +custom of the Saxons, when they returned home from +their warlike expeditions, to sacrifice to their idols every +tenth man among the captives; the rest they shared +among themselves for slaves. And upon special occasions, +for instance, if they had suffered severe losses in the war,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[19]</a></span> +the whole of the captives would be consecrated to Woden +and sacrificed. That's the Woden we call one day of the +week after.'"</p> + +<p>"We? One day of the week!" exclaimed Maggie; +while Flora looked up and said, "Oh yes! Wednesday."</p> + +<p>"Wednesday?" repeated Maggie.</p> + +<p>"Woden's-day," said Meredith.</p> + +<p>"Is it Woden's-day? Wednesday? But how come we +to call it so, Ditto?"</p> + +<p>"Because our fathers did."</p> + +<p>"But that is very strange. I don't think we ought +to call it Woden's-day."</p> + +<p>"The Germans do not call it so, who live at this time +round those old stone altars; they say Mittwoche, or +Mid-week. But the English Saxons seem to have kept up +the title."</p> + +<p>"Are those stone altars standing now, Ditto?"</p> + +<p>"Some of them, Pastor Harms says; and what is very +odd, it seems they call them stone <i>houses</i>; and don't you +recollect Jacob called his stone that he set up at Bethel, +'God's house'?"</p> + +<p>"Well, Ditto, go on please," said Maggie.</p> + +<p>"You don't care for archæology. Well—'The German +emperor Charlemagne, who reigned from 768 to 814, was +a good Christian. He governed the kingdom of the +Franks; and that means the whole of central and southern +Germany, together with France and Italy; and all +these, his subjects, had been already Christian a long time. +On the north his empire was bordered by our heathen +ancestors, the Saxons, and they were the sworn foes of +Christianity. Whenever they could, they made a rush +upon Charlemagne's dominions, plundered and killed, destroyed +the churches and put to death the Christian +priests; and were never quiet. So Charlemagne determined +to make war upon the Saxons, partly to protect his +kingdom against their inroads, and partly with the intent +to convert them with a strong hand to the Christian religion. +Then arose a fearful war of thirty-three years' length,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[20]</a></span> +which by both sides was carried on with great bitterness. +The Saxons had, in especial, two valiant, heroic-hearted +leaders, called "dukes" because they led the armies. The +word "duke," therefore, means the same as army-leader. +The one of them in Westphalia was named Wittekind; +the other in Eastphalia was named Albion, also called +Alboin. Charlemagne was in a difficult position. If he +beat the Saxons, and thought, now they would surely keep +the peace, and he went off then to some more distant part +of his great empire, immediately the Saxons broke loose +again, and the war began anew. Charlemagne was made +so bitter by this, that once when he had beaten the Saxons +at Verden on the Aller, and surrounded their army, he +ordered 4500 captive Saxons to be cut to pieces, hoping so +to give a disheartening example. But just the contrary +befell. Wittekind and Albion now gathered together an +imposing army to avenge the cruel deed; and fought two +bloody battles, at Osnabrück and Detmold, with such +furious valour that they thrust Charlemagne back, and +took 4000 prisoners; and these prisoners, as a Lüneburg +chronicle says, they slaughtered—part on the Blocksberg, +part in the Osnabrück country, and part on the "stone-houses;" +where the same chronicle relates that Wittekind, +on his black war-horse, in furious joy, would have galloped +over the bleeding corpses which lay around the stone-houses: +but his horse shied from treading on the human +bodies, and making a tremendous leap, struck his hoof so +violently against one of the stone-houses that the mark of +the hoof remained. Wittekind elsewhere in the chronicle +is described as a noble, magnanimous hero; and this madness +of war in him is explained on the ground of his hatred +of Christians, and revenge for the death of the Saxons at +Verden.</p> + +<p>"'At last, in the year 785, Wittekind and Albion were +baptized, and embraced the Christian religion. Thereupon +came peace among that part of the Saxons which held +them in consideration, for the most distinguished men by +degrees followed their example; and it was only in the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[21]</a></span> +other portions of the country that the war lasted until the +year 805; when at last the whole country of the Saxons +submitted to Charlemagne, renounced heathenism, and +accepted Christianity. So hard did it go with our forefathers +before they could become Christians; but once +Christians, they became so zealous for the Christian faith +that their land afterwards was called "Good Saxony" as +before it had been known as "Wild Saxony." Charlemagne, +however, was not merely at the pains to subdue the Saxons, +and to compel them into the Christian faith, but as a truly +pious emperor, he also took care that they should be instructed; +and wherever he could he established bishoprics +and churches. For example, the sees of Minden, Osnabrück, +Verden, Bremen, Münster, Paderhorn, Halberstadt, +and Hildesheim, all situated in the Saxon country, owe +their origin to him. At all these places there were mission +establishments, from which preachers went out into +the whole land, to preach the Gospel to the heathen +Saxons.</p> + +<p>"'Among those Willehad and Liudgar were distinguished +for their zeal. With untiring faithfulness, with steadfast +faith, and great self-sacrifice, they laboured, and their works +were greatly blessed of the Lord. Willehad finally became +bishop in Bremen and Liudgar bishop of Münster. They +may with justice be called the apostles of the Saxons. In +a remarkable manner the conversion of our own parts hereabouts +proceeded from the mission establishment in Minden. +Liudgar had lived there a long while, and his piety and his +ardour had infected the young monks assembled there with +a live zeal for missions. One of these monks, who the +chronicle tells came from Eastphalia, and had been converted +to Christianity through Liudgar's means, was called +Landolf. Now when Wittekind and Albion had received +holy baptism, and so a door was opened in the Saxon land +to the messengers of salvation, Landolf could stand it no +longer in Münden, but determined to go back to his native +Eastphalia and carry the sweet Gospel to his beloved +countrymen. He had no rest day nor night; the heathen<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[22]</a></span> +Eastphalians were always standing before him and calling +to him, "Come here and help us!"'"</p> + +<p>"There!" said Meredith pausing, "that's how I feel."</p> + +<p>Every one of the three heads around him was lifted up.</p> + +<p>"You, Ditto?" exclaimed Maggie, but the others only +looked.</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Meredith, "I feel just so."</p> + +<p>"About whom?" said his sister abruptly.</p> + +<p>"All the heathen. Nobody in particular, Everybody +who doesn't know the Lord Jesus."</p> + +<p>"You had better begin at home!" said Flora with an +accent of scorn.</p> + +<p>"I do," said her brother gravely; and Flora was silent, +for she knew he did.</p> + +<p>"But why, dear Ditto?" said Maggie, with a mixture of +anxiety and curiosity.</p> + +<p>"I am so sorry for them, Maggie." And watching, she +could see that Meredith's downcast eyes were swimming. +"Think—<i>they do not know Jesus</i>; and what is life worth +without that?"</p> + +<p>"But it isn't everybody's place to go preaching," said +Flora after a minute.</p> + +<p>"Can you prove it? I think it is."</p> + +<p>"Mine, for instance, and Maggie's?"</p> + +<p>"What is preaching, in the first place? It is just telling +other people the truth you know yourself. But you must +know it first. I don't think it is your place to tell what +you do not know. But the Bible says, 'Let him that heareth +say, Come!' and I think we, who have heard, ought to say +it. And I think," added Meredith slowly, "if anybody is +as glad of it himself as he ought to be, he cannot help saying +it. It will burn in his heart if he don't say it."</p> + +<p>"But what do you want to do, Ditto?" Maggie asked +again.</p> + +<p>"I don't know, Maggie. Not preach in churches; I +am not fit for that. But I want to tell all I can. People +seem to me so miserable that do not know Christ. So +miserable!"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[23]</a></span>"But, Ditto," said Maggie again, "you can give money to +send missionaries."</p> + +<p>"Pay somebody else to do my work?"</p> + +<p>"You can tell people here at home."</p> + +<p>"Well—" said Meredith with a long breath, "let us see +what Landolf the Saxon did."</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[24]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER III.</h2> + + +<p>"'What did this man do in the daring of faith? He +first got permission of his superiors; then he went aboard +of a little boat, took nothing else with him but his Bible +and his Prayer-book, his few tools, a fishing net, and food +for several days, and then dropped down the Weser, all +alone, intending by that way to get to the Eastphalians. +But his chief strength was prayer, in which he lived day +and night. When he came to the place where the Aller +flows into the Weser, he quitted the Weser and went up +the Aller, that he might look at the spot where those 4500 +Saxons were cut to pieces by Charlemagne, and on the +ground pray for the murdered men. For at that time it +was believed that even the dead could be helped by prayer, +as is still the erroneous teaching of the Catholics. Leaving +that place, he wished to visit the "stone-houses," that he +might pray there too, where the captive Franks had been +slaughtered by the Saxons; and so he went on up the Aller +and from the Aller into the Oerze, all the while living upon +the fish which he caught.'"</p> + +<p>"Had he no bread?" said Maggie.</p> + +<p>"How should he?—going through wild woods and +countries lone in his boat? He would come to no bakers' +shops, Maggie."</p> + +<p>"Just living on fish! Well, go on, Ditto."</p> + +<p>"'But all along on this journey he had not only caught +fish, but also everywhere preached the Gospel. And then +must have been the first time that the sweet name of Jesus +was ever heard in our region. Perhaps when you look at +the map you will ask, why Landolf went this difficult way +by water, which was a very roundabout way besides, to get +to the "stone-houses," when he could have come across from<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[25]</a></span> +Verden by a much nearer and straighter route? Our +chronicle gives two reasons: first, the whole interior of the +country at that time was almost nothing but thick forest +and deep morasses, through which there was no going on +foot; and secondly, he had been told in Verden, that if he +wanted to visit the "stone-houses," he must first go to the +Billing of the long-legged Horz-Saxons, who lived on the +river Horz in Harm's "<i>ouden dorp</i>." Now this river Horz +is the Oerze; and the name, the chronicle announces, comes +from the fact that this river runs and leaps like a <i>Horz</i>—that +is, a horse; and because a great many horses were +pastured on its banks. For the chief wealth of our Saxon +ancestors consisted in cattle, especially in horses, which +they used not only for riding and in war expeditions, but +reckoned their flesh a favourite food. And were a horse +but entirely spotless and white, it was even held to be +sacred. Such white horses were kept in the sacred forests +of oak, where they were used for nothing but soothsaying; +for by the neighing of these white horses the heathen priests +prophesied whether a business, or a campaign, that was in +hand, would turn out happily or unhappily. For this reason +also our Lüneburg country since the earliest times has borne +the free, bounding horse in its escutcheon; and for the same +reason most of the houses in the country of Lüneburg down +to the present times have their gables adorned with two +wooden horses' heads; and it is only lately that this custom +has somewhat fallen off.</p> + +<p>"'The Saxons, or as the chronicle writes, <i>Sahzen</i>, were +called "Horzsahzen," either because they lived on the Horz, +or Oerze; or because they were almost all of them horsemen +and owned a great many horses. They bore besides the +honorary title of the "long-legged," for our forefathers were +distinguished by their unusual stature. It is remarkable +that the name "Lange" is still the widest spread family +name of any in our region, so that there are villages that +are almost exclusively inhabited by "Langen," among whom +a goodly number might yet be called "long-legged;" though +many also have grown something shorter, while they nevertheless<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[26]</a></span> +bear the name of <i>Lange</i>. Well, that is all one, so +they only keep the old, tried faithfulness and honesty, and +the manly holding to their word, and the beautiful pureness +of morals, for which our forefathers were renowned.</p> + +<p>"'But now, what sort of a man is the <i>Billing</i>? Our +chronicle translates the word into Latin; <i>curatos legum</i>, +that is, the "guardian of the laws." <i>Bill</i>, you see, in old +low German or Saxon, was a "law" which had been confirmed +by the whole assembly of the people; and the man +who proposed these laws, and when they were confirmed +had the charge of seeing that they were not transgressed, +was called the <i>Billing</i>. The Billing of the Horzsahzen was +at this time a man named Harm, that is Hermann; and +he lived in Harm's <i>ouden dorp</i>—or Hermann's old village. +The spot where this old village of Hermann stood is now a +cultivated field, about ten minutes away from the present +Hermannsburg; and this field is still called at the present +day <i>up'n Ollendorp</i>, and lies right on the Oerze. To this +place accordingly the brave Landolf repaired, and was +received kindly and with the customary Saxon hospitality +by Hermann the Billing.</p> + +<p>"'Hermann's dwelling was a large cottage, surrounded +with pens for cattle, especially for horses, which were +pastured on the river meadows. There were no stables; +the animals remained day and night under the open sky, +and even in winter time had no shelter beyond that of the +thick forest with which the land was covered. The pens +themselves were merely enclosures without a roof. Landolf +was entertained with roasted horses' flesh, which to the +astonishment of his hosts he left untouched. For by the +rules of the Christian Church at that time it was not permitted +to eat horse-flesh; they reckoned it a heathen practice.</p> + +<p>"'When Landolf had made his abode with the Billing +for a while, he found out that his host was in fact the +principal person in all that district of country, and as +guardian of the laws enjoyed a patriarchal and wide-reaching +consideration. He was indeed no <i>edeling</i> (or nobleman), +only a <i>freiling</i>—a free man; but he possessed seven large<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[27]</a></span> +manors; on which account later writers, as for instance +Adam of Bremen, give the Billing family the name of +<i>Siebenmeyer</i>.' (<i>Sieben</i> means seven, Maggie.) 'The oldest +son, who regularly bore the name of Hermann, was the +family head; and after the death of his father the dignity +of Billing descended to him. The younger brothers were +settled in some of the other manors, remaining nevertheless +always dependent upon the oldest.</p> + +<p>"'Now Landolf preached the Gospel zealously to the +family whose guest he was, and they listened to him with +willing ears. But when he would have declared his message +also to the Saxons who lived in their neighbourhood, Hermann +explained to him that by law and usage he must not +do that, until permission had first been given him by the +regular assembly of the people. As the house-father he +himself could indeed in his own family allow the proclamation +of the Christian faith; but a public proclamation +must have the decision of the people upon it, that is, of +the assembly of all the free men. Landolf had arrived in +the autumn—the stated gathering of the commons would +not be till spring, and indeed not till May; in the meanwhile +he must be contented. Hard as it was for Landolf +to wait so long, for his heart was burning to convert the +poor heathen to Christ, he yet knew the people and their +customs too well to contend against them. So all winter +he abode with Hermann. And a blessed winter that was. +It was the habit of the family, when at evening a fire was +kindled in the middle of the hut, that the whole household, +men, women, and children, even the servants and maids, +should assemble around it—the master of the house having +the place of honour in the midst of them. The house-father +then generally told stories about the heroic deeds of their +forefathers; about the ancient laws and usages, the knowledge +of which was handed down from father to son; and +Landolf sat among them and listened with the rest, but +soon got permission to tell on his part of the wonderful +things of the Christian faith. So then he profited by the +long winter evenings to tell over the whole Bible story of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[28]</a></span> +the Old and New Testaments. And with such simplicity, +and with such joy of faith and confidence he told it, that +the hearts of his hearers were stirred. In addition to that, +he often sang the songs of the Christian Church, in a clear, +fine-toned voice; and presently some among them, the +younger especially, began to join in the singing. His Bible +stories were in all their mouths; and the people had such +capital memories that, he says himself, he needed usually +to tell a thing but once or twice, and all of them, even the +children, could repeat it almost word for word. This is a +common experience among people who have no written +literature; they are apt to be uncommonly strong in power +of memory. And when he prayed too, and he did it daily +upon his knees, he was never disturbed, although he prayed +in the cottage, which had only one room for all; instead, +he soon had the joy of seeing that many kneeled down with +him and with him called upon Christ, "the God of the +Christians," as they phrased it. So the winter passed, May +came, ice and snow melted away, and everybody got ready +to attend the great assembly of the people. It was to be +held at the stone-houses. Landolf travelled thither as +Hermann's guest, under his protection—Hermann even +letting him ride his best horse, by way of doing him honour +before all the people. With a noble train of <i>freilings</i>—that +is, of free men—they set forth.</p> + +<p>"'The first day, however, they went no further than about +a quarter of an hour from Harm's <i>ouden dorp</i>, to a sacrificial +altar which was placed close by what was called the +Deep Moor (Deepenbroock, the chronicle says). There +Landolf was to be spectator of a terrible scene, which +shows as well the frightful savageness and cruelty of the +Saxons as their noble purity of manners. By about noon +of the abovenamed day, all the free men of that whole +region had gathered together at the altar of sacrifice. This +altar consisted, as may still be seen by the so-called <i>stone-houses</i> +now standing, of eight slabs of granite, set up in a +quadrangle; with four openings, or doors, towards the +four quarters of the heaven, broad enough to let a man go<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[29]</a></span> +through; and covered over on the top with another great +granite block. The young warriors brought up two prisoners, +who had been taken in a late campaign and fetched +along. One of them was made to go under the sacrifice +altar through the north and south doors, the other through +the east and west doors. Then stepped forth two priests, +having their long flowing hair bound with a mistletoe +branch, and a sharp knife of flint in the hand. You must +know that the mistletoe, which is still to be found in plenty +in our woods, growing especially on birch trees, was held +among our forefathers to be sacred. For since it does not +grow upon the ground like other plants, but upon trees, +birches particularly, it was believed that the seed of this +plant fell down from heaven; and this belief was strengthened +by the remarkable manner of its growth, so unlike other +plants, with its forking opposite branches and shining white +berries. After solemn prayers, which were half sung half +said, to the two gods Woden and Thor, and the two goddesses +Hela and Hertha, the captive men were one after the +other laid each upon his back on the altar, so that his head +hung down over the edge of the altar.'"</p> + +<p>"Oh, stop, Ditto!" cried Maggie.</p> + +<p>"Why?"</p> + +<p>"It is too horrible."</p> + +<p>"It is pretty horrible. But men did it, and men suffered +it. Can't you hear it?"</p> + +<p>"Men were dreadful!"</p> + +<p>"Men <i>are</i> dreadful where the light of the Gospel has not +come. 'The dark places of the earth are full of the habitations +of cruelty.'"</p> + +<p>"Tell me about those gods and goddesses."</p> + +<p>"Were those Saxon Druids?" Flora asked.</p> + +<p>"It sounds so. But I don't know the gods of the Teutons +as well as I do those of the Greeks; I can't tell you much +about Woden and Thor, Maggie. We'll look when we go +home. Now, am I to go on?"</p> + +<p>"I suppose so. Oh yes, I want you to go on. But it is +dreadful."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[30]</a></span>"Well, the captives were laid on the altar, as I read, 'and +the priests cut their throats with their knives of flint. +When the quivering victim had ceased to bleed, the body +was taken up by the young warriors and cast into the Deep +Moor, where it immediately sunk in the bog. Landolf +had not recovered from the shock—for he had never seen a +human sacrifice before, having gone while yet a boy into +the country of the Christians—when his attention was fettered +by another dreadful drama.</p> + +<p>"'Some of the young men fetched a long and broad hurdle, +woven of fir branches, laid it down before the altar, and +went away; but came back again presently with a man and a +woman, who had been accused and convicted of breaking +the marriage vow. An accuser stepped forth, and repeated +the charge before the Billing. The Billing then asked the +accused whether the charge was true? and admonished +them to confess the truth, since never yet had a free Saxon +told a lie. And when the guilty people had owned their guilt, +first their relations came forward and spat in their faces; then +the man's weapons were taken from him, his hands and feet +and the woman's were tied together: and so tied they were +thrown into the Deep Moor, the hurdle covered over them, +and this and the underlying bodies, by their nearest relations +first of all, were trodden down into the deep morass. +So came the marriage-breakers to a shameful end and received +the reward of their sin.</p> + +<p>"'Hermann told Landolf afterwards that there were three +crimes which they punished on this disgraceful wise—marriage-breaking, +lying, and cowardice; because such people +were not held worthy to die the honourable death of a +warrior, and be slain with weapons. Landolf answered +"O Billing! you are terrible people! yet even as heathen +you hate the sins that you know. What would you be, if +you were once Christians, and the Lord Jesus gave you +His light!"</p> + +<p>"'And as I write down these words from the old chronicle, +I could cast my eyes to the ground for shame and weep tears +of blood over the deep, shameful apostasy of the German<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[31]</a></span> +Christianity of the present day. Christ gives us His light +now; we are Christians now; but where have purity, truth, +and courage hid themselves? Are there ten in a hundred +German Christians that keep a pure life, true lips, and a +brave heart? I do not think it. Open and secret impurity, +coarse and polished falsehood, disgraceful cowardliness, fear +of men and men-pleasing, have infested the whole German +Christian nation, and will soon bring down the judgment of +God; for "the bruise is incurable, and the wound is grievous." +Great and small, men and women, old and young, all +are tainted with the plague. Our heathen forefathers were +better and cleaner in these things than we Christians—they +will condemn us at the last judgment, and we shall have to +stand abashed before them. And you that read this, if you +prize the name of a German—if, as you should, you prize a +thousand times more the name of a Christian—ask your +conscience whether it has not been uneasy under the foregoing +narration; and if it has, then repent, you degenerate +German, you hypocritical Christian; repent in sackcloth +and ashes, and on your knees implore your God, the living +Saviour: "Jesus, my Lord, thou holy God, give me a pure +nature, a lip of faithfulness, and a bold heart, through the +faith that is in Thee."</p> + +<p>"'And now I must go on to tell what more befell that +same day, in which the devilish nature of heathenism among +our forefathers was shown as frightfully as in their murderous +sacrifices. Far behindhand as our ancestors at that +time were in all civilisation, they nevertheless already understood +the art of preparing intoxicating drinks. For this +purpose they used especially the wild oats which grew all +over, and the darnel grass, of which a strong, intoxicating +beer was brewed; and to make it yet more stupefying, they +added a certain marsh plant. And scarce ever was there a +sacrifice that was not concluded with a drinking-bout. So +it fell out at this time. Many writers tell, how among the +old Germans it was even made a boast to spend eight or +even fourteen days, one after another, in such carousals. +On the occasion of which we are speaking, indeed, they<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[32]</a></span> +lasted only over the rest of that day and through the night; +for the next day the intent was to go on to the stone-houses. +But what horror must Landolf have felt even in that short +time! When all of them had got drunk, a quarrel sprang +up; and as each man had his weapons with him, his war-axe +especially, the quarrel came to duels between man and +man; and soon blood was flowing from most of the people, +and several corpses lay here and there. The bodies were +burned, their ashes buried, and a round hillock of earth +thrown up over them; for, as it was thought, they had fallen +in honourable fight, as it became men to do. And when +Landolf, full of astonishment, asked the Billing, who of all +the crowd was the only one that had remained sober, +whether they did not then punish people for murder? the +Billing in wonder retorted by the question, where the murderers +were? There had been nothing but an open, honest +fight, which was to the honour of those concerned in it.</p> + +<p>"'Yet another abomination Landolf saw on this occasion, +which, however, was in a remarkable manner mixed up with +truth and noblemindedness. I mean that while this drinking-bout +was going on, a number of men, young and old, +amused themselves with gaming, of which they were passionately +fond. To be sure they had no cards, neither dice. +But they had little longish, square cornered, wooden sticks, +shaved white, and with certain marks painted on the upper +side. Each man took a certain number of these in both +hands, shook them, and threw them up in the air. When +they fell on the ground, they were carefully looked at to see +how many of them lay with the painted side up, and how +many with the unpainted; and whoever then had the most +sticks with the painted side up, he had won. Upon each +throw they set some of their cattle, a hog, a cow, or an ox, or +a horse; perhaps at last a specially prized drinking vessel, +made out of a ure-ox horn; even finally, what they held to +be most valuable of all, their weapons; and at last Landolf +saw a young man, who had lost all he had, cast his freedom +upon the last throw; and when this too was lost, he saw how +frankly and without grumbling he gave himself up to be the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[33]</a></span> +slave of his fellow-player; so fast the German, even amid +the bewilderments of sin, held to truth and the inviolable +keeping of his word once given. Liberty was truly his most +valuable and precious possession, for which at any other +time he was ready to die, arms in hand. And yet he yielded +this treasure quietly up, when he had lost it at play, rather +than break his word and his faith; if he were the stronger, +he did not defend himself; he did not take to flight, though +he might have a hundred opportunities—the free man who +gloried in his freedom, became a slave, that he might keep +faith. This was how Landolf found things among the +heathen; he wept bitter tears over it; but he never desponded: +so much the firmer grew his resolution to preach +the Gospel to this people, and make the true God known to +them. For the thought always rose in him, what might +come of a people whom God had so nobly endowed, among +whom even in the abominations of idolatry there shone forth +such traits of pureness of manners and nobleness of thought, +were they but once renewed and born again by the glorious +Christian faith.</p> + +<p>"'But if Landolf were to come to light again in these +days, when we <i>are</i> Christians, what would he say of us? +Outward culture truly he would find—the face of the earth +would indeed have changed. But if he came into the inns, +where drinking and gaming are going on, into the so-called +<i>Maybeers</i>, into the assemblies for eating and drinking, and +playing at weddings, and housewarmings, and christenings; +or into the private drinking and gaming parties in people's +houses, the gaming hells at the watering-places, the drinking +carousals of students, the companies of the noble, the +so-called entertainments with which everything must be +celebrated in Germany—how confounded would he be, to +find that the drinking and gaming devil is still the ruling +devil in Germany! but, on the other hand, faith and truth +are extinguished. It is true what the old song says—"Most +are Christians only in name. God's true seed are +thinly scattered, those who love and honour Christ and do +His pleasure!" Well, God mend it!'"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[34]</a></span></p> + +<p>Meredith shut up his book.</p> + +<p>"Ditto," said Maggie thoughtfully, "is it so bad here?"</p> + +<p>"How do I know, Maggie?"</p> + +<p>"But what do you <i>think</i>?"</p> + +<p>Flora lifted up her head. "Now, Meredith, don't go and +say something absurd."</p> + +<p>"What do you want me to say?"</p> + +<p>"Why, the truth! that there are a great many nice people +in America."</p> + +<p>"I have no doubt, so there are in Germany."</p> + +<p>"Then that talk is all stuff."</p> + +<p>"Pastor Harms never talked stuff."</p> + +<p>"How do you know?"</p> + +<p>"I have read enough of him to know. He was one of +those he calls God's true seed."</p> + +<p>"Then what did he mean? Or what do you mean?"</p> + +<p>"Well, Flora, I will ask you a question: How many +people do you know who live to do Christ's will?"</p> + +<p>Flora did not answer immediately. Maggie on her part +went to calculating.</p> + +<p>"I know—I know—three!" she said slowly.</p> + +<p>"<i>Three!</i>" said Flora. "Who are they?"</p> + +<p>"That's not the question, Flo," said her brother. "How +many do <i>you</i> know?"</p> + +<p>"Well," said Flora, "Mr. Murray is one, and you are another, +I believe; but there are other nice people in the world."</p> + +<p>"I know people drink," said Maggie, so gravely and sagely +that the others laughed. "I do know. I have seen them +at our house. You needn't say anything, Esther; I have +once or twice when I have been at dinner, when you were +not at home. Not papa, of course, and they don't do it +now. Papa won't have wine on the table at all, but I saw +how they did. Some of the gentlemen began with whisky +and water, and one took brandy and water, before dinner +began."</p> + +<p>"Oh stop, Maggie!" Esther exclaimed.</p> + +<p>"No, but I want to tell you. Then they took Greek wine +or Sauterne with their soup. Then they took champagne<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[35]</a></span> +with the dinner. Then they had port wine with the cheese—oh, +I recollect, Esther—and then they had Madeira and +sherry with dessert, and claret and Madeira and sherry with +the fruit. And some of them drank every one. I am glad +papa won't have wine at all now. Uncle Eden wouldn't, a +good while ago."</p> + +<p>"People used in England, not very long ago, to drink a +bottle or two of wine after dinner each man," said Meredith; +"but it is not quite so bad as that nowadays."</p> + +<p>Flora was vexed, but silent; she too remembered bowls +of punch and baskets of champagne in <i>her</i> father's time.</p> + +<p>"And gaming—" said Maggie, and stopped.</p> + +<p>"What?" said Meredith.</p> + +<p>"I was thinking how fond Fenton was of it."</p> + +<p>"Oh hush, Maggie! he wasn't!" Esther exclaimed.</p> + +<p>"It was just the same thing, Uncle Eden said."</p> + +<p>"Where is Fenton?" said Meredith.</p> + +<p>"He's coming to-morrow. He likes champagne too, and +other wine when he can get it. And Bolivar—Bolivar put +something in his lemonade!"</p> + +<p>"Why, Maggie," said Meredith, smiling and passing his +hand gently over the little girl's head, "you are taking +gloomy views of life!"</p> + +<p>"I was only thinking, Ditto. But it seems to me so very +strange that people should be worse now than when they +were heathen Saxons."</p> + +<p>"People are a mixture now, you must remember. The +good part are a great deal better, and I suppose the bad +part are a great deal worse."</p> + +<p>"Worse than the heathen!" cried Flora.</p> + +<p>"Well, judge for yourself. But darkness in the midst +of light is always the blackest, and not only by contrast +either."</p> + +<p>"If you think people are so awful, I should think you +would go to work and preach to them," said Esther.</p> + +<p>"I will," said Meredith calmly.</p> + +<p>"Then what will you do with Meadow Park?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, he proposes to turn that into an hospital."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[36]</a></span>"An hospital!"——</p> + +<p>"Flora is romancing a little," said her brother. "There +are no infirmaries put up yet. How sweet this place is! +Do you smell the fir trees and pines? The air is a spice-box."</p> + +<p>"The air a box!" cried Maggie laughing.</p> + +<p>"I mean it is full of perfumes, like a spice-box. And +these old stones, laid up here by the soldiers' hands of a +hundred years ago, just make a dining place for us now. +But it's pretty! And the air is nectar."</p> + +<p>"You can choose whether you will smell it, or swallow +it," remarked his sister.</p> + +<p>"By your leave, I will do both. Well, shall I go on?"</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[37]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER IV.</h2> + + +<p>"'The morning after the sacrificial feast at the Deep +Moor, Landolf with the Billing and the free men travelled +on to the May diet, which was to be held at the seven stone-houses, +and before noon came to the place. There were an +enormous crowd of free men assembled, priests, nobles, and +commons. The place lies in the middle of a vast, level +heath, on the soft declivity of a rising ground, which on the +other side falls away sharply down to a boggy dell. I have +already described the stone-houses. There are seven of +them, a number which must have been held sacred among +the Saxons. At least in our country the so-called "Huhnen" +graves, in which our forefathers lie buried, are always found +either alone, or constantly by sevens together in a wide +circle. The spot on which the stone-houses stand must +have been sacred to Woden, for in the chronicle it is called +"Wuotanswohrt," and <i>wohrt</i> in Saxon always means a +secluded, enclosed, sacred place, especially devoted to the +administration of justice; for courts of justice were held +under the open sky and always by day, as though to +denote that justice is of heavenly origin, courts the light of +sunshine and shuns the darkness. The word <i>wohrt</i> is connected +with <i>wehren</i>' (which means, to keep off, Maggie), +'because everything unholy must be kept off from it, on +which account also such places were hedged in. Of the +transactions at this May diet, it is only told that a great +sacrifice was offered, this time consisting of fourteen men, +two of whom were slaughtered upon each of the stone-houses +in the manner already described; that then cases of law +were decided according to the ancient usage; then the state<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[38]</a></span> +of things between the Saxons and the Franks was considered; +and at this opportunity Landolf, who as guest of the Billing +had been present at all the discussions, begged to be permitted +to speak, and asked for leave to preach Christianity +in the country. Scarcely had he preferred his request, when +threatening and distrustful looks were directed upon him +from almost all present, and many a hand grasped to the +war-axe; for at the word <i>Christianity</i>, men's thoughts at +once flew to the Franks, those hitherto enemies of the +Saxons, by whom after three and thirty years of fighting +they had at last been subdued. The Billing immediately +observed the excitement, and before any of it could get +open expression he himself was upon his feet. He related +that Landolf was no Frank, but an Eastphalian, and so of +their own people and race; that when a boy he had been +taken prisoner by the Franks in the war and carried to the +Franks' country, where he had been converted to Christianity, +and had been a pupil of the good Liudgar, who +himself was a Saxon and known by report to all Saxons. +That afterwards he had lived with this Liudgar in the +country of their brethren the Westphalians, and half a +year before this time had come to him quite alone and +become his guest; and as his guest he would protect the +man, since he had done nothing contrary to the customs +and usages of the Saxon people. In his own home he had +permitted him to preach Christianity; and now here, in the +assembly of the people, according to ancient law and usage, +Landolf desired to ask whether he might be allowed to +proclaim openly in the country the Gospel of the God of +the Christians. This must now be regularly debated in the +assembly of the people; and he gave permission to Landolf +that free and unmolested he might say out his wishes and +tell exactly what the Christian belief was. Then every one +might give his opinion.</p> + +<p>"'Now Landolf rose up. His tall figure, his noble +presence, and the fearless, frank, spirited glance of his eye +round the circle, made a deep impression; and in noiseless +silence the assembly listened to his speech, the first preaching<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[39]</a></span> +that ever was held in our country. This short, simple +discourse has so grown into my heart and I like it so much, +that I shall give it here.' Flora, are you listening?"</p> + +<p>"Of course."</p> + +<p>"I didn't know but you were too busy counting your +stitches. I want you to hear this speech of Landolf's. It +is very fine.</p> + +<p>"'"In the name of God, the Father, the Son, and the +Holy Ghost, the only true God. Amen. Men and brethren, +hear my words. One hundred years ago" (<span class="smcap"><small>A.D.</small></span> 960, +according to the chronicle), "came two pious Christian +priests to you, to make known to your fathers the Gospel of +Christ, the true God; they were the dark and the fair Ewald. +They were your own relations, they came from England; +they were your friends, they had left England and come +over the sea for the love of you; they were your guests, they +had been sheltered in your houses. They wanted to let you +know that God has become your Brother, that He might +deliver you from your sins. You would not let them +preach in your land—you were free not to do that; but you +murdered them; here on these stones you slew them in +honour of Woden; your brothers, your friends, your guests, +you murdered, who had done you no evil. Since that time +the true God, the God of the Christians, has been angry with +you. You number as many as the Franks do; you are just as +brave as they. Yet Charlemagne, the Frank, has conquered +and subdued you. How is that? God fought with Charlemagne; +He loved him—he is a Christian. God fought against +you, for you have killed his priests; you are murderers. +You can kill me too. Do it; I am not afraid of death; +I am the servant of God; if you kill me, God will take me +up to heaven. God's anger will not depart from you, unless +you become Christians. Why will you not become Christians? +Your gods are good for nothing; they cannot help +you; they have not been able to stand before the Christian's +God. Where is your <i>Irmensul</i>? Charlemagne has broken +it to pieces." (Irmensul was an idol image that stood at +Hildesheim). "Where is your <i>Wodensaak</i>? Charlemagne<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[40]</a></span> +has cut it down." (This Woden's oak stood at Verden on +the Aller.) "Where is your <i>Helawohrt</i>? Charlemagne +has destroyed it." (The sacred place of the goddess Hela +was on the Aller, in what is now the suburb Heelen at +Celle.) "Where are your brave leaders, Wittekind and +Albion? They have become Charlemagne's friends and +vassals; they are Christians. Do you think it was Charlemagne +that subdued them? No, a greater One, the God of +the Christians has subdued them. Charlemagne indeed +often overthrew them; but the Christian's God has conquered +them. Do you know how that came about? I have +heard in Münster, and I will tell you.</p> + +<p>"'"After the last battle they lost—you know about that, +your young men bled there too—before peace was concluded, +the brave Wittekind said to his brother in arms, +Albion, 'Come, let us go! we will pay a visit to Charlemagne +in his fortress, and take a look at his power; for he +is the greatest in the land.' So the bold heroes set forth; +hiding their strong frames under the dress of beggars; for +they wished to remain unknown, and to see and prove for +themselves. Fear was not in their brave hearts. They travelled +and travelled for days and days; and wherever they +came, Christians gave them food. Then they questioned with +one another—'Is <i>this</i> what Christians are?' They were +many nights on their journeyings, and wherever they came +the Christians took them in, although they were beggars. +Then they asked one another, 'Is this what Christians are?' +Many a time they lost their way, in cities, villages, and fields; +the Christians set them right, and they said to each other in +astonishment, 'Is <i>this</i> what the Christians are?' At last +they came to Ingelheim." (The chronicle names Ingelheim, +and not Aix-la-Chapelle.) "They went through the +city, admiring the handsome houses and magnificent streets, +till they came to a large house, the largest of all they had +hitherto seen. 'This must be Charlemagne's dwelling,' +said they; 'for certainly he is the greatest man among his +people!' They went in—they heard singing, that sounded +as if it came down from heaven. They went further in;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[41]</a></span> +there stood up in the chancel a man in a white dress (it was +a priest in white church robes) who was speaking: 'Hear, +you who believe the glad message; the great God in heaven +loves you. He loves you so much that He sent His dear +Son Jesus Christ to you. Jesus Christ came down from +heaven; God's Son became your brother, so little and poor +that He lay in a manger in the stall for cattle. When He +was grown up, He preached everywhere and said, Sinners, +turn, and I will save you. He made the lame to go and the +blind to see, and healed the sick, and raised up the dead +that lay in their graves. He shed His blood for sinners; +sinners put Him to death. He was still kind to them in +His death, and prayed for His murderers, Father, forgive +them! for they know not what they do. They buried Him. +But can God stay in the grave? Lo! after three days the +earth quaked and the rocks rent; Jesus rose up out of the +grave, Jesus went up to heaven, and sits now again upon +the throne of His Father, God. He reigns; He commands: +Repent, and I will save you, you shall come into my heaven +and reign with me.</p> + +<p>"'"So preached the priest. There stood the two heroes +in astonishment, but they were to be yet more astonished. +Lo! a tall man steps forward through the church up to the +altar, where the priest was standing; and a crown was +upon his head. It was the King Charlemagne. The two +heroes knew him, and yet they did not know him. Was this +the mighty hero, whose flashing sword in battle struck and +slew? Was this the man whose eyes blazed with the fire of +battle? He wears no sword here; his eyes sparkle peacefully; +as he stands before the altar, he humbly takes his +crown off and sets it on the ground; then he bows his knee +upon the steps of the altar and prays to Jesus Christ, the +God of the Christians, and all the people fall upon their +knees, and the heavenly music of them who are singing +praises swells out again—'Glory to God in the highest, and +on earth peace, good-will to men.' Then Charlemagne rises +and sits down in a chair, and the man in white clothing +preaches of Jesus, who came to save sinners, and Charlemagne<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[42]</a></span> +bows his high head so often as the name of Jesus is named. +Then the priest blesses the congregation—the service is over.</p> + +<p>"'"It was not Charlemagne's house in which they were; +it was God's house, in which Charlemagne had been praying. +God is greater than Charlemagne, and so must God's house +be the biggest in the city. The brothers in arms went forth +of the church. Before the church door there was a great +crowd of beggars, in garments like their own. Gentle and +kind, Charlemagne goes to the poor people, giving each one +a piece of money and saying, 'God bless it to you, my +children; pray for me too.' 'Is that King Charlemagne?' +the heroes asked each other by their astonished looks. +Then the king steps up to them, looks at them graciously, +and says—'You have never been here before, my friends; +come into my house, and I will give you your portion.' He +goes on and they follow him. They come into his house, +which was smaller than God's house. They go into his +apartment; there he dismisses the attendants, goes up to +Wittekind and Albion, offers them his hand like a brother +and says: 'Welcome to my citadel, you brave Saxon heroes! +God has heard my prayer; my foes are becoming my friends. +Put off your rags. I will dress you as princes should be +dressed!' And he had princely robes put upon them, and +said further—'Now you are my guests; and soon, I hope, +the guests of the Lord my God also.' The two heroes had +not expected this, that Charlemagne should know them in +their disguise; much less that he would treat them so +nobly and brotherly. Fourteen days later, the priest in +white garments baptized them in the name of God the +Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost; and they swore +allegiance to the Saviour, Jesus Christ.</p> + +<p>"'"You men, this is the way that your heroes have led +the way for you. Saxons, will you forsake your dukes? +The curse of sin has been cleared away from them. Now I +have come to you; I too am a priest of Jesus Christ; I +would gladly teach you and clear the curse of sin away from +you, that you may be saved and come to heaven. Say, shall +I preach among you? or will you kill me too, as you killed<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[43]</a></span> +the two Ewalds? Here I am; but in the midst of you I am +also in God's hand."</p> + +<p>"'Landolf ceased. The whole assembly had heard him +in silence; even the heathen priests had listened. Then +the Billing lifted up his voice and spoke: "Landolf, my +guest and friend, thou hast spoken well, and thou hast been +a good man in my house; I will hear thee further. Brothers, +let us decide that Landolf shall be free to go about in our +country and preach. It is no dishonour to bow the knee +before that God who is Charlemagne's God and the God of +the Christians; it is no shame to pray to that God who has +conquered our brave heroes. Decide!"</p> + +<p>"'Then stepped forth an old man with white hair, who +was the oldest man in the assembly, and spoke: "Cast the +lot!"</p> + +<p>"'The young men made ready seven little sticks, square-cornered, +of oak wood, marked on the upper side with +sacred signs. One of the heathen priests, the chronicle +calls him Walo, shook them in his hands and then threw +them up in the air. During this time, Landolf was upon +his knees, crying, "Lord, Lord, give the victory, that this +noble people may come to know Thee!" Then the sticks +fall to earth, and behold! six of them lie with the signs up, +and only one with the signs down. This is announced, and +then the whole assembly cries out—"The Christian's God +has won!" and the Billing shakes Landolf by the hand and +says, "Now go in and out through the whole land; nobody +will hinder you from preaching the name of your God. +But do not pass my house by; come back with me; I will +become a Christian." And now the assembly broke up; +everybody went home to his house, Landolf accompanying +the Billing. When they were again passing the stone of +sacrifice at the Deep Moor, Landolf said—"Billing, that is +your altar-stone; is it not?" "It belongs to me and my +house." "There my first church shall stand," said Landolf, +glad and strong in faith. "May I build it?" "Build it +my brother," answered the Billing; "and when it is ready +I will be the first to be baptized in it. But the stone of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[44]</a></span> +sacrifice we will throw into the moor, that the remembrance +of it may be lost."</p> + +<p>"'Now did Landolf go to work joyfully; by day he +wrought, and at night he preached, and taught in the +Billing's house, and in all the country round. No longer +than three months after, the little wooden church was done—the +first in this whole region; and the same day that +Landolf consecrated it, Harm the Billing with five sons and +three daughters, and the greater part of the friends of his +family and of his farm servants, received holy baptism, the +water for which was fetched out of the neighbouring Oerze. +Now, of course, that church is no longer standing; it was +burnt down afterwards by the heathen Wends, and in its +place the large stone church in Hermannsburg was built. +But to this day the field where that first church stood +belongs to the Hermannsburg parsonage, and is still called +<i>the cold church</i>.</p> + +<p>"'This was the foundation of the Christian Church in our +valley of the Oerze; and as Landolf had come from Minden, +the whole Oerze valley was attached to the see of Minden, +while the rest of the Lüneburg country came to belong to +the see of Verden.</p> + +<p>"'Now the faithful Landolf laboured on indefatigably. +He sent one of his new converts to Minden and Münster, to +get more helpers from thence for his work. Twelve came, +who were put under Landolf; and now for the first time +the work could be taken hold of vigorously. Landolf must +have lived and laboured until 830 or 840, and so blessed +was his agency that the whole country of the Horzsahzen +was converted to Christianity. It is brought forward as a +proof of this, that at the great May diets held at the stone-houses +the following laws were unanimously enacted: no +more horse's flesh to be eaten; no more human sacrifices +to be brought; no more dead to be burned; and all +Woden's oaks to be hewn down. And in truth these laws +do show the dominance of Christianity, for precisely these +things named were the peculiar marks of heathenism. Of +the interior condition of Christianity, little is told; only it<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[45]</a></span> +is remarked that the entire change in the country was so +great and manifest, that the bishops Willerich of Bremen +and Helingud of Verden sent priests to convince themselves +with their own eyes whether what they had heard with their +ears was true; and these messengers had found not a single +heathen left in the whole region. As a good general, +Landolf moreover understood how everywhere to seize the +right points where with the most effect heathenism might +be grappled with and overthrown. He always went straight +to the heart of the old religion. We have already seen how +his first church was built by the Billing's sacrifice stone. +Westward from Hermannsburg is what is called the Winkelberg, +upon which was the burying-place of the heathen +priests, for the most part cultivated land now, but the twice +seven so-called Hühnen graves are still to be seen there. +At the foot of this hill he established what was called the +<i>Pfarrwohrt</i>, where the spiritual courts should be holden; +and close by this place he laid the foundation-stone of the +Quänenburg, a house surrounded with a moat, in which the +young girls of the country might be taught and educated +(Quäne or Kwäne meant a young girl). Both places, Pfarrwohrt +and Quänenburg, are arable fields now, still belonging +to the parsonage.</p> + +<p>"'An hour above Hermannsburg the two rivers Oerze +and Wieze flow into each other. At that place, in an oak +wood, the idol Thor was worshipped. There Landolf was +equally prompt to build a chapel, that the idol worship +might be banished. As he had consecrated the church in +Hermannsburg to Peter and Paul, so he consecrated this +chapel to Lawrence. Around this chapel the village Müden +sprang up, so called because the two rivers there flow into +one another, or Münden. Then he went further up the +Oerze and erected a cloister and a chapel at a place which +was sacred to the goddess Freija. At that time a cloister +was called a munster. The village of Munster grew up +around this cloister. In the same way he went further up +the Weize, where there was a wood sacred to Hertha. In +its neighbourhood he built a chapel which was consecrated<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[46]</a></span> +to Bartholomew. Around this chapel Wiezendorf arose. +About an hour and a half distant from Hermannsburg, +there was a very large, magnificent wood of oaks and +beeches; such a forest was then called a wohld. In this +forest the heathen priests, the so-called Druids, were specially +at home; there, too, they kept the white horses which +were used in soothsaying. The wood extended for hours in +length and breadth. He could not give that the go-by; and +that he might dash right into the midst of it, he built at the +spot where it was narrowest a chapel on the one side to +Mary <i>in valle</i>, and on the other side a chapel to Mary <i>in +monte</i>. The first means Mary in the valley, the second, +Mary on the hill. The villages Wohlde and Bergen have +thence arisen. So he grappled with heathenism just there +where its strongest points were, and always, by God's grace, +got the victory; for the Lord indeed says: "My glory will +I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images." +And as once the Philistine's idol Dagon fell speechless upon +the ground before the ark of the covenant of God, so in our +Oerze valley everywhere fell the altars of the idols before +the sign of the Cross.</p> + +<p>"'Besides all this, Landolf and his companions were +skilled husbandmen, who themselves shunned no manual +labour nor painstaking, and who knew right well how to eat +their bread in the sweat of their brow. So they introduced +agriculture universally, of which our forefathers at that time +knew little or nothing; and thus they were not only the +spiritual but also the material benefactors of the whole +district. How much a single man can do, who is wholly +given to the Lord, and who is moved by burning love to +the Lord and to his fellows! God give all preachers and +teachers, and especially all messengers to the heathen, such +a mind, such a brave heart, such a single eye, such will to +work! that some good may be done.</p> + +<p>"'About the next hundred years I have found nothing +said in the chronicle. Probably things went on in such a +quiet way that there was nothing particular to say concerning<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[47]</a></span> +them. But then comes the relation of a noteworthy +occurrence.'"</p> + +<p>Meredith shut up his book.</p> + +<p>"Well, aren't you going on?" said Maggie.</p> + +<p>"Presently. I want a run down to the shore and see how +the water looks."</p> + +<p>"Why, it always looks just the same way," said Esther.</p> + +<p>"Does it? I am afraid something must be the matter +with your eyes."</p> + +<p>"Oh, of course sometimes it blows, and sometimes it is +smooth; but what is that?"</p> + +<p>"Just according to your eyes."</p> + +<p>"Aren't all eyes alike?"</p> + +<p>"Not exactly. Some see."</p> + +<p>"What do you see in the water?"</p> + +<p>"There is one peculiarity of eyes," said Meredith. "You +cannot see through another person's. Come, Maggie, let us +stretch ourselves a bit."</p> + +<p>Taking hold of hands, the two ran and scrambled down +the steep, rocky pitch of the hill, to the edge of the river. +The wind was not blowing to-day; soft and still the water +lay, with a mild gleam under the October sun, sending up +not even a ripple to the shore. There was a warm, spicy +smell in the woods; there was a golden glow here and there +from a hickory; the hills were variegated and rich-hued in +the distance and near by. Meredith sat down on a stone +by the water and looked out on the view. But he was +graver than Maggie liked.</p> + +<p>"Ditto," she said after a while, "you are thinking of +something."</p> + +<p>"Of a good many things, Maggie. How good the world +is! and men are not!"</p> + +<p>"What then, Ditto?"</p> + +<p>"One ought to do something to make them better."</p> + +<p>"What can you do?"</p> + +<p>"What could Landolf the Saxon? I do not know, +Maggie; but one ought to be as ready as Landolf was to +do anything. And I think I am."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[48]</a></span>"Then God will show you what to do, Ditto."</p> + +<p>Meredith bent down and kissed the earnest little face, +"You are the only friend I have got, Maggie, that thinks +and feels as I do."</p> + +<p>"O Ditto! Uncle Eden?"</p> + +<p>"Well, I suppose Mr. Murray would do me the honour to +let me call him my friend," said Meredith.</p> + +<p>"And papa?"</p> + +<p>"Mr. Candlish is very good to me; but you see, I do not +know him so well, Maggie."</p> + +<p>"Well, he thinks just as you do. And papa goes and +preaches in the streets when he is in New York; in those +dreadful places where the people live that never go to church."</p> + +<p>"<i>That's</i> like Landolf," said Meredith. "I almost envy +men like that old monk."</p> + +<p>"Why?"</p> + +<p>"All his strength laid out for something worth while—all +his life. And think how much he did! And I fret to +be doing nothing, and yet I don't know what to do."</p> + +<p>"You can ask Uncle Eden when he comes."</p> + +<p>"I hope he'll come! Now don't think any more about +it, Maggie. This is the prettiest place I ever saw in my +life. I want to get out on that water."</p> + +<p>"Now?"</p> + +<p>"Not now. Some time."</p> + +<p>"Oh, we'll all go," said Maggie joyfully. "We might go +in the boat somewhere and take our book and our dinner, +and have a grand time, Ditto!"</p> + +<p>Meredith laughed and said it was all "grand times;" +and then he got up and strolled along by the water, picking +up flat stones and making ducks and drakes on the +smooth, river surface. This was a new pastime to Maggie, +and so pleasant to both that they forgot the book and the +girls left on the height, and delighted their eye with the +dimpling water and ricochetting stones time after time, +and could not have enough. At last flat stones began to +grow scarce, and Maggie and Meredith remounted to the +rest of the party.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[49]</a></span>"Well!" said Flora, "you've come in good time. We +are going home."</p> + +<p>"Home!" echoed Maggie.</p> + +<p>"To be sure. Don't you think we want dinner some +time?" said Esther; "and we are tired sitting here. And +it is growing late besides. Just look where the sun is."</p> + +<p>There was nothing to be said to the sun; and the books +and work being stowed again in the cart, Meredith took +his place as porter, and the little company returned to the +house.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[50]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER V.</h2> + + +<p>A little tired, and not a little hungry, it was very good +now to have a change, and be at home. The girls went to +dress for dinner, while Meredith, whose toilet was sooner +made, sat on the terrace in the mellow October light and +dreamed. Dinner went off merrily. After dinner, when it +began to be dark, they all repaired to the library. A little +fire was kindled here, for the pleasure of it rather than from +the need. The afghan and worsted embroidery came out +again under the bright lamplight; but Meredith sat idly +tending the fire.</p> + +<p>"Ditto," said Maggie, "can't we see about all those Saxon +gods now?—or don't you want to?"</p> + +<p>"Of course, I want to see about them," said Meredith, +springing up and going to the bookcases. "I want to know +myself, Maggie."</p> + +<p>"Were they different from the Roman and Grecian gods?" +Flora asked.</p> + +<p>"It is safe for people who cannot keep their ears open, +to refrain from questions," Meredith answered.</p> + +<p>"Why, I heard all you read," said Flora, pouting a little; +"but how should I know but those were the same as the +Roman gods, only under different names?"</p> + +<p>"If you please to recollect, you will remember that the +two nations had nothing to do with one another except at +the spear's point. But if I can find what I want, I will enlighten +you and myself too," said Meredith, rummaging +among the bookshelves. "Here it is, I believe!" And with +a volume in his hand he came back to the table and the +lamp; but then became absorbed in study. Worsted needles<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[51]</a></span> +flew in and out. Maggie watched Meredith's face and the +leaves of his book as they were turned over.</p> + +<p>"Well, Ditto?" she said after a while.</p> + +<p>"What?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, <i>what</i>?" said Maggie, laughing. "Have you found +anything?"</p> + +<p>"To be sure!" said Meredith, straightening himself up. +"Yes, Maggie, it's all here—in a somewhat brief fashion."</p> + +<p>"Well, who was Woden?"</p> + +<p>"Woden was the principal deity. He was the god of the +moving air, and of the light."</p> + +<p>"Like Apollo," said Flora.</p> + +<p>"Yes—more like Zeus or Jupiter. He was the all-father—the +universally present spirit: above all the other gods. +He was the god of the sky. They represented him with +two ravens that sat on his shoulders, which every morning +brought him news of whatever was going on in <i>Midgard</i>."</p> + +<p>"What's Midgard?"</p> + +<p>"Our lower earth. And the abode of the gods was called +<i>Asgard</i>."</p> + +<p>"We did not read anything about Midgard and Asgard +to-day."</p> + +<p>"No, but I thought you might like to know. And then +<i>Walhalla</i> was the place where Odin put half of the brave +men who were slain in battle."</p> + +<p>"What became of the other half?" said Flora.</p> + +<p>"The goddess Freija took care of them. What she did +with them, this book does not say. I have read before of the +'halls of Walhalla,' I am glad to know what it means."</p> + +<p>"Who was Freija?"</p> + +<p>"Wait a bit; I have not got through with Woden, or +Odin. His two ravens were called <i>Hunin</i> and <i>Munin</i>—which +means, Thought and Memory. That's pretty! Woden +is painted also as attended by two dogs. He was the chief +and head of the gods, you understand. Now Freija was one +of his wives. Naturally, she was the goddess of good +weather and harvests—a fair kind of goddess generally. +Also the dead were in her care; the other half of the heroes<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[52]</a></span> +slain in battle came into her hands. She is painted riding +in a chariot drawn by two cats."</p> + +<p>"But, Ditto, if Woden was the sky god, I don't see why +those old Saxons should have fancied he would like such +cruel sacrifices. Sunlight looks bright and cheerful."</p> + +<p>Meredith mused.</p> + +<p>"Yes," he said, "it does look bright and cheerful—but, it +hates darkness."</p> + +<p>"What then, Ditto?"</p> + +<p>"Darkness means sin."</p> + +<p>"Oh, do you think that?" cried Maggie. "To be sure, I +know darkness means sin. But do you think those old +Saxons"——</p> + +<p>"They felt the difference between darkness and light, +undoubtedly, and they feared the sun-god."</p> + +<p>"But I don't see how they could think he was so cruel, +though."</p> + +<p>"I suppose that is all quite natural," said Meredith musingly. +"How afraid we should be of God, if we did not +know Jesus Christ!"</p> + +<p>"Were the old Hebrews so afraid of Him?" Flora asked.</p> + +<p>"Terribly. Don't you remember? they always thought +they must die when the Angel of Jehovah appeared to +them? And how should people who never heard of Christ +guess that God is so good as He is? They feel that they +are sinners—how should they know that He will forgive?"</p> + +<p>"But to think to please Him by such awful sacrifices!" +said Flora.</p> + +<p>"I suppose the idea was, to give him the most precious +thing there was."</p> + +<p>"I shall ask Mr. Murray," said Flora. "It is all a puzzle +to me. In the first place, I do not believe such heathen +people know they are sinners."</p> + +<p>"Yes, they do. Certainly they do, all the world over, +and this is one of the ways they show it. 'How beautiful' +among them must be 'the feet of him that bringeth good +tidings, that publisheth peace!—that bringeth good tidings +of good; that publisheth salvation!'"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[53]</a></span>"What a pity you hadn't lived in Landolf's time!" said +Flora.</p> + +<p>"There are enough heathen left," said her brother, "and +worse than those old Saxons. Theirs was not a bad specimen +of heathen mythology, by any means. And yet, think +of believing one's self given over to the tender mercies of +Woden and Thor!"</p> + +<p>"And yet by your account people were better than they +are now!"</p> + +<p>"Some people—and some people," answered Meredith. +"I must ask Mr. Murray about that. I do not understand +it."</p> + +<p>"We shall get work enough ready for him by the time he +comes. Well, go on with your Saxon mythology and be +done with it. I do not think it is very interesting."</p> + +<p>"Maggie and I are of a different opinion. But it was +rather Norse mythology. Sweden and Norway and Denmark +were all of one race and one faith. Norsemen carried it to +Iceland, and it is odd enough that from Iceland we get our +best accounts of it."</p> + +<p>Maggie had mounted up with her knees in a chair and her +elbows on the table, leaning over towards Meredith, and +now begged he would tell about Thor.</p> + +<p>"Thor was the thunderer."</p> + +<p>"What do you mean?"</p> + +<p>"The god of thunder and lightning. He was the son of +Odin, or Woden. He is represented driving in a car drawn +by two goats and with a great hammer in his hand. This +hammer was forged by the dwarfs, Kobolds, I suppose, who +dwelt in the centre of the earth."</p> + +<p>"What did he want a hammer for?"</p> + +<p>"To strike withal. And when Thor's hammer came down, +that made the thunder, don't you see? and his stroke was +the thunderbolt."</p> + +<p>"I should think they would have been frightened to death +in a thunder-storm."</p> + +<p>"Not an expression those old Saxons knew anything +about."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[54]</a></span>"Well, I should think they would have feared +Thor."</p> + +<p>"There is no doubt but they did. Those poor captives +at the stone-houses were slaughtered in honour of Woden +and Thor, don't you remember? But he was also the god +of fire, and the god of the domestic hearth. Listen to this: +'Among the pagan Norsemen, Thor's hammer was held in +as much reverence as Christ's cross among Christians. It +was carved on their gravestones; and wrought of wood or +iron, it was suspended in their temples.'"</p> + +<p>"Thor's hammer!" repeated Maggie. "Poor people!"</p> + +<p>"Nobody worships Thor now," observed Esther scornfully.</p> + +<p>"We call one of our days after him yet," said Meredith. +"There is a relic of the old Thor worship. Indeed all our +days are heathenish in name."</p> + +<p>"All?" said Flora, looking up. "What is Monday?"</p> + +<p>"Just the Moon's day, don't you see? Sunday is the +Sun's day. Woden's day and Thor's day, you know. Then +Friday is of course Freija's day—or Freyr's day—I don't +know which. Freyr was the god of weather and fruits—another +impersonation of Odin. He rode through the air on a +wild boar, faster than any horse could catch him. An odd +steed! And Tuesday is Tyr's day, or Zin's day—it comes +to much the same thing. He was especially the 'god of war +and of athletic sports.'"</p> + +<p>"Then there is Saturday left," said Maggie. "What is +Saturday?"</p> + +<p>"I think it must have been Saturn's day—and so not +Saxon, Maggie, but Roman. The names of our months are +all Roman, you know?"</p> + +<p>"Are they?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, but wait. Here is something curious. The +Saxon devil was called Loki. Now Loki had three children. +Listen to this. 'One was the huge wolf Fenris, who +at the last day shall hurry gaping to the scene of battle, with +his lower jaw scraping the earth and his nose scraping the +sky.'"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[55]</a></span>"What is curious in that?" asked Flora. "It is just like +a children's fairy tale."</p> + +<p>"But these are not children's fairy tales; and they mean +something. How did these old Norsemen know there would +be a scene of battle at the last day, and great destruction?"</p> + +<p>"How do you know it?"</p> + +<p>"The Bible."</p> + +<p>"Does the Bible say so, Ditto?" said Maggie. "Where +does it say so?"</p> + +<p>"Many places."</p> + +<p>"Tell us one, Ditto."</p> + +<p>Meredith rose up and fetched a Bible and pushed his book +of Norse mythology on one side. Then he opened at the +nineteenth chapter of the Revelation.</p> + +<p>"'And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; +and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and +in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes +were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; +and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. +And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood; +and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies +which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, +clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of his mouth +goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations; +and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth +the wine press of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. +And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, +KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.</p> + +<p>"'And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried +with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst +of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the +supper of the great God; that ye may eat the flesh of kings, +and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and +the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the +flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great.</p> + +<p>"'And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and +their armies, gathered together to make war against him<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[56]</a></span> +that sat on the horse, and against his army. And the beast +was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought +miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had +received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped +his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire +burning with brimstone. And the remnant were slain with +the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded +out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with +their flesh.'"</p> + +<p>"I do not understand all that, the least bit," said Flora.</p> + +<p>"You understand there will be a war, and a battle?"</p> + +<p>"But that's a figure."</p> + +<p>"No, it's a fact. How should it be a figure?"</p> + +<p>"What do you understand by a 'sword proceeding out of +His mouth?'"</p> + +<p>"That is in the description of Christ in the first chapter: +'And he had in his right hand seven stars; and out of his +mouth went a sharp two-edged sword.'"</p> + +<p>"Well, isn't that a figure? What does it mean?"</p> + +<p>"Listen to the description of Christ that Isaiah gives: +'With righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove +with equity for the meek of the earth; and he shall smite +the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of +his lips shall he slay the wicked.'"</p> + +<p>"Well?"</p> + +<p>"And in Thessalonians: 'Then shall that Wicked be +revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of +his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his +coming.' And in Ephesians: 'The sword of the Spirit, +which is the word of God.'"</p> + +<p>"Well," said Flora, "that is not a real sword, with a +handle and an edge."</p> + +<p>"The Bible says it has two edges."</p> + +<p>"Nonsense! you know what I mean."</p> + +<p>"I know. Certainly, Flora, the weapons of that battle +may not be weapons of flesh and blood, or for flesh and +blood; but the <i>battle</i> is real, don't you see? and the awful +overthrow and destruction, and what I am wondering about<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[57]</a></span> +is, how those old Saxons knew there would be such a battle +at the end? and how they knew that the mischief would in +some sense come from the devil."</p> + +<p>"<i>Did</i> they know it?"</p> + +<p>"The wolf Fenris was one of the devil's children, as they +made it out. And another was the serpent which Odin +cast into the sea, where it grew and grew till it had wound +up the whole earth in its folds. That is very curious!"</p> + +<p>"What, Ditto?"</p> + +<p>"How did they know <i>that</i>?"</p> + +<p>"Know what?"</p> + +<p>"Why, don't you see? The serpent is one of the Bible +words for the devil; here, it is a child of the devil who, coming +to the earth, has enveloped the whole world in his toils. +The Bible says, I know, somewhere, that those who are not +saved by Christ are '<i>in</i> the Wicked one.' How did they +know so much, and so little, those old people?"</p> + +<p>"Where did you find all those Bible verses just now +about the sword, Ditto?"</p> + +<p>"References here, Maggie."</p> + +<p>"Well, go on, Ditto. There were three children of the +devil."</p> + +<p>"The third was the goddess Hel or Hela. She was the +goddess of the lower world, and was half black and half +blue. I wonder! that must be where our word 'hell' comes +from. What dreadful old times! And times now are just +as bad, for a great part of the world. The goddess Hel +was very like the horrible Hindoo goddess Kali, they say +here."</p> + +<p>"I don't believe those times were so much worse than +these times," said Flora.</p> + +<p>"You think human sacrifices are a pleasant religious +feature?"</p> + +<p>"Not to the victims; but I suppose the rest were all +accustomed to it, and didn't feel so shocked as you do."</p> + +<p>"Landolf seems to have been a good deal shocked."</p> + +<p>"Are you going to read us anything more, Ditto, about +those queer old gods?"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[58]</a></span>"There isn't much more that I need read, Maggie. I +have told you about the principal deities. They believed +in quantities of lesser ones—really, personifications of +the good and evil powers of nature. The elves and their +king, and the dwarfs living inside the hills. The dwarfs +owned the treasures of the mines, and worked in metals and +precious stones."</p> + +<p>"I should like to believe in elves and fairies," said +Flora.</p> + +<p>"Why?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, it's pretty and poetical. Fairy rings, and all that."</p> + +<p>"Would you like to think there were hidden powers in +every piece of water, and rock, and hill, which might feel +kindly disposed towards you and might not? which might +suddenly play you an ill trick and make you most mischievous +trouble, for nothing but mischief."</p> + +<p>"Did people believe so, Ditto?"</p> + +<p>"Certainly. A great many people, in various parts of +the world."</p> + +<p>"I would rather believe that God has it all in His hand," +said Maggie contentedly.</p> + +<p>"So would I, Maggie. And that Jesus has the keys of +hell and of death."</p> + +<p>"I wonder when Fenton will be here," remarked Esther.</p> + +<p>"I hope—he won't come—till—Uncle Eden gets here," +said Maggie very deliberately.</p> + +<p>"Why not?" said Esther sharply.</p> + +<p>"He is uneasy," said Maggie, with a corresponding shrug +of her shoulders; "I never know what Fenton will take it +into his head to do."</p> + +<p>"That is a nice way to speak of your brother."</p> + +<p>Maggie considered that. "I can't find any nicer," she +said at length.</p> + +<p>"Then I wouldn't speak at all."</p> + +<p>"Never mind," said Flora. "One's brothers are always +a mixture of comfort and plague. And that is true of the +best of them, Esther; you never know what they will take +into their heads to do."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[59]</a></span>"Oh, Flora!"——Maggie began, and stopped.</p> + +<p>"You think there is a difference between brothers and +brothers," said Flora laughing. "Well, my experience is +what I tell you."</p> + +<p>"Ditto," said Maggie suddenly, "are there any such +stones as those queer stone-houses in this country?"</p> + +<p>"Not that ever I heard of, Maggie. But in the old world, +as it is called, there are a great many, scattered over a great +many countries. Not all just like the stone-houses. Some +are just single stones set up on end. Some are two laid +together, one resting on the other slantwise; the stone-houses +in Lüneburg seem to have been made of nine +stones, one lying on eight."</p> + +<p>"Did people offer human sacrifices on all of them?"</p> + +<p>"I fancy not. But I believe it is tolerably uncertain. +Did you never see a picture of Stonehenge?"</p> + +<p>Maggie knew nothing about Stonehenge. Meredith went +to the bookcases again and got another volume. This contained +many illustrations of old stone monuments of various +kinds, and he and Maggie were soon absorbed in studying +them.</p> + +<p>"There!" cried Maggie, as he opened at one of the earliest +illustrations, "there, Ditto! that is very like—<i>very</i> like—what +you read of the stone-houses. Isn't it?"</p> + +<p>"Fearfully like," said Meredith. "This is in Ireland. +I dare say some of those old Druids sacrificed men on it."</p> + +<p>"How could they set it up so? Look, Ditto—the top +stone rests just on one point at the lowest end. I should +think it would topple down."</p> + +<p>"It has stood hundreds of years, Maggie, and will stand +for all time—unless an earthquake shakes it down. This +dolmen is made of four stones."</p> + +<p>"What is a dolmen?"</p> + +<p>"This is one. It says here in a note, that the name comes +'from the Celtic word <i>Daul</i>, a table, and <i>Chen</i> or <i>Chaen</i>, a +stone.' A stone table. And it says here that there are +probably a hundred of such dolmens in Great Britain and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[60]</a></span> +Ireland. How ever did the builders get that enormous +block poised on the tips of the other three?"</p> + +<p>Slowly and absorbedly the two went on exploring the +pages of the book; stopping to read, stopping to talk and +discuss the questions of tumuli and stone circles, dolmens +and menhirs. The opinion of the author, that the great +circles commemorated great battles, and were raised in +honour of the dead buried within them, and that many +dolmens had a sepulchral character, was somewhat confusing +to the Druidical and tragical impressions left from +the Saxon chronicle; which, however, at last got an undeniable +support. In the stones of Stennis, over which +Maggie and Meredith pondered with intense interest, one +of the enormous up-standing masses has a hole through it. +And this stone, there is no doubt, was dedicated to Woden. +And so long had the superstition of Woden's worship clung +to it, that until very lately an oath sworn by persons joining +their hands through this hole, was reckoned especially +sacred; even the courts of law so recognising it. After +that, Woden seemed to Maggie to have strong claim to all +the upright stones and altar-looking dolmens that are found +where the worship of Woden has once prevailed. Leaving +Stennis they went on to Runic crosses, German dolmens, +and French dolmens, and on and on, from country to +country. When at last they lifted up their heads and +looked around them, they were alone. The girls had gone +off to bed; the worsted work lay, left on the table; the fire +was out; the minute-hand pointed to ten o'clock. Meredith +and Maggie glanced at each other and smiled.</p> + +<p>"We have forgotten ourselves," said he.</p> + +<p>"You see, Ditto," said Maggie, "we've been travelling. +Oh, I wish I could <i>see</i> the Stones of Stennis, don't you? and +the Stone of Woden?"</p> + +<p>"Well, now, you had better travel to bed, little one, and +forget it all. Don't see it in your dreams."</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[61]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER VI.</h2> + + +<p>One expects steady weather in October; so it was really +not extraordinary that the next morning should break fair +and quiet, with a sunny haze lying over the river. Nevertheless, +Maggie rejoiced.</p> + +<p>"What a pleasant day we had yesterday!" she exclaimed, +as the party sat at breakfast.</p> + +<p>"Are not all your days pleasant?" said Meredith.</p> + +<p>"Yes, but yesterday was uncommon. O Ditto! we didn't +look at the map last night!"</p> + +<p>"We were looking at stones."</p> + +<p>"Yes, but we must look at the map after breakfast. I +want to find all those places."</p> + +<p>"Take time," said Meredith, "and eat your breakfast. +Lüneburg heath will not run away."</p> + +<p>But, after breakfast, indeed, the great atlas was fetched out +to the sunny terrace in front of the house and laid on a +settee, and Maggie and Meredith sat down before the map +of Germany with business faces.</p> + +<p>"Now, here is the Elbe," said Maggie, "it is big enough +to be seen; here is the mouth of it, just in a corner under +Denmark, where those ships went from."</p> + +<p>"What ships?"</p> + +<p>"Why, the ships in which the Saxons went over to England—the +Saxons that conquered England, Meredith."</p> + +<p>"You do remember," said Meredith smiling. "It is +worth while reading to you."</p> + +<p>"They sailed from the mouths of the Elbe and the Weser—and +here is the Weser. The mouths are pretty near together. +Now, between the Elbe and the Weser were—which +Saxons, Ditto?"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[62]</a></span>"Towards the Elbe and beyond it were the Eastphalians; +those our story belongs to, among whom Landolf went."</p> + +<p>"Well, here is the Aller, Ditto! they lived <i>there</i>, you +know; that is pretty far west. And here is Hermannsburg! +Oh, I am glad we have found that. And here is Lüneburg—all +over here, I suppose. I suppose we couldn't find the +stone-houses, Ditto?"</p> + +<p>"I suppose not. But here is Verden on the Aller, Maggie, +where Charlemagne had those 4500 Saxons hewed to pieces. +And here are Osnabrück and Detmold, where the Saxons +beat him again, and took the 4000 captives that they slew at +the stone-houses."</p> + +<p>"Horrid Charlemagne!"</p> + +<p>"It was all horrid, what concerned the fighting. But here +is Minden, Maggie, from which good Landolf set out in his +little boat, and dropped down the Weser to go to the East +Saxons."</p> + +<p>"And, then, when he got to the Aller he went up <i>that</i>; +then he had to row hard, I guess."</p> + +<p>"I guess he did a good deal of hard rowing, first and last, +Maggie."</p> + +<p>"Then to get to the stone-houses he went further up the +Aller and turned into the Oerze. Here is the Oerze! +Then the stone-houses must be somewhere hereabouts, Ditto; +for they are not very far from Hermannsburg."</p> + +<p>"There is the little river Wieze, Maggie; and here, where +it flows into the Oerze, was that oak wood, sacred to Thor, +where the village of Müden now is. And here is the village +of Munster where Freija was honoured. All over the land, +then, it was wild country, woods and morasses. And now—think +what Germany is!"</p> + +<p>"What is it, Ditto?"</p> + +<p>"It is the land of Thought, and Art, and Learning, and +Criticism."</p> + +<p>"Look here!" broke in a lively voice behind them. "Do +you know the sun is getting up in the sky? and we +have settled nothing. And here are two heads over a +map!"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[63]</a></span>"It would not hurt a third head," said Meredith. "And +Maggie and I have settled a good deal, thank you."</p> + +<p>"But where are we going to-day?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," added Esther behind, "where are we going? I +think it is time to be getting ready, because it takes us a +good while."</p> + +<p>"Esther," said Maggie, "Fairbairn and the men are going +over to the pine terrace to cut down some trees papa wants +cut; let us go there and have a big bonfire, and then Ditto +will have plenty of coals for his friar's omelet."</p> + +<p>"Betsey is making us a chicken pie."</p> + +<p>"Well, the omelet will do no harm besides."</p> + +<p>"No. It is a good way over to the pine terrace."</p> + +<p>"I don't care how far it is. So much the better. It is +nice walking. Do you care, Flora?"</p> + +<p>"She don't care," said Meredith. "Come, let us load up. +If we have a journey before us, best be about it."</p> + +<p>"And then, Esther," Maggie went on, "we can go to the +Lookout rock to read."</p> + +<p>"It will be sunny there."</p> + +<p>"Well, it's all nice on the pine terrace, and we can find +plenty of shade. Now, then, Ditto—if you'll bring up the +waggon."</p> + +<p>The business of loading-up began. There were always +some varieties every time. To-day a basket of sweet potatoes +formed one item, going to be roasted in the great fire-heap +which would be left from the bonfire. A great chicken +pie, fresh and hot, was carefully wrapped up and put in. +Meredith provided a hatchet to trim branches with. +Worsted work and afghan, of course; but the only book +was in Meredith's pocket. The cart was quite loaded when +all was done; for you know, cups and saucers and plates +weigh heavy, if you put enough of them together, and the +chicken pie in the dish was a matter of a good many pounds, +and potatoes are heavy, too. Somebody had to carry the +bottle of cream, and Fairbairn went laden with a pail of +water.</p> + +<p>The day was just another like the day before, but the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[64]</a></span> +direction of the walk was different. The party turned to +the left instead of to the right, and leaving the flower-beds +and shrubbery, entered a pretty winding road which curled +about through a grove of red cedars. The air was spicy, +dry and warm. A soft, rather thick, haze filled the air, +turning the whole world into a sort of fairy land. The hills +looked misty, the river still and dreamy; outlines were softened, +colours were grown tender. The happy little party, +it is true, gave not much heed to this bewitchment of nature, +with the one exception of Meredith; Flora and Esther were +in a contented state of practical well-being which had no +sentiment in it; Maggie and her dog were a pair for jocund +spirits and thoughtless delight-taking. They both went +bounding about, very much taken up with each other; +while Meredith pulled the cart steadily on and feasted +mentally on every step of the way. The road brought them +soon to the neighbourhood of the river again, and ran along +a grassy bank which sloped gently down to the edge of the +water. The green sward was dotted with columnar red +cedars, growing to a height of thirty feet, with a diameter +of two or two and a half all the way, straight as a pillar. +On the other hand a low, rocky height grown with oaks and +hemlocks overhung the valley, and the rocky ridge seemed +to sweep round to the front of them in a wide amphitheatre, +giving a sky-line of variegated colour, soft and glowing under +the haze. Travelling on, they got next into a wood and lost +the river. Here all was wild; the ground strewn with rock +and encumbered with low growth of huckleberry bushes, +brambles, and ferns. The road, however, was good; and +Meredith drew the cart without any difficulty. After a time +the ground began to rise, for, in fact, they were approaching +the further end of the rocky ridge before mentioned, where +it swept round to the river. Midway of the height the hill +shelved into a wide plateau or terrace; at the back of it the +sharp, rocky hillside, in front of it a green slope leading +down to the river. The ground on the plateau was gravelly +and poor; it gave foothold to little beside white and yellow +pines, which in places stood thick, in other places parted<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[65]</a></span> +and opened for spaces of mossy turf, where the too shallow +soil would not nourish them. Here, there was a wild wilderness +of natural beauty. Now and then a lovely low-growing +white pine spreading abroad its bluish-green branches; +in other parts scraggy, tall-shooting specimens of the yellow +variety; at the hill-foot and on the rocky hillside golden +hickories and brown oaks and flaunting maples. The turf +was dry and warm, being in fact half moss; the openings +and glades allured the party from one sweet resting spot +into another.</p> + +<p>"We may as well stop here," said Flora at last. "We +might go round and round all day, it is all so pretty. We +must stop somewhere, if we are to have any reading."</p> + +<p>"Let us go over yonder to the edge of the bank," said +Meredith, "where we can have a view of the river."</p> + +<p>At the edge of the bank the cedars began to occupy the +ground, and indeed hindered the view, but a few strokes of +Fairbairn's axe set that right, and the party sat down in the +shade of some taller trees with a lookout over the pretty +conical cedars (not columnar here) down to the water, and +across to the green and gold promontory which on the other +side of the river closed the view. The girls got out their +work. Maggie sat down panting after a race with Rob Roy. +Meredith lounged upon the mossy bank and looked lazy. +Presently the strokes of a couple of axes began to break the +silence. One, two; one, two; one, two——</p> + +<p>"It only wanted that!" he exclaimed.</p> + +<p>"What!" said Esther.</p> + +<p>"That chopping. That ring of the axes. It completes +the charm. This is elysium!"</p> + +<p>"We have got to make our bonfire!" said Maggie starting.</p> + +<p>"Wait,—not yet; they have not cut down a single tree +yet. Hark! there it goes, crashing down. They have got +to trim it yet, Maggie, before there will be anything to +burn."</p> + +<p>"And they must cut and trim a good many trees before +there will be enough to begin," said Esther. "It is more +fun to have plenty to pile on at once."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[66]</a></span>"Then we shall wait a good while for our dinner," said +Maggie.</p> + +<p>"Are you hungry? It is only half-past eleven."</p> + +<p>"No, I am not hungry yet, but a bonfire takes a good +while, you know, and I want to get to the reading."</p> + +<p>"Come! we might read an hour," said Meredith rousing +himself up.</p> + +<p>"No, Ditto, that would bring it to half-past twelve, and +that would never do."</p> + +<p>"Well, then, I will go trim, and we'll have the bonfire +going in a few minutes. Where will you have it?"</p> + +<p>Maggie sought out a good spot, while Meredith took his +hatchet and went to work, clearing the lopped branches of +their smaller leafy twigs which were for the fire, and cutting in +two the branches which were not worth trimming. There was +a nice piece of work then to drag them to the bonfire place, +for it was needful to choose an open, free space for making +the fire, where the flames would not mount or be blown into +the tops of trees that were to be left standing, and so scorch +and injure them. No such open space was at command in the +close neighbourhood of the cutting, so the stuff for the fire had +to be transported some distance. Maggie and Meredith worked +away at it, and Maggie called Esther and Meredith summoned +Flora to help; and soon they were all heartily engaged, +and running to and fro with armfuls, or dragging behind +them on the ground the heavy umbrageous branches they +might not carry. Presently Meredith stopped and collected +a little bunch of dry sticks and leaves which he heaped together, +tucked paper under, and laid crisp hemlock and +cedar cuttings on top. Then a match was kindled and +fire applied. They all watched to see it, lighting, crackling, +smoking,—then the slender upshoot of flame—and Meredith +began to pile on pine branches thick and fast. At first +rose a thick column of smoke, for the fuel was fat and resinous +and the fire had not got under way. Redoubling, soft, +black and brown reeking curls, through which the sun shot +his beams here and there lighting them up to golden amber. +"What tints and what forms!" Meredith exclaimed. And<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[67]</a></span> +then another light and another colour began to come into +the others; tiny up-darting shoots of fire, another illumination +rivalling and contrasting with the sunlight which struck +the column higher up. Meredith stood still to watch it, +while even Flora and Esther were dragging more branches +of yellow pine to the fire and throwing them on emulously, +till the pile grew and grew, and Maggie was working her +cheeks into a purple state with her exertions. Half-a-dozen +thick pine branches flung on, and the fire would be stifled +and the smoke rise thicker and blacker, with the sunlight +always catching the upper curls; then crackling and snapping +and breathing, the fire would get hold, get the better, +mount through the thick, encumbering piney foliage, and +dart its slender living spires up into the column of smoke +again.</p> + +<p>"Do see how he stands!" cried Flora. "Ditto, why don't +you work?"</p> + +<p>"I am looking."</p> + +<p>"Did you never see a bonfire before?"</p> + +<p>"Never such a beauty of a one."</p> + +<p>"Beauty!" said Flora, coming to his side to look—"where +is the beauty? It is just a good fire. You are a ridiculous +boy, Meredith. Go to work."</p> + +<p>"Oh, don't you think it is pretty?" cried Maggie, throwing +down her last burden and panting. "I think it is <i>lovely</i>! +And do you smell how sweet it is, Flora?"</p> + +<p>"She is a poor girl without nose or eyes," said Meredith. +"Well, here goes!"</p> + +<p>Taking hold of the work again, his powerful arms flung +the branches and tops of pine on the burning heap, while +the girls ran for more. It took a strong arm now, for the +fire was so large and so fierce that one could not come nigh +it. Meredith kept the girls all at a distance and himself +fed the flames, till all the present stock of fuel was laid on, +and the wood-choppers went off to their dinner. There was +no more to be done then but to watch the show, and as the +fire began to lessen and die down, find a spot where the tea-kettle +might be set, at the edge of the glowing heap. It<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[68]</a></span> +was no use to begin to read, they all agreed, till they had +their dinner. And soon the coffee could be made; and the +four enjoyed their meal as only those can who have worked +for it. They had their chicken pie and their roasted sweet +potatoes, the omelet they for to-day dispensed with, being +all tired. They took their dinner on the bank, there where +they could look away down to the river and see the hilly +shores beyond on the other side; and Meredith averred +that sweet potatoes never were so sweet before.</p> + +<p>"Such air!" said he; "and such colouring!"</p> + +<p>"And it is just warm enough," added Maggie.</p> + +<p>"Well, I have got cooled off now," said Flora, "but I consider +feeding bonfires to be hot work."</p> + +<p>Then, when dinner was over, and the things packed into +the cart, they arranged themselves on the moss in a delicious +feeling of resting and refreshed langour; the girls took +out their fancy work, and Meredith opened his book. +Maggie, who did not trouble herself about fancy work, +crept close to his side and looked with fascinated eyes at +the strange characters out of which he brought such delightful +things to her ears.</p> + +<p>"'It was about the year 940, according to the chronicle, +that a boy of thirteen or fourteen years old was herding his +father's cattle on the waste land not far from Hermannsburg, +when there came along a splendid train of armed +cavaliers riding their horses proudly. The boy looks with +delight on the shining helmets and coats of mail, the glittering +spears and the stately horsemen, and the thought rises +in his heart—"Now that looks something like!" All of a +sudden the horsemen quit the road, which here wound about +crookedly, and come riding across country, over the open +land where he is keeping his cattle. That seems to him too +bad, for the field is no highway, and the ground belongs to +his father. He considers a moment, then goes forward to +meet the riders, plants himself in their course, and calls out +to them—"Turn back! the road is yours, the field is mine." +There is a tall man riding at the head of the troop, on +whose brow a grave majesty is enthroned, he looks wonderingly<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[69]</a></span> +at the boy who has dared to put himself in his way. +He checks his horse, taking a certain pleasure in the spirited +little fellow, who returns his look so boldly and fearlessly +and never budges from his place.</p> + +<p>"'"Who are you, boy?"</p> + +<p>"'"I am Hermann Billing's oldest son, and my name is +Hermann too, and this field is my father's, and you must not +ride over it."</p> + +<p>"'"But I will, boy," answered the rider with threatening +sternness. "Get out of the way, or I throw you down"—and +with that he lifts his spear. The boy, however, stands +fearlessly still, looks up at the horseman with eyes of fire +and says—</p> + +<p>"'"Right is right; and you have no business to ride over +this field, you shall ride over me if you do."</p> + +<p>"'"What do you know about the right, boy?"</p> + +<p>"'"My father is the Billing, and I shall be Billing after +him," answered the boy, "and nobody may do a wrong +before a Billing."</p> + +<p>"'Then still more threateningly the rider called out—"Is +<i>this</i> right then, boy, to refuse obedience to your king? I +am your king, Otto."</p> + +<p>"'"You Otto? our king? the shield of Germany and the +flower of the Saxons, that my father tells us so much about? +Otto the son of Heinrich the Saxon? No, that you are not. +Otto the king guards the right, and you are doing the +wrong. Otto don't do that, my father says."</p> + +<p>"'"Take me to your father, my good boy," answered the +king, and an unwonted gentleness and kindliness beamed +upon his stern face.</p> + +<p>"'"Yonder is my father's dwelling-house, you can see it," +said Hermann, "but my father has trusted the cattle here +to me and I cannot leave them, so I cannot bring you there. +But if you are King Otto, turn off out of the field into the +road, for the king guards the law."</p> + +<p>"'And King Otto the first, surnamed the Great, obeyed +the boy's voice, for the boy was in the right, and rode back +to the road. Presently Hermann was fetched from the field.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[70]</a></span> +The king had gone into his father's house and had said to +him, "Billing, give me your oldest son and let him go with +me, I will have him brought up at court, he is going to be a +true man, and I have need of true men." And what true +Saxon could refuse anything to a king like Otto?</p> + +<p>"'So the brave boy was to journey forward with his king, +and when Otto asked him, "Hermann, will you go with +me?" the boy answered gladly, "I will go with you; you +are the king, for you protect the right."</p> + +<p>"'So King Otto took the boy along with him, that he +might have him brought up to be a faithful and capable +servant of the crown. Otto was allied in the bonds of +warmest friendship with Adaldag, the archbishop of Bremen, +a man who was distinguished for his learning, his piety, and +a lively zeal for the spread of Christianity among the then +heathen Danes and Norsemen. Otto could not confide the +boy who had become so dear to him to a better teacher; +and so he sent him to Adaldag at Bremen. Adaldag, too, +recognised the great gifts which God had bestowed on the +boy, and had him instructed under his own eye by the most +able ecclesiastics; among whom a certain <i>Raginbrand</i> is +especially named, who later was appointed to be bishop and +preacher to the heathen in Denmark, and laboured there +with great faithfulness and a great blessing. In Bremen +Hermann grew up to be a good young man, loving his +Saviour from his heart; but also he was instructed in the +use of arms and in the business of the state, for Adaldag +was at that time one of King Otto's most confidential advisers. +And now Otto took the young Hermann into his +court; and soon could perceive that he had not deceived +himself when his acuteness discerned the boy's lofty nature. +Spirit, daring, and keen intelligence shot in fire from +the young man's blue eyes; his uncommonly fine figure had +been grandly developed by knightly exercises; and, with +all that, he was so humble-hearted, and attached to his benefactor +with such grateful, touching devotion, that Otto's eyes +rested on him with pleasure, and he often called Hermann +his truest friend, even called him "his son." But the loveliest<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[71]</a></span> +thing in Hermann was, that he never forgot his origin: +he showed the most charming kindness to those who were +poor and mean; so that high and low at the king's court +respected as much as they loved him. So he mounted from +step to step, was dubbed a knight, attended the king on his +journeys and campaigns, and the king even intrusted to him +the education of his two sons Wilhelm and Ludolf. +Still later he administered the most important offices of state +to the satisfaction of the king; and often travelled through +the country of the Saxons as <i>Graf</i>, <i>i.e.</i>, a judge.</p> + +<p>"'That is: The judgment of criminal cases, or the tribunal +of life and death, in the whole German fatherland was vested +in the king alone. Therefore at certain times the royal +judges made a progress through the entire German country. +They were called <i>Grawen</i>, from the word <i>graw</i> or <i>grau</i>' +(that means, 'grey,' Maggie,) 'because ordinarily old, experienced, +eminent men were chosen for the office. These +courts for cases of life and death were holden by the Grafs +under the open sky, in public, and in full daylight, so that +the judgment pronounced could be at once carried into +execution. Our chronicle takes this occasion to relate a +story about our Hermann Billing, which sets in a clear light +the pure character of this admirable man. In his journeyings +as Graf, he came also to his native place, to Harm's +<i>ouden dorp</i>. It was then long after his father's death; and +as head of the family he had distributed his seven manor-farms, +as fiefs, partly to his brothers, partly to other +near relations. The great honours to which Hermann had +been elevated had become the ruin of these men; they +behaved themselves proudly towards their neighbours, and +even took unrighteous ways to enlarge their boundaries, +secure in the belief that no one would dare to call them in +question about it, whilst they had such a powerful brother +and kinsman. Now, when Hermann, after the accustomed +fashion, was holding the criminal court on the <i>Grawenberg</i> +(where now the <i>grauen</i> farm lies, half an hour from Hermannsburg) +there presented himself a certain Conrad, a +freiling, that is, a free man, and accused the holders of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[72]</a></span> +Hermann's fiefs, that they had by violent and unjust +means taken from him half his farm and joined it to their +own estates.</p> + +<p>"'Hermann's face, at other times so gentle and kind, grew +dark, and with deep sadness but with a lofty severity he +ordered his brothers and kinsmen to be brought before him. +Conrad's charge was proved to be true, for the Billings could +not lie, even if they had done injustice. And what did +Hermann? When the acts of violence that his brothers +and relations had done were proved, great tears flowed +down the cheeks of the tall strong man, and he cried out +with a voice which his tears half choked, "Could you do +that, and bear the name of Billing!" He said no more, but +was seen to fold his hands and pray with the greatest +earnestness. Then he spoke: "My brothers and kinsmen, +make your peace now with God; we look upon each other +for the last time. You are guilty of death; you must die; +you have doubly deserved death, because you are of the +race of Billing."</p> + +<p>"'The priests, who were always in attendance on the +tribunal of life and death where Hermann was the judge, +came forward; in the grounds of the court they received +the criminals' confession, and upon their penitent acknowledgment +of their sin, gave them assurance of forgiveness +and then the bread that represents the Lord's body. So, +reconciled with God, the seven men came back to the place +of judgment; and after Hermann had again prayed with +them and commended the penitents to the Lord, he had +their heads struck off before his eyes.'"</p> + +<p>Meredith stopped perforce, for a storm of exclamations +burst upon him. "Horrible!" "Frightful!" "I never +heard of such an awful man!"</p> + +<p>"I think he was rather an awful man," said Meredith. +"I have no doubt all ill-doers would have held him in a +good deal of awe."</p> + +<p>"But his own brothers!" said Esther.</p> + +<p>"They were convicted criminals, all the same."</p> + +<p>"But don't you think a man ought to spare his own!"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[73]</a></span>"A man—yes. A judge—no."</p> + +<p>"But a judge is a man."</p> + +<p>"I should think it was very disagreeable for a man to be +a judge," said Meredith.</p> + +<p>"But why?" asked Flora. "I should think it was nice, +just for that reason, that a man could spare people he wanted +to spare."</p> + +<p>"Flora Franklin!" exclaimed her brother. "Is that your +idea of a judge?"</p> + +<p>"It is my idea of a man."</p> + +<p>"But don't you know better? A judge has no business +to spare anybody, except the innocent; his duty is to see +justice done—he has nothing to do with mercy."</p> + +<p>"Nothing to do with mercy! O Meredith!"</p> + +<p>"Not as a judge. He is put in his place to see the laws +executed."</p> + +<p>"Then you think that dreadful old heathen you are +reading about did <i>right</i> to have his friends' heads struck +off?"</p> + +<p>"I think he did just his duty."</p> + +<p>"Oh, <i>do</i> you, Ditto?" cried Maggie.</p> + +<p>"He did not make the law, Maggie; he had only to see +it obeyed. The law was terribly severe; but I think the +judge was very tender."</p> + +<p>"O Ditto!"</p> + +<p>"He was what you call a true man. He was no heathen, +Flora. But nothing would make him budge from the right. +I think he was magnificent. I wonder how many men could +be found nowadays who would be faithful to duty at such +a cost."</p> + +<p>"You have strange notions of duty!" said his sister.</p> + +<p>"I am afraid you have imperfect notions of faithfulness."</p> + +<p>"Well, go on. I have no opinion of religion that is not +kind."</p> + +<p>"The religion that is from above 'is <i>first</i> pure, then peaceable,'" +said Meredith.</p> + +<p>"Go on," said Flora. "I suppose you would cut my head<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[74]</a></span> +off, if you were judge, and I had done something you thought +deserved it."</p> + +<p>"If the law said you deserved it. But I think I would +give my head in that case for yours, Flora. It would be +easier."</p> + +<p>"What good would that do?"</p> + +<p>"Keep the law unbroken and save you. Well, I will go +on with my story—</p> + +<p>"'When the sitting of the court was ended he sent his +retinue to find quarters in the other six of his manors, but +he himself passed the night at the principal manor-house +on the Oerze, which he had himself built, called the <i>Bondenhof</i>, +that is, the "peasant's manor;" for in old Saxon <i>Bond</i> +meant a free peasant. But what a night that was! Sleep +never came to his eyes; he passed that night and also the +following day in praying and fasting. When at last, by the +Word of God and the talk of a faithful priest he had got +some comfort, at least a little, he vowed to the Lord that he +would build a church on this manor, the "Bondenhof," +which should be dedicated to the apostles Peter and Paul, +like the first one built by his forefathers at the Deep Moor, +which in the course of time had become far too small. And +as with him to resolve and to do were always the same thing, +he did not quit the manor till he had laid the foundation-stone +of the new church and given order to have the +building vigorously carried forward. That was in the +year 958.</p> + +<p>"'By this deed of rigid, impartial justice, which nevertheless +was found in beautiful harmony with a tender and good +heart, the honour in which people held him was raised to +such a point, that everywhere they carried him on their +hands, and at his return to the royal court he was received +with wondering admiration. The great Otto folded him in +his arms and called him his most faithful knight, who served +his God and his king with equal fidelity.</p> + +<p>"'Soon thereafter followed Hermann's greatest elevation. +Otto had determined, you must know, in the year 960, to +take a journey into Italy, in order to compose certain<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[75]</a></span> +troubles which had arisen through the godless Pope John. +But now his beloved Saxon country, out of which Otto himself +drew his origin, lay just in the north of Germany; and +was bordered on the north and north-east by the Danes and +Sclaves, but recently conquered, who indeed were in part +nominally Christian, but in part were still heathen, and the +whole of them haters of Christianity. Who would take care +of Christian Saxony in the king's absence, which it was possible +might last for years? Then Otto's eye fell upon the +faithful Hermann, and he had found his man. Hermann +was appointed to the dukedom of Saxony, so that he might +thus supply the king's place and govern in his stead. When +this was made known to the good Archbishop Adaldag, who +was to accompany the king in his journey to Rome, he rejoiced +aloud, and said to the king, "Now we can travel in peace +and have no care; for, O king, you can trust him with the +land, and I can trust him with my church; Hermann with +God's help will protect church and land both." And that is +what the faithful man truly did. In the following year the +king really set out on his journey to Rome, and Adaldag +went with him. Otto set up a stern tribunal in Rome, deposed +the godless Pope John, and made good Leo Pope. +Five years Otto spent in Italy, and wherever he came he +wrought righteousness and judgment, punished the wicked +and relieved the innocent and oppressed; being such a prince +as Germany has had few. In the year 962 Otto was solemnly +crowned kaiser by Leo at Rome, and thus acknowledged +as the earthly head of the whole Christian world. During +all this time, the Saxons might count themselves happy that +they had such a true and valiant duke in Hermann. The +Sclaves ventured again to make a marauding incursion, probably +to try whether in Otto's absence they could not accomplish +something. One tribe of the great Sclavic race, namely, +the Wends, dwelt not on the other side of Elbe only, but also +on this side, as far as the neighbourhood of Melzen. These +Wends, on the hither side of the Elbe, reinforced by a strong +party of their brethren from beyond the river, undertook a +campaign against Saxony; for they themselves were still<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[76]</a></span> +heathen and therefore had a hatred against the Christians. +This hatred was all the stronger because the Saxons under +Otto had vanquished them. In this campaign, so far as +they went, they burnt and laid waste everything, and in especial +their aim was directed against the churches and chapels +and Christian priests; the former were burned and levelled +with the ground, the latter were put to death in tortures. So +it befell with that first church which Landolf had built at the +Deep Moor; it was burned down and entirely destroyed. +Eight priests, who served this church and the chapels lying +in the neighbourhood, were slain, part of them at once, part +of them were dragged to the Wendish idol altar in Radegast, +not far from the Elbe, and there slaughtered in honour of +the heathen god; those chapels were likewise destroyed. +Hermann was just come to Bremen when this news reached +him. He rapidly gathered his warriors, came suddenly upon +the robbing and plundering Wends at the so-called Hühnenburg, +obliged them to flee with great loss, and pursued them +without stay or respite into their own country; whereupon +they sued for peace, and promised they would keep quiet +and accept the Christian religion. He granted them peace, +but went on to destroy their idol temple in Radegast, and +then returned in triumph home. He next applied his whole +energy to repair the destruction which had been wrought, to +rebuild the churches and chapels, and establish priests in +them. And the better to secure the land, and especially +his own beloved inheritance, against the like predatory incursions, +he built strong fortresses, as, for instance, the Hermannsburg' +(<i>burg</i> means a castle or fortress, Maggie), 'the +Hermannsburg, around which now the people began to +build again, who had fled away before the Wends; the +Oerzenburg, the Wiezenburg, &c.'"</p> + +<p>"Then <i>that</i> is how so many names have come to end with +'burg,'" said Esther.</p> + +<p>"Hermann did not build all the castles," said Meredith, +"But yes—that is very much how it has come. In those old +Middle Ages, when the right of the strongest was the only +prevailing one, naturally there were a great many castles<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[77]</a></span> +built. Indeed all the nobles lived in castles, and must. +Just look at the pictures of the Rhine to see what the Middle +Ages were; see how the people had to perch their fortresses +up on almost inaccessible peaks of rock, where it +must have been terribly inconvenient to live, one would +think. I suppose people knew little of what we call <i>conveniences</i> +in these days."</p> + +<p>"Then round the principal fortresses, naturally, the villages +grew up," said Flora. "They would cluster round +the castles for protection."</p> + +<p>"Well, I never thought before that one could see the +Middle Ages through the stereoscope," said Maggie.</p> + +<p>"Pretty fair," said Meredith. "Well, let us go on with +Hermann. 'Through his unintermitting activity all was +soon in blooming condition again, and no enemy dared +to show himself any more. Before his end in the year 972, +he had the joy of seeing the church, the foundation-stone +of which he had laid at the Bondenhof, consecrated on +Peter and Paul's day. That is this same church which is +still standing in Hermannsburg, and in which we hold +divine service.'"</p> + +<p>"O Ditto! is <i>that</i> church standing yet that Hermann +built?"</p> + +<p>"And the very foundation-stone that Hermann laid is +there to this day. I'd like to see it! We have nothing old +in this country. Imagine attending a church that has +stood for nine hundred years! He endowed this church with +a tenth, and gave almost the half of the fields and meadows +of the above-named manor to the Hermannsburger pastor.</p> + +<p>"'Of his remaining great deeds our chronicle says little; +which is natural, as it is and proposes to be only a Hermannsburg +chronicle. In the year 973, the same year that +his great friend and benefactor Otto died, died also Hermann +Billing, the freeman's son who had come to be Duke of +Saxony. About his end the chronicle relates only that he +was sick but a few days; that he wished for and received +the Holy Supper before his death; admonished his son +Benno, or Bernhard, who was his heir: "My son, be true to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[78]</a></span> +your God and your kaiser, a protector to the Church, and a +father to your vassals;" laid his hands upon his head and +blessed him; and then extended his hand to all his +weeping servants who were assembled, commended them to +the grace of God; and at last prayed—"Into Thy hands I +commend my spirit; Thou hast redeemed me, Lord God of +hosts." Then he softly fell asleep, and the same wonderful +sweetness which in life had given such a charm to his face, +in death put a very glory around his brow.</p> + +<p>"'King Otto the second honoured the true man's memory +by confirming his son Bernhard, or Benno, as Duke of +Saxony.'"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[79]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER VII.</h2> + + +<p>"Is that all?" said Maggie.</p> + +<p>"All in this place, about Hermann Billing."</p> + +<p>"I like him very much!" said Maggie drawing a deep +sigh.</p> + +<p>"Notwithstanding he was such an incorruptible judge!"</p> + +<p>"Notwithstanding he was such a hard, cruel man, you +should say," said Flora. "Ditto, you are ridiculous!"</p> + +<p>"It is a great mistake, you must remember, to judge a +man of one time by the lights or laws of another."</p> + +<p>"There's a law of nature," said Flora, "in <i>some</i> people, +which makes them dislike to kill their relations."</p> + +<p>"There is a higher law than the law of nature. Nature +did not prevent Abraham from making preparations to +offer up Isaac. It did not hinder Moses"——</p> + +<p>"I do not know what unnatural thing Moses did," said +Flora; "but I confess to you, I think Abraham acted much +more like a heathen than like a Christian in that event of +his life."</p> + +<p>"Which only shows, that if you had been in his place you +would have failed to manifest Abraham's faith, and so would +have entirely missed Abraham's blessing. 'Because thou +hast done this thing, saith the Lord, and hast not withheld +thy son, thine only son;' then the Lord went on to heap +blessing upon him."</p> + +<p>"I don't see how Abraham could do it."</p> + +<p>"Because he trusted God. It is not <i>trust</i>, Flo, that will +not go any further than it sees why."</p> + +<p>"Ditto, what are you going to read next?" said Maggie.</p> + +<p>"We'll see. Next thing, I think, will be the description +Pastor Harms gives of that old church which Hermann<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[80]</a></span> +Billing built; Hermann the duke, I mean. Don't you want +to hear it?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes. The description of it as it is now?"</p> + +<p>"As it is now. But what a wonderful sort of a church +is this we are in!" said Meredith looking up.</p> + +<p>"Here, this bank, do you mean?"</p> + +<p>"This bank; and these pillars of tree-stems; and these +wonderful Gothic windows of tree-branches, through which +the light comes broken by transom and mullion. And the +incense which fills nature's cathedral. And the stillness. +And the preaching."</p> + +<p>"Don't get highfaluten, Meredith," said his sister.</p> + +<p>"No; that would be a pity, here."</p> + +<p>"I never heard of silent preaching before."</p> + +<p>"The strongest of all."</p> + +<p>"Is it? Well, go on and read. My work gets on best +then."</p> + +<p>"It is too lovely to do anything but look and breathe. +The air is most delicious. And nature seems so wide and +free. I have an odd feeling that I am floating with those +clouds yonder, and flowing softly with the river, and hovering +about generally, like those eagles. Do you see those +eagles?"</p> + +<p>"Highfaluten again, Meredith," said his sister.</p> + +<p>"Well, one good poet has been highfaluten then before +me. Don't you remember, Maggie, something your uncle +was repeating one day? I have never forgotten it—</p> + +<div class="poem"> + +<span class="i4">"'My soul into the boughs does glide.'</span> +</div> + +<p>"It is an odd feeling—but it makes me very rich for the +present. This is the loveliest place! And now you shall +have the Hermannsburg church. So Pastor Harms writes:</p> + +<p>"'It is a great thing indeed, and a beautiful thing, to +know somewhat of the origin and of the history of the +church in which one worships and serves God. When I +step into our church, whether it be for holding divine service +or that I may pray there alone, every time, I feel my +whole inmost soul stirred. The very walk to the church<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[81]</a></span> +through the churchyard is edifying to me. The church at +the beginning was situated upon a little eminence, so that +it was needful to mount several steps to get to the church +doors. Now one must go <i>down</i> several steps from the +churchyard to reach the entrance of the church. How +comes that! Since the year 972 the churchyard has been +the place of burial. The dust of those laid within it has +raised the ground-level, till now the church lies lower than +the churchyard. A hill has grown out of the dust of the +dead, and over this hill I go into the church. Does not this +walk of itself preach in the most impressive way: "Put +thine house in order, O man, for thou must die!" Then, +when I step inside the church, what a new sermon I get! +Since 972 years after Christ, therefore since 880 years ago, +men have worshipped there the Father, the Son, and the +Holy Ghost; have sung in his honour the church's songs of +praise; have thither brought their children to be baptized; +have heard the preaching of the Divine Word there, have +eaten and drunk the emblems of the Body and Blood of +the Lord there, have bowed their knees there, where now I +bow mine! It always seems to me, then, as if the veil were +parted which divides the church up yonder from the church +down below. Where I am, here have those who are fallen +asleep once been and worshipped; and where they are now, +thither shall I go also. So in blessed faith I can cry out, +"A holy Christian church!" Not a place in the world is so +dear to me as the church, my beloved church. I have no +paternal mansion; for I am the son of a pastor, and pastors +leave no inheritance for their children; and yet I have a +Father's house, the best there is in the world, my beloved +church; truly that is God's house, and God is my Father, +and so it is justly and truly my home.</p> + +<p>"'And how wonderfully God has guarded this house of +His. What wars have raged since this house has been +standing, and it has remained uninjured. Since the Thirty +Years' War, Hermannsburg has been four times burned +down; this house has remained standing. Twice lightning +has struck the tower, and so shattered the foundations that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[82]</a></span> +only a little turret stands now upon the riven walls instead +of the slender one hundred and eighty feet high spire which +was there before; but the church remained untouched. +The interior has been altered; the many-coloured paintings +on the arched vault of the ceiling are gone; the many-coloured +galleries have disappeared; in the body of the +church itself gallery over gallery mounts up to the vaulted +ceiling, to give accommodation for the hearers, but the +church itself has remained unchanged. And when I think +of the blessings that have gone forth from this house, what +churches, chapels, and cloisters have sprung from here, in +Bergen, in Wiezendorf, in Munster, in Müden, and the +chronicle mentions many more; yes, when I remember how +from the castles founded by Hermann on the Oerze and +Wieze, the castellans of Oerze and Wiezendorf marched +out so early as with Duke Bernhard, to help bring the +heathen people of Lauenburg and Mechlenburg to Christianity; +must not then the zeal of my forefathers kindle my +own zeal to bring the Lord's blessing, His Word and His +sacraments, to the heathen, to the very ends of the earth? +And now that seems no longer strange to me which seems +strange to so many, that we from this place should have +undertaken to send out a peasant mission. It has not been +our own doing; it has come from our church and our history. +Did the peasant's son Hermann become Duke of Saxony? +Was the blessing of Christianity carried from here into all +the region round about, even into the countries on the other +side of the Elbe? Why should not Hermann's peasant church +preach among the heathen the Saviour who has been their +own so long? May such a primeval blessing only make us +right thankful, right humble, right kind and loving, only +zealous and fervent in spirit. We see well enough that the +Lord can use little things; therefore let nobody despise us +because we are small, and let us have the joy of serving the +Lord with our insignificant gifts and strength, as well as we +can. It is written in the Scriptures, "Destroy it not, for a +blessing is in it!"'"</p> + +<p>Meredith ceased reading, and there was a silent pause of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[83]</a></span> +a few minutes. Crochet needles worked busily, Maggie sat +pondering, Meredith lay back on his elbow on the moss and +looked down at the river. Here and there the soft-pointed +top of a young cedar rose up between, not hindering, only +as it were embellishing the view. In the silence, when the +strokes of the woodcutters halted, little sweet sounds broke +in, every one of them coming like a caress or a murmur of +rest; two crows slowly flying over and calling to each other, +some crickets chirruping nearer by, a little gentle rustle +and lapping of the water, then a bugle-call from the post +opposite. Clouds hardly moved, winds were asleep, the air, +fragrant with the breath of the evergreens, scarcely stirred, +luxuriously warm and still. The colouring, too, in which +all nature had dressed herself, gave another touch of delight +through every object which the eye rested on.</p> + +<p>"What a sky!" said Meredith. "And what air! It's +wonderful."</p> + +<p>"Ditto," began Maggie, "have they a <i>mission</i> in Hermannsburg?"</p> + +<p>"Yes. They have a mission in Africa."</p> + +<p>"Why is it a 'peasant mission,' and what does that +mean?"</p> + +<p>"Why, you see, Maggie, the whole people of Hermannsburg +are just a parcel of peasants, part in the village, and +part, I believe, farming it here and there on the Lüneburg +heath. They are poor people; small farmers, and the like. +They have not much money to give; but when Pastor +Harms had been with them a while and proposed to them +to set about mission work, a dozen men offered themselves +to go. They were already so filled with his own spirit."</p> + +<p>"And did they go?"</p> + +<p>"They had to be put to school first. They were too +ignorant to instruct the heathen or anybody. So they +were set to study under Pastor Harms' brother for three +years. While they were studying Pastor Harms undertook +building a ship which should carry them to Africa. The +ship and the men were ready together about the same +time."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[84]</a></span>"They could not have been a very poor people, I should +think," said Flora.</p> + +<p>"They were, though; but you see, they began by giving +themselves to the Lord; and when people do that, I guess +they generally find that there is a good deal else to give. +Oh, they were poor enough; but it would cost a great deal, +you know, to pay their passage in a ship belonging to other +people, and the freight on all the goods they must carry, +for they were going out not merely to preach, but to +establish a colony and live among the heathen. And then, +whenever new recruits for the mission were sent out, the +expense would have to be incurred over again, so they +thought the cheapest way in the end would be to build +their own ship."</p> + +<p>"And they did build it?" said Maggie.</p> + +<p>"Certainly. The good ship 'Candace.' And everybody +helped in some way. The shoemakers made shoes, and the +tailors made clothes, to go out with the mission; the women +knitted and sewed. Do you want to hear what Pastor +Harms says about it?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, Ditto, please!"</p> + +<p>"Yes, read on—anything," said Flora.</p> + +<p>"Two men of the first twelve had died, and two others +had proved false. Eight left, to whom another eight joined +themselves, who would go out as colonists. Now I will +read:—</p> + +<p>"'So by God's grace, everything was ready. And now +one should have seen the busy industry, the lively expectation, +the gleesome bustle, as the last hand, I may say, was +put to everything. In the Mission-house, what learning +and counselling and arranging; in the workshops belonging +to it, what smithwork and cabinetwork and tailoring; +how our women and girls sewed! Our village shoemaker +worked with his might at the foot-gear to be taken along; +our village cooper did the same at the great water casks for +the ship; my brother went out with the Mission pupils in +leisure hours and picked berries which were to be taken +along. Here people brought dried apples, pears and plums;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[85]</a></span> +there buckwheat and buckwheat groats; here rye, flour, +peas, wheat; there sides of bacon, hams, and sausages. +Then again house-furnishing articles, tools, heather brooms, +trumpets and horns, even live hogs and poultry, and even +potatoes were hauled along—and all was to go. Even a fir-tree +with its roots was planted in a large pot filled with +earth, in order that on the ocean the travellers might light +up a Christmas-tree. Then again came packages of linen +made up, and of stuff. And there was a great deal that +never came to Hermannsburg. Whatever was prepared on +the other side of the Elbe, in Hamburg, Lübeck, Haide, +&c., was kept in Hamburg, and we never saw it at all. In +Hamburg alone there were handed over from female friends +of the Mission, one hundred and twenty-eight cotton shirts, +all finished and ready; from Haide forty striped shirts for +the natives; from Lübeck and Mechlenburg, besides beautiful +under-linen, all sorts of pictures and little things for +the heathen; from some children here came writing boxes, +pens, and writing books for the heathen children. Also +from here, from Osnabrück, Schaumburg, Lüneburg, Bremen, +and neighbourhood, whole rolls of linen cloth. There was +a stir and spring of love that moved people's hearts. Every +one of the emigrants was to take a gun with him, for in +East Africa there are a great many wild beasts, lions, +elephants, serpents, &c. Scarcely had this become known, +when guns, rifles, double-barrelled rifles, pistols, and daggers +came in, till we had enough to leave some for a future party +that might be sent out. Then would come our harbourmaster, +or our captain, from Harburg, to arrange this or +that; then our pupils journeyed to Harburg to bring +money for the ship. One hardly knew where his head +was.'"</p> + +<p>"Well, did they go to Africa, Ditto?"</p> + +<p>"The colonists and missionaries; yes, sixteen of them."</p> + +<p>"Whereabouts in Africa?"</p> + +<p>"The east coast, about Natal."</p> + +<p>"I haven't the least idea where Natal is."</p> + +<p>"You would do well to look it out on the map."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[86]</a></span>"And are they there yet, Ditto?"</p> + +<p>"They went in the year 1853. It is not likely they are +all there now. But others followed them, Maggie, year after +year, till now there are, I believe, between twenty and thirty +stations where they are settled."</p> + +<p>"All from Hermannsburg! Ditto, it is very curious! So +many years ago, Hermann's castles sent out soldiers to bring +heathen Mechlenburg to the Christian religion; and now +Mechlenburg gives shirts and pictures for Hermannsburg to +send to other heathen in Africa."</p> + +<p>"What sort of heathen people are those they went to?" +Esther asked.</p> + +<p>"Quite a good sort. Here is a description of them, +written by one of the brethren who sailed in that first trip +of the 'Candace':—</p> + +<p>"'I cannot make it out how the heathen can be as they +are, although they are day and night before my eyes. They +are powerful, muscular men, with open faces and sparkling +eyes; they all go either quite naked or with a very slight +covering. A late law obliges them, however, to put a shirt +on when they are going into a city. They live in houses +which resemble beehives, into which you must creep. The +whole stock of valuables which you find in these huts is an +assaghai (javelin), a club, a mat, a bit of wood for a pillow, +and a great horn for smoking. I have seen nothing else in +them. The people have almost no wants. So many wives +as a man has, so many huts has he also, one for each wife, +and then one besides for himself. The women are bought; +paid for with cows and oxen; ten and twenty oxen for a wife. +These become then the man's slaves, and the man, when he +has got a good many wives, hardly does any more work himself. +The women must cultivate the maize and sweet +potatoes, which is almost all the people live upon. Once in +a while they kill an ox; and then so many come together +to eat it that it is all disposed of at one meal. Our German +brethren aver that ten Caffres in twenty-four hours will eat +up a whole ox, skin and entrails and all, which they roast +at the fire; that afterwards, however, they can go fasting<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[87]</a></span> +four days at hard labour. They are fond of adorning themselves +with coral and rings, and snuff-boxes are to be seen +in the hands of both men and women. They cork up the +snuff in their nostrils with a hollowed-out bit of wood, till +the tears run down their cheeks. The women are so hardly +used that a mother with a little five-days-old baby must go +out to work in the hot sun with the baby on her back, and +the father does not concern himself at all about the child. +Of twins, one is almost always killed at once. In short, +they are not much above the beasts in their way of life; and +the worst of all is, they are almost inaccessible to the truth, +and laugh at everything sacred.'"</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[88]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER VIII.</h2> + + +<p>"Well," said Maggie, as Meredith paused, "I should think +somebody ought to go to those people!"</p> + +<p>"Hopeless work," said Flora, stitching away at her +worsted.</p> + +<p>"No, it is not hopeless work," answered her brother. +"As you would soon see, if all the Churches had the matter +at heart like Pastor Harms and his Hermannsburg."</p> + +<p>"Everybody cannot give himself up to such business," +said Flora glancing at him.</p> + +<p>"Everybody ought."</p> + +<p>"O Ditto!" cried Maggie, "do you think <i>everybody</i> +ought to go to Africa?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Flora; "that is just about what he thinks."</p> + +<p>"No, Maggie," said Meredith, "neither to Africa nor to +other heathen parts; not everybody. But everybody can +give himself up to the work of the kingdom, even if he stays +at home. Most people must stay at home."</p> + +<p>"I don't understand," said Maggie with a shrug of her +shoulders.</p> + +<p>"Don't you remember—'Seek ye <i>first</i> the kingdom of +God;'—that's all I mean."</p> + +<p>"'First!'" Flora echoed.</p> + +<p>"<i>How</i> 'first,' Ditto?"</p> + +<p>"Before everything else. The words mean that, if they +mean anything."</p> + +<p>"How before everything else?"</p> + +<p>"See, Maggie. Suppose you and I have"——</p> + +<p>"Now, Ditto, stop!" said his sister. "I do not want to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[89]</a></span> +hear any of that stuff. What is it to Maggie? And Essie +and I do not care about it."</p> + +<p>"And there comes Fenton," added Esther, springing up +to go and meet him. For Fenton it was, bounding up the +bank at their left.</p> + +<p>Fenton was grown a good deal since our last sight of him; +otherwise not much changed. A handsome boy, with a +good figure and a bright eye, and also the old, somewhat +supercilious upper lip. But he was glad to get home, and +greeted the party cordially enough; then, however, began +to criticise.</p> + +<p>"What are you all doing loafing here?" He had sat +down on the bank with the rest, and looked from one to +another.</p> + +<p>"We do not use your elegant expression," said Flora; +"partly perhaps because we are not wont to indulge ourselves +in that particular amusement."</p> + +<p>"What <i>are</i> you doing?"</p> + +<p>"You do not see anything to engage our attention in +what at present offers itself to yours," Meredith remarked.</p> + +<p>"Nothing offers itself to my attention," replied Fenton. +"I don't see anything except our old cart. Anything to +eat in it?"</p> + +<p>"There is no pie left," said Esther, "for I gave the last +of it to Fairbairn; and Flora drank up all the cream. There's +some sugar in the sugar-bowl."</p> + +<p>Fenton went to get some lumps of sugar, and then stood +looking down at the party.</p> + +<p>"Aren't you going home to dinner?" said he. "I tell +you, I'm raging."</p> + +<p>"Four o'clock," said Meredith, looking at his watch. +"Just the pretty time of day coming now."</p> + +<p>"It'll be dinner-time by the time you get the cart home +and the girls get dressed. What did you come out here +so far for? I haven't had a respectable dinner for six +months. I am going to have some wine to-day, if the +governor <i>is</i> away."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[90]</a></span>"Governor!" cried Esther. "What a vulgar expression +for Fenton Candlish to use!"</p> + +<p>"Wine!" exclaimed Maggie. "You can't have any wine, +Fenton; we don't drink wine any more in <i>this</i> house."</p> + +<p>"What's the matter!"</p> + +<p>"The matter is, papa has emptied his wine-cellar," said +Esther in a rather aggrieved tone.</p> + +<p>"Drunk it all up?"</p> + +<p>"No, no; sent it off and sold it."</p> + +<p>"What was the matter with it!"</p> + +<p>"Why, I tell you," said Esther, "it is thought improper +for good people to drink wine."</p> + +<p>Fenton's face was rather funny to see, there was such a +blank dismay in it.</p> + +<p>"And did mamma give in to that?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know what mamma thought," said Esther; +"but papa sold the wine; and our dinner-table does not +have its pretty coloured glasses any more."</p> + +<p>Fenton uttered a smothered exclamation which I am +afraid would have shocked his sisters.</p> + +<p>"I don't see what <i>you</i> want with wine, Fenton," said +Maggie; "papa never let you have it."</p> + +<p>"Mamma did though," said Fenton. "That's the good of +having two parents. If one is crochety perhaps the other +will be straight. Well, <i>I'm</i> not going to live if I can't live +like a gentleman. I shall send to Forbes to send me some +wine."</p> + +<p>His sisters burst out into horrified exclamations and +expostulations.</p> + +<p>"Papa'll see it in the bill," said Esther, "and he'll be +very angry."</p> + +<p>"Uncle Eden is coming," said Maggie, "and it will be no +use. He'd throw it into the river."</p> + +<p>"Uncle Eden coming?"</p> + +<p>The girls nodded.</p> + +<p>"If I had known that <i>I</i> wouldn't have come!" said +Fenton looking very dark.</p> + +<p>"I'd think better of it if I were you," remarked Meredith<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[91]</a></span> +quietly. "There goes more to the making of a gentleman +than the drinking of wine."</p> + +<p>"What do you mean?"</p> + +<p>"Just that. As for instance—self-control, noble thoughts, +care for others above himself, indifference to low pleasures."</p> + +<p>"Low pleasures!" repeated Fenton. "Do you call wine +a low pleasure?"</p> + +<p>"Well, it brings people into the gutter."</p> + +<p>"Pshaw! not gentlemen."</p> + +<p>"I grant you they are not gentlemen after they get +there."</p> + +<p>"What do you know about it?" said the boy not very +politely. "Did you ever drink it yourself?"</p> + +<p>"I never will again. A gentleman should be a free +man; and wine makes men slaves. I don't choose to be in +bondage. And if it would not enslave me, it does other +people; and I would not give it the help of my example."</p> + +<p>Fenton dropped the subject, but renewed his proposal +that they should return home. So shawls and worsted +work were stored in the cart, and the little book in Meredith's +pocket; and the line of march was taken up. It was +indeed coming now to the lovely time of the day. Shadows +long, lights glowing in warm level reflections, all objects +getting a sunny side and a shady side, and standing forth +in new beauty in consequence; the day gathering in its train, +as it were, to prepare for a stately leave-taking by and by. +Meredith and Maggie, loath to go, lingered the last of the +party; indeed he had the cart to draw, which was heavy, +and needed careful guiding in places over and between the +rocks; and he could not run on with the heads of the +party. And Maggie walked beside him, and put her little +hand upon the handle of the cart which she could not help +to draw. How sweet it was! The light every moment +growing softer, not cooler; the colours more contrasted, as +the shadows lengthened; the bugle notes coming over the +water now and then. Meredith looked, and drew deep +breaths of the delicious air; but Maggie walked along pondering.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[92]</a></span>"Ditto," she began, "do you think <i>everybody</i> ought to +do mission work?"</p> + +<p>"The dear Lord did not give the charge to <i>some</i> of His +people, did He?"</p> + +<p>"But how can they do it? Everybody cannot go to the +heathen?"</p> + +<p>"He said, 'in all the world'—so that means at home as +well as abroad, doesn't it?"</p> + +<p>"Preach the gospel in all the world?"</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>"How can <i>I</i>, Ditto?"</p> + +<p>"You and I, let us say. Well, Maggie, suppose we ask +Mr. Murray? But one thing is certain; those who stay at +home must furnish the money for those that go."</p> + +<p>"Does it take a great deal?"</p> + +<p>"Not to send a few. But how long would a <i>few</i> people +be about telling the gospel to all the world? Suppose one +man had as much as the whole State of New York for his +parish?"</p> + +<p>"He'd never get through."</p> + +<p>"Exactly. And so it is nearly nineteen hundred years +since the Lord gave the command; and the heathen world +is the heathen world still—pretty much."</p> + +<p>"But, then, Ditto—to send a great many people, it +would want a great deal of money."</p> + +<p>"It does. What then?"</p> + +<p>"Maybe people cannot afford it."</p> + +<p>"Let us ask Mr. Murray about that."</p> + +<p>"But, Ditto, what do <i>you</i> think? I know you think +something."</p> + +<p>"Maggie, I think we should seek <i>first</i> the kingdom."</p> + +<p>They were turning into the shrubbery grounds near the +house, and Maggie left the discussion. They were all ready +for dinner, as far as appetite went, and in a little while the +five young people sat down at the board.</p> + +<p>"This is jolly," said Fenton, who took the head of the +table.</p> + +<p>"Roast-beef, to wit?" said Meredith.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[93]</a></span>"Roast-beef is a good thing if you are hungry, as I am; +but I did not mean that. It is uncommonly jolly to be out +of the way of the governors."</p> + +<p>Maggie looked up astonished.</p> + +<p>"'Rulers are not a terror to good works,'" said Meredith.</p> + +<p>"They're a nuisance, though."</p> + +<p>"Only to one portion of society. I hope you do not +class yourself with them."</p> + +<p>"Do you mean," said Maggie, making big eyes, "do you +mean, Fenton, that you are glad papa and mamma are in +California?"</p> + +<p>"No. Only one of 'em. Mamma never interferes with +me."</p> + +<p>"She leaves it to papa to do," said Maggie, with dignity +and sageness.</p> + +<p>"I am glad she does. Shows her wisdom. I can tell +what is good for me as well as anybody else."</p> + +<p>"Always do it, I suppose?"</p> + +<p>"That's just my affair," said Fenton. "There is no use +in putting chains round a fellow—all the good of it is, he +must just break the chains."</p> + +<p>"Do you call papa's commands, <i>chains</i>?" said Maggie.</p> + +<p>"Don't stare, Maggie; nothing is so vulgar."</p> + +<p>"I am glad Uncle Eden is coming, to make you behave +yourself."</p> + +<p>"If he tries it on, I shall bolt," said Fenton. "I am out +for some fun; and if I can't get it at home I'll get it somewhere +else."</p> + +<p>Meredith succeeded in turning the conversation to a +pleasanter subject; nevertheless Fenton's deliverances +shocked his little sister several times in the course of the +dinner. Among other things, Fenton would go down to the +wine-cellar, to see if a bottle or two might not by chance +have been left; and though the key was not to be had and +he came back discomfited, Maggie could not get over the +audacity of his proposition. She was further and exceedingly +shocked after dinner when Fenton proposed to Meredith<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[94]</a></span> +to have a cigar. Meredith declining, Fenton went out +to enjoy his cigar alone.</p> + +<p>"Fenton is grown very wild," said Maggie.</p> + +<p>"Boys can't be like girls," said Esther.</p> + +<p>"I don't see why they can't be as respectable as girls," +said Maggie.</p> + +<p>"They never are, my dear," said Flora. "Comfort yourself. +They will run into what they don't like just to have +their own way; because what they do like is ordered or +advised by some kind friend."</p> + +<p>"Not true without exception, Maggie," said Meredith; +"but there is some truth in it. Don't worry about Fenton. +I don't believe he means quite as bad as he says."</p> + +<p>"But smoking is so disgraceful—in a boy," said Maggie.</p> + +<p>"It is not disgraceful in a man," said Esther.</p> + +<p>"Well, it isn't nice," returned Maggie. "I always hate +to come near that Professor Wilkins, who always talks to +me when he is here. He is kind, but his breath is +dreadful."</p> + +<p>Fenton was not so fond of the company of his cigar but +that he soon forsook it. And then his company indoors was +hardly an acquisition. He talked big of doings at the +school where he was now placed, horrified Maggie by showing +that he was quite as lawless as in old times, and put an +effectual bar to any reading, or talk either, except of the +sort that suited himself.</p> + +<p>"What's up?" he asked at last. "What shall we do to +make the time go?"</p> + +<p>"Time does not need any whip with us," said Meredith. +"He goes fast enough."</p> + +<p>"Oh, we are going out in the woods to dinner," said +Maggie.</p> + +<p>"You were there to-day."</p> + +<p>"Well, we are going to-morrow—and every day. We +have a bonfire, and a nice lunch, and the girls work, and +Ditto reads to us."</p> + +<p>"Jolly slow!" said Fenton. "I can't stand much of that. +I shall go a-fishing."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[95]</a></span>"Very well," said Esther. "And come to us for lunch?"</p> + +<p>"Same place? It's too far off."</p> + +<p>"Then we'll go into the pine wood," said Maggie. "The +pine wood is nice—and the pine needles make a beautiful +carpet—and we want to go to a different place every day."</p> + +<p>So it was arranged.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[96]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER IX.</h2> + + +<p>The same sweet weather continued again the next day; the +air was even warmer still, the leaves of oaks and maples, +turning more and more, were growing browner and ruddier, +and the glow on the hills more deep. The pine wood, +however, which lay behind, that is, north of the house, at no +great distance, was uninvaded by this autumn glow. The +soft, blue gleam of the pines alone stood against the heaven's +mild blue overhead, and pine needles, brown and thick, +carpeted the ground everywhere between the rocks. For +rocks were almost everywhere at Mosswood. Only on the +skirts of the wood one might see a flaming maple branch, or +a golden cloud of hickory here and there, and here and there +a cat-briar vine taking a tawny hue, or some low-growing +cornus putting on lovely tints of madder at the edges of its +leaves. Through the wood the little party wandered, not +knowing where to choose to stop, and Meredith patiently +drew the cart along waiting for orders. At last, on a little +rising ground they found an open space, yet shadowed +enough, from which there was a lookout to the house in the +valley; truly no more than the chimneys could be seen; +and a wider space of blue sky, and the hills towards the +south. This would do. Here were pine needles enough for +a carpet, and a felled pine log gave a convenient seat to +those who liked it. For Meredith and Maggie preferred +the ground and the pine needles. The cart was drawn up +under the shade of a tree; afghan and worsted embroidery +were taken out; shawls were spread; and the party settled +themselves for a morning of comfort.</p> + +<p>"This <i>is</i> good!" said Meredith delaying to open his book.</p> + +<p>"How perfectly delicious this warm smell of the pines +is!" said Flora.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[97]</a></span>"You use strong language, Flo, but for once not exaggerated. +We have not got the sound of the wood-chopper's +axe to-day."</p> + +<p>"I'll tell you what you may hear, though, if you listen," +said Esther,—"the woodpecker—</p> + +<div class="poem"><span class="i4"> +"'The woodpecker tapping the hollow beech-tree;'</span> +</div> + +<p>only there are no beech-trees on the place. You may hear +him on an oak, though."</p> + +<p>"This hazy light under the pines—through the pines—is +bewitching. O October! O Mosswood!" Meredith +exclaimed. "What is so pretty as these autumn woods?"</p> + +<p>"What are you going to read us to-day?" said his sister. +"Don't get poetical."</p> + +<p>"I will read you one or two little bits first, which touch +something Maggie and I were talking of yesterday. We do +not want a bonfire to-day; it's too warm."</p> + +<p>"No; we will make just a tiny little blaze by and by, to +boil our kettle. It would be too warm for a bonfire; and +there are no trees here to be cut."</p> + +<p>"I should think not!" said Meredith looking up at the +blue-green pine needles over his head. "Well, here's a +story for you."</p> + +<p>"Heathen?" asked Flora.</p> + +<p>"No, Christian. 'There was a man, once upon a time, +whom God had richly blessed. He had received a year's +income of seven hundred thalers. Four hundred of them +he needed and used for his house and family wants, and +three hundred were left over. So he thought at first he +would put the money out at interest, and enjoy the comfort +of receiving rents which were growing while he was sleeping. +As he was just setting about this, he read in a mission +paper about the wants of the heathen; and the Sunday +next following he heard a preaching about how the dear +Lord is the safest of all to trust money to, and gives the +best interest. So he made a short piece of work of it, and +sent his three hundred thalers to the dear Lord for the conversion +of the heathen, and said, "Lord, take Thou them; I<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[98]</a></span> +got them from Thee, and there is all this left." "Wife," said +he, when he came home at evening, "I have done a good bit +of business to-day; I have got rid of my three hundred +thalers, and am quit of any care of the money, over and +above." "Then you may thank the dear Lord for that," +said his wife. "And so I do," he answered.</p> + +<p>"'Do I not hear at this point, not merely many a child of +the world, but also many a believer, secretly half saying, +"No, but what is out of reason is out of reason!"—and so +do I see a certain compassionate smile playing about mouth-corners. +But wait a bit; there is something coming that is +more crazy yet. The next year the man was overloaded with +such a blessing, that instead of seven hundred thalers, he +made fourteen hundred thalers, and he did not know where +it all came from. Then what does he do but take the +surplus, one thousand thalers, and send it to the mission. +Is the story true? do you say. You can ask the Lord "in +that day;" he knows the story.'"</p> + +<p>"I like that," said Maggie.</p> + +<p>"Why?" Flora asked.</p> + +<p>"I think it is nice," said Maggie with a shrug of her +shoulders.</p> + +<p>"I don't see it. What good to the man to have twice as +much as he had before, if he must give it all right away +again?"</p> + +<p>"Why, he has the pleasure of giving it!" cried Maggie.</p> + +<p>"And it shows, at any rate, that he did not get poor by his +first venture," said Meredith. "And the Lord will reckon +it 'at that day' as all done for Him."</p> + +<p>"I don't think people are obliged to give away all they +have got," said Flora.</p> + +<p>"Suppose they do not reckon anything they have their +own? The Christians in the early times did not, if the +Lord's work or the needs of others wanted it more."</p> + +<p>"Extravagance!" said Flora. "Just enthusiasm."</p> + +<p>"Come, I will read you another story. But the poor +woman who gave all she had into the Lord's treasury was +not rated as a fool by <i>Him</i>. I will read you now—</p> + + +<p class="center"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[99]</a></span>"'A PROBLEM ABOUT STUTEN MONEY.</p> + +<p>"'Most of you know, it is true, right well what <i>stuten</i> +money is, but certainly all do not. Among us, when people +go to church on Sunday, the children and younger serving +people of the peasants get a groschen to take along, with +which they can buy a stuten, that is, a white roll, at noon +when they come out of church; by the help of which they +can stay in the village and so go to church again in the +afternoon. Now there are a boy, a girl, and an old woman +known to me, who have no other money but the stuten +money they get on Sundays. So each one of them falls to +considering how he or she can do something for the heathen. +And they arrange it on this wise. One of them every other +Sunday eats no roll, and thinks within herself, "I ate as +much as I wanted this morning at home, and I can do the +same again this evening." The two others buy each a small +roll for half a groschen, and lay up the other half-groschen +every Sunday; and when the year comes round, they have +all three of them, counting the festivals, thirty groschen +saved up, and bring them with glad, smiling faces to go for +the conversion of the heathen. And upon being afterwards +asked whether hunger did not often trouble them on Sunday? +they say, they have always felt as if they had had +enough; and, with God's help, they will do the same way +next year.'"</p> + +<p>"What sort of a story do you call that?" asked Flora +when her brother paused.</p> + +<p>"I call it a story of what can be done."</p> + +<p>"And <i>I</i> call it a story of what ought not to be done. +Both the children and the old woman needed their bread +for themselves; it was not good for them to go without it. +And what is a groschen? or thirty groschen?"</p> + +<p>"What are 'two mites, which make a farthing?'"</p> + +<p>"Oh, that is in the Bible."</p> + +<p>"But it was in a poor woman's heart first, or we should +never have had it in the Bible."</p> + +<p>"Well, look at our luncheon," said Flora.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[100]</a></span>"I will look at it when I see it. What then?"</p> + +<p>"Do you mean that we shall do wrong to eat it?"</p> + +<p>"Not at all."</p> + +<p>"How can those people be right and we not wrong?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, Ditto," said Maggie. "I do not understand."</p> + +<p>"Those people must give their groschen or give nothing. +It was all they could give."</p> + +<p>"But we might give more than we do, if we would live +on bread and water," said Flora. "If we are to give all +we <i>could</i> give, our luncheon would come to a good many +groschen, I can tell you."</p> + +<p>"We must ask Mr. Murray. I am not wise enough to +talk to you," said Meredith. "I hope he will come; we are +getting work ready for him. Meantime I will read you another +little story. Maybe we shall find some light.</p> + + +<p class="center">"'AS POOR, YET MAKING MANY RICH.</p> + +<p>"'There was a poor day-labourer who lived by his work +from hand to mouth. He heard it read out of the Old +Testament, that under the old covenant every Israelite was +bound to give to God the tenth of all his incomings. That +went through and through the man's head, and he thought: +Could the Israelites do that by the law, and should not we +Christians be able to do it by the love of Christ? So, +honestly and faithfully, he lays by the tenth of his daily +wages; the Lord blesses him, so that many a time he earns +sixteen groschen a day; and at the end of the year he comes +with his hands full, bringing sixteen thaler twenty groschen +for the conversion of the heathen, and with hearty pleasure; +and he says, "The love of Christ constraineth me so, I have +wanted for nothing."'"</p> + +<p>"Not much of a story," said Meredith, in concluding, +"but a good deal of a suggestion."</p> + +<p>"Suggestion of what?" asked his sister.</p> + +<p>"Duty. Certainly a Christian ought to be able to do +more for love than an old Hebrew did for law; and from +this time I will imitate that old German fellow."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[101]</a></span>"But, Ditto," exclaimed his sister, "a tenth of <i>your</i> +income, you must remember, is a great deal."</p> + +<p>"Not in proportion," said Meredith. "He would want +every one of his remaining groschen for his necessities; I +should not. It seems to me, the richer one is, the larger the +proportion should be that should go to the Lord's uses."</p> + +<p>"I shall ask Mr. Murray to make you reasonable!" +Flora exclaimed. "Stop talking, and go on with your +reading."</p> + +<p>"The next story is about 'One Groschen and Two +Pennies.'"</p> + +<p>"'It is true what the Bible says—"The Lord maketh +sore, and bindeth up; He woundeth, and His hands make +whole." My heart learnt the meaning of this word when a +short time ago I had to expel two pupils from the Mission-house, +who had been led astray by Satan. This gave me +great pain, but it had to be done, for their sakes and for +the sake of the house; and it was somewhat alleviated in +that they came back sorry and penitent and were taken in +again.</p> + +<p>"'To the honour of the Lord I will here speak good of +the balm which shortly after my great hurt He laid upon the +wounds. May it have somewhat of the sweetness of that +ointment which filled the whole house.</p> + +<p>"'Soon after the departure of the pupils was made known, +I had a visit from an eight-year-old boy. He had a groschen +in his hand and a reading-book under his arm. He told me +that he had found this groschen fourteen days before on the +way to church; that he had asked his father to publish the +discovery, and he himself had announced it in school. But +nobody had been found to own the groschen. I said to him: +"Well, what do you think, my child? does the groschen +belong to you? will you buy something with it?" The boy +answered, "No, the groschen is not mine, so I am not going +to keep it. I will give it to the dear Saviour for the poor +heathen children, to get a spelling-book for them." When I +questioned him further, he said that once in the church, +where his father takes him every Sunday, I had said "whoever<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[102]</a></span> +keeps what does not belong to him is a thief; +and"—he added with great seriousness, "you said, a +Christian child must not be a thief!" I received the +groschen now and thanked him. But the boy had not +done yet. He asked me if it were true that two of the +pupils had been expelled from the Mission-house. When +with a sorrowful face I assented, he answered, "You need +not be so troubled about it. You can send me instead. I +can spell already, and I will soon learn to read." When the +little fellow with great earnestness had said that, I could +not help folding him to my breast in heartfelt gladness. +Then I knelt down, and together with him prayed that the +Lord would some time make a true missionary of him. He +went away at last, but could not at first rightly understand +how it was that I had as yet no use for him.</p> + +<p>"'Soon after this, I receive a letter from a dear friend +who had been making a lively stir in the matter of the Mission +among his school and the parish to which his school +belonged. The Lord had granted him access to the hearts +of great and small, and with cordial pleasure he had been +collecting till he should have a full thaler made up, which +then should be sent me. Now he wrote the thaler was +made up, and he sent it, and this was how it had come about. +In a hospital, where he is accustomed to hold devotional +service for an hour, he had mentioned the conversion of the +heathen. The next day came a widow, shoved four groschen +under one of the books which lay on the table, and then, with +a greeting from her children, laid two groschen on the table, +saying, "Now the thaler will be made up!" To this Mission +thaler, which indeed was made up now, a little girl of +nine years old had every Sunday contributed two pennies, +which she received from her mother to buy rolls with. +Some time after, the mother brought the child's two pennies +again, silently; but it struck our friend that she had great +tears in her eyes. The thing was soon explained. The +child had fallen ill. Sunday her mother said to her, "To-day +you shall keep your roll for yourself." "No," the child +answered, "I could not be easy if I did. I promised my<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[103]</a></span> +dear Saviour once, that as long as you gave me two pennies +to buy rolls with, I would give the money on Sunday for +the heathen." How glad that true mother's heart must +have been! She had reason to say, "But what a value these +two pennies had for me! I could not let them out of my +hands at first, for joy." God bless mother, child, and +teacher! The Mission must indeed thrive when such gifts +are offered. From another dear friend of missions, personally +unknown to me, moreover, I received a contribution for +the Mission, in the making up of which both men and beasts +had given their help. The contributors were specially +mentioned, the men at their head; then at the conclusion +followed, "A hen, so much and so much."'"</p> + +<p>"Well, Ditto," said Flora, "I will say, you do read the +most extraordinary stories."</p> + +<p>"Like them?"</p> + +<p>"No, I don't think I do much. Do you bring them forward +as our examples, hen and all?"</p> + +<p>"You might do worse."</p> + +<p>"But, Ditto," Maggie said anxiously, "you do not think +we ought to go without what we <i>want</i>, do you, for the sake +of the heathen?"</p> + +<p>"Ask Mr. Murray that question, Maggie. Whose hat is +that I see over the wall, coming up to the gate?"</p> + +<p>Maggie jumped up to look, and then, with a scream of +"Uncle Eden! Uncle Eden!" sprang away down the path +to meet him. The others dropped book and work and +followed her. The pine wood was screened off from the +shrubbery and pleasure grounds (but indeed all Mosswood +pretty much was pleasure grounds) by a low stone wall, in +which wall a little gate admitted to the entrance of the +wood. By the time Mr. Murray, skirting the wall, had +come to that point, the group of young people had reached +it also, and there Mr. Murray received a welcome that might +have satisfied any man. Maggie threw herself on his neck +with cries of delight; Flora's bright, handsome face sparkled +with undisguised pleasure; even Esther looked glad, and +Meredith's wringing grasp of the hand was as expressive as<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[104]</a></span> +anything else. Surrounded by them, almost hemmed in his +steps, questioned and answered and welcomed, all in a +breath, by the gay little group, Mr. Murray slowly made his +progress along the pine walk towards the present camping +place. He had got the round-robin, yes, and he had obeyed +their summons as soon as he could after clearing away a few +impediments of business; he had made an early start, and +come all the way that morning from Bay House, and he +was very glad to be with them. Now what were they going +to do with him?</p> + +<p>Saying which last, Mr. Murray stretched himself on the +soft carpet of pine needles and surveyed the tokens of work +and play around the spot.</p> + +<p>"From Bay House this morning! And no lunch yet? +That's good!" cried Maggie. "Now, dear Ditto, the first +thing is to give him something to eat. He must be ravenous. +If you'll build a fireplace, I'll make the fire, and then +we can have the kettle boiled in a very little time."</p> + +<p>Mr. Murray lay on his elbow on the pine needles and +watched them as Meredith built a few stones together to +support the tea-kettle, and then he and Maggie ran about +collecting bits of pine and pine cones and fuel generally. +And then there was the careful laying of dry tinder together, +and the match applied, and the blue, hospitable +smoke began to curl up under and round the kettle, and +an aromatic, odoriferous smell came floating in the air.</p> + +<p>"This is better than anything I have seen for some time, +children," he said.</p> + +<p>"Ah, wait!" cried Maggie. "We have got stewed pigeons +for lunch."</p> + +<p>Mr. Murray laughed. "What are you all doing out here, +<i>besides</i> eating pigeons?"</p> + +<p>"We have set out with the determination to live out of +doors," said Flora; "and so we do it. This is the third +day, and it is absolutely delightful."</p> + +<p>"What are you doing?"</p> + +<p>"I see you looking at our worsteds—aren't they pretty +colours, Mr. Murray? Esther and I play with these, while<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[105]</a></span> +Ditto reads to us. And we have laid up a great deal of +work for you."</p> + +<p>"In what shape, pray?"</p> + +<p>"Questions. Somehow, as we read, we get up difficult +questions, that nobody can answer, and that we are not all +agreed upon; and then by general consent we refer them +to you."</p> + +<p>Mr. Murray watched the tiny tongues of flame which +were darting up round the tea-kettle, where Maggie sat +supplying small sticks and resinous pine cones to feed the +fire. The scene was as pretty as possible; Meredith roaming +hither and thither collecting more fuel, and the shawls +and even the worsted lying about, with the gay, young +figures, touching up the gipsy view with bits of colour. He +watched in silence.</p> + +<p>"Mosswood is the most delicious place we have ever +seen," Flora went on.</p> + +<p>"Almost any place is good in October. How pleasant this +veiled light is! What are you about, Maggie?"</p> + +<p>"This is the pot of pigeons, Uncle Eden; we are going +to get them hot. The kettle boils; now would you like +some coffee, Uncle Eden?"</p> + +<p>But Mr. Murray declared himself satisfied with tea. And +in a little while the scene became more gipsy than ever; +except that gipsys are not supposed to indulge in much +refinement of china cups and silver spoons. Everybody was +picking pigeon bones, however; and bread and butter, and +cups of tea, and baked potatoes (which came out hot from +the house, brought in a basket by Fairbairn), and peaches +and pears to conclude with, were discussed with great enjoyment +and amidst a great deal of talk. Fenton arrived +from the fishing to take his share; but I do not think he +was as glad to see his uncle as the others had been; and as +soon as lunch was over he took himself away again. Then +cups and plates and <i>débris</i> were packed away into the cart; +the little fire had burned itself out; fingers were washed in +Eastern fashion, somebody pouring water over the others' +hands; and at last worsted needles and knitting needles<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[106]</a></span> +came into play again, and the circle was made up around +Mr. Murray, who declared himself to be quite refreshed and +rested.</p> + +<p>"Ready for questions, Uncle Eden?"</p> + +<p>"Are the questions very deep?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, Uncle Eden; none of us can answer them."</p> + +<p>"They had need be profound! How did they come +up?"</p> + +<p>"From Meredith's book. Ditto was reading to us some +delicious stories about the old Saxons, and their ways and +their gods; and we have ever so many questions to ask +you, Uncle Eden."</p> + +<p>"Have you any more of those Saxon stories on hand, +Meredith?"</p> + +<p>"Plenty, sir."</p> + +<p>"Then I wish you would go on and read another; and so +I should perhaps get into the atmosphere of your questions. +Besides, I feel like being luxurious and lazy in this warm, +spicy air. Suppose we have a story now, and the questions +by and by?"</p> + +<p>They were all agreed to that. Maggie settled herself to +listen comfortably, and Mr. Murray lay on his elbow and +looked thoughtfully into the reader's face, or into the blue-green +pine wilderness around, or above to the quiet, clear +blue which stretched over all; but if Mr. Murray's body +was resting, I am inclined to think his mind was busy +enough.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[107]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER X.</h2> + + +<p>"'The story that I am going to tell you now shall bear the +heading, "The Hearts of the Children turned to the Fathers." +I read it with a deal of trouble in an old, yellowed manuscript +which the mice had gnawed at. But it bears so +entirely the impress of truth that it may speak for itself, +although the things happened more than a thousand years +ago. I would rather, if I could, give it again exactly as it +stood written in that manuscript; but I am unable to do so, +because I only made extracts from it. I found the MS. in +the library of the Town House at Lüneburg, where I was +staying for a few days just then, and with the permission +of both the burgomasters of the city, I searched the Town +House library through. When later I came to live in +Lüneburg for many years, these and other old MSS. were +no longer to be found; and I heard that a Jew, to whom +the burgomasters had sold a number of old suits of armour +and weapons, had probably demanded to have these manuscripts +into the bargain, thinking that he might in England +dispose of them for a high price. The MS. was entitled: +"Res gestæ Landolfi, Apostoli Salzonum, qui Horzæ ripas +ad habitant;" <i>i.e.</i>, "<i>Acts of Landolf, the apostle to the +Saxons who lived on the Oerze</i>." I have told you already +many things about this Landolf. It has been mentioned +that he built the first wooden church in this whole region +of country, there where the heathen god Woden's place of +sacrifice had been; which place, under the name of the +"cold church," still belongs to the Hermannsburg glebe, +ever since the church was burned down in a predatory +inroad of the Wends, and Hermann Billing built the stone<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[108]</a></span> +parish church in Hermannsburg. I have told you too of +this Landolf, how he had gradually converted the whole +region to Christianity, like a skilful general, consecrating to +the Christian faith for the worship of the true God, precisely +those places where the heathen had been wont to adore +their false idols, so that the triumph of Christianity could +in nothing have been more forcibly manifested than in this +founding of Christian altars and chapels on the very places +where previously the heathen abominations had been +enacted.</p> + +<p>"'One hour from Hermannsburg above on the Oerze, two +little rivers, the Oerze and Wieze, flow into one another. +Such meetings of two rivers are called in High German +Münden, in Low German Müden; so accordingly the village +situated at the meeting of the two rivers above mentioned +bears the name of Müden. Just a little above the place +where the Wieze flows into the Oerze, in the middle of the +latter river, lay a wonderfully beautiful little island, almost +like an egg in circumference, which had a circuit of perhaps +from ninety to a hundred paces. How often when I was a +child have I visited that little island, and stayed there for +hours at a time! In the whole surrounding region I knew +no lovelier place, and it was always a particular delight to +me when I could wander that way. On both sides of the +island the swift-flowing, clear waters of the Oerze went +rushing past, transparent to the very bottom, over the +glistening sands of which, and among the long, thick, green +tufts of the water ranunculus hosts of nimble trout played +and darted about. A little bridge on each side connected +the island with the two shores. If you crossed the bridge +which spanned the left arm of the Oerze, you came into +green meadows and the parsonage garden, which extended +along the left bank of the river, enclosed with a hedge as +high as the trees. If you went from the island over the +bridge of the right arm of the Oerze, you were in the courtyard +of the parsonage, where the pastor's dwelling stood. +This island was entirely framed in with high oaks and +alders; and a number of mighty old oaks, with large trunks,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[109]</a></span> +and lifting their heads high in air, grew on the island and +wholly overshadowed it with their green roof of leaves. So +still it was, so cool, and so secluded, upon this island that +even the fiercest summer had no power over it; it was green +and fresh when everything around it was withered and dried +up by the hot sunbeams. And now as I write this it stirs +me with pain to be forced to say that this island has disappeared! +How can that have come about? It has fallen +a sacrifice to the idol of Utility. The fine oaks have been +felled, and used for building timber; the alders have been +cut down and turned to firewood; the island is no more, for +the two arms of the Oerze have been dammed up, and a +straight river bed carries the Oerze now through green +meadows which stretch along both shores. Yes, these are +beautiful too, these green meadows, and they are very profitable +also at the same time; but the wonderful beauty of +the island is departed, vanished with no trace of it left; +and in the entire valley of the Oerze there is not a place +that can be compared to it. See, my dear readers, this is +what is done by the much bepraised "Enclosings," which +could have originated only in our earthly-minded age; and +which spare nothing, neither right nor usage; respect no +old legend, no old custom; have no eye at all for beauty, +rate everything only according to its utility, and cannot +endure anything round, but favour only straight lines and +sharp corners. Even the very unreasoning beasts mourn +over the way in which the "Enclosings" are carried on. +The valley of the Oerze, once thickly peopled with nightingales +on both shores of the river, now has not a single one +to show; the poor creatures love the thicket, the dim light, +the shade and solitude, where they sing their songs to God +and men; but the new-fangled clearings drive the whole +away together. That is no matter; to be sure their singing +brings no money in.</p> + +<p>"'Well, on this old island in heathen times was the sanctuary +of the god Thor, or Donner, as he was likewise called +by our forefathers. Among these oaks and alders stood his +altar, a big round stone of granite. Near this great stone<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[110]</a></span> +lay a vast number of what are called thunderbolts; for +every thunderbolt that a Saxon found he laid down at +Thor's, or Donner's, altar. Now if you do not know what +thunderbolts are, go to your pastors or to some other learned +folk, and they will tell you, and perhaps show you one. +The learned call them Belemnites. They are longish, round, +wedge-shaped stones, pointed below, growing broader above; +at the point they are quite solid, and have a so-called +<i>Peddig</i>, that is, a fine, round core, as in the middle of a +tree-stem, which, however, is entirely turned to stone; +towards the other end this core grows thicker and more +crumbly, and at last the stone becomes quite hollow. These +are petrifactions of sea animals, which have remained since +the time of the flood. In my childhood the people still +called these stones "thunderbolts," and the belief was +generally prevalent that in heavy thunder-showers such +thunderbolts fall from the clouds upon the earth. That +belief had its origin in the heathen time. It was the belief +of our heathen ancestors, that Thor, or Donner, the son of +their principal deity Woden, was the god of thunder; a +man with a handsome, serious face and yellow beard, whose +blast caused the thunder, and who in thunder-storms drove +through the air in a chariot drawn by goats, and then in the +lightning cast his thunderbolts on the earth, so that men +might fear and honour him. And he was not only the god +of thunder, in the belief of our forefathers, but the god of +justice also. Whoever wished to confirm a contract with +his neighbour, made it before the altar of Thor; and whatever +had been promised "by Thor," could not be taken +back. Also, as people believed, he watched over all laws +and rights in the land; in the taking of oaths he was the +witness appealed to. And woe to him who perverted law +and justice, woe to him who swore a false oath; Thor's +thunderbolt was sure to fall upon the audacious transgressor +and dash him to pieces. And so, from this it came that +every thunderbolt found was laid down at Thor's altar, as +witnesses for the god who guarded laws and rights, and +punished covenant-breakers and false swearers with his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[111]</a></span> +strong hand. He dwelt among oaks, elders, and alder-trees; +for which reason these trees, which were sacred to him, +were always found about the places where sacrifices were +offered in his honour. Our forefathers were known for +their inviolable truth. Even the heathen historian Tacitus +says of them, that the word of a Saxon was worth more than +the oath of a Roman, and that among them good customs +were regarded with more reverence than good statutes +among the Romans. From this you can easily imagine in +what high honour the god Thor was held by our forefathers, +and how sacred was Thor's place of sacrifice. But alas! +the full ferocity of heathenism also came out in the worship +of Thor; for human victims were slain in his honour +whenever, through some failure of faith keeping or breaking +of a covenant, a curse rested upon the community. And +how often may not yonder little island as well have drunk +the blood of slaughtered men!</p> + +<p>"'Now in Landolf's time, when he and the Christian +doctrine had already been received at old Hermann Billing's, +the priest of Thor's sacrificial altar on the island I +have described was a silver-haired old man, whom the MS. +calls Henricus, <i>i.e.</i>, Heinrich, who also for long years had +been a faithful friend of Hermann. However, since Hermann +had become a Christian, Heinrich had proudly withdrawn +from him; he held him to be a covenant-breaker, +and threatened him with the judgment of Thor, which +sooner or later would fall upon him because he had forsaken +the faith of his fathers. Hermann sought an interview with +his old friend, but the proud priest of Thor refused to give +it. Now, when in the great assembly of the people at the +stone-houses, of which I have formerly spoken, Landolf +received permission to declare the Christian faith openly +in the whole country, he did not fail to visit among other +places also the sanctuary of Thor upon this island, and to +preach the gospel to the people who gathered there for the +offering of sacrifices. Heinrich had no liberty or power to +hinder the preaching; but when it was done he came out +as its most decided opponent, and declared in unmeasured<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[112]</a></span> +terms that the Saxons who had turned or who should turn to +Christianity were covenant-breakers, on whom Thor's vengeance +would speedily fall. In flaming zeal, with these +words he lifted one of the thunderbolt stones which lay +beside Thor's altar, showed it to the people, and threatened +that with such weapons Thor would punish the apostates. +Then arose Landolf's commanding figure, and looking at old +Heinrich with a gentle, happy, beaming smile, he spoke:—</p> + +<p>"'"Brother, the Christian's God is better than your heathen +god. See! all this while He, the only true God, has +borne patiently with your heathen ways, has seen how you +slew human sacrifices and became murderers of your fellow-men; +and instead of punishing you for your sins and transgressions, +He has borne with you in great love and patience; +and now still He is not lifting His arm of vengeance against +you, but is saying: 'Children, I have overlooked the times +of ignorance; but now the time of salvation has come, I +open to you my arms of grace and pray you, be ye reconciled +to your God.' But <i>your</i> god knows no love. Hermann +has not transgressed in anywise; he has only become +a Christian; he simply abhors the transgressions +which he used to commit. He proves his love towards you; +he has kept his friendship for you; he has besought you; +'Brother, come let us talk together about our beliefs, and +see whose faith is the right one.' The God of the Christians +has taught him to love like this. But you, you hate +the brother whom once you held dear, who has done nothing +to harm you; you refuse him so much as a friendly +interview; your heathen God has taught you to hate like +this. Men," he went on, turning to the people who stood +around them,—"which is the right God? the God who loves +and teaches to love, or the god that hates and teaches to +hate?"</p> + +<p>"'The people maintained an agitated silence; it had +become as still as death, so that one could hear the very +breaths that were drawn. Thereupon Landolf raised his +voice again, and told the people of the love of our God, who +parted His only-begotten Son from His fatherly breast<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[113]</a></span> +and sent Him down to poor sinners to take pity on them; +and then he went on to tell of the love of the Son of God, +who forsook the throne of His Father, came to men, took part +with their flesh and blood, in the heroism of love went +about among men, followed by His faithful apostles; everywhere +as the Mighty One, God's champion, overcoming +Satan, setting men free who were fast in his toils, opening +the eyes of the blind and the ears of the deaf, making the +lame to go and the sick to be well; even laying hold of +mighty Death with His divine hand and forcing him to let +go his prey; and how at last this true Hero of God, in +order to save the whole captive world from its common +oppression under the evil one, and that He might with justice +and righteousness set them free, offered Himself up for +sinners, for them suffered death, went down into the grave +and Hades to overcome death, hell, and the grave; thence +to rise victorious, and to go back to His Father, and to sit +down again upon the throne of God, from which He had +gone forth. And even there His love and pity never rest; +from thence He is constantly sending out His apostles and +prophets; and has sent me to you. Not to punish, not to +condemn; no, but to pray you, Be ye reconciled to God; +to show you His arms of grace spread to receive you; and +to tell you, Come, for all things are ready; the courts of +heaven where Jesus reigns stand open to you. His blood +has redeemed also you; He will forgive your sins, and has +prepared mansions for you to dwell in. Repent and be +baptized, that your sins may be forgiven, and that you may +be the children of God.</p> + +<p>"'After giving such testimony, Landolf kneeled down, +as it was always his wont to do after preaching to the heathen, +and prayed to the Lord Jesus that He would enlighten +the minds of the heathen by His Holy Spirit to receive the +word of divine teaching, and that He would open their +hearts as once He opened Lydia's; he even had the boldness +to ask the Lord to witness for Himself, as the living God, +among the people there assembled.'"</p> + +<p>"What did he mean? a miracle?" Flora asked.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[114]</a></span>"I suppose, something like the signs that used to be +asked for among the Jews in old time. Not a miracle +exactly; and yet they were miracles too."</p> + +<p>"What, Ditto? I don't remember," said Maggie.</p> + +<p>"Don't you remember how Samuel asked for a sign from +heaven once, and the Lord sent thunder, though it was a +time of year when storms never come. Then Elijah asked +for a sign of fire, and the fire fell and burnt up his sacrifice +with the wet pile of wood on which it lay, and licked up +the water in the trench. Don't you recollect? It was that +sort of sign the Jews used to ask Jesus to give them, and +He never would."</p> + +<p>"I wonder why," said Flora.</p> + +<p>"We must ask Mr. Murray. I do not know. Any more +remarks? or shall I go on?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, go on, dear Ditto."</p> + +<p>"'Landolf rose up, quiet and joyous. It seemed as if +every man were pondering in his heart the preaching and +the prayer; all were yet hanging upon his words, when up +rose Heinrich's three sons, priests of Thor like himself, along +with his only daughter, a priestess of Freija, whoso sanctuary +was situated about three hours further up the Oerze. +They cried in an open outburst of rage,—"Our general +assembly at the stone-houses has led the people astray, in +suffering the Christian preacher to proclaim his Christian +faith. Come over to us here, whoever is true to the gods of +his fathers! Death to apostates, and the vengeance of the +gods!"</p> + +<p>"'The people went over to the side of Heinrich's children. +Landolf stood alone.</p> + +<p>"'Landolf folded his hands in prayer, and looked up to +heaven with sparkling eyes; his heart accepted joyfully the +martyr's crown, with which he thought God would adorn +him. Once more he fell upon his knees to pray, and cried +out in a clear voice, "O Lord, my God, I see heaven opened. +Lord, I come gladly, but bless this people. Bless these my +countrymen; do not charge their sins upon them; bring +them to the true, saving faith of the Christians; make them<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[115]</a></span> +children of thy Church." Then he stepped up to the people +and said, "Put me to death. I go gladly to my Jesus in +heaven."</p> + +<p>"'Upon this, old Heinrich stepped out in front of this +faithful witness of the Lord, and with emotion he had hard +work to keep down, he spoke: "Thou hast a brave heart. +Thou shalt not die a coward's death. I love thee; thou art +a hero, and thy Christ is a hero too. He died for sinners, +thou sayest, and has vanquished death and the grave and +hell. I will see if I can love Him. I cannot yet."</p> + +<p>"'Scarcely had he finished speaking, when Hermann +hastily came up. He had followed after his beloved +Landolf, that he might see what turn things would take; +for he knew that he was gone to the island. He stretched +out his hand to Heinrich, and Heinrich did not turn away, +but grasped it. And then the old man brought them both +into his house. In the meanwhile the sky became overcast +with dark clouds; before anybody was aware, the heavens +had grown black, the thunder rolled and the lightnings +darted. "Thor is driving in the clouds!" cried the young +priests; "he is angry at the Christians!" "The God of +glory thundereth; the Lord is upon many waters; the voice +of the Lord divideth the flames of fire," cried Landolf; and +with Heinrich and Hermann he went over to the island. +The crowd stood there hushed; every eye was fixed intently +upon the black clouds and the flashing lightning. Then +there came a crash through the air, a blinding blaze darted +out of the clouds, passed through the crowd, and shattered +to pieces the sacrifice stone. Not a man was hurt. Then +Landolf called out aloud: "'O Lord God, gracious and +merciful, long-suffering and abundant in goodness and +truth, that forgiveth iniquity and will by no means clear +the guilty!' Brothers, the Lord has spoken from heaven. +It is not Thor that is God; surely else he would not have +destroyed his own altar and borne witness against himself. +The Lord, He is the God; He has shattered the altar and +left you alive; give the glory to God."</p> + +<p>"'The people dispersed. But Heinrich repaired to Hermannsburg<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[116]</a></span> +with Hermann and Landolf, to the dwelling of +the former, and remained there eight days; during which +time he was instructed by Landolf in the Christian faith. +This teaching took deep hold of him; yet more did the +utter revolution in Hermann's domestic life. After the +eight days, he went back with the two to the little island, +and was baptized in the Oerze. And on the spot where the +round stone had been, there was a little chapel built, with +an altar, and on the altar stood the image of the crucified +Christ. This was the second great victory that Landolf +fought for and gained. From that time forward Heinrich +was his faithful helper. All the great influence which until +then he had enjoyed as the much reverenced priest of Thor, +he used now only for the glory of Christ. It seemed as if +the old, grey-haired man had become young again. With +all the zeal of a first love, with all a young convert's ardour, +he witnessed for the Lord Jesus Christ, the mighty Hero, +the Conqueror of Satan and of Thor, who had offered Himself +a sacrifice for men and died a hero's death; and in +crowds the Saxons came over to him, and by crowds they +received baptism from Landolf. His own sons alone +remained hard, and his daughter was unmoved. This +last, Ikia the chronicle calls her, never entered her father's +house again; and the three sons, Tyr, Freyr, and Schwerting, +who had so tenderly loved their father and so deeply +revered him, declared to him now that they were no longer +sons of his, since he was no longer priest of Thor. So then +the venerable old man, sometimes alone, sometimes with +Landolf or Hermann for a companion, every week set out +to pay a visit to his sons and his daughter and preach the +Lord Jesus to them. In the winter he was not to be +daunted by the snow, nor in summer by the burning sands; +leaning on his staff he pressed on through it all. The love +of Christ fired him, and love to his children urged him forward; +he would so fain take them with him to heaven. +He had brought them up in the idolatrous worship of Thor; +if they were lost, it seemed to him it would be by his own +fault. Therefore he made his weekly pilgrimages to them,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[117]</a></span> +since they avoided his house as though it were spotted with +the plague. And then, when he had preached Christ to +them, he went back to pray for them. Yes, he even made +it a persistent petition that the Lord Christ would not let +him die until he had seen his children walk in the Lord's way.</p> + +<p>"'A year and a half went by in this manner, and still the +hearts of his children seemed unimpressible and hard as +stone. But Heinrich walked, preached, and prayed indefatigably, +until at last he gave way before the strain and the +burden of years. Eight days he lay on his bed, and yet +wrestled with God that he would not let him die before he +had seen the conversion of his children. He sent messages +to them, telling them that he was sick; they never came +near him. He sent to entreat them to come and receive his +fatherly blessing; they answered, they did not want it. And +so all hope seemed to melt away. But the Scripture says +with truth, that Love is stronger than Death. And if human +love upon earth is so strong, how great and strong must not +the love of Jesus be!</p> + +<p>"'One morning, Landolf was sitting beside his friend's +couch, trying to comfort him, and, as he thought, to prepare +him for death, when in came Schwerting, the youngest of +Heinrich's sons, and spoke: "Father, Ikia wants you. She +is sick unto death, and wishes to ask you to forgive her; +she sent me to you. But you cannot come," he went on; +"you are sick unto death yourself, and it may be will die +now before Ikia, your child; and oh, she is so troubled, for +she has never seen you again since that day on the island, +and that is her fault!" At this, something like the glow of +the sunlight swept over Heinrich's pale face, and leaning +over to Landolf's ear, he whispered to him: "Pray to Christ +with me, that I may go to Ikia, my daughter, and you will +go along, that I may see her baptized." And Landolf kneels +down by his friend's couch and prays, and Heinrich on his +bed joins in the prayer, and they hold up to the Lord the +word that He had given—"If two of you shall agree on earth +as touching anything that ye shall ask, it shall be done for +them of my Father which is in heaven;" and they doubt<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[118]</a></span> +not that He is the Almighty and living God; therefore they +ask that He will give strength and grace, that Heinrich may +come to his daughter Ikia and see her baptism. And when +they had finished praying, Heinrich rose up from his couch, +bade them bring his horse, begged his friend and his son to +help him to mount, and when he was seated on the beast's +back he went forward, up the Oerze, towards the sanctuary +of Freija, where Ikia was priestess. Landolf on one side, +Schwerting on the other side, led the horse, and supported +the tottering old man. Whoever met the procession joined +it, for God's hand was plainly there, and after three hours +of travelling Heinrich reached Ikia. He found her dying, +but still in full possession of her senses. A happy smile +flowed over her death-white features. "Father," said she, +"the Christian's God is the true God. His hand has been +too strong for me. I have been a godless child towards +you; will you forgive me?" "My child," said her father, "I +have forgiven you, and I have prayed to my God that He +would not let me die till I have seen your conversion and +that of your brothers—till I have seen you turn from false +gods to the living God who has made heaven and earth, who +has died for sinners and made intercession for the transgressors. +I forgive thee, my daughter, and Christ also forgives +thee, if thou wilt be baptized for the remission of sins. +See here," pointing to Landolf, "here is the priest of the +Lord. Let Landolf baptize my child before she dies. Ikia, +wilt thou be baptized?" She said, "Father, will Christ +take me?" "My child, I have received you and not been +angry with you, and I am a sinful man. And Christ, my +Lord, is the Son of God; He died for sinners, and now He +lives, and has the keys of hell and of death. He will +receive thee, only believe." She turned her eyes inquiringly +upon Landolf, and he spoke; "Ikia, it is written in +the Word of my God, 'This is a faithful saying and worthy +of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world +to save sinners, of whom I am chief.' So says the holy +apostle Paul. And Jesus spoke to the thief on the cross, +who had just been reviling him, but now had bethought<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[119]</a></span> +himself, turned, and said, 'Lord, remember me when Thou +comest into Thy kingdom'—He said to him, 'Verily, I say +unto thee, this day shalt thou be with me in paradise!'" +"Then baptize me, father, before I die. I believe that +Christ is the Son of God." And Schwerting went out and +fetched water in a bowl, and handed the bowl to Landolf. +But when Landolf had spoken the prayer over the water, +and was about to baptize Ikia in the name of the Triune +God, then down kneeled Schwerting at the side of his sister's +couch, and from the crowd of people collected before +the open door hurriedly broke forth two tall men and kneeled +down by Schwerting's side; and all three cried out, "Father, +baptize us with our sister!" The baptism was performed. And +when it was done, and over the four newly baptized had +been spoken the Word—"The God of all grace, by whom +you have been born again in the washing of regeneration +and renewing of the Holy Ghost, strengthen you and uphold +you firm in the faith unto the end. Peace be with +you,"—then the voice of old Heinrich, who had sunk on his +knees, came out in a shout of joy. "Lord, now lettest Thou +Thy servant depart in peace, for my eyes have seen the salvation +which I prayed the Lord for, that He would not suffer +me to die before I had seen the conversion of my children." +And when he had said that, he bowed his head and +departed, and Landolf caught the dying man in his faithful +arms. Ikia however did not die; the Lord, who had +quickened her spiritually, gave her also her bodily life +again. She recovered, and her recovery was a new salvation. +For soon after, Freija's altar was broken to pieces, +and an altar was dedicated to Christ on the same spot by +the staunch Landolf, who founded a cloister there, <i>monasterium</i>, +as it was called, from which the place took the name +of Munster. Heinrich's body was laid to rest in the churchyard +at Hermannsburg. So were the hearts of the children +turned to their fathers; and it was not long before heathenism +had disappeared from the valley of the Oerze, and the Lord +Jesus was become the King to whom every knee in the +country was bowed.'"</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[120]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XI.</h2> + + +<p>"Uncle Eden," said Maggie, "do you like Meredith's +story?"</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>"Do you feel like talking now, Uncle Eden?"</p> + +<p>"What about?"</p> + +<p>"But I mean—do you feel like <i>talking</i>—about anything?"</p> + +<p>"Depends on the subject, Maggie. Hark to that woodpecker!"</p> + +<p>"Mr. Murray does <i>not</i> feel like talking, I know," remarked +Flora. "He feels—if he ever feels!—lazy."</p> + +<p>"No, Miss Flora, not exactly. And yet, how delicious +this quiet is!"</p> + +<p>"And the smell of the pines!"</p> + +<p>"And the warm, luxurious air!"</p> + +<p>"And the light through the pine branches, and upon the +coloured leaves yonder."</p> + +<p>"Yes, and the blue of the sky," said Mr. Murray, who +lying upon his back had a good view. "Blue, through the +pine needles. Such an ethereal, clear blue; not like +summer's intensity."</p> + +<p>"I like summer best," said Flora.</p> + +<p>"I like this. But what did you want to talk about, +children?"</p> + +<p>"O Uncle Eden! a great many things. You see, we do +not all think alike."</p> + +<p>"Naturally."</p> + +<p>"And we want you to tell us how we ought to think."</p> + +<p>"<i>You</i> do," said Mr. Murray laughing. "That will<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[121]</a></span> +answer for ten years old. I am sure the others are more +independent."</p> + +<p>"But we want to know what <i>you</i> think, Uncle Eden—about +ever so many things. We have been saving them up +till you came. Ditto wants to know what Christians ought +to do—about some things."</p> + +<p>"And I hope you will tell him, Mr. Murray," said Flora, +"what Christians ought <i>not</i> to do—about some things."</p> + +<p>Mr. Murray raised himself up on his elbows and looked +at the young people around him. It was a very pretty +picture. Fair young faces, that life had not clouded, intelligent +and honest; bright young figures in all the freshness +of neat attire and excellent personal care; the setting of +the green wood, the brown carpet of pine needles, the hazy +October air, here and there the crimson of a Virginia creeper, +here and there the tawny hues of a cat-briar or a wild grape-vine; +stillness and softness over all, the chirrup of a cricket, +the cawing of two crows flying over, the interrupted tap of +the woodpecker, just making you notice how still and soft +it was; and then the bright, living young faces raised or +turned, and waiting upon him. Mr. Murray looked and +smiled, and did not at once speak; then he asked what +subject came first. So many answers were begun at once +that all had to stop; then Maggie, getting the field, said—</p> + +<p>"We want to know how much a Christian ought really to +give, Uncle Eden."</p> + +<p>"Say, rather—how much he ought to do," put in Meredith.</p> + +<p>"Yes," added Flora; "we do want instruction on that +point. Some of us are rather wild."</p> + +<p>"Too big a subject for the present time and place," +responded the referee of the little company. "To-morrow +is Sunday; let us keep it for to-morrow, and come out here, +or to some other place, and discuss it."</p> + +<p>"That is delightful!" cried Maggie clapping her hands. +"Now, what were some of the other things, Ditto?"</p> + +<p>"About the Saxons. But Mr. Murray did not hear our +first story."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[122]</a></span>"Oh, I know. I guess he knows. You do know about +the old Saxons, don't you, Uncle Eden?"</p> + +<p>"I know there was such a people."</p> + +<p>"And you know they were very good and very bad—both +at once; and we wanted to know <i>how</i> they could be so +much worse, and yet so much better, than people nowadays."</p> + +<p>"How 'so much better'?"</p> + +<p>"They told the truth, Uncle Eden."</p> + +<p>"There were no cowards and no marriage-breakers among +them," Meredith added.</p> + +<p>"And then how 'so much worse'?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, they were cruel! they offered human sacrifices; they +were frightfully cruel."</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Mr. Murray thoughtfully; "the contrast seems +strange. They were a noble people in many ways."</p> + +<p>"But Pastor Harms says they are not half so good now +that they are Christians," Maggie went on.</p> + +<p>"If that is true, there must be a reason for it."</p> + +<p>"Yes, Uncle Eden, of course."</p> + +<p>"And that reason cannot be found, in their Christianity."</p> + +<p>"But how is it, Uncle Eden?"</p> + +<p>"Human nature is very much alike at all times, my +child."</p> + +<p>"But the old Saxons were not like the old Romans, Uncle +Eden. The word of a Saxon was better than a Roman's +oath."</p> + +<p>"And the modern Saxons are not like their forefathers," +said Meredith; "at least, according to Pastor Harms."</p> + +<p>"I have no doubt he is right."</p> + +<p>"And Frenchmen are very different from Englishmen," +added Flora.</p> + +<p>"And both from Americans. And the Dutch from all +three. We might go on indefinitely."</p> + +<p>"Yet they are all descended from Noah's sons," Meredith +remarked.</p> + +<p>"It is a very curious subject, and rather deep for some of +the present company. Many things go to make the differences<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[123]</a></span> +between one nation and another. In the first place, +the several families of Shem, Ham and Japheth are all +strongly marked."</p> + +<p>"Are they, sir?"</p> + +<p>"Then, among the tribes of any one family, differences +grow up from many causes. From the sort of country they +inhabit, the climate that prevails, the scenery their eyes +rest on, the ease or difficulty of obtaining food, and the +means necessary to that end; from the religion they believe +in, their situation with respect to commerce and intercourse +with other nations; their habits of life superinduced upon +all these."</p> + +<p>"But the modern Saxons live where the old Saxons did, +sir?"</p> + +<p>"Barely. The country was at that time all one wild tract +of forest and moor, where life had need be of the simplest; +and where it was sustained in great measure by the chase +and by a rude husbandry. No cities, no churches, no +libraries, no merchants, no lawyers, no fine furniture, no +delicate living. Nobody therefore wanted money, and nobody +tried to get it. That makes all the difference in the +world, children."</p> + +<p>"Money, Uncle Eden?"</p> + +<p>"Look at the map of Germany now; run your eye over +the cities. Remember the treasures of art in this and that +gallery; the beautiful old buildings almost everywhere; +the great trading houses; the life of complicated interests, +political, literary, scientific, social, critical, artistic, mercantile; +think of the books, the pictures, the statuary, the +jewellery, the carvings and engravings, the luxurious and +magnificent living. Everybody wants money now, and nearly +everybody either has it, or is working hard for it."</p> + +<p>"Does money make so much odds in national character?" +Meredith asked.</p> + +<p>"It is the root of all evil," Mr. Murray said smiling.</p> + +<p>"But, Mr. Murray, you do not seriously mean that?" said +Flora.</p> + +<p>"The Bible says it, Miss Flora; not I."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[124]</a></span>"But what can you have, or do, that is worth anything, +without money?"</p> + +<p>"Exactly! That is the general opinion. So everybody +is striving to get money."</p> + +<p>"Well, people would stagnate if they did not strive for +something."</p> + +<p>"Quite true. Nevertheless, the Bible award proves +itself. If you examine facts, you will find that the love of +money is at the bottom of nearly all the crimes that are +committed; and at the root of all the meannesses, speaking +generally."</p> + +<p>"Then you would make out money to be a bad thing, Mr. +Murray!"</p> + +<p>"Not money necessarily. But 'if any man <i>will be rich</i>, +he shall fall into temptation and a snare, and into many +foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction +and perdition.'"</p> + +<p>"Then was that the reason, Uncle Eden, why those old +Saxons were so noble, because they had no money?"</p> + +<p>"One reason, I fancy. Along with trade and riches, don't +you see, comes the temptation to underhand and false dealings, +that money may be got faster; and so comes cringing +for the sake of advantage, and flattery for the same. And +then, with luxury comes dislike of hardships, and neglect +of manly living, and people's moral sense gets weak along +with their bodily powers. Self-indulgence drives out the +noble uprightness that was maintained when people feared +nothing."</p> + +<p>"But religion—Christianity?" said Meredith. "That +ought to have made more difference the other way."</p> + +<p>"So it would if it prevailed. But a name is not Christianity; +and the real thing is only here and there. The +wheat in the midst of tares, as the Lord said it would be."</p> + +<p>Maggie drew a long sigh.</p> + +<p>"The wheat must show itself for what it is," said her +uncle smiling at her, "and bear a fine head of fruit, to +rebuke the tares. Your old Saxons, however, were a fine +stock to begin with."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[125]</a></span>"I think I understand this question," said Meredith.</p> + +<p>"I do, too," said Maggie.</p> + +<p>"I am sorry Mr. Murray thinks so ill of money," remarked +Flora.</p> + +<p>"Of the love of it, say."</p> + +<p>"But how can one have it—or not have it, for that matter—and +help loving it?"</p> + +<p>"So the danger comes in. And the difficulty of giving it +all to Christ."</p> + +<p>"O Uncle Eden! you are getting upon another of our +questions now."</p> + +<p>"And we have had enough serious talk for one time. +Leave it till to-morrow, Maggie."</p> + +<p>"Shall I read some more?" said Meredith. "Or have +you heard enough?"</p> + +<p>"By all means, read. This is luxury."</p> + +<p>And Mr. Murray stretched himself comfortably on the +pine needles and clasped his hands under his head, repeating, +"This is luxury!" while Meredith opened his book +again.</p> + +<p>"Another Saxon story, Ditto?" Flora asked.</p> + +<p>"Out of the Saxon chronicles. Yes. 'The story that I +am going to tell you now, happened in ancient times and at +a place called Dageförde.</p> + +<p>"'Our forefathers, the old Saxons, were then divided into +ediling or nobles, freiling or free peasants, and serfs. A +freiling, by name Henning, lived on this farm, in the days +when Hermann Billing was Duke of Saxony. At that time—it +is 900 years ago—our country was already a Christian +country, but still had hard fights to go through with the +heathenish Wends, who made inroads almost yearly into +our Eastphalian land, plundering and killing, and showing +a special rage against the churches and the priests. The +strong arm of the two excellent emperors, Heinrich and +Otto, it is true, kept back these heathen and held them in +awe; but, notwithstanding, they availed themselves of every +opportunity to renew their murderous onslaughts.</p> + +<p>"'Now when once Kaiser Otto was gone to Italy, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[126]</a></span> +staying a long while away, they were minded to profit by +his absence; for they supposed that now they could burn +and lay waste to their heart's desire, and with no hindrance. +So they came with a great host, burned down the churches, +killed the priests, dragged off men, women, and children, +and treasures of booty, and came as far as to this part of +the country. It is told of their frightful rage against +Christianity, that on one occasion they took more than +twenty Christian priests, stripped off their clothes, cut +bloody crosses on their faces, breasts, bodies, and backs, and +then tied them by their feet to the tails of their horses, +which they drove round and round till their victims were +dragged to death.'"</p> + +<p>"It cost something in those days to be a Christian," said +Meredith with something of a shudder.</p> + +<p>"There have been many such days in the history of the +Church," said Mr. Murray. "And yet, it pays to be a +Christian. It did then."</p> + +<p>"I do not see, for my part, how people stood it, there and +in other places," said Flora. "I should think they would +not have dared to confess they were Christians."</p> + +<p>"They could not be Christians and not confess—neither +in those days nor in these days."</p> + +<p>"Why, Uncle Eden?" said Esther, who seldom said anything.</p> + +<p>"You know the Lord's declaration—He will own those +publicly who own Him publicly, <i>and nobody else</i>."</p> + +<p>"But why couldn't they own Him privately?"</p> + +<p>"Will you tell me how that is to be done, my dear?"</p> + +<p>"Why, by beautiful Christian living and acting," said +Flora.</p> + +<p>"Don't you see, if such living could be found among +those who are in name and profession not the Lord's, it +would fight all <i>against</i> His cause and Him? What sort of +confessing of <i>Him</i> is that?"</p> + +<p>Nobody answered, and Meredith went on.</p> + +<p>"'In the meanwhile the valiant Duke Hermann had +gathered his faithful followers and moved forward to meet<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[127]</a></span> +the enemy. All the ediling and freiling were called upon +for such expeditions of war, none other having the right to +bear arms. The ediling served on horseback and the freiling +on foot, and each one brought his own weapons with +him. And Henning, the freiling of Dageförde, was among +the Christian warriors who accompanied the Duke. Not +far from here is the Hünenburg, an extent of heath on +which there are a number of burial mounds. There it came +to a battle between the Christians and the heathen. The +fight was long and bloody; Christ led the one host, Satan +the other. The Christians fought for their faith, the heathen +fought for their prey. Before the battle, Hermann +with his warriors had cast himself upon his knees and besought +the Lord Christ that He would be their leader. +Therewith came the storm of the heathen upon them, +already certain of victory, for they were many and the +Christian number was small; Hermann, in his noble eagerness +to protect his poor people, not having had patience to +wait for further reinforcements. But the Christians stood +immovable, like a wall, and the heathen fell in heaps under +their swords and spears. In the Christian army there were +twelve priests wearing white garments, who bore a white +banner with a red cross; and wherever the fight raged most +madly, thither they carried their banner, singing, "Kyrie +Eleison, Christe Eleison, Kyrie Eleison;" the Christian +warriors dashing after them, joining in the holy song, wielding +their hacked swords, and with irresistible force driving +the heathen back. In vain the heathen sought to slay the +priests and to seize their white banner; every Christian +presented his breast as its bulwark against the foe. Whichever +way the banner turned, victory went with it. Louder +and louder sounded the "Kyrie Eleison," with more and +more valour and joy of victory the Christians pressed forward. +Then one of the Wendish leaders, Zwentibold by +name, gathered once more the bravest of his people to +make a stormy effort for the banner of the cross. His rage +of onset broke through some ranks of the Christians; already +he had penetrated to the near neighbourhood of the priests;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[128]</a></span> +when a foot-soldier from among the Christians manfully +planted himself in his way and thrust his sharp spear against +the heathen's broad breast, so that the coat of chain armour +he had on was broken, and the spear pierced through his +heart. Now there was no stand made any longer; the heathen +fled, and in terror they cried out, "Christ has conquered! +Christ has conquered!"</p> + +<p>"'Duke Hermann looked about him to see the brave +freiling who had done such a deed of heroism; it was +Henning, the freiling of Dageförde. For his reward, Hermann +dubbed the brave man knight upon the field of battle, +and Henning returned to his house as an ediling. Though +but for a little while. For Hermann was minded to profit +by his victory and compel his stubborn enemies to keep the +peace in future. So he pushed on with his army, now +greatly reinforced, into the country of the Wends, and +Henning went with his Duke.</p> + +<p>"'Not far from the Elbe there was a temple of the heathenish +idol Radegast; this temple stood within a strong +fortress, called the fortress of Radegast, where now the +village of Radegast lies. The heathen had collected and +carried to this place all the treasures of the prey they had +seized in their plundering incursions. Hermann resolved +to storm this fortress, and therewith to destroy the bulwark +of heathenism on this side the Elbe. The heathen defended +themselves with the bravery of despair; many +assaults were beaten back, and many a Christian fell in +death before the ramparts of the fortress. The tenth day +of the siege, the Christians held divine service and on their +knees prayed the Lord of hosts to give them victory. Then +they rushed upon the place to take it by storm; and among +the foremost of those who clambered up the ramparts of the +fortress was Henning of Dageförde, who in order to inspirit +the Christians and terrify the heathen set up the field-song +of the Hünenburg—"Kyrie Eleison, Christe Eleison, Kyrie +Eleison!" Just as he had sung it through, an arrow from +one of the enemy pierced his bold heart; he fell to the +ground in death, but as a dying conqueror, who has gained<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[129]</a></span> +the battle for Christ and with Christ. The fortress was +won; those of the heathen who would not yield were put +to death. Hermann dashed away a tear from his manly +eye as he buried the brave Henning, and he said to Hilmer, +Henning's oldest son, a boy of sixteen, who had come along +to the war, "My son, you are early fledged. Your father +was a true Christian and a true Saxon; follow in his steps, +and so long as I live, I will be your father." Of all the +enormous booty which Hermann found in the Wendenburg +Radegast, this noble man kept nothing for himself. One +half of the treasures he set apart, to rebuild with them all +the churches which the Wends had burned down; the other +half he distributed among his knights and warriors. Hilmer +of Dageförde got his share too, and indeed a double portion, +one for himself and one for his father. When he returned +home, he took counsel with his mother what they should do +with it; and they agreed together that it should be used +for the glory of God. They erected a chapel in their own +house, with an altar and all the fittings of a church. Part +of the money was applied to this use, and with the remainder +a chaplaincy was founded in the church at Hermannsburg, +which at that time was the only church in the +whole Oerze valley, with the stipulation that the chaplain +should come every Sunday to Dageförde and hold divine +service in the chapel there. A servant, with a led horse, +must go to fetch him every time from Hermannsburg, and +bring him back thither again. This service at Dageförde +lasted till the Reformation. But when the evangelical faith +was preached in Hermannsburg by the valiant Pastor +Grünhagen, who, as I told you awhile ago in Tiefenthal, was +converted to the pure Lutheran doctrine by an artisan fellow +who read him the little Lutheran catechism, then this service +at Dageförde ceased, because the possessors of Dageförde +held stiffly and firmly by the Catholic faith, and +obstinately rejected the pure doctrine. But now for a long +time there have been lords of Dageförde no more. The +race died out; and when one only of the family was left, +he entered a Catholic cloister, where, in the year 1616, he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[130]</a></span> +died. Then the reigning Duke gave the manor of Dageförde +to the lords of Lüneburg, and they again sold it to some +peasants, after they had divided the farm into two. So +these farms have again become what they were originally—peasant +farms. God grant to the present owners that they +may stand firm and true to the pure faith of our beloved +church, that they may earnestly strive to be genuine Christians +and genuine Saxon peasants; then will it go well with +them and with those that come after them.'"</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[131]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XII.</h2> + + +<p>Meredith paused, half closed his book, was evidently +pondering for a minute, and then exclaimed, "I have +learned something!"</p> + +<p>"Why, so have we all," said his sister. "What now particularly?"</p> + +<p>"I have got a hint."</p> + +<p>"What about? There is no fortress for you to storm, +and you do not want the treasure."</p> + +<p>"I think I should like to have lived in those times," +Meredith went on. "People were in earnest, Mr. Murray."</p> + +<p>"Yes. So are some people in these times."</p> + +<p>"But not the world generally; or only about making +money. <i>Then</i> people were in earnest about things worth the +while."</p> + +<p>"It does seem so from these stories," said Mr. Murray; +"but, dear Meredith, you may be equally in earnest about +the same things now, and with as good reason."</p> + +<p>"Isn't it more difficult, sir, when nobody else, or only a +few here and there, think and feel with you?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, more difficult; or rather, more easy to go to sleep; +but so much the greater need of men who are not asleep. +What is your hint? I am curious, with Miss Flora."</p> + +<p>"The way that fellow spent his treasure, sir. I was +thinking, wouldn't a chapel—that is, a little church—a +little free church, at Meadow Park be a good thing? The +nearest church is two miles off; we can drive to it, but the +people who have no horses cannot, and the poor people"——</p> + +<p>Meredith got a variety of answers to this suggestion. +His sister opened her mouth for an outcry of dismay. +Maggie clapped her hands with a burst of joy. Esther<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[132]</a></span> +stared; and a smile, very sweet and wise, showed itself on +Mr. Murray's lips.</p> + +<p>"Quixotic!—ridiculous!" said Flora. "Isn't it, Mr. +Murray? Ditto has not money enough for everything, +either. A church!—and then, I suppose, a minister!"</p> + +<p>"Is it a bad notion, Mr. Murray?" inquired Meredith.</p> + +<p>"I should think not very."</p> + +<p>"Is it extravagant?"</p> + +<p>"Miss Flora thinks so."</p> + +<p>"Well, Mr. Murray, think what it would cost!" cried the +young lady.</p> + +<p>"Not so much as a large evening party—that is, it ought +not. I suppose Meredith is not thinking of stone carvings +and painted windows, but of a neat, pleasant, pretty, plain +house, where people can worship God and hear the words +of life."</p> + +<p>"That is it exactly," said Meredith.</p> + +<p>"Then I should say that one very fine evening entertainment +would build two."</p> + +<p>"But the minister! he must be paid," said Flora.</p> + +<p>"Yes, and I am not for starving a minister, either," said +Mr. Murray. "But what is Meredith to do with his income, +Miss Flora?"</p> + +<p>"That's just what I want to know," remarked Meredith +in an undertone; while Flora answered with some irritation—</p> + +<p>"He can let it accumulate till he has made up his mind."</p> + +<p>"'Riches kept for the owners of them, to their hurt,'" said +Mr. Murray. "Better not, Miss Flora. Remember, Meredith +is only a steward. 'The silver is mine, and the gold is +mine,' saith the Lord of hosts."</p> + +<p>"Do you mean, Mr. Murray, that we cannot do what we +like with our money?"</p> + +<p>"You can do what you like with it, certainly."</p> + +<p>"But I mean, isn't it <i>right</i> for us to do what we like +with it?"</p> + +<p>"I should like to do that," murmured Meredith.</p> + +<p>"Miss Flora, the question is, rightly stated,—May a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[133]</a></span> +steward use his lord's money for his own or his lord's +pleasure?"</p> + +<p>Flora coloured and pouted. "But that makes religion——Why, +I never thought religion was strict like <i>that</i>. Then it +isn't right to buy jewels or dresses?"</p> + +<p>"Dresses—certainly."</p> + +<p>"But I mean, rich dresses—dresses for company. And +pictures—and horses—and books—and"——</p> + +<p>"Stop, Miss Flora. The servant himself belongs to his +lord; therefore he must make of himself the very best he +can. For this, books will certainly be needed, and to some +degree all the other things you have named, except jewels +and what you call <i>rich</i> dresses. The only question in each +case is—'How can I do the Lord's work best? how can I +spend this money to honour and please Him most?' That +will not always be by the cheapest dress that can be bought, +nor by checking the cultivation of taste and the acquiring +of knowledge, nor even by the foregoing of arts and accomplishments. +Only the question comes back at every step, +and must at every step be answered—'What does the Lord +want me to do <i>here</i>? Does He wish me to spend this money—or +time—on myself, or on somebody else?'"</p> + +<p>"Why it would be <i>always</i> on somebody else," said Flora +looking ready to burst into tears; "and there would be no +real living at all—no enjoying of life."</p> + +<p>"A mistake," said Mr. Murray quietly. "The Lord told us +long ago—'He that will save his life shall lose it; and he +that loseth his life for my sake, <i>the same shall find it</i>.'"</p> + +<p>Flora put up her hand over her eyes, but Meredith's eyes +sparkled.</p> + +<p>"Then you think well of my plan, Mr. Murray?" he said.</p> + +<p>"As far as I understand it."</p> + +<p>"How would the Pavilion do, for a skeleton of the +church?"</p> + +<p>"O Ditto! the dear old Pavilion!" exclaimed Maggie.</p> + +<p>"Why not? I do not want to shut myself off from everybody +now; and I have the whole house—more than enough. +And the Pavilion stands in a good place near the road."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[134]</a></span>Mr. Murray and Meredith went into a discussion of the +plan, and Maggie listened, while Flora after a while resumed +her work and went moodily on with it. At last Mr. +Murray remarked—</p> + +<p>"This is not so interesting to everybody, Meredith, and +we have time enough to talk it over. Suppose you go on +reading."</p> + +<p>"Do you like these Saxon stories?" said Meredith pleased.</p> + +<p>"Very much."</p> + +<p>"There is some more hero about—not Dageförde exactly; +but that same fight, which I think you would like perhaps +to hear."</p> + +<p>"And, Meredith, you did not read us about that minister +who was converted by the catechism," said Maggie.</p> + +<p>"No, that is another story—Pastor Grünhagen. I will +read to you first about the fight at the Hünenburg.</p> + +<p>"'The Hünenburg is situated in a deep dell in the midst +of the heath about an hour from Hermannsburg; and I will +relate to you what I have found in the chronicle about it. +It is nine hundred years now since a hard-fought and +terrible battle took place here, which was fought between +the Christians and the heathen. At that time the pious +and Christian Kaiser, Otto the Great, ruled in Germany +(<span class="smcap"><small>A.D.</small></span> 936-973), who loved the Lord his God with all his +heart. He had gone away out of Germany into Italy, in +order to free a captive queen who was kept in prison there +by some godless folk. But he would not leave Germany +without protection; therefore he made over this country to +Duke Hermann, to govern it and to take care of it. In like +manner Adaldag, Archbishop of Hamburg and Bremen, +who went with the Kaiser, confided his dominions to the +same guardianship. Now the Wends, who lived on the +other side of the Elbe, especially in Mechlenburg, and had +spread themselves abroad on this side the Elbe also, were at +that time still heathen. And now when the Kaiser was +absent, they thought the time was come for marauding and +plundering, hunting the Christians out of their country, or +utterly destroying them. So they summoned up all their<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[135]</a></span> +warriors, and that so secretly that the Christians knew +nothing of it until they came breaking into the country. +As there was nowhere any preparation for defence against +them, they robbed and plundered all that came in their way, +burned down the churches, killed the priests, and dragged +the rest into captivity for slaves. Duke Hermann was just +then in the Bremen territory, from whence he had expelled +the piratical Northmen (the Danes). There the terrible +news found him. In the greatest haste he collected his +warriors to come and save his country. For the Wends had +already penetrated to Lüneburg, as far as this heath, and +had laid everything waste with fire and sword; the +Hermannsburg church was destroyed by them at that time. +Here upon this ground they had made a strong encampment, +and surrounded it with ditches and fortifications like +a fortress; they were from fifty to sixty thousand men +strong, in horsemen and footmen, and all of them alive +with the same enraged hatred of the Christians, and +determined that every trace of Christianity should be +wiped away from the land. In August of the year 945 +Duke Hermann marched hither out of the Bremen country, +over the northern heights of Liddernhausen and Dohnsen. +When he saw himself with his eight thousand men on foot +and two thousand horsemen confronted by the great host of +the Wends, he said to his faithful followers—"We must +fight; whether God will give us the victory, we must leave +with Him." Then stepped up one of his knights before him, +who is called in the chronicle "the brave Conrad," of the +now extinct race of them of Haselhorst, and spoke:—</p> + +<p>"'"Let us get a token from God. I will go forward and +challenge one of the enemy to single combat; so will the +Lord show us to whom He has allotted the victory."</p> + +<p>"'Duke Hermann gave permission. The knight, followed +at some distance by a hundred men, who were to see that +all was done in order, rode alone into the defile and +challenged Mistewoi, the leader of the Wends, to send one +of his people to meet him in single combat. Then stepped +forward Zwentibold, a Wend of giant stature, clad in a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[136]</a></span> +dragon skin and with a shirt of link-mail over it, and on the +head of his helmet the black image of his god Zernebok; +behind him also a hundred men to look on. The Christian +knight first called upon God to be his helper and protection: +"Lord remember how Thou gavest strength to Thy servant +David against the giant Goliath who had reviled Thy name; +so now to-day establish Thy glory among the heathen, and +show plainly that Thou art the true God."</p> + +<p>"'Upon that, with lances in rest, they charged upon each +other; and when the spears were splintered in that first +shock, then it came to a fight with swords, man against +man. Suddenly comes a traitor's arrow from the Wends +flying through the air and kills the Christian's horse. But +their wickedness turns to their own knight's ruin. For as +the Wend gallops up to the fallen Christian, and is about to +cut him down with a stroke from above, up springs the +Christian knight and thrusts his sword in under the other's +shoulder, so that he falls dead from his horse. The victory +is won! But hereupon comes new treachery. For now +those hundred Wends charge straight down upon the +German knight. As his own attendants perceive this, they +hasten to his help, nothing loath; the armies on both sides +close in, and the fight soon becomes general. It is fought +with the utmost bitterness and bravery on both sides till +evening fall. But the Christians all the while press steadily +forward.</p> + +<p>"'While the men wielded the sword, the wives of the +Christians came out to the field, drew away the wounded +and sucked the blood from their wounds (because they believed +that the arrows of the Wends were poisoned), bound +them up, and encouraged their husbands and sons to make +brave fight. A company of twelve priests carried a banner +with a red cross on a white ground. The priests sang, +"Kyrie Eleison!" ("Lord, have mercy upon us!") "Christe +Eleison! Kyrie Eleison!" and the people chimed in. A +terror of God went with them wherever they went and +scattered the Wends from every place where the white +banner came. As one of the heathen leaders with a company<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[137]</a></span> +was making a determined rush upon the banner, the +peasant of Dageförde drove his spear through the chieftain's +coat of mail into his breast. Thereupon the heathen +all fled. And all the Christians fell upon their knees, and +all cried out, "Lord God, we praise Thee!" Then the priests +spoke the benediction over the victorious host. And they +left nothing remaining of the enemy's camp, but destroyed +it entirely, because they would not suffer any heathen +works upon their ground. But the name has remained; for +Hühnen was the name our forefathers gave to all heathen; +that came from the Huns in the first place, who fell upon +the Christians with such heathenish rage. So that place is +called Hühnenburg until this day.</p> + +<p>"'The church at Hermannsburg was rebuilt again after +that time. And soon also Christianity came to the Wends, +and the Lord Jesus was conqueror over them all.'"</p> + +<p>"You read part of that before," said Maggie.</p> + +<p>"Part of the story; but I thought you would like to have +the whole."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I do. But I thought it was Zwentibold that Henning +of Dageförde killed, when he was trying to get at the white +banner."</p> + +<p>"Maybe there were two Zwentibolds; or the story got a +little confused among the old chroniclers."</p> + +<p>"Then how is one to know which is true?"</p> + +<p>"It is difficult, very often, Maggie," her uncle said smiling. +"Human testimony is a strange thing, and very susceptible +of getting confused."</p> + +<p>"What will you read next, Ditto? About the minister +who was converted?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, no," said Flora. "Let the catechism alone. Haven't +you got some more Saxon stories, Meredith?"</p> + +<p>"Plenty. Which shall it be, Mr. Murray?"</p> + +<p>"Saxon, for this time."</p> + + +<p class="center">"'THE REMMIGA FARM.</p> + +<p>"'As in my former narrations I have told of the glorious +victory which with God's help Landolf gained over the old<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[138]</a></span> +priest Heinrich and his children, I will tell you now of a +third victory which the Lord granted him. An hour from +here was a farm which in the chronicle is called the Remmiga +manor; it was inhabited by a free man named Walo. His +wife's name was Odela, sometimes the chronicle calls her +Adela. The name is one, for the word Adel is often written +and spoken as Odel in the old manuscripts. The pair had +a son, who bore his father's name.</p> + +<p>"'As owner of a head manor, Walo was at the same time +priest of the community, which dignity always went along +with the possession of a chief manor among the old Saxons. +All the councils and courts of the community were held +under his presidency; he brought the sacrifices thereto pertaining; +and it is easy to imagine what consideration on all +these accounts he enjoyed. This consideration was still +further heightened by the fact of his knowledge of the old +laws and customs, and by his incorruptible truth and +uprightness. Like Heinrich, he too was at the beginning +a determined enemy of the Christian religion. Landolf +visited him frequently and told him about the Lord Jesus, +but Walo's ear was deaf to the truth of the gospel. He +knew from old legends that once upon a time two brothers, +the white and the black Ewald, who had preached Christianity +among the Saxons, had been by them sacrificed to +their idols. And so, with Saxon tenacity holding fast to +the old traditions, he told Landolf to his face that in justice +he ought to suffer the same fate which had fallen upon +the two Ewalds; and that it could not be carried out upon +him, simply because the decision of the people, taken by +the national assembly at the stone-houses, once taken became +a law, according to which the free preaching of the +gospel was permitted. Landolf did not allow himself to be +daunted by this, but continued his visits and his teachings; +for he observed that Walo, in spite of all that, always listened +with attention when he told about the Lord Christ.</p> + +<p>"'One day Landolf came again to Remmiga. He found +Walo sitting in front of his dwelling, by the place of sacrifice, +where the assemblies of the district were wont to be<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[139]</a></span> +held, still and sunk in his own thoughts. Near him stood +his wife Odela and his little son, who was perhaps twelve +years old. The boy ran joyously to meet Landolf and said—"It +is nice that you have come. I have just been asking +father to let me go away with you; I would like to hear a +great deal about the Lord Jesus; I want to be His disciple. +Mother is glad; and," he whispered softly, "she loves the +Son of God too; but father feels very troubled, and don't +like it; he says he has lost his wife and his son to-day!" +Odela gave Landolf her hand and spoke aloud. "Yes, I +love Jesus; I want to be His disciple; but Walo will have +none of it; and so I too will go with you, that I may hear +about Jesus and be baptized."</p> + +<p>"'Landolf hardly knew where he stood. Until this time +Odela and her son had listened in silence when he talked +about Jesus, but never a word had they spoken. Now they +told him how, while he talked, the Lord Jesus had so grown in +their hearts that they could not get loose from Him again; +and they did not wish to get loose; for they wanted to be +saved and to come into the Christian's heaven, where Jesus +is and the holy angels.</p> + +<p>"'Then up rose Walo, turned a dark look upon Landolf, +and said to him, "Thou hast led astray my wife and +my son with thy words, and now I have no wife and no son +any more. Go out of my grounds; take my wife and my +son with thee; they have no love for me any longer; their +love is for Jesus."</p> + +<p>"'"O Walo!" Landolf answered, "seest thou not yet that +thy gods are dead idols? Dost thou not see that Jesus is +the true, the living God? Jesus has won their hearts; thine +idols cannot win hearts; thou mayest see that by thy wife +and thy son. Let Jesus gain thy heart too. You shall all +three be saved."</p> + +<p>"'Walo shook his head. "He wins not my heart!"</p> + +<p>"'"Then," cried the servant of the Lord joyfully, "then +shall thy wife and thy son win thy heart for Jesus. Thy +wife and thy son desire to be baptized. Thou canst not +hinder them: they are free; they are noble born. I am<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[140]</a></span> +going to baptize them now, this day, in thy presence; for +they believe in Jesus that He is the Son of God. But I +know that thy wife and thy son are dear to thee, and thou +art very dear to them, only Jesus is dearer yet. Let them +remain with thee after they are baptized; do not thrust +them out from thy house. And if, when they are baptized, +they love thee still better than formerly, if they are more +dutiful to thee than formerly, wilt thou then believe that +Jesus is mightier than thine idols? Thou hast often told me +that Odela is proud and passionate, though in all else good +and noble. Now if when she is baptized she becomes humble +and gentle, wilt thou then believe that Jesus can give people +new hearts?"</p> + +<p>"'Walo looked at the glad Landolf with an astonished +face. "Odela humble and gentle!" said he. "Yes, then I +will believe that Jesus can make the heart new; I will +believe that He is God, and I will worship Him."</p> + +<p>"'"Give me thy right hand, Walo," said Landolf; "I +know a Saxon keeps his word and never tells a lie, and +Walo before all others."</p> + +<p>"'They shook hands. Landolf did not delay. He went +immediately for Hermann and Heinrich, and fetched them +to share in his joy and to act as the sponsors. And oh, +how gladly they came! That same evening Adela and her +son were baptized in the name of the Triune God; and +Landolf joyously reminded them that he had promised +Walo his wife and his son should win his heart for Christ.</p> + +<p>"'A year passed away, and on the very day on which +Adela and her son had been baptized, Walo also received +baptism; for the Christianised Adela had become humble +and gentle, because Jesus dwelt in her heart; and after +their baptism she and her son had loved the husband and +father still more ardently, and had been more obedient to +him than before. Walo confessed, "they are better than I." +Oh, the Christian walk, the Christian walk! how mighty it +is to convert! The walk of Christians is the living preaching +of the living God.</p> + +<p>"'And now a Christian chapel was erected by Walo at<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[141]</a></span> +Remmiga, on the place of sacrifice; and around the chapel +there rose up a Christian village, which established itself +upon his soil and territory; a brook ran through the new +village, which was therefore called Bekedorf, and is called +so at the present day; it lies in the parish of Hermannsburg. +The chapel stood till the Thirty Years' War; it was +burnt down then by Tilly's marauders, and has never been +built up again. But there is more of the story. Walo died +old and full of days, in the arms of his wife and son. Landolf +had gone home long before, and so had old Hermann +and Heinrich. But the young Walo had grown to be the +most faithful friend of Hermann's son, who was also named +Hermann, and who by Kaiser Otto the Great was made +Duke of Saxony. So then, when Hermann Billing was +made the Kaiser's lieutenant of the kingdom in Northern +Germany, upon occasion of Otto's journey into Italy, Hermann +made his faithful Walo a graf, that is, one of the +chief judges of the country; and he travelled about and +wrought justice and righteousness, and was, as the Scripture +says of an upright judge, "for a terror to evil-doers and the +praise of them that did well." He married Odelinde, a noble +young lady, who also loved the Saviour, and had been +brought up by the good cloister ladies at the Quänenburg. +They led a happy and God-fearing life, but they had no children. +When now both of them were old and advanced in +years, Odelinde one day was reminding her husband of the +blessing she had received from the pious training of the +cloister ladies; and she asked him whether, as they had +no children, and were rich, they might not found another +cloister with their money, in which noble young girls should +be educated by good cloister sisters. Walo complied with +her wish gladly; for he loved the kingdom of God, and at +that time the cloisters were simply the abodes of piety; +they were not yet places of idleness, but of diligence; not +homes of lawlessness, but of modesty; not of superstition, +but of faith.</p> + +<p>"'About four miles from his place on the river Böhme +lay a wide tract of meadow land, bordered by a magnificent<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[142]</a></span> +thick wood of oaks and beeches. When Walo travelled +through the country as graf, he had often been greatly +pleased with this spot; and it had occurred to him that such +beauty ought not to remain any longer given up to wild +beasts, but should become a dwelling-place for men. This +thought recurred now vividly to his mind. His wife desired +to see the place too. So they went to view it, and decided +to build a cloister there, around which then other human +dwellings would grow up, but the cloister itself should be +the home of pious ladies whose special business should be +the bringing up of nobly-born young girls. The wood was +rooted up' (<i>roden</i> is to root up); 'and on the <i>Rode</i>' (that is, +the space cleared) 'the cloister was built, which thereupon +was called <i>Walo's Rode</i>; about which later the village +<i>Walsrode</i> was settled, which still later spread itself out into +a little city, having the cloister to thank for its origin. +Walo not only built the cloister at his own expense, but also +endowed it for its support with the tithes of the Bekedorf +village, which belonged to the manor. It is but a little +while since the Bekedorfers bought off these tithes.</p> + +<p>"'I must state, however, that in my extracts from the +chronicle there occurs a divergence from the usual dates. +That is, I have formerly read under a picture of Graf Walo +in the cloister church at Walsrode the number of the year +986. In my extracts, on the other hand, it is said that the +cloister was founded by Walo in the year of grace 974, and +consecrated by Bishop Landward of Münden. The last can +be explained by the fact that the valley of the Oerze belonged +to the see of Münden and not to the nearer Verden, and +therefore Walsrode also being founded from hence, must be +consecrated by the Münden bishop. But as to the difference +of the two dates, I can do nothing further to clear that up, +since I am no investigator of history, but have singly written +down what I have found.'"</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[143]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XIII.</h2> + + +<p>"I like that," said Maggie sedately.</p> + +<p>"How curiously near it seems to bring the Middle Ages!" +said Meredith. "The picture of Graf Walo!—and Pastor +Harms has seen it."</p> + +<p>"Why couldn't Walo build a schoolhouse without making +a cloister of it?" asked Maggie.</p> + +<p>"There were really reasons, apart from religious ones," +Mr. Murray replied. "You remember your views of old +castles on the Rhine, perched up on inaccessible heights?"</p> + +<p>"It must have been very inconvenient," said Flora. +"Imagine it!"</p> + +<p>"It would have been worse than inconvenient to live +below in the valley. A rich noble could not have been sure +of keeping any precious thing his house held—unless his +retainers were very numerous and always on duty; and in +that case the lands would have come by the worst. The +only really secure places, Maggie, were the religious +houses."</p> + +<p>"What dreadful times!" said Flora.</p> + +<p>"So these stories show them."</p> + +<p>"Uncle Eden," said Esther, "it is time to go in and get +ready for dinner."</p> + +<p>"Is it? Oh, this pine wood is better than dinner! Look +how the light is coming red through the boles of the trees! +Feel this air that is playing about my face! Smell the +pines!"</p> + +<p>"But you will want dinner, Uncle Eden, all the same, +and it will be ready."</p> + +<p>"Well," said Mr. Murray, rousing himself so far as to +get up on one elbow.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[144]</a></span>"Where shall we go for our reading to-morrow afternoon?" +said Maggie.</p> + +<p>"The Lookout rock," suggested Meredith.</p> + +<p>"Do you like that, Uncle Eden?"</p> + +<p>"I like it all, Maggie. If to-morrow is like to-day, I +think the Lookout rock will be very enjoyable."</p> + +<p>"And then you can look at the sky while you are talking +to us," said Maggie comfortably.</p> + +<p>"Why precisely at the sky?" Meredith asked laughing.</p> + +<p>"Oh, it's so beautiful up there sometimes."</p> + +<p>They sauntered slowly back to the house, through the +sweet pines, under the illuminating red rays which were +coming level against the tree-stems. Then out of the wood +and among the flower-beds and shrubbery surrounding the +house; with the open view of sky and river, purple-brown +and ruddy gold lights flowing upon the sides of the hills, +reflecting the western brilliance, which yet was warm and +rich rather than dazzling.</p> + +<p>"I never saw such a place as this!" exclaimed Meredith +for the fourth or fifth time.</p> + +<p>"The world is a wonderful place generally," observed +Mr. Murray thoughtfully. "Rich—rich! 'the riches of His +grace,' and the riches of His wisdom."</p> + +<p>They were a very happy party at dinner. Fenton, it is +true, came out singularly in the conversation, and gave a +number of details respecting life at school and his views of +life in the world. Mr. Murray's answers however were so +humorous, and so wise and sweet at the same time, that it +seemed Fenton only furnished a text for the most pleasant +discourse. And after dinner Maggie got out stereoscopic +views, and she and others delighted themselves with a new +look at the Middle Ages.</p> + +<p>"What a strange thing it must be," said Meredith, "to +live where every farm and every church has a history; of +course every village."</p> + +<p>"Haven't farms and villages in our country a history?" +Maggie inquired.</p> + +<p>"No," said Esther; "of course not."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[145]</a></span>"A few," said Mr. Murray. "Such New England farms, +for instance, as still bear the names 'Lonesome' and +'Scrabblehard.' But the histories are not very old, and +refer to nothing more picturesque than the struggles of the +early settlers."</p> + +<p>"What struggles?" Maggie wanted to know.</p> + +<p>"Struggles for life. With the hard soil, with the hard +climate, and with the wild Indians. But such struggles, +Maggie, left an inheritance of strength, patience, and daring +to their children."</p> + +<p>"Why haven't we stories like those of the Saxons?"</p> + +<p>"Why!" exclaimed Fenton impatiently, "are you such a +simple? There was nothing here but red Indians till a +little while ago."</p> + +<p>"We have not been a nation for more than a hundred +years, Maggie," said Meredith.</p> + +<p>"And before that, were the Indians here at Mosswood?"</p> + +<p>"No, no," said Fenton. "You had better study history."</p> + +<p>"As <i>you</i> have," put in his uncle. "Won't you tell Maggie +when the first settlements of the English were made in +America?"</p> + +<p>However, Fenton could not.</p> + +<p>"In the beginning of the seventeenth century it was, +Maggie, that the first colonies were established here. The +Dutch came to New York, and the Puritans to New England, +and a little earlier the English colonists to Virginia. We +are a young country."</p> + +<p>"Is it better to be a young country, or to be an old one?"</p> + +<p>"The young country has its life before it," said Mr. +Murray smiling;—"like a young girl."</p> + +<p>"How, Uncle Eden?"</p> + +<p>"She has the chance still to make it noble and beautiful."</p> + +<p>"We can't have these grand old castles, though," said +Meredith, looking at the view of Sonneck.</p> + +<p>"Those are the picturesque scars remaining of a time +which was not beautiful—except to the eye. I suppose it +was that."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[146]</a></span>The conversation took a turn too historical to be reported +here.</p> + +<p>The next day was a worthy successor of the preceding. +All the party went to church in the morning; on account +of the distance, nobody went in the afternoon. Mr. Candlish +would not have his horses and servants called out in the +latter half of the day. The dinner was early; and so then +after dinner the party set out upon a slow progress to the +Lookout rock, carrying Bibles, and Meredith with his little +German volume in his pocket.</p> + +<p>Another such afternoon as the yesterday's had been! +Warm, still, fragrant, hazy; more hazy than ever. The +outlines of the distant hills were partially veiled; the +colours on the middle distance glowing, mellow and soft, all +the sun's glitter being shielded off. Slowly and enjoyingly +the little company wandered along, leaving the lawns and +pleasure ground of flowers behind them; through the cedars, +past the spot where a day or two ago they had sat and read +and eaten their chicken pie. Past that, and then up a winding +steep mountain road that led up to the height of the point +above. Just before the top was reached they turned off +from the way towards the left, whence glimpses of the river +had been coming to them, and after a few steps over stones +and under the trees which covered all the higher ground, +emerged from both upon a broad, smooth, top of a great +outlying mass of granite rock which overhung the river. +Not literally; a stone dropped from the edge would have +rolled, not fallen, into the water; a stone thrown from the +hand easily might have done the latter. The precipice was +too sheer to let any but those sitting on the very edge of the +rock look down its rugged, tree-bedecked side. However, +Mr. Murray and Meredith at once placed themselves on that +precise edge of the platform, while the girls and Fenton sat +down in what they considered a safer position. A hundred +feet below, just below, rolled the broad river; Mosswood's +projecting point to the right still shutting off all view of the +upper stream, while the jutting forth of Gee's point below +on the other side equally cut off the southern reach of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[147]</a></span> +river. The trees at hand, right and left, above and below, +standing in autumn's gay colours; the hillsides and curves +of the opposite shore showing the same hues more mild +under the veil of haze and the distance. Not a leaf fluttered +on its stem in the deep stillness; but far down below one +could hear the soft lapping of the water as it flowed past +the rocks. The stillness and the light filled up the measure +of each other's beauty.</p> + +<p>For a while everybody was silent. There was a spell of +nature, which even the young people did not care to break. +Flora drew a long breath, at last, and then Maggie spoke.</p> + +<p>"Uncle Eden, we came here to talk."</p> + +<p>"Did we?"</p> + +<p>"I thought we did—to talk and to read."</p> + +<p>"Nature is doing some talking, and we are listening."</p> + +<p>"What does Nature say?"</p> + +<p>"Do you hear nothing?"</p> + +<p>Maggie thought she <i>did</i>, and yet she could not have told +what. "It is not very plain, Uncle Eden," she remarked.</p> + +<p>"It becomes plainer and plainer the older you grow, +Maggie,—that is, supposing you keep your ears open."</p> + +<p>"But I would like to know what your ears hear, Uncle +Eden."</p> + +<p>"It will be more profitable to go into the subjects you +wanted to discuss. What are they?"</p> + +<p>"I made a list of them, Uncle Eden," said Maggie, foisting +a crumpled bit of paper out of her pocket. "Uncle +Eden, Ditto read to us some stories which you didn't hear,—it +was just before you came,—about poor people who gave +the only pennies they had to pay for sending missionaries, +and went without their Sunday lunch to have a penny to +give; and Flora said she thought it was wrong; and we +couldn't decide how much it was right to do."</p> + +<p>"It is a delicate question."</p> + +<p>"Well, how much <i>ought</i> one, Uncle Eden?"</p> + +<p>"You do not want to go without your lunch?"</p> + +<p>"No, sir. Ought I, Uncle Eden?"</p> + +<p>"My dear, the Lord's rule is, 'Every man according as<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[148]</a></span> +he purposeth in his heart, so let him give. What you <i>want</i> +to give, that is what the Lord likes to receive."</p> + +<p>"Don't He like to receive anything but what we like to +give?"</p> + +<p>"He says, 'The Lord loveth a cheerful giver.'"</p> + +<p>There was a pause.</p> + +<p>"But, Mr. Murray," said Flora, "isn't there such a thing +as a duty of giving?"</p> + +<p>"There is such a thing."</p> + +<p>"That is what we want to know. What is it? What is +the duty, I mean?"</p> + +<p>"What does the Bible say it is, you mean?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir, certainly."</p> + +<p>"I am afraid you will think the rule a sweeping one. +The Lord said, 'This is my commandment, that ye love one +another as I have loved you.'"</p> + +<p>Another pause.</p> + +<p>"But we were talking of <i>giving</i>, Mr. Murray."</p> + +<p>"Love will give where it is needful."</p> + +<p>"But will nothing but love give?"</p> + +<p>"Not to the Lord."</p> + +<p>"To what, then?" said Flora hastily.</p> + +<p>"To custom—to public opinion—to entreaty—to conscience—to +fear—to kindness of heart."</p> + +<p>"And isn't that right?"</p> + +<p>"It is not giving to the Lord."</p> + +<p>"Well, Mr. Murray, take it so; how much ought one to +give, as you say, to the Lord?"</p> + +<p>"All."</p> + +<p>"And be a beggar!" said Flora quickly.</p> + +<p>"No; only the Lord's steward."</p> + +<p>"That is exactly what I thought Mr. Murray would say," +said Meredith.</p> + +<p>"Then it comes back to the first question, Mr. Murray. +Suppose I am a steward, how much must I give away out +of my hand?"</p> + +<p>"If you are a good steward, your question will be different. +It will rather run thus—'What does my Master want me to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[149]</a></span> +do with this money?' and if you are a loving servant, naturally +the things which are dear to your Master's heart will +be dear to yours."</p> + +<p>"You are speaking in generals, Mr. Murray," said Flora +frettedly; "come to details, and then I shall know. What +objects are dear to His heart?"</p> + +<p>"Don't you know that, Miss Flora?"</p> + +<p>"No, I don't think I do. Please to answer, Mr. Murray, +what are the objects, as you say, dear to His heart?"</p> + +<p>"All the people He died for."</p> + +<p>Flora paused again.</p> + +<p>"I can't reach all those people," she said softly.</p> + +<p>"No. Do good to all those who come within your +reach."</p> + +<p>"What sort of good?"</p> + +<p>"Every sort they need," said Mr. Murray smiling.</p> + +<p>"Do you think it is wrong to wear diamonds, Mr. +Murray?"</p> + +<p>"Certainly not,—if you think the money will serve the +Lord best in that way, and if your love to Him can express +itself best so."</p> + +<p>A muttered growl from Fenton expressive of extreme +disgust was just not distinct enough to call for rebuke.</p> + +<p>"Then I suppose, according to that, I am never to buy a +silk dress that is at all expensive," said Flora, the colour +mounting into her handsome face. "And costly furniture +of course must be wrong, and everything else that is +costly."</p> + +<p>"<i>Your</i> conclusions—not mine, Miss Flora," remarked Mr. +Murray good-humouredly. "It is a matter of loving +stewardship; and love easily finds its way to its ends, +always."</p> + +<p>"And Meredith wants to know what he shall do with +Meadow Park," said Maggie.</p> + +<p>"Yes. Ah, Mr. Murray! do say something to stop him," +added Flora. "Do not let him spoil Meadow Park."</p> + +<p>"To turn the Pavilion into a pretty little church would +spoil nothing, Miss Flora, as it seems to me."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[150]</a></span>"No, but that is not all. Meredith is persuaded that he +must make the place a home for old women, and a refuge +for sick people, and fill it with loafers generally. Mamma +and I will have to run away and be without any home at +all; and don't you think he owes something to us?"</p> + +<p>"I have not decided upon anything, Mr. Murray," said +Meredith smiling, though he was very earnest. "I just +wish I knew what I had best do."</p> + +<p>"Pray for direction, and then watch for the answer."</p> + +<p>"How would the answer come, Mr. Murray?" asked +Flora.</p> + +<p>"He will know when he gets it. Come, Meredith—read."</p> + +<p>"About the man with the catechism?" said Maggie.</p> + +<p>"If you like. It will be a change from the Saxon times," +said Meredith. And he wheeled about a little and reclined +upon the rock, so as to turn his face towards his hearers. +"But what a delicious place to read and talk, Mr. Murray!"</p> + +<p>"Nothing can be better."</p> + +<p>"This story begins with Pastor Harms's account of part of +one of the Mission festivals that used to be held at Hermannsburg +every year."</p> + +<p>"Will that be interesting?" said Flora.</p> + +<p>"Listen and see. I pass over the account of the first +day."</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[151]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XIV.</h2> + + +<p>"'The first day's celebration of our Mission festival was +at an end. It was then not early, but still on until late in +the night the sounds of the songs of praise and thankfulness +were to be heard in the houses, from the parsonage out to +the furthest outlying houses of the peasants, and so it was +also in the surrounding villages; for the parish village could +by no means accommodate all the guests who had come to the +festival, albeit not only the chambers and dwelling-rooms, +but also the haylofts were made lodging-places for the +sleepers. And that was a blessed evening, when so many +brethren and sisters from far and near could refresh themselves +with one another's company and pour out their hearts +together. I thank God that so many pastors and teachers +were come, too, and also our faithful superintendent was not +wanting. It is right that the heads of the Church should not +be missing at such a festival.</p> + +<p>"'The next day—and we had prayed the Lord to give us +good weather for it—we were to go to a place in the midst +of the lonely heath, called Tiefenthal."'</p> + +<p>"What does that mean?" Maggie interrupted.</p> + +<p>"<i>Tief</i> means deep. <i>Thal</i> means valley."</p> + +<p>"'Deep valley,'" said Maggie. "But I do not understand +what a <i>heath</i> is."</p> + +<p>"Naturally. We do not have them in this country, that +ever I heard of," said Meredith.</p> + +<p>"Neither here nor in England," said Mr. Murray. "For +miles and miles the Lüneburger heath is an ocean of purple +bloom; that is, in the time when the heather is in blossom. +But there are woods also in places, and in other places lovely +valleys break the spread of the purple heather, where grass<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[152]</a></span> +and trees and running water make lovely pictures. Sometimes +one comes to a hill covered with trees; and here and +there you find solitary houses and bits of farms, but scattered +apart from each other, so that great tracts of the heath +are perfectly lonely and still. You see nothing and hear +nothing living, except perhaps some lapwings in the air, and +a lizard now and then, and humming beetles, and maybe +here and there some frogs where there happens to be a wet +place, and perhaps a landrail; elsewhere a general, soft, +confused humming and buzzing of creatures that you cannot +see, and the purple waves of heather, only interrupted here +and there by a group of firs or a growth of bushes along the +edge of a ditch."</p> + +<p>"O Uncle Eden!" cried Maggie, "have you been there? +And do you know the village, too?"</p> + +<p>"<i>The</i> village? Pastor Harms's village—do you mean, +Hermannsburg? Yes. It is like many others. Two long +lines of cottages, the little river Oerze cutting it in two, +beautiful old trees shading it,—that is the village. The +cottages are not near each other; gardens and fields lie +between; and at the gable of every house is a wooden horse +or horse's head; from the old Saxon times, you know. No +dirt and no squalor and no beggars nor misery to be seen in +Hermannsburg. That, I suppose, is much owing to Pastor +Harms's influence."</p> + +<p>"Thank you, Uncle Eden," said Maggie with a sigh of +intense interest. "Now you can go on, Ditto. They were +going out into the heath. All the people?"</p> + +<p>"I suppose so. 'To a place in the midst of the heath +solitudes called Tiefenthal. Why? I had not told them +that; I wanted to tell it to them first of all on the spot. I +had another reason besides, though; I wanted to have the +sun beat a little in African fashion on the heads of the +guests at our festival, so that our brethren in Africa might +not be the only ones hot. So at nine o'clock the next +morning the great crowd of those who were to make the +pilgrimage with us from Hermannsburg, were assembled at +the Mission-house under the banner of the cross, which<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[153]</a></span> +fluttered joyously from the high flagstaff. It was hard for +me not to be able to walk with the rest, but I was only +just recovered from a severe illness. A pilgrimage is the +pleasantest going on earth to me. One can sing by the +way so joyfully with the hosts that are moving along; one +can talk so cordially and so familiarly about the kingdom +of God in the crowd of the brethren; and now and then +one gets a chance by a shallow ditch to tumble one of one's +fellow pilgrims over, especially one of the children. I had +to do without all that and get into a waggon. When I came +to the Mission-house, the procession set itself in motion +towards the high grounds of the heath. With sounding of +trumpets and amid songs of praise the crowds travelled on, +for nearly two hours long, all the while mounting higher +and higher, and truly, for God had heard our prayer, under +a burning sunshine. Many a one had to sweat for it soundly; +even I in the waggon. It was a picturesque procession; a +whole long row of carriages and these crowds of people; +the solitary heath had become all alive. At last a not +inconsiderable height was reached, where the ground fell +off suddenly into a steep, precipitous dell. This was Tiefenthal. +It is a very narrow valley, or rather a cut between +two hills, one of which is bare, the other covered with a +luxuriant growth of evergreens. Below stands an empty +bee enclosure, called the Pastor's Beefield, because it as well +as the wood-covered hill belongs to the pastor of Hermannsburg. +From all the farms round about hosts of pilgrims +were coming at the same time with us, travelling along; +and like the brooks which after a thunder-shower plunge +down from the hills to the lower ground, even so the waves +of humanity rolled towards Tiefenthal. At last, then, I took +my stand on the slope of the bare hill, surrounded by the +brethren who bore the trumpets in their hands, the blast of +which sounded mightily through the dell and broke in a +quivering echo upon the opposite hill. Countless hosts lay +upon the two slopes and in the bottom of the dell, and out +of many thousand throats the song of praise to the Lord +rose into the blue dome of the sky.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[154]</a></span>"'First was sung, with and without accompaniment of +the trumpets, the lovely hymn—</p> + +<div class="poem"> + +<span class="i4">"Rejoice, ye Christians all,</span><br /> + +<span class="i4">His Son by God is given," &c.</span> +</div> + +<p>to the glorious melody, "Aus meines Herzens Grund!" +Then, when the mighty sounds died away, followed the +preaching, upon Hebrews xi. 32-40.'"</p> + +<p>"Read that passage, Maggie," said her uncle.</p> + +<p>Maggie read:</p> + +<p>"'And what shall I more say? for the time would fail +me to tell of Gideon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of +Jephthah; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets: +who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, +obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, +quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the +sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant +in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Women +received their dead raised to life again: and others were +tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain +a better resurrection: and others had trial of cruel mockings +and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonments: +they were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were +tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about +in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; +(of whom the world was not worthy;) they +wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and +caves of the earth.'—Uncle Eden, that was a great while +ago, wasn't it?"</p> + +<p>"<i>That</i> was."</p> + +<p>"But I mean, people don't do so now, do they?"</p> + +<p>"Not here, just now, in America. But nothing is +changed in human nature or the relations of the two +parties, since the Lord said to the serpent, 'I will put +enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed +and her seed.'"</p> + +<p>"But does that mean <i>that</i>, Uncle Eden? I thought the +seed of the woman was Christ?"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[155]</a></span>"It is. But the devil fights against Christ in the persons +of his people; and the 'seed of the serpent,' the children of +the devil, hate the children of God, from Cain's time down. +'If they have persecuted me they will also persecute you,' +the Lord said."</p> + +<p>"There is no persecution here, though, in this country, +Mr. Murray?" said Flora.</p> + +<p>"Not persecution with fire and sword. But nothing is +changed, Miss Flora. It will be fire and sword again, just +so soon as the devil sees his opportunity. So all history +assures us. Go on, Meredith; let us see what Pastor Harms +made of his text—or doesn't he tell?"</p> + +<p>"I'll go on, sir, and you'll see. 'As you have just heard +out of the Holy Scriptures, so it has been, my dear friends, +with the faithful witnesses and martyrs of the truth; hacked +to pieces, run through the body, slain with the sword, or +left to wander in the deserts, on the mountains, in dens and +caves of the earth, of whom the world was not worthy. +Even in the New Testament we read how Peter and Paul +had to suffer imprisonment, how Stephen was stoned, James +beheaded with the sword; how the Jews persecuted all the +confessors of the most blessed Saviour, dragged them out +of their houses, threw them into prisons, and took joy in +stoning them. And even as the Jews began it, the heathen +have carried it on; and not hundreds or thousands, but +many hundred thousands of Christians in the ten great +Christian persecutions sealed their belief in the Lord Jesus +and their faithful confession of His holy name with their +blood. In our last year's Mission festival in Müden, I told +you how the holy apostles Peter and Paul met their death +like heroes and martyrs; our beloved Hermannsburg church +is named after them; and I told you about Saint Lawrence, +after whom the church in Müden is called. "And to-day," +you are questioning, "to-day are you going to tell us +about martyrs again? We conclude so, from the text you +have chosen! But wherefore always about martyrs?" My +beloved, I have a special love to the martyrs; and I do not +know how it happens, at every Mission festival they come<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[156]</a></span> +with special vividness before my mind. I believe it arises +from this: that I am persuaded the ever-growing zeal for +missions among all earnest Christians is a token that before +long the Church of Christ will have to take her flight out of +Europe; and so the unconscious efforts of Christians is towards +preparing a place for the Church among the wilds of +heathenism. And therefore I believe that the times of martyrdom +will cease to be far-off times for us any longer; that +the kingdom of Antichrist is drawing near with speedier and +speedier steps, is becoming daily more powerful; the apostasy +from Christ is becoming constantly greater and more decided; +Christianity is growing more and more like a putrid carcass, +and where the carcass is, there the eagles are gathered together. +And therefore missions are becoming more evidently +the banner around which all living Christians rally; for what +is written in the Revelation xii. 14-17, will soon receive its +fulfilment. And when I see such great crowds of Christians +singing praise and keeping holy day, then the thought +always comes to me, How would it be if persecution were +to break loose now? would all these be true witnesses and +martyrs, and rather bear suffering, and yield up the last +drop of their blood and endure any torments, than fall away +and deny Christ? Oh, and when I reflect how mightily in +those times of bloody persecution the Christian Church gave +her testimony and fought and suffered; what a power of +Faith, Hope, and Love made itself known, that could shout +for joy at the stake; and when I think how cold, how lukewarm, +how loveless Christianity is now—I could almost +wish for a mighty persecution to come, to break up the +rotten peace of Christians, who have grown easy and luxurious +and to arouse again the right heroism of the soldiers +of God.</p> + +<p>"'It is not only in the times of the Jews and the Romans, +at the first founding of the Christian Church, that such +mighty battles of heroes have been fought; the dear and +blessed time of the Reformation has had its martyrs, who +for the pure Word and true sacrament of our beloved Lutheran +Church staked their persons and lives. Who does<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[157]</a></span> +not know those two faithful disciples, who amid songs of +praise were burned at the stake at Cologne on the Rhine? +that Heinrich von Zutphen who had to give up his life in +Ditmarsh? those thousands who were murdered or burned +by the Catholic Inquisition? those thousands who had to +pine away in the prisons and cloisters of the Catholics? without +reckoning the hundreds of thousands in the religious wars +stirred up by the Catholics, who made the battle-fields fat +with their blood, and have died for the faith of their Church? +And now I will tell you why I have brought you here +to-day to this Tiefenthal. We stand upon holy ground +here, upon ground of the martyrs. Hear what your +fathers suffered for the sake of the pure, true Word and +sacrament.</p> + +<p>"'The story that I am going to tell you must have been +acted out somewhere between 1521 and 1530. For in the +chronicle where I have read the story mention is made of +the Diet at Speier, but nothing is said of the Diet at +Augsburg.'"</p> + +<p>"Stop, Ditto, please," said Maggie. "What's a <i>diet</i>?"</p> + +<p>"The supreme council of the German Empire, composed +of princes and representatives of independent cities of the +empire. The famous Diet of Augsburg was held in 1530."</p> + +<p>"What was it famous for?"</p> + +<p>"Famous for an open, bold confession and declaration of +the Protestant faith by a few Protestant princes in the +midst of the crowd of Catholics assembled at the Diet."</p> + +<p>"Well, Meredith!"</p> + +<p>"'Nothing is said of the Diet at Augsburg. And certainly +some mention would have been made of it if it had already +taken place, since our beloved princes the Dukes Ernst and +Francis of Lüneburg had their share in the precious confession +of faith. At that time there was in Hermannsburg +a young Catholic pastor, descended from a noble patrician +family; he was called Christopher Grünhagen, and was a +kind-hearted man. One day'"——</p> + +<p>"Stop a minute, Ditto. Some people were Catholics then, +and some were Protestants?"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[158]</a></span>"Why, that is how they are now, Maggie," said her sister.</p> + +<p>"But I mean, there—in Germany."</p> + +<p>"It is so still in Germany," said Meredith. "But then +was just the beginning of the Reformation, Maggie. Luther +was preaching, and the world was in a stir generally."</p> + +<p>"'One day there comes to Pastor Grünhagen a sort of +artisan fellow, who asked for a bit of bread. It was in winter +time, and the poor man was quite benumbed with cold. +Pastor Grünhagen took pity on him, had him served with +food and drink, and made him sit down in the <i>Flett</i> (that is, +the open hall of the house with its low fireplace) that he +might also warm his cold limbs. After the man had eaten, +not forgetting to pray either, he stretched his legs comfortably +down by the warm hearth, and then drew a small MS. +book out of his pocket, in which he began to read with eager +and devout attention. Grünhagen wondered that the man +could read, and more especially that he could read writing. +Now, indeed, an artisan would take it ill if anybody were +surprised to find him able to read. But the fact that all of +us, even the poorest and the smallest, can read now, is just +one of the blessings of the Reformation, under which the +first schools for the people were established. In those days +only scholars and priests could read, and the laity, even the +nobles, knew nothing about it. So Grünhagen steps up +curiously to the remarkable artisan who knows so much as +to read, and asks him, "Pray what have you there?" For +all answer, the man hands him the book. Grünhagen takes it +and reads and reads, and the more he reads the more eagerly +and attentively he devours what he finds there. It was a +copy of Luther's smaller catechism. Like a lightning flash +darts through his soul the thought, "What stands in this +book is <span class="smcap"><small>THE TRUTH</small></span>." He asks his guest now where he has +come from? The answer is, "From Wittenberg; I have +heard Luther preach there, and I brought away this catechism +with me."</p> + +<p>"'Why he had a written copy of the catechism, and not a +printed one, I cannot tell you; perhaps he had not been +able to buy a printed copy, and had been at the pains of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[159]</a></span> +writing it out; but that is not said in the chronicle. And +now, while I am speaking of the catechism, I will show you +also that I am a scholar. Therefore know that Luther +printed his smaller catechism in the year of grace 1529; because +in the two years previous he had been travelling about +all through Saxony, examining the churches; and had found +that the pastors were so stupid that they did not know even +the principal things. Therefore, and surely with the assistance +of the Holy Spirit, he wrote the small catechism, which +I hold to be the best of all human books. Before that, however, +he had already written some similar works; for example, +a short exposition on the ten commandments, the Creed, +and the Paternoster; from which, on account of its remarkable +quality, I will quote a little. So in it Luther says—"The +first commandment is trangressed by every one who +in his difficulties turns to sorcery, the black art of the devil's +allies; every one who makes that use of letters, signs, words, +herbs, charms and the like; whoever uses divining-rods, +treasure-conjurings, clairvoyance, and the like; whoever +orders his work and his life according to lucky days, sky +tokens, and the sayings of soothsayers. The third commandment +is trangressed by those who eat, drink, play, +dance, and carry on unholy doings; by those who in indolence +sleep away the time of divine service, or miss it, or +spend it in pleasure drives or walks, or in useless chatter; +by whoever works or does business without special need; +by whoever does not pray, does not think on Christ's sufferings, +does not repent of his sins and long for mercy; and +who, therefore, only in outward things, as dressing, eating, +and posture-taking, keeps the day holy."</p> + +<p>"'I have brought forward this proof of learning only to +show you that good people are not quite so simple as perhaps +they look; and now I will go on with my story.</p> + +<p>"'Grünhagen was so delighted with the dear catechism +that he says to the workman, "Friend, you must stay with +me long enough to let me make a copy of your MS., for you +won't get the book again before I have done that." The +friend was very willing to have it so; and now they made<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[160]</a></span> +an honest exchange one with the other. For the pastor +ministered to the poor, starved and frozen body of the artisan, +and the artisan ministered to the poor, starved and +frozen soul of the pastor. Day by day his accounts grew +more and more fiery and spirited about Luther's powerful +preaching, about the many thousands who were streaming +to Wittenberg to hear the man of God, about the German +Bible which Luther had translated, about the glorious songs +of praise which the Lutherans sung, about the pure Sacrament +in both kinds; that is, that in Wittenberg both the +bread and the wine were given to the communicants, and +not the bread merely, as is done by the Papists against the +Lord's commandment. He told how, amidst all the rage of +his foes, Luther was so joyful and brave, that on one occasion +he said to the electoral prince of Saxony, who he saw +had become anxious, "I do not ask your princely grace to +protect me, for I am under much higher protection, which +will take good care of what concerns me." Grünhagen's +whole soul was moved by these narrations.</p> + +<p>"'After a good many days he let the workman go, laden +with gifts, and with tears in his eyes dismissed him; for +through him he had learned to know the truth. And now +he goes to study. Soon the little catechism is fixed in +his heart and his head; and now he procures Luther's other +works, and first of all the New Testament. And then he +can conceal it from himself no longer, that the Word of God +and the sacrament are basely falsified in the Romish Church, +and that he himself, without knowing it, has been all this +while misleading the people; he who in his office as pastor +should have been a servant of God. This thought burns +into his inmost soul, so that he almost falls into despondency. +But soon he finds grace through faith in the dear blood of +Jesus Christ. And now in him also that word goes into +fulfilment—"I believe, therefore have I spoken." He begins +to preach the pure Word of God, in demonstration of +the Spirit and of power; he begins to give to communicants +the whole, entire supper, the emblems of Christ's body and +blood; and he teaches the children the catechism. And<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[161]</a></span> +how could he fail of fruit. The parish of Hermannsburg +stirs with life, the whole region is waked up, and thousands +come to hear God's Word. Oh, that must have been a +blessed time, when the Holy Ghost breathed thus upon the +dry bones, and the Light shined in the darkness. But then, +too, the Cross could not fail; for on the baptism of the +Spirit follows always the baptism of fire; and David in the +very psalm quoted above says, "I believed, therefore have +I spoken. <i>I was greatly afflicted.</i>"</p> + +<p>"'There was at that time in Hermannsburg a warden—that +is, a steward and judge in one person—who was called +Andreas Ludwig von Feuershütz (from whom the neighbouring +property still keeps the name of Feuershützenbostel), a +rash, determined man, and very zealous for the old Popish +Church. Writing in those days did not amount to much; +the warden's scribes were his soldiers. So he went to the +pastor, and without any circumlocution forbade him to +preach the Lutheran heresy, adding, "If you don't stop it, +I'll shut the door before your nose." When Grünhagen +rejected this demand as an improper one, and told him to +attend to his office, but leave the church to the pastor, the +warden grew wrathful, and called Grünhagen a renegade +heretic; and the next Sunday he actually did set his soldiers +to keep the church doors and closed the entrance to pastor +and congregation both. The thousands who followed their +pastor were not unwilling to use violence against the doer +of violence; but Grünhagen prevented that, and tried to +hold divine service in his house, and, when that also was +interfered with, in the houses of the peasants. But wherever +they might be, the warden would come with his soldiers +and break up the service.</p> + +<p>"'And this went on for many a week, and yet so great +was the power of Grünhagen's good influence over the +believers, that no act of violence was attempted against +their tyrants. At last one day the following peasants, +Hans von Hiester, Michel Behrens, and Albrecht Lutterloh +of Lutterloh, Karsten Lange of Ollendorf, and the great +Meyer from Weesen, came to Grünhagen and told him they<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[162]</a></span> +knew a spot in the heath, still and solitary and remote, +which neither highroad nor footpath came near; the +warden could not easily find it out: "Let us go there on +Sundays and hear God's Word from your mouth!" And so +it was arranged. Quietly one tells it to another, and no one +betrays it. The next Sunday, while it is still night, the +house doors everywhere open, the indwellers come out one +by one, and travel in mist and darkness, by distant paths, +through moor, heather, and thicket, hither to Tiefenthal. +Grünhagen is there, and with him is his clerk, Gottlob, a +believer, converted by his pastor's means; and he carries +the sweet burden of the church service. O my beloved! here +stood Grünhagen; here were your fathers who renounced +false idols and worshipped their Saviour according to the +pure Word and ordinance He has given; their songs of praise +echoed here, here they bent the knee; for a long while +your fathers' house of God was here under the blue heaven; +here were the new-born children baptized in the name of +the triune God, and the grown men and women were fed +with the bread and wine which mean the body and blood of +the Lord, and so received new strength to mount up with +wings of eagles. In this place your fathers grew to a strength +of faith which would waver no more. But more trials were +coming upon them. The warden was struck by the sudden +quietness; he had expected that new attempts would be +made to get into the church. He guessed that something +was going on, and could not find out what it was. So he +set his soldiers on to serve as sleuth-hounds, and they +scented the game so well that they discovered the whole. +Then one Sunday morning he got up early and watched +with bitter rage to see how the people came out of all the +houses, men, women, young men and girls, old men and +children, all quiet and yet so joyous, dressed in their Sunday +clothes, and hastening to Tiefenthal. Stealthily he followed +after them, and at their place of refuge heard them preach +and sing and pray. Suddenly he heard his own name +spoken; it gave him a great shock; he heard the pastor +praying for his conversion and the congregation saying<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[163]</a></span> +Amen. Then a great surging and conflict of feelings arose +in his brazen heart. But the time was not yet come. He +dashed down the tears that would come into his eyes, and +let his supposed duty get the victory. Resolved to suppress +the hated heresy that had almost made him soft, but too +weak to do it with the force at his command, he made +known the affair to the justiciary of Zelle and asked for +help. The Zelle justiciary, nothing loath, next Sunday dispatched +two hundred of his soldiers, who lay hid in the +wood till the congregation had assembled. Then they broke +forth, surrounded our fathers, just as they were gathered +around their beloved pastor for the holding of divine service, +fell first of all upon Grünhagen himself and the crowd +which pressed round him, laid hold of him and dragged him +off, and a hundred others with him, to Zelle, with brutal +ill-treatment. There the captives were obliged to pass three +days and three nights in the courtyard of the official's house, +in snow and ice (it was in November), and it was only with +difficulty that they could get a bit of bread to eat. Then +they were thrown into prison; and there for a long time +our fathers had to share the bonds and imprisonment of +God's faithful servant; but no threats, no contumely, no +distress could move them to apostasy, from the faith they +had confessed.</p> + +<p>"'How long they lay there I do not know. At last, when +the Dukes came back from Augsburg, the hour of their +freedom struck; they were let go, and returned to their +homes shedding thankful tears; the church was again +opened to them too, and the heroic Grünhagen preached +the gospel to his people anew with fresh power. Then also +struck the warden's hour of grace; he grew tender, and was +overcome by the might of the blessed gospel; and whereas +he had formerly been a zealot for the mistaken service of +God, now he became one of the strongest friends of the pure +Lutheran doctrine in all the community. Out of gratitude +the parish gave to its beloved watcher for souls this Tiefenthal +with the wooded hill here, to be for all time the +property of the parsonage, which it still is to the present<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[164]</a></span> +day. My beloved, we have come here to-day for pleasure; are +we to come here again perhaps some day in distress? You +answer possibly, "No, that is not to be apprehended; our +times are too humane." Yes! they are humane towards all +that is <i>human</i>; <i>i.e.</i>, towards banqueting and drinking, +dissolute living and deceit. But that our times are not too +humane towards what is <i>godly</i>, is testified by the persecutions +directed against the Lutherans in Baden and Nassau, where +various Lutheran preachers have had to pay fine after fine, +and lie in the common prison, because they preach and +baptize and observe the communion in the Lutheran manner, +and whereto the preaching must often be held in mountains +and clefts of the rocks to be had in peace. And besides, the +kingdom of Antichrist is advancing with constantly quicker +and more decided steps. Even now it everywhere rains +words of abuse upon the saints, the praying people, the +hypocrites, the enthusiasts, the mad folk, and by whatever +other names beside they may call them. And who knows +how soon the time may come when the word will again be +true,—"They will put you out of their synagogues," and +"whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God +service." I could if I would read you letters that have +come from many cities and villages, filled with such threatenings +and cursings and coarse words against me that they +would fill you with astonishment. Therefore ask yourselves +again seriously the question, would you also be ready to +give money and blood, body and life, for the Lord Jesus and +for your faith? would you also be ready to suffer bonds and +imprisonment for the Lord's sake? If it be so that you +could not or would not do that, then you are not worthy to +bear the name of Jesus Christ; for whoever hateth not +father and mother, wife and child, farm and farm stock, +and his own life also, for Jesus's sake, he is not worthy of +me, the Lord says. To confess Christ in peace and in pleasant +times, that is easy enough; but to do it through distress +and death, to stand fast in the baptism of fire, that is +another thing. Christians of nowadays are accustomed to +easy living; how would the cup of suffering taste to them?<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[165]</a></span> +They are drowned in delicate and luxurious habits; how +would they bear privation? They have corrupted themselves +in cowardice and indolence; how should they be +strong and brave under persecution? And listen to me +now, you who are gathered here together in such numbers; +what do you think? If the soldiers all of a sudden came +upon you, to run you through, or to carry you off somewhere +where there are no feather beds, would you stand it? would +you cheerfully give yourselves up to be dragged off? Or +would you make long legs, keep a whole skin, and deny +your Saviour? O God! grant that all of us may be able to +cry with the Apostle Paul, "I count all things but loss that +I may win Christ." "I am persuaded that neither death, +nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor +things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, +shall be able to separate me from the love of God, which +is in Christ Jesus our Lord!" Let us now sing with the +sound of the trumpets our Luther's hero song—</p> + +<div class="poem"> + +<span class="i4"> +"Ein' feste Burg ist unser Gott."'"</span><br /> +</div> + +<p>"What does that mean?" said Maggie.</p> + +<p>"It means, 'The Lord is my strength and my fortress;' +or, more literally, Maggie, 'Our God is a sure stronghold.'"</p> + +<p>"'When this hymn had been sung, it was time for our +noonday meal. So after we had prayed the prayer before +eating, the people arranged themselves everywhere, in +larger and smaller groups, on the green grass or the brown +heather, and with giving of thanks enjoyed the food they +had brought along with them. Those who had nothing +took gladly the spare bits of those who had too much. And +all were filled; and beer, and water, and even sugar-water, +were on hand too to quench the burning thirst. I had myself +a further particular pleasure. A few of our festival +companions had brought with them some mighty pieces of +honeycake as a gift for me. That suited me exactly, and I +had it packed in with other things in my basket of provisions. +Now you should have seen the glee when I called the children +to me and snapped off the sweet bits for them. There<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[166]</a></span> +came even a pretty good number of larger people, who +wanted to be children too, and have their bite after the +children had had enough. When we had eaten we had the +prayer of thanks, and then the beautiful song,</p> + +<div class="poem"> + +<span class="i4"> +"Now let us thank God and praise Him," &c.</span><br /> +</div> + +<p>"'A blast of the trumpets proclaimed the renewal of divine +service; and again the people arranged themselves in their +former places and order for a new and last refreshing of +their spirits.'"</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[167]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XV.</h2> + + +<p>"Is that all?" said Maggie.</p> + +<p>"All of that story," Meredith answered.</p> + +<p>There was a long silence. On hill and rock and river +there was a stillness and peace as if nowhere in the world +could blood ever have flowed, or wrangling been heard, or +men been cruel one to another. So soft and warm the sunlight +brooded, and the dry leaves hung still on the trees and +not a breath moved them, and the liquid lap of the water +against the rocks far down below just came to the ear with +a murmur of content. There was nothing else to hear; and +the silence was so exquisite that it laid a sort of spell on +everybody's tongue, while the mild sunlight on the warm, +hazy hills seemed to find out everybody's very heart and +spread itself there. A spell of stillness and a spell of peace. +All the party were hushed for a good while; and what +broke the charm at last was a long-drawn breath of little +Maggie, which came from somewhere much deeper then she +knew. Mr. Murray looked up at her and smiled.</p> + +<p>"What is it, Maggie?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know, Uncle Eden. I think something makes +me feel bad."</p> + +<p>"Feel bad!" echoed Esther.</p> + +<p>"I don't mean feel <i>bad</i> exactly—I can't explain it."</p> + +<p>"I suppose she has been thinking, as I have been," said +Meredith, "that it does not seem as if this day and my +story could both belong to the same world."</p> + +<p>"Ah!" said Mr. Murray, "this is a little bit of God's part, +and the other is a little bit of man's part in the world; that +is all."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[168]</a></span></p> + +<p>"But, Uncle Eden, in those dreadful times it don't seem +as if there could ever have been pleasant days."</p> + +<p>"I fancy there were. Don't you think the people of Hermannsburg +must have enjoyed Tiefenthal, sometimes in the +early starlight dawn and sometimes in the fresh sunrise?"</p> + +<p>"Uncle Eden, I should always have been afraid the +soldiers were coming."</p> + +<p>"On the other hand, those people always knew that God +was there. And there is a wonderful sweetness in living +in His hands."</p> + +<p>"But yet, Uncle Eden, He did let the soldiers come."</p> + +<p>"<i>He</i> did not go away, Maggie."</p> + +<p>"No; but those must have been dreadful times."</p> + +<p>"Well, yes. They were no doubt hard times. And yet, +Maggie, it remains true—'When <i>He</i> giveth quietness, then +who can make trouble?' Think of Paul and Silas, beaten +and bleeding, stiff and sore, stretched uncomfortably in the +wooden framework which left them no power to rest themselves +or change their position; in the noisome inner +dungeon of a Roman prison, and yet singing for gladness. +People cannot sing when they are faint-hearted, +Maggie. The Lord keeps His promises."</p> + +<p>"I wonder how many people would stand Pastor Harms's +test?" Meredith remarked.</p> + +<p>"They are not obliged to stand it," Flora rejoined. +"There are no persecutions now; not here, at any rate. +People are not called upon to be martyrs."</p> + +<p>"Do you think the terms of service have changed?" said +Mr. Murray looking at her.</p> + +<p>"Why, sir, we are <i>not</i> called upon to be martyrs."</p> + +<p>"No, but are you not called to have the same spirit the +martyrs had?"</p> + +<p>"How can we?"</p> + +<p>"What is the martyr spirit?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know," said Flora. "I suppose it is a wonderful +power of bearing pain, which is given people at such +times."</p> + +<p>"Given to everybody?" said Meredith.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[169]</a></span>"Of course, not given to everybody."</p> + +<p>"To whom, then?"</p> + +<p>"Why, to Christians."</p> + +<p>"And what is a Christian?" said Mr. Murray. "Are there +two kinds, one for peace and the other for war?"</p> + +<p>"No, I suppose not," said Flora, somewhat mystified.</p> + +<p>"'Whosoever shall confess me before men, him will I +also confess before my Father which is in heaven.' So the +Lord said. Now in times of persecution, you know what +confessing Christ meant. What does it mean in these +days?"</p> + +<p>"I do not think I understand the question, Mr. Murray."</p> + +<p>"In the Roman days, for instance, how did people confess +Christ?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know. They owned that they were Christians."</p> + +<p>"How did they own that? They refused to do anything +that could be constructed into paying honour to the gods of +the people. They might have said in word that they were +Christians—but nobody would have meddled with them if +they would have hung garlands of flowers upon Jupiter's +altar."</p> + +<p>"No," said Flora.</p> + +<p>"How is it in these days?"</p> + +<p>"What do you mean, sir?"</p> + +<p>"I mean, how is Christ to be confessed in these days?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know," said Flora; "except by making what is +called a profession of religion,—joining some church, I +suppose."</p> + +<p>"Does that do it?"</p> + +<p>"I do not know how else."</p> + +<p>"Why, Uncle Eden," said Maggie, "how can one do it +any other way?"</p> + +<p>"One cannot do it in that way, my pet."</p> + +<p>"<i>Not?</i>" said Flora. "How then, Mr. Murray?"</p> + +<p>"What do people join the church for, then, Uncle Eden?" +Esther inquired.</p> + +<p>"Those who enlist in Christ's army must certainly put<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[170]</a></span> +on His uniform. But who shall say that the uniform does +not cover a traitor?"</p> + +<p>"A traitor, Mr. Murray?" Flora looked puzzled.</p> + +<p>"Yes. There are many traitors. There were even in +Paul's time."</p> + +<p>"Traitors among the Christians?"</p> + +<p>"So he wrote. 'Many walk, of whom I have told you +often, and tell you now again even weeping, that they are +<i>enemies of the cross of Christ</i>.' They were professors of His +name, nevertheless, Miss Flora; but confess Him before +men, except in word, they did not. So my question stands, +you perceive."</p> + +<p>"How to confess Christ nowadays so that there shall be +no mistake about it?" Meredith added. Flora and Esther +and Maggie sat looking at Mr. Murray, as at the propounder +of a riddle. Fenton pricked up his ears and stared at the +whole group.</p> + +<p>"What did those people do, Mr. Murray?" Flora asked.</p> + +<p>"Paul tells. He says of them that their 'glory is in their +shame;' they 'mind earthly things.'"</p> + +<p>"How can one help minding earthly things, as long as +one lives in this world?"</p> + +<p>"One cannot, Miss Flora. But the characteristic of a +Christian is, that he seeks <i>first</i> the kingdom of God."</p> + +<p>"How?"</p> + +<p>"First, to have the Lord's will done in his own heart; +next, to have it done in other people's hearts."</p> + +<p>"But you were talking of doing something to show to the +world that you are certainly a Christian, Mr. Murray?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, Miss Flora. Shall I tell you some of the ways in +which this may be accomplished?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, if you please. I am completely in a fog."</p> + +<p>"I never like to leave anybody in a fog. Now listen, +and I will give you some of the Bible marks of a real +Christian.</p> + +<p>"'<i>Whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he +hath, he cannot be my disciple.</i>'"</p> + +<p>"But, Mr. Murray!"——</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[171]</a></span>"Yes, that is just it exactly!" said Meredith, delighted.</p> + +<p>"How can one forsake all he has? Be a beggar?"</p> + +<p>"Not at all. Give it all to Christ, and be His steward."</p> + +<p>"Not to please yourself in anything!" cried Flora.</p> + +<p>"I did not say so. And the Bible does not mean so. +For another Bible mark of a Christian is, in the Lord's +words—</p> + +<p>"'<i>My meat is to do the will of Him that sent me.</i>'"</p> + +<p>"But can't one do anything that one wants to do?" cried +Flora in dismay.</p> + +<p>"Many things. But a Christian has no pleasure in what +does not please God."</p> + +<p>"How is one always to know?"</p> + +<p>"I am going on to tell you in part. '<i>Whatsoever ye do, +do all to the glory of God.</i>'"</p> + +<p>"That don't tell <i>me</i>," said Flora. "How can I tell what +will do that? And how can one do <i>everything</i> so? Little +things—and life is very much made up of little things. +Dressing, and studying, and reading, and playing, and +amusing one's self."</p> + +<p>"O Flora?" Maggie cried; and "Why, Flora!" Meredith +said, looking at her; but neither added anything more.</p> + +<p>"The Bible says, '<i>Whether ye eat or drink, or whatsoever ye +do</i>,'" Mr. Murray answered. "In another place, '<i>Whatsoever +ye do, in word or deed</i>.'"</p> + +<p>"Well, Mr. Murray, I don't understand it; take eating +and drinking—how can that be done to the glory of +God?"</p> + +<p>"You can easily see how it can be done <i>not</i> to His glory. +Any way that is not becoming His servant is not to His +glory. Therefore, in excess—of things that do not agree +with you and therefore unfit you for duty—of costly +dishes, which take the money that might feed starving +people."</p> + +<p>"But I can't feed all the starving people!" said Flora.</p> + +<p>"It is something to feed one. But I will give you another +Bible mark, Miss Flora, '<i>He that saith he abideth in +Him</i>,' that is, in Christ, '<i>ought himself also to walk even as<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[172]</a></span> +He walked.'</i> Now remember how Christ walked. He was +here, '<i>as one that serveth</i>.' He '<i>went about doing good</i>.' +He '<i>pleased not Himself</i>.' He '<i>did always those things that +please' God</i>."</p> + +<p>"But one can't be like <i>Him</i>," said Esther.</p> + +<p>"That depends entirely upon whether you choose to be +like Him."</p> + +<p>"O Uncle Eden! He was"——</p> + +<p>"Yes, I know, and I know what you are, and I, and all +of us. It remains true,—'God is faithful, by whom ye +were called unto the fellowship of His Son Jesus Christ +our Lord;'—'chosen, that we should be holy and without +blame before Him in love.'"</p> + +<p>There was a pause of some length. Flora was silenced, +but her eyes had filled, and her face wore a pained and +bitter expression. Meredith had glanced at her and thought +it better not to speak. Maggie was in a depth of meditation. +Fenton had gone scrambling down the rocks. Esther looked +somewhat bored.</p> + +<p>"Have you got your book there, Meredith?" Mr. Murray +asked.</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir."</p> + +<p>"Read us something more. And after that you may all +bring your questions. We came here on purpose to talk, as +I understood."</p> + +<p>"There are different sort of things here, sir. Shall I give +you a change?"</p> + +<p>"What you will—</p> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 4em;">"'O day most calm, most bright,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 5em;">The fruit of this, the next world's bud—</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 4em;">Th' indorsement of supreme delight,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 5em;">Writ by a friend, and with his blood;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 4em;">The couch of time; cares balm and bay;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 5em;">The week were dark but for thy light;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 5em;">Thy torch doth show the way.'"</span><br /> +</p> + +<p>"That's better than anything I have got, sir," said +Meredith.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[173]</a></span>"No. But it is good. And just here and to-day the +Sabbath seems dressed in royal robes. I could not but +think of those lines."</p> + +<p>"I confess, Mr. Murray, Sunday is nothing like that to +me," said Flora.</p> + +<p>"You are honest, Miss Flora. That gives me some hope +of you. No, naturally the Sabbath does not seem like that +to you yet.—Well, Meredith?"</p> + +<p>"Is there more of it, sir?" Meredith's sister asked.</p> + +<p>"More than you would care for, Miss Flora.—</p> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 4em;">"'Sundays the pillars are</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 5em;">On which heav'n's palace archéd lies;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 4em;">The other days fill up the spare</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 5em;">And hollow room with vanities.—'"</span><br /> +</p> + +<p>"And yet that need not be true, either. Go on, Meredith. +What will you give us?"</p> + +<p>"Two stories, sir, on the words, 'Hold that fast which +thou hast, that no man take thy crown.'"</p> + +<p>"'On the twenty-fifth of June 1530, therefore three +hundred and forty years ago, as is well known, our Lutheran +Confession of Faith was delivered before the diet at Augsburg. +There was the powerful emperor Charles V., and his +brother, King Ferdinand, besides a number of electoral +princes, dukes and bishops. Before this crowd of some +three or four hundred nobles, stood a little company of +seven princes and two represented cities; that is, the Elector +John the Constant and his son John Frederick of +Saxony, Margrave George of Brandenburg, Duke Ernst +the Confessor and his brother Francis of Lüneburg, Landgrave +Philip of Hesse, Prince Wolfgang of Anhalt, and the +two burgermasters of Nürnberg and Reutlingen. These +nine stood forth with the spirit of heroes, and confessed, +under signature of their names, that in this faith they would +live and die, and that no power of earth or hell should +make them turn from it. For the Lutherans were wickedly +slandered, as men who no longer believed in anything, and +who therefore deserved no other than to be rooted out from<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[174]</a></span> +the earth. That was why the Lutheran princes had +requested that it might be granted them to declare their +faith publicly before the Diet; to the end that everybody +might know how their belief rested upon the Scriptures and +stood in harmony with the universal ancient Christian +Church; and indeed had flung away only the false human +teachings which had found their way into the Church. +For this purpose the twenty-fifth of June was fixed. The +electoral chancellor Beyer stepped into the middle of +the hall with the written Confession of Faith in his hand. +The evangelical princes rose and stood listening while +it was read, and testified that this was the faith they held, +to which by God's help they would stand unmoved. +Then did all that were present hear what the faith of the +Lutherans was; there stood the doctrine of the triune God, +of original sin, of the eternal Godhead of Jesus Christ; of +justification before God through grace alone by faith in +Jesus Christ, &c., though I hope I do not need to tell you +any more about it; I think you all know the Augsburg +Confession and have read it, for surely you are all of you +Lutheran Christians, and all Lutheran Christians know the +Augsburg Confession. But if there be one among you who +does not yet know this act of confession, let him be ashamed +of himself, and get a copy with all speed, and read it, and +read it again. When it was read aloud at Augsburg, the +impression it made was very great; people saw that the +Lutherans had been shamefully slandered. Duke William +of Bavaria reproached De Eck with having represented the +Lutheran doctrine to him in entirely false colours. The +doctor answered, he would undertake to refute this writing +from the Christian fathers, but not from the Scripture. +Then the duke returned, "So, if I hear aright, the Lutherans +are <i>in</i> the Scriptures, and we near by!"</p> + +<p>"'There did the steadfast Lutherans keep that saying in +their hearts—"Hold that fast which thou hast, that no man +take thy crown." Ay, when before the beginning of the +Diet the Lutheran ministers earnestly besought the Elector +of Saxony that he would not for their sakes run into<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[175]</a></span> +danger, but graciously permit them to appear alone and +give in their declaration before the emperor, the undaunted +prince made them answer—"God forbid that I should be +shut out from your company; I will confess my Lord Jesus +Christ with you."</p> + +<p>"'This is one story about those words; now I will give +you another—'"</p> + +<p>"Stop one minute, Ditto. Uncle Eden, I do not exactly +understand all that?"</p> + +<p>"What do you not understand?"</p> + +<p>"Who were all those people?"</p> + +<p>"The Catholic nobles of the German empire, with Charles +the Fifth, a very powerful emperor, at their head, and the +chief Catholic church doctors and dignitaries,—all that on +one side; representing the powers of this world. On the +other side, a little handful of men whom Luther's teaching +had awakened out of the darkness of the Middle Ages, confessing +Christ before men; representing the feeble flock of +His followers."</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Maggie thoughtfully. "Was there danger?"</p> + +<p>"There was great danger to whoever got into the power +of the Catholic lords."</p> + +<p>"Do you think the world is always against the truth, Mr. +Murray?" Flora asked.</p> + +<p>Mr. Murray answered in the words of the psalm—"'Why +do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? +The kings of the earth set themselves, and their rulers take +counsel together, against the Lord and against His Anointed, +saying, Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away +their cords from us.'"</p> + +<p>"But all times are not like those times of the Reformation?"</p> + +<p>"Not just. The world power strives against the Church +in a variety of ways, sometimes with force and sometimes +with guile. The beast in the vision, who has his power +from the devil, sometimes makes war with the saints; and +sometimes 'he causeth all, both small and great, rich and +poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[176]</a></span> +or in their foreheads; and that no man might buy or sell +save he that has the mark.'—Miss Flora, I believe the war +times are the less evil and dangerous. Well, Meredith, you +bear interruptions philosophically. Go on with your new +story."</p> + +<p>"This new story 'happened more than two hundred years +ago, at a place called Galgenberg' (that is Gallowshill, Maggie), +'in the neighbourhood of Hermannsburg. In old times +a gallows used to stand there, on which thieves and oath-breakers +were hung.'"</p> + +<p>"Oath-breakers!" said Mr. Murray. "It seems the +Saxons kept their hatred of untruth. But I beg your pardon, +Meredith."</p> + +<p>"It's half the fun, to stop and talk, sir. 'At that time +the criminal jurisdiction was located in Hermannsburg; +and four times in the year, at quarter-day, court was held +here and the judgment carried into effect as soon as delivered. +To this end the justiciaries of Hermannsburg, +Bergen, and Fallingbostel came together here and held the +court, after they had first attended the weekly service in +the church at Hermannsburg to prepare them for their vocation; +for quarter-day always fell upon a Wednesday. However +in those days perjury and theft were so rare, that once it +happened that twenty years passed away, with court held +every quarter-day, and nobody was sentenced. The justice of +Hermannsburg had two staves, one all white, and one parti-coloured. +If he found no one guilty, he broke the coloured +staff; if, however, anybody was convicted, then he broke +the white staff, with the words,</p> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 4em;">"The staff is broken,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 4em;">The judgment is spoken,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 4em;">Man, thou must hang."</span><br /> +</p> + +<p>"'And then, after the pastor had prayed with the criminal, +the sentence was executed.'"</p> + +<p>"Fearful times, sir," said Meredith pausing.</p> + +<p>"Horrible!" echoed Flora.</p> + +<p>"Two sides to the question," said Mr. Murray. "I am<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[177]</a></span> +musing over the novelty of the combination. Twenty years +without one man convicted of theft or a false oath! Think +of that, and you will comprehend the horror of the crime +which made such sudden work with the criminal."</p> + +<p>"I will go on," said Meredith.—"'Some old people are +yet living who have seen the gallows which stood on the +Galgenberg. Now I will tell you my story about the words, +"Hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy +crown." It was in the Thirty Years' War, which from 1618 +to 1648 raged between the Catholics and the Protestants. +Through all this miserable time the parish of Hermannsburg +enjoyed the rare good fortune of having a faithful shepherd +over it; his name was Andreas Kruse; he became pastor in +1617, and died in 1652. His successor, Paulus Boccatius, +gives him this testimony in the church register—"True as +gold, pure as silver. Ah, thou faithful and good servant, thou +hast been faithful over a few things; I will make thee +ruler over many things." For years at a time the church at +Hermannsburg was closed to him. At those times he went +with his people into the wilds and held divine service there. +Furthermore, the whole of the neighbouring pastors were +either dead of the plague, or killed, or driven away; so that +he took care of all their parishes beside his own; and this +he did for twenty-five years. One good supporter he had +in a bailiff called Andreas Schlüter, who died in the year +1643, and lies buried in the churchyard at Hermannsburg; +a man after God's heart, who faithfully stood by his pastor +and often hid him away in his house for weeks at a time. +The pastor did not merely celebrate divine service; he had +also preserved the silver church vessels from the plundering +hands of the enemy. These silver vessels were used in +the service of the Lord's supper; and after it was over, the +sacristan or clerk set tin ones in their place upon the altar. +They did not mean to act any lie by this means, however, +for the tin vessels were not made for the purposes of deception, +but had been there beforetime. Things went on +in this way until the year 1633. At that time Duke George +assembled an army and marched against the imperial forces<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[178]</a></span> +His men were burning with an eagerness for the fight, which +delighted the duke. The enemy were stationed at Nienburg +and Hameln. Seeing that the duke was approaching +them they drew back to Oldendorf in the Hesse country, +and there the duke got hold of them in the month of June +1633. When his faithful followers asked him, "What shall +the battle cry be?"—"God with us!" answered the duke; +and therewith they went at the enemy bravely. And soon +the foe were so fearfully beaten that they scattered and +fled in every direction—fifty imperial standards and twenty +cannon remaining in the duke's hands.</p> + +<p>"'Among the fugitives were the two imperial generals +Merode and Gronsfeld. The former was wounded to death +and died at Nienburg. Gronsfeld fled in such haste, that +he lost his sword and plumed hat. The duke kept these +for himself, to be his share of the spoils. In their flight +the imperialists came through the Lüneburg country, with +the most frightful outrages which they committed by the +way. Among these, the record tells of a lieutenant captain, +named Altringer, who came to the village of Hermannsburg +and plundered the inhabitants; he pushed his way even +into the parsonage, and asked the pastor "what he had to +give him?" "I am a poor man," the latter replied; "you +may open all my boxes." They did so, and—ten shillings +was all they found. In a rage at this, they beat the doors +and windows to pieces, and summoned him—"You must +have some church furniture too—here, out with it!" The +pastor answered, "Have you been in the church yet?" +"Those are tin vessels," said the enemy; "you are bound +to have silver ones as well. Where are they? give them up." +"No," said the faithful pastor, "that is what I will not do." +"Where have you hidden them?" "You are not going to +find out."</p> + +<p>"'Upon this they condemned the brave man to the +"Swedish drink." This frightful punishment consisted in +the following: The victim was brought to the dung-pit, his +mouth was forced open, a gag put between his teeth, and +then dung water poured down his throat; after which men<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[179]</a></span> +stamped with, their feet upon his bloated body, until either +he confessed or gave up the ghost. Now they had already +brought Pastor Kruse to the dung-pit. There, before they +began, he prayed with a loud voice, "Lord Jesus, have +mercy on me." The lieutenant captain was moved with +pity. "No," he said, "this man shall not die by the 'Swedish +drink.' To the gallows with him! he shall hang." Arrived +at the gallows he was there asked again, "Where is the +church service?" He answered, "I shall not tell you where." +Thereupon order was given to execute the sentence. But +in the first place he kneeled down and prayed for his +enemies also, that God would not lay this sin to their charge, +but give them grace to repent. Then he mounted the ladder, +and the noose was already round his neck; meanwhile a tall +man coming from Celle stepped up behind a tree, where, +himself unseen, he could observe everything. At the same +instant people were seen on the other side coming from +Hermannsburg, and making signals with a white cloth to +signify that they had got the church vessels. Where had +they found them? They considered that surely the pastor +would have buried them in the deepest part of his house, +that is in the cellar. But in what spot? This they discovered +in the following manner. They poured five or six +pailfuls of water on the cellar floor. At first for a while, it +stood there; then all of a sudden it began to run together +towards one place and there sink in. "Ha, ha," said they; +"here is a hole in the ground; the things must be buried +there." So they dug it up and found the church vessels. +When the pastor saw the communion service in the hands +of the enemy, then the tears rose to his eyes. But as for the +effect those people had hoped for, that is, that his life might +be saved, they found it would not do; the hard lieutenant +captain would not change his order; the man must hang.</p> + +<p>"'Then stepped out yonder tall man from behind the +tree—it was General Gronsfeld; and he spoke. "Will you +put to death this man who in dying prays for his enemies, +and who weeps for his church service and not for his own +life? Set him at liberty!" The pastor stretched out his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[180]</a></span> +hands to the general and implored, "Ah, my lord general, +the church vessels!" But he answered, "I cannot give you +those back—they are the booty of my soldiers; but your +life is granted you."</p> + +<p>"'The parish people of Hermannsburg used the tin service +for a long while after that, till towards the end of the war +silver vessels were again provided. Kruse remained pastor +here until 1652. He too kept that saying in his heart—"Hold +that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown."'"</p> + +<p>"What awful times!" was Flora's comment when Meredith +stopped reading.</p> + +<p>"The world has moved a little since then," Mr. Murray +observed. "Let us be thankful such barbarous cruelties +are no longer practised by the civilised part of the world; +and civilisation is spreading."</p> + +<p>"But I don't think much of that story," Esther went on. +"The man made a great deal more fuss about the soldiers +having his church service than was at all necessary. That +wasn't a thing to die for."</p> + +<p>"By his lights, and his love for the sacred vessels, it was. +You must take his point of view; and then you will find +him, as I do, very noble."</p> + +<p>"But it is very difficult to take other people's point of +view, Mr. Murray, especially when it is unreasonable."</p> + +<p>"Who shall judge?" said Mr. Murray smiling.</p> + +<p>"You mean, <i>I</i> might be the one who was unreasonable."</p> + +<p>"Anybody might, occasionally. And it is of the very +essence of charity, Miss Flora, to take other people's point +of view. Only so can you possibly come to a right estimate +of their action."</p> + +<p>"I don't like that story much, Ditto! I mean, not so +much. I wish you would read another," said Maggie.</p> + +<p>"I will read you another," said Meredith; "and it shall +be very different.</p> + +<p>"'The story that I am now about to tell you is such a +one as certainly nobody expects to hear from me; it is +namely, the story of a night-watchman. But there is no sort +of reason why you should laugh at this word, for indeed the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[181]</a></span> +story is a pretty one; and I wish all the night-watchmen in +city and country would take after this man and do as he +did; that is, provided they could do it from the bottom of +their hearts. A poor cottager in one of our country villages, +some years ago, out of curiosity, came to one of our mission +festivals. There to his astonishment he heard that the Lord +Jesus will have all men to be saved, that are in the whole +earth, even the poor heathen; and that accordingly He has +commanded His servants, the Christians, to cast the net of +the gospel into the sea of the heathen world. He heard +how the heathen are to be saved, because Jesus died for all +men; how they can nevertheless no otherwise be saved than +through faith in Him; because there is salvation for sinners +in no other but only in the name of Him who was +crucified for sinners and is risen again. Meanwhile however, +by means of this mission festival the dear man himself +is taken in the net of the gospel; for he sees that he +also is a sinner, and therefore for him also there is no salvation +except in Him who forgives sins, because He has +made reconciliation for sinners with God. And now, finding +himself salvation in Christ, this experience of his +convinces him that nobody but Jesus can really help the +poor heathen. But then since Jesus can come to the poor +heathen in no way but by his Word and sacrament, and his +Word and sacrament the heathen have not, it becomes very +clear to his mind that the Word and sacrament must be carried +to them. This, moreover, can be done only by messengers +to the heathen, who must be sent to them, because they have +not got wings to fly thither. Then he begins to ponder the +question, how he can do something to help. So he buys +himself a mission-box, that he may always be putting something +in there when he has anything to spare. As nevertheless +what goes in is only the mites of poverty, it looks to +him a great deal too little. He makes the resolve now that +every quarter of a year he will go round the village with +his box to collect for the mission. But this is a resolve he +cannot perform; for inasmuch as the mission is not known +to the people of his village, he reflects that where there is<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[182]</a></span> +no heart for the mission, naturally there are no gifts for it. +And there he was quite right, and did a wise thing to let his +collecting project alone. So about that he gives in, and +quietly hangs up his mission box in his room, on a nail opposite +the door, so that every one who comes into the room +can see it. And people do observe it, and many a one asks +what sort of a thing that can be? He makes answer, it is +for this purpose: that whatever goes into it will be applied +to the converting of the heathen. And so in this way some +few mites do actually get in; which, however, at the end of +each year bring but a small sum. Now as this sum is still +far too small to content him, he turns simply to the dear +Lord Jesus, and says to Him—"Dear Lord, as for going to +the heathen myself, that I cannot do: I am too old, and I +have not learned enough. But because Thou hast done so +much for me and in me, I would like greatly to do something +for Thee, and truly a little more than I have done +hitherto. So give me Thy Holy Spirit, that I may know +how to manage it; for without Him man's knowledge is +nought." Following upon such a prayer then, the Lord +appointed him to be nightwatcher. For without his having +in the least anticipated such a thing, the village community +invited him to undertake the service of the night-watch in +the village. He made answer, he must take the matter into +consideration before God and with his wife. The latter +was not at first disposed to be pleased that he should wake +while others slept; and his own flesh also takes to it not +kindly, to have to wander about in the village in snow and +rain, when it is cold and when it is stormy, while everybody +else is lying upon his ear. But his former prayer recurs to +him, the Lord is certainly now giving him something to do; +and so he says to the Lord Jesus—"My dear Saviour, if +Thou canst use me in this way, keeping watch in the village +with Thy holy angels, who are about us at all times, then +give me strength and joy to do it!" And as the Lord grants +him both, the thing is settled, and in the name of Jesus he +accepts the office of night-watch. The custom in that place +makes it a rule, that on New Year's night the night-watch<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[183]</a></span> +should sing under people's windows a couple of pretty Christian +verses, as it were a New Year's greeting; to one this +verse, to the next the other verse, and so round at all the +houses. New Year's day then, or the day after, he may go +round again visiting house by house, and wish happy New +Year; and the people give him according to their means +and according to their inclination a gift, smaller or larger, +and these gifts belong to his service earnings; it is no begging +either, for the stipulation is made at the time he is put +in office. With true gladness of heart now in the New +Year's night he sings under all the windows in the village; +and as he does this, he seems to himself just the same as a +priest of God; his office seems to him a right holy one. And +particularly where he knows that a sick person is lying in +a house he sings the loveliest verses of faith and comfort, so +that tears run down over his own cheeks in the doing of it. +That night is verily a night of triumph in his work; and he +begins to bear a cordial love to his calling, as one the Lord +has given him and has sanctified. To go round on New +Year's day, however, and wish the people joy, that is what he +cannot make up his mind to; it is a festival and a holiday; +it belongs to the Lord; and it must be spent in the church +and with the Bible. But the next day he has time, and then +he will go; and then his mission-box occurs to him, which +is still hanging there on its nail. Now he knows what he +is to do. He takes the box in his hand and goes the rounds, +house after house, and gives his good wishes. Everywhere +the people receive his hearty congratulations kindly, and +every one puts his hand in his pocket with alacrity to fetch +out a little present for him; the faithful man has indeed +done his work so honestly, and but just now has sung for +them so heartily and such beautiful verses! But he holds +forth his box to his benefactors, and begs them to put whatever +they design for him in there, for what they give is to +go to the conversion of the heathen. So upon that one asks +him a question, and another asks him a question, and he has +opportunity to open his mouth with gladness and testify of +the misery of the poor heathen, and of the sacred duty of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[184]</a></span> +helping them, that so they may be converted. And God +gives His blessing both to deeds and word; and now the +man finds himself able to send in not a little, but a good +deal, for the conversion of the heathen, who lie so heavily +on his heart.</p> + +<p>"'Do you ask where this happened and who did it? It +happened in our country, and six nightwatchers have done +it. Who are they? Go along and ask the Lord in the last +day; He has got all their names written down. I shall not +tell them to you, for I will not rob them of their blessing. +It might happen, however, that one or the other of them may +read these lines. If that be the case, then I say to him, +"Keep still and do not betray thyself, that thou lose not +thy humility."'"</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[185]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XVI.</h2> + + +<p>"I must say, Ditto, you read us the most extraordinary +variety of stories."</p> + +<p>That was Flora's utterance. Meredith, however, sat looking +very gravely into the water, which was rolling its little +waves along at his feet far below. The sun had got lower +while he had been reading; the lights and colours were +changing; shadows fell from the hill-tops and began to lie +broad on the river, cast from the western shore; but all +softened in the haze, which now was getting in a strange +way transfused with light; and a few little flecks of cloud +were taking on the most delicate hues.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Murray," Meredith broke out, "that story is not exaggerated? +I mean, the doing of the people in the story is +not, is it?"</p> + +<p>"Miss Flora thinks so."</p> + +<p>"Don't you, Mr. Murray?" said the young lady.</p> + +<p>"Let us hear your reasons, please."</p> + +<p>"Well, Mr. Murray, surely life is given to us for something +besides bare work. We are meant to be happy and enjoy +ourselves a little, aren't we?"</p> + +<p>"Most certainly."</p> + +<p>"Those good men,—I dare say they were good men,—seem +to me to have been mistaken."</p> + +<p>"You think, for instance, they might have kept some of +their New Year's money to buy their wives new dresses?"</p> + +<p>"Yes; or to get a good dinner, which I suppose they never +had; or a carpet, suppose, for the bit of a room they lived +in."</p> + +<p>"What do you say, Esther?"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[186]</a></span>"Oh, I think just as Flora does, Uncle Eden. I think +those people were very extravagant."</p> + +<p>"Maggie?"</p> + +<p>"Uncle Eden, I do not know if they were extravagant; +but it seems to me they might have kept a <i>little</i> for their +own New Year."</p> + +<p>"You all overlook one thing."</p> + +<p>"What is that, sir?" several voices asked eagerly.</p> + +<p>"Those good men were not acting so very contrary to +your principle. They were doing, every one of them, what +gave him the most pleasure with his money. That is what I +understand you to advocate. The only difference is, that +they found their pleasure in one thing, and you would find +yours in another."</p> + +<p>"But, Mr. Murray," Meredith began.</p> + +<p>"Yes, Mr. Murray," said Flora eagerly taking the words +out of her brother's mouth, "you have really not said anything. +The question comes round,—<i>ought</i> we to find our +pleasure in what they did, and in nothing else?"</p> + +<p>"That is not the right way of putting it. The Lord does +not demand that, nor desire it; but that we should seek +<i>first</i> the kingdom of God. You may remember too that the +spirit of our life, if we are Christians, must be the same as +Christ's; for 'if any man have not the spirit of Christ, he is +none of His.' Now the motto of His life was, 'My meat is +to do the will of Him that sent me.' And that, Miss Flora, +must make pleasing God the great pleasure of a child of God."</p> + +<p>"That is what I think," said Meredith.</p> + +<p>"Then are we to have no pleasure?" Flora repeated. "I +mean, no pleasure of our own?"</p> + +<p>"I have been trying to explain that. I do not know any +pleasure much sweeter than pleasing some one that we +dearly love; do you?"</p> + +<p>Flora looked very gloomy.</p> + +<p>"Put out of your head any notion of bondage or hard +lines of action. 'I <i>delight</i> to do Thy will, O God!'—is the +true way of stating it. And that is the only sort of service, +I think, that the Lord really is pleased with."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[187]</a></span>"Well, does He want us to do like those people, and give +literally all we have got, for the heathen, or the poor?"</p> + +<p>"The Bible rule is, 'Every man <i>according as he purposeth +in his heart</i>, so let him give.' If His heart will be satisfied +with nothing less than all, you would not forbid Him?"</p> + +<p>Meredith's eyes sparkled, and he looked at Flora, but she +would not meet him.</p> + +<p>"It may be and often is the case, that the Lord's best +service requires some of a man's money to be spent on things +that seem personal; still, if he loves God best, all will be +really for God. Education, accomplishments, knowledge, +arts, sciences, recreation, travel, books—provided only that +in everything and everywhere the man is doing the very +best he can for the service of his Master and the stewardship +of his goods. That does not shut out but increases +his delight in these things."</p> + +<p>"That is enough!" exclaimed Meredith. "You have +answered all my questions, sir. I see my way now."</p> + +<p>"It will be a way apart from mamma and me, then, +I suppose," said Flora, her eyes filling and her cheeks +reddening.</p> + +<p>"No," said Mr. Murray gently, "perhaps not. Meredith, +we have had a sufficient interval of talk; suppose you read +again. I am selfish in saying so; for while my ears listen, +my eyes can revel in this wealth of colour. What will you +give us next?"</p> + +<p>"May I choose, sir? It touches what we have been +talking about, another little story. It is a story by the bedside +of a sick day-labourer."</p> + +<p>"I don't believe we shall like it, Ditto," said his sister.</p> + +<p>"It will not hold us long. Let me try.—</p> + +<p>"'It is a long while ago, that I was once standing by the +bedside of a sick day-labourer, who had a wife and four +children. The man had been ill for weeks, and the sickness +had swallowed up all his money. Death was near, and he +was glad of it; he had only one remaining wish, that he +might receive the symbols of the body and blood of the Lord +Jesus in the Holy Communion. I administered them to him.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[188]</a></span>"'We sang with a number of friends and neighbours who +were gathered together, the song,</p> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 4em;">"Who knows how near my end may be!"</span><br /> +</p> + +<p>"'He sang the words correctly along with us, for he knew +the hymn by heart. His wife and children sang too. As +we stopped at the fifth verse, I saw great tears in his eyes; +but I said nothing at the time. The sick man spoke his +confession devoutly, and afterwards received the bread and +the wine which are in figure the body and blood of our Lord +Jesus Christ. His eye beamed with joy. Then after the +blessing was said we sang the most glorious verse of the +same hymn,—"I have fed on Jesus' blood," &c. The neighbours +and friends went away, after they had cordially pressed +his hand and said to him, "In the Lord's presence we'll be +together again." I remained alone with the sick man and +his family. Then I asked, why he had wept when we were +singing, whether perhaps it was a trouble to him that he +must go away from his wife and children? He looked at +me with open eyes, almost reproachfully, when I said that, +and answered, "Does not Jesus stay with them then? Has +not the Lord said He would be 'the father of the fatherless +and a judge of the widow'? No; they will be well looked +after; I have prayed the Lord that He would be a guardian +to them. Isn't it so, mother, that thou art not worried +either, and thy heart is not anxious? Thou, too, hast faith +in Jesus!" "Surely," said the woman, "I believe in Jesus; +and I am glad thou art going to Jesus. In good time I will +come after thee with the children. Jesus will help me by +His Holy Spirit to bring them up." "Well—why did you +shed tears then?" "For joy. I was thinking, if the singing +goes so lovely even down here, how beautiful it will be when +the angels sing with us. That was what made me weep, +for joy, because such blessedness is so near before me." +And now he made a sign to his wife. She understood the +sign, went to the cupboard, and fetched out a little sort of a +cup dish, which was her husband's money-box. Six groschen +were in it, all that was left over of his possessions. He took<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[189]</a></span> +them out with trembling fingers, laid them in my hand, and +said, "The heathen are to have those, that they too may +learn how to die happy." I looked at the wife; she nodded +her head pleasantly and said, "We have agreed upon that. +When all is paid that will be needed for the funeral, it will +leave just these six groschen over." "And what will you +keep?" "The Lord Jesus," said she. "And what are you +going to leave to your wife and children?" I asked the man +again. "The Lord Jesus," said he; and with that whispered +me in the ear, "He is very good and very rich." So I took +the six groschen for the heathen, and put them, as a great +treasure, in the mission money-box; and it was hard for +me to give them out again; only if I had not paid them +out, I should not have fulfilled the dying man's wish. In +the following night he fell asleep. We buried him as a +Christian should be buried, that is, publicly, with the ringing +of the bell, with preaching, singing and prayer; and +there was no weeping done, neither by his wife nor by his +three oldest children, neither in the church nor by the grave. +But the youngest child, a boy of five years old, who followed +the bier along with the rest, wept bitterly. I asked him +afterwards, why he had wept so bitterly at his father's +grave? The child answered me, "I was so troubled because +father didn't take me with him to the Lord Jesus; I had +begged him so hard to take me." "My child," said I, "your +father could not take you along with him; only the Saviour +could do that; you ought to have asked <i>Him</i>." "Shall I +ask Him now then?" he questioned. "No, my child. See—when +the Saviour wants you, He will call you Himself. +But if He chooses that you shall grow to be a man first, then +you must help your mother and let her live with you. Will +you?" He said, "I would like to go to Jesus; and I would +like to be big too, so that mother can live with me." "Well, +then, say to the Lord Jesus that He shall choose." "That is +what I will do," said the boy; and was quite contented and +pleased.</p> + +<p>"'The faithful Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ give us +all a happy end. Amen.'"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[190]</a></span>There was the usual pause after Meredith had done +reading. Flora, however, could not keep back long her +expression of opinion.</p> + +<p>"I protest!" she said. "Those people were utterly +fanatical! Mr. Murray, isn't it true?"</p> + +<p>"O Uncle Eden, do you think so?" cried Maggie. "I +think it is beautiful."</p> + +<p>"Maggie is too young to understand," remarked Esther. +"Those people were very unnatural, I think."</p> + +<p>"How?" said Meredith.</p> + +<p>"Yes, how?" Mr. Murray echoed. "I should like to hear +the arguments on both sides."</p> + +<p>"A man who is dying, and has a wife and four children," +said Flora solemnly, "has no <i>right</i> to give his last six +groschen away. I don't know how much a groschen is, +but that don't make any difference. He has no right to +to do it!"</p> + +<p>"You emphasise, 'a man who is dying,'" said Meredith. +"Would the case be different if he were a man living and +going to live?"</p> + +<p>"Why, of course."</p> + +<p>"How?"</p> + +<p>"He would work then, and earn more. How stupid to +ask, Meredith!"</p> + +<p>"But an accident might happen to him; or he might fail +to get work; or he might miss his pay."</p> + +<p>"Yes, of course. I think it would be fanatical even +then. But when he was dying, and couldn't do anything!"——</p> + +<p>"But if in any case he must trust for a day—what does it +signify? God can send help in a day."</p> + +<p>"I should not think He would, when people throw away +wantonly what they have got already."</p> + +<p>"What is given to Jesus isn't thrown away," said Maggie.</p> + +<p>"And He always pays it back with interest," said Mr. +Murray. "And what is entrusted to Him is never +neglected. I think that old German peasant was very +safe in his proceeding."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[191]</a></span>"But so unnatural!" cried Esther. "Not to be sorry to +leave his wife and children!"</p> + +<p>"I have no doubt he was very sorry to leave them. The +only thing is, he was more glad to go to Jesus."</p> + +<p>"I cannot understand that."</p> + +<p>"Not till you know the Lord yourself; and I do not +deny that one must know Him well, to be so eager to go +to Him. One does not easily leave the known for the +unknown."</p> + +<p>"Let me read another bit of a story, or history," said +Meredith. "We cannot come to an agreement by talking; +these things must be <i>lived in</i>—must they not, Mr. +Murray?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, read. But see the sky!" said Mr. Murray. "And +the colours along the shore! Wonderful, wonderful! What +a Sunday evening this is."</p> + +<p>Meredith sat silently looking for a few minutes. With +every quarter of an hour of the descending sun, the world +was growing now more like a fairy-tale world. The lights +and the shadows and the colours were making such exquisite +work, that the bit of earth the gazers were looking upon +seemed not to belong to the earth of history or the life of +experience, but to be something unearthly, and glorified. +With all that, the Sabbath stillness! There was the lap of +the water at the foot of the rocks; the rustle of the dry +leaves down below where Fenton was prowling about; the +call of the bugle sounding out some order for the dragoons +on the other side at the post; between whiles the absolute +repose of nature.</p> + +<p>"I wonder if the new heavens and the new earth will be +anything like this!" said Mr. Murray with a long breath.</p> + +<p>"This is not like our common world. Well, Meredith—it +is hard upon you, but it is better than too much +talking."</p> + +<p>"It is not hard upon me, sir. I am getting all my ideas +cleared up.</p> + +<p>"'Holy Scripture saith, that the hearts of the children +shall be turned to the parents, and the hearts of the parents<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[192]</a></span> +to the children. I will tell you a story about that, which, +I hope, may be of use; so much the more, that in this regard +one sees so much that is senseless.</p> + +<p>"'I knew a man once, who was the very ideal of a just +living, upright, honourable man; but Jesus he knew not. +Among his fellow-men he was held in general, well-deserved +esteem; for he was pleasant and winning in intercourse +with them, and in his whole character there was something +naturally noble. No prayer was ever heard in his house, +neither at table, nor mornings and evenings, nor was ever +the morning and evening blessing read. But love and peace +reigned in the house, between parents and children, and +master and mistress and servants; and nothing dishonourable +was tolerated. In other things, however, the way of +the house was the way of the world; card-playing was had +there, now and then dancing, and sometimes it might happen +that an oath came out, when the angry vein was swollen; +nevertheless, worldly gaiety was never permitted to go beyond +bounds; the man would not suffer that. Nobody +read the Bible; though the man had a Bible which he had +inherited from his pious mother and held in high honour; +it had the chief place on his book-shelf; but it was made +no use of, only now and then taken down to have the dust +brushed off it. This man had a whole flock of children; +and a wife who clung to him with such inmost affection, +that many a time when she heard his step on the floor she +would call him into the room where she was, and when he +came in and asked what she wanted, would answer him, +"Oh, I only just wanted to see you, and now you may go +off again." In outward things he was pretty comfortable; +made a living, but also had a good deal of a burden to carry; +was a diligent worker, however, and by little and little got +on in the world. He was not often seen at church or the +Lord's Supper; yet did not absolutely neglect them. +Nevertheless, the man had a special spite against <i>pious +people</i>, of whom in his life he had known a few. Those +pious people of his acquaintance can indeed not have been +of the right sort; for from their example he had come to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[193]</a></span> +the firm persuasion that pious people, all and sundry, were +no better than hypocrites. He used often to tell of a pious +man he had known, who used to read a great deal in the +Bible and in religious books, and used also to hold meetings +for prayer in his house, while at the same time he was a +miser and put out his money to usury. Another one he had +known, who in externals made as fair pretences; but with +that was of such ungovernable temper and such unmeasured +brutality that on more than one occasion he had beaten a +man nearly to death. Therefore, as I said, he held all pious +people to be a humbug.'"</p> + +<p>Meredith paused a moment, and Flora spoke up.</p> + +<p>"There!" she said, "<i>I</i> know such people. Don't you +think, Mr. Murray, that sort of good people do more harm +than good?"</p> + +<p>"What sort of good people are they, Miss Flora?"</p> + +<p>"Why, sir, I mean, like these Meredith was reading about. +I know such people. They are selfish, and envious, and get +angry, care for nobody in the world but themselves, and are +not at all particular about telling the truth."</p> + +<p>"Therefore <i>not</i> good people."</p> + +<p>"But they are members of the Church, sir, and they go to +the Communion."</p> + +<p>"Don't you know, the Lord forewarned His disciples that +a large portion of His so-called Church would be none of His? +You need not be surprised at it. It is just what He told us +would be."</p> + +<p>"Then how are we to know?"</p> + +<p>"You can know with certainty about yourself," said Mr. +Murray with a smile. "It is not difficult to find out in +your own heart whether Christ or self comes first. For +other people, you can afford to wait till the judge comes, +cannot you?"</p> + +<p>"You are thinking, Flo, are you not, that this man and +his family were just about the right pattern?" said her +brother.</p> + +<p>"I think such people are pleasant," Flora confessed.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[194]</a></span> +"They make no pretences. That man seems to have been +just and kind and nice."</p> + +<p>"Ah, you make a mistake," said Mr. Murray again. "We +all make pretences, of one sort or another, true or false. +Such people as you are speaking of pretend <i>not</i> to be Christians; +and no doubt with perfect truth."</p> + +<p>"But is not God pleased with justice and kindness and +benevolence?"</p> + +<p>"<i>With</i> disobedience?"</p> + +<p>"Surely He commands us to love one another?"</p> + +<p>"He commands first that we love <i>Him</i>."</p> + +<p>"Isn't that loving Him?"</p> + +<p>"Love always shows itself towards the beloved one; +<i>afterwards</i> towards the objects the beloved one cares for."</p> + +<p>"May I go on?" said Meredith as Flora paused. "I +think my story will illustrate this."</p> + +<p>"Go on, by all means. Perhaps an illustration will make +it clear to everybody."</p> + +<p>"'This man was a scholar in the law; and was already +pretty well on in years, when one of his sons, a special +favourite with him on account of his fine parts and who was +just studying law at the time, at the University, learned to +know his Saviour, and turned to Him with all his heart. +The instrument of his conversion was a faithful minister, +whose preaching he had attended diligently, and with whom +he afterwards came into very intimate terms of intercourse. +Now when this son's heart was filled with intense love to his +Saviour, such as I have seen equalled in few men, nothing +was more natural than that he should send longing wishes +towards the parents and brothers and sisters whom he loved +so tenderly; wishes that they too might learn to know the +Saviour; and so, in his letters, he poured his whole heart +out, told them without reserve what had gone on in his own +heart, and how he was now rejoicing in the certainty that +his sins were forgiven and in the sure hope of everlasting +life. "Oh that all men were as happy as I!" he cried out in +his letters. For a long time he was left without an answer. +At last came a letter from his father, it ran thus: "My son,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[195]</a></span> +your letters were wont always formerly to be a refreshment +and a delight to me; now, on the contrary, they are a vexation +and a bitter grief. I see that you are exactly in the +way to become like those hypocrites of whom you used to +hear me tell. I beg that you will either write as you have +been accustomed to do, or not write at all."</p> + +<p>"'The son answered, "Father, you have always enjoined +it upon me to tell the truth; you always impressed it +upon me that there is no more contemptible and cowardly +being than a liar, for he has not even the spirit to be honest; +and now do you want to compel me to be untrue? Either +I must write you what is according to my heart; for lie I +cannot and will not, neither will I make believe; or I must +indeed do as you say and not write at all." This startled +the father, for he had in former times said to his friends,—"The +lad will not tell a falsehood; he would sooner let his +head be taken off;"—and he was honest enough to write to +his son, "Well, write what you like; if you are not a hypocrite, +you are a fanatic; but you shall tell no lies; there +you are right and I was wrong."</p> + +<p>"'Soon after this the time of the holidays came about, and +the son took his journey to his parents, to spend the holidays +with them as it was his wont to do; for it has been already +remarked that love and peace reigned in that house. As he +came in, his mother met him with tears, and looked at him +in a very critical way, as if she feared he were not right in +his head; but he caught her heartily round the neck and +kissed her and hugged her, whispering at the same time, +"Mother, don't look at me with such a doubtful face; I +have got all my five senses yet." Then he went to his father +in the sitting-room, and would have fallen on his neck too +but the father at first kept him off with all his strength; till +his son asked him, "Thou art my dear good father always, +and always wilt be so; am I thy son no longer? and why +not? what have I done that is wrong? is reading the Bible +and praying anything wrong?" Then the father kissed his +son and spoke—"I must honour the truth, thou hast done +nothing wrong, my son!" For an hour or so they talked<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[196]</a></span> +together about the professors at the University, and about +the lectures the son had been attending there; and in the +meantime the mother had got supper ready, and they went +to table. The son stood up, folded his hands and prayed. +With that the father thrust his chair back till it cracked, +and ran out of the room, and the mother full of anxiety ran +after him. The son, however, did not follow them, but after +he had heartily prayed for his father and his mother, he sat +down, and with tears ate his supper. When he found his +parents did not come back, he sought his own room, and +once more poured out his heart before his faithful God +and Saviour; then he slept quietly until morning. Next +morning naturally the first thing was to go at his prayers +again; then he read a chapter in his beloved Bible; and +went afterwards to the dwelling-room, as he was accustomed. +His father was there, sitting in his arm-chair, and turned +pale one minute and red the next. The son gave him +his hand cordially and bade him good-morning, and to his +mother as well. "My son," his father then asked him, "are +you master in the house? or am I? The son answered, +"Who but you, father?" "Why do you take upon you +then to introduce prayer at meals, seeing you know that it +is not our habit here?" "Father," the son answered, "did +I then say that you and my mother were to pray? I asked +expressly only, 'Come, Lord Jesus, be <i>my</i> guest'—whereas +elsewhere usually the prayer is, 'be <i>our</i> guest.' I knew it +was not your custom to pray; therefore it would have been +an untruth to say, 'our guest,' and that would have been +assuming, too, for it would have been trying to draw you +in." "But why did you not let the whole thing entirely +alone? you knew very well we have no such regulation +here." "Not for you, father; for me, however, there is such +a regulation; and if I had taken my supper without praying, +I should have been false to my God; and it is certainly not +your pleasure that I should be false towards God, since you +cannot endure any falsehood towards men." "No," said his +father, "you are not to be false; well, pray away, for all I +care; but only when we are alone, not when strangers are<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[197]</a></span> +by, else we should become a laughing-stock." "Father, I +could not be untrue to God for my own dear father's sake; +should I for the sake of strangers? I am not ashamed of +my God and Saviour before any man, neither before strangers +nor before the king himself; and I will be faithful and +true to my God. If it is not your pleasure to have this +thing done when strangers are present, then do not call me +to table." The father said, "Boy, where did you get your +pluck?" "I love the Lord," the son answered, "who has +redeemed me; I would go into death a thousand times for +Him." "You are no hypocrite, my boy," said the father; +"well, for all I care, you may be pious, if you only will +not be a hypocrite."</p> + +<p>"'From that time the ice was broken; and I have myself +seen it with my own eyes, how father and mother and son +used to read together in the Bible, pray and sing together, +and how the brothers and sisters one after the other turned +to the Lord. Rarely have I known a house in which the +Lord Jesus was so fearlessly acknowledged as in that house. +And do you know what of this history I would like to inscribe +in your hearts, yea, would like to burn into your +hearts with letters of fire? It is this. Let your Christianity +be no lip work; let your religion not consist in words; lip-work +Christianity is hypocritical Christianity. True religion +is a fact. The genuine believer is upright and makes +no pretence, neither to God nor man. The heartfelt conviction—"Boy, +you are no hypocrite"—ought to be forced upon +the beholder by the walk and behaviour of every real believer; +if that had been the case, the world would present a different +aspect from what it offers now. But most people's Christianity +is a fashion of speech; and so it is lying and hypocrisy; +therefore it can at one and the same time, like Pilate, +chastise and set free, pray and neglect prayer, confess and +not confess, just as happens to be convenient in the circumstances. +It is not required that you should preach to everybody +you fall in with, as if it were your vocation to set up +lights for everybody's guidance; much more would often +be spoiled than mended in that way. But to be a Christian,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[198]</a></span> +to walk as a Christian, and thus to confess one's Christianity +honestly in action, just because it is so and you +are not going to be false either towards God or towards +men; that is the way in which the hearts of the parents +are turned to the children, and the hearts of the children +turned to the parents.'"</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[199]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XVII.</h2> + + +<p>The sun had got low, in fact, he was dipping behind the +dark line of Eagle Hill; and everybody looked and watched. +The bright ball of fiery gold disappeared, leaving a trail of +glory; lights glowed against shadows on the hazy hill shore; +little flecks of cloud in the west grew gorgeous, and a low-lying +rack of vapour in the south-east took on the loveliest +changes of warm browns and purples and greys. And as +the sun got further below the horizon, the cloud scenery became +but the more resplendent.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Murray," Flora began, "you will think I am always +taking objections."</p> + +<p>"Well, Miss Flora—what now?"</p> + +<p>"Please to criticise this story Ditto has been reading. I +would rather you did it than I."</p> + +<p>"By 'criticise' you mean, find fault?"</p> + +<p>"If you see reason."</p> + +<p>"Suppose I do not see reason?"</p> + +<p>"But do you not, really?"</p> + +<p>"Wherein?"</p> + +<p>"Mr. Murray, I like things kept to their proper places."</p> + +<p>"We are agreed there."</p> + +<p>"And I think it is a pity to make religious observances, +or what are meant for them, repelling and disgusting to +other people."</p> + +<p>"Certainly. As how, for instance, Miss Flora?"</p> + +<p>"Well, I never like to see people—I <i>have</i> seen it—make +a show of praying at table, where no general blessing has +been asked by the person at the head of the table or a +minister. It just makes them conspicuous, and as good as +says that they are the only right people there."</p> + +<p>"That is not a pleasant impression to receive."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[200]</a></span></p> + +<p>"No, and I did not receive it. I thought it was a mistake. +And quite ill-bred."</p> + +<p>"But perhaps those people felt that they wanted a particular +blessing, where there was no general blessing asked +as you say."</p> + +<p>"They might ask for it quietly, secretly."</p> + +<p>"Yes. Would they get it?"</p> + +<p>"Why, Mr. Murray! Doesn't the Lord always hear +prayer?"</p> + +<p>"No. It is written—'He that turneth away his ear from +hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination.'"</p> + +<p>"But what law is there about saying grace at meals, in +public?"</p> + +<p>"There is this, Miss Flora. 'Whosoever shall confess Me +before men, him will I also confess'"——</p> + +<p>"But everywhere, Mr. Murray? Must we be confessing +<i>everywhere</i>?"</p> + +<p>"What places would you make the exception?"</p> + +<p>Flora was silent.</p> + +<p>"Public places in general?"</p> + +<p>Still Flora was silent.</p> + +<p>"Allow me to ask—Do you approve of the custom anywhere +of asking a blessing upon our meat?"</p> + +<p>"Certainly—in one's own house. Papa did it always. +Meredith does it."</p> + +<p>"Then, Miss Flora, if it is a right thing to do at home, +how is it not a right thing to do abroad?"</p> + +<p>"Everywhere, Mr. Murray? Would you do it in a restaurant?"</p> + +<p>"If it is a right thing to do, Miss Flora?—why not in a +restaurant?"</p> + +<p>"Or in somebody else's house perhaps, where it is not the +custom?"</p> + +<p>"Why not?"</p> + +<p>"Why it seems to me like a sort of preaching to people; +like saying to them that you are better than they are; setting +one's self up."</p> + +<p>"Pardon me—how can it be setting myself up, to thank +my Father in heaven for what He has given me, and to ask<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[201]</a></span> +Him to let me have also a blessing with it?"</p> + +<p>"Why couldn't you do it quietly?"</p> + +<p>"I should always in such places do it quietly; not aloud."</p> + +<p>"But I mean—without letting anybody know it?"</p> + +<p>"Why should not people know it?"</p> + +<p>"Excuse me, Mr. Murray; but I always think it is making +a show—making a pretence."</p> + +<p>"If it is a pretence, the worse for me, whether at home or +abroad. But a <i>show</i> I want it to be, Miss Flora; a show +that I am a child of God, and love to own my Father's hand +everywhere."</p> + +<p>"You are very good to let me talk just what I think, +without being offended," said Flora. "You will not think +me rude, Mr. Murray? I really want to know your opinions. +Don't you think that in such things there is a tacit implied +reproof of the other persons present who do not as you do?"</p> + +<p>"How can I help that?"</p> + +<p>"But is that polite?"</p> + +<p>"That question sinks before the other—Is it duty?"</p> + +<p>"I cannot see it to be duty," said Flora.</p> + +<p>"I have always been a little confused about it," said +Meredith; "in such cases and places, I mean."</p> + +<p>"It makes one very disagreeably singular," Flora added.</p> + +<p>"It is impossible to follow Christ fully, Miss Flora, and +not be that more or less."</p> + +<p>"<i>Disagreeably</i> singular, Mr. Murray?"</p> + +<p>"I agree with you, I am sure, in thinking that it is +disagreeable to be singular."</p> + +<p>"But must one? I always thought it was such bad taste."</p> + +<p>"You perceive it is not a question of taste."</p> + +<p>"Why then of necessity?"</p> + +<p>"Because whoever follows the Lord fully will live in a way +the very opposite of that which is followed by the world. +He will be marked out from it—even as the Lord was +Himself."</p> + +<p>"Still, one is not to make one's self unnecessarily odd," +said Meredith; "and I have until now been in doubt<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[202]</a></span> +whether people did not do it in this very matter of asking +a blessing at tables where nobody else followed the practice."</p> + +<p>"I am sure it is not unnecessary," said Mr. Murray. "I +am sure that thought is a temptation of the enemy. I am +sure that the simple fact of having, though in so small a +matter, shown one's colours and confessed Christ, is a help +all through the day to go on confessing Him, as occasion may +serve."</p> + +<p>Silence fell after this, and some of the party noticed how +the sky and clouds were changing. The sun had sunk below +the actual horizon now; long since he had dipped behind +Eagle Hill; and the gold and the purple were fading from the +racks of vapour which had caught and given the colours so +brilliantly. Pale purple, pale fawn, ashes of roses, then +soft greys succeeded one another. The eastern hills had lost +their light; the shadows were gone, night was softly letting +her mantle fall on the world. Still the little party sat on +the rock, and looked, and felt the soft breath of the air, and +watched the fading glory. Nobody wanted to move, and +twilight would last long enough to let them get home; and +so they waited. Fenton, I suppose, had gone home, for they +heard the rustle of his footsteps no longer. By and by, as +they watched the grey strips of vapour which had been so +brilliant a little while ago, they began to change again. +The greys took on a purplish warm hue, which brightened +and brightened, and then pure carmine began to touch the +soft under folds and edges of the clouds, increasing in +vividness, until over all the sky every speck and mass of +vapour was glowing in brilliant crimson. For a few minutes +this; and then it too faded, and rapidly the crimson +sank to purple and the purple back to grey, and all knew +that the reign of night and shades would be broken no more +till the sun rising. Slowly the little party got up from the +rock; unwillingly they turned their backs upon it; lingeringly +they left the place which had been so pleasant, and +took their way down the hill through the gathering dusk. +The walk was still very pretty; Maggie held her uncle's +hand, the others clustered round, and they went running<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[203]</a></span> +and skipping till the level land was reached, then slowly +again, as if loath to have the evening quite come to an end.</p> + +<p>It was pleasure of another sort to gather round the tea-table, +bright with lights and covered with good things.</p> + +<p>"I do not think," Meredith observed, "that I ever +enjoyed more in one day."</p> + +<p>"Lucky for you!" said Fenton. "I don't see the use of +having Sundays, for my part."</p> + +<p>"How can you help having them?" said Maggie. "They +must come, just like Saturdays, or Mondays."</p> + +<p>"That's deep!" said Fenton. "But if they must come, +as you have originally discovered, why can't one use them +reasonably."</p> + +<p>"As how?" said Mr. Murray, preventing an eager outbreak +of Maggie's.</p> + +<p>"Like other days. Why shouldn't I fish, for instance? +or shoot partridges? The fish don't know the difference. +Why should one mope on one particular day?"</p> + +<p>"I never do," said his uncle. "I am sorry you have such +a bad taste."</p> + +<p>"As what, sir?" (fiercely).</p> + +<p>"As to mope."</p> + +<p>"How's a fellow to do anything else?"</p> + +<p>"Depends on himself."</p> + +<p>"Well, what's the use of my not fishing? Why shouldn't +I fish on Sunday?"</p> + +<p>"Don't you know?"</p> + +<p>"No, I don't," said Fenton. "That's just it. If I knew +any good reason, of course it would be different." And he +sagely muttered something about "priestcraft."</p> + +<p>"There are two reasons," said Mr. Murray calmly, while +Maggie flushed up and even Esther stared at her brother.</p> + +<p>"I never knew any," responded Fenton.</p> + +<p>"Do you care to know them?"</p> + +<p>"If they <i>are</i> reasons," Fenton rejoined impudently, "it +would be unreasonable not to care."</p> + +<p>"Very true," said Mr. Murray smiling. "I will begin +with the lesser of the two. It is found in the nature of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[204]</a></span> +man, Fenton. Man is so constituted that he cannot, +year in and year out, stand a seven days' strain. Neither +brain nor muscle will bear it. That has been tested and +proved. In the long run, man cannot do as much working +seven days, as he can do working only six days."</p> + +<p>Fenton knew that what his uncle gave as a fact was likely +to be a fact; he had no answer ready at first. Then he said, +"I spoke of fishing, sir; that is play, not work."</p> + +<p>"As you do it, I suppose it is. But we are talking of the +fact of one day in seven being set apart from the rest, and +the reasons. You see one reason."</p> + +<p>"What's the other?"</p> + +<p>"The other is still more difficult to deal with. It consists +in this—that God says the day is His. As Ruler and +King of the world, He lays His hand upon that seventh +day and says, This is mine."</p> + +<p>"I don't see any reason in that," said Fenton.</p> + +<p>"No. But you see the claim and the command. Those +must be met, or disobeyed at our peril."</p> + +<p>"What's the use?"</p> + +<p>"One great use is, to remember and acknowledge that +God <i>is</i> Ruler and Owner of all. So when we cross the +boundary between Saturday and Sunday, we step over on +ground that is not ours."</p> + +<p>"There is no good in being stiff and pokey," said +Fenton.</p> + +<p>"No. It is only a stranger on the ground who can be +that. One who knows the Lord and loves Him is specially +at home and free on the Lord's day."</p> + +<p>"But I thought the Jewish Sabbath was done away?" +said Flora.</p> + +<p>"The formal Jewish Sabbath. But not the spiritual. If +you study the matter, you will see that Christ made careful +exceptions to the literal rule in only three cases—where +mercy, or necessity, or God's service demand that it shall +be broken."</p> + +<p>"Don't you think a farmer ought to get in his hay on +Sunday, sir, if he saw a storm coming up?" Fenton asked.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[205]</a></span>"I dare not make any other exceptions than the Lord +made," his uncle answered.</p> + +<p>"Don't you think trains ought to run on Sunday, Mr. +Murray?" said Flora.</p> + +<p>"I must say the same thing to you, Miss Flora."</p> + +<p>"But in cases of sickness and accident, sir?"</p> + +<p>"Have you the notion that Sunday trains are filled +with persons who have been summoned somewhere by +telegraph?"</p> + +<p>"No—but there are such cases."</p> + +<p>"Yes; well. Do you think, honestly, that thousands of +people ought to break the Lord's rule every Sunday, in +order to give relief here and there to the anxiety of one?"</p> + +<p>"I can tell you," Fenton broke out, "your doctrine is +furiously unfashionable. There is not a fellow in our school +that doesn't do as he has a mind to on Sunday."</p> + +<p>"Other days too, I suppose."</p> + +<p>"Of course."</p> + +<p>"That is just what, in your sense, a Christian gives up; +not on Sunday more than on other days. That is the +difference between a Christian and another man; one does +his own will and the other the will of God, which is also +his own."</p> + +<p>Fenton muttered something to Esther, who sat next him, +about an "old foggy," but the subject of conversation was +carried no further. Mr. Murray purposely changed it, and +the evening passed in very pleasant talk, alternating with +some Bible reading. Only, towards the close of the evening +Fenton started the question, "where they would go the +next day?"</p> + +<p>"Suppose we leave that for Monday to take care of," +Mr. Murray answered.</p> + +<p>"But, sir, there might be some arrangements to make."</p> + +<p>"To-night?"</p> + +<p>"Perhaps; but at any rate I might want to give some +orders in the morning."</p> + +<p>"I don't think we should have a good time, if we consulted +about it now."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[206]</a></span>"Why not, sir?"</p> + +<p>"You forget. It is the Lord's time. And if we want +Him to give us His favour on our expedition, it seems to +me we had better not offend Him about it beforehand."</p> + +<p>"But, sir!"——</p> + +<p>"But, Mr. Murray!" put in Flora. "Just to <i>speak</i> about +things?"</p> + +<p>"Time enough to-morrow, Miss Flora. And this is the +Lord's time, you know."</p> + +<p>"But just <i>talking</i>—not doing anything?"</p> + +<p>"Doing a good deal in imagination. What's the difference? +Study the fifty-eighth chapter of Isaiah, the last two +verses. Sir Matthew Hale gave it as his testimony, that he +found business concocted on Sunday did not run off well in +the week. No, we will leave the question till to-morrow at +breakfast, if you please."</p> + +<p>"I can't understand it!" said Flora, as she went upstairs.</p> + +<p>"Study those verses in Isaiah," said Meredith, who overheard +her.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[207]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XVIII.</h2> + + +<p>A bright little party gathered round the breakfast table +Monday morning.</p> + +<p>"Now, Uncle Eden," cried Maggie, "where shall we go +to-day? It is Monday now."</p> + +<p>"What is proposed?"</p> + +<p>Several plans were ready.</p> + +<p>"Down in the cove of the bay," said Fenton, "where the +lower brook comes in—then I can fish off Old Woman's +rock till lunch is ready."</p> + +<p>"I propose the Indian falls," said Esther. "Flora and +Meredith have never seen them."</p> + +<p>"<i>I</i> say, Fort Montgomery," said Maggie.</p> + +<p>"Fort Montgomery!" There was a general exclamation.</p> + +<p>"Where is that?" Meredith asked.</p> + +<p>"Seven miles down the river. Oh it is just lovely!" Maggie +explained. "We go down with the tide and come back with +the tide, and spend the day down on the hill there, opposite +Anthony's Nose. I showed you from the front door which +Anthony's Nose is, Ditto."</p> + +<p>"That would be delightful. The day is going to be perfectly +quiet and warm and sunny—just the thing."</p> + +<p>"Seven miles," Fenton grunted. "Who's going to do the +rowing?"</p> + +<p>"I," said Meredith.</p> + +<p>"And I," said Mr. Murray.</p> + +<p>"And we can take Fairbairn," said Maggie; "and we +had better, for there will be the baskets to carry."</p> + +<p>"Nonsense—I can carry baskets," said Meredith; "and +get wood, and all that."</p> + +<p>"I think we can do without Fairbairn," said Mr. Murray.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[208]</a></span> +"I like the plan. It is just the day for it. If it only turn +out to be just the time of tide also!"—</p> + +<p>"We'll soon see about that," cried the boys. There was +a rush and a whoop and a race to the boat-house, and then +a more leisurely return.</p> + +<p>"It's all right," said Meredith. "Couldn't be better. It +is half-past eight now, and the tide just beginning to turn. +It will be running down till two o'clock—and just give us a +nice current home."</p> + +<p>"And a good pull, too," said Ponton.</p> + +<p>"<i>That's</i> all right, old boy. Come! don't you pull backwards. +Now, how soon can we be ready?"</p> + +<p>"Just as soon as we can get our lunch ready, and the +things," said Maggie. "You might pack the things, Ditto, +and get them into the boat, while we see about lunch."</p> + +<p>"What are 'things'?"</p> + +<p>"Why, cups and saucers, and tea-kettle, and matches +and plates, and paper to light the fire, and everything, you +know."</p> + +<p>"Go off," said Mr. Murray, "and see about victualling +the ship. I can manage the cups and saucers."</p> + +<p>So Maggie and Esther ran to consult Betsey, who now +held a nondescript position of usefulness in the family, and +was acting cook while Mrs. Candlish was away—cook proper +being absent on leave.</p> + +<p>"O Betsey! we are going out, to be gone all day; and +now, what can we have for lunch?"</p> + +<p>"Lunch, Miss Maggie!"—</p> + +<p>"Yes, and you know we want a good deal. There are +six of us."</p> + +<p>"You know, it's Monday."</p> + +<p>"Well, what of it?"</p> + +<p>"There h'aint so much as if t'was any other day. You +see, yesterday it was Sunday."</p> + +<p>"Oh well! what have we got, Betsey? I know you have +got something."</p> + +<p>"There's bread, Miss h'Esther."</p> + +<p>"We want more than bread. And butter, and tea and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[209]</a></span> +coffee and all that. We must have something more, Betsey. +What <i>have</i> you got?"</p> + +<p>"The chickens is nothing left of 'em; and that 'am bone +h'aint got much on it. I do think, Miss Maggie, ye consume +a great deal in the woods!"</p> + +<p>"Of course we do. And we want a good, hearty lunch +to-day, because the boys and Uncle Eden will have a long +way to row. Come, Betsey, make haste."</p> + +<p>"There h'aint a living thing in the 'ouse, but h'oysters, +and h'eggs, and potatoes. That is, nothing cooked. And +ye want dressed meat."</p> + +<p>"Oysters?" said Maggie doubtfully.</p> + +<p>"Capital," said Esther. "And sweet potatoes. We can +bake them in the ashes. And eggs are good. Meredith +will make us another friar's omelet."</p> + +<p>"There's nothing else for ye," said Betsey, summing up.</p> + +<p>So Fairbairn carried a great bag of oysters down to the +boat, and a basket with the potatoes and eggs, and the +kettle, and a pail to fetch water in. And into other baskets +went everything else that everybody could think of as +possibly wanting from the house. Affghan and worsted, +finally, and the merry party themselves.</p> + +<p>Ten o'clock, and a soft, fair, mild day as could ever have +been wished for. Not much haze to-day, yet a tempered +sunlight, such as October rejoices in. No wind, and a blue +sky far more tender in hue and less intense than that of +summer. Little racks of cloud scattered along the horizon +were, like everything else in nature, quiet and at rest; no +hurry, no driving; no storms, no ripening sun-heat; earth's +harvests gathered in and done for that year, and nature at +rest and at play. And with slow, leisurely strokes of the +oar, the little boat fell down with the tide; she was at play +too. Sunshades were not opened; shawls were not unfolded; +in the perfection of atmosphere and temperature there was +nothing to do but to breathe and enjoy. At first even talking +was checked by the calm beauty, the grand hush, of +earth and sky. The boat crossed over to Gee's Point, and +from there coasted down under the shore. There the colours<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[210]</a></span> +of the woods showed plainly in their variety; dark red oaks, +olive green cedars, dusky chestnut oaks and purple ashes; +with now and then a hickory in clear gold, or a maple +flaunting in red and yellow. They all succeeded one +another in turn, with ever fresh combinations; on the +opposite shore the same thing softened by distance; overhead +that clear, pale blue of October.</p> + +<p>"I do not realise that I am living in the common world!" +said Flora at last. "I seem to be floating somewhere in +fairy-land."</p> + +<p>"It's October—that is all," said Mr. Murray.</p> + +<p>"Then I never saw October before."</p> + +<p>"Aren't you glad to make his acquaintance?" said her +brother.</p> + +<p>"But how can one come down to November after it?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, November is <i>lovely</i>!" cried Maggie. "It is lovely +here."</p> + +<p>"At Mosswood? Well, I can believe it. But at Leeds +November comes with a scowl and a bluster and takes one +by the shoulders and gives one a shake—to put one in order +for winter, I suppose."</p> + +<p>"I don't think shaking puts anything in order," remarked +Esther.</p> + +<p>"No. Now <i>this</i>—" said Flora, wistfully looking around +her—"this comes as near making me feel good, as anything +can."</p> + +<p>"Take a lesson—" said Mr. Murray.</p> + +<p>"But after all, the months must be according to their +nature," said Flora.</p> + +<p>"Certainly. The difference is, that <i>you</i> may choose what +manner of nature you will be of. It all depends, you know," +Mr. Murray went on smiling, "on how much of the sun the +months get. And on how much of the sun you get."</p> + +<p>"How can I choose?" said Flora.</p> + +<p>"How? Why, you may be in the full sunshine all the +time if you like."</p> + +<p>Again the boat dropped down the stream silently. The +way was long; seven miles is a good deal in a row-boat; so<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[211]</a></span> +they took it leisurely and enjoyed to the full the consciousness +that it <i>was</i> a long way, and they should have a great +deal of it. By and by they came to a little rocky island or +promontory, connected with the mainland by marsh meadows +at least if by nothing more, to get round which they had to +make quite a wide sweep. When they had passed it and +drew into the shore again, they were already nearing the +southern hills which from Mosswood looked so distant and +seemed to lock into one another. They had the same seeming +still, though standing out now in brighter tints and new +and detailed beauty. On and on the little boat went, +coasting along. No further break in the line of shore for a +good while; only they were nearing and nearing that nest of +hills. At last they came abreast of one or two houses, where +a well-defined road came down to the river.</p> + +<p>"Do we land here?" asked Flora.</p> + +<p>"Not yet. Round on the other side of that bluff we shall +come to a creek, with a mill; that is the place. Are you in +a hurry?"</p> + +<p>"I should like to sail so all day!"</p> + +<p>They floated down with the tide and a little movement of +the oars; there was absolutely no wind. The sloops and +schooners in the river drifted or swung at anchor. Hardly +a leaf moved on a stem. The tide ran fast, however, and +the little boat slipped easily past the gay banks, with their +kaleidoscope changes of colour. This piece of the way +nevertheless seemed long, just because the inexperienced +were constantly expecting it to come to an end; but on and +on the boat glided, and there was never a creek or a mill to +be seen.</p> + +<p>"Uncle Eden," said Maggie, "there <i>used</i> to be a creek +here somewhere."</p> + +<p>"Certainly."</p> + +<p>"There is none here now," said Flora.</p> + +<p>"That you see."</p> + +<p>"I can look along the shore for a good way, Mr. Murray. +Are we going quite down to those mountains?"</p> + +<p>"No. You will see the creek presently."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[212]</a></span>"The banks seem without the least break in them."</p> + +<p>"It will not do to trust to appearances. Have you not +found that out yet?"</p> + +<p>"I tell you what, I'm getting hungry," said Fenton, who +was taking his turn at the oars.</p> + +<p>"Eleven o'clock. You will have to control your impatience +for some time yet," said Meredith.</p> + +<p>"I can tell you, this boat is awfully heavy," said Fenton. +He had meant to use a stronger word, but changed it. +"Can't we get lunch by twelve?"</p> + +<p>"Oh no! we shall have some reading first, I guess," said +Maggie. "Lunch at twelve? Why, you never have it till +one, Fenton."</p> + +<p>"Makes a difference whether you are pulling a dozen +people and forty baskets along," rejoined her brother. "It's +an awful bore, to have to do things."</p> + +<p>There was a general merry burst at that.</p> + +<p>"What sort of things, Fenton? Do you want to live like +a South Sea Island savage?" his uncle asked.</p> + +<p>"Uncommonly jolly, <i>I</i> should think," responded Fenton. +"Dive into the surf and get a lobster, climb into a tree and +fetch down a cocoanut—there's your dinner."</p> + +<p>"A very queer dinner," remarked Maggie, amid renewed +merriment.</p> + +<p>"I never heard that lobsters were fished out of breakers, +either," said Flora.</p> + +<p>"You seem to think it is no work to fight the breakers +and climb the cocoanut trees," remarked Mr. Murray. +"However, I grant you, it would not occupy a great deal of +time. Is your idea of life, that it is useful only for eating +purposes?"</p> + +<p>"It comes to that, pretty much," said the boy. "What +do people work for, if it isn't to live! I don't care how +they work."</p> + +<p>"Some people's aim is to get where they will do nothing," +said Mr. Murray. "Do you see a bit of a break yonder in +the lines of the shore, Miss Flora?"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[213]</a></span>"Is it?—yes, it is the creek!" cried Maggie joyously. +"It is the creek. Now you can see it, Flora."</p> + +<p>It opened fast upon them now as they came near, quite a +wide-mouthed little creek, setting in among wooded banks +which soon narrowed upon it. Just before they narrowed, +an old mill stood by the side of the water, and there were +some steps by which one could land. There the boat was +made fast, and the little party disembarked, glad after all +to feel their feet again; and baskets one after another were +handed out.</p> + +<p>"What is all this cargo?" said Fenton, grumbling; "and +who's going to carry it to the top of the hill? Suppose we +stay down here?"</p> + +<p>"And lose all the view?" said Maggie.</p> + +<p>"And the walk? and the fun?" said Esther.</p> + +<p>"Fun!" echoed Fenton. "Just take that sack along with +you, if you want fun. What ever have you got in it? +cannon balls?"</p> + +<p>"Oysters."</p> + +<p>"Oysters! In the shell! Why didn't you have them +taken out? What's in this basket? this is as bad."</p> + +<p>"Cups and saucers, and spoons and plates, and such +things."</p> + +<p>"We could have done without them."</p> + +<p>"How?"</p> + +<p>"Eat with our fingers."</p> + +<p>"You had better go to the South Sea Islands, and done +with it," said Esther. "Come—you take hold of one side of +the basket and I of the other."</p> + +<p>"No, Essie," said her uncle; "that would be very unchivalrous. +Do not ask Fenton such a thing. In the South +Sea Islands men may make women do the work for them; +but not here. Come, my boy, here are three of us and only +a basket apiece; take up your burden and be thankful, and +be brave."</p> + +<p>I am afraid Fenton was neither; but he shouldered his +basket; and being an athletic fellow, managed to reach the +top of the hill without more muscular distress than the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">[214]</a></span> +others showed. Of the state of his mind I say nothing +further; but the truth is, the way was rather long. Nobody +knew the shortest cut to the place they desired to reach; +so they wound about among thickets of low cedar, sprinkled +here and there with taller pines, going up and down and +round about for some time. At last they found their way +to the top of the ridge, and wandering along in search of a +suitable place for their rest and pleasure, came out upon an +open bit of turf and moss on the highest ground, over which +a group of white pines stretched their sheltering branches. +The view was clear over a very long stretch of the river +with its eastern shore; indeed they could look up quite to +the turn of the river at Gee's point; Gee's Point itself hid +Mosswood from them.</p> + +<p>With acclamations the party deposited their baskets and +threw themselves down on the bank. The gentle warmth +of the sun was not shorn of its effect by the least stir of +wind; the moss and grass were perfectly dry; and the lookout +over river and shores was lovely. Sugarloaf showed +now true to its name, an elegant little cone. The sails of +the two or three vessels the party had passed in coming +down the river were so still that they served to emphasise +the general stillness; they hung lazily waiting for a breeze +and could not carry their hulls fast or far.</p> + +<p>For a while the pleasure party could do nothing but rest +and look. But after a while Meredith roused himself to +further action. He began wandering about; what he was +searching for did not appear, until he came back with an +armful of green, soft, pine branches.</p> + +<p>"Now if you will just get up for a few minutes," said he, +"I will give you a couch to rest upon." And he went on +to lay the branches thick together, so as to form a very +yielding comfortable layer of cushions, on which the party +stretched themselves with new pleasure and strong appreciation. +Meredith had to bring a good many armfuls of pine +branches to accommodate them all; at last he had done, +and flung himself down like the rest.</p> + +<p>"When do you want your fire made?" said he.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">[215]</a></span>"Somebody else is hungry, I am afraid," said Flora.</p> + +<p>"I cannot deny it. But I can wait as long as you can!"</p> + +<p>"I am <i>very</i> hungry," said Flora.</p> + +<p>"I believe I shall be," said Mr. Murray, "by the time our +luncheon can be ready. Here's for a fire!"</p> + +<p>They all went about it. To find a place and to arrange +stones for the kettle, and to collect fuel, and to build and +kindle the fire. Stones for the chimney-place were not at +hand in manageable size; so Mr. Murray planted three +strong sticks on the ground with their bases a couple of feet +or so apart and their heads tied together; and slung the +kettle to them, over the fire. This was very pretty, and +drew forth great expressions of admiration. Then while +waiting for the kettle to boil, they all threw themselves on +their pine branches again and called for a story; only +Fenton sat by the fire to keep it up. Meredith took his +book from his pocket and laid it on the pine branches, open +before him.</p> + +<p>"You could not attend to anything very deep till you +have had something to eat," he said. "I will give you +something easy."</p> + +<p>"Most of your stories are so profound," added Flora.</p> + +<p>"Never mind; listen."</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">[216]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XIX.</h2> + + +<p>"'The story that I am going to tell now happened here in +Hermannsburg.'"</p> + +<p>"A great many things seem to have happened in Hermannsburg," +Flora remarked.</p> + +<p>"Yes. Just think what it must be to live in a village +with a history.</p> + +<p>"'It is, for one thing, a beautiful story for passion week; +and then it gives a lovely picture of the relation in which +princes and their vassals at that time stood to one another. +The Thirty Years' War had brought frightful misery over +our country. Havoc and devastation had come even into +the churches. So, for example, in this place; the imperial +troops had not only plundered the church and carried away +everything that was of value; for to be sure the people here +were Lutheran heretics; but they had even broken to pieces +all the bells in the tower, and driven off no less than five +baggage waggons full of brass metal, to be recast for cannon. +And the last one, the big bell, was broken up and about to +be carried away by the Croats; the horses were even put to +the waggon; when suddenly the blast of trumpets and the +battle-cry, "<i>God with us!</i>" announced the coming of +Lutheran troops, and scared the Croats away. So the +metal was left behind. After the Thirty Years' War, gradually +the people gathered together again; but the number of +them was very small, and many a farm had to lie waste for +want of both farmer and farming stock. There are said to +have been at first only ten families come back to our parish +village, with four oxen and two cows. Besides all that, towards +the end of the war epidemics were constantly prevailing, +so that, for example, in this parish, in the thirty years<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">[217]</a></span> +from 1650 to 1680, three pastors died one after another of +contagious epidemics; namely, Andreas Kruse'" (that was +the fellow who stood out so for his church vessels), "Paulus +Boccatius, Johannes Buchholz; and the fourth Justus +Theodor Breyhan, who died in 1686, was three times at +death's door. Those were troubled times!</p> + +<p>"'This Breyhan was a childlike good man, whom his +parish held in great love and honour, for both in spiritual +and in material things there was no better counsellor for +them. Like a true father he stood by the bedside of the +sick and the dying, to show them how to die happy, and like a +good father he comforted the survivors, and by the live and +powerful words of his preaching, poured new strength and +fresh courage of faith into all hearts. With all that, this +man was a singular lover of the <i>sound of the bell</i>. In his +opinion it was a remarkable thing, that the heavenly King +would allow his bells to be cast of the same metal in which +earthly princes cast their guns; and his highest wish was, +to get a great church bell again. The metal indeed was still +on hand; but who would have it cast? There was only a +little bell still hanging up in the tower, which was called +the Bingel bell, and dated back to the year 1495 (it is there +still) and had been too insignificant to tempt the Croats. +With that on Sundays people must be rung to church, and +with that the tolling for the dead must be done at funerals. +It did, it is true, give out a fine, lovely, clear note; but the +good dear Breyhan often wept great tears when he heard the +sound of it; it seemed to him that it was too disrespectful +to the great King in heaven, that he should have no better +bell than that. He could hardly sleep at last for thinking +of it. Especially at the high festival days and in Passion +week, and on occasion of funerals, he was in great uneasiness. +Then it was in the fast season of the year 1680, he +was again sick unto death, and in his fevered fancies he was +continually praying to the dear Lord that He would not let +him die before he could have the bell properly tolled at his +burying. He recovered, and on Good Friday was again +able to preach. The congregation wept for joy at having<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">[218]</a></span> +their beloved pastor among them again, and never perhaps +have more ardent thanks gone up to God from the parish +than did that day. The time of the Easter festival passed +by, and they rejoiced with one another over the glorious +resurrection of the Lord Jesus. The third day of the Easter +festival (at that time there were still always three feast +days), he told the congregation that they must pray for him +faithfully; for the next day he was going on a journey after +a bell which in his illness he had promised to the Lord.</p> + +<p>"'The next morning his honest old parish farmer Ebel +was at the door with a little farm waggon, and asked him +where they were to go? and whether it was to be a long +or a short journey? You must know the man was under +obligation to take several long journeys for his pastor, +lasting some days, and several short expeditions of a day +only each. "It shall be a short one for to-day," the pastor +answered. "I think with God's help to ride to Zelle." +So after Ebel had attended morning worship in the parsonage, +for he would not willingly have missed that, Breyhan +mounted into the waggon, set himself down upon a spread +of straw, took his hat off and said reverently—"In God's +name!"—and then they went forward, step by step, as the +manner was then; for in those days people were not in such +a hurry as they are now. Before the city they stopped, and +with prayer and thanksgiving ate the breakfast they had +brought along with them. Then Breyhan took his vestments +out of a clean linen cloth and put them on, and one +could see by his lips that he was speaking to himself or +praying. Good Ebel felt himself growing quite devotional +at the sight, and he drove into the city with twice the +spirit he had had before, because now everybody might see +that he had a pastor in his waggon.'"</p> + +<p>Meredith paused a moment to glance up at the river and +hills opposite, and Maggie broke forth,</p> + +<p>"The people in that country seem to be very unlike the +people in this country?"</p> + +<p>"You mean, nobody here would care so much about carrying +a minister in his waggon," said Meredith laughing.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">[219]</a></span>"Well—he wouldn't, would he?"</p> + +<p>"I am afraid not. More's the pity."</p> + +<p>"Why, Ditto?" said his sister. "What are ministers so +much more than other people?"</p> + +<p>"They are the King's ambassadors," said Mr. Murray, +taking the answer upon himself. "And you know, Miss +Flora, the ambassador of a king is always treated as something +more than other people."</p> + +<p>Flora looked at him. "Mr. Murray," she said, "ministers +do not seem like that?"</p> + +<p>"When they are the true thing, they do."</p> + +<p>"But then besides," Maggie went on,—"how could anybody, +how could that good man care so much about a <i>bell</i>? +What difference did it make whether the bell was big or +little?"</p> + +<p>"Superstition"—said Flora.</p> + +<p>"No, not exactly," responded Mr. Murray.</p> + +<p>"That other man cared so much about his silver service, +and this one about his bell—they were both alike, but I +don't understand it," said Maggie.</p> + +<p>"How would you like your father to have his table set +with pewter instead of silver?"</p> + +<p>"O Uncle Eden! but that—"</p> + +<p>"Or to drive a lame horse in his carriage?"</p> + +<p>"But, Uncle Eden—"</p> + +<p>"Or to wear a fustian coat?"</p> + +<p>"But that's different, Uncle Eden."</p> + +<p>"Yes, it is different. This concerns our own things; +those matters of the vessels and the bell concerned God's +things."</p> + +<p>"Then you approve of building very costly churches, sir?" +asked Meredith, whose head was running on churches lately.</p> + +<p>"No, I do not."</p> + +<p>"How then, Mr. Murray?" said Flora curiously.</p> + +<p>"Because <i>the</i> temple of the Lord, the only one He cares +much about, is not built yet. I hold it false stewardship to +turn aside the Lord's money into brick and mortar and +marble channels, while His poor have no comfortable shelter,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">[220]</a></span> +His waifs want bread, and a community anywhere in the world +are going without the light of life and the word of salvation."</p> + +<p>"What do you mean by <i>the</i> temple of the Lord, Uncle +Eden?" said Maggie. "I thought there was no temple of +the Lord now?"</p> + +<p>Mr. Murray pulled out his Bible from his pocket, opened +and found a place.</p> + +<p>"'Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, +but fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the household of +God; and are built upon the foundation of the apostles and +prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner-stone; +in whom all the building, fitly framed together, groweth unto +an holy temple in the Lord; in whom ye also are builded +together, for an habitation of God through the Spirit.'"</p> + +<p>"How lovely!"—said Meredith.</p> + +<p>"I didn't know that was in the Bible," said Flora.</p> + +<p>"The literal Jewish temple was in part a type of this +spiritual one. And as in Solomon's building, 'the house +was built of stone made ready before it was brought thither; +so that there was neither hammer, nor axe, nor any tool of +iron heard in the house while it was in building,' but the +walls rose silently,—so it is in this temple. The stones are +silently preparing, 'polished after the similitude of a palace;' +silently put in place; 'lively stones built up a spiritual +house;' so the Lord says, 'He that overcometh, will I make +a pillar in the temple of my God.'"</p> + +<p>There was silence for a few moments, when Mr. Murray +added, "<i>That</i> is the temple, Meredith, that I think the Lord +wants us to build and help build. I think any diversion of +the money or strength needed for this, a sad, sad waste; +and no honour to the Lord of the temple, though it may be +meant so. Come, go on with Pastor Breyhan; I like him. +His was a true-souled care for God's honour. I hope he +got his bell."</p> + +<p>Meredith went on.</p> + +<p>"'To Ebel's question, "where he should drive to?" the +answer was, "To the Stechbahn;" that was a road which +lay opposite the ducal castle. Ebel's wonderment grew<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">[221]</a></span> +greater and greater, but Breyhan kept still, slowly dismounted, +gave orders to Ebel that he should drive to the +inn, but he himself went straight on to the ducal castle. +As he had expected, for it was just eleven o'clock, he found +the duke sitting in front of the entrance to the castle. For +about this hour the duke was wont to sit there and allow +everybody, even the lowest of his vassals, to have free access +and speech of him. If there were no petitions, or complaints, +or the like on hand, he would converse in the kindest +and most affable way with everybody, and many a peasant +could boast that in all simple-heartedness he had shaken +hands with his liege lord. Breyhan found the duke (it was +George William) surrounded by a number of people. However +there can have been nothing of consequence going on, +for when the duke saw the pastor approaching, he signed +him immediately to come near. Breyhan presented himself; +and related simply and in childlike wise how things stood +in Hermannsburg, and how the people had not yet been +able to get their affairs rightly under way since the terrible +war. George William listened kindly, and many a tear came +into his mild eyes as Breyhan told him of the sick beds and +the dying beds.</p> + +<p>"'"You want to ask some help in your need?" demanded +the duke.</p> + +<p>"'"No," was the answer; "we can manage as yet to get +along with these earthly troubles. But we have a spiritual +trouble, that we feel more keenly, and which we cannot deal +with by ourselves, and in that you must help us, my lord +duke; this is what I have come for to-day." He told him +now all that he had on his heart respecting the bell; how +that the beautiful metal was there yet, but no means to get +it cast, and that that was for the duke to do. The duke +was delighted with the childlike, honest nature of the man, +and his hearty confidence that the duke's help was certain; +and he could not help putting Breyhan's faith a little to +the test.</p> + +<p>"'"Dear pastor," said he, "you are suffering in a small +way from the after effects of the Thirty Years' War; on the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">[222]</a></span> +other hand, I am suffering the same thing on a great scale. +Your village treasury is empty, my castle treasury is empty, +and the country's treasury to boot. So I cannot shake down +the money for you out of my sleeves. If all the people in +the land came to me to get their bells cast for them, what +would be the end of it?"</p> + +<p>"'Breyhan was of opinion that the case was somewhat +different with Hermannsburg. Since one of the duke's +ancestors had founded the church there, one of the descendants +might well have a bell cast for it. The duke, however, +would not yet give in, but teased the petitioner with all +sorts of objections, just to see what he would answer; he +loved clever and witty speeches. Breyhan did what he +could to satisfy the duke's objections. At last it got to be +too much of a good thing, and he said, "My lord duke, I +have now been a good while asking a boon of you, as a +humble vassal may ask his prince; but as asking does no +good, I will now <i>order</i> you to have the bell cast. Perhaps +you are not aware that I am lord of the manor to you, and +that you are my liegeman. A liegeman must stand by his +feudal lord with his goods and with his blood, with life and +honour. The bell we must have; it is needful for our +holding of divine service. You are not obliged to give us +the whole bell; you are only to have it cast. Now it does +not indeed stand in your title-deed that you must have a +bell cast for us; therefore I cannot put you out of your farm +for not doing it. But it does stand therein written that you +must make hay for me three days in every year, and do a +day's work for me in every week, for which service each +time you are to get a half gallon of beer. Hitherto your +bailiff has put a man to do it, and I have consented; but if +you do not have the bell cast, then you must come yourself +and make hay and cut wood."</p> + +<p>"'You should have seen the duke then. "My dear +pastor," said he, "that is something I did not know before, +that you are my lord of the manor; in that case, I must +take shame to myself that I have let you stand here all this +while. Come into the castle with me." He seized his hand<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">[223]</a></span> +and led him into the house, sent for his wife, and said in a +solemn voice, "See here, my dear wife, until now I have +supposed that I was the first man in the country; and now +to-day I have come to know that the Hermannsburg pastor +stands highest, for he is lord of the manor to me. Let +preparation be made for his dining with us." While the +servants made ready, the duke sought better information, +and learned now that he actually held a farm in Hermannsburg +from the Hermannsburg benefice, the contract for +which on every occasion of the coming of a new pastor, or +of a new duke's assuming the government, must be ratified +over a cup of wine, and upon which, besides the yearly +service money, the above obligations rested. The duke was +so delighted at this, that he not only promised Breyhan to +yield obedience and have the bell cast, but he begged him +in the humblest manner that he would spare him in the +matter of the hay-making and wood-cutting, for he was not +exactly in practice in the matter of those two exercises; +then jestingly he begged his wife to apply to the pastor +herself for him, to let grace take the place of right. And +as he was not slow to do this, all was soon settled. At table +Breyhan was requested to make the prayer, and the conversation +went on most charmingly about things of God's +word.</p> + +<p>"'The faithful carter Ebel meanwhile did not know at all +where his pastor could be staying so long; and as he certainly +understood so much as that the duke had taken him +into the castle, he got into such trouble, because he thought +something evil had befallen him, that he ran into the castle +and demanded to have his pastor back; not a little wondering +when he found him sitting at table with the duke. +Still more was he comforted, when from the duke's table +itself a draught of beer was given him.</p> + +<p>"'After the meal was over, Breyhan drove joyfully back +to Hermannsburg. The duke had not only granted his +petition, but also declared that he would come to the consecration +of the bell, and would be a guest with his lord of +the manor. Breyhan promised him a friendly reception,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">[224]</a></span> +but made the stipulation that he should bring only his lady +duchess along with him, for his house was not prepared for +entertaining guests. And now the business went forward +according to his wish. The bell was cast in Hannover, and +was, as Breyhan had desired that it might be, ready by the +fast time of 1689. It was adorned with a threefold inscription. +At the top stood:</p> + +<p>"'"<span class="smcap">Praise him upon the loud cymbals; praise him +upon the high-sounding cymbals. Let everything +that hath breath praise the lord.</span> Ps. cl."</p> + +<p>"'In the middle of the side stood:</p> + +<p>"'"George William, by the grace of God duke of Brunswick +and Lüneburg, patron of our churches."</p> + +<p>"'And below (this is a verse—I will translate it as well +as I can):</p> + +<p>"'"<i>Through the grace of God I am alive again, and give +you the call to church by my voice. Come willingly, be brisk +and ready, then will I also speak out gloriously when you are +going to the grave.</i>"</p> + +<p>"'"<i>Anno 1681, Nicholas Greue in Hannover cast me.</i>"</p> + +<p>"'Our ringing is still done with this bell, which has a +very fine tone, and whoever likes can still at the present +day read on it the above inscription.</p> + +<p>"'The Friday before Palm Sunday was fixed for the consecration +of the bell; the duke arrived the day before with +his wife; spent the night with his lord of the manor, attended +the evening and morning worship and the preaching +on Friday the fast day, and was present at the consecration +of the bell, which took place immediately after divine service. +When the bell was drawn up into the tower, and +hung upon its scaffolding, ready for its first ringing, and +when the first stroke softly sounded, then Breyhan and the +duke and duchess beside him, the nobleman of Hermannsburg, +who was called Von Haselhorst, and the bailiff, whose +name was Pingeling, together with the whole congregation, +fell upon their knees in the churchyard; and while the bell +continued to be softly rung, the prayer of consecration was +spoken. After the Paternoster, the full, sonorous notes of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">[225]</a></span> +the bell pealed out, and there was not an eye but had tears +in it as the long-missed tones floated off so gloriously through +the air. The dear Breyhan's heart was bounding, and full +of joy he spoke out—"Lord, now lettest thou Thy servant +depart in peace." The afternoon they spent at home, only +the duke could not refrain from making a trial at the wood-cutting, +which however did not succeed very well; whereupon +then the pastor magnanimously promised that he +would content himself with the observance hitherto rendered, +and never demand of the duke personally that he should +make hay or do days' works. Then the duke requested that +for his sake the evening worship might be held earlier to-day, +for he wished to get back again to Zelle.</p> + +<p>"'From that time he came again once every year, either +for Good Friday or for Easter; and in the year 1686 he followed +to the grave the remains of Pastor Breyhan, who died +in the thirty-fourth year of his age. The evening of Wednesday +before the sixth Sunday after Trinity (the date is +not given in the church book), when he felt his end drawing +near, he had the great bell rung once more; and while it +was ringing, at which time the greater portion of the parish, +either in their homes or standing in front of the house, +were in prayer, with a glad gesture he fell asleep. His +dying lips prayed, "Christ, Thou Lamb of God, who takest +away the sin of the world, have mercy on me, and give me +Thy peace, O Jesus. Amen."</p> + +<p>"'The funeral was on Saturday. And as often as I hear +the bell ring, I cannot help thinking of the dear, good Breyhan +and the kindly duke George William, and the saying +recurs to me—"The memory of the just is blessed."</p> + +<p>"'Finally, I remark once more, that from this story I +have taken up a thorough disgust for the new-fashioned +<i>law of redemptions</i>. By this law the above-mentioned farm +has lately been detached from the benefice. Before that, I +was the most distinguished man in the kingdom of Hannover, +for the king was my parochial tenant and I was lord of +the manor to him; <i>now</i> I am an insignificant country pastor +and such, it is well known, have neither form nor beauty.'"</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">[226]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XX.</h2> + + +<p>Fenton had been crying out that the kettle was boiling; +and yet, when Meredith stopped reading nobody was in a +hurry to move. The little group lying there upon the pine +branches was as quiet as the day; and there is no describing +the beauty of that rest in which nature for the +moment seemed to be still. The delicate clear blue overhead; +the still racks of white cloud here and there upon it, +doing nothing and going nowhere, only lying fair on the +blue; the breathless atmosphere in which an aspen leaf +would have hung motionless; the broad river below moving +its strong current so silently and so unobtrusively; +there was no token of motion, unless in a vessel which was +slowly drifting down while her sails hung windless by the +mast; the profound quiet had something imposing. I +cannot tell how, some grave, sweet influence seemed to +press upon every heart in the company; and for a few +minutes after the reader's voice ceased, the stillness was +significant.</p> + +<p>"We seem to be out of the world!" Flora remarked at +last in an undertone.</p> + +<p>"Why?" Mr. Murray asked.</p> + +<p>"I don't know. Confusions and disturbance are nowhere +in sight. It is all peace."</p> + +<p>"And purity," added Meredith.</p> + +<p>"How nice if one could live so!" Flora went on.</p> + +<p>"You may, to a great degree, live so," said Mr. Murray. +"It will not be always October, and your couch may not +always be such a feathery one; and yet, Miss Flora—I fancy +that Pastor Breyhan lived in very much such an atmosphere +all his life."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227">[227]</a></span>"The story is just in harmony with the day and the place; +isn't it?" said Meredith.</p> + +<p>"It is odd that one can be interested in such a story," +said Flora. "And yet I have been interested."</p> + +<p>"For that very reason, I suppose," said Mr. Murray. +"There is something breathing out, both from the story +and the day, which we all know we want,—unless we have +got it already."</p> + +<p>"But, Mr. Murray, one cannot live in the world and be +quiet," said Flora.</p> + +<p>"There is a promise or two, however, to that effect. +'When He giveth quietness, then who can make trouble?' +And the Master said to His disciples, 'Peace I leave with +you.' 'He that cometh to me shall never hunger.'"</p> + +<p>"I wish I knew what it means!" said Flora, furtively +getting rid of a tear which had somehow found its way into +her eye.</p> + +<p>"I'll tell you what," cried Fenton, "if you don't come, +the water will all boil away. Don't you mean ever to have +luncheon? I don't know what you are thinking of, with +your old stories!"</p> + +<p>This brought the party to their feet. And now, some +went at unpacking and arranging the things which had +been brought along in bag and basket; Flora lit the spirit +lamp and set the coffee a-going; while Meredith and +Fenton put the potatoes in the ashes and took care of the +process of roasting the oysters. It was not so warm to-day +that the fire was disagreeable, which was lucky, as the +oysters demanded a good bed of coals; the potatoes likewise. +Finally, Meredith set about making a friar's omelet. When +all was ready and the tea drawn, they sat round the fire on +the grass, and made a most miscellaneous and most enjoyable +meal.</p> + +<p>"Coffee! how good the coffee is!" said Meredith.</p> + +<p>"And did you <i>ever</i> see such good roast oysters?" cried +Maggie.</p> + +<p>"They ought to be good," Fenton growled; "they cost a +precious sight of work to get 'em up here."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">[228]</a></span>"And Ditto's omelet is so nice!"—Maggie went on.</p> + +<p>"If one could live in the open air!" said Meredith, "how +good it would be. I do not mean the omelet! but everything +else. It's a great loss to live in houses."</p> + +<p>"Lots of convenience, though," said Fenton.</p> + +<p>"Look at the heap of oyster-shells Fenton is throwing +behind him!" cried Maggie presently.</p> + +<p>"What's that to you?" said Fenton. "There are oysters +enough. Don't meddle. If anything is a nuisance it is a +meddling girl."</p> + +<p>"How about a meddling boy?" Mr. Murray asked.</p> + +<p>"Boys don't meddle," said Fenton. "It is girls."</p> + +<p>"I suppose that is because the boys do the things that +have to be meddled with," said Maggie sagely.</p> + +<p>Fenton scowled, but the others laughed, and the meal +went merrily forward.</p> + +<p>"How much time have we?" Flora asked.</p> + +<p>"For what?"</p> + +<p>"For staying here, and reading. How long before we +must break up and go home?"</p> + +<p>"We can take our own time," said Meredith. "The tide +will be good. Indeed it will be only getting better and +better. It will turn about two o'clock."</p> + +<p>"We must get home in time for dinner," observed Fenton, +however.</p> + +<p>"I really should think you might wait a while for that," +said Esther. "Uncle Eden, if anybody else comes here this +fall, they will see exactly what we had for lunch."</p> + +<p>"How so?"</p> + +<p>"There are the egg-shells, and potato-skins, and Fenton's +heap of oyster-shells."</p> + +<p>"You do not think we will leave them here? Besides, +there are several heaps of oyster-shells, I think; they are +not all Fenton's."</p> + +<p>"Fenton's is the biggest. But what will you do with all +these things, Uncle Eden?"</p> + +<p>"Carry them away."</p> + +<p>"Where to, sir?" asked Fenton.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">[229]</a></span>"Down the hill."</p> + +<p>"Why, sir?"</p> + +<p>"How would you like such a quantity of rubbish left in +the woods at Mosswood, by some happy picnic party?"</p> + +<p>"This isn't Mosswood, sir."</p> + +<p>"No, it is some other wood."</p> + +<p>"But it is nobody's ground."</p> + +<p>"How can you venture to affirm that?"</p> + +<p>"Well, I mean, it is nobody's ground in particular."</p> + +<p>"That is more than you or I know, my boy, and is moreover +highly improbable. We are certainly not intruding +on anybody's privacy; but we have no right even here to +leave things worse than we found them?"</p> + +<p>"And we have got to lug all this trash down to the river +again?"</p> + +<p>"What do you think?"</p> + +<p>Fenton thought it was "no end of a bore;" nobody else, +however, did anything but laugh at him. After the oysters +were all disposed of, the oyster-shells went back into the +bag, ready for transportation; Fenton remarking with great +disgust that they were just as heavy and took up more room +than before. Egg-shells and potato-skins were swept up; +cups packed away; coffee and teapot restored to the basket; +hands washed; and finally the group gathered again on +their couch of pine branches to enjoy every minute. They +had a good space of time left them still, and the day +promised to finish its fair course without change, except +change of beauty. Fenton joined the group now, having +nothing to do, and hopeless of inducing them to break up +before the last possible minute.</p> + +<p>"What are you going to give us this afternoon, Meredith?" +Mr. Murray asked.</p> + +<p>"I have been keeping it, sir; one of my best; a story out +of the Thirty Years' War. Shall I read?"</p> + +<p>"By all means."</p> + +<p>"'In the parish of Hermannsburg there is a forest-house, +situated about an hour and a half from the church village; +the place is called Queloh, and it lies in the midst of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">[230]</a></span> +forest. On the other side, about a quarter of an hour further +on is a beautiful beech wood, which goes by the name +of Buchhorst. In old times this place was inhabited by +two peasants who belonged to the wide-spread peasant +family of Weesen. The name of the one was Drewes, and +of the other Hinz. They were both good and God-fearing +men, and with their whole hearts devoted to the dear Lutheran +church. Those were the times of the Thirty Years' +War in which they lived, and they had to bear their share +in all the distresses which that miserable war brought with +it; they bore it also willingly, for the Lord's sake.</p> + +<p>"'Although they had been stripped of their goods a number +of times by the Catholic soldiers, they had nevertheless +preserved their most precious things, that is, their books; +their Bibles, singing books and catechisms. These were, you +must know, very necessary to them, for in those days there +were as yet no village schools. In the entire parish of Hermannsburg +there was but a single school, and that was in +the church village; and this school was attended by the +children only for one year, or it might be only half a year, +previous to their confirmation. For all the rest, every +house-father must himself play the schoolmaster. And in +many respects, those must have been glorious times. Every +evening when the fire was kindled on the hearth of the so-called +Flett'" (a sort of hall or common room between the +barn and the house), "'and the women were busy on the +hearth with their cooking, the house-father with the whole +of the household assembled around the fire—children, servants, +and maids. Then the little ones were instructed in +spelling and reading, in which business the servants and +maids were faithful helpers of the house-father. After that, +the catechism was taken in hand; some spiritual songs +were sung; a portion was read aloud from the Bible and +talked about, in the course of which very lovely and profitable +words were often spoken; the old histories and legends +and stories of the country, handed down from father to son, +came in for their share of attention; the laws, manners, and +usages which custom had made binding were discussed;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">[231]</a></span> +and the "Flett" hour was one so full of enjoyment and so +full of instruction that it was looked forward to during the +whole day by both old and young. And this "Flett" hour +was a strong fortress against the intrusion of innovations; and +it can be shown, that the new ways, that is, the godless new +ways, never came until the "Flett" hours were given up. +This Flett'" (or great middle hall of the house) "'with its +hearth was as it were the home sanctuary, in a certain degree +the domestic altar. From there, too, the peasant could +overlook his whole house and prevent any disorders. +Usually there was only one dwelling-room in the house, +called the "Dönz," which, however, was for the most part +used merely for eating and spinning, and served for the +whole, for grandparents and father and mother and children +and men and maids; for the meals were also in common; +and that old people should be portioned off and take what +was called their part, was a thing unheard of; it would +have brought unending disgrace upon the peasant's head. +It was just as little thought possible that the peasant +should take his meals separate from his men and maid-servants; +they all formed one great family.</p> + +<p>"'I said awhile ago, that in the ravages of the war these +people had saved what they held dearest, namely, their +books. They had managed it in this way. In every +"Dönz" the furniture consisted only of a large table, a +table with folding leaves'" (a Klapptisch—I don't know +whether that is a table that folds together, or a table +shelf that folds up against the wall), "'a cupboard, +and some wooden chairs and stools; but by the side +of the stove there stood a "grandfather's chair" of more +pretension, covered with leather, in which indeed the +peasant himself, when he came home from the field in the +evening, was wont to rest himself for a while. The seat, +also covered with leather, they had made movable, so that +it could be lifted up and shut down; and beneath this seat +the books were placed in security; nothing was to be seen +of them when the seat was shut down, and nobody would +look for them there. And it was quite needful that they<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">[232]</a></span> +should preserve their books so carefully; for the Catholic +soldiers in the Thirty Years' War waged a regular war of +extermination against Lutheran books.</p> + +<p>"'One evening, Drewes the father, that is, the farmer, +was sitting in his house, with his people around the hearth +in the "Flett," and they were just speaking of the great +victory which the Lutherans under General Torstensohn +had fought for and gained at Leipzig; and the house-father +was giving his opinion that soon now surely enough blood +would have flowed, and that peace must be near. Upon +that came his neighbour hastily in and said,—"Neighbour, +hurry and loose your cattle, and let us flee to the wood; the +emperor's forces are only half an hour off." Quick everybody +sprang up; the cattle were muzzled to prevent their bellowing; +the few bits of clothing and some victuals were caught +up; and away they went plunging into the thickest part of +the forest, as fast and as noiselessly as they could. Hinz +closed the procession, and when the cattle were got out of +sight he took post behind a tree, that he might see what the +soldiers would do. He had not long to watch; for it was +scarcely a quarter of an hour later that bright flames went +crackling up into the sky; both houses together with the out-buildings +were in a blaze. The soldiers were enraged that +they had found no booty, and had set fire to everything. Hinz +hastened now into the thick of the wood after the others, +and when he caught up with them he told them of their +misfortune. With that, they all fell upon their knees and +thanked God that he had saved their lives and their cattle; +and it never came into any one's head to weep so much as +a single tear; they could build huts for themselves in the +wood; and their hearts did not hang upon things of this +world. But what is this? what could all of a sudden force +such a deep sigh from Father Drewes that it absolutely +startled them all? what could bring great tears into the +eyes of that strong man, whom nobody had ever seen weep +before? "Godfather Hinz," he said with his voice half +stifled with pain,—"our books! our books! Ah, they are +burnt up by now! our own and our children's only treasure<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233">[233]</a></span> +and comfort!" And behold, they all then fell to weeping, +men and women and children, men and maids, as if their +hearts would break. At last spoke out the old Father +Hinz, an eighty-years-old grey-headed man,—"Hush, children! +if our books are burned, our God and Saviour is not +gone with them; we have Him in our hearts; and His Word +we have too, not only in the Bible but in our memories. I +will say out a chapter for you every morning and every +evening, out of my heart." Then they grew quiet, and he +folded his hands and began at once, and prayed first the +twenty-third psalm, and then the seventy-third psalm, and +finally the eighth chapter of the Epistle to the Romans; +all verse for verse from the beginning to the end.'"</p> + +<p>"The twenty-third and the seventy-third?" said Maggie +interrupting. "Which are they?"</p> + +<p>"Don't you know? The twenty-third begins,—'The +Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want.'"</p> + +<p>"And it goes on,—" said Mr. Murray,—"'He prepareth +a table before me in the presence of mine enemies; he +anointeth my head with oil; my cup runneth over.'"</p> + +<p>"Not very appropriate," said Flora.</p> + +<p>"I thought very appropriate."</p> + +<p>"Why they were just in great want, sir; even of the +most ordinary comforts."</p> + +<p>"A good time to remind themselves of their extraordinary +comforts."</p> + +<p>"What had they to justify them in talking of their 'cup +running over?'"</p> + +<p>"Something which they know who know, Miss Flora, and +other people would try in vain to comprehend."</p> + +<p>"Well, the other word, 'I shall not want;'—they were in +want already."</p> + +<p>"No," said Meredith, "excuse me. I have read what +comes after."</p> + +<p>"They were in want, Ditto, certainly."</p> + +<p>"Only such want—never mind, I will not forestall my +story."</p> + +<p>"What is the other psalm?" Flora asked.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234">[234]</a></span>"Very beautiful in this connection," said Mr. Murray, +who had got out his Bible. "It begins,—'Truly God is good +to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart.'"</p> + +<p>"There again!" said Flora, "what reason had they just +then to think that He was good?"</p> + +<p>"That is faith, Miss Flora."</p> + +<p>"Faith?" the young lady repeated.</p> + +<p>"Yes. Faith takes on trust, when it cannot see."</p> + +<p>Flora looked at the speaker.</p> + +<p>"The psalm goes on to describe the temptations to doubt +which had beset the psalmist on observing the prosperity of +wicked people and the hard times the Lord's people often +had; and then how he saw his mistake; and then he breaks +out, 'Whom have I in heaven but Thee? and there is none +upon earth that I desire beside Thee. My flesh and my +heart faileth, but God is the strength of my heart, and my +portion for ever.'"</p> + +<p>"That is beautiful, and appropriate," said Flora.</p> + +<p>"As soon as a man gets where he can say—'Thou shalt +guide me with Thy counsel, and afterward receive me to +glory,'—he can stand a few ups and downs in this life. The +choice of passages made by that old man was beautiful in +the extreme; and proved not only that he knew the Bible, +but that it was part of his life."</p> + +<p>"And the chapter of Romans?"</p> + +<p>"A worthy third in the trio. That is a chapter of triumph +in the Christian's privilege and hopes, ending—'Who shall +separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or +distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or +sword?... Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors, +through Him that loved us. For I am persuaded, +that neither death nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, +nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor +height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to +separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus +our Lord.'"</p> + +<p>Flora's eyes filled, and she said nothing; and Meredith +took up his book again.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235">[235]</a></span>"There is another word in that chapter that fits, sir—'All +things shall work together for good to them that love +God.'"</p> + +<p>"It would certainly take faith to believe <i>that</i>," said Flora. +"I can imagine a little that other things and hopes might +console people suffering trouble in their persons and goods; +but now, for instance, what possible benefit could it be to +those people to have their houses burned, and to be driven +into the wild wood with no shelter and nothing or very +little to eat, and likewise very little to put on?"</p> + +<p>"Well, I had better read," said Meredith. "Pastor Harms +stops there, after telling how old Drewes recited Scripture, +and asks, 'Could my dear readers all of them have done as +much? just ask yourselves once quietly; and whoever is +forced to say, "I could not do it," let him be ashamed from +the bottom of his heart!</p> + +<p>"'A special impression was made by the words, "Though +I walk through the valley of the shadow of death," &c., and +those others, "My heart and my flesh faileth," &c., and +again, "I am persuaded, that neither death nor life," &c., +and after they had all sat still a while, they raised their +heads up cheerfully, took each other's hands, and broke out +with one voice in the words—</p> + +<p>"'"Dennoch bleibe ich stets an Dir," &c.'"</p> + +<p>"What does that mean, Ditto?"</p> + +<p>"'Nevertheless, I am continually with thee.' 'Then they +went quietly to sleep in the wood, and lodged there beautifully, +warm and safe under the wings of their God, and +beneath the sheltering arms of the fir-trees; so that +the sun was already shining through the branches when +they waked up. Then they milked the cows, to get some +breakfast for the children, and after that they all gathered +round the old father to remind him of his promise. And +the old man did not delay, but prayed first the twenty-seventh, +and then the forty-second and forty-third psalms, +and for the last, the twelfth chapter of the Epistle to the +Hebrews; so devoutly and so confidingly and so unhesitatingly,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236">[236]</a></span> +that they all could not have supposed but that he +was reading to them out of the big Bible that had been +under the arm-chair; and in most of the parts they prayed +with him word for word. Then they looked gratefully to +the old man, and after they had first asked the blessing, +then drunk the milk, and at last said grace, the others remained +in the wood; but the two peasants, Drewes and +Hinz, with their two servants, set out to go back to the place +where their houses had stood. As they went off, the old +Father Hinz called after them, as if he were in a dream,—"Children, +see about the books too!" Slowly they drew +near the place of the conflagration; carefully listening and +looking around them; but nothing was to be seen or heard, +all was as still as death, only the birds were hopping and +singing in the branches. At last they came within view of +the place where the fire had been; but just as they were +about to run thither, a low moaning came to their ears from +the corner of the wood, near the place of the fire. They +were Christians, therefore they did not do like the priest +and the Levite, but like the kind-hearted Samaritan; they +went off towards the quarter from which the moans came; +and what did they see? Two badly-wounded soldiers, sitting +in the two grandfather's chairs at the corner of the +wood. How came they there? The troops on their march +through had had these wounded fellows with them; who +for their weakness proved unable to go any further; so +their comrades determined to leave them behind. But to +let the houses stand for the sake of affording them shelter, +was more than the inflamed rage of the soldiers, disappointed +at finding everything empty, could see their way +to. However to show some sort of humanity to their comrades, +they had dragged the two old chairs out of the +houses to the corner of the wood, placed the wounded men +in them, and then completed their work of destruction; +following which they had all marched off. And now, when +the wounded soldiers saw standing before them the four +men whose houses their comrades had laid in ashes, they<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237">[237]</a></span> +looked for nothing else but death. But not anger nor +revenge, but peace, yes, blessed joy, beamed from the faces +of those four men; God had certainly saved their beloved +books for them. Now they did not care that their houses +were gone. The soldiers were treated, not as foes, but as +benefactors. They carried them away into the wood where +the rest of the people were; and when the chairs were seen, +and the seats were lifted up, and the books found uninjured, +then there was a thanksgiving and praising and glorifying +so loud and so glad, that the angels in heaven must have +joined in; the very little children ran to the books and +kissed them devoutly and gleefully. The two soldiers were +tended as if they had been blood kindred; milk was given +them to drink; and now, also, since the host of incendiaries +had marched away, the way was open to fetch food again +out of the villages. It was proposed to bring the wounded +men to the nearest hamlet; but they were too weak for it; +and they begged that they might be kept in the huts in the +wood. And now it came to pass that nothing refreshed +those two soldiers more than old Father Hinz's talk from +the Word of God, and his prayers. Even at the eleventh +hour, they turned to the Lord Jesus; and the pastor in +Hermannsburg gave them the Holy Communion after they +had confessed their sins, had received the assurance of forgiveness, +and had declared that they believed in Jesus +Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, and were persuaded +that His body and blood were truly represented to them in +the bread and the wine. This communion was a right +blessed day of joy for the inhabitants of the wood. But +God was preparing for them yet another special rejoicing. +For when the last hour of the two soldiers was drawing +near, they summoned the old father and the two peasants +to their dying bed, thanked them anew with tears in their +eyes for the salvation which they had found for their souls, +and made over to them the legacy of their military doublets; +with the intimation, that after they were dead, they should +rip out the seams of them. This was done, when the men<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238">[238]</a></span> +had first been honourably buried; and now were discovered, +sewed into the doublets, such a stock of gold pieces, that +not only the burned-down houses and stables could be built +again, but also the men and maids might receive a handsome +reward, and a new altar cloth could be given to the +church at Hermannsburg.</p> + +<p>"'The lord of the manor of Hermannsburg had assigned +to the two soldiers a place in his portion of the churchyard, +where, at the north-east corner of the churchyard wall, +their graves were covered with a stone. This stone lay +there until, after the male line of the lord of the manor had +died out, the so-called Allodium was sold, and along with +it this stone. It bore the following inscription:—</p> + +<p>"'"<span class="smcap">Anno 1642 Domini nostri Jesu Christi mortem +obierunt et hoc loco sepulti sunt Friedericus Wenceslaus +Bohemus et Martinus Jurischitz Lusacius, +qui biblia inscii servaverant et per biblia in æternum +servati sunt</span>:" that is,</p> + +<p>"'"In the year of our Lord Jesus Christ 1642 died and +are here buried Friedrich Wenzel of Bohemia, and Martin +Jurischitz of Lusatia; who without knowing it had saved +the Bible, and through the Bible have been themselves +saved unto everlasting life."</p> + +<p>"'On the other side of the stone stood the words—"Hinnerk +Hinz and Peter his son and Drewes Johan have +had this stone erected for two gold gulden out of the +Landsknecht's doublet."</p> + +<p>"'Two years after the end of the Thirty Years' War, +those two peasants, of their own free will, pulled down +their houses in the Buchhorst and built them up again in +the village of Wesen; for the reason, that after the devastations +of those years the wolves had so got the upper +hand that it was no longer possible to be secure from them. +Twice, with great difficulty, they had recovered their children +from the wolves, which already had them in their grip +and were dragging them off; and then they thought, to +stay there longer would be to tempt God. Those two farms<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239">[239]</a></span> +are still in Wesen and are yet called Drewes' farm and +Hinz's farm, although the possessors in these latter days +have long borne other names. May God give us from +this old story the blessing, that we may be ever more as +strong in the Bible and as firm in faith as the men of old +were.'"</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_240" id="Page_240">[240]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XXI.</h2> + + +<p>"That is one of your very prettiest stories, Ditto," cried +Maggie when he stopped.</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Flora, "I think so."</p> + +<p>"It must be a good story that can be listened to here," +said Mr. Murray,—"and I have been listening with great +attention. I have been thinking, while I was looking out +over all this beauty and receiving so much by my ears of +another kind of beauty,—I have been thinking and rejoicing +to myself over the fact, how good our God is. 'Mountains, +and all hills; fruitful trees, and all cedars; young +men and maidens; old men and children: let them praise +the name of the Lord.'"</p> + +<p>"Uncle Eden," said Maggie meditatively, "how <i>can</i> hills +praise the Lord?—or trees?"</p> + +<p>"Don't they?"</p> + +<p>"How, Uncle Eden?"</p> + +<p>"<i>Don't</i> they, I ask?"</p> + +<p>"But they could not hear anybody tell them to praise."</p> + +<p>"You are a literalist. How can 'the trees of the field +clap their hands'?"</p> + +<p>"Does the Bible say they do?"</p> + +<p>"It says they will. And it says 'Let the floods clap their +hands; let the hills be joyful together before the Lord; +for He cometh!'—"</p> + +<p>"But that is very strange too," said Flora. "'He cometh +to judge the earth;' I know the chant; but it seems +solemn and dreadful, and it is sung in the minor key."</p> + +<p>"I know," said Mr. Murray. "The composer did not +understand the rejoicing either."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_241" id="Page_241">[241]</a></span></p> + +<p>"But how can any one, Mr. Murray?"</p> + +<p>"Those 'that love His appearing,' Miss Flora?"</p> + +<p>"I suppose I am very bad, Mr. Murray; but I tell you +just how I feel. That seems to me the most awful of times, +and nothing but awful."</p> + +<p>"Perfectly correct, Miss Flora, and just as it is described +in the Bible. When the kings and the great men and the +rich men will say to the mountains and to the rocks, 'Fall +on us, and hide us!'—"</p> + +<p>"But you talk of being glad?" said Flora, looking a good +deal troubled.</p> + +<p>"Ay, but I was thinking of the other party," said Mr. +Murray gravely,—"from whom will go up a very different +cry, a shout of gladness—'Lo, this is our God! we have waited +for Him, and He will save us.'"</p> + +<p>"Save them from what?"</p> + +<p>"From all the oppressions and miseries inflicted upon +them by the rulers of this world; and more, from all the +evils under which humanity has been groaning ever since +the fall. Then will strike the hour of the world's freedom. +That will be the time when the bridegroom cometh, and +they that are ready will go in with him to the marriage. +Don't you think they will be glad, who have been waiting +in darkness and weariness for so long? Then comes the +marriage supper, and the everlasting union between Christ +and His Church. Should not the Church be glad!"</p> + +<p>"You said, 'they that are ready.'"</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>"Who are they?"</p> + +<p>"Do you remember the parable of the marriage supper? +Don't you recollect, one man had not on a wedding garment?"</p> + +<p>"But what <i>is</i> the wedding-garment?" said Flora, who +looked as if she had some difficulty to keep her composure.</p> + +<p>"Shall I answer you in the words of one of old time?—'I +will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful +in my God; for He hath clothed me with the garments of +salvation, He hath covered me with the robe of righteousness,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_242" id="Page_242">[242]</a></span> +as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a +bride adorneth herself with her jewels.'"</p> + +<p>"Then it is something given," said Flora slowly.</p> + +<p>"Given, by the King to the guests; a free gift, Miss Flora, +to all who accept the King's invitation."</p> + +<p>Flora asked no more, but lay still on her couch of pine +branches, looking out on the calm and glorified hills. Nobody +else broke the silence; I think Fenton was gone to +sleep; and the others were quiet.</p> + +<p>"The shadows are going the wrong way," said Flora at +last. "I wish this day would last longer!"</p> + +<p>"'A thing of beauty is a joy for ever,'" said Meredith.</p> + +<p>"Don't quote such a dreadfully hackneyed sentiment!" +said his sister. "How comes it, Mr. Murray, that beautiful +things in nature never grow hackneyed?"</p> + +<p>"They are always fresh. No two days in one's experience +are just like each other."</p> + +<p>"There never was a day in my experience like this one," +said Flora. "Ditto, aren't you going to read some more?"</p> + +<p>"It will be a variety, if I do."</p> + +<p>"We are made to like variety—as Mr. Murray has just +reminded you."</p> + +<p>Meredith guessed that his sister cared more about putting +off the hour of departure than about the reading in the +abstract; and he opened his book again, for nobody else +made any objection to Flora's proposal.</p> + +<p>"I shall read you," said he, "the story of a pastor and a +farmer."</p> + +<p>"Those are the people your stories are generally about," +said Flora. "I hope the variety will lie in the treatment. +Go on. I don't care what you read."</p> + +<p>"'In a certain country, that I am not going to name, +there is a parish village. In the parsonage lives a pastor; +it is not I, however. This pastor faithfully serves our +beloved church with the Word of God, which he preaches in +truth, and with the holy sacraments, which he administers +as he ought. And wherever this is done, the fruit will not +be wanting; for God has promised it, and He keeps His word<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_243" id="Page_243">[243]</a></span> +still, although among men there is little truth or faith any +longer to be found.</p> + +<p>"'With temporal goods, however, this pastor is not +specially well provided; and were it not that he has a living +God in the heavens, he must many a time grow anxious +and dispirited; which in truth he does not always escape, +as he himself humbly confesses. For if you have a small +benefice, a large family, and a couple of children at school +to boot, sometimes that gives even a believer the headache; +though indeed there is no need for that, were faith but +strong and prayer simple enough. Now there are cultivated +fields belonging to the living; but as the pastor cannot +drive the plough spiritual and the plough agricultural both +at once, he hires out his ground; that he may give himself +the more diligently to the cultivation of hearts. From these +hired-out acres comes not a small part of his scanty means, +and therefore it becomes a very desirable thing that he +should dispose of his ground suitably. With most of his +fields, indeed, this is not difficult, for they are fruitful and +favourably situated and easy to get a good tenant for them. +But one of his pieces of ground, and a pretty large one, lies +on the slope of a hill which is wooded at the top; this field +nobody will take, because in great rains loose earth and +stones come rolling down over the slope from the hill above, +and in this way the whole crop may easily be destroyed. +It comes to my mind that the fault probably lies at the door +of the beloved Enclosings. In the course of them it might +well happen that too much wood has been cleared from the +hill and sold. By that means the soil has been laid bare +and the rain floods can wash it off anywhere they come. +At any rate, nobody wants the field; and it always gives the +pastor a stab in the heart when he comes past it; and he +does not content himself with thinking, but he prays too, +and promises that he will give to the Lord Jesus, for the +mission, a portion of the hire of the field, if only a tenant +may be found for it.</p> + +<p>"'And He in the heavens has heard the pastor's prayer. +Not long after, there comes a man of the parish, who is not<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_244" id="Page_244">[244]</a></span> +in possession of ground enough to make his farming suffice +for the wants of his family, and who therefore would willingly +hire some more acres. He offers to take the neglected +field off the pastor's hands. The upright pastor does not +hide from him the reason why the field has hitherto found +no tenant. But this man, who loves the Lord Jesus, and +who therefore is a hearty friend of his pastor, declares that +he has already quietly considered all that; and he has +thought among other things that it must be very important +to the pastor to let out this field, for to be sure the boys cost +money; and it is very desirable for himself to hire a field, +since he also has a great many mouths to feed. So both of +them would be the better off. The Lord must have the care +of the thing, and that He is well able for; he himself also +would pray the Lord faithfully to this end, and he would +make it the one stipulation with his beloved pastor, that he +would stand by him and help him in faithful prayer. The +two men gave each other the hand upon that. The man +hiring the ground had also told the Lord that he would +give Him a portion of the produce of the field for the conversion +of the heathen, and that all the same whether the +produce were much or little. But the man had said nothing +about this to his pastor, and he again on the other side had +said nothing to the man about his own contract with the +Lord; so that each of them had thus kept in his heart a +secret for himself, which was known to the Lord alone. +But surely I know that the Lord thereupon looked kindly +on both the men.</p> + +<p>"'Now in the autumn the farmer sets himself vigorously +to work to get the field in order; and the Lord gives His +blessing upon it; up comes the seed merrily, and the winter +does it no hurt; the Lord has graciously sheltered it. With +a wet summer the corn really shoots up, and stands so fine +that it is magnificent to see. Both pastor and farmer are +heartily glad at the sight, and both at the same time have a +secret recollection of their vow, and are still more glad. +But many of the peasants, who are not lovers of the Lord, +and therefore also not lovers of their good pastor, and of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_245" id="Page_245">[245]</a></span> +the good farmer as little, feel no pleasure, but a regular +hateful grudge in their hearts; for indeed there is everywhere +a plenty of envy and spite to be found among unbelievers, +because they make their god out of what is earthly, +and that is all they care about. However they comfort +themselves with the thought that when the thunder-showers +once come with their violent rain-pours, then surely there +will be stones and soil enough rolling down upon the field +from off the hill in the end to destroy all that is standing +upon it. Verily that is not a godly sort of satisfaction, but +a true Satanic delight, for Satan rejoices when any evil happens +to people.</p> + +<p>"'And at last, the wish of the peasants seems to be fulfilled. +There comes up an uncommonly violent thunder-storm; +the rain pours down from heaven in streams, as if +the clouds had burst; so that regular brooks are flowing +down the village streets. Then the envious people triumph; +there is no mistake about it, the field lying so exposed on +the slope of the hill must be thoroughly laid waste. Those +two men, it may well be, tremble too, for the storm is too +frightful; but lose heart they do not; on the contrary, the +need drives them to more ardent prayer: "Lord, help, and +do not let the field be spoiled. Thou art the strong, almighty +God of Sabaoth, and Thy hand is not shortened, but +Thine arm is stretched out still." So they prayed; and +when the storm was past they went confidently up to the +field, a good many accompanying them; and as they were +going, and while the many who went along could hardly +hide their delight, they were singing in their hearts the +hymn—</p> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 4em;">"Was mein Gott will gescheh allzeit,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 5em;">Sein Wille ist der beste;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 4em;">Zu helfen ist Er dem bereit,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 5em;">Der an Ihn glaübet feste."'"</span><br /> +</p> + +<p>"Ditto, we don't understand that."</p> + +<p>"It means about this. 'The will of my God be done +always. His will is the best. He is always ready to help +them who rest on Him in firm faith.'"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_246" id="Page_246">[246]</a></span>"'With that they are able to look up cheerfully and they +are of good courage. And when they arrive at the field, +what do they see? The entire field is unharmed. The +stalks of grain lift their heads up bravely, as if they too +would give thanks for the beautiful rain which has so refreshed +them. But on both sides of the field a whole stream +has poured down from the hill, and nothing is to be seen +but a wild mass of rocks and stones. Whose is the strong +hand which seized the rain flood, and parted it just before it +came to the field, and so gently led it down on both sides of +the field? Moved to the depth of their hearts, our two +friends were constrained to cry out—"The Lord, He is the +God! The Lord, He is the God! Give our God the glory." +And it is to be hoped that many of the unbelievers, if not +aloud, yet quietly joined in the prayer with them.</p> + +<p>"'And now, when the harvest was finished, and the farmer +brought to the pastor what he had promised to give the +Lord of the produce of the field, and then also the pastor's +vow was made known to the farmer, the two fell upon their +knees again and thanked the Lord for His goodness, because +His mercy endureth for ever. Must not such gifts to the +heathen go with God's special blessing resting upon +them?'"</p> + +<p>"Is that all?" said Maggie.</p> + +<p>"That is all," said Meredith smiling.</p> + +<p>"I do not know what to make of that story," said Flora.</p> + +<p>"Why?"</p> + +<p>"Storms come from natural causes."</p> + +<p>"Oh, do they?" said Meredith. "You do not believe then +what the psalm says—'He commandeth and raiseth the +stormy wind'"——</p> + +<p>"But that is poetry."</p> + +<p>"So is this," said Mr. Murray,—"'Who hath divided a +watercourse for the overflowing of waters; or a way for the +lightning of thunder; to cause it to rain on the earth, where +no man is; on the wilderness, wherein is no man; to satisfy +the desolate and waste ground; and to cause the bud of the +tender herb to spring forth?'"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_247" id="Page_247">[247]</a></span>"Well," said Flora a little abashed, "isn't it poetry?"</p> + +<p>"I do think, Flo," said her brother, "you have forgotten +all our talks around the breakfast table in Florida and elsewhere."</p> + +<p>"Here again," said Mr. Murray,—"'He saith to the snow, +Be thou on the earth; likewise to the small rain, and to +the great rain of His strength.' It won't do, Miss Flora, to +resist the fact. And I would remark, that the highest poetry +is the highest truth also."</p> + +<p>"But do you think, Mr. Murray, if it is so, that God will +change His arrangements just for men's asking Him."</p> + +<p>"I don't <i>think</i>, I know it, Miss Flora. It is precisely +the Lord's way. But we cannot stop to talk about that now. +My friends, do you see where the sun is?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, must we go?" cried they all.</p> + +<p>"It is a pity, isn't it? But this would hardly do for a +night's lodgings; and if we are to sleep at home, we must +take the necessary steps."</p> + +<p>Slowly they gathered themselves up from their pine +bushes, and shook themselves; literally and figuratively, I +might say.</p> + +<p>"What are you going to do with your oyster shells, Fenton?" +his uncle demanded.</p> + +<p>"I don't want to do anything with them," said the boy.</p> + +<p>"You always want to be a gentleman."</p> + +<p>"What has that to do with it?"</p> + +<p>"A gentleman never needlessly annoys anybody."</p> + +<p>"Nobody comes here," said Fenton grumblingly. But +they all laughed so at him that he pocketed his ill-humour +and took his share in carrying the wrecks of the feast down +to the creek side.</p> + +<p>Then with the tide they swept up the river. I can never +tell you how pretty it was. The day had kept its character +of clear quiet beauty without change; and now as the sun +began to get lower in the western sky, and shadows stretched +along under the shore on the river and fell in lengthening +patches or lines from hill-tops and trees, it did not grow +cold. Quiet and sweet the air was, even on the water; and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_248" id="Page_248">[248]</a></span> +the rowers dipped and raised their oars in steady time, and +in silence. Nobody wanted to talk. They passed the +island or promontory a little above Fort Montgomery, passed +on and on, keeping the mid-stream now, passed Gee's Point, +saw the boat-house looming up before them,—and were at +home.</p> + +<p>The very next day it rained.</p> + + +<p class="center">THE END.<br /><br /> + + +PRINTED BY BALLANTYNE, HANSON AND CO.<br /> + +EDINBURGH AND LONDON</p> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<div class="tn"><h3>Transcriber's Note:</h3> +Punctuation has been normalized and obvious printer errors have been +corrected.</div> + + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Pine Needles, by Susan Bogert Warner + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PINE NEEDLES *** + +***** This file should be named 38922-h.htm or 38922-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/8/9/2/38922/ + +Produced by Chris Curnow, Lindy Walsh, Julia Neufeld and +the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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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: Pine Needles + +Author: Susan Bogert Warner + +Release Date: February 18, 2012 [EBook #38922] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PINE NEEDLES *** + + + + +Produced by Chris Curnow, Lindy Walsh, Julia Neufeld and +the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + +Transcriber's note: + +Text enclosed by underscores is in italics (_italics_). + +Small capital text has been replaced with all capitals. + +Punctuation has been normalized and obvious printer errors have been +corrected. + + + + +PINE NEEDLES. + + + + + Warne's Star Series. + + PINE NEEDLES. + + BY THE AUTHOR OF + "_THE WIDE, WIDE WORLD_." + + "They that say such things declare plainly that they seek a + country."--_Heb._ xi. 14. + + [Illustration: Publisher's Mark] + + New Edition. + + LONDON: + FREDERICK WARNE AND CO. + BEDFORD STREET, STRAND. + + + + +_NOTICE TO THE READER OF "PINE NEEDLES."_ + + +This little book might have been entitled "Christian Heroes," for its +contents would have justified the name. The stories reported in the +"Missionsblatt" of the late Pastor Louis Harms of Hermannsburg, of +lovely memory, will surely delight all who love either heroism or +Christianity, and are not able to enjoy the narrations in their original +German dress. The author has framed them in a light frame of her own, +but the stories are left in their integrity and simplicity, with +omission of scarcely a dozen words. + +_February 1, 1877._ + + + + +PINE NEEDLES AND OLD YARNS. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + + +The Franklins were coming to Mosswood. + +This might have happened, Maggie thought, a good while ago; but, +however, the view had not been shared by Mrs. Candlish; and a whole year +had passed away since the joyful coming home of the family to their old +possessions. The winter was spent at Mosswood in quiet gladness and +gradual strength-gaining; the spring brought a return to all the +favourite out-door amusements and occupations of the family. Summer was +the proper time for company, and the house had been filled till the end +of September. Then Mrs. Candlish declared she was tired and must run +away, or she would be obliged to entertain people till November; and she +joined her husband in a trip to California, which, half for business and +half for pleasure, Mr. Candlish had resolved upon taking. At that +juncture the children begged for the Franklins; and their mother was +willing. "As I cannot be here," she said, "it will not be necessary to +extend the invitation to Mrs. Franklin. You may have the others, and do +what you will with them." + +"I should think," remarked Maggie, "if Meredith and Flora heard what +mamma said, they wouldn't like it much." + +However, they did not hear it, and if they guessed at the substance of +it I don't know; but Flora had too much curiosity, and Meredith too much +affection engaged, to be over scrupulous. So they came, and were +welcomed, I was going to say, uproariously. It just fell short of that. +For even Esther privately declared to her sister that "nobody was so +nice as Meredith Franklin." + +Now, after seeing them, the next thing was to make them see Mosswood; +and many were the consultations Maggie and Esther had already held over +plans and means. Nothing could be settled after all till the guests +came. And when they came, the whole first evening was spent in joyous +talk and recollections. But the next morning before breakfast Maggie and +Meredith met at the house door. Meredith had been out walking. + +"How do you like it?" she asked daringly, clasping his hand, while her +eyes looked love and pleasure hard into his face. + +"It is the most beautiful place I ever saw in my life!" + +"And it is such a nice day," said Maggie gleefully. "What shall we do +to-day?" + +"Let us be out of doors!" + +"Oh yes, we'll be out of doors," said Maggie; "but where shall we go?" + +"Nowhere out of Mosswood--if you ask me. I don't want anything else." + +"Well, Mosswood is pretty good," said Maggie, "because, when you are at +Mosswood you have the hills and the river and all, _besides_ Mosswood, +you know--O Meredith! I have thought of something!" + +"I dare say," Meredith answered smiling. "That is quite in your way." + +"This is something nice. Suppose we go out and have dinner in the +woods?" + +"I should say it was a capital plan." + +"We used to do that in old times, before ever we went away. And we have +got a nice little cart, Meredith, to carry our dinner, and whatever we +want; and--Oh, it's nice! it's nice!" exclaimed Maggie, jumping on her +toes for delight. "I'm _so_ glad you're here! and I'm _so_ glad to go +into the woods again to dinner." + +"We want only one thing," said Meredith. + +"What's that?" + +"Mr. Murray." + +"Uncle Eden! I'll write to him." + +"Let us all write to him. Every one put in something. That will bring +him, maybe." + +"Yes, that will bring him!" Maggie echoed; and I do not believe that for +the rest of the morning she took another flat step. On her toes, was the +only way that her spirits could go. The first thing after breakfast was +the Round Robin to Uncle Eden. Maggie began it, as the youngest. + + "DEAR UNCLE EDEN,--Flora and Meredith are here while mamma and papa + are gone to California. We are going out in the woods to dinner; + and we all want you. Do please come, if you can get away from Bay + House. We want you as much as anybody can be wanted. + + "MAGGIE." + +Then Esther wrote-- + + "DEAR UNCLE EDEN,--It is quite true. We do all want you very much. + Fenton is coming, and I am afraid nobody will keep him in order, if + you are not here. + + "ESTHER." + +Then Flora-- + + "I think we would all be very glad to see Mr. Murray. I am sure one + sincerely glad would be + + "FLORA FRANKLIN." + +Last, Meredith-- + + "DEAR MR. MURRAY,--You know how true is all the foregoing. And yet, + though I cannot suppose I should be gladder to see you than + everybody else, it does seem to me that I _want_ to see you more + than any of the rest can--because I have so many questions to ask, + and feel that I need so much advice. I hope you may find that you + can comply with our joint earnest desire. + + "MEREDITH FRANKLIN." + +After all were done, Maggie begged for the paper, to add a word that +nobody else must see. This was what she said-- + + "DEAR UNCLE EDEN,--I want to say a _private_ word to you. I feel + somehow as if it was not just exactly respectful to Meredith and + Flora that they should be here with nobody but just us. Don't you + think so? But if you could come, it would be all right. We are + going in the woods to dinner to-day--Oh, I wish you were here! + + "MAGGIE." + +This joint epistle finished and sealed, and some other despatches for +Leeds got ready, it was time to see about making preparations for the +woods. Where should they go? Question the first. + +"To the old Fort." + +"To the Happy Valley." + +"No, to the Lookout rock." + +"Not to-day, Esther. Let's keep that for Uncle Eden. +Suppose--suppose"---- + +"The Plateau." + +"It seems to be an _embarras de richesses_," said Meredith laughing, +"and I do not wonder. Let me help you. Suppose we go up on this height +just east of us; isn't the view pretty from there?" + +"The South Pitch! Oh, it's _lovely_ up there!" cried Maggie. "You look +down on the house, and you look down the river, and it's shady and nice. +It's just lovely! That is best for to-day. Then, other days, we'll take +the other places. Now, we must get ready." + +"What?" said Flora. + +"Oh, you must get your work, or books if you like; whatever you like; +and Meredith must find a book, too, I suppose; we always take books and +work, and then we talk; but once when we took nothing, then we didn't do +anything. Esther and I must prepare the waggon; cart, I mean." + +"What is to go in the cart? Cannot we help you?" said Meredith. "And, +where is the cart, in the first place?" + +"Oh, it's up in the wood-house loft; we haven't had it out this year +yet, you know. Ditto, maybe you'll tell Fairbairn to get it down, will +you?" + +"Who is Mr. Fairbairn?" + +"Oh, the gardener. He's out there somewhere. Esther and I must go to +Betsey for things." + +"I suppose I shall know Fairbairn when I see him," said Meredith +smiling, as he put on his hat. + +In a quarter of an hour the cart stood at the door, and Esther and +Maggie and Flora were busily packing "things" in baskets. Meredith came +to put his hand to the work. + +"It is so hard to remember everything," said Esther. "We always forget +something or other, and then somebody has to go back for it. Now, here +is all the china, I think. Oh, stop! have we put the teapot in?" + +"Who wants tea?" said Meredith. + +"In the woods? Oh, we always have tea in the woods, and sometimes +coffee." + +"Make a fire to boil the kettle?" + +"Why, _of course_!" + +"How should I know it was of course? Well, tea is very good in the +woods, I have no doubt. Don't forget the tea." + +"But I should have forgotten the sugar, if you hadn't spoken." + +"And the salt! don't forget the salt; we always do." + +"We don't want salt to-day; we have nothing to eat it with." + +"Yes, we have." + +"No, we haven't; there is cold ham, and bread, and butter, and +apple-sauce." + +"Take the salt," said Meredith, "and give me a few eggs, and I'll make +you a friar's omelet." + +"A friar's omelet! What is that?" + +"You'll see. Only I shall want a dish to mix it in, you know." + +Delightful! The dish was fetched from the kitchen, and the omelet pan. +Ham and apple-sauce Betty had packed for the party already; rolls and +butter, spoons and knives and forks, a pitcher of cream, napkins--I do +not know what all--went into the other baskets, and were finally stowed +in the cart. A light porter's cart, it was; roomy enough; and yet it +grew pretty full. The tea-kettle must find a place; then books and +knitting and paper. Then thick shawls to spread upon the rocks, to make +softer seats for the more ease-loving. Fairbairn carried a tin pail with +water. All these arrangements took up time; so the morning was well on +its way and the dew long off the grass, when at last the procession set +forth. Meredith drew the cart, which he was informed he must do +carefully, or the cream would slop over, and, possibly, other damage be +done. + +It was not a long way they had to go this morning. Bordering upon the +lawn and shrubbery, to the east, rose a little rocky height, which, in +fact, prevented the dwellers at Mosswood from ever seeing the sun rise. +But the hill was so pretty, they forgave it. Towards the house it +presented a smooth wall of grey granite; on the top it also showed +granite in quantity, there, however, alternating with moss and thin +grass, and overshadowed by cedars, oaks, and pines, with now and then a +young hemlock. The soil was thin; the growth of trees in consequence not +lofty; nevertheless, very graceful. No cultivation, hardly any dressing, +had been attempted; the purple asters sprung up at the edge of the +rocks, and huckleberry bushes stood where they found footing; here and +there a bramble, here and there a bunch of ferns. Now the oak leaves +were turned yellow and brown; the huckleberry bushes in duller hues of +the same; moss was dry and crisp, and ferns odorous in the warm air. + +To reach the top of the height a circuit must be made. There was no path +leading straight from the house. Through the grounds at the back of the +house the way wound along between beds of acheranthus and cineraria +which made warm strips of bordering, with scarlet pelargoniums lighting +up the beds beyond in a blaze of brilliance. Turning then into a +carriage road, the party followed it to the north of the height which +Maggie had called the South Pitch, and struck off then southwards into +a little, mossy, rocky, hardly-traced path under the trees. + +"This is easy enough," said Meredith, guiding his cart somewhat +carefully, however, to avoid severe jolts which would have endangered +the cream. "I do not see where the pitch is yet." + +"Ah, but you will when you get to the south end," said Maggie. "Look +out, Ditto, here's a rock in your way. And these huckleberry bushes are +very thick." + +Following on over rocks and bushes, they soon came to the place Maggie +meant, and Meredith rested his cart and stood still to look. From the +southern brow of the little hill, the ground fell steeply away; so +steeply that the eye had unhindered range over the river which lay +below, and the hills bordering it, and the point of Gee's Point which +there pushes the river to the eastward. Not a tree-branch even was in +the way; river and hills lay in the October light, still, glowing, fair, +as only October can be. + +"Do you like it, Meredith?" asked Maggie wistfully. _Her_ opinion of +Mosswood had been long a fixed one. + +"I have never seen such a place!" + +"Uncle Eden had his tent up here one summer, and he cut away all the +branches and trees that were in the way of the view; for he wanted to +lie in his tent at night and be able to look out and see the river and +the hills in the moonlight." + +"And did he have this wall built too?" asked Meredith, seeing that the +platform where he stood was held up on the side towards the river by a +regularly laid, though unmortared, wall. + +"Oh," said Esther laughing, "that wall was laid a hundred years ago, +Meredith. Soldiers laid it; our soldiers; all Mosswood was fortified; +this is a breastwork." + +"Whom do you mean by 'our soldiers'?" + +"Why, the Americans," said Esther. "When they were fighting that war, a +hundred years ago. You'll find bits of breastwork all over Mosswood." + +"Well, that is delightful," said Meredith. "We are historical. Now, +what are we to do first? I move, we make our camp just here. We cannot +have a better place." + +So there a rock under a tree, here a bit of mossy bank, was taken +possession of; places were carpeted with shawls, and luxurious loungers +were at rest upon them. Fairbairn set down the pail of water and +departed; Flora got her worsted embroidery out of the cart, and Esther a +strip of afghan which she was ambitiously making. Maggie nestled up to +Meredith's side on the moss and laid her little hand in his, and for a +little while they were all quiet; these last two enjoying October. But +Meredith did not long sit still; he must go exploring, up and down and +all round the South Pitch. Maggie followed him, as ready to go as he, +and talking all the while. It was nothing but rocks and moss and trees +and brambles and ferns; with the delicious river glittering below the +rocks, and the glow of the hills coming to them through the trees, and +golden hickory leaves falling at their feet, and now and then a chestnut +burr or a hickory schale to be hammered open. Warm and tired at last +they came back to their place. And then the girls declared it was time +for dinner. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + + +A fire was the first thing. Meredith and Maggie gathered dry pine +branches and dead leaves, and Meredith built a nice place for the kettle +with some stones. Then they found they had no matches. + +"We _always_ forget something," cried Maggie. "Now, I'll run home and +fetch a box." + +Meredith went too. It was only a little more walk. Then the fire was set +agoing, and the kettle filled and put over. Maggie sat by to keep up the +flame, which being fed with light material needed constant supply. +Meredith threw himself down on the mossy bank and opened his book. For a +little while there was silence. + +"What are you reading, Ditto?" Maggie asked at length. She kept as good +watch of Meredith as of the fire. + +"You would not understand if I told you. It is a German book." + +"Is it very interesting?" + +"Yes." + +"I knew it was. I could see by your face; when you pull your brows +together in that way, I always know you are ever so much interested." + +"Well, I am," said Meredith smiling. + +"Would it interest me?" + +"I think, perhaps, it would." + +"Ah, Ditto, don't you want to try? Read us some of it. What is it +about?" + +"It is a Mission Magazine." + +"Missionary! Oh, then, we _shouldn't_ like it," said Esther. "I don't +believe we should." + +"And in it are stories," Meredith continued. + +"What sort of stories? about heathen?" + +"I like stories about heathen," said Maggie. + +"Stories about heathen and Christian, which a certain Pastor Harms used +to tell to his people, and which he put in the magazine." + +"Did he write the magazine?" + +"Yes." + +"Who was Pastor Harms?" + +"A wonderful, beautiful man, who loved God with all his heart, and +served Him with all his strength." + +"Why, there are a great many people, Ditto, who do that," said his +sister. + +"Most people that I have seen keep a little of their strength for +something else," remarked Meredith dryly. + +"Was he a German?" Maggie asked. + +"He was a German; and he was the minister of a poor country parish in +Hanover; and the minister and the people together were so full of the +love of Christ that they did what rich churches elsewhere don't do." + +"And does that book tell what they did?" + +"Partly; what they did, and what other people have done." + +"_I_ should like to hear some of it," was Maggie's conclusion. + +"Well, you shall. We'll try, after dinner. Flora and Esther may shut +their ears, if they will." + +"If you won't read something else," said Flora, "I suppose I would +rather hear that than nothing. I can get on with my work better." + +"And worsted work is the chief end of woman, everybody knows," remarked +her brother. "The kettle is boiling, Maggie!" + +All was lively activity at once. Even the afghan and the worsted +embroidery were laid on the moss, and the two elder girls bestirred +themselves to get out the plates and dishes from the baskets and arrange +them; while Maggie made the tea, and Meredith set about his omelet. +Maggie watched him with intense satisfaction, as he broke and beat his +eggs and put them over the fire; watched till the cookery was +accomplished and the omelet was turned out hot and brown and savoury. +The girls declared it was the best thing they had ever tasted, and Flora +thought the tea was the best tea, and Meredith that the bread and butter +was the best bread and butter. Maggie privately thought it was the best +dinner altogether that ever she had eaten in the woods; but I think she +judged most by the company. It was a long dinner! Why should they use +haste? The October sun was not hot; the sweet air gave an appetite; the +thousand things they had to talk about gave zest to the food. They were +not in a hurry with their tea, and they lingered over their apple-pie. + +When at last they were of a mind to seek a change of diversion, and +really the dinner was done--for talk as much as you will you yet must +stop eating some time--the plates and remnants were quickly put back in +the baskets and set again in the cart, tea-kettle and napkins cleared +away, and the mossy dining-room looked as if no company had been there. + +"This is first rate," exclaimed Meredith, stretching himself on the warm +moss. + +"And now, Ditto, you are going to read to us." + +"Am I?" + +"Yes, for you said so." + +"An honourable man always keeps his promises," said Meredith. But he lay +still. + +The two elder girls got out their work again. Maggie sat by and silently +stroked the hair on Meredith's temples. + +"This is good enough, without reading," he presently went on. "The moss +is spicy, the sky is blue, I see it through a lace-work of pine needles; +the air is like satin. I cannot imagine anything much better than to lie +here and look up." + +"But you can feel the air, and see the sky, and smell the moss, too, +while you are reading, Ditto." + +"Can I? Well! your ten fingers are so many persuaders that I cannot +withstand. Let's go in for Pastor Harms!" + +So he raised himself on one elbow, no further, and laid his book open on +the moss before him. + +"But it is in German!" cried Maggie, looking over to see. + +"Never mind, I will give it to you in English--I told you it was +German." + +"What is the first story about?" + +"You will find that out as I go on. Now, you understand it is Pastor +Harms who is speaking, only he was a famous hand at story-telling, and +to hear him would have been quite a different thing from hearing me." +And Meredith began to read. + +"'I will go back now a thousand years, and tell you a mission story that +I am very fond of. I found it partly in the parish archives of +Hermannsburg, and partly in some old Lueneburg chronicles. I say I am +very fond of it; for after the fact that I am a Christian, comes the +fact that I am a Lueneburger, body and soul; and there is not a country +in the whole world, for me, that is better than the Lueneburg heath'"---- + +"Oh, stop, Ditto, please," cried Maggie, "what is a 'heath'? and where +is Lueneburg?" + +"Ah! there we come with our questions. Lueneburg heath isn't like +anything in America, that I know, Maggie. It is a strange place. There +you'll see acres and miles of level land covered with heather, which +turns purple and beautiful in the latter part of the season; but in the +midst of this level country you come suddenly here and there to a lovely +little valley with houses and grain-fields and fruit and running water; +or to a piece of woods; or to a hill with a farmhouse perched up on its +side, and as much land cultivated as the peasant can manage. So the +people of the parishes are scattered about over a wide track, except +where the villages happen to be. And for _where_ it is--Lueneburg is in +Hanover, and Hanover is in Germany. You must look on the map when you go +home. Now I will go on-- + +"'And next to the fact that I am a Lueneburger, comes the fact that I am +a Hermannsburger; and for me Hermannsburg is the dearest and prettiest +village on the heath. My mission story touches this very beloved +Hermannsburg. From my youth up I have been a sort of a bookworm; and +whenever I could find something about Germany, still more something +about the Lueneburg heath, and yet more anything about Hermannsburg, then +I was delighted. Even as a boy, when I could just understand the book of +the Roman writer Tacitus about old Germany, I knew no greater pleasure +than with my Tacitus in my pocket to wander through the heaths and moors +and woodlands, and then in the still solitude to sit down under a pine +tree or an oak and read the account of the manners and customs of our +old heathen forefathers. And then I read how our old forefathers were so +brave and strong that merely their tall forms and their fiery blue eyes +struck terror into the Romans; and that they were so unshakably true to +their word, once it was given, that a simple promise from one of them +was worth more than the strongest oath from a Roman. I read how they +were so chaste and modest that breaking of the marriage vow was almost +an unknown crime; so noble and hospitable, that even a deadly enemy, if +he came to one of their houses, found himself in perfect security, and +might stay until the last morsel had been shared with him; and then his +host would go with him to the next house to prepare him a reception +there. + +"'But my heart bled too, when I read of their crimes and misdeeds, their +inhuman worship of idols, when even human beings were slaughtered on +bloody altars of stone, or drowned in deep, hidden, inland lakes; when I +read how insatiable the thirst for war and plunder among our forefathers +was, how fearful their anger, how brutish their rage for drink and play; +and when I read further, how the whole of heathen Germany was an almost +unbroken wood and moorland, without cities or villages, where men ran +about in the forests almost naked, at the most, clothed with the skin of +a beast, like wild animals themselves; and got their living only by the +chase, or from wild roots, with acorns and beechmast; then, even as a +boy, I marvelled at the wonderful workings of Christianity. Only one +thing I could not understand; how there should be nowadays in Christian +Germany so much lying, unfaithfulness, and marriage-breaking, while our +heathenish ancestors were such true, honest, chaste, and loyal men; it +always seemed to me as if a German Christian must stand abashed before +his heathen forefathers. And when I observed further, how many Germans +nowadays are cowardly-hearted, while among our heathen ancestors such a +reproach was reckoned the fearfullest of insults, it was past my +comprehension how a Christian German, who believes in everlasting life, +can be a coward, and his heathenish ancestors, who yet knew nothing +about the blessed heaven, have been so valiant and brave.'" + +"Ditto," said Maggie, interrupting him, "do you think that is all true?" + +"Pastor Harms would not have lied to save his right hand." + +"And--but--Ditto, do you think people in America are so bad as that?" + +Meredith smiled and hesitated. + +"Yes, Ditto," said Flora; "you know they are not." + +"I don't know anything about it," said Meredith. "There are not any +better soldiers, I suppose, in the world than the Germans, nor anywhere +such a band of army officers, for knowledge of their business and +ability to do it. But there are some cowards in every nation, I reckon; +and as there, so here. But among those old Saxons, it appears, there +were none. As to truth"--Meredith hesitated--"There are not a great many +people I know whose word I would take through and through, if they were +pinched." + +There was a chorus of exclamations and reproaches. + +"And as to marriage-breaking," he went on, "it is not at all an uncommon +thing here for people to separate from their wives or their husbands, or +get themselves divorced." + +"Why do they do that, Ditto?" Maggie asked. + +"Because they are not true, and do not love each other." + +"So you make it out that the heathen are better than the Christians!" +said Esther. + +"I do not make out anything. I am only stating facts. What is called a +'Christian nation' has but comparatively a few Christians in it, you +must please to remember. But I do think those old Saxons were +extraordinary people. I like to think that I am descended from them." + +"You, Ditto!" exclaimed Maggie in the utmost astonishment. + +"Why, yes, certainly. Don't you know so much history as that? Don't you +remember that the Saxons went over and conquered England, and England +was peopled by them, and ruled by them, until the Norman Invasion?" + +"Oh!" said Maggie with a long-drawn note of surprise and intelligence. +"But I didn't know those Saxons were like these." + +"No, nor did I. It interests me very much. Shall I go on with Pastor +Harms? + +"'The older I grew, the more eager I was to learn about Germany, and +especially about my dear Lueneburg country, with its most beautiful +heaths, moors, and woodlands. I cannot express the joy I took in the +great fights and battles which the German Prince Herman fought with the +mighty Romans. Herman was prince of the Cheruski; so the dwellers +between the Elbe and the Weser at that time were called. In his time the +never-satisfied Romans were bent upon subjugating all Germany, and sent +their most powerful armies into the country, clad in iron mail, armed +with helmets, bucklers, lances, and swords, and led by their bravest +generals. But Herman, with his almost naked Germans, fell upon them, +fighting whole days at a stretch, and beat them out of the land. See +now, thought I to myself, there were Lueneburg people along with him, for +_they_ live between the Elbe and the Weser. Or, when others of our +forefathers, who were in general called Saxons, boldly sailed over the +sea in their ships, and chased the proud Romans, together with the Picts +and Scots, out of England, and took the beautiful land in possession and +ruled it; then I was glad again and thought with secret delight--"our +Lueneburg people were there too, for those ships sailed from the mouths +of the Elbe and the Weser." + +"'But what adoration moved my heart, when I read that these very Saxons, +who conquered England, there came to the knowledge of Christianity and +received it into their hearts; and now from England, from the converted +Saxons, came numbers of Gospel messengers back to the German country, to +turn it also to the Lord Jesus. Among them was Winfried, the strong in +faith, who baptized more than 300,000 Germans, and was called the +apostle of Germany; there were the two brothers Ewald, who both +heroically died a martyr's death, being sacrificed by our forefathers to +their idols. After them others carried on the work, especially Willehad +and Liudgar, and the good emperor Charles the Great helped them, until +at last all Germany was Christianised, and became through the Gospel +what it is now. And I have often thought, how stupid are the unbelievers +who follow the new fashion of despising Christianity. We have to thank +Christianity for everything we are or have. Science, art, agriculture, +handicrafts, cities, villages, houses, all have come to us in the first +place through Christianity; for before that, as I said, our forefathers +ran about naked in the woods like wild beasts, and fed on roots and +acorns; and I used to think the best thing would be, to drive the +infidels and the scornful contemners of Christianity into the woods and +forests, draw a hedge about them, and let them eat acorns and roots in +the woods till they come to their senses. In young people's heads a +great many queer fancies spring up, which yet are not entirely unworthy +of regard; and I still believe that would be the best medicine for +infidels.'" + +"But, Meredith," said Flora, "the Greeks and Romans had cities and +villages, and sciences, too, and arts, without Christianity." + +"Quite true, but the Saxons didn't." + +"Perhaps, they would." + +"Perhaps, they wouldn't. The Greeks and Romans were wonderful people, +and so were the ancient Egyptians; but though they had arts, and built +cities, they had very little science. And science and Christianity have +changed the face of the Christian world. Well, let us have Pastor +Harms. + +"'But I must go back to my story. Whenever I happened upon an old +library, I searched it through to see if I could find something about +Germany, and especially about Lueneburg. And I do not regret the +quantities of dust I have swallowed in my way; although I did often +lament aloud to see so many fine old manuscripts almost eaten up with +dust and mice, about which nobody had troubled himself for who knows how +many years? But also I found many a one that repaid the trouble of the +search. From the sound MSS. I made extracts diligently. But I had a good +many vexations, too. For example, I have come to cities and villages, in +which last there were baronial manors. There I sought to come at the +books and MSS. of the olden time. And would one believe it? Old +collections of books had been sold entire, by the hamperful, to +trades-people for wrapping their cheese in. I was baffled. So much the +more precious became my extracts. From them I will tell you something +now, which I found about my beloved Hermannsburg. + +"'I may say in the first place to our dear country people, that the +whole of Northern Germany in early times was called the country of the +Saxons. How wide that was, may best be seen by the language. So far as +low German is spoken, so far extends the land of the Saxons; for low +German is their proper mother-tongue. So I am never ashamed of the low +German in our country; it is the true mother-tongue of our land and +people; my heart always swells when I hear low German spoken. This +entire Saxon nation was divided into three tribes. One tribe, which +dwelt for the most part towards the west, that is, in the Osnabrueck +region and further west as far as the Rhine, was called the +Westphalians. The second tribe, which dwelt mostly at the east, as far +as the Elbe and further, was called the Eastphalians. Between the two +lived the third tribe, called the Enger or the Angles; for Enger and +Angle are all one. We here in Lueneburg belong to the Eastphalians. The +name is said to have come from the bright or pale yellow hair of our +forefathers. For clear yellow or pale yellow was called "fal." Our +ancestors wore this bright yellow hair long and hanging down, something +like a lion's mane; what so many young people nowadays would esteem a +splendid adornment. These forefathers of ours in the time of Charlemagne +were yet mere heathen and held to their heathen idol worship with +extraordinary tenacity and devotion. They were further a wild, bold, +stiffnecked people, with an unbending spirit, holding fast to everything +old, and with that, loving freedom above all else. They had no rulers, +properly speaking; each house-father was a despotic prince in his own +house, and lived alone upon his territory, just that he might be free +and rule his realm independently. Their common name, Saxon, came from a +peculiar weapon, the sachs; a stone war-mallet or battle-axe, which was +made fast to a longer or shorter wooden handle. In the strong hands of +the Saxons this was a fearful weapon, with which they rushed fearlessly +upon the foe, hastening to come to a hand-to-hand fight; for they liked +to be at close quarters with their enemies. + +"'Wild and terrible as their other customs were, was also their idol +worship. Their principal deity was called Woden, in whose honour men +were slaughtered upon great blocks of stone; their throats being cut +with stone knives. Not far off, some two or three hours from +Hermannsburg, are still what are called the seven _stone-houses_; in +other words, blocks of granite set up in a square, upon which a great +granite block lies like a cover. The men to be sacrificed were slain +upon these blocks of granite. Quite near our village too, there stood +formerly some such sacrificial altars. How fearful and bloody these +sacrifices were, appears from what an old writer relates; that it was +the custom of the Saxons, when they returned home from their warlike +expeditions, to sacrifice to their idols every tenth man among the +captives; the rest they shared among themselves for slaves. And upon +special occasions, for instance, if they had suffered severe losses in +the war, the whole of the captives would be consecrated to Woden and +sacrificed. That's the Woden we call one day of the week after.'" + +"We? One day of the week!" exclaimed Maggie; while Flora looked up and +said, "Oh yes! Wednesday." + +"Wednesday?" repeated Maggie. + +"Woden's-day," said Meredith. + +"Is it Woden's-day? Wednesday? But how come we to call it so, Ditto?" + +"Because our fathers did." + +"But that is very strange. I don't think we ought to call it +Woden's-day." + +"The Germans do not call it so, who live at this time round those old +stone altars; they say Mittwoche, or Mid-week. But the English Saxons +seem to have kept up the title." + +"Are those stone altars standing now, Ditto?" + +"Some of them, Pastor Harms says; and what is very odd, it seems they +call them stone _houses_; and don't you recollect Jacob called his stone +that he set up at Bethel, 'God's house'?" + +"Well, Ditto, go on please," said Maggie. + +"You don't care for archaeology. Well--'The German emperor Charlemagne, +who reigned from 768 to 814, was a good Christian. He governed the +kingdom of the Franks; and that means the whole of central and southern +Germany, together with France and Italy; and all these, his subjects, +had been already Christian a long time. On the north his empire was +bordered by our heathen ancestors, the Saxons, and they were the sworn +foes of Christianity. Whenever they could, they made a rush upon +Charlemagne's dominions, plundered and killed, destroyed the churches +and put to death the Christian priests; and were never quiet. So +Charlemagne determined to make war upon the Saxons, partly to protect +his kingdom against their inroads, and partly with the intent to convert +them with a strong hand to the Christian religion. Then arose a fearful +war of thirty-three years' length, which by both sides was carried on +with great bitterness. The Saxons had, in especial, two valiant, +heroic-hearted leaders, called "dukes" because they led the armies. The +word "duke," therefore, means the same as army-leader. The one of them +in Westphalia was named Wittekind; the other in Eastphalia was named +Albion, also called Alboin. Charlemagne was in a difficult position. If +he beat the Saxons, and thought, now they would surely keep the peace, +and he went off then to some more distant part of his great empire, +immediately the Saxons broke loose again, and the war began anew. +Charlemagne was made so bitter by this, that once when he had beaten the +Saxons at Verden on the Aller, and surrounded their army, he ordered +4500 captive Saxons to be cut to pieces, hoping so to give a +disheartening example. But just the contrary befell. Wittekind and +Albion now gathered together an imposing army to avenge the cruel deed; +and fought two bloody battles, at Osnabrueck and Detmold, with such +furious valour that they thrust Charlemagne back, and took 4000 +prisoners; and these prisoners, as a Lueneburg chronicle says, they +slaughtered--part on the Blocksberg, part in the Osnabrueck country, and +part on the "stone-houses;" where the same chronicle relates that +Wittekind, on his black war-horse, in furious joy, would have galloped +over the bleeding corpses which lay around the stone-houses: but his +horse shied from treading on the human bodies, and making a tremendous +leap, struck his hoof so violently against one of the stone-houses that +the mark of the hoof remained. Wittekind elsewhere in the chronicle is +described as a noble, magnanimous hero; and this madness of war in him +is explained on the ground of his hatred of Christians, and revenge for +the death of the Saxons at Verden. + +"'At last, in the year 785, Wittekind and Albion were baptized, and +embraced the Christian religion. Thereupon came peace among that part of +the Saxons which held them in consideration, for the most distinguished +men by degrees followed their example; and it was only in the other +portions of the country that the war lasted until the year 805; when at +last the whole country of the Saxons submitted to Charlemagne, renounced +heathenism, and accepted Christianity. So hard did it go with our +forefathers before they could become Christians; but once Christians, +they became so zealous for the Christian faith that their land +afterwards was called "Good Saxony" as before it had been known as "Wild +Saxony." Charlemagne, however, was not merely at the pains to subdue the +Saxons, and to compel them into the Christian faith, but as a truly +pious emperor, he also took care that they should be instructed; and +wherever he could he established bishoprics and churches. For example, +the sees of Minden, Osnabrueck, Verden, Bremen, Muenster, Paderhorn, +Halberstadt, and Hildesheim, all situated in the Saxon country, owe +their origin to him. At all these places there were mission +establishments, from which preachers went out into the whole land, to +preach the Gospel to the heathen Saxons. + +"'Among those Willehad and Liudgar were distinguished for their zeal. +With untiring faithfulness, with steadfast faith, and great +self-sacrifice, they laboured, and their works were greatly blessed of +the Lord. Willehad finally became bishop in Bremen and Liudgar bishop of +Muenster. They may with justice be called the apostles of the Saxons. In +a remarkable manner the conversion of our own parts hereabouts proceeded +from the mission establishment in Minden. Liudgar had lived there a long +while, and his piety and his ardour had infected the young monks +assembled there with a live zeal for missions. One of these monks, who +the chronicle tells came from Eastphalia, and had been converted to +Christianity through Liudgar's means, was called Landolf. Now when +Wittekind and Albion had received holy baptism, and so a door was opened +in the Saxon land to the messengers of salvation, Landolf could stand it +no longer in Muenden, but determined to go back to his native Eastphalia +and carry the sweet Gospel to his beloved countrymen. He had no rest day +nor night; the heathen Eastphalians were always standing before him and +calling to him, "Come here and help us!"'" + +"There!" said Meredith pausing, "that's how I feel." + +Every one of the three heads around him was lifted up. + +"You, Ditto?" exclaimed Maggie, but the others only looked. + +"Yes," said Meredith, "I feel just so." + +"About whom?" said his sister abruptly. + +"All the heathen. Nobody in particular, Everybody who doesn't know the +Lord Jesus." + +"You had better begin at home!" said Flora with an accent of scorn. + +"I do," said her brother gravely; and Flora was silent, for she knew he +did. + +"But why, dear Ditto?" said Maggie, with a mixture of anxiety and +curiosity. + +"I am so sorry for them, Maggie." And watching, she could see that +Meredith's downcast eyes were swimming. "Think--_they do not know +Jesus_; and what is life worth without that?" + +"But it isn't everybody's place to go preaching," said Flora after a +minute. + +"Can you prove it? I think it is." + +"Mine, for instance, and Maggie's?" + +"What is preaching, in the first place? It is just telling other people +the truth you know yourself. But you must know it first. I don't think +it is your place to tell what you do not know. But the Bible says, 'Let +him that heareth say, Come!' and I think we, who have heard, ought to +say it. And I think," added Meredith slowly, "if anybody is as glad of +it himself as he ought to be, he cannot help saying it. It will burn in +his heart if he don't say it." + +"But what do you want to do, Ditto?" Maggie asked again. + +"I don't know, Maggie. Not preach in churches; I am not fit for that. +But I want to tell all I can. People seem to me so miserable that do not +know Christ. So miserable!" + +"But, Ditto," said Maggie again, "you can give money to send +missionaries." + +"Pay somebody else to do my work?" + +"You can tell people here at home." + +"Well--" said Meredith with a long breath, "let us see what Landolf the +Saxon did." + + + + +CHAPTER III. + + +"'What did this man do in the daring of faith? He first got permission +of his superiors; then he went aboard of a little boat, took nothing +else with him but his Bible and his Prayer-book, his few tools, a +fishing net, and food for several days, and then dropped down the Weser, +all alone, intending by that way to get to the Eastphalians. But his +chief strength was prayer, in which he lived day and night. When he came +to the place where the Aller flows into the Weser, he quitted the Weser +and went up the Aller, that he might look at the spot where those 4500 +Saxons were cut to pieces by Charlemagne, and on the ground pray for the +murdered men. For at that time it was believed that even the dead could +be helped by prayer, as is still the erroneous teaching of the +Catholics. Leaving that place, he wished to visit the "stone-houses," +that he might pray there too, where the captive Franks had been +slaughtered by the Saxons; and so he went on up the Aller and from the +Aller into the Oerze, all the while living upon the fish which he +caught.'" + +"Had he no bread?" said Maggie. + +"How should he?--going through wild woods and countries lone in his +boat? He would come to no bakers' shops, Maggie." + +"Just living on fish! Well, go on, Ditto." + +"'But all along on this journey he had not only caught fish, but also +everywhere preached the Gospel. And then must have been the first time +that the sweet name of Jesus was ever heard in our region. Perhaps when +you look at the map you will ask, why Landolf went this difficult way by +water, which was a very roundabout way besides, to get to the +"stone-houses," when he could have come across from Verden by a much +nearer and straighter route? Our chronicle gives two reasons: first, the +whole interior of the country at that time was almost nothing but thick +forest and deep morasses, through which there was no going on foot; and +secondly, he had been told in Verden, that if he wanted to visit the +"stone-houses," he must first go to the Billing of the long-legged +Horz-Saxons, who lived on the river Horz in Harm's "_ouden dorp_." Now +this river Horz is the Oerze; and the name, the chronicle announces, +comes from the fact that this river runs and leaps like a _Horz_--that +is, a horse; and because a great many horses were pastured on its banks. +For the chief wealth of our Saxon ancestors consisted in cattle, +especially in horses, which they used not only for riding and in war +expeditions, but reckoned their flesh a favourite food. And were a horse +but entirely spotless and white, it was even held to be sacred. Such +white horses were kept in the sacred forests of oak, where they were +used for nothing but soothsaying; for by the neighing of these white +horses the heathen priests prophesied whether a business, or a campaign, +that was in hand, would turn out happily or unhappily. For this reason +also our Lueneburg country since the earliest times has borne the free, +bounding horse in its escutcheon; and for the same reason most of the +houses in the country of Lueneburg down to the present times have their +gables adorned with two wooden horses' heads; and it is only lately that +this custom has somewhat fallen off. + +"'The Saxons, or as the chronicle writes, _Sahzen_, were called +"Horzsahzen," either because they lived on the Horz, or Oerze; or +because they were almost all of them horsemen and owned a great many +horses. They bore besides the honorary title of the "long-legged," for +our forefathers were distinguished by their unusual stature. It is +remarkable that the name "Lange" is still the widest spread family name +of any in our region, so that there are villages that are almost +exclusively inhabited by "Langen," among whom a goodly number might yet +be called "long-legged;" though many also have grown something shorter, +while they nevertheless bear the name of _Lange_. Well, that is all +one, so they only keep the old, tried faithfulness and honesty, and the +manly holding to their word, and the beautiful pureness of morals, for +which our forefathers were renowned. + +"'But now, what sort of a man is the _Billing_? Our chronicle translates +the word into Latin; _curatos legum_, that is, the "guardian of the +laws." _Bill_, you see, in old low German or Saxon, was a "law" which +had been confirmed by the whole assembly of the people; and the man who +proposed these laws, and when they were confirmed had the charge of +seeing that they were not transgressed, was called the _Billing_. The +Billing of the Horzsahzen was at this time a man named Harm, that is +Hermann; and he lived in Harm's _ouden dorp_--or Hermann's old village. +The spot where this old village of Hermann stood is now a cultivated +field, about ten minutes away from the present Hermannsburg; and this +field is still called at the present day _up'n Ollendorp_, and lies +right on the Oerze. To this place accordingly the brave Landolf +repaired, and was received kindly and with the customary Saxon +hospitality by Hermann the Billing. + +"'Hermann's dwelling was a large cottage, surrounded with pens for +cattle, especially for horses, which were pastured on the river meadows. +There were no stables; the animals remained day and night under the open +sky, and even in winter time had no shelter beyond that of the thick +forest with which the land was covered. The pens themselves were merely +enclosures without a roof. Landolf was entertained with roasted horses' +flesh, which to the astonishment of his hosts he left untouched. For by +the rules of the Christian Church at that time it was not permitted to +eat horse-flesh; they reckoned it a heathen practice. + +"'When Landolf had made his abode with the Billing for a while, he found +out that his host was in fact the principal person in all that district +of country, and as guardian of the laws enjoyed a patriarchal and +wide-reaching consideration. He was indeed no _edeling_ (or nobleman), +only a _freiling_--a free man; but he possessed seven large manors; on +which account later writers, as for instance Adam of Bremen, give the +Billing family the name of _Siebenmeyer_.' (_Sieben_ means seven, +Maggie.) 'The oldest son, who regularly bore the name of Hermann, was +the family head; and after the death of his father the dignity of +Billing descended to him. The younger brothers were settled in some of +the other manors, remaining nevertheless always dependent upon the +oldest. + +"'Now Landolf preached the Gospel zealously to the family whose guest he +was, and they listened to him with willing ears. But when he would have +declared his message also to the Saxons who lived in their +neighbourhood, Hermann explained to him that by law and usage he must +not do that, until permission had first been given him by the regular +assembly of the people. As the house-father he himself could indeed in +his own family allow the proclamation of the Christian faith; but a +public proclamation must have the decision of the people upon it, that +is, of the assembly of all the free men. Landolf had arrived in the +autumn--the stated gathering of the commons would not be till spring, +and indeed not till May; in the meanwhile he must be contented. Hard as +it was for Landolf to wait so long, for his heart was burning to convert +the poor heathen to Christ, he yet knew the people and their customs too +well to contend against them. So all winter he abode with Hermann. And a +blessed winter that was. It was the habit of the family, when at evening +a fire was kindled in the middle of the hut, that the whole household, +men, women, and children, even the servants and maids, should assemble +around it--the master of the house having the place of honour in the +midst of them. The house-father then generally told stories about the +heroic deeds of their forefathers; about the ancient laws and usages, +the knowledge of which was handed down from father to son; and Landolf +sat among them and listened with the rest, but soon got permission to +tell on his part of the wonderful things of the Christian faith. So then +he profited by the long winter evenings to tell over the whole Bible +story of the Old and New Testaments. And with such simplicity, and with +such joy of faith and confidence he told it, that the hearts of his +hearers were stirred. In addition to that, he often sang the songs of +the Christian Church, in a clear, fine-toned voice; and presently some +among them, the younger especially, began to join in the singing. His +Bible stories were in all their mouths; and the people had such capital +memories that, he says himself, he needed usually to tell a thing but +once or twice, and all of them, even the children, could repeat it +almost word for word. This is a common experience among people who have +no written literature; they are apt to be uncommonly strong in power of +memory. And when he prayed too, and he did it daily upon his knees, he +was never disturbed, although he prayed in the cottage, which had only +one room for all; instead, he soon had the joy of seeing that many +kneeled down with him and with him called upon Christ, "the God of the +Christians," as they phrased it. So the winter passed, May came, ice and +snow melted away, and everybody got ready to attend the great assembly +of the people. It was to be held at the stone-houses. Landolf travelled +thither as Hermann's guest, under his protection--Hermann even letting +him ride his best horse, by way of doing him honour before all the +people. With a noble train of _freilings_--that is, of free men--they set +forth. + +"'The first day, however, they went no further than about a quarter of +an hour from Harm's _ouden dorp_, to a sacrificial altar which was +placed close by what was called the Deep Moor (Deepenbroock, the +chronicle says). There Landolf was to be spectator of a terrible scene, +which shows as well the frightful savageness and cruelty of the Saxons +as their noble purity of manners. By about noon of the abovenamed day, +all the free men of that whole region had gathered together at the altar +of sacrifice. This altar consisted, as may still be seen by the +so-called _stone-houses_ now standing, of eight slabs of granite, set up +in a quadrangle; with four openings, or doors, towards the four quarters +of the heaven, broad enough to let a man go through; and covered over +on the top with another great granite block. The young warriors brought +up two prisoners, who had been taken in a late campaign and fetched +along. One of them was made to go under the sacrifice altar through the +north and south doors, the other through the east and west doors. Then +stepped forth two priests, having their long flowing hair bound with a +mistletoe branch, and a sharp knife of flint in the hand. You must know +that the mistletoe, which is still to be found in plenty in our woods, +growing especially on birch trees, was held among our forefathers to be +sacred. For since it does not grow upon the ground like other plants, +but upon trees, birches particularly, it was believed that the seed of +this plant fell down from heaven; and this belief was strengthened by +the remarkable manner of its growth, so unlike other plants, with its +forking opposite branches and shining white berries. After solemn +prayers, which were half sung half said, to the two gods Woden and Thor, +and the two goddesses Hela and Hertha, the captive men were one after +the other laid each upon his back on the altar, so that his head hung +down over the edge of the altar.'" + +"Oh, stop, Ditto!" cried Maggie. + +"Why?" + +"It is too horrible." + +"It is pretty horrible. But men did it, and men suffered it. Can't you +hear it?" + +"Men were dreadful!" + +"Men _are_ dreadful where the light of the Gospel has not come. 'The +dark places of the earth are full of the habitations of cruelty.'" + +"Tell me about those gods and goddesses." + +"Were those Saxon Druids?" Flora asked. + +"It sounds so. But I don't know the gods of the Teutons as well as I do +those of the Greeks; I can't tell you much about Woden and Thor, Maggie. +We'll look when we go home. Now, am I to go on?" + +"I suppose so. Oh yes, I want you to go on. But it is dreadful." + +"Well, the captives were laid on the altar, as I read, 'and the priests +cut their throats with their knives of flint. When the quivering victim +had ceased to bleed, the body was taken up by the young warriors and +cast into the Deep Moor, where it immediately sunk in the bog. Landolf +had not recovered from the shock--for he had never seen a human +sacrifice before, having gone while yet a boy into the country of the +Christians--when his attention was fettered by another dreadful drama. + +"'Some of the young men fetched a long and broad hurdle, woven of fir +branches, laid it down before the altar, and went away; but came back +again presently with a man and a woman, who had been accused and +convicted of breaking the marriage vow. An accuser stepped forth, and +repeated the charge before the Billing. The Billing then asked the +accused whether the charge was true? and admonished them to confess the +truth, since never yet had a free Saxon told a lie. And when the guilty +people had owned their guilt, first their relations came forward and +spat in their faces; then the man's weapons were taken from him, his +hands and feet and the woman's were tied together: and so tied they were +thrown into the Deep Moor, the hurdle covered over them, and this and +the underlying bodies, by their nearest relations first of all, were +trodden down into the deep morass. So came the marriage-breakers to a +shameful end and received the reward of their sin. + +"'Hermann told Landolf afterwards that there were three crimes which +they punished on this disgraceful wise--marriage-breaking, lying, and +cowardice; because such people were not held worthy to die the +honourable death of a warrior, and be slain with weapons. Landolf +answered "O Billing! you are terrible people! yet even as heathen you +hate the sins that you know. What would you be, if you were once +Christians, and the Lord Jesus gave you His light!" + +"'And as I write down these words from the old chronicle, I could cast +my eyes to the ground for shame and weep tears of blood over the deep, +shameful apostasy of the German Christianity of the present day. Christ +gives us His light now; we are Christians now; but where have purity, +truth, and courage hid themselves? Are there ten in a hundred German +Christians that keep a pure life, true lips, and a brave heart? I do not +think it. Open and secret impurity, coarse and polished falsehood, +disgraceful cowardliness, fear of men and men-pleasing, have infested +the whole German Christian nation, and will soon bring down the judgment +of God; for "the bruise is incurable, and the wound is grievous." Great +and small, men and women, old and young, all are tainted with the +plague. Our heathen forefathers were better and cleaner in these things +than we Christians--they will condemn us at the last judgment, and we +shall have to stand abashed before them. And you that read this, if you +prize the name of a German--if, as you should, you prize a thousand +times more the name of a Christian--ask your conscience whether it has +not been uneasy under the foregoing narration; and if it has, then +repent, you degenerate German, you hypocritical Christian; repent in +sackcloth and ashes, and on your knees implore your God, the living +Saviour: "Jesus, my Lord, thou holy God, give me a pure nature, a lip of +faithfulness, and a bold heart, through the faith that is in Thee." + +"'And now I must go on to tell what more befell that same day, in which +the devilish nature of heathenism among our forefathers was shown as +frightfully as in their murderous sacrifices. Far behindhand as our +ancestors at that time were in all civilisation, they nevertheless +already understood the art of preparing intoxicating drinks. For this +purpose they used especially the wild oats which grew all over, and the +darnel grass, of which a strong, intoxicating beer was brewed; and to +make it yet more stupefying, they added a certain marsh plant. And +scarce ever was there a sacrifice that was not concluded with a +drinking-bout. So it fell out at this time. Many writers tell, how among +the old Germans it was even made a boast to spend eight or even fourteen +days, one after another, in such carousals. On the occasion of which we +are speaking, indeed, they lasted only over the rest of that day and +through the night; for the next day the intent was to go on to the +stone-houses. But what horror must Landolf have felt even in that short +time! When all of them had got drunk, a quarrel sprang up; and as each +man had his weapons with him, his war-axe especially, the quarrel came +to duels between man and man; and soon blood was flowing from most of +the people, and several corpses lay here and there. The bodies were +burned, their ashes buried, and a round hillock of earth thrown up over +them; for, as it was thought, they had fallen in honourable fight, as it +became men to do. And when Landolf, full of astonishment, asked the +Billing, who of all the crowd was the only one that had remained sober, +whether they did not then punish people for murder? the Billing in +wonder retorted by the question, where the murderers were? There had +been nothing but an open, honest fight, which was to the honour of those +concerned in it. + +"'Yet another abomination Landolf saw on this occasion, which, however, +was in a remarkable manner mixed up with truth and noblemindedness. I +mean that while this drinking-bout was going on, a number of men, young +and old, amused themselves with gaming, of which they were passionately +fond. To be sure they had no cards, neither dice. But they had little +longish, square cornered, wooden sticks, shaved white, and with certain +marks painted on the upper side. Each man took a certain number of these +in both hands, shook them, and threw them up in the air. When they fell +on the ground, they were carefully looked at to see how many of them lay +with the painted side up, and how many with the unpainted; and whoever +then had the most sticks with the painted side up, he had won. Upon each +throw they set some of their cattle, a hog, a cow, or an ox, or a horse; +perhaps at last a specially prized drinking vessel, made out of a ure-ox +horn; even finally, what they held to be most valuable of all, their +weapons; and at last Landolf saw a young man, who had lost all he had, +cast his freedom upon the last throw; and when this too was lost, he saw +how frankly and without grumbling he gave himself up to be the slave of +his fellow-player; so fast the German, even amid the bewilderments of +sin, held to truth and the inviolable keeping of his word once given. +Liberty was truly his most valuable and precious possession, for which +at any other time he was ready to die, arms in hand. And yet he yielded +this treasure quietly up, when he had lost it at play, rather than break +his word and his faith; if he were the stronger, he did not defend +himself; he did not take to flight, though he might have a hundred +opportunities--the free man who gloried in his freedom, became a slave, +that he might keep faith. This was how Landolf found things among the +heathen; he wept bitter tears over it; but he never desponded: so much +the firmer grew his resolution to preach the Gospel to this people, and +make the true God known to them. For the thought always rose in him, +what might come of a people whom God had so nobly endowed, among whom +even in the abominations of idolatry there shone forth such traits of +pureness of manners and nobleness of thought, were they but once renewed +and born again by the glorious Christian faith. + +"'But if Landolf were to come to light again in these days, when we +_are_ Christians, what would he say of us? Outward culture truly he +would find--the face of the earth would indeed have changed. But if he +came into the inns, where drinking and gaming are going on, into the +so-called _Maybeers_, into the assemblies for eating and drinking, and +playing at weddings, and housewarmings, and christenings; or into the +private drinking and gaming parties in people's houses, the gaming hells +at the watering-places, the drinking carousals of students, the +companies of the noble, the so-called entertainments with which +everything must be celebrated in Germany--how confounded would he be, to +find that the drinking and gaming devil is still the ruling devil in +Germany! but, on the other hand, faith and truth are extinguished. It is +true what the old song says--"Most are Christians only in name. God's +true seed are thinly scattered, those who love and honour Christ and do +His pleasure!" Well, God mend it!'" + +Meredith shut up his book. + +"Ditto," said Maggie thoughtfully, "is it so bad here?" + +"How do I know, Maggie?" + +"But what do you _think_?" + +Flora lifted up her head. "Now, Meredith, don't go and say something +absurd." + +"What do you want me to say?" + +"Why, the truth! that there are a great many nice people in America." + +"I have no doubt, so there are in Germany." + +"Then that talk is all stuff." + +"Pastor Harms never talked stuff." + +"How do you know?" + +"I have read enough of him to know. He was one of those he calls God's +true seed." + +"Then what did he mean? Or what do you mean?" + +"Well, Flora, I will ask you a question: How many people do you know who +live to do Christ's will?" + +Flora did not answer immediately. Maggie on her part went to +calculating. + +"I know--I know--three!" she said slowly. + +"_Three!_" said Flora. "Who are they?" + +"That's not the question, Flo," said her brother. "How many do _you_ +know?" + +"Well," said Flora, "Mr. Murray is one, and you are another, I believe; +but there are other nice people in the world." + +"I know people drink," said Maggie, so gravely and sagely that the +others laughed. "I do know. I have seen them at our house. You needn't +say anything, Esther; I have once or twice when I have been at dinner, +when you were not at home. Not papa, of course, and they don't do it +now. Papa won't have wine on the table at all, but I saw how they did. +Some of the gentlemen began with whisky and water, and one took brandy +and water, before dinner began." + +"Oh stop, Maggie!" Esther exclaimed. + +"No, but I want to tell you. Then they took Greek wine or Sauterne with +their soup. Then they took champagne with the dinner. Then they had +port wine with the cheese--oh, I recollect, Esther--and then they had +Madeira and sherry with dessert, and claret and Madeira and sherry with +the fruit. And some of them drank every one. I am glad papa won't have +wine at all now. Uncle Eden wouldn't, a good while ago." + +"People used in England, not very long ago, to drink a bottle or two of +wine after dinner each man," said Meredith; "but it is not quite so bad +as that nowadays." + +Flora was vexed, but silent; she too remembered bowls of punch and +baskets of champagne in _her_ father's time. + +"And gaming--" said Maggie, and stopped. + +"What?" said Meredith. + +"I was thinking how fond Fenton was of it." + +"Oh hush, Maggie! he wasn't!" Esther exclaimed. + +"It was just the same thing, Uncle Eden said." + +"Where is Fenton?" said Meredith. + +"He's coming to-morrow. He likes champagne too, and other wine when he +can get it. And Bolivar--Bolivar put something in his lemonade!" + +"Why, Maggie," said Meredith, smiling and passing his hand gently over +the little girl's head, "you are taking gloomy views of life!" + +"I was only thinking, Ditto. But it seems to me so very strange that +people should be worse now than when they were heathen Saxons." + +"People are a mixture now, you must remember. The good part are a great +deal better, and I suppose the bad part are a great deal worse." + +"Worse than the heathen!" cried Flora. + +"Well, judge for yourself. But darkness in the midst of light is always +the blackest, and not only by contrast either." + +"If you think people are so awful, I should think you would go to work +and preach to them," said Esther. + +"I will," said Meredith calmly. + +"Then what will you do with Meadow Park?" + +"Oh, he proposes to turn that into an hospital." + +"An hospital!"---- + +"Flora is romancing a little," said her brother. "There are no +infirmaries put up yet. How sweet this place is! Do you smell the fir +trees and pines? The air is a spice-box." + +"The air a box!" cried Maggie laughing. + +"I mean it is full of perfumes, like a spice-box. And these old stones, +laid up here by the soldiers' hands of a hundred years ago, just make a +dining place for us now. But it's pretty! And the air is nectar." + +"You can choose whether you will smell it, or swallow it," remarked his +sister. + +"By your leave, I will do both. Well, shall I go on?" + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + + +"'The morning after the sacrificial feast at the Deep Moor, Landolf with +the Billing and the free men travelled on to the May diet, which was to +be held at the seven stone-houses, and before noon came to the place. +There were an enormous crowd of free men assembled, priests, nobles, and +commons. The place lies in the middle of a vast, level heath, on the +soft declivity of a rising ground, which on the other side falls away +sharply down to a boggy dell. I have already described the stone-houses. +There are seven of them, a number which must have been held sacred among +the Saxons. At least in our country the so-called "Huhnen" graves, in +which our forefathers lie buried, are always found either alone, or +constantly by sevens together in a wide circle. The spot on which the +stone-houses stand must have been sacred to Woden, for in the chronicle +it is called "Wuotanswohrt," and _wohrt_ in Saxon always means a +secluded, enclosed, sacred place, especially devoted to the +administration of justice; for courts of justice were held under the +open sky and always by day, as though to denote that justice is of +heavenly origin, courts the light of sunshine and shuns the darkness. +The word _wohrt_ is connected with _wehren_' (which means, to keep off, +Maggie), 'because everything unholy must be kept off from it, on which +account also such places were hedged in. Of the transactions at this May +diet, it is only told that a great sacrifice was offered, this time +consisting of fourteen men, two of whom were slaughtered upon each of +the stone-houses in the manner already described; that then cases of law +were decided according to the ancient usage; then the state of things +between the Saxons and the Franks was considered; and at this +opportunity Landolf, who as guest of the Billing had been present at all +the discussions, begged to be permitted to speak, and asked for leave to +preach Christianity in the country. Scarcely had he preferred his +request, when threatening and distrustful looks were directed upon him +from almost all present, and many a hand grasped to the war-axe; for at +the word _Christianity_, men's thoughts at once flew to the Franks, +those hitherto enemies of the Saxons, by whom after three and thirty +years of fighting they had at last been subdued. The Billing immediately +observed the excitement, and before any of it could get open expression +he himself was upon his feet. He related that Landolf was no Frank, but +an Eastphalian, and so of their own people and race; that when a boy he +had been taken prisoner by the Franks in the war and carried to the +Franks' country, where he had been converted to Christianity, and had +been a pupil of the good Liudgar, who himself was a Saxon and known by +report to all Saxons. That afterwards he had lived with this Liudgar in +the country of their brethren the Westphalians, and half a year before +this time had come to him quite alone and become his guest; and as his +guest he would protect the man, since he had done nothing contrary to +the customs and usages of the Saxon people. In his own home he had +permitted him to preach Christianity; and now here, in the assembly of +the people, according to ancient law and usage, Landolf desired to ask +whether he might be allowed to proclaim openly in the country the Gospel +of the God of the Christians. This must now be regularly debated in the +assembly of the people; and he gave permission to Landolf that free and +unmolested he might say out his wishes and tell exactly what the +Christian belief was. Then every one might give his opinion. + +"'Now Landolf rose up. His tall figure, his noble presence, and the +fearless, frank, spirited glance of his eye round the circle, made a +deep impression; and in noiseless silence the assembly listened to his +speech, the first preaching that ever was held in our country. This +short, simple discourse has so grown into my heart and I like it so +much, that I shall give it here.' Flora, are you listening?" + +"Of course." + +"I didn't know but you were too busy counting your stitches. I want you +to hear this speech of Landolf's. It is very fine. + +"'"In the name of God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, the only +true God. Amen. Men and brethren, hear my words. One hundred years ago" +(A.D. 960, according to the chronicle), "came two pious Christian +priests to you, to make known to your fathers the Gospel of Christ, the +true God; they were the dark and the fair Ewald. They were your own +relations, they came from England; they were your friends, they had left +England and come over the sea for the love of you; they were your +guests, they had been sheltered in your houses. They wanted to let you +know that God has become your Brother, that He might deliver you from +your sins. You would not let them preach in your land--you were free not +to do that; but you murdered them; here on these stones you slew them in +honour of Woden; your brothers, your friends, your guests, you murdered, +who had done you no evil. Since that time the true God, the God of the +Christians, has been angry with you. You number as many as the Franks +do; you are just as brave as they. Yet Charlemagne, the Frank, has +conquered and subdued you. How is that? God fought with Charlemagne; He +loved him--he is a Christian. God fought against you, for you have +killed his priests; you are murderers. You can kill me too. Do it; I am +not afraid of death; I am the servant of God; if you kill me, God will +take me up to heaven. God's anger will not depart from you, unless you +become Christians. Why will you not become Christians? Your gods are +good for nothing; they cannot help you; they have not been able to stand +before the Christian's God. Where is your _Irmensul_? Charlemagne has +broken it to pieces." (Irmensul was an idol image that stood at +Hildesheim). "Where is your _Wodensaak_? Charlemagne has cut it down." +(This Woden's oak stood at Verden on the Aller.) "Where is your +_Helawohrt_? Charlemagne has destroyed it." (The sacred place of the +goddess Hela was on the Aller, in what is now the suburb Heelen at +Celle.) "Where are your brave leaders, Wittekind and Albion? They have +become Charlemagne's friends and vassals; they are Christians. Do you +think it was Charlemagne that subdued them? No, a greater One, the God +of the Christians has subdued them. Charlemagne indeed often overthrew +them; but the Christian's God has conquered them. Do you know how that +came about? I have heard in Muenster, and I will tell you. + +"'"After the last battle they lost--you know about that, your young men +bled there too--before peace was concluded, the brave Wittekind said to +his brother in arms, Albion, 'Come, let us go! we will pay a visit to +Charlemagne in his fortress, and take a look at his power; for he is the +greatest in the land.' So the bold heroes set forth; hiding their strong +frames under the dress of beggars; for they wished to remain unknown, +and to see and prove for themselves. Fear was not in their brave hearts. +They travelled and travelled for days and days; and wherever they came, +Christians gave them food. Then they questioned with one another--'Is +_this_ what Christians are?' They were many nights on their journeyings, +and wherever they came the Christians took them in, although they were +beggars. Then they asked one another, 'Is this what Christians are?' +Many a time they lost their way, in cities, villages, and fields; the +Christians set them right, and they said to each other in astonishment, +'Is _this_ what the Christians are?' At last they came to Ingelheim." +(The chronicle names Ingelheim, and not Aix-la-Chapelle.) "They went +through the city, admiring the handsome houses and magnificent streets, +till they came to a large house, the largest of all they had hitherto +seen. 'This must be Charlemagne's dwelling,' said they; 'for certainly +he is the greatest man among his people!' They went in--they heard +singing, that sounded as if it came down from heaven. They went further +in; there stood up in the chancel a man in a white dress (it was a +priest in white church robes) who was speaking: 'Hear, you who believe +the glad message; the great God in heaven loves you. He loves you so +much that He sent His dear Son Jesus Christ to you. Jesus Christ came +down from heaven; God's Son became your brother, so little and poor that +He lay in a manger in the stall for cattle. When He was grown up, He +preached everywhere and said, Sinners, turn, and I will save you. He +made the lame to go and the blind to see, and healed the sick, and +raised up the dead that lay in their graves. He shed His blood for +sinners; sinners put Him to death. He was still kind to them in His +death, and prayed for His murderers, Father, forgive them! for they know +not what they do. They buried Him. But can God stay in the grave? Lo! +after three days the earth quaked and the rocks rent; Jesus rose up out +of the grave, Jesus went up to heaven, and sits now again upon the +throne of His Father, God. He reigns; He commands: Repent, and I will +save you, you shall come into my heaven and reign with me. + +"'"So preached the priest. There stood the two heroes in astonishment, +but they were to be yet more astonished. Lo! a tall man steps forward +through the church up to the altar, where the priest was standing; and a +crown was upon his head. It was the King Charlemagne. The two heroes +knew him, and yet they did not know him. Was this the mighty hero, whose +flashing sword in battle struck and slew? Was this the man whose eyes +blazed with the fire of battle? He wears no sword here; his eyes sparkle +peacefully; as he stands before the altar, he humbly takes his crown off +and sets it on the ground; then he bows his knee upon the steps of the +altar and prays to Jesus Christ, the God of the Christians, and all the +people fall upon their knees, and the heavenly music of them who are +singing praises swells out again--'Glory to God in the highest, and on +earth peace, good-will to men.' Then Charlemagne rises and sits down in +a chair, and the man in white clothing preaches of Jesus, who came to +save sinners, and Charlemagne bows his high head so often as the name +of Jesus is named. Then the priest blesses the congregation--the service +is over. + +"'"It was not Charlemagne's house in which they were; it was God's +house, in which Charlemagne had been praying. God is greater than +Charlemagne, and so must God's house be the biggest in the city. The +brothers in arms went forth of the church. Before the church door there +was a great crowd of beggars, in garments like their own. Gentle and +kind, Charlemagne goes to the poor people, giving each one a piece of +money and saying, 'God bless it to you, my children; pray for me too.' +'Is that King Charlemagne?' the heroes asked each other by their +astonished looks. Then the king steps up to them, looks at them +graciously, and says--'You have never been here before, my friends; come +into my house, and I will give you your portion.' He goes on and they +follow him. They come into his house, which was smaller than God's +house. They go into his apartment; there he dismisses the attendants, +goes up to Wittekind and Albion, offers them his hand like a brother and +says: 'Welcome to my citadel, you brave Saxon heroes! God has heard my +prayer; my foes are becoming my friends. Put off your rags. I will dress +you as princes should be dressed!' And he had princely robes put upon +them, and said further--'Now you are my guests; and soon, I hope, the +guests of the Lord my God also.' The two heroes had not expected this, +that Charlemagne should know them in their disguise; much less that he +would treat them so nobly and brotherly. Fourteen days later, the priest +in white garments baptized them in the name of God the Father, the Son, +and the Holy Ghost; and they swore allegiance to the Saviour, Jesus +Christ. + +"'"You men, this is the way that your heroes have led the way for you. +Saxons, will you forsake your dukes? The curse of sin has been cleared +away from them. Now I have come to you; I too am a priest of Jesus +Christ; I would gladly teach you and clear the curse of sin away from +you, that you may be saved and come to heaven. Say, shall I preach among +you? or will you kill me too, as you killed the two Ewalds? Here I am; +but in the midst of you I am also in God's hand." + +"'Landolf ceased. The whole assembly had heard him in silence; even the +heathen priests had listened. Then the Billing lifted up his voice and +spoke: "Landolf, my guest and friend, thou hast spoken well, and thou +hast been a good man in my house; I will hear thee further. Brothers, +let us decide that Landolf shall be free to go about in our country and +preach. It is no dishonour to bow the knee before that God who is +Charlemagne's God and the God of the Christians; it is no shame to pray +to that God who has conquered our brave heroes. Decide!" + +"'Then stepped forth an old man with white hair, who was the oldest man +in the assembly, and spoke: "Cast the lot!" + +"'The young men made ready seven little sticks, square-cornered, of oak +wood, marked on the upper side with sacred signs. One of the heathen +priests, the chronicle calls him Walo, shook them in his hands and then +threw them up in the air. During this time, Landolf was upon his knees, +crying, "Lord, Lord, give the victory, that this noble people may come +to know Thee!" Then the sticks fall to earth, and behold! six of them +lie with the signs up, and only one with the signs down. This is +announced, and then the whole assembly cries out--"The Christian's God +has won!" and the Billing shakes Landolf by the hand and says, "Now go +in and out through the whole land; nobody will hinder you from preaching +the name of your God. But do not pass my house by; come back with me; I +will become a Christian." And now the assembly broke up; everybody went +home to his house, Landolf accompanying the Billing. When they were +again passing the stone of sacrifice at the Deep Moor, Landolf +said--"Billing, that is your altar-stone; is it not?" "It belongs to me +and my house." "There my first church shall stand," said Landolf, glad +and strong in faith. "May I build it?" "Build it my brother," answered +the Billing; "and when it is ready I will be the first to be baptized in +it. But the stone of sacrifice we will throw into the moor, that the +remembrance of it may be lost." + +"'Now did Landolf go to work joyfully; by day he wrought, and at night +he preached, and taught in the Billing's house, and in all the country +round. No longer than three months after, the little wooden church was +done--the first in this whole region; and the same day that Landolf +consecrated it, Harm the Billing with five sons and three daughters, and +the greater part of the friends of his family and of his farm servants, +received holy baptism, the water for which was fetched out of the +neighbouring Oerze. Now, of course, that church is no longer standing; +it was burnt down afterwards by the heathen Wends, and in its place the +large stone church in Hermannsburg was built. But to this day the field +where that first church stood belongs to the Hermannsburg parsonage, and +is still called _the cold church_. + +"'This was the foundation of the Christian Church in our valley of the +Oerze; and as Landolf had come from Minden, the whole Oerze valley was +attached to the see of Minden, while the rest of the Lueneburg country +came to belong to the see of Verden. + +"'Now the faithful Landolf laboured on indefatigably. He sent one of his +new converts to Minden and Muenster, to get more helpers from thence for +his work. Twelve came, who were put under Landolf; and now for the first +time the work could be taken hold of vigorously. Landolf must have lived +and laboured until 830 or 840, and so blessed was his agency that the +whole country of the Horzsahzen was converted to Christianity. It is +brought forward as a proof of this, that at the great May diets held at +the stone-houses the following laws were unanimously enacted: no more +horse's flesh to be eaten; no more human sacrifices to be brought; no +more dead to be burned; and all Woden's oaks to be hewn down. And in +truth these laws do show the dominance of Christianity, for precisely +these things named were the peculiar marks of heathenism. Of the +interior condition of Christianity, little is told; only it is remarked +that the entire change in the country was so great and manifest, that +the bishops Willerich of Bremen and Helingud of Verden sent priests to +convince themselves with their own eyes whether what they had heard with +their ears was true; and these messengers had found not a single heathen +left in the whole region. As a good general, Landolf moreover understood +how everywhere to seize the right points where with the most effect +heathenism might be grappled with and overthrown. He always went +straight to the heart of the old religion. We have already seen how his +first church was built by the Billing's sacrifice stone. Westward from +Hermannsburg is what is called the Winkelberg, upon which was the +burying-place of the heathen priests, for the most part cultivated land +now, but the twice seven so-called Huehnen graves are still to be seen +there. At the foot of this hill he established what was called the +_Pfarrwohrt_, where the spiritual courts should be holden; and close by +this place he laid the foundation-stone of the Quaenenburg, a house +surrounded with a moat, in which the young girls of the country might be +taught and educated (Quaene or Kwaene meant a young girl). Both places, +Pfarrwohrt and Quaenenburg, are arable fields now, still belonging to the +parsonage. + +"'An hour above Hermannsburg the two rivers Oerze and Wieze flow into +each other. At that place, in an oak wood, the idol Thor was worshipped. +There Landolf was equally prompt to build a chapel, that the idol +worship might be banished. As he had consecrated the church in +Hermannsburg to Peter and Paul, so he consecrated this chapel to +Lawrence. Around this chapel the village Mueden sprang up, so called +because the two rivers there flow into one another, or Muenden. Then he +went further up the Oerze and erected a cloister and a chapel at a place +which was sacred to the goddess Freija. At that time a cloister was +called a munster. The village of Munster grew up around this cloister. +In the same way he went further up the Weize, where there was a wood +sacred to Hertha. In its neighbourhood he built a chapel which was +consecrated to Bartholomew. Around this chapel Wiezendorf arose. About +an hour and a half distant from Hermannsburg, there was a very large, +magnificent wood of oaks and beeches; such a forest was then called a +wohld. In this forest the heathen priests, the so-called Druids, were +specially at home; there, too, they kept the white horses which were +used in soothsaying. The wood extended for hours in length and breadth. +He could not give that the go-by; and that he might dash right into the +midst of it, he built at the spot where it was narrowest a chapel on the +one side to Mary _in valle_, and on the other side a chapel to Mary _in +monte_. The first means Mary in the valley, the second, Mary on the +hill. The villages Wohlde and Bergen have thence arisen. So he grappled +with heathenism just there where its strongest points were, and always, +by God's grace, got the victory; for the Lord indeed says: "My glory +will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images." And as +once the Philistine's idol Dagon fell speechless upon the ground before +the ark of the covenant of God, so in our Oerze valley everywhere fell +the altars of the idols before the sign of the Cross. + +"'Besides all this, Landolf and his companions were skilled husbandmen, +who themselves shunned no manual labour nor painstaking, and who knew +right well how to eat their bread in the sweat of their brow. So they +introduced agriculture universally, of which our forefathers at that +time knew little or nothing; and thus they were not only the spiritual +but also the material benefactors of the whole district. How much a +single man can do, who is wholly given to the Lord, and who is moved by +burning love to the Lord and to his fellows! God give all preachers and +teachers, and especially all messengers to the heathen, such a mind, +such a brave heart, such a single eye, such will to work! that some good +may be done. + +"'About the next hundred years I have found nothing said in the +chronicle. Probably things went on in such a quiet way that there was +nothing particular to say concerning them. But then comes the relation +of a noteworthy occurrence.'" + +Meredith shut up his book. + +"Well, aren't you going on?" said Maggie. + +"Presently. I want a run down to the shore and see how the water looks." + +"Why, it always looks just the same way," said Esther. + +"Does it? I am afraid something must be the matter with your eyes." + +"Oh, of course sometimes it blows, and sometimes it is smooth; but what +is that?" + +"Just according to your eyes." + +"Aren't all eyes alike?" + +"Not exactly. Some see." + +"What do you see in the water?" + +"There is one peculiarity of eyes," said Meredith. "You cannot see +through another person's. Come, Maggie, let us stretch ourselves a bit." + +Taking hold of hands, the two ran and scrambled down the steep, rocky +pitch of the hill, to the edge of the river. The wind was not blowing +to-day; soft and still the water lay, with a mild gleam under the +October sun, sending up not even a ripple to the shore. There was a +warm, spicy smell in the woods; there was a golden glow here and there +from a hickory; the hills were variegated and rich-hued in the distance +and near by. Meredith sat down on a stone by the water and looked out on +the view. But he was graver than Maggie liked. + +"Ditto," she said after a while, "you are thinking of something." + +"Of a good many things, Maggie. How good the world is! and men are not!" + +"What then, Ditto?" + +"One ought to do something to make them better." + +"What can you do?" + +"What could Landolf the Saxon? I do not know, Maggie; but one ought to +be as ready as Landolf was to do anything. And I think I am." + +"Then God will show you what to do, Ditto." + +Meredith bent down and kissed the earnest little face, "You are the only +friend I have got, Maggie, that thinks and feels as I do." + +"O Ditto! Uncle Eden?" + +"Well, I suppose Mr. Murray would do me the honour to let me call him my +friend," said Meredith. + +"And papa?" + +"Mr. Candlish is very good to me; but you see, I do not know him so +well, Maggie." + +"Well, he thinks just as you do. And papa goes and preaches in the +streets when he is in New York; in those dreadful places where the +people live that never go to church." + +"_That's_ like Landolf," said Meredith. "I almost envy men like that old +monk." + +"Why?" + +"All his strength laid out for something worth while--all his life. And +think how much he did! And I fret to be doing nothing, and yet I don't +know what to do." + +"You can ask Uncle Eden when he comes." + +"I hope he'll come! Now don't think any more about it, Maggie. This is +the prettiest place I ever saw in my life. I want to get out on that +water." + +"Now?" + +"Not now. Some time." + +"Oh, we'll all go," said Maggie joyfully. "We might go in the boat +somewhere and take our book and our dinner, and have a grand time, +Ditto!" + +Meredith laughed and said it was all "grand times;" and then he got up +and strolled along by the water, picking up flat stones and making ducks +and drakes on the smooth, river surface. This was a new pastime to +Maggie, and so pleasant to both that they forgot the book and the girls +left on the height, and delighted their eye with the dimpling water and +ricochetting stones time after time, and could not have enough. At last +flat stones began to grow scarce, and Maggie and Meredith remounted to +the rest of the party. + +"Well!" said Flora, "you've come in good time. We are going home." + +"Home!" echoed Maggie. + +"To be sure. Don't you think we want dinner some time?" said Esther; +"and we are tired sitting here. And it is growing late besides. Just +look where the sun is." + +There was nothing to be said to the sun; and the books and work being +stowed again in the cart, Meredith took his place as porter, and the +little company returned to the house. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + + +A little tired, and not a little hungry, it was very good now to have a +change, and be at home. The girls went to dress for dinner, while +Meredith, whose toilet was sooner made, sat on the terrace in the mellow +October light and dreamed. Dinner went off merrily. After dinner, when +it began to be dark, they all repaired to the library. A little fire was +kindled here, for the pleasure of it rather than from the need. The +afghan and worsted embroidery came out again under the bright lamplight; +but Meredith sat idly tending the fire. + +"Ditto," said Maggie, "can't we see about all those Saxon gods now?--or +don't you want to?" + +"Of course, I want to see about them," said Meredith, springing up and +going to the bookcases. "I want to know myself, Maggie." + +"Were they different from the Roman and Grecian gods?" Flora asked. + +"It is safe for people who cannot keep their ears open, to refrain from +questions," Meredith answered. + +"Why, I heard all you read," said Flora, pouting a little; "but how +should I know but those were the same as the Roman gods, only under +different names?" + +"If you please to recollect, you will remember that the two nations had +nothing to do with one another except at the spear's point. But if I can +find what I want, I will enlighten you and myself too," said Meredith, +rummaging among the bookshelves. "Here it is, I believe!" And with a +volume in his hand he came back to the table and the lamp; but then +became absorbed in study. Worsted needles flew in and out. Maggie +watched Meredith's face and the leaves of his book as they were turned +over. + +"Well, Ditto?" she said after a while. + +"What?" + +"Yes, _what_?" said Maggie, laughing. "Have you found anything?" + +"To be sure!" said Meredith, straightening himself up. "Yes, Maggie, +it's all here--in a somewhat brief fashion." + +"Well, who was Woden?" + +"Woden was the principal deity. He was the god of the moving air, and of +the light." + +"Like Apollo," said Flora. + +"Yes--more like Zeus or Jupiter. He was the all-father--the universally +present spirit: above all the other gods. He was the god of the sky. +They represented him with two ravens that sat on his shoulders, which +every morning brought him news of whatever was going on in _Midgard_." + +"What's Midgard?" + +"Our lower earth. And the abode of the gods was called _Asgard_." + +"We did not read anything about Midgard and Asgard to-day." + +"No, but I thought you might like to know. And then _Walhalla_ was the +place where Odin put half of the brave men who were slain in battle." + +"What became of the other half?" said Flora. + +"The goddess Freija took care of them. What she did with them, this book +does not say. I have read before of the 'halls of Walhalla,' I am glad +to know what it means." + +"Who was Freija?" + +"Wait a bit; I have not got through with Woden, or Odin. His two ravens +were called _Hunin_ and _Munin_--which means, Thought and Memory. That's +pretty! Woden is painted also as attended by two dogs. He was the chief +and head of the gods, you understand. Now Freija was one of his wives. +Naturally, she was the goddess of good weather and harvests--a fair kind +of goddess generally. Also the dead were in her care; the other half of +the heroes slain in battle came into her hands. She is painted riding +in a chariot drawn by two cats." + +"But, Ditto, if Woden was the sky god, I don't see why those old Saxons +should have fancied he would like such cruel sacrifices. Sunlight looks +bright and cheerful." + +Meredith mused. + +"Yes," he said, "it does look bright and cheerful--but, it hates +darkness." + +"What then, Ditto?" + +"Darkness means sin." + +"Oh, do you think that?" cried Maggie. "To be sure, I know darkness +means sin. But do you think those old Saxons"---- + +"They felt the difference between darkness and light, undoubtedly, and +they feared the sun-god." + +"But I don't see how they could think he was so cruel, though." + +"I suppose that is all quite natural," said Meredith musingly. "How +afraid we should be of God, if we did not know Jesus Christ!" + +"Were the old Hebrews so afraid of Him?" Flora asked. + +"Terribly. Don't you remember? they always thought they must die when +the Angel of Jehovah appeared to them? And how should people who never +heard of Christ guess that God is so good as He is? They feel that they +are sinners--how should they know that He will forgive?" + +"But to think to please Him by such awful sacrifices!" said Flora. + +"I suppose the idea was, to give him the most precious thing there was." + +"I shall ask Mr. Murray," said Flora. "It is all a puzzle to me. In the +first place, I do not believe such heathen people know they are +sinners." + +"Yes, they do. Certainly they do, all the world over, and this is one of +the ways they show it. 'How beautiful' among them must be 'the feet of +him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace!--that bringeth +good tidings of good; that publisheth salvation!'" + +"What a pity you hadn't lived in Landolf's time!" said Flora. + +"There are enough heathen left," said her brother, "and worse than those +old Saxons. Theirs was not a bad specimen of heathen mythology, by any +means. And yet, think of believing one's self given over to the tender +mercies of Woden and Thor!" + +"And yet by your account people were better than they are now!" + +"Some people--and some people," answered Meredith. "I must ask Mr. +Murray about that. I do not understand it." + +"We shall get work enough ready for him by the time he comes. Well, go +on with your Saxon mythology and be done with it. I do not think it is +very interesting." + +"Maggie and I are of a different opinion. But it was rather Norse +mythology. Sweden and Norway and Denmark were all of one race and one +faith. Norsemen carried it to Iceland, and it is odd enough that from +Iceland we get our best accounts of it." + +Maggie had mounted up with her knees in a chair and her elbows on the +table, leaning over towards Meredith, and now begged he would tell about +Thor. + +"Thor was the thunderer." + +"What do you mean?" + +"The god of thunder and lightning. He was the son of Odin, or Woden. He +is represented driving in a car drawn by two goats and with a great +hammer in his hand. This hammer was forged by the dwarfs, Kobolds, I +suppose, who dwelt in the centre of the earth." + +"What did he want a hammer for?" + +"To strike withal. And when Thor's hammer came down, that made the +thunder, don't you see? and his stroke was the thunderbolt." + +"I should think they would have been frightened to death in a +thunder-storm." + +"Not an expression those old Saxons knew anything about." + +"Well, I should think they would have feared Thor." + +"There is no doubt but they did. Those poor captives at the stone-houses +were slaughtered in honour of Woden and Thor, don't you remember? But he +was also the god of fire, and the god of the domestic hearth. Listen to +this: 'Among the pagan Norsemen, Thor's hammer was held in as much +reverence as Christ's cross among Christians. It was carved on their +gravestones; and wrought of wood or iron, it was suspended in their +temples.'" + +"Thor's hammer!" repeated Maggie. "Poor people!" + +"Nobody worships Thor now," observed Esther scornfully. + +"We call one of our days after him yet," said Meredith. "There is a +relic of the old Thor worship. Indeed all our days are heathenish in +name." + +"All?" said Flora, looking up. "What is Monday?" + +"Just the Moon's day, don't you see? Sunday is the Sun's day. Woden's +day and Thor's day, you know. Then Friday is of course Freija's day--or +Freyr's day--I don't know which. Freyr was the god of weather and +fruits--another impersonation of Odin. He rode through the air on a wild +boar, faster than any horse could catch him. An odd steed! And Tuesday +is Tyr's day, or Zin's day--it comes to much the same thing. He was +especially the 'god of war and of athletic sports.'" + +"Then there is Saturday left," said Maggie. "What is Saturday?" + +"I think it must have been Saturn's day--and so not Saxon, Maggie, but +Roman. The names of our months are all Roman, you know?" + +"Are they?" + +"Yes, but wait. Here is something curious. The Saxon devil was called +Loki. Now Loki had three children. Listen to this. 'One was the huge +wolf Fenris, who at the last day shall hurry gaping to the scene of +battle, with his lower jaw scraping the earth and his nose scraping the +sky.'" + +"What is curious in that?" asked Flora. "It is just like a children's +fairy tale." + +"But these are not children's fairy tales; and they mean something. How +did these old Norsemen know there would be a scene of battle at the last +day, and great destruction?" + +"How do you know it?" + +"The Bible." + +"Does the Bible say so, Ditto?" said Maggie. "Where does it say so?" + +"Many places." + +"Tell us one, Ditto." + +Meredith rose up and fetched a Bible and pushed his book of Norse +mythology on one side. Then he opened at the nineteenth chapter of the +Revelation. + +"'And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat +upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth +judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head +were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he +himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood; and his name +is called The Word of God. And the armies which were in heaven followed +him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out +of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the +nations; and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the +wine press of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And he hath on +his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF +LORDS. + +"'And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud +voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and +gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God; that ye may +eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of +mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and +the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great. + +"'And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, +gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and +against his army. And the beast was taken, and with him the false +prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them +that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his +image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with +brimstone. And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat +upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the +fowls were filled with their flesh.'" + +"I do not understand all that, the least bit," said Flora. + +"You understand there will be a war, and a battle?" + +"But that's a figure." + +"No, it's a fact. How should it be a figure?" + +"What do you understand by a 'sword proceeding out of His mouth?'" + +"That is in the description of Christ in the first chapter: 'And he had +in his right hand seven stars; and out of his mouth went a sharp +two-edged sword.'" + +"Well, isn't that a figure? What does it mean?" + +"Listen to the description of Christ that Isaiah gives: 'With +righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the +meek of the earth; and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his +mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked.'" + +"Well?" + +"And in Thessalonians: 'Then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the +Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with +the brightness of his coming.' And in Ephesians: 'The sword of the +Spirit, which is the word of God.'" + +"Well," said Flora, "that is not a real sword, with a handle and an +edge." + +"The Bible says it has two edges." + +"Nonsense! you know what I mean." + +"I know. Certainly, Flora, the weapons of that battle may not be weapons +of flesh and blood, or for flesh and blood; but the _battle_ is real, +don't you see? and the awful overthrow and destruction, and what I am +wondering about is, how those old Saxons knew there would be such a +battle at the end? and how they knew that the mischief would in some +sense come from the devil." + +"_Did_ they know it?" + +"The wolf Fenris was one of the devil's children, as they made it out. +And another was the serpent which Odin cast into the sea, where it grew +and grew till it had wound up the whole earth in its folds. That is very +curious!" + +"What, Ditto?" + +"How did they know _that_?" + +"Know what?" + +"Why, don't you see? The serpent is one of the Bible words for the +devil; here, it is a child of the devil who, coming to the earth, has +enveloped the whole world in his toils. The Bible says, I know, +somewhere, that those who are not saved by Christ are '_in_ the Wicked +one.' How did they know so much, and so little, those old people?" + +"Where did you find all those Bible verses just now about the sword, +Ditto?" + +"References here, Maggie." + +"Well, go on, Ditto. There were three children of the devil." + +"The third was the goddess Hel or Hela. She was the goddess of the lower +world, and was half black and half blue. I wonder! that must be where +our word 'hell' comes from. What dreadful old times! And times now are +just as bad, for a great part of the world. The goddess Hel was very +like the horrible Hindoo goddess Kali, they say here." + +"I don't believe those times were so much worse than these times," said +Flora. + +"You think human sacrifices are a pleasant religious feature?" + +"Not to the victims; but I suppose the rest were all accustomed to it, +and didn't feel so shocked as you do." + +"Landolf seems to have been a good deal shocked." + +"Are you going to read us anything more, Ditto, about those queer old +gods?" + +"There isn't much more that I need read, Maggie. I have told you about +the principal deities. They believed in quantities of lesser +ones--really, personifications of the good and evil powers of nature. +The elves and their king, and the dwarfs living inside the hills. The +dwarfs owned the treasures of the mines, and worked in metals and +precious stones." + +"I should like to believe in elves and fairies," said Flora. + +"Why?" + +"Oh, it's pretty and poetical. Fairy rings, and all that." + +"Would you like to think there were hidden powers in every piece of +water, and rock, and hill, which might feel kindly disposed towards you +and might not? which might suddenly play you an ill trick and make you +most mischievous trouble, for nothing but mischief." + +"Did people believe so, Ditto?" + +"Certainly. A great many people, in various parts of the world." + +"I would rather believe that God has it all in His hand," said Maggie +contentedly. + +"So would I, Maggie. And that Jesus has the keys of hell and of death." + +"I wonder when Fenton will be here," remarked Esther. + +"I hope--he won't come--till--Uncle Eden gets here," said Maggie very +deliberately. + +"Why not?" said Esther sharply. + +"He is uneasy," said Maggie, with a corresponding shrug of her +shoulders; "I never know what Fenton will take it into his head to do." + +"That is a nice way to speak of your brother." + +Maggie considered that. "I can't find any nicer," she said at length. + +"Then I wouldn't speak at all." + +"Never mind," said Flora. "One's brothers are always a mixture of +comfort and plague. And that is true of the best of them, Esther; you +never know what they will take into their heads to do." + +"Oh, Flora!"----Maggie began, and stopped. + +"You think there is a difference between brothers and brothers," said +Flora laughing. "Well, my experience is what I tell you." + +"Ditto," said Maggie suddenly, "are there any such stones as those queer +stone-houses in this country?" + +"Not that ever I heard of, Maggie. But in the old world, as it is +called, there are a great many, scattered over a great many countries. +Not all just like the stone-houses. Some are just single stones set up +on end. Some are two laid together, one resting on the other slantwise; +the stone-houses in Lueneburg seem to have been made of nine stones, one +lying on eight." + +"Did people offer human sacrifices on all of them?" + +"I fancy not. But I believe it is tolerably uncertain. Did you never see +a picture of Stonehenge?" + +Maggie knew nothing about Stonehenge. Meredith went to the bookcases +again and got another volume. This contained many illustrations of old +stone monuments of various kinds, and he and Maggie were soon absorbed +in studying them. + +"There!" cried Maggie, as he opened at one of the earliest +illustrations, "there, Ditto! that is very like--_very_ like--what you +read of the stone-houses. Isn't it?" + +"Fearfully like," said Meredith. "This is in Ireland. I dare say some of +those old Druids sacrificed men on it." + +"How could they set it up so? Look, Ditto--the top stone rests just on +one point at the lowest end. I should think it would topple down." + +"It has stood hundreds of years, Maggie, and will stand for all +time--unless an earthquake shakes it down. This dolmen is made of four +stones." + +"What is a dolmen?" + +"This is one. It says here in a note, that the name comes 'from the +Celtic word _Daul_, a table, and _Chen_ or _Chaen_, a stone.' A stone +table. And it says here that there are probably a hundred of such +dolmens in Great Britain and Ireland. How ever did the builders get +that enormous block poised on the tips of the other three?" + +Slowly and absorbedly the two went on exploring the pages of the book; +stopping to read, stopping to talk and discuss the questions of tumuli +and stone circles, dolmens and menhirs. The opinion of the author, that +the great circles commemorated great battles, and were raised in honour +of the dead buried within them, and that many dolmens had a sepulchral +character, was somewhat confusing to the Druidical and tragical +impressions left from the Saxon chronicle; which, however, at last got +an undeniable support. In the stones of Stennis, over which Maggie and +Meredith pondered with intense interest, one of the enormous up-standing +masses has a hole through it. And this stone, there is no doubt, was +dedicated to Woden. And so long had the superstition of Woden's worship +clung to it, that until very lately an oath sworn by persons joining +their hands through this hole, was reckoned especially sacred; even the +courts of law so recognising it. After that, Woden seemed to Maggie to +have strong claim to all the upright stones and altar-looking dolmens +that are found where the worship of Woden has once prevailed. Leaving +Stennis they went on to Runic crosses, German dolmens, and French +dolmens, and on and on, from country to country. When at last they +lifted up their heads and looked around them, they were alone. The girls +had gone off to bed; the worsted work lay, left on the table; the fire +was out; the minute-hand pointed to ten o'clock. Meredith and Maggie +glanced at each other and smiled. + +"We have forgotten ourselves," said he. + +"You see, Ditto," said Maggie, "we've been travelling. Oh, I wish I +could _see_ the Stones of Stennis, don't you? and the Stone of Woden?" + +"Well, now, you had better travel to bed, little one, and forget it all. +Don't see it in your dreams." + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + + +One expects steady weather in October; so it was really not +extraordinary that the next morning should break fair and quiet, with a +sunny haze lying over the river. Nevertheless, Maggie rejoiced. + +"What a pleasant day we had yesterday!" she exclaimed, as the party sat +at breakfast. + +"Are not all your days pleasant?" said Meredith. + +"Yes, but yesterday was uncommon. O Ditto! we didn't look at the map +last night!" + +"We were looking at stones." + +"Yes, but we must look at the map after breakfast. I want to find all +those places." + +"Take time," said Meredith, "and eat your breakfast. Lueneburg heath will +not run away." + +But, after breakfast, indeed, the great atlas was fetched out to the +sunny terrace in front of the house and laid on a settee, and Maggie and +Meredith sat down before the map of Germany with business faces. + +"Now, here is the Elbe," said Maggie, "it is big enough to be seen; here +is the mouth of it, just in a corner under Denmark, where those ships +went from." + +"What ships?" + +"Why, the ships in which the Saxons went over to England--the Saxons +that conquered England, Meredith." + +"You do remember," said Meredith smiling. "It is worth while reading to +you." + +"They sailed from the mouths of the Elbe and the Weser--and here is the +Weser. The mouths are pretty near together. Now, between the Elbe and +the Weser were--which Saxons, Ditto?" + +"Towards the Elbe and beyond it were the Eastphalians; those our story +belongs to, among whom Landolf went." + +"Well, here is the Aller, Ditto! they lived _there_, you know; that is +pretty far west. And here is Hermannsburg! Oh, I am glad we have found +that. And here is Lueneburg--all over here, I suppose. I suppose we +couldn't find the stone-houses, Ditto?" + +"I suppose not. But here is Verden on the Aller, Maggie, where +Charlemagne had those 4500 Saxons hewed to pieces. And here are +Osnabrueck and Detmold, where the Saxons beat him again, and took the +4000 captives that they slew at the stone-houses." + +"Horrid Charlemagne!" + +"It was all horrid, what concerned the fighting. But here is Minden, +Maggie, from which good Landolf set out in his little boat, and dropped +down the Weser to go to the East Saxons." + +"And, then, when he got to the Aller he went up _that_; then he had to +row hard, I guess." + +"I guess he did a good deal of hard rowing, first and last, Maggie." + +"Then to get to the stone-houses he went further up the Aller and turned +into the Oerze. Here is the Oerze! Then the stone-houses must be +somewhere hereabouts, Ditto; for they are not very far from +Hermannsburg." + +"There is the little river Wieze, Maggie; and here, where it flows into +the Oerze, was that oak wood, sacred to Thor, where the village of Mueden +now is. And here is the village of Munster where Freija was honoured. +All over the land, then, it was wild country, woods and morasses. And +now--think what Germany is!" + +"What is it, Ditto?" + +"It is the land of Thought, and Art, and Learning, and Criticism." + +"Look here!" broke in a lively voice behind them. "Do you know the sun +is getting up in the sky? and we have settled nothing. And here are two +heads over a map!" + +"It would not hurt a third head," said Meredith. "And Maggie and I have +settled a good deal, thank you." + +"But where are we going to-day?" + +"Yes," added Esther behind, "where are we going? I think it is time to +be getting ready, because it takes us a good while." + +"Esther," said Maggie, "Fairbairn and the men are going over to the pine +terrace to cut down some trees papa wants cut; let us go there and have +a big bonfire, and then Ditto will have plenty of coals for his friar's +omelet." + +"Betsey is making us a chicken pie." + +"Well, the omelet will do no harm besides." + +"No. It is a good way over to the pine terrace." + +"I don't care how far it is. So much the better. It is nice walking. Do +you care, Flora?" + +"She don't care," said Meredith. "Come, let us load up. If we have a +journey before us, best be about it." + +"And then, Esther," Maggie went on, "we can go to the Lookout rock to +read." + +"It will be sunny there." + +"Well, it's all nice on the pine terrace, and we can find plenty of +shade. Now, then, Ditto--if you'll bring up the waggon." + +The business of loading-up began. There were always some varieties every +time. To-day a basket of sweet potatoes formed one item, going to be +roasted in the great fire-heap which would be left from the bonfire. A +great chicken pie, fresh and hot, was carefully wrapped up and put in. +Meredith provided a hatchet to trim branches with. Worsted work and +afghan, of course; but the only book was in Meredith's pocket. The cart +was quite loaded when all was done; for you know, cups and saucers and +plates weigh heavy, if you put enough of them together, and the chicken +pie in the dish was a matter of a good many pounds, and potatoes are +heavy, too. Somebody had to carry the bottle of cream, and Fairbairn +went laden with a pail of water. + +The day was just another like the day before, but the direction of the +walk was different. The party turned to the left instead of to the +right, and leaving the flower-beds and shrubbery, entered a pretty +winding road which curled about through a grove of red cedars. The air +was spicy, dry and warm. A soft, rather thick, haze filled the air, +turning the whole world into a sort of fairy land. The hills looked +misty, the river still and dreamy; outlines were softened, colours were +grown tender. The happy little party, it is true, gave not much heed to +this bewitchment of nature, with the one exception of Meredith; Flora +and Esther were in a contented state of practical well-being which had +no sentiment in it; Maggie and her dog were a pair for jocund spirits +and thoughtless delight-taking. They both went bounding about, very much +taken up with each other; while Meredith pulled the cart steadily on and +feasted mentally on every step of the way. The road brought them soon to +the neighbourhood of the river again, and ran along a grassy bank which +sloped gently down to the edge of the water. The green sward was dotted +with columnar red cedars, growing to a height of thirty feet, with a +diameter of two or two and a half all the way, straight as a pillar. On +the other hand a low, rocky height grown with oaks and hemlocks overhung +the valley, and the rocky ridge seemed to sweep round to the front of +them in a wide amphitheatre, giving a sky-line of variegated colour, +soft and glowing under the haze. Travelling on, they got next into a +wood and lost the river. Here all was wild; the ground strewn with rock +and encumbered with low growth of huckleberry bushes, brambles, and +ferns. The road, however, was good; and Meredith drew the cart without +any difficulty. After a time the ground began to rise, for, in fact, +they were approaching the further end of the rocky ridge before +mentioned, where it swept round to the river. Midway of the height the +hill shelved into a wide plateau or terrace; at the back of it the +sharp, rocky hillside, in front of it a green slope leading down to the +river. The ground on the plateau was gravelly and poor; it gave foothold +to little beside white and yellow pines, which in places stood thick, in +other places parted and opened for spaces of mossy turf, where the too +shallow soil would not nourish them. Here, there was a wild wilderness +of natural beauty. Now and then a lovely low-growing white pine +spreading abroad its bluish-green branches; in other parts scraggy, +tall-shooting specimens of the yellow variety; at the hill-foot and on +the rocky hillside golden hickories and brown oaks and flaunting maples. +The turf was dry and warm, being in fact half moss; the openings and +glades allured the party from one sweet resting spot into another. + +"We may as well stop here," said Flora at last. "We might go round and +round all day, it is all so pretty. We must stop somewhere, if we are to +have any reading." + +"Let us go over yonder to the edge of the bank," said Meredith, "where +we can have a view of the river." + +At the edge of the bank the cedars began to occupy the ground, and +indeed hindered the view, but a few strokes of Fairbairn's axe set that +right, and the party sat down in the shade of some taller trees with a +lookout over the pretty conical cedars (not columnar here) down to the +water, and across to the green and gold promontory which on the other +side of the river closed the view. The girls got out their work. Maggie +sat down panting after a race with Rob Roy. Meredith lounged upon the +mossy bank and looked lazy. Presently the strokes of a couple of axes +began to break the silence. One, two; one, two; one, two---- + +"It only wanted that!" he exclaimed. + +"What!" said Esther. + +"That chopping. That ring of the axes. It completes the charm. This is +elysium!" + +"We have got to make our bonfire!" said Maggie starting. + +"Wait,--not yet; they have not cut down a single tree yet. Hark! there +it goes, crashing down. They have got to trim it yet, Maggie, before +there will be anything to burn." + +"And they must cut and trim a good many trees before there will be +enough to begin," said Esther. "It is more fun to have plenty to pile on +at once." + +"Then we shall wait a good while for our dinner," said Maggie. + +"Are you hungry? It is only half-past eleven." + +"No, I am not hungry yet, but a bonfire takes a good while, you know, +and I want to get to the reading." + +"Come! we might read an hour," said Meredith rousing himself up. + +"No, Ditto, that would bring it to half-past twelve, and that would +never do." + +"Well, then, I will go trim, and we'll have the bonfire going in a few +minutes. Where will you have it?" + +Maggie sought out a good spot, while Meredith took his hatchet and went +to work, clearing the lopped branches of their smaller leafy twigs which +were for the fire, and cutting in two the branches which were not worth +trimming. There was a nice piece of work then to drag them to the +bonfire place, for it was needful to choose an open, free space for +making the fire, where the flames would not mount or be blown into the +tops of trees that were to be left standing, and so scorch and injure +them. No such open space was at command in the close neighbourhood of +the cutting, so the stuff for the fire had to be transported some +distance. Maggie and Meredith worked away at it, and Maggie called +Esther and Meredith summoned Flora to help; and soon they were all +heartily engaged, and running to and fro with armfuls, or dragging +behind them on the ground the heavy umbrageous branches they might not +carry. Presently Meredith stopped and collected a little bunch of dry +sticks and leaves which he heaped together, tucked paper under, and laid +crisp hemlock and cedar cuttings on top. Then a match was kindled and +fire applied. They all watched to see it, lighting, crackling, +smoking,--then the slender upshoot of flame--and Meredith began to pile +on pine branches thick and fast. At first rose a thick column of smoke, +for the fuel was fat and resinous and the fire had not got under way. +Redoubling, soft, black and brown reeking curls, through which the sun +shot his beams here and there lighting them up to golden amber. "What +tints and what forms!" Meredith exclaimed. And then another light and +another colour began to come into the others; tiny up-darting shoots of +fire, another illumination rivalling and contrasting with the sunlight +which struck the column higher up. Meredith stood still to watch it, +while even Flora and Esther were dragging more branches of yellow pine +to the fire and throwing them on emulously, till the pile grew and grew, +and Maggie was working her cheeks into a purple state with her +exertions. Half-a-dozen thick pine branches flung on, and the fire would +be stifled and the smoke rise thicker and blacker, with the sunlight +always catching the upper curls; then crackling and snapping and +breathing, the fire would get hold, get the better, mount through the +thick, encumbering piney foliage, and dart its slender living spires up +into the column of smoke again. + +"Do see how he stands!" cried Flora. "Ditto, why don't you work?" + +"I am looking." + +"Did you never see a bonfire before?" + +"Never such a beauty of a one." + +"Beauty!" said Flora, coming to his side to look--"where is the beauty? +It is just a good fire. You are a ridiculous boy, Meredith. Go to work." + +"Oh, don't you think it is pretty?" cried Maggie, throwing down her last +burden and panting. "I think it is _lovely_! And do you smell how sweet +it is, Flora?" + +"She is a poor girl without nose or eyes," said Meredith. "Well, here +goes!" + +Taking hold of the work again, his powerful arms flung the branches and +tops of pine on the burning heap, while the girls ran for more. It took +a strong arm now, for the fire was so large and so fierce that one could +not come nigh it. Meredith kept the girls all at a distance and himself +fed the flames, till all the present stock of fuel was laid on, and the +wood-choppers went off to their dinner. There was no more to be done +then but to watch the show, and as the fire began to lessen and die +down, find a spot where the tea-kettle might be set, at the edge of the +glowing heap. It was no use to begin to read, they all agreed, till +they had their dinner. And soon the coffee could be made; and the four +enjoyed their meal as only those can who have worked for it. They had +their chicken pie and their roasted sweet potatoes, the omelet they for +to-day dispensed with, being all tired. They took their dinner on the +bank, there where they could look away down to the river and see the +hilly shores beyond on the other side; and Meredith averred that sweet +potatoes never were so sweet before. + +"Such air!" said he; "and such colouring!" + +"And it is just warm enough," added Maggie. + +"Well, I have got cooled off now," said Flora, "but I consider feeding +bonfires to be hot work." + +Then, when dinner was over, and the things packed into the cart, they +arranged themselves on the moss in a delicious feeling of resting and +refreshed langour; the girls took out their fancy work, and Meredith +opened his book. Maggie, who did not trouble herself about fancy work, +crept close to his side and looked with fascinated eyes at the strange +characters out of which he brought such delightful things to her ears. + +"'It was about the year 940, according to the chronicle, that a boy of +thirteen or fourteen years old was herding his father's cattle on the +waste land not far from Hermannsburg, when there came along a splendid +train of armed cavaliers riding their horses proudly. The boy looks with +delight on the shining helmets and coats of mail, the glittering spears +and the stately horsemen, and the thought rises in his heart--"Now that +looks something like!" All of a sudden the horsemen quit the road, which +here wound about crookedly, and come riding across country, over the +open land where he is keeping his cattle. That seems to him too bad, for +the field is no highway, and the ground belongs to his father. He +considers a moment, then goes forward to meet the riders, plants himself +in their course, and calls out to them--"Turn back! the road is yours, +the field is mine." There is a tall man riding at the head of the troop, +on whose brow a grave majesty is enthroned, he looks wonderingly at the +boy who has dared to put himself in his way. He checks his horse, taking +a certain pleasure in the spirited little fellow, who returns his look +so boldly and fearlessly and never budges from his place. + +"'"Who are you, boy?" + +"'"I am Hermann Billing's oldest son, and my name is Hermann too, and +this field is my father's, and you must not ride over it." + +"'"But I will, boy," answered the rider with threatening sternness. "Get +out of the way, or I throw you down"--and with that he lifts his spear. +The boy, however, stands fearlessly still, looks up at the horseman with +eyes of fire and says-- + +"'"Right is right; and you have no business to ride over this field, you +shall ride over me if you do." + +"'"What do you know about the right, boy?" + +"'"My father is the Billing, and I shall be Billing after him," answered +the boy, "and nobody may do a wrong before a Billing." + +"'Then still more threateningly the rider called out--"Is _this_ right +then, boy, to refuse obedience to your king? I am your king, Otto." + +"'"You Otto? our king? the shield of Germany and the flower of the +Saxons, that my father tells us so much about? Otto the son of Heinrich +the Saxon? No, that you are not. Otto the king guards the right, and you +are doing the wrong. Otto don't do that, my father says." + +"'"Take me to your father, my good boy," answered the king, and an +unwonted gentleness and kindliness beamed upon his stern face. + +"'"Yonder is my father's dwelling-house, you can see it," said Hermann, +"but my father has trusted the cattle here to me and I cannot leave +them, so I cannot bring you there. But if you are King Otto, turn off +out of the field into the road, for the king guards the law." + +"'And King Otto the first, surnamed the Great, obeyed the boy's voice, +for the boy was in the right, and rode back to the road. Presently +Hermann was fetched from the field. The king had gone into his father's +house and had said to him, "Billing, give me your oldest son and let him +go with me, I will have him brought up at court, he is going to be a +true man, and I have need of true men." And what true Saxon could refuse +anything to a king like Otto? + +"'So the brave boy was to journey forward with his king, and when Otto +asked him, "Hermann, will you go with me?" the boy answered gladly, "I +will go with you; you are the king, for you protect the right." + +"'So King Otto took the boy along with him, that he might have him +brought up to be a faithful and capable servant of the crown. Otto was +allied in the bonds of warmest friendship with Adaldag, the archbishop +of Bremen, a man who was distinguished for his learning, his piety, and +a lively zeal for the spread of Christianity among the then heathen +Danes and Norsemen. Otto could not confide the boy who had become so +dear to him to a better teacher; and so he sent him to Adaldag at +Bremen. Adaldag, too, recognised the great gifts which God had bestowed +on the boy, and had him instructed under his own eye by the most able +ecclesiastics; among whom a certain _Raginbrand_ is especially named, +who later was appointed to be bishop and preacher to the heathen in +Denmark, and laboured there with great faithfulness and a great +blessing. In Bremen Hermann grew up to be a good young man, loving his +Saviour from his heart; but also he was instructed in the use of arms +and in the business of the state, for Adaldag was at that time one of +King Otto's most confidential advisers. And now Otto took the young +Hermann into his court; and soon could perceive that he had not deceived +himself when his acuteness discerned the boy's lofty nature. Spirit, +daring, and keen intelligence shot in fire from the young man's blue +eyes; his uncommonly fine figure had been grandly developed by knightly +exercises; and, with all that, he was so humble-hearted, and attached to +his benefactor with such grateful, touching devotion, that Otto's eyes +rested on him with pleasure, and he often called Hermann his truest +friend, even called him "his son." But the loveliest thing in Hermann +was, that he never forgot his origin: he showed the most charming +kindness to those who were poor and mean; so that high and low at the +king's court respected as much as they loved him. So he mounted from +step to step, was dubbed a knight, attended the king on his journeys and +campaigns, and the king even intrusted to him the education of his two +sons Wilhelm and Ludolf. Still later he administered the most important +offices of state to the satisfaction of the king; and often travelled +through the country of the Saxons as _Graf_, _i.e._, a judge. + +"'That is: The judgment of criminal cases, or the tribunal of life and +death, in the whole German fatherland was vested in the king alone. +Therefore at certain times the royal judges made a progress through the +entire German country. They were called _Grawen_, from the word _graw_ +or _grau_' (that means, 'grey,' Maggie,) 'because ordinarily old, +experienced, eminent men were chosen for the office. These courts for +cases of life and death were holden by the Grafs under the open sky, in +public, and in full daylight, so that the judgment pronounced could be +at once carried into execution. Our chronicle takes this occasion to +relate a story about our Hermann Billing, which sets in a clear light +the pure character of this admirable man. In his journeyings as Graf, he +came also to his native place, to Harm's _ouden dorp_. It was then long +after his father's death; and as head of the family he had distributed +his seven manor-farms, as fiefs, partly to his brothers, partly to other +near relations. The great honours to which Hermann had been elevated had +become the ruin of these men; they behaved themselves proudly towards +their neighbours, and even took unrighteous ways to enlarge their +boundaries, secure in the belief that no one would dare to call them in +question about it, whilst they had such a powerful brother and kinsman. +Now, when Hermann, after the accustomed fashion, was holding the +criminal court on the _Grawenberg_ (where now the _grauen_ farm lies, +half an hour from Hermannsburg) there presented himself a certain +Conrad, a freiling, that is, a free man, and accused the holders of +Hermann's fiefs, that they had by violent and unjust means taken from +him half his farm and joined it to their own estates. + +"'Hermann's face, at other times so gentle and kind, grew dark, and with +deep sadness but with a lofty severity he ordered his brothers and +kinsmen to be brought before him. Conrad's charge was proved to be true, +for the Billings could not lie, even if they had done injustice. And +what did Hermann? When the acts of violence that his brothers and +relations had done were proved, great tears flowed down the cheeks of +the tall strong man, and he cried out with a voice which his tears half +choked, "Could you do that, and bear the name of Billing!" He said no +more, but was seen to fold his hands and pray with the greatest +earnestness. Then he spoke: "My brothers and kinsmen, make your peace +now with God; we look upon each other for the last time. You are guilty +of death; you must die; you have doubly deserved death, because you are +of the race of Billing." + +"'The priests, who were always in attendance on the tribunal of life and +death where Hermann was the judge, came forward; in the grounds of the +court they received the criminals' confession, and upon their penitent +acknowledgment of their sin, gave them assurance of forgiveness and then +the bread that represents the Lord's body. So, reconciled with God, the +seven men came back to the place of judgment; and after Hermann had +again prayed with them and commended the penitents to the Lord, he had +their heads struck off before his eyes.'" + +Meredith stopped perforce, for a storm of exclamations burst upon him. +"Horrible!" "Frightful!" "I never heard of such an awful man!" + +"I think he was rather an awful man," said Meredith. "I have no doubt +all ill-doers would have held him in a good deal of awe." + +"But his own brothers!" said Esther. + +"They were convicted criminals, all the same." + +"But don't you think a man ought to spare his own!" + +"A man--yes. A judge--no." + +"But a judge is a man." + +"I should think it was very disagreeable for a man to be a judge," said +Meredith. + +"But why?" asked Flora. "I should think it was nice, just for that +reason, that a man could spare people he wanted to spare." + +"Flora Franklin!" exclaimed her brother. "Is that your idea of a judge?" + +"It is my idea of a man." + +"But don't you know better? A judge has no business to spare anybody, +except the innocent; his duty is to see justice done--he has nothing to +do with mercy." + +"Nothing to do with mercy! O Meredith!" + +"Not as a judge. He is put in his place to see the laws executed." + +"Then you think that dreadful old heathen you are reading about did +_right_ to have his friends' heads struck off?" + +"I think he did just his duty." + +"Oh, _do_ you, Ditto?" cried Maggie. + +"He did not make the law, Maggie; he had only to see it obeyed. The law +was terribly severe; but I think the judge was very tender." + +"O Ditto!" + +"He was what you call a true man. He was no heathen, Flora. But nothing +would make him budge from the right. I think he was magnificent. I +wonder how many men could be found nowadays who would be faithful to +duty at such a cost." + +"You have strange notions of duty!" said his sister. + +"I am afraid you have imperfect notions of faithfulness." + +"Well, go on. I have no opinion of religion that is not kind." + +"The religion that is from above 'is _first_ pure, then peaceable,'" +said Meredith. + +"Go on," said Flora. "I suppose you would cut my head off, if you were +judge, and I had done something you thought deserved it." + +"If the law said you deserved it. But I think I would give my head in +that case for yours, Flora. It would be easier." + +"What good would that do?" + +"Keep the law unbroken and save you. Well, I will go on with my story-- + +"'When the sitting of the court was ended he sent his retinue to find +quarters in the other six of his manors, but he himself passed the night +at the principal manor-house on the Oerze, which he had himself built, +called the _Bondenhof_, that is, the "peasant's manor;" for in old Saxon +_Bond_ meant a free peasant. But what a night that was! Sleep never came +to his eyes; he passed that night and also the following day in praying +and fasting. When at last, by the Word of God and the talk of a faithful +priest he had got some comfort, at least a little, he vowed to the Lord +that he would build a church on this manor, the "Bondenhof," which +should be dedicated to the apostles Peter and Paul, like the first one +built by his forefathers at the Deep Moor, which in the course of time +had become far too small. And as with him to resolve and to do were +always the same thing, he did not quit the manor till he had laid the +foundation-stone of the new church and given order to have the building +vigorously carried forward. That was in the year 958. + +"'By this deed of rigid, impartial justice, which nevertheless was found +in beautiful harmony with a tender and good heart, the honour in which +people held him was raised to such a point, that everywhere they carried +him on their hands, and at his return to the royal court he was received +with wondering admiration. The great Otto folded him in his arms and +called him his most faithful knight, who served his God and his king +with equal fidelity. + +"'Soon thereafter followed Hermann's greatest elevation. Otto had +determined, you must know, in the year 960, to take a journey into +Italy, in order to compose certain troubles which had arisen through +the godless Pope John. But now his beloved Saxon country, out of which +Otto himself drew his origin, lay just in the north of Germany; and was +bordered on the north and north-east by the Danes and Sclaves, but +recently conquered, who indeed were in part nominally Christian, but in +part were still heathen, and the whole of them haters of Christianity. +Who would take care of Christian Saxony in the king's absence, which it +was possible might last for years? Then Otto's eye fell upon the +faithful Hermann, and he had found his man. Hermann was appointed to the +dukedom of Saxony, so that he might thus supply the king's place and +govern in his stead. When this was made known to the good Archbishop +Adaldag, who was to accompany the king in his journey to Rome, he +rejoiced aloud, and said to the king, "Now we can travel in peace and +have no care; for, O king, you can trust him with the land, and I can +trust him with my church; Hermann with God's help will protect church +and land both." And that is what the faithful man truly did. In the +following year the king really set out on his journey to Rome, and +Adaldag went with him. Otto set up a stern tribunal in Rome, deposed the +godless Pope John, and made good Leo Pope. Five years Otto spent in +Italy, and wherever he came he wrought righteousness and judgment, +punished the wicked and relieved the innocent and oppressed; being such +a prince as Germany has had few. In the year 962 Otto was solemnly +crowned kaiser by Leo at Rome, and thus acknowledged as the earthly head +of the whole Christian world. During all this time, the Saxons might +count themselves happy that they had such a true and valiant duke in +Hermann. The Sclaves ventured again to make a marauding incursion, +probably to try whether in Otto's absence they could not accomplish +something. One tribe of the great Sclavic race, namely, the Wends, dwelt +not on the other side of Elbe only, but also on this side, as far as the +neighbourhood of Melzen. These Wends, on the hither side of the Elbe, +reinforced by a strong party of their brethren from beyond the river, +undertook a campaign against Saxony; for they themselves were still +heathen and therefore had a hatred against the Christians. This hatred +was all the stronger because the Saxons under Otto had vanquished them. +In this campaign, so far as they went, they burnt and laid waste +everything, and in especial their aim was directed against the churches +and chapels and Christian priests; the former were burned and levelled +with the ground, the latter were put to death in tortures. So it befell +with that first church which Landolf had built at the Deep Moor; it was +burned down and entirely destroyed. Eight priests, who served this +church and the chapels lying in the neighbourhood, were slain, part of +them at once, part of them were dragged to the Wendish idol altar in +Radegast, not far from the Elbe, and there slaughtered in honour of the +heathen god; those chapels were likewise destroyed. Hermann was just +come to Bremen when this news reached him. He rapidly gathered his +warriors, came suddenly upon the robbing and plundering Wends at the +so-called Huehnenburg, obliged them to flee with great loss, and pursued +them without stay or respite into their own country; whereupon they sued +for peace, and promised they would keep quiet and accept the Christian +religion. He granted them peace, but went on to destroy their idol +temple in Radegast, and then returned in triumph home. He next applied +his whole energy to repair the destruction which had been wrought, to +rebuild the churches and chapels, and establish priests in them. And the +better to secure the land, and especially his own beloved inheritance, +against the like predatory incursions, he built strong fortresses, as, +for instance, the Hermannsburg' (_burg_ means a castle or fortress, +Maggie), 'the Hermannsburg, around which now the people began to build +again, who had fled away before the Wends; the Oerzenburg, the +Wiezenburg, &c.'" + +"Then _that_ is how so many names have come to end with 'burg,'" said +Esther. + +"Hermann did not build all the castles," said Meredith, "But yes--that +is very much how it has come. In those old Middle Ages, when the right +of the strongest was the only prevailing one, naturally there were a +great many castles built. Indeed all the nobles lived in castles, and +must. Just look at the pictures of the Rhine to see what the Middle Ages +were; see how the people had to perch their fortresses up on almost +inaccessible peaks of rock, where it must have been terribly +inconvenient to live, one would think. I suppose people knew little of +what we call _conveniences_ in these days." + +"Then round the principal fortresses, naturally, the villages grew up," +said Flora. "They would cluster round the castles for protection." + +"Well, I never thought before that one could see the Middle Ages through +the stereoscope," said Maggie. + +"Pretty fair," said Meredith. "Well, let us go on with Hermann. 'Through +his unintermitting activity all was soon in blooming condition again, +and no enemy dared to show himself any more. Before his end in the year +972, he had the joy of seeing the church, the foundation-stone of which +he had laid at the Bondenhof, consecrated on Peter and Paul's day. That +is this same church which is still standing in Hermannsburg, and in +which we hold divine service.'" + +"O Ditto! is _that_ church standing yet that Hermann built?" + +"And the very foundation-stone that Hermann laid is there to this day. +I'd like to see it! We have nothing old in this country. Imagine +attending a church that has stood for nine hundred years! He endowed +this church with a tenth, and gave almost the half of the fields and +meadows of the above-named manor to the Hermannsburger pastor. + +"'Of his remaining great deeds our chronicle says little; which is +natural, as it is and proposes to be only a Hermannsburg chronicle. In +the year 973, the same year that his great friend and benefactor Otto +died, died also Hermann Billing, the freeman's son who had come to be +Duke of Saxony. About his end the chronicle relates only that he was +sick but a few days; that he wished for and received the Holy Supper +before his death; admonished his son Benno, or Bernhard, who was his +heir: "My son, be true to your God and your kaiser, a protector to the +Church, and a father to your vassals;" laid his hands upon his head and +blessed him; and then extended his hand to all his weeping servants who +were assembled, commended them to the grace of God; and at last +prayed--"Into Thy hands I commend my spirit; Thou hast redeemed me, Lord +God of hosts." Then he softly fell asleep, and the same wonderful +sweetness which in life had given such a charm to his face, in death put +a very glory around his brow. + +"'King Otto the second honoured the true man's memory by confirming his +son Bernhard, or Benno, as Duke of Saxony.'" + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + + +"Is that all?" said Maggie. + +"All in this place, about Hermann Billing." + +"I like him very much!" said Maggie drawing a deep sigh. + +"Notwithstanding he was such an incorruptible judge!" + +"Notwithstanding he was such a hard, cruel man, you should say," said +Flora. "Ditto, you are ridiculous!" + +"It is a great mistake, you must remember, to judge a man of one time by +the lights or laws of another." + +"There's a law of nature," said Flora, "in _some_ people, which makes +them dislike to kill their relations." + +"There is a higher law than the law of nature. Nature did not prevent +Abraham from making preparations to offer up Isaac. It did not hinder +Moses"---- + +"I do not know what unnatural thing Moses did," said Flora; "but I +confess to you, I think Abraham acted much more like a heathen than like +a Christian in that event of his life." + +"Which only shows, that if you had been in his place you would have +failed to manifest Abraham's faith, and so would have entirely missed +Abraham's blessing. 'Because thou hast done this thing, saith the Lord, +and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son;' then the Lord went on to +heap blessing upon him." + +"I don't see how Abraham could do it." + +"Because he trusted God. It is not _trust_, Flo, that will not go any +further than it sees why." + +"Ditto, what are you going to read next?" said Maggie. + +"We'll see. Next thing, I think, will be the description Pastor Harms +gives of that old church which Hermann Billing built; Hermann the duke, +I mean. Don't you want to hear it?" + +"Oh, yes. The description of it as it is now?" + +"As it is now. But what a wonderful sort of a church is this we are in!" +said Meredith looking up. + +"Here, this bank, do you mean?" + +"This bank; and these pillars of tree-stems; and these wonderful Gothic +windows of tree-branches, through which the light comes broken by +transom and mullion. And the incense which fills nature's cathedral. And +the stillness. And the preaching." + +"Don't get highfaluten, Meredith," said his sister. + +"No; that would be a pity, here." + +"I never heard of silent preaching before." + +"The strongest of all." + +"Is it? Well, go on and read. My work gets on best then." + +"It is too lovely to do anything but look and breathe. The air is most +delicious. And nature seems so wide and free. I have an odd feeling that +I am floating with those clouds yonder, and flowing softly with the +river, and hovering about generally, like those eagles. Do you see those +eagles?" + +"Highfaluten again, Meredith," said his sister. + +"Well, one good poet has been highfaluten then before me. Don't you +remember, Maggie, something your uncle was repeating one day? I have +never forgotten it-- + + "'My soul into the boughs does glide.' + +"It is an odd feeling--but it makes me very rich for the present. This +is the loveliest place! And now you shall have the Hermannsburg church. +So Pastor Harms writes: + +"'It is a great thing indeed, and a beautiful thing, to know somewhat of +the origin and of the history of the church in which one worships and +serves God. When I step into our church, whether it be for holding +divine service or that I may pray there alone, every time, I feel my +whole inmost soul stirred. The very walk to the church through the +churchyard is edifying to me. The church at the beginning was situated +upon a little eminence, so that it was needful to mount several steps to +get to the church doors. Now one must go _down_ several steps from the +churchyard to reach the entrance of the church. How comes that! Since +the year 972 the churchyard has been the place of burial. The dust of +those laid within it has raised the ground-level, till now the church +lies lower than the churchyard. A hill has grown out of the dust of the +dead, and over this hill I go into the church. Does not this walk of +itself preach in the most impressive way: "Put thine house in order, O +man, for thou must die!" Then, when I step inside the church, what a new +sermon I get! Since 972 years after Christ, therefore since 880 years +ago, men have worshipped there the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost; +have sung in his honour the church's songs of praise; have thither +brought their children to be baptized; have heard the preaching of the +Divine Word there, have eaten and drunk the emblems of the Body and +Blood of the Lord there, have bowed their knees there, where now I bow +mine! It always seems to me, then, as if the veil were parted which +divides the church up yonder from the church down below. Where I am, +here have those who are fallen asleep once been and worshipped; and +where they are now, thither shall I go also. So in blessed faith I can +cry out, "A holy Christian church!" Not a place in the world is so dear +to me as the church, my beloved church. I have no paternal mansion; for +I am the son of a pastor, and pastors leave no inheritance for their +children; and yet I have a Father's house, the best there is in the +world, my beloved church; truly that is God's house, and God is my +Father, and so it is justly and truly my home. + +"'And how wonderfully God has guarded this house of His. What wars have +raged since this house has been standing, and it has remained uninjured. +Since the Thirty Years' War, Hermannsburg has been four times burned +down; this house has remained standing. Twice lightning has struck the +tower, and so shattered the foundations that only a little turret +stands now upon the riven walls instead of the slender one hundred and +eighty feet high spire which was there before; but the church remained +untouched. The interior has been altered; the many-coloured paintings on +the arched vault of the ceiling are gone; the many-coloured galleries +have disappeared; in the body of the church itself gallery over gallery +mounts up to the vaulted ceiling, to give accommodation for the hearers, +but the church itself has remained unchanged. And when I think of the +blessings that have gone forth from this house, what churches, chapels, +and cloisters have sprung from here, in Bergen, in Wiezendorf, in +Munster, in Mueden, and the chronicle mentions many more; yes, when I +remember how from the castles founded by Hermann on the Oerze and Wieze, +the castellans of Oerze and Wiezendorf marched out so early as with Duke +Bernhard, to help bring the heathen people of Lauenburg and Mechlenburg +to Christianity; must not then the zeal of my forefathers kindle my own +zeal to bring the Lord's blessing, His Word and His sacraments, to the +heathen, to the very ends of the earth? And now that seems no longer +strange to me which seems strange to so many, that we from this place +should have undertaken to send out a peasant mission. It has not been +our own doing; it has come from our church and our history. Did the +peasant's son Hermann become Duke of Saxony? Was the blessing of +Christianity carried from here into all the region round about, even +into the countries on the other side of the Elbe? Why should not +Hermann's peasant church preach among the heathen the Saviour who has +been their own so long? May such a primeval blessing only make us right +thankful, right humble, right kind and loving, only zealous and fervent +in spirit. We see well enough that the Lord can use little things; +therefore let nobody despise us because we are small, and let us have +the joy of serving the Lord with our insignificant gifts and strength, +as well as we can. It is written in the Scriptures, "Destroy it not, for +a blessing is in it!"'" + +Meredith ceased reading, and there was a silent pause of a few minutes. +Crochet needles worked busily, Maggie sat pondering, Meredith lay back +on his elbow on the moss and looked down at the river. Here and there +the soft-pointed top of a young cedar rose up between, not hindering, +only as it were embellishing the view. In the silence, when the strokes +of the woodcutters halted, little sweet sounds broke in, every one of +them coming like a caress or a murmur of rest; two crows slowly flying +over and calling to each other, some crickets chirruping nearer by, a +little gentle rustle and lapping of the water, then a bugle-call from +the post opposite. Clouds hardly moved, winds were asleep, the air, +fragrant with the breath of the evergreens, scarcely stirred, +luxuriously warm and still. The colouring, too, in which all nature had +dressed herself, gave another touch of delight through every object +which the eye rested on. + +"What a sky!" said Meredith. "And what air! It's wonderful." + +"Ditto," began Maggie, "have they a _mission_ in Hermannsburg?" + +"Yes. They have a mission in Africa." + +"Why is it a 'peasant mission,' and what does that mean?" + +"Why, you see, Maggie, the whole people of Hermannsburg are just a +parcel of peasants, part in the village, and part, I believe, farming it +here and there on the Lueneburg heath. They are poor people; small +farmers, and the like. They have not much money to give; but when Pastor +Harms had been with them a while and proposed to them to set about +mission work, a dozen men offered themselves to go. They were already so +filled with his own spirit." + +"And did they go?" + +"They had to be put to school first. They were too ignorant to instruct +the heathen or anybody. So they were set to study under Pastor Harms' +brother for three years. While they were studying Pastor Harms undertook +building a ship which should carry them to Africa. The ship and the men +were ready together about the same time." + +"They could not have been a very poor people, I should think," said +Flora. + +"They were, though; but you see, they began by giving themselves to the +Lord; and when people do that, I guess they generally find that there is +a good deal else to give. Oh, they were poor enough; but it would cost a +great deal, you know, to pay their passage in a ship belonging to other +people, and the freight on all the goods they must carry, for they were +going out not merely to preach, but to establish a colony and live among +the heathen. And then, whenever new recruits for the mission were sent +out, the expense would have to be incurred over again, so they thought +the cheapest way in the end would be to build their own ship." + +"And they did build it?" said Maggie. + +"Certainly. The good ship 'Candace.' And everybody helped in some way. +The shoemakers made shoes, and the tailors made clothes, to go out with +the mission; the women knitted and sewed. Do you want to hear what +Pastor Harms says about it?" + +"Oh, yes, Ditto, please!" + +"Yes, read on--anything," said Flora. + +"Two men of the first twelve had died, and two others had proved false. +Eight left, to whom another eight joined themselves, who would go out as +colonists. Now I will read:-- + +"'So by God's grace, everything was ready. And now one should have seen +the busy industry, the lively expectation, the gleesome bustle, as the +last hand, I may say, was put to everything. In the Mission-house, what +learning and counselling and arranging; in the workshops belonging to +it, what smithwork and cabinetwork and tailoring; how our women and +girls sewed! Our village shoemaker worked with his might at the +foot-gear to be taken along; our village cooper did the same at the +great water casks for the ship; my brother went out with the Mission +pupils in leisure hours and picked berries which were to be taken along. +Here people brought dried apples, pears and plums; there buckwheat and +buckwheat groats; here rye, flour, peas, wheat; there sides of bacon, +hams, and sausages. Then again house-furnishing articles, tools, heather +brooms, trumpets and horns, even live hogs and poultry, and even +potatoes were hauled along--and all was to go. Even a fir-tree with its +roots was planted in a large pot filled with earth, in order that on the +ocean the travellers might light up a Christmas-tree. Then again came +packages of linen made up, and of stuff. And there was a great deal that +never came to Hermannsburg. Whatever was prepared on the other side of +the Elbe, in Hamburg, Luebeck, Haide, &c., was kept in Hamburg, and we +never saw it at all. In Hamburg alone there were handed over from female +friends of the Mission, one hundred and twenty-eight cotton shirts, all +finished and ready; from Haide forty striped shirts for the natives; +from Luebeck and Mechlenburg, besides beautiful under-linen, all sorts of +pictures and little things for the heathen; from some children here came +writing boxes, pens, and writing books for the heathen children. Also +from here, from Osnabrueck, Schaumburg, Lueneburg, Bremen, and +neighbourhood, whole rolls of linen cloth. There was a stir and spring +of love that moved people's hearts. Every one of the emigrants was to +take a gun with him, for in East Africa there are a great many wild +beasts, lions, elephants, serpents, &c. Scarcely had this become known, +when guns, rifles, double-barrelled rifles, pistols, and daggers came +in, till we had enough to leave some for a future party that might be +sent out. Then would come our harbourmaster, or our captain, from +Harburg, to arrange this or that; then our pupils journeyed to Harburg +to bring money for the ship. One hardly knew where his head was.'" + +"Well, did they go to Africa, Ditto?" + +"The colonists and missionaries; yes, sixteen of them." + +"Whereabouts in Africa?" + +"The east coast, about Natal." + +"I haven't the least idea where Natal is." + +"You would do well to look it out on the map." + +"And are they there yet, Ditto?" + +"They went in the year 1853. It is not likely they are all there now. +But others followed them, Maggie, year after year, till now there are, I +believe, between twenty and thirty stations where they are settled." + +"All from Hermannsburg! Ditto, it is very curious! So many years ago, +Hermann's castles sent out soldiers to bring heathen Mechlenburg to the +Christian religion; and now Mechlenburg gives shirts and pictures for +Hermannsburg to send to other heathen in Africa." + +"What sort of heathen people are those they went to?" Esther asked. + +"Quite a good sort. Here is a description of them, written by one of the +brethren who sailed in that first trip of the 'Candace':-- + +"'I cannot make it out how the heathen can be as they are, although they +are day and night before my eyes. They are powerful, muscular men, with +open faces and sparkling eyes; they all go either quite naked or with a +very slight covering. A late law obliges them, however, to put a shirt +on when they are going into a city. They live in houses which resemble +beehives, into which you must creep. The whole stock of valuables which +you find in these huts is an assaghai (javelin), a club, a mat, a bit of +wood for a pillow, and a great horn for smoking. I have seen nothing +else in them. The people have almost no wants. So many wives as a man +has, so many huts has he also, one for each wife, and then one besides +for himself. The women are bought; paid for with cows and oxen; ten and +twenty oxen for a wife. These become then the man's slaves, and the man, +when he has got a good many wives, hardly does any more work himself. +The women must cultivate the maize and sweet potatoes, which is almost +all the people live upon. Once in a while they kill an ox; and then so +many come together to eat it that it is all disposed of at one meal. Our +German brethren aver that ten Caffres in twenty-four hours will eat up a +whole ox, skin and entrails and all, which they roast at the fire; that +afterwards, however, they can go fasting four days at hard labour. They +are fond of adorning themselves with coral and rings, and snuff-boxes +are to be seen in the hands of both men and women. They cork up the +snuff in their nostrils with a hollowed-out bit of wood, till the tears +run down their cheeks. The women are so hardly used that a mother with a +little five-days-old baby must go out to work in the hot sun with the +baby on her back, and the father does not concern himself at all about +the child. Of twins, one is almost always killed at once. In short, they +are not much above the beasts in their way of life; and the worst of all +is, they are almost inaccessible to the truth, and laugh at everything +sacred.'" + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + + +"Well," said Maggie, as Meredith paused, "I should think somebody ought +to go to those people!" + +"Hopeless work," said Flora, stitching away at her worsted. + +"No, it is not hopeless work," answered her brother. "As you would soon +see, if all the Churches had the matter at heart like Pastor Harms and +his Hermannsburg." + +"Everybody cannot give himself up to such business," said Flora glancing +at him. + +"Everybody ought." + +"O Ditto!" cried Maggie, "do you think _everybody_ ought to go to +Africa?" + +"Yes," said Flora; "that is just about what he thinks." + +"No, Maggie," said Meredith, "neither to Africa nor to other heathen +parts; not everybody. But everybody can give himself up to the work of +the kingdom, even if he stays at home. Most people must stay at home." + +"I don't understand," said Maggie with a shrug of her shoulders. + +"Don't you remember--'Seek ye _first_ the kingdom of God;'--that's all I +mean." + +"'First!'" Flora echoed. + +"_How_ 'first,' Ditto?" + +"Before everything else. The words mean that, if they mean anything." + +"How before everything else?" + +"See, Maggie. Suppose you and I have"---- + +"Now, Ditto, stop!" said his sister. "I do not want to hear any of that +stuff. What is it to Maggie? And Essie and I do not care about it." + +"And there comes Fenton," added Esther, springing up to go and meet him. +For Fenton it was, bounding up the bank at their left. + +Fenton was grown a good deal since our last sight of him; otherwise not +much changed. A handsome boy, with a good figure and a bright eye, and +also the old, somewhat supercilious upper lip. But he was glad to get +home, and greeted the party cordially enough; then, however, began to +criticise. + +"What are you all doing loafing here?" He had sat down on the bank with +the rest, and looked from one to another. + +"We do not use your elegant expression," said Flora; "partly perhaps +because we are not wont to indulge ourselves in that particular +amusement." + +"What _are_ you doing?" + +"You do not see anything to engage our attention in what at present +offers itself to yours," Meredith remarked. + +"Nothing offers itself to my attention," replied Fenton. "I don't see +anything except our old cart. Anything to eat in it?" + +"There is no pie left," said Esther, "for I gave the last of it to +Fairbairn; and Flora drank up all the cream. There's some sugar in the +sugar-bowl." + +Fenton went to get some lumps of sugar, and then stood looking down at +the party. + +"Aren't you going home to dinner?" said he. "I tell you, I'm raging." + +"Four o'clock," said Meredith, looking at his watch. "Just the pretty +time of day coming now." + +"It'll be dinner-time by the time you get the cart home and the girls +get dressed. What did you come out here so far for? I haven't had a +respectable dinner for six months. I am going to have some wine to-day, +if the governor _is_ away." + +"Governor!" cried Esther. "What a vulgar expression for Fenton Candlish +to use!" + +"Wine!" exclaimed Maggie. "You can't have any wine, Fenton; we don't +drink wine any more in _this_ house." + +"What's the matter!" + +"The matter is, papa has emptied his wine-cellar," said Esther in a +rather aggrieved tone. + +"Drunk it all up?" + +"No, no; sent it off and sold it." + +"What was the matter with it!" + +"Why, I tell you," said Esther, "it is thought improper for good people +to drink wine." + +Fenton's face was rather funny to see, there was such a blank dismay in +it. + +"And did mamma give in to that?" + +"I don't know what mamma thought," said Esther; "but papa sold the wine; +and our dinner-table does not have its pretty coloured glasses any +more." + +Fenton uttered a smothered exclamation which I am afraid would have +shocked his sisters. + +"I don't see what _you_ want with wine, Fenton," said Maggie; "papa +never let you have it." + +"Mamma did though," said Fenton. "That's the good of having two parents. +If one is crochety perhaps the other will be straight. Well, _I'm_ not +going to live if I can't live like a gentleman. I shall send to Forbes +to send me some wine." + +His sisters burst out into horrified exclamations and expostulations. + +"Papa'll see it in the bill," said Esther, "and he'll be very angry." + +"Uncle Eden is coming," said Maggie, "and it will be no use. He'd throw +it into the river." + +"Uncle Eden coming?" + +The girls nodded. + +"If I had known that _I_ wouldn't have come!" said Fenton looking very +dark. + +"I'd think better of it if I were you," remarked Meredith quietly. +"There goes more to the making of a gentleman than the drinking of +wine." + +"What do you mean?" + +"Just that. As for instance--self-control, noble thoughts, care for +others above himself, indifference to low pleasures." + +"Low pleasures!" repeated Fenton. "Do you call wine a low pleasure?" + +"Well, it brings people into the gutter." + +"Pshaw! not gentlemen." + +"I grant you they are not gentlemen after they get there." + +"What do you know about it?" said the boy not very politely. "Did you +ever drink it yourself?" + +"I never will again. A gentleman should be a free man; and wine makes +men slaves. I don't choose to be in bondage. And if it would not enslave +me, it does other people; and I would not give it the help of my +example." + +Fenton dropped the subject, but renewed his proposal that they should +return home. So shawls and worsted work were stored in the cart, and the +little book in Meredith's pocket; and the line of march was taken up. It +was indeed coming now to the lovely time of the day. Shadows long, +lights glowing in warm level reflections, all objects getting a sunny +side and a shady side, and standing forth in new beauty in consequence; +the day gathering in its train, as it were, to prepare for a stately +leave-taking by and by. Meredith and Maggie, loath to go, lingered the +last of the party; indeed he had the cart to draw, which was heavy, and +needed careful guiding in places over and between the rocks; and he +could not run on with the heads of the party. And Maggie walked beside +him, and put her little hand upon the handle of the cart which she could +not help to draw. How sweet it was! The light every moment growing +softer, not cooler; the colours more contrasted, as the shadows +lengthened; the bugle notes coming over the water now and then. Meredith +looked, and drew deep breaths of the delicious air; but Maggie walked +along pondering. + +"Ditto," she began, "do you think _everybody_ ought to do mission work?" + +"The dear Lord did not give the charge to _some_ of His people, did He?" + +"But how can they do it? Everybody cannot go to the heathen?" + +"He said, 'in all the world'--so that means at home as well as abroad, +doesn't it?" + +"Preach the gospel in all the world?" + +"Yes." + +"How can _I_, Ditto?" + +"You and I, let us say. Well, Maggie, suppose we ask Mr. Murray? But one +thing is certain; those who stay at home must furnish the money for +those that go." + +"Does it take a great deal?" + +"Not to send a few. But how long would a _few_ people be about telling +the gospel to all the world? Suppose one man had as much as the whole +State of New York for his parish?" + +"He'd never get through." + +"Exactly. And so it is nearly nineteen hundred years since the Lord gave +the command; and the heathen world is the heathen world still--pretty +much." + +"But, then, Ditto--to send a great many people, it would want a great +deal of money." + +"It does. What then?" + +"Maybe people cannot afford it." + +"Let us ask Mr. Murray about that." + +"But, Ditto, what do _you_ think? I know you think something." + +"Maggie, I think we should seek _first_ the kingdom." + +They were turning into the shrubbery grounds near the house, and Maggie +left the discussion. They were all ready for dinner, as far as appetite +went, and in a little while the five young people sat down at the board. + +"This is jolly," said Fenton, who took the head of the table. + +"Roast-beef, to wit?" said Meredith. + +"Roast-beef is a good thing if you are hungry, as I am; but I did not +mean that. It is uncommonly jolly to be out of the way of the +governors." + +Maggie looked up astonished. + +"'Rulers are not a terror to good works,'" said Meredith. + +"They're a nuisance, though." + +"Only to one portion of society. I hope you do not class yourself with +them." + +"Do you mean," said Maggie, making big eyes, "do you mean, Fenton, that +you are glad papa and mamma are in California?" + +"No. Only one of 'em. Mamma never interferes with me." + +"She leaves it to papa to do," said Maggie, with dignity and sageness. + +"I am glad she does. Shows her wisdom. I can tell what is good for me as +well as anybody else." + +"Always do it, I suppose?" + +"That's just my affair," said Fenton. "There is no use in putting chains +round a fellow--all the good of it is, he must just break the chains." + +"Do you call papa's commands, _chains_?" said Maggie. + +"Don't stare, Maggie; nothing is so vulgar." + +"I am glad Uncle Eden is coming, to make you behave yourself." + +"If he tries it on, I shall bolt," said Fenton. "I am out for some fun; +and if I can't get it at home I'll get it somewhere else." + +Meredith succeeded in turning the conversation to a pleasanter subject; +nevertheless Fenton's deliverances shocked his little sister several +times in the course of the dinner. Among other things, Fenton would go +down to the wine-cellar, to see if a bottle or two might not by chance +have been left; and though the key was not to be had and he came back +discomfited, Maggie could not get over the audacity of his proposition. +She was further and exceedingly shocked after dinner when Fenton +proposed to Meredith to have a cigar. Meredith declining, Fenton went +out to enjoy his cigar alone. + +"Fenton is grown very wild," said Maggie. + +"Boys can't be like girls," said Esther. + +"I don't see why they can't be as respectable as girls," said Maggie. + +"They never are, my dear," said Flora. "Comfort yourself. They will run +into what they don't like just to have their own way; because what they +do like is ordered or advised by some kind friend." + +"Not true without exception, Maggie," said Meredith; "but there is some +truth in it. Don't worry about Fenton. I don't believe he means quite as +bad as he says." + +"But smoking is so disgraceful--in a boy," said Maggie. + +"It is not disgraceful in a man," said Esther. + +"Well, it isn't nice," returned Maggie. "I always hate to come near that +Professor Wilkins, who always talks to me when he is here. He is kind, +but his breath is dreadful." + +Fenton was not so fond of the company of his cigar but that he soon +forsook it. And then his company indoors was hardly an acquisition. He +talked big of doings at the school where he was now placed, horrified +Maggie by showing that he was quite as lawless as in old times, and put +an effectual bar to any reading, or talk either, except of the sort that +suited himself. + +"What's up?" he asked at last. "What shall we do to make the time go?" + +"Time does not need any whip with us," said Meredith. "He goes fast +enough." + +"Oh, we are going out in the woods to dinner," said Maggie. + +"You were there to-day." + +"Well, we are going to-morrow--and every day. We have a bonfire, and a +nice lunch, and the girls work, and Ditto reads to us." + +"Jolly slow!" said Fenton. "I can't stand much of that. I shall go +a-fishing." + +"Very well," said Esther. "And come to us for lunch?" + +"Same place? It's too far off." + +"Then we'll go into the pine wood," said Maggie. "The pine wood is +nice--and the pine needles make a beautiful carpet--and we want to go to +a different place every day." + +So it was arranged. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + + +The same sweet weather continued again the next day; the air was even +warmer still, the leaves of oaks and maples, turning more and more, were +growing browner and ruddier, and the glow on the hills more deep. The +pine wood, however, which lay behind, that is, north of the house, at no +great distance, was uninvaded by this autumn glow. The soft, blue gleam +of the pines alone stood against the heaven's mild blue overhead, and +pine needles, brown and thick, carpeted the ground everywhere between +the rocks. For rocks were almost everywhere at Mosswood. Only on the +skirts of the wood one might see a flaming maple branch, or a golden +cloud of hickory here and there, and here and there a cat-briar vine +taking a tawny hue, or some low-growing cornus putting on lovely tints +of madder at the edges of its leaves. Through the wood the little party +wandered, not knowing where to choose to stop, and Meredith patiently +drew the cart along waiting for orders. At last, on a little rising +ground they found an open space, yet shadowed enough, from which there +was a lookout to the house in the valley; truly no more than the +chimneys could be seen; and a wider space of blue sky, and the hills +towards the south. This would do. Here were pine needles enough for a +carpet, and a felled pine log gave a convenient seat to those who liked +it. For Meredith and Maggie preferred the ground and the pine needles. +The cart was drawn up under the shade of a tree; afghan and worsted +embroidery were taken out; shawls were spread; and the party settled +themselves for a morning of comfort. + +"This _is_ good!" said Meredith delaying to open his book. + +"How perfectly delicious this warm smell of the pines is!" said Flora. + +"You use strong language, Flo, but for once not exaggerated. We have not +got the sound of the wood-chopper's axe to-day." + +"I'll tell you what you may hear, though, if you listen," said +Esther,--"the woodpecker-- + + 'The woodpecker tapping the hollow beech-tree;' + +only there are no beech-trees on the place. You may hear him on an oak, +though." + +"This hazy light under the pines--through the pines--is bewitching. O +October! O Mosswood!" Meredith exclaimed. "What is so pretty as these +autumn woods?" + +"What are you going to read us to-day?" said his sister. "Don't get +poetical." + +"I will read you one or two little bits first, which touch something +Maggie and I were talking of yesterday. We do not want a bonfire to-day; +it's too warm." + +"No; we will make just a tiny little blaze by and by, to boil our +kettle. It would be too warm for a bonfire; and there are no trees here +to be cut." + +"I should think not!" said Meredith looking up at the blue-green pine +needles over his head. "Well, here's a story for you." + +"Heathen?" asked Flora. + +"No, Christian. 'There was a man, once upon a time, whom God had richly +blessed. He had received a year's income of seven hundred thalers. Four +hundred of them he needed and used for his house and family wants, and +three hundred were left over. So he thought at first he would put the +money out at interest, and enjoy the comfort of receiving rents which +were growing while he was sleeping. As he was just setting about this, +he read in a mission paper about the wants of the heathen; and the +Sunday next following he heard a preaching about how the dear Lord is +the safest of all to trust money to, and gives the best interest. So he +made a short piece of work of it, and sent his three hundred thalers to +the dear Lord for the conversion of the heathen, and said, "Lord, take +Thou them; I got them from Thee, and there is all this left." "Wife," +said he, when he came home at evening, "I have done a good bit of +business to-day; I have got rid of my three hundred thalers, and am quit +of any care of the money, over and above." "Then you may thank the dear +Lord for that," said his wife. "And so I do," he answered. + +"'Do I not hear at this point, not merely many a child of the world, but +also many a believer, secretly half saying, "No, but what is out of +reason is out of reason!"--and so do I see a certain compassionate smile +playing about mouth-corners. But wait a bit; there is something coming +that is more crazy yet. The next year the man was overloaded with such a +blessing, that instead of seven hundred thalers, he made fourteen +hundred thalers, and he did not know where it all came from. Then what +does he do but take the surplus, one thousand thalers, and send it to +the mission. Is the story true? do you say. You can ask the Lord "in +that day;" he knows the story.'" + +"I like that," said Maggie. + +"Why?" Flora asked. + +"I think it is nice," said Maggie with a shrug of her shoulders. + +"I don't see it. What good to the man to have twice as much as he had +before, if he must give it all right away again?" + +"Why, he has the pleasure of giving it!" cried Maggie. + +"And it shows, at any rate, that he did not get poor by his first +venture," said Meredith. "And the Lord will reckon it 'at that day' as +all done for Him." + +"I don't think people are obliged to give away all they have got," said +Flora. + +"Suppose they do not reckon anything they have their own? The Christians +in the early times did not, if the Lord's work or the needs of others +wanted it more." + +"Extravagance!" said Flora. "Just enthusiasm." + +"Come, I will read you another story. But the poor woman who gave all +she had into the Lord's treasury was not rated as a fool by _Him_. I +will read you now-- + + +"'A PROBLEM ABOUT STUTEN MONEY. + +"'Most of you know, it is true, right well what _stuten_ money is, but +certainly all do not. Among us, when people go to church on Sunday, the +children and younger serving people of the peasants get a groschen to +take along, with which they can buy a stuten, that is, a white roll, at +noon when they come out of church; by the help of which they can stay in +the village and so go to church again in the afternoon. Now there are a +boy, a girl, and an old woman known to me, who have no other money but +the stuten money they get on Sundays. So each one of them falls to +considering how he or she can do something for the heathen. And they +arrange it on this wise. One of them every other Sunday eats no roll, +and thinks within herself, "I ate as much as I wanted this morning at +home, and I can do the same again this evening." The two others buy each +a small roll for half a groschen, and lay up the other half-groschen +every Sunday; and when the year comes round, they have all three of +them, counting the festivals, thirty groschen saved up, and bring them +with glad, smiling faces to go for the conversion of the heathen. And +upon being afterwards asked whether hunger did not often trouble them on +Sunday? they say, they have always felt as if they had had enough; and, +with God's help, they will do the same way next year.'" + +"What sort of a story do you call that?" asked Flora when her brother +paused. + +"I call it a story of what can be done." + +"And _I_ call it a story of what ought not to be done. Both the children +and the old woman needed their bread for themselves; it was not good for +them to go without it. And what is a groschen? or thirty groschen?" + +"What are 'two mites, which make a farthing?'" + +"Oh, that is in the Bible." + +"But it was in a poor woman's heart first, or we should never have had +it in the Bible." + +"Well, look at our luncheon," said Flora. + +"I will look at it when I see it. What then?" + +"Do you mean that we shall do wrong to eat it?" + +"Not at all." + +"How can those people be right and we not wrong?" + +"Yes, Ditto," said Maggie. "I do not understand." + +"Those people must give their groschen or give nothing. It was all they +could give." + +"But we might give more than we do, if we would live on bread and +water," said Flora. "If we are to give all we _could_ give, our luncheon +would come to a good many groschen, I can tell you." + +"We must ask Mr. Murray. I am not wise enough to talk to you," said +Meredith. "I hope he will come; we are getting work ready for him. +Meantime I will read you another little story. Maybe we shall find some +light. + + +"'AS POOR, YET MAKING MANY RICH. + +"'There was a poor day-labourer who lived by his work from hand to +mouth. He heard it read out of the Old Testament, that under the old +covenant every Israelite was bound to give to God the tenth of all his +incomings. That went through and through the man's head, and he thought: +Could the Israelites do that by the law, and should not we Christians be +able to do it by the love of Christ? So, honestly and faithfully, he +lays by the tenth of his daily wages; the Lord blesses him, so that many +a time he earns sixteen groschen a day; and at the end of the year he +comes with his hands full, bringing sixteen thaler twenty groschen for +the conversion of the heathen, and with hearty pleasure; and he says, +"The love of Christ constraineth me so, I have wanted for nothing."'" + +"Not much of a story," said Meredith, in concluding, "but a good deal of +a suggestion." + +"Suggestion of what?" asked his sister. + +"Duty. Certainly a Christian ought to be able to do more for love than +an old Hebrew did for law; and from this time I will imitate that old +German fellow." + +"But, Ditto," exclaimed his sister, "a tenth of _your_ income, you must +remember, is a great deal." + +"Not in proportion," said Meredith. "He would want every one of his +remaining groschen for his necessities; I should not. It seems to me, +the richer one is, the larger the proportion should be that should go to +the Lord's uses." + +"I shall ask Mr. Murray to make you reasonable!" Flora exclaimed. "Stop +talking, and go on with your reading." + +"The next story is about 'One Groschen and Two Pennies.'" + +"'It is true what the Bible says--"The Lord maketh sore, and bindeth up; +He woundeth, and His hands make whole." My heart learnt the meaning of +this word when a short time ago I had to expel two pupils from the +Mission-house, who had been led astray by Satan. This gave me great +pain, but it had to be done, for their sakes and for the sake of the +house; and it was somewhat alleviated in that they came back sorry and +penitent and were taken in again. + +"'To the honour of the Lord I will here speak good of the balm which +shortly after my great hurt He laid upon the wounds. May it have +somewhat of the sweetness of that ointment which filled the whole house. + +"'Soon after the departure of the pupils was made known, I had a visit +from an eight-year-old boy. He had a groschen in his hand and a +reading-book under his arm. He told me that he had found this groschen +fourteen days before on the way to church; that he had asked his father +to publish the discovery, and he himself had announced it in school. But +nobody had been found to own the groschen. I said to him: "Well, what do +you think, my child? does the groschen belong to you? will you buy +something with it?" The boy answered, "No, the groschen is not mine, so +I am not going to keep it. I will give it to the dear Saviour for the +poor heathen children, to get a spelling-book for them." When I +questioned him further, he said that once in the church, where his +father takes him every Sunday, I had said "whoever keeps what does not +belong to him is a thief; and"--he added with great seriousness, "you +said, a Christian child must not be a thief!" I received the groschen +now and thanked him. But the boy had not done yet. He asked me if it +were true that two of the pupils had been expelled from the +Mission-house. When with a sorrowful face I assented, he answered, "You +need not be so troubled about it. You can send me instead. I can spell +already, and I will soon learn to read." When the little fellow with +great earnestness had said that, I could not help folding him to my +breast in heartfelt gladness. Then I knelt down, and together with him +prayed that the Lord would some time make a true missionary of him. He +went away at last, but could not at first rightly understand how it was +that I had as yet no use for him. + +"'Soon after this, I receive a letter from a dear friend who had been +making a lively stir in the matter of the Mission among his school and +the parish to which his school belonged. The Lord had granted him access +to the hearts of great and small, and with cordial pleasure he had been +collecting till he should have a full thaler made up, which then should +be sent me. Now he wrote the thaler was made up, and he sent it, and +this was how it had come about. In a hospital, where he is accustomed to +hold devotional service for an hour, he had mentioned the conversion of +the heathen. The next day came a widow, shoved four groschen under one +of the books which lay on the table, and then, with a greeting from her +children, laid two groschen on the table, saying, "Now the thaler will +be made up!" To this Mission thaler, which indeed was made up now, a +little girl of nine years old had every Sunday contributed two pennies, +which she received from her mother to buy rolls with. Some time after, +the mother brought the child's two pennies again, silently; but it +struck our friend that she had great tears in her eyes. The thing was +soon explained. The child had fallen ill. Sunday her mother said to her, +"To-day you shall keep your roll for yourself." "No," the child +answered, "I could not be easy if I did. I promised my dear Saviour +once, that as long as you gave me two pennies to buy rolls with, I would +give the money on Sunday for the heathen." How glad that true mother's +heart must have been! She had reason to say, "But what a value these two +pennies had for me! I could not let them out of my hands at first, for +joy." God bless mother, child, and teacher! The Mission must indeed +thrive when such gifts are offered. From another dear friend of +missions, personally unknown to me, moreover, I received a contribution +for the Mission, in the making up of which both men and beasts had given +their help. The contributors were specially mentioned, the men at their +head; then at the conclusion followed, "A hen, so much and so much."'" + +"Well, Ditto," said Flora, "I will say, you do read the most +extraordinary stories." + +"Like them?" + +"No, I don't think I do much. Do you bring them forward as our examples, +hen and all?" + +"You might do worse." + +"But, Ditto," Maggie said anxiously, "you do not think we ought to go +without what we _want_, do you, for the sake of the heathen?" + +"Ask Mr. Murray that question, Maggie. Whose hat is that I see over the +wall, coming up to the gate?" + +Maggie jumped up to look, and then, with a scream of "Uncle Eden! Uncle +Eden!" sprang away down the path to meet him. The others dropped book +and work and followed her. The pine wood was screened off from the +shrubbery and pleasure grounds (but indeed all Mosswood pretty much was +pleasure grounds) by a low stone wall, in which wall a little gate +admitted to the entrance of the wood. By the time Mr. Murray, skirting +the wall, had come to that point, the group of young people had reached +it also, and there Mr. Murray received a welcome that might have +satisfied any man. Maggie threw herself on his neck with cries of +delight; Flora's bright, handsome face sparkled with undisguised +pleasure; even Esther looked glad, and Meredith's wringing grasp of the +hand was as expressive as anything else. Surrounded by them, almost +hemmed in his steps, questioned and answered and welcomed, all in a +breath, by the gay little group, Mr. Murray slowly made his progress +along the pine walk towards the present camping place. He had got the +round-robin, yes, and he had obeyed their summons as soon as he could +after clearing away a few impediments of business; he had made an early +start, and come all the way that morning from Bay House, and he was very +glad to be with them. Now what were they going to do with him? + +Saying which last, Mr. Murray stretched himself on the soft carpet of +pine needles and surveyed the tokens of work and play around the spot. + +"From Bay House this morning! And no lunch yet? That's good!" cried +Maggie. "Now, dear Ditto, the first thing is to give him something to +eat. He must be ravenous. If you'll build a fireplace, I'll make the +fire, and then we can have the kettle boiled in a very little time." + +Mr. Murray lay on his elbow on the pine needles and watched them as +Meredith built a few stones together to support the tea-kettle, and then +he and Maggie ran about collecting bits of pine and pine cones and fuel +generally. And then there was the careful laying of dry tinder together, +and the match applied, and the blue, hospitable smoke began to curl up +under and round the kettle, and an aromatic, odoriferous smell came +floating in the air. + +"This is better than anything I have seen for some time, children," he +said. + +"Ah, wait!" cried Maggie. "We have got stewed pigeons for lunch." + +Mr. Murray laughed. "What are you all doing out here, _besides_ eating +pigeons?" + +"We have set out with the determination to live out of doors," said +Flora; "and so we do it. This is the third day, and it is absolutely +delightful." + +"What are you doing?" + +"I see you looking at our worsteds--aren't they pretty colours, Mr. +Murray? Esther and I play with these, while Ditto reads to us. And we +have laid up a great deal of work for you." + +"In what shape, pray?" + +"Questions. Somehow, as we read, we get up difficult questions, that +nobody can answer, and that we are not all agreed upon; and then by +general consent we refer them to you." + +Mr. Murray watched the tiny tongues of flame which were darting up round +the tea-kettle, where Maggie sat supplying small sticks and resinous +pine cones to feed the fire. The scene was as pretty as possible; +Meredith roaming hither and thither collecting more fuel, and the shawls +and even the worsted lying about, with the gay, young figures, touching +up the gipsy view with bits of colour. He watched in silence. + +"Mosswood is the most delicious place we have ever seen," Flora went on. + +"Almost any place is good in October. How pleasant this veiled light is! +What are you about, Maggie?" + +"This is the pot of pigeons, Uncle Eden; we are going to get them hot. +The kettle boils; now would you like some coffee, Uncle Eden?" + +But Mr. Murray declared himself satisfied with tea. And in a little +while the scene became more gipsy than ever; except that gipsys are not +supposed to indulge in much refinement of china cups and silver spoons. +Everybody was picking pigeon bones, however; and bread and butter, and +cups of tea, and baked potatoes (which came out hot from the house, +brought in a basket by Fairbairn), and peaches and pears to conclude +with, were discussed with great enjoyment and amidst a great deal of +talk. Fenton arrived from the fishing to take his share; but I do not +think he was as glad to see his uncle as the others had been; and as +soon as lunch was over he took himself away again. Then cups and plates +and _debris_ were packed away into the cart; the little fire had burned +itself out; fingers were washed in Eastern fashion, somebody pouring +water over the others' hands; and at last worsted needles and knitting +needles came into play again, and the circle was made up around Mr. +Murray, who declared himself to be quite refreshed and rested. + +"Ready for questions, Uncle Eden?" + +"Are the questions very deep?" + +"Oh, yes, Uncle Eden; none of us can answer them." + +"They had need be profound! How did they come up?" + +"From Meredith's book. Ditto was reading to us some delicious stories +about the old Saxons, and their ways and their gods; and we have ever so +many questions to ask you, Uncle Eden." + +"Have you any more of those Saxon stories on hand, Meredith?" + +"Plenty, sir." + +"Then I wish you would go on and read another; and so I should perhaps +get into the atmosphere of your questions. Besides, I feel like being +luxurious and lazy in this warm, spicy air. Suppose we have a story now, +and the questions by and by?" + +They were all agreed to that. Maggie settled herself to listen +comfortably, and Mr. Murray lay on his elbow and looked thoughtfully +into the reader's face, or into the blue-green pine wilderness around, +or above to the quiet, clear blue which stretched over all; but if Mr. +Murray's body was resting, I am inclined to think his mind was busy +enough. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + + +"'The story that I am going to tell you now shall bear the heading, "The +Hearts of the Children turned to the Fathers." I read it with a deal of +trouble in an old, yellowed manuscript which the mice had gnawed at. But +it bears so entirely the impress of truth that it may speak for itself, +although the things happened more than a thousand years ago. I would +rather, if I could, give it again exactly as it stood written in that +manuscript; but I am unable to do so, because I only made extracts from +it. I found the MS. in the library of the Town House at Lueneburg, where +I was staying for a few days just then, and with the permission of both +the burgomasters of the city, I searched the Town House library through. +When later I came to live in Lueneburg for many years, these and other +old MSS. were no longer to be found; and I heard that a Jew, to whom the +burgomasters had sold a number of old suits of armour and weapons, had +probably demanded to have these manuscripts into the bargain, thinking +that he might in England dispose of them for a high price. The MS. was +entitled: "Res gestae Landolfi, Apostoli Salzonum, qui Horzae ripas ad +habitant;" _i.e._, "_Acts of Landolf, the apostle to the Saxons who +lived on the Oerze_." I have told you already many things about this +Landolf. It has been mentioned that he built the first wooden church in +this whole region of country, there where the heathen god Woden's place +of sacrifice had been; which place, under the name of the "cold church," +still belongs to the Hermannsburg glebe, ever since the church was +burned down in a predatory inroad of the Wends, and Hermann Billing +built the stone parish church in Hermannsburg. I have told you too of +this Landolf, how he had gradually converted the whole region to +Christianity, like a skilful general, consecrating to the Christian +faith for the worship of the true God, precisely those places where the +heathen had been wont to adore their false idols, so that the triumph of +Christianity could in nothing have been more forcibly manifested than in +this founding of Christian altars and chapels on the very places where +previously the heathen abominations had been enacted. + +"'One hour from Hermannsburg above on the Oerze, two little rivers, the +Oerze and Wieze, flow into one another. Such meetings of two rivers are +called in High German Muenden, in Low German Mueden; so accordingly the +village situated at the meeting of the two rivers above mentioned bears +the name of Mueden. Just a little above the place where the Wieze flows +into the Oerze, in the middle of the latter river, lay a wonderfully +beautiful little island, almost like an egg in circumference, which had +a circuit of perhaps from ninety to a hundred paces. How often when I +was a child have I visited that little island, and stayed there for +hours at a time! In the whole surrounding region I knew no lovelier +place, and it was always a particular delight to me when I could wander +that way. On both sides of the island the swift-flowing, clear waters of +the Oerze went rushing past, transparent to the very bottom, over the +glistening sands of which, and among the long, thick, green tufts of the +water ranunculus hosts of nimble trout played and darted about. A little +bridge on each side connected the island with the two shores. If you +crossed the bridge which spanned the left arm of the Oerze, you came +into green meadows and the parsonage garden, which extended along the +left bank of the river, enclosed with a hedge as high as the trees. If +you went from the island over the bridge of the right arm of the Oerze, +you were in the courtyard of the parsonage, where the pastor's dwelling +stood. This island was entirely framed in with high oaks and alders; and +a number of mighty old oaks, with large trunks, and lifting their heads +high in air, grew on the island and wholly overshadowed it with their +green roof of leaves. So still it was, so cool, and so secluded, upon +this island that even the fiercest summer had no power over it; it was +green and fresh when everything around it was withered and dried up by +the hot sunbeams. And now as I write this it stirs me with pain to be +forced to say that this island has disappeared! How can that have come +about? It has fallen a sacrifice to the idol of Utility. The fine oaks +have been felled, and used for building timber; the alders have been cut +down and turned to firewood; the island is no more, for the two arms of +the Oerze have been dammed up, and a straight river bed carries the +Oerze now through green meadows which stretch along both shores. Yes, +these are beautiful too, these green meadows, and they are very +profitable also at the same time; but the wonderful beauty of the island +is departed, vanished with no trace of it left; and in the entire valley +of the Oerze there is not a place that can be compared to it. See, my +dear readers, this is what is done by the much bepraised "Enclosings," +which could have originated only in our earthly-minded age; and which +spare nothing, neither right nor usage; respect no old legend, no old +custom; have no eye at all for beauty, rate everything only according to +its utility, and cannot endure anything round, but favour only straight +lines and sharp corners. Even the very unreasoning beasts mourn over the +way in which the "Enclosings" are carried on. The valley of the Oerze, +once thickly peopled with nightingales on both shores of the river, now +has not a single one to show; the poor creatures love the thicket, the +dim light, the shade and solitude, where they sing their songs to God +and men; but the new-fangled clearings drive the whole away together. +That is no matter; to be sure their singing brings no money in. + +"'Well, on this old island in heathen times was the sanctuary of the god +Thor, or Donner, as he was likewise called by our forefathers. Among +these oaks and alders stood his altar, a big round stone of granite. +Near this great stone lay a vast number of what are called +thunderbolts; for every thunderbolt that a Saxon found he laid down at +Thor's, or Donner's, altar. Now if you do not know what thunderbolts +are, go to your pastors or to some other learned folk, and they will +tell you, and perhaps show you one. The learned call them Belemnites. +They are longish, round, wedge-shaped stones, pointed below, growing +broader above; at the point they are quite solid, and have a so-called +_Peddig_, that is, a fine, round core, as in the middle of a tree-stem, +which, however, is entirely turned to stone; towards the other end this +core grows thicker and more crumbly, and at last the stone becomes quite +hollow. These are petrifactions of sea animals, which have remained +since the time of the flood. In my childhood the people still called +these stones "thunderbolts," and the belief was generally prevalent that +in heavy thunder-showers such thunderbolts fall from the clouds upon the +earth. That belief had its origin in the heathen time. It was the belief +of our heathen ancestors, that Thor, or Donner, the son of their +principal deity Woden, was the god of thunder; a man with a handsome, +serious face and yellow beard, whose blast caused the thunder, and who +in thunder-storms drove through the air in a chariot drawn by goats, and +then in the lightning cast his thunderbolts on the earth, so that men +might fear and honour him. And he was not only the god of thunder, in +the belief of our forefathers, but the god of justice also. Whoever +wished to confirm a contract with his neighbour, made it before the +altar of Thor; and whatever had been promised "by Thor," could not be +taken back. Also, as people believed, he watched over all laws and +rights in the land; in the taking of oaths he was the witness appealed +to. And woe to him who perverted law and justice, woe to him who swore a +false oath; Thor's thunderbolt was sure to fall upon the audacious +transgressor and dash him to pieces. And so, from this it came that +every thunderbolt found was laid down at Thor's altar, as witnesses for +the god who guarded laws and rights, and punished covenant-breakers and +false swearers with his strong hand. He dwelt among oaks, elders, and +alder-trees; for which reason these trees, which were sacred to him, +were always found about the places where sacrifices were offered in his +honour. Our forefathers were known for their inviolable truth. Even the +heathen historian Tacitus says of them, that the word of a Saxon was +worth more than the oath of a Roman, and that among them good customs +were regarded with more reverence than good statutes among the Romans. +From this you can easily imagine in what high honour the god Thor was +held by our forefathers, and how sacred was Thor's place of sacrifice. +But alas! the full ferocity of heathenism also came out in the worship +of Thor; for human victims were slain in his honour whenever, through +some failure of faith keeping or breaking of a covenant, a curse rested +upon the community. And how often may not yonder little island as well +have drunk the blood of slaughtered men! + +"'Now in Landolf's time, when he and the Christian doctrine had already +been received at old Hermann Billing's, the priest of Thor's sacrificial +altar on the island I have described was a silver-haired old man, whom +the MS. calls Henricus, _i.e._, Heinrich, who also for long years had +been a faithful friend of Hermann. However, since Hermann had become a +Christian, Heinrich had proudly withdrawn from him; he held him to be a +covenant-breaker, and threatened him with the judgment of Thor, which +sooner or later would fall upon him because he had forsaken the faith of +his fathers. Hermann sought an interview with his old friend, but the +proud priest of Thor refused to give it. Now, when in the great assembly +of the people at the stone-houses, of which I have formerly spoken, +Landolf received permission to declare the Christian faith openly in the +whole country, he did not fail to visit among other places also the +sanctuary of Thor upon this island, and to preach the gospel to the +people who gathered there for the offering of sacrifices. Heinrich had +no liberty or power to hinder the preaching; but when it was done he +came out as its most decided opponent, and declared in unmeasured terms +that the Saxons who had turned or who should turn to Christianity were +covenant-breakers, on whom Thor's vengeance would speedily fall. In +flaming zeal, with these words he lifted one of the thunderbolt stones +which lay beside Thor's altar, showed it to the people, and threatened +that with such weapons Thor would punish the apostates. Then arose +Landolf's commanding figure, and looking at old Heinrich with a gentle, +happy, beaming smile, he spoke:-- + +"'"Brother, the Christian's God is better than your heathen god. See! +all this while He, the only true God, has borne patiently with your +heathen ways, has seen how you slew human sacrifices and became +murderers of your fellow-men; and instead of punishing you for your sins +and transgressions, He has borne with you in great love and patience; +and now still He is not lifting His arm of vengeance against you, but is +saying: 'Children, I have overlooked the times of ignorance; but now the +time of salvation has come, I open to you my arms of grace and pray you, +be ye reconciled to your God.' But _your_ god knows no love. Hermann has +not transgressed in anywise; he has only become a Christian; he simply +abhors the transgressions which he used to commit. He proves his love +towards you; he has kept his friendship for you; he has besought you; +'Brother, come let us talk together about our beliefs, and see whose +faith is the right one.' The God of the Christians has taught him to +love like this. But you, you hate the brother whom once you held dear, +who has done nothing to harm you; you refuse him so much as a friendly +interview; your heathen God has taught you to hate like this. Men," he +went on, turning to the people who stood around them,--"which is the +right God? the God who loves and teaches to love, or the god that hates +and teaches to hate?" + +"'The people maintained an agitated silence; it had become as still as +death, so that one could hear the very breaths that were drawn. +Thereupon Landolf raised his voice again, and told the people of the +love of our God, who parted His only-begotten Son from His fatherly +breast and sent Him down to poor sinners to take pity on them; and then +he went on to tell of the love of the Son of God, who forsook the throne +of His Father, came to men, took part with their flesh and blood, in the +heroism of love went about among men, followed by His faithful apostles; +everywhere as the Mighty One, God's champion, overcoming Satan, setting +men free who were fast in his toils, opening the eyes of the blind and +the ears of the deaf, making the lame to go and the sick to be well; +even laying hold of mighty Death with His divine hand and forcing him to +let go his prey; and how at last this true Hero of God, in order to save +the whole captive world from its common oppression under the evil one, +and that He might with justice and righteousness set them free, offered +Himself up for sinners, for them suffered death, went down into the +grave and Hades to overcome death, hell, and the grave; thence to rise +victorious, and to go back to His Father, and to sit down again upon the +throne of God, from which He had gone forth. And even there His love and +pity never rest; from thence He is constantly sending out His apostles +and prophets; and has sent me to you. Not to punish, not to condemn; no, +but to pray you, Be ye reconciled to God; to show you His arms of grace +spread to receive you; and to tell you, Come, for all things are ready; +the courts of heaven where Jesus reigns stand open to you. His blood has +redeemed also you; He will forgive your sins, and has prepared mansions +for you to dwell in. Repent and be baptized, that your sins may be +forgiven, and that you may be the children of God. + +"'After giving such testimony, Landolf kneeled down, as it was always +his wont to do after preaching to the heathen, and prayed to the Lord +Jesus that He would enlighten the minds of the heathen by His Holy +Spirit to receive the word of divine teaching, and that He would open +their hearts as once He opened Lydia's; he even had the boldness to ask +the Lord to witness for Himself, as the living God, among the people +there assembled.'" + +"What did he mean? a miracle?" Flora asked. + +"I suppose, something like the signs that used to be asked for among the +Jews in old time. Not a miracle exactly; and yet they were miracles +too." + +"What, Ditto? I don't remember," said Maggie. + +"Don't you remember how Samuel asked for a sign from heaven once, and +the Lord sent thunder, though it was a time of year when storms never +come. Then Elijah asked for a sign of fire, and the fire fell and burnt +up his sacrifice with the wet pile of wood on which it lay, and licked +up the water in the trench. Don't you recollect? It was that sort of +sign the Jews used to ask Jesus to give them, and He never would." + +"I wonder why," said Flora. + +"We must ask Mr. Murray. I do not know. Any more remarks? or shall I go +on?" + +"Oh, go on, dear Ditto." + +"'Landolf rose up, quiet and joyous. It seemed as if every man were +pondering in his heart the preaching and the prayer; all were yet +hanging upon his words, when up rose Heinrich's three sons, priests of +Thor like himself, along with his only daughter, a priestess of Freija, +whoso sanctuary was situated about three hours further up the Oerze. +They cried in an open outburst of rage,--"Our general assembly at the +stone-houses has led the people astray, in suffering the Christian +preacher to proclaim his Christian faith. Come over to us here, whoever +is true to the gods of his fathers! Death to apostates, and the +vengeance of the gods!" + +"'The people went over to the side of Heinrich's children. Landolf stood +alone. + +"'Landolf folded his hands in prayer, and looked up to heaven with +sparkling eyes; his heart accepted joyfully the martyr's crown, with +which he thought God would adorn him. Once more he fell upon his knees +to pray, and cried out in a clear voice, "O Lord, my God, I see heaven +opened. Lord, I come gladly, but bless this people. Bless these my +countrymen; do not charge their sins upon them; bring them to the true, +saving faith of the Christians; make them children of thy Church." Then +he stepped up to the people and said, "Put me to death. I go gladly to +my Jesus in heaven." + +"'Upon this, old Heinrich stepped out in front of this faithful witness +of the Lord, and with emotion he had hard work to keep down, he spoke: +"Thou hast a brave heart. Thou shalt not die a coward's death. I love +thee; thou art a hero, and thy Christ is a hero too. He died for +sinners, thou sayest, and has vanquished death and the grave and hell. I +will see if I can love Him. I cannot yet." + +"'Scarcely had he finished speaking, when Hermann hastily came up. He +had followed after his beloved Landolf, that he might see what turn +things would take; for he knew that he was gone to the island. He +stretched out his hand to Heinrich, and Heinrich did not turn away, but +grasped it. And then the old man brought them both into his house. In +the meanwhile the sky became overcast with dark clouds; before anybody +was aware, the heavens had grown black, the thunder rolled and the +lightnings darted. "Thor is driving in the clouds!" cried the young +priests; "he is angry at the Christians!" "The God of glory thundereth; +the Lord is upon many waters; the voice of the Lord divideth the flames +of fire," cried Landolf; and with Heinrich and Hermann he went over to +the island. The crowd stood there hushed; every eye was fixed intently +upon the black clouds and the flashing lightning. Then there came a +crash through the air, a blinding blaze darted out of the clouds, passed +through the crowd, and shattered to pieces the sacrifice stone. Not a +man was hurt. Then Landolf called out aloud: "'O Lord God, gracious and +merciful, long-suffering and abundant in goodness and truth, that +forgiveth iniquity and will by no means clear the guilty!' Brothers, the +Lord has spoken from heaven. It is not Thor that is God; surely else he +would not have destroyed his own altar and borne witness against +himself. The Lord, He is the God; He has shattered the altar and left +you alive; give the glory to God." + +"'The people dispersed. But Heinrich repaired to Hermannsburg with +Hermann and Landolf, to the dwelling of the former, and remained there +eight days; during which time he was instructed by Landolf in the +Christian faith. This teaching took deep hold of him; yet more did the +utter revolution in Hermann's domestic life. After the eight days, he +went back with the two to the little island, and was baptized in the +Oerze. And on the spot where the round stone had been, there was a +little chapel built, with an altar, and on the altar stood the image of +the crucified Christ. This was the second great victory that Landolf +fought for and gained. From that time forward Heinrich was his faithful +helper. All the great influence which until then he had enjoyed as the +much reverenced priest of Thor, he used now only for the glory of +Christ. It seemed as if the old, grey-haired man had become young again. +With all the zeal of a first love, with all a young convert's ardour, he +witnessed for the Lord Jesus Christ, the mighty Hero, the Conqueror of +Satan and of Thor, who had offered Himself a sacrifice for men and died +a hero's death; and in crowds the Saxons came over to him, and by crowds +they received baptism from Landolf. His own sons alone remained hard, +and his daughter was unmoved. This last, Ikia the chronicle calls her, +never entered her father's house again; and the three sons, Tyr, Freyr, +and Schwerting, who had so tenderly loved their father and so deeply +revered him, declared to him now that they were no longer sons of his, +since he was no longer priest of Thor. So then the venerable old man, +sometimes alone, sometimes with Landolf or Hermann for a companion, +every week set out to pay a visit to his sons and his daughter and +preach the Lord Jesus to them. In the winter he was not to be daunted by +the snow, nor in summer by the burning sands; leaning on his staff he +pressed on through it all. The love of Christ fired him, and love to his +children urged him forward; he would so fain take them with him to +heaven. He had brought them up in the idolatrous worship of Thor; if +they were lost, it seemed to him it would be by his own fault. Therefore +he made his weekly pilgrimages to them, since they avoided his house as +though it were spotted with the plague. And then, when he had preached +Christ to them, he went back to pray for them. Yes, he even made it a +persistent petition that the Lord Christ would not let him die until he +had seen his children walk in the Lord's way. + +"'A year and a half went by in this manner, and still the hearts of his +children seemed unimpressible and hard as stone. But Heinrich walked, +preached, and prayed indefatigably, until at last he gave way before the +strain and the burden of years. Eight days he lay on his bed, and yet +wrestled with God that he would not let him die before he had seen the +conversion of his children. He sent messages to them, telling them that +he was sick; they never came near him. He sent to entreat them to come +and receive his fatherly blessing; they answered, they did not want it. +And so all hope seemed to melt away. But the Scripture says with truth, +that Love is stronger than Death. And if human love upon earth is so +strong, how great and strong must not the love of Jesus be! + +"'One morning, Landolf was sitting beside his friend's couch, trying to +comfort him, and, as he thought, to prepare him for death, when in came +Schwerting, the youngest of Heinrich's sons, and spoke: "Father, Ikia +wants you. She is sick unto death, and wishes to ask you to forgive her; +she sent me to you. But you cannot come," he went on; "you are sick unto +death yourself, and it may be will die now before Ikia, your child; and +oh, she is so troubled, for she has never seen you again since that day +on the island, and that is her fault!" At this, something like the glow +of the sunlight swept over Heinrich's pale face, and leaning over to +Landolf's ear, he whispered to him: "Pray to Christ with me, that I may +go to Ikia, my daughter, and you will go along, that I may see her +baptized." And Landolf kneels down by his friend's couch and prays, and +Heinrich on his bed joins in the prayer, and they hold up to the Lord +the word that He had given--"If two of you shall agree on earth as +touching anything that ye shall ask, it shall be done for them of my +Father which is in heaven;" and they doubt not that He is the Almighty +and living God; therefore they ask that He will give strength and grace, +that Heinrich may come to his daughter Ikia and see her baptism. And +when they had finished praying, Heinrich rose up from his couch, bade +them bring his horse, begged his friend and his son to help him to +mount, and when he was seated on the beast's back he went forward, up +the Oerze, towards the sanctuary of Freija, where Ikia was priestess. +Landolf on one side, Schwerting on the other side, led the horse, and +supported the tottering old man. Whoever met the procession joined it, +for God's hand was plainly there, and after three hours of travelling +Heinrich reached Ikia. He found her dying, but still in full possession +of her senses. A happy smile flowed over her death-white features. +"Father," said she, "the Christian's God is the true God. His hand has +been too strong for me. I have been a godless child towards you; will +you forgive me?" "My child," said her father, "I have forgiven you, and +I have prayed to my God that He would not let me die till I have seen +your conversion and that of your brothers--till I have seen you turn +from false gods to the living God who has made heaven and earth, who has +died for sinners and made intercession for the transgressors. I forgive +thee, my daughter, and Christ also forgives thee, if thou wilt be +baptized for the remission of sins. See here," pointing to Landolf, +"here is the priest of the Lord. Let Landolf baptize my child before she +dies. Ikia, wilt thou be baptized?" She said, "Father, will Christ take +me?" "My child, I have received you and not been angry with you, and I +am a sinful man. And Christ, my Lord, is the Son of God; He died for +sinners, and now He lives, and has the keys of hell and of death. He +will receive thee, only believe." She turned her eyes inquiringly upon +Landolf, and he spoke; "Ikia, it is written in the Word of my God, 'This +is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus +came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.' So says the +holy apostle Paul. And Jesus spoke to the thief on the cross, who had +just been reviling him, but now had bethought himself, turned, and +said, 'Lord, remember me when Thou comest into Thy kingdom'--He said to +him, 'Verily, I say unto thee, this day shalt thou be with me in +paradise!'" "Then baptize me, father, before I die. I believe that +Christ is the Son of God." And Schwerting went out and fetched water in +a bowl, and handed the bowl to Landolf. But when Landolf had spoken the +prayer over the water, and was about to baptize Ikia in the name of the +Triune God, then down kneeled Schwerting at the side of his sister's +couch, and from the crowd of people collected before the open door +hurriedly broke forth two tall men and kneeled down by Schwerting's +side; and all three cried out, "Father, baptize us with our sister!" The +baptism was performed. And when it was done, and over the four newly +baptized had been spoken the Word--"The God of all grace, by whom you +have been born again in the washing of regeneration and renewing of the +Holy Ghost, strengthen you and uphold you firm in the faith unto the +end. Peace be with you,"--then the voice of old Heinrich, who had sunk +on his knees, came out in a shout of joy. "Lord, now lettest Thou Thy +servant depart in peace, for my eyes have seen the salvation which I +prayed the Lord for, that He would not suffer me to die before I had +seen the conversion of my children." And when he had said that, he bowed +his head and departed, and Landolf caught the dying man in his faithful +arms. Ikia however did not die; the Lord, who had quickened her +spiritually, gave her also her bodily life again. She recovered, and her +recovery was a new salvation. For soon after, Freija's altar was broken +to pieces, and an altar was dedicated to Christ on the same spot by the +staunch Landolf, who founded a cloister there, _monasterium_, as it was +called, from which the place took the name of Munster. Heinrich's body +was laid to rest in the churchyard at Hermannsburg. So were the hearts +of the children turned to their fathers; and it was not long before +heathenism had disappeared from the valley of the Oerze, and the Lord +Jesus was become the King to whom every knee in the country was +bowed.'" + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + + +"Uncle Eden," said Maggie, "do you like Meredith's story?" + +"Yes." + +"Do you feel like talking now, Uncle Eden?" + +"What about?" + +"But I mean--do you feel like _talking_--about anything?" + +"Depends on the subject, Maggie. Hark to that woodpecker!" + +"Mr. Murray does _not_ feel like talking, I know," remarked Flora. "He +feels--if he ever feels!--lazy." + +"No, Miss Flora, not exactly. And yet, how delicious this quiet is!" + +"And the smell of the pines!" + +"And the warm, luxurious air!" + +"And the light through the pine branches, and upon the coloured leaves +yonder." + +"Yes, and the blue of the sky," said Mr. Murray, who lying upon his back +had a good view. "Blue, through the pine needles. Such an ethereal, +clear blue; not like summer's intensity." + +"I like summer best," said Flora. + +"I like this. But what did you want to talk about, children?" + +"O Uncle Eden! a great many things. You see, we do not all think alike." + +"Naturally." + +"And we want you to tell us how we ought to think." + +"_You_ do," said Mr. Murray laughing. "That will answer for ten years +old. I am sure the others are more independent." + +"But we want to know what _you_ think, Uncle Eden--about ever so many +things. We have been saving them up till you came. Ditto wants to know +what Christians ought to do--about some things." + +"And I hope you will tell him, Mr. Murray," said Flora, "what Christians +ought _not_ to do--about some things." + +Mr. Murray raised himself up on his elbows and looked at the young +people around him. It was a very pretty picture. Fair young faces, that +life had not clouded, intelligent and honest; bright young figures in +all the freshness of neat attire and excellent personal care; the +setting of the green wood, the brown carpet of pine needles, the hazy +October air, here and there the crimson of a Virginia creeper, here and +there the tawny hues of a cat-briar or a wild grape-vine; stillness and +softness over all, the chirrup of a cricket, the cawing of two crows +flying over, the interrupted tap of the woodpecker, just making you +notice how still and soft it was; and then the bright, living young +faces raised or turned, and waiting upon him. Mr. Murray looked and +smiled, and did not at once speak; then he asked what subject came +first. So many answers were begun at once that all had to stop; then +Maggie, getting the field, said-- + +"We want to know how much a Christian ought really to give, Uncle Eden." + +"Say, rather--how much he ought to do," put in Meredith. + +"Yes," added Flora; "we do want instruction on that point. Some of us +are rather wild." + +"Too big a subject for the present time and place," responded the +referee of the little company. "To-morrow is Sunday; let us keep it for +to-morrow, and come out here, or to some other place, and discuss it." + +"That is delightful!" cried Maggie clapping her hands. "Now, what were +some of the other things, Ditto?" + +"About the Saxons. But Mr. Murray did not hear our first story." + +"Oh, I know. I guess he knows. You do know about the old Saxons, don't +you, Uncle Eden?" + +"I know there was such a people." + +"And you know they were very good and very bad--both at once; and we +wanted to know _how_ they could be so much worse, and yet so much +better, than people nowadays." + +"How 'so much better'?" + +"They told the truth, Uncle Eden." + +"There were no cowards and no marriage-breakers among them," Meredith +added. + +"And then how 'so much worse'?" + +"Oh, they were cruel! they offered human sacrifices; they were +frightfully cruel." + +"Yes," said Mr. Murray thoughtfully; "the contrast seems strange. They +were a noble people in many ways." + +"But Pastor Harms says they are not half so good now that they are +Christians," Maggie went on. + +"If that is true, there must be a reason for it." + +"Yes, Uncle Eden, of course." + +"And that reason cannot be found, in their Christianity." + +"But how is it, Uncle Eden?" + +"Human nature is very much alike at all times, my child." + +"But the old Saxons were not like the old Romans, Uncle Eden. The word +of a Saxon was better than a Roman's oath." + +"And the modern Saxons are not like their forefathers," said Meredith; +"at least, according to Pastor Harms." + +"I have no doubt he is right." + +"And Frenchmen are very different from Englishmen," added Flora. + +"And both from Americans. And the Dutch from all three. We might go on +indefinitely." + +"Yet they are all descended from Noah's sons," Meredith remarked. + +"It is a very curious subject, and rather deep for some of the present +company. Many things go to make the differences between one nation and +another. In the first place, the several families of Shem, Ham and +Japheth are all strongly marked." + +"Are they, sir?" + +"Then, among the tribes of any one family, differences grow up from many +causes. From the sort of country they inhabit, the climate that +prevails, the scenery their eyes rest on, the ease or difficulty of +obtaining food, and the means necessary to that end; from the religion +they believe in, their situation with respect to commerce and +intercourse with other nations; their habits of life superinduced upon +all these." + +"But the modern Saxons live where the old Saxons did, sir?" + +"Barely. The country was at that time all one wild tract of forest and +moor, where life had need be of the simplest; and where it was sustained +in great measure by the chase and by a rude husbandry. No cities, no +churches, no libraries, no merchants, no lawyers, no fine furniture, no +delicate living. Nobody therefore wanted money, and nobody tried to get +it. That makes all the difference in the world, children." + +"Money, Uncle Eden?" + +"Look at the map of Germany now; run your eye over the cities. Remember +the treasures of art in this and that gallery; the beautiful old +buildings almost everywhere; the great trading houses; the life of +complicated interests, political, literary, scientific, social, +critical, artistic, mercantile; think of the books, the pictures, the +statuary, the jewellery, the carvings and engravings, the luxurious and +magnificent living. Everybody wants money now, and nearly everybody +either has it, or is working hard for it." + +"Does money make so much odds in national character?" Meredith asked. + +"It is the root of all evil," Mr. Murray said smiling. + +"But, Mr. Murray, you do not seriously mean that?" said Flora. + +"The Bible says it, Miss Flora; not I." + +"But what can you have, or do, that is worth anything, without money?" + +"Exactly! That is the general opinion. So everybody is striving to get +money." + +"Well, people would stagnate if they did not strive for something." + +"Quite true. Nevertheless, the Bible award proves itself. If you examine +facts, you will find that the love of money is at the bottom of nearly +all the crimes that are committed; and at the root of all the +meannesses, speaking generally." + +"Then you would make out money to be a bad thing, Mr. Murray!" + +"Not money necessarily. But 'if any man _will be rich_, he shall fall +into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, +which drown men in destruction and perdition.'" + +"Then was that the reason, Uncle Eden, why those old Saxons were so +noble, because they had no money?" + +"One reason, I fancy. Along with trade and riches, don't you see, comes +the temptation to underhand and false dealings, that money may be got +faster; and so comes cringing for the sake of advantage, and flattery +for the same. And then, with luxury comes dislike of hardships, and +neglect of manly living, and people's moral sense gets weak along with +their bodily powers. Self-indulgence drives out the noble uprightness +that was maintained when people feared nothing." + +"But religion--Christianity?" said Meredith. "That ought to have made +more difference the other way." + +"So it would if it prevailed. But a name is not Christianity; and the +real thing is only here and there. The wheat in the midst of tares, as +the Lord said it would be." + +Maggie drew a long sigh. + +"The wheat must show itself for what it is," said her uncle smiling at +her, "and bear a fine head of fruit, to rebuke the tares. Your old +Saxons, however, were a fine stock to begin with." + +"I think I understand this question," said Meredith. + +"I do, too," said Maggie. + +"I am sorry Mr. Murray thinks so ill of money," remarked Flora. + +"Of the love of it, say." + +"But how can one have it--or not have it, for that matter--and help +loving it?" + +"So the danger comes in. And the difficulty of giving it all to Christ." + +"O Uncle Eden! you are getting upon another of our questions now." + +"And we have had enough serious talk for one time. Leave it till +to-morrow, Maggie." + +"Shall I read some more?" said Meredith. "Or have you heard enough?" + +"By all means, read. This is luxury." + +And Mr. Murray stretched himself comfortably on the pine needles and +clasped his hands under his head, repeating, "This is luxury!" while +Meredith opened his book again. + +"Another Saxon story, Ditto?" Flora asked. + +"Out of the Saxon chronicles. Yes. 'The story that I am going to tell +you now, happened in ancient times and at a place called Dagefoerde. + +"'Our forefathers, the old Saxons, were then divided into ediling or +nobles, freiling or free peasants, and serfs. A freiling, by name +Henning, lived on this farm, in the days when Hermann Billing was Duke +of Saxony. At that time--it is 900 years ago--our country was already a +Christian country, but still had hard fights to go through with the +heathenish Wends, who made inroads almost yearly into our Eastphalian +land, plundering and killing, and showing a special rage against the +churches and the priests. The strong arm of the two excellent emperors, +Heinrich and Otto, it is true, kept back these heathen and held them in +awe; but, notwithstanding, they availed themselves of every opportunity +to renew their murderous onslaughts. + +"'Now when once Kaiser Otto was gone to Italy, and staying a long while +away, they were minded to profit by his absence; for they supposed that +now they could burn and lay waste to their heart's desire, and with no +hindrance. So they came with a great host, burned down the churches, +killed the priests, dragged off men, women, and children, and treasures +of booty, and came as far as to this part of the country. It is told of +their frightful rage against Christianity, that on one occasion they +took more than twenty Christian priests, stripped off their clothes, cut +bloody crosses on their faces, breasts, bodies, and backs, and then tied +them by their feet to the tails of their horses, which they drove round +and round till their victims were dragged to death.'" + +"It cost something in those days to be a Christian," said Meredith with +something of a shudder. + +"There have been many such days in the history of the Church," said Mr. +Murray. "And yet, it pays to be a Christian. It did then." + +"I do not see, for my part, how people stood it, there and in other +places," said Flora. "I should think they would not have dared to +confess they were Christians." + +"They could not be Christians and not confess--neither in those days nor +in these days." + +"Why, Uncle Eden?" said Esther, who seldom said anything. + +"You know the Lord's declaration--He will own those publicly who own Him +publicly, _and nobody else_." + +"But why couldn't they own Him privately?" + +"Will you tell me how that is to be done, my dear?" + +"Why, by beautiful Christian living and acting," said Flora. + +"Don't you see, if such living could be found among those who are in +name and profession not the Lord's, it would fight all _against_ His +cause and Him? What sort of confessing of _Him_ is that?" + +Nobody answered, and Meredith went on. + +"'In the meanwhile the valiant Duke Hermann had gathered his faithful +followers and moved forward to meet the enemy. All the ediling and +freiling were called upon for such expeditions of war, none other having +the right to bear arms. The ediling served on horseback and the freiling +on foot, and each one brought his own weapons with him. And Henning, the +freiling of Dagefoerde, was among the Christian warriors who accompanied +the Duke. Not far from here is the Huenenburg, an extent of heath on +which there are a number of burial mounds. There it came to a battle +between the Christians and the heathen. The fight was long and bloody; +Christ led the one host, Satan the other. The Christians fought for +their faith, the heathen fought for their prey. Before the battle, +Hermann with his warriors had cast himself upon his knees and besought +the Lord Christ that He would be their leader. Therewith came the storm +of the heathen upon them, already certain of victory, for they were many +and the Christian number was small; Hermann, in his noble eagerness to +protect his poor people, not having had patience to wait for further +reinforcements. But the Christians stood immovable, like a wall, and the +heathen fell in heaps under their swords and spears. In the Christian +army there were twelve priests wearing white garments, who bore a white +banner with a red cross; and wherever the fight raged most madly, +thither they carried their banner, singing, "Kyrie Eleison, Christe +Eleison, Kyrie Eleison;" the Christian warriors dashing after them, +joining in the holy song, wielding their hacked swords, and with +irresistible force driving the heathen back. In vain the heathen sought +to slay the priests and to seize their white banner; every Christian +presented his breast as its bulwark against the foe. Whichever way the +banner turned, victory went with it. Louder and louder sounded the +"Kyrie Eleison," with more and more valour and joy of victory the +Christians pressed forward. Then one of the Wendish leaders, Zwentibold +by name, gathered once more the bravest of his people to make a stormy +effort for the banner of the cross. His rage of onset broke through some +ranks of the Christians; already he had penetrated to the near +neighbourhood of the priests; when a foot-soldier from among the +Christians manfully planted himself in his way and thrust his sharp +spear against the heathen's broad breast, so that the coat of chain +armour he had on was broken, and the spear pierced through his heart. +Now there was no stand made any longer; the heathen fled, and in terror +they cried out, "Christ has conquered! Christ has conquered!" + +"'Duke Hermann looked about him to see the brave freiling who had done +such a deed of heroism; it was Henning, the freiling of Dagefoerde. For +his reward, Hermann dubbed the brave man knight upon the field of +battle, and Henning returned to his house as an ediling. Though but for +a little while. For Hermann was minded to profit by his victory and +compel his stubborn enemies to keep the peace in future. So he pushed on +with his army, now greatly reinforced, into the country of the Wends, +and Henning went with his Duke. + +"'Not far from the Elbe there was a temple of the heathenish idol +Radegast; this temple stood within a strong fortress, called the +fortress of Radegast, where now the village of Radegast lies. The +heathen had collected and carried to this place all the treasures of the +prey they had seized in their plundering incursions. Hermann resolved to +storm this fortress, and therewith to destroy the bulwark of heathenism +on this side the Elbe. The heathen defended themselves with the bravery +of despair; many assaults were beaten back, and many a Christian fell in +death before the ramparts of the fortress. The tenth day of the siege, +the Christians held divine service and on their knees prayed the Lord of +hosts to give them victory. Then they rushed upon the place to take it +by storm; and among the foremost of those who clambered up the ramparts +of the fortress was Henning of Dagefoerde, who in order to inspirit the +Christians and terrify the heathen set up the field-song of the +Huenenburg--"Kyrie Eleison, Christe Eleison, Kyrie Eleison!" Just as he +had sung it through, an arrow from one of the enemy pierced his bold +heart; he fell to the ground in death, but as a dying conqueror, who has +gained the battle for Christ and with Christ. The fortress was won; +those of the heathen who would not yield were put to death. Hermann +dashed away a tear from his manly eye as he buried the brave Henning, +and he said to Hilmer, Henning's oldest son, a boy of sixteen, who had +come along to the war, "My son, you are early fledged. Your father was a +true Christian and a true Saxon; follow in his steps, and so long as I +live, I will be your father." Of all the enormous booty which Hermann +found in the Wendenburg Radegast, this noble man kept nothing for +himself. One half of the treasures he set apart, to rebuild with them +all the churches which the Wends had burned down; the other half he +distributed among his knights and warriors. Hilmer of Dagefoerde got his +share too, and indeed a double portion, one for himself and one for his +father. When he returned home, he took counsel with his mother what they +should do with it; and they agreed together that it should be used for +the glory of God. They erected a chapel in their own house, with an +altar and all the fittings of a church. Part of the money was applied to +this use, and with the remainder a chaplaincy was founded in the church +at Hermannsburg, which at that time was the only church in the whole +Oerze valley, with the stipulation that the chaplain should come every +Sunday to Dagefoerde and hold divine service in the chapel there. A +servant, with a led horse, must go to fetch him every time from +Hermannsburg, and bring him back thither again. This service at +Dagefoerde lasted till the Reformation. But when the evangelical faith +was preached in Hermannsburg by the valiant Pastor Gruenhagen, who, as I +told you awhile ago in Tiefenthal, was converted to the pure Lutheran +doctrine by an artisan fellow who read him the little Lutheran +catechism, then this service at Dagefoerde ceased, because the possessors +of Dagefoerde held stiffly and firmly by the Catholic faith, and +obstinately rejected the pure doctrine. But now for a long time there +have been lords of Dagefoerde no more. The race died out; and when one +only of the family was left, he entered a Catholic cloister, where, in +the year 1616, he died. Then the reigning Duke gave the manor of +Dagefoerde to the lords of Lueneburg, and they again sold it to some +peasants, after they had divided the farm into two. So these farms have +again become what they were originally--peasant farms. God grant to the +present owners that they may stand firm and true to the pure faith of +our beloved church, that they may earnestly strive to be genuine +Christians and genuine Saxon peasants; then will it go well with them +and with those that come after them.'" + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + + +Meredith paused, half closed his book, was evidently pondering for a +minute, and then exclaimed, "I have learned something!" + +"Why, so have we all," said his sister. "What now particularly?" + +"I have got a hint." + +"What about? There is no fortress for you to storm, and you do not want +the treasure." + +"I think I should like to have lived in those times," Meredith went on. +"People were in earnest, Mr. Murray." + +"Yes. So are some people in these times." + +"But not the world generally; or only about making money. _Then_ people +were in earnest about things worth the while." + +"It does seem so from these stories," said Mr. Murray; "but, dear +Meredith, you may be equally in earnest about the same things now, and +with as good reason." + +"Isn't it more difficult, sir, when nobody else, or only a few here and +there, think and feel with you?" + +"Yes, more difficult; or rather, more easy to go to sleep; but so much +the greater need of men who are not asleep. What is your hint? I am +curious, with Miss Flora." + +"The way that fellow spent his treasure, sir. I was thinking, wouldn't a +chapel--that is, a little church--a little free church, at Meadow Park +be a good thing? The nearest church is two miles off; we can drive to +it, but the people who have no horses cannot, and the poor people"---- + +Meredith got a variety of answers to this suggestion. His sister opened +her mouth for an outcry of dismay. Maggie clapped her hands with a burst +of joy. Esther stared; and a smile, very sweet and wise, showed itself +on Mr. Murray's lips. + +"Quixotic!--ridiculous!" said Flora. "Isn't it, Mr. Murray? Ditto has +not money enough for everything, either. A church!--and then, I suppose, +a minister!" + +"Is it a bad notion, Mr. Murray?" inquired Meredith. + +"I should think not very." + +"Is it extravagant?" + +"Miss Flora thinks so." + +"Well, Mr. Murray, think what it would cost!" cried the young lady. + +"Not so much as a large evening party--that is, it ought not. I suppose +Meredith is not thinking of stone carvings and painted windows, but of a +neat, pleasant, pretty, plain house, where people can worship God and +hear the words of life." + +"That is it exactly," said Meredith. + +"Then I should say that one very fine evening entertainment would build +two." + +"But the minister! he must be paid," said Flora. + +"Yes, and I am not for starving a minister, either," said Mr. Murray. +"But what is Meredith to do with his income, Miss Flora?" + +"That's just what I want to know," remarked Meredith in an undertone; +while Flora answered with some irritation-- + +"He can let it accumulate till he has made up his mind." + +"'Riches kept for the owners of them, to their hurt,'" said Mr. Murray. +"Better not, Miss Flora. Remember, Meredith is only a steward. 'The +silver is mine, and the gold is mine,' saith the Lord of hosts." + +"Do you mean, Mr. Murray, that we cannot do what we like with our +money?" + +"You can do what you like with it, certainly." + +"But I mean, isn't it _right_ for us to do what we like with it?" + +"I should like to do that," murmured Meredith. + +"Miss Flora, the question is, rightly stated,--May a steward use his +lord's money for his own or his lord's pleasure?" + +Flora coloured and pouted. "But that makes religion----Why, I never +thought religion was strict like _that_. Then it isn't right to buy +jewels or dresses?" + +"Dresses--certainly." + +"But I mean, rich dresses--dresses for company. And pictures--and +horses--and books--and"---- + +"Stop, Miss Flora. The servant himself belongs to his lord; therefore he +must make of himself the very best he can. For this, books will +certainly be needed, and to some degree all the other things you have +named, except jewels and what you call _rich_ dresses. The only question +in each case is--'How can I do the Lord's work best? how can I spend +this money to honour and please Him most?' That will not always be by +the cheapest dress that can be bought, nor by checking the cultivation +of taste and the acquiring of knowledge, nor even by the foregoing of +arts and accomplishments. Only the question comes back at every step, +and must at every step be answered--'What does the Lord want me to do +_here_? Does He wish me to spend this money--or time--on myself, or on +somebody else?'" + +"Why it would be _always_ on somebody else," said Flora looking ready to +burst into tears; "and there would be no real living at all--no enjoying +of life." + +"A mistake," said Mr. Murray quietly. "The Lord told us long ago--'He +that will save his life shall lose it; and he that loseth his life for +my sake, _the same shall find it_.'" + +Flora put up her hand over her eyes, but Meredith's eyes sparkled. + +"Then you think well of my plan, Mr. Murray?" he said. + +"As far as I understand it." + +"How would the Pavilion do, for a skeleton of the church?" + +"O Ditto! the dear old Pavilion!" exclaimed Maggie. + +"Why not? I do not want to shut myself off from everybody now; and I +have the whole house--more than enough. And the Pavilion stands in a +good place near the road." + +Mr. Murray and Meredith went into a discussion of the plan, and Maggie +listened, while Flora after a while resumed her work and went moodily on +with it. At last Mr. Murray remarked-- + +"This is not so interesting to everybody, Meredith, and we have time +enough to talk it over. Suppose you go on reading." + +"Do you like these Saxon stories?" said Meredith pleased. + +"Very much." + +"There is some more hero about--not Dagefoerde exactly; but that same +fight, which I think you would like perhaps to hear." + +"And, Meredith, you did not read us about that minister who was +converted by the catechism," said Maggie. + +"No, that is another story--Pastor Gruenhagen. I will read to you first +about the fight at the Huenenburg. + +"'The Huenenburg is situated in a deep dell in the midst of the heath +about an hour from Hermannsburg; and I will relate to you what I have +found in the chronicle about it. It is nine hundred years now since a +hard-fought and terrible battle took place here, which was fought +between the Christians and the heathen. At that time the pious and +Christian Kaiser, Otto the Great, ruled in Germany (A.D. 936-973), who +loved the Lord his God with all his heart. He had gone away out of +Germany into Italy, in order to free a captive queen who was kept in +prison there by some godless folk. But he would not leave Germany +without protection; therefore he made over this country to Duke Hermann, +to govern it and to take care of it. In like manner Adaldag, Archbishop +of Hamburg and Bremen, who went with the Kaiser, confided his dominions +to the same guardianship. Now the Wends, who lived on the other side of +the Elbe, especially in Mechlenburg, and had spread themselves abroad on +this side the Elbe also, were at that time still heathen. And now when +the Kaiser was absent, they thought the time was come for marauding and +plundering, hunting the Christians out of their country, or utterly +destroying them. So they summoned up all their warriors, and that so +secretly that the Christians knew nothing of it until they came breaking +into the country. As there was nowhere any preparation for defence +against them, they robbed and plundered all that came in their way, +burned down the churches, killed the priests, and dragged the rest into +captivity for slaves. Duke Hermann was just then in the Bremen +territory, from whence he had expelled the piratical Northmen (the +Danes). There the terrible news found him. In the greatest haste he +collected his warriors to come and save his country. For the Wends had +already penetrated to Lueneburg, as far as this heath, and had laid +everything waste with fire and sword; the Hermannsburg church was +destroyed by them at that time. Here upon this ground they had made a +strong encampment, and surrounded it with ditches and fortifications +like a fortress; they were from fifty to sixty thousand men strong, in +horsemen and footmen, and all of them alive with the same enraged hatred +of the Christians, and determined that every trace of Christianity +should be wiped away from the land. In August of the year 945 Duke +Hermann marched hither out of the Bremen country, over the northern +heights of Liddernhausen and Dohnsen. When he saw himself with his eight +thousand men on foot and two thousand horsemen confronted by the great +host of the Wends, he said to his faithful followers--"We must fight; +whether God will give us the victory, we must leave with Him." Then +stepped up one of his knights before him, who is called in the chronicle +"the brave Conrad," of the now extinct race of them of Haselhorst, and +spoke:-- + +"'"Let us get a token from God. I will go forward and challenge one of +the enemy to single combat; so will the Lord show us to whom He has +allotted the victory." + +"'Duke Hermann gave permission. The knight, followed at some distance by +a hundred men, who were to see that all was done in order, rode alone +into the defile and challenged Mistewoi, the leader of the Wends, to +send one of his people to meet him in single combat. Then stepped +forward Zwentibold, a Wend of giant stature, clad in a dragon skin and +with a shirt of link-mail over it, and on the head of his helmet the +black image of his god Zernebok; behind him also a hundred men to look +on. The Christian knight first called upon God to be his helper and +protection: "Lord remember how Thou gavest strength to Thy servant David +against the giant Goliath who had reviled Thy name; so now to-day +establish Thy glory among the heathen, and show plainly that Thou art +the true God." + +"'Upon that, with lances in rest, they charged upon each other; and when +the spears were splintered in that first shock, then it came to a fight +with swords, man against man. Suddenly comes a traitor's arrow from the +Wends flying through the air and kills the Christian's horse. But their +wickedness turns to their own knight's ruin. For as the Wend gallops up +to the fallen Christian, and is about to cut him down with a stroke from +above, up springs the Christian knight and thrusts his sword in under +the other's shoulder, so that he falls dead from his horse. The victory +is won! But hereupon comes new treachery. For now those hundred Wends +charge straight down upon the German knight. As his own attendants +perceive this, they hasten to his help, nothing loath; the armies on +both sides close in, and the fight soon becomes general. It is fought +with the utmost bitterness and bravery on both sides till evening fall. +But the Christians all the while press steadily forward. + +"'While the men wielded the sword, the wives of the Christians came out +to the field, drew away the wounded and sucked the blood from their +wounds (because they believed that the arrows of the Wends were +poisoned), bound them up, and encouraged their husbands and sons to make +brave fight. A company of twelve priests carried a banner with a red +cross on a white ground. The priests sang, "Kyrie Eleison!" ("Lord, have +mercy upon us!") "Christe Eleison! Kyrie Eleison!" and the people chimed +in. A terror of God went with them wherever they went and scattered the +Wends from every place where the white banner came. As one of the +heathen leaders with a company was making a determined rush upon the +banner, the peasant of Dagefoerde drove his spear through the chieftain's +coat of mail into his breast. Thereupon the heathen all fled. And all +the Christians fell upon their knees, and all cried out, "Lord God, we +praise Thee!" Then the priests spoke the benediction over the victorious +host. And they left nothing remaining of the enemy's camp, but destroyed +it entirely, because they would not suffer any heathen works upon their +ground. But the name has remained; for Huehnen was the name our +forefathers gave to all heathen; that came from the Huns in the first +place, who fell upon the Christians with such heathenish rage. So that +place is called Huehnenburg until this day. + +"'The church at Hermannsburg was rebuilt again after that time. And soon +also Christianity came to the Wends, and the Lord Jesus was conqueror +over them all.'" + +"You read part of that before," said Maggie. + +"Part of the story; but I thought you would like to have the whole." + +"Oh, I do. But I thought it was Zwentibold that Henning of Dagefoerde +killed, when he was trying to get at the white banner." + +"Maybe there were two Zwentibolds; or the story got a little confused +among the old chroniclers." + +"Then how is one to know which is true?" + +"It is difficult, very often, Maggie," her uncle said smiling. "Human +testimony is a strange thing, and very susceptible of getting confused." + +"What will you read next, Ditto? About the minister who was converted?" + +"Oh, no," said Flora. "Let the catechism alone. Haven't you got some +more Saxon stories, Meredith?" + +"Plenty. Which shall it be, Mr. Murray?" + +"Saxon, for this time." + + +"'THE REMMIGA FARM. + +"'As in my former narrations I have told of the glorious victory which +with God's help Landolf gained over the old priest Heinrich and his +children, I will tell you now of a third victory which the Lord granted +him. An hour from here was a farm which in the chronicle is called the +Remmiga manor; it was inhabited by a free man named Walo. His wife's +name was Odela, sometimes the chronicle calls her Adela. The name is +one, for the word Adel is often written and spoken as Odel in the old +manuscripts. The pair had a son, who bore his father's name. + +"'As owner of a head manor, Walo was at the same time priest of the +community, which dignity always went along with the possession of a +chief manor among the old Saxons. All the councils and courts of the +community were held under his presidency; he brought the sacrifices +thereto pertaining; and it is easy to imagine what consideration on all +these accounts he enjoyed. This consideration was still further +heightened by the fact of his knowledge of the old laws and customs, and +by his incorruptible truth and uprightness. Like Heinrich, he too was at +the beginning a determined enemy of the Christian religion. Landolf +visited him frequently and told him about the Lord Jesus, but Walo's ear +was deaf to the truth of the gospel. He knew from old legends that once +upon a time two brothers, the white and the black Ewald, who had +preached Christianity among the Saxons, had been by them sacrificed to +their idols. And so, with Saxon tenacity holding fast to the old +traditions, he told Landolf to his face that in justice he ought to +suffer the same fate which had fallen upon the two Ewalds; and that it +could not be carried out upon him, simply because the decision of the +people, taken by the national assembly at the stone-houses, once taken +became a law, according to which the free preaching of the gospel was +permitted. Landolf did not allow himself to be daunted by this, but +continued his visits and his teachings; for he observed that Walo, in +spite of all that, always listened with attention when he told about the +Lord Christ. + +"'One day Landolf came again to Remmiga. He found Walo sitting in front +of his dwelling, by the place of sacrifice, where the assemblies of the +district were wont to be held, still and sunk in his own thoughts. Near +him stood his wife Odela and his little son, who was perhaps twelve +years old. The boy ran joyously to meet Landolf and said--"It is nice +that you have come. I have just been asking father to let me go away +with you; I would like to hear a great deal about the Lord Jesus; I want +to be His disciple. Mother is glad; and," he whispered softly, "she +loves the Son of God too; but father feels very troubled, and don't like +it; he says he has lost his wife and his son to-day!" Odela gave Landolf +her hand and spoke aloud. "Yes, I love Jesus; I want to be His disciple; +but Walo will have none of it; and so I too will go with you, that I may +hear about Jesus and be baptized." + +"'Landolf hardly knew where he stood. Until this time Odela and her son +had listened in silence when he talked about Jesus, but never a word had +they spoken. Now they told him how, while he talked, the Lord Jesus had +so grown in their hearts that they could not get loose from Him again; +and they did not wish to get loose; for they wanted to be saved and to +come into the Christian's heaven, where Jesus is and the holy angels. + +"'Then up rose Walo, turned a dark look upon Landolf, and said to him, +"Thou hast led astray my wife and my son with thy words, and now I have +no wife and no son any more. Go out of my grounds; take my wife and my +son with thee; they have no love for me any longer; their love is for +Jesus." + +"'"O Walo!" Landolf answered, "seest thou not yet that thy gods are dead +idols? Dost thou not see that Jesus is the true, the living God? Jesus +has won their hearts; thine idols cannot win hearts; thou mayest see +that by thy wife and thy son. Let Jesus gain thy heart too. You shall +all three be saved." + +"'Walo shook his head. "He wins not my heart!" + +"'"Then," cried the servant of the Lord joyfully, "then shall thy wife +and thy son win thy heart for Jesus. Thy wife and thy son desire to be +baptized. Thou canst not hinder them: they are free; they are noble +born. I am going to baptize them now, this day, in thy presence; for +they believe in Jesus that He is the Son of God. But I know that thy +wife and thy son are dear to thee, and thou art very dear to them, only +Jesus is dearer yet. Let them remain with thee after they are baptized; +do not thrust them out from thy house. And if, when they are baptized, +they love thee still better than formerly, if they are more dutiful to +thee than formerly, wilt thou then believe that Jesus is mightier than +thine idols? Thou hast often told me that Odela is proud and passionate, +though in all else good and noble. Now if when she is baptized she +becomes humble and gentle, wilt thou then believe that Jesus can give +people new hearts?" + +"'Walo looked at the glad Landolf with an astonished face. "Odela humble +and gentle!" said he. "Yes, then I will believe that Jesus can make the +heart new; I will believe that He is God, and I will worship Him." + +"'"Give me thy right hand, Walo," said Landolf; "I know a Saxon keeps +his word and never tells a lie, and Walo before all others." + +"'They shook hands. Landolf did not delay. He went immediately for +Hermann and Heinrich, and fetched them to share in his joy and to act as +the sponsors. And oh, how gladly they came! That same evening Adela and +her son were baptized in the name of the Triune God; and Landolf +joyously reminded them that he had promised Walo his wife and his son +should win his heart for Christ. + +"'A year passed away, and on the very day on which Adela and her son had +been baptized, Walo also received baptism; for the Christianised Adela +had become humble and gentle, because Jesus dwelt in her heart; and +after their baptism she and her son had loved the husband and father +still more ardently, and had been more obedient to him than before. Walo +confessed, "they are better than I." Oh, the Christian walk, the +Christian walk! how mighty it is to convert! The walk of Christians is +the living preaching of the living God. + +"'And now a Christian chapel was erected by Walo at Remmiga, on the +place of sacrifice; and around the chapel there rose up a Christian +village, which established itself upon his soil and territory; a brook +ran through the new village, which was therefore called Bekedorf, and is +called so at the present day; it lies in the parish of Hermannsburg. The +chapel stood till the Thirty Years' War; it was burnt down then by +Tilly's marauders, and has never been built up again. But there is more +of the story. Walo died old and full of days, in the arms of his wife +and son. Landolf had gone home long before, and so had old Hermann and +Heinrich. But the young Walo had grown to be the most faithful friend of +Hermann's son, who was also named Hermann, and who by Kaiser Otto the +Great was made Duke of Saxony. So then, when Hermann Billing was made +the Kaiser's lieutenant of the kingdom in Northern Germany, upon +occasion of Otto's journey into Italy, Hermann made his faithful Walo a +graf, that is, one of the chief judges of the country; and he travelled +about and wrought justice and righteousness, and was, as the Scripture +says of an upright judge, "for a terror to evil-doers and the praise of +them that did well." He married Odelinde, a noble young lady, who also +loved the Saviour, and had been brought up by the good cloister ladies +at the Quaenenburg. They led a happy and God-fearing life, but they had +no children. When now both of them were old and advanced in years, +Odelinde one day was reminding her husband of the blessing she had +received from the pious training of the cloister ladies; and she asked +him whether, as they had no children, and were rich, they might not +found another cloister with their money, in which noble young girls +should be educated by good cloister sisters. Walo complied with her wish +gladly; for he loved the kingdom of God, and at that time the cloisters +were simply the abodes of piety; they were not yet places of idleness, +but of diligence; not homes of lawlessness, but of modesty; not of +superstition, but of faith. + +"'About four miles from his place on the river Boehme lay a wide tract of +meadow land, bordered by a magnificent thick wood of oaks and beeches. +When Walo travelled through the country as graf, he had often been +greatly pleased with this spot; and it had occurred to him that such +beauty ought not to remain any longer given up to wild beasts, but +should become a dwelling-place for men. This thought recurred now +vividly to his mind. His wife desired to see the place too. So they went +to view it, and decided to build a cloister there, around which then +other human dwellings would grow up, but the cloister itself should be +the home of pious ladies whose special business should be the bringing +up of nobly-born young girls. The wood was rooted up' (_roden_ is to +root up); 'and on the _Rode_' (that is, the space cleared) 'the cloister +was built, which thereupon was called _Walo's Rode_; about which later +the village _Walsrode_ was settled, which still later spread itself out +into a little city, having the cloister to thank for its origin. Walo +not only built the cloister at his own expense, but also endowed it for +its support with the tithes of the Bekedorf village, which belonged to +the manor. It is but a little while since the Bekedorfers bought off +these tithes. + +"'I must state, however, that in my extracts from the chronicle there +occurs a divergence from the usual dates. That is, I have formerly read +under a picture of Graf Walo in the cloister church at Walsrode the +number of the year 986. In my extracts, on the other hand, it is said +that the cloister was founded by Walo in the year of grace 974, and +consecrated by Bishop Landward of Muenden. The last can be explained by +the fact that the valley of the Oerze belonged to the see of Muenden and +not to the nearer Verden, and therefore Walsrode also being founded from +hence, must be consecrated by the Muenden bishop. But as to the +difference of the two dates, I can do nothing further to clear that up, +since I am no investigator of history, but have singly written down what +I have found.'" + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + + +"I like that," said Maggie sedately. + +"How curiously near it seems to bring the Middle Ages!" said Meredith. +"The picture of Graf Walo!--and Pastor Harms has seen it." + +"Why couldn't Walo build a schoolhouse without making a cloister of it?" +asked Maggie. + +"There were really reasons, apart from religious ones," Mr. Murray +replied. "You remember your views of old castles on the Rhine, perched +up on inaccessible heights?" + +"It must have been very inconvenient," said Flora. "Imagine it!" + +"It would have been worse than inconvenient to live below in the valley. +A rich noble could not have been sure of keeping any precious thing his +house held--unless his retainers were very numerous and always on duty; +and in that case the lands would have come by the worst. The only really +secure places, Maggie, were the religious houses." + +"What dreadful times!" said Flora. + +"So these stories show them." + +"Uncle Eden," said Esther, "it is time to go in and get ready for +dinner." + +"Is it? Oh, this pine wood is better than dinner! Look how the light is +coming red through the boles of the trees! Feel this air that is playing +about my face! Smell the pines!" + +"But you will want dinner, Uncle Eden, all the same, and it will be +ready." + +"Well," said Mr. Murray, rousing himself so far as to get up on one +elbow. + +"Where shall we go for our reading to-morrow afternoon?" said Maggie. + +"The Lookout rock," suggested Meredith. + +"Do you like that, Uncle Eden?" + +"I like it all, Maggie. If to-morrow is like to-day, I think the Lookout +rock will be very enjoyable." + +"And then you can look at the sky while you are talking to us," said +Maggie comfortably. + +"Why precisely at the sky?" Meredith asked laughing. + +"Oh, it's so beautiful up there sometimes." + +They sauntered slowly back to the house, through the sweet pines, under +the illuminating red rays which were coming level against the +tree-stems. Then out of the wood and among the flower-beds and shrubbery +surrounding the house; with the open view of sky and river, purple-brown +and ruddy gold lights flowing upon the sides of the hills, reflecting +the western brilliance, which yet was warm and rich rather than +dazzling. + +"I never saw such a place as this!" exclaimed Meredith for the fourth or +fifth time. + +"The world is a wonderful place generally," observed Mr. Murray +thoughtfully. "Rich--rich! 'the riches of His grace,' and the riches of +His wisdom." + +They were a very happy party at dinner. Fenton, it is true, came out +singularly in the conversation, and gave a number of details respecting +life at school and his views of life in the world. Mr. Murray's answers +however were so humorous, and so wise and sweet at the same time, that +it seemed Fenton only furnished a text for the most pleasant discourse. +And after dinner Maggie got out stereoscopic views, and she and others +delighted themselves with a new look at the Middle Ages. + +"What a strange thing it must be," said Meredith, "to live where every +farm and every church has a history; of course every village." + +"Haven't farms and villages in our country a history?" Maggie inquired. + +"No," said Esther; "of course not." + +"A few," said Mr. Murray. "Such New England farms, for instance, as +still bear the names 'Lonesome' and 'Scrabblehard.' But the histories +are not very old, and refer to nothing more picturesque than the +struggles of the early settlers." + +"What struggles?" Maggie wanted to know. + +"Struggles for life. With the hard soil, with the hard climate, and with +the wild Indians. But such struggles, Maggie, left an inheritance of +strength, patience, and daring to their children." + +"Why haven't we stories like those of the Saxons?" + +"Why!" exclaimed Fenton impatiently, "are you such a simple? There was +nothing here but red Indians till a little while ago." + +"We have not been a nation for more than a hundred years, Maggie," said +Meredith. + +"And before that, were the Indians here at Mosswood?" + +"No, no," said Fenton. "You had better study history." + +"As _you_ have," put in his uncle. "Won't you tell Maggie when the first +settlements of the English were made in America?" + +However, Fenton could not. + +"In the beginning of the seventeenth century it was, Maggie, that the +first colonies were established here. The Dutch came to New York, and +the Puritans to New England, and a little earlier the English colonists +to Virginia. We are a young country." + +"Is it better to be a young country, or to be an old one?" + +"The young country has its life before it," said Mr. Murray +smiling;--"like a young girl." + +"How, Uncle Eden?" + +"She has the chance still to make it noble and beautiful." + +"We can't have these grand old castles, though," said Meredith, looking +at the view of Sonneck. + +"Those are the picturesque scars remaining of a time which was not +beautiful--except to the eye. I suppose it was that." + +The conversation took a turn too historical to be reported here. + +The next day was a worthy successor of the preceding. All the party went +to church in the morning; on account of the distance, nobody went in the +afternoon. Mr. Candlish would not have his horses and servants called +out in the latter half of the day. The dinner was early; and so then +after dinner the party set out upon a slow progress to the Lookout rock, +carrying Bibles, and Meredith with his little German volume in his +pocket. + +Another such afternoon as the yesterday's had been! Warm, still, +fragrant, hazy; more hazy than ever. The outlines of the distant hills +were partially veiled; the colours on the middle distance glowing, +mellow and soft, all the sun's glitter being shielded off. Slowly and +enjoyingly the little company wandered along, leaving the lawns and +pleasure ground of flowers behind them; through the cedars, past the +spot where a day or two ago they had sat and read and eaten their +chicken pie. Past that, and then up a winding steep mountain road that +led up to the height of the point above. Just before the top was reached +they turned off from the way towards the left, whence glimpses of the +river had been coming to them, and after a few steps over stones and +under the trees which covered all the higher ground, emerged from both +upon a broad, smooth, top of a great outlying mass of granite rock which +overhung the river. Not literally; a stone dropped from the edge would +have rolled, not fallen, into the water; a stone thrown from the hand +easily might have done the latter. The precipice was too sheer to let +any but those sitting on the very edge of the rock look down its rugged, +tree-bedecked side. However, Mr. Murray and Meredith at once placed +themselves on that precise edge of the platform, while the girls and +Fenton sat down in what they considered a safer position. A hundred feet +below, just below, rolled the broad river; Mosswood's projecting point +to the right still shutting off all view of the upper stream, while the +jutting forth of Gee's point below on the other side equally cut off the +southern reach of the river. The trees at hand, right and left, above +and below, standing in autumn's gay colours; the hillsides and curves of +the opposite shore showing the same hues more mild under the veil of +haze and the distance. Not a leaf fluttered on its stem in the deep +stillness; but far down below one could hear the soft lapping of the +water as it flowed past the rocks. The stillness and the light filled up +the measure of each other's beauty. + +For a while everybody was silent. There was a spell of nature, which +even the young people did not care to break. Flora drew a long breath, +at last, and then Maggie spoke. + +"Uncle Eden, we came here to talk." + +"Did we?" + +"I thought we did--to talk and to read." + +"Nature is doing some talking, and we are listening." + +"What does Nature say?" + +"Do you hear nothing?" + +Maggie thought she _did_, and yet she could not have told what. "It is +not very plain, Uncle Eden," she remarked. + +"It becomes plainer and plainer the older you grow, Maggie,--that is, +supposing you keep your ears open." + +"But I would like to know what your ears hear, Uncle Eden." + +"It will be more profitable to go into the subjects you wanted to +discuss. What are they?" + +"I made a list of them, Uncle Eden," said Maggie, foisting a crumpled +bit of paper out of her pocket. "Uncle Eden, Ditto read to us some +stories which you didn't hear,--it was just before you came,--about poor +people who gave the only pennies they had to pay for sending +missionaries, and went without their Sunday lunch to have a penny to +give; and Flora said she thought it was wrong; and we couldn't decide +how much it was right to do." + +"It is a delicate question." + +"Well, how much _ought_ one, Uncle Eden?" + +"You do not want to go without your lunch?" + +"No, sir. Ought I, Uncle Eden?" + +"My dear, the Lord's rule is, 'Every man according as he purposeth in +his heart, so let him give. What you _want_ to give, that is what the +Lord likes to receive." + +"Don't He like to receive anything but what we like to give?" + +"He says, 'The Lord loveth a cheerful giver.'" + +There was a pause. + +"But, Mr. Murray," said Flora, "isn't there such a thing as a duty of +giving?" + +"There is such a thing." + +"That is what we want to know. What is it? What is the duty, I mean?" + +"What does the Bible say it is, you mean?" + +"Yes, sir, certainly." + +"I am afraid you will think the rule a sweeping one. The Lord said, +'This is my commandment, that ye love one another as I have loved you.'" + +Another pause. + +"But we were talking of _giving_, Mr. Murray." + +"Love will give where it is needful." + +"But will nothing but love give?" + +"Not to the Lord." + +"To what, then?" said Flora hastily. + +"To custom--to public opinion--to entreaty--to conscience--to fear--to +kindness of heart." + +"And isn't that right?" + +"It is not giving to the Lord." + +"Well, Mr. Murray, take it so; how much ought one to give, as you say, +to the Lord?" + +"All." + +"And be a beggar!" said Flora quickly. + +"No; only the Lord's steward." + +"That is exactly what I thought Mr. Murray would say," said Meredith. + +"Then it comes back to the first question, Mr. Murray. Suppose I am a +steward, how much must I give away out of my hand?" + +"If you are a good steward, your question will be different. It will +rather run thus--'What does my Master want me to do with this money?' +and if you are a loving servant, naturally the things which are dear to +your Master's heart will be dear to yours." + +"You are speaking in generals, Mr. Murray," said Flora frettedly; "come +to details, and then I shall know. What objects are dear to His heart?" + +"Don't you know that, Miss Flora?" + +"No, I don't think I do. Please to answer, Mr. Murray, what are the +objects, as you say, dear to His heart?" + +"All the people He died for." + +Flora paused again. + +"I can't reach all those people," she said softly. + +"No. Do good to all those who come within your reach." + +"What sort of good?" + +"Every sort they need," said Mr. Murray smiling. + +"Do you think it is wrong to wear diamonds, Mr. Murray?" + +"Certainly not,--if you think the money will serve the Lord best in that +way, and if your love to Him can express itself best so." + +A muttered growl from Fenton expressive of extreme disgust was just not +distinct enough to call for rebuke. + +"Then I suppose, according to that, I am never to buy a silk dress that +is at all expensive," said Flora, the colour mounting into her handsome +face. "And costly furniture of course must be wrong, and everything else +that is costly." + +"_Your_ conclusions--not mine, Miss Flora," remarked Mr. Murray +good-humouredly. "It is a matter of loving stewardship; and love easily +finds its way to its ends, always." + +"And Meredith wants to know what he shall do with Meadow Park," said +Maggie. + +"Yes. Ah, Mr. Murray! do say something to stop him," added Flora. "Do +not let him spoil Meadow Park." + +"To turn the Pavilion into a pretty little church would spoil nothing, +Miss Flora, as it seems to me." + +"No, but that is not all. Meredith is persuaded that he must make the +place a home for old women, and a refuge for sick people, and fill it +with loafers generally. Mamma and I will have to run away and be without +any home at all; and don't you think he owes something to us?" + +"I have not decided upon anything, Mr. Murray," said Meredith smiling, +though he was very earnest. "I just wish I knew what I had best do." + +"Pray for direction, and then watch for the answer." + +"How would the answer come, Mr. Murray?" asked Flora. + +"He will know when he gets it. Come, Meredith--read." + +"About the man with the catechism?" said Maggie. + +"If you like. It will be a change from the Saxon times," said Meredith. +And he wheeled about a little and reclined upon the rock, so as to turn +his face towards his hearers. "But what a delicious place to read and +talk, Mr. Murray!" + +"Nothing can be better." + +"This story begins with Pastor Harms's account of part of one of the +Mission festivals that used to be held at Hermannsburg every year." + +"Will that be interesting?" said Flora. + +"Listen and see. I pass over the account of the first day." + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + + +"'The first day's celebration of our Mission festival was at an end. It +was then not early, but still on until late in the night the sounds of +the songs of praise and thankfulness were to be heard in the houses, +from the parsonage out to the furthest outlying houses of the peasants, +and so it was also in the surrounding villages; for the parish village +could by no means accommodate all the guests who had come to the +festival, albeit not only the chambers and dwelling-rooms, but also the +haylofts were made lodging-places for the sleepers. And that was a +blessed evening, when so many brethren and sisters from far and near +could refresh themselves with one another's company and pour out their +hearts together. I thank God that so many pastors and teachers were +come, too, and also our faithful superintendent was not wanting. It is +right that the heads of the Church should not be missing at such a +festival. + +"'The next day--and we had prayed the Lord to give us good weather for +it--we were to go to a place in the midst of the lonely heath, called +Tiefenthal."' + +"What does that mean?" Maggie interrupted. + +"_Tief_ means deep. _Thal_ means valley." + +"'Deep valley,'" said Maggie. "But I do not understand what a _heath_ +is." + +"Naturally. We do not have them in this country, that ever I heard of," +said Meredith. + +"Neither here nor in England," said Mr. Murray. "For miles and miles the +Lueneburger heath is an ocean of purple bloom; that is, in the time when +the heather is in blossom. But there are woods also in places, and in +other places lovely valleys break the spread of the purple heather, +where grass and trees and running water make lovely pictures. Sometimes +one comes to a hill covered with trees; and here and there you find +solitary houses and bits of farms, but scattered apart from each other, +so that great tracts of the heath are perfectly lonely and still. You +see nothing and hear nothing living, except perhaps some lapwings in the +air, and a lizard now and then, and humming beetles, and maybe here and +there some frogs where there happens to be a wet place, and perhaps a +landrail; elsewhere a general, soft, confused humming and buzzing of +creatures that you cannot see, and the purple waves of heather, only +interrupted here and there by a group of firs or a growth of bushes +along the edge of a ditch." + +"O Uncle Eden!" cried Maggie, "have you been there? And do you know the +village, too?" + +"_The_ village? Pastor Harms's village--do you mean, Hermannsburg? Yes. +It is like many others. Two long lines of cottages, the little river +Oerze cutting it in two, beautiful old trees shading it,--that is the +village. The cottages are not near each other; gardens and fields lie +between; and at the gable of every house is a wooden horse or horse's +head; from the old Saxon times, you know. No dirt and no squalor and no +beggars nor misery to be seen in Hermannsburg. That, I suppose, is much +owing to Pastor Harms's influence." + +"Thank you, Uncle Eden," said Maggie with a sigh of intense interest. +"Now you can go on, Ditto. They were going out into the heath. All the +people?" + +"I suppose so. 'To a place in the midst of the heath solitudes called +Tiefenthal. Why? I had not told them that; I wanted to tell it to them +first of all on the spot. I had another reason besides, though; I wanted +to have the sun beat a little in African fashion on the heads of the +guests at our festival, so that our brethren in Africa might not be the +only ones hot. So at nine o'clock the next morning the great crowd of +those who were to make the pilgrimage with us from Hermannsburg, were +assembled at the Mission-house under the banner of the cross, which +fluttered joyously from the high flagstaff. It was hard for me not to be +able to walk with the rest, but I was only just recovered from a severe +illness. A pilgrimage is the pleasantest going on earth to me. One can +sing by the way so joyfully with the hosts that are moving along; one +can talk so cordially and so familiarly about the kingdom of God in the +crowd of the brethren; and now and then one gets a chance by a shallow +ditch to tumble one of one's fellow pilgrims over, especially one of the +children. I had to do without all that and get into a waggon. When I +came to the Mission-house, the procession set itself in motion towards +the high grounds of the heath. With sounding of trumpets and amid songs +of praise the crowds travelled on, for nearly two hours long, all the +while mounting higher and higher, and truly, for God had heard our +prayer, under a burning sunshine. Many a one had to sweat for it +soundly; even I in the waggon. It was a picturesque procession; a whole +long row of carriages and these crowds of people; the solitary heath had +become all alive. At last a not inconsiderable height was reached, where +the ground fell off suddenly into a steep, precipitous dell. This was +Tiefenthal. It is a very narrow valley, or rather a cut between two +hills, one of which is bare, the other covered with a luxuriant growth +of evergreens. Below stands an empty bee enclosure, called the Pastor's +Beefield, because it as well as the wood-covered hill belongs to the +pastor of Hermannsburg. From all the farms round about hosts of pilgrims +were coming at the same time with us, travelling along; and like the +brooks which after a thunder-shower plunge down from the hills to the +lower ground, even so the waves of humanity rolled towards Tiefenthal. +At last, then, I took my stand on the slope of the bare hill, surrounded +by the brethren who bore the trumpets in their hands, the blast of which +sounded mightily through the dell and broke in a quivering echo upon the +opposite hill. Countless hosts lay upon the two slopes and in the bottom +of the dell, and out of many thousand throats the song of praise to the +Lord rose into the blue dome of the sky. + +"'First was sung, with and without accompaniment of the trumpets, the +lovely hymn-- + + "Rejoice, ye Christians all, + His Son by God is given," &c. + +to the glorious melody, "Aus meines Herzens Grund!" Then, when the +mighty sounds died away, followed the preaching, upon Hebrews xi. +32-40.'" + +"Read that passage, Maggie," said her uncle. + +Maggie read: + +"'And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of +Gideon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthah; of David also, and +Samuel, and of the prophets: who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought +righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched +the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness +were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of +the aliens. Women received their dead raised to life again: and others +were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a +better resurrection: and others had trial of cruel mockings and +scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonments: they were stoned, +they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they +wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, +tormented; (of whom the world was not worthy;) they wandered in deserts, +and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.'--Uncle Eden, that +was a great while ago, wasn't it?" + +"_That_ was." + +"But I mean, people don't do so now, do they?" + +"Not here, just now, in America. But nothing is changed in human nature +or the relations of the two parties, since the Lord said to the serpent, +'I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and +her seed.'" + +"But does that mean _that_, Uncle Eden? I thought the seed of the woman +was Christ?" + +"It is. But the devil fights against Christ in the persons of his +people; and the 'seed of the serpent,' the children of the devil, hate +the children of God, from Cain's time down. 'If they have persecuted me +they will also persecute you,' the Lord said." + +"There is no persecution here, though, in this country, Mr. Murray?" +said Flora. + +"Not persecution with fire and sword. But nothing is changed, Miss +Flora. It will be fire and sword again, just so soon as the devil sees +his opportunity. So all history assures us. Go on, Meredith; let us see +what Pastor Harms made of his text--or doesn't he tell?" + +"I'll go on, sir, and you'll see. 'As you have just heard out of the +Holy Scriptures, so it has been, my dear friends, with the faithful +witnesses and martyrs of the truth; hacked to pieces, run through the +body, slain with the sword, or left to wander in the deserts, on the +mountains, in dens and caves of the earth, of whom the world was not +worthy. Even in the New Testament we read how Peter and Paul had to +suffer imprisonment, how Stephen was stoned, James beheaded with the +sword; how the Jews persecuted all the confessors of the most blessed +Saviour, dragged them out of their houses, threw them into prisons, and +took joy in stoning them. And even as the Jews began it, the heathen +have carried it on; and not hundreds or thousands, but many hundred +thousands of Christians in the ten great Christian persecutions sealed +their belief in the Lord Jesus and their faithful confession of His holy +name with their blood. In our last year's Mission festival in Mueden, I +told you how the holy apostles Peter and Paul met their death like +heroes and martyrs; our beloved Hermannsburg church is named after them; +and I told you about Saint Lawrence, after whom the church in Mueden is +called. "And to-day," you are questioning, "to-day are you going to tell +us about martyrs again? We conclude so, from the text you have chosen! +But wherefore always about martyrs?" My beloved, I have a special love +to the martyrs; and I do not know how it happens, at every Mission +festival they come with special vividness before my mind. I believe it +arises from this: that I am persuaded the ever-growing zeal for missions +among all earnest Christians is a token that before long the Church of +Christ will have to take her flight out of Europe; and so the +unconscious efforts of Christians is towards preparing a place for the +Church among the wilds of heathenism. And therefore I believe that the +times of martyrdom will cease to be far-off times for us any longer; +that the kingdom of Antichrist is drawing near with speedier and +speedier steps, is becoming daily more powerful; the apostasy from +Christ is becoming constantly greater and more decided; Christianity is +growing more and more like a putrid carcass, and where the carcass is, +there the eagles are gathered together. And therefore missions are +becoming more evidently the banner around which all living Christians +rally; for what is written in the Revelation xii. 14-17, will soon +receive its fulfilment. And when I see such great crowds of Christians +singing praise and keeping holy day, then the thought always comes to +me, How would it be if persecution were to break loose now? would all +these be true witnesses and martyrs, and rather bear suffering, and +yield up the last drop of their blood and endure any torments, than fall +away and deny Christ? Oh, and when I reflect how mightily in those times +of bloody persecution the Christian Church gave her testimony and fought +and suffered; what a power of Faith, Hope, and Love made itself known, +that could shout for joy at the stake; and when I think how cold, how +lukewarm, how loveless Christianity is now--I could almost wish for a +mighty persecution to come, to break up the rotten peace of Christians, +who have grown easy and luxurious and to arouse again the right heroism +of the soldiers of God. + +"'It is not only in the times of the Jews and the Romans, at the first +founding of the Christian Church, that such mighty battles of heroes +have been fought; the dear and blessed time of the Reformation has had +its martyrs, who for the pure Word and true sacrament of our beloved +Lutheran Church staked their persons and lives. Who does not know those +two faithful disciples, who amid songs of praise were burned at the +stake at Cologne on the Rhine? that Heinrich von Zutphen who had to give +up his life in Ditmarsh? those thousands who were murdered or burned by +the Catholic Inquisition? those thousands who had to pine away in the +prisons and cloisters of the Catholics? without reckoning the hundreds +of thousands in the religious wars stirred up by the Catholics, who made +the battle-fields fat with their blood, and have died for the faith of +their Church? And now I will tell you why I have brought you here to-day +to this Tiefenthal. We stand upon holy ground here, upon ground of the +martyrs. Hear what your fathers suffered for the sake of the pure, true +Word and sacrament. + +"'The story that I am going to tell you must have been acted out +somewhere between 1521 and 1530. For in the chronicle where I have read +the story mention is made of the Diet at Speier, but nothing is said of +the Diet at Augsburg.'" + +"Stop, Ditto, please," said Maggie. "What's a _diet_?" + +"The supreme council of the German Empire, composed of princes and +representatives of independent cities of the empire. The famous Diet of +Augsburg was held in 1530." + +"What was it famous for?" + +"Famous for an open, bold confession and declaration of the Protestant +faith by a few Protestant princes in the midst of the crowd of Catholics +assembled at the Diet." + +"Well, Meredith!" + +"'Nothing is said of the Diet at Augsburg. And certainly some mention +would have been made of it if it had already taken place, since our +beloved princes the Dukes Ernst and Francis of Lueneburg had their share +in the precious confession of faith. At that time there was in +Hermannsburg a young Catholic pastor, descended from a noble patrician +family; he was called Christopher Gruenhagen, and was a kind-hearted man. +One day'"---- + +"Stop a minute, Ditto. Some people were Catholics then, and some were +Protestants?" + +"Why, that is how they are now, Maggie," said her sister. + +"But I mean, there--in Germany." + +"It is so still in Germany," said Meredith. "But then was just the +beginning of the Reformation, Maggie. Luther was preaching, and the +world was in a stir generally." + +"'One day there comes to Pastor Gruenhagen a sort of artisan fellow, who +asked for a bit of bread. It was in winter time, and the poor man was +quite benumbed with cold. Pastor Gruenhagen took pity on him, had him +served with food and drink, and made him sit down in the _Flett_ (that +is, the open hall of the house with its low fireplace) that he might +also warm his cold limbs. After the man had eaten, not forgetting to +pray either, he stretched his legs comfortably down by the warm hearth, +and then drew a small MS. book out of his pocket, in which he began to +read with eager and devout attention. Gruenhagen wondered that the man +could read, and more especially that he could read writing. Now, indeed, +an artisan would take it ill if anybody were surprised to find him able +to read. But the fact that all of us, even the poorest and the smallest, +can read now, is just one of the blessings of the Reformation, under +which the first schools for the people were established. In those days +only scholars and priests could read, and the laity, even the nobles, +knew nothing about it. So Gruenhagen steps up curiously to the remarkable +artisan who knows so much as to read, and asks him, "Pray what have you +there?" For all answer, the man hands him the book. Gruenhagen takes it +and reads and reads, and the more he reads the more eagerly and +attentively he devours what he finds there. It was a copy of Luther's +smaller catechism. Like a lightning flash darts through his soul the +thought, "What stands in this book is THE TRUTH." He asks his guest now +where he has come from? The answer is, "From Wittenberg; I have heard +Luther preach there, and I brought away this catechism with me." + +"'Why he had a written copy of the catechism, and not a printed one, I +cannot tell you; perhaps he had not been able to buy a printed copy, and +had been at the pains of writing it out; but that is not said in the +chronicle. And now, while I am speaking of the catechism, I will show +you also that I am a scholar. Therefore know that Luther printed his +smaller catechism in the year of grace 1529; because in the two years +previous he had been travelling about all through Saxony, examining the +churches; and had found that the pastors were so stupid that they did +not know even the principal things. Therefore, and surely with the +assistance of the Holy Spirit, he wrote the small catechism, which I +hold to be the best of all human books. Before that, however, he had +already written some similar works; for example, a short exposition on +the ten commandments, the Creed, and the Paternoster; from which, on +account of its remarkable quality, I will quote a little. So in it +Luther says--"The first commandment is trangressed by every one who in +his difficulties turns to sorcery, the black art of the devil's allies; +every one who makes that use of letters, signs, words, herbs, charms and +the like; whoever uses divining-rods, treasure-conjurings, clairvoyance, +and the like; whoever orders his work and his life according to lucky +days, sky tokens, and the sayings of soothsayers. The third commandment +is trangressed by those who eat, drink, play, dance, and carry on unholy +doings; by those who in indolence sleep away the time of divine service, +or miss it, or spend it in pleasure drives or walks, or in useless +chatter; by whoever works or does business without special need; by +whoever does not pray, does not think on Christ's sufferings, does not +repent of his sins and long for mercy; and who, therefore, only in +outward things, as dressing, eating, and posture-taking, keeps the day +holy." + +"'I have brought forward this proof of learning only to show you that +good people are not quite so simple as perhaps they look; and now I will +go on with my story. + +"'Gruenhagen was so delighted with the dear catechism that he says to the +workman, "Friend, you must stay with me long enough to let me make a +copy of your MS., for you won't get the book again before I have done +that." The friend was very willing to have it so; and now they made an +honest exchange one with the other. For the pastor ministered to the +poor, starved and frozen body of the artisan, and the artisan ministered +to the poor, starved and frozen soul of the pastor. Day by day his +accounts grew more and more fiery and spirited about Luther's powerful +preaching, about the many thousands who were streaming to Wittenberg to +hear the man of God, about the German Bible which Luther had translated, +about the glorious songs of praise which the Lutherans sung, about the +pure Sacrament in both kinds; that is, that in Wittenberg both the bread +and the wine were given to the communicants, and not the bread merely, +as is done by the Papists against the Lord's commandment. He told how, +amidst all the rage of his foes, Luther was so joyful and brave, that on +one occasion he said to the electoral prince of Saxony, who he saw had +become anxious, "I do not ask your princely grace to protect me, for I +am under much higher protection, which will take good care of what +concerns me." Gruenhagen's whole soul was moved by these narrations. + +"'After a good many days he let the workman go, laden with gifts, and +with tears in his eyes dismissed him; for through him he had learned to +know the truth. And now he goes to study. Soon the little catechism is +fixed in his heart and his head; and now he procures Luther's other +works, and first of all the New Testament. And then he can conceal it +from himself no longer, that the Word of God and the sacrament are +basely falsified in the Romish Church, and that he himself, without +knowing it, has been all this while misleading the people; he who in his +office as pastor should have been a servant of God. This thought burns +into his inmost soul, so that he almost falls into despondency. But soon +he finds grace through faith in the dear blood of Jesus Christ. And now +in him also that word goes into fulfilment--"I believe, therefore have I +spoken." He begins to preach the pure Word of God, in demonstration of +the Spirit and of power; he begins to give to communicants the whole, +entire supper, the emblems of Christ's body and blood; and he teaches +the children the catechism. And how could he fail of fruit. The parish +of Hermannsburg stirs with life, the whole region is waked up, and +thousands come to hear God's Word. Oh, that must have been a blessed +time, when the Holy Ghost breathed thus upon the dry bones, and the +Light shined in the darkness. But then, too, the Cross could not fail; +for on the baptism of the Spirit follows always the baptism of fire; and +David in the very psalm quoted above says, "I believed, therefore have I +spoken. _I was greatly afflicted._" + +"'There was at that time in Hermannsburg a warden--that is, a steward +and judge in one person--who was called Andreas Ludwig von Feuershuetz +(from whom the neighbouring property still keeps the name of +Feuershuetzenbostel), a rash, determined man, and very zealous for the +old Popish Church. Writing in those days did not amount to much; the +warden's scribes were his soldiers. So he went to the pastor, and +without any circumlocution forbade him to preach the Lutheran heresy, +adding, "If you don't stop it, I'll shut the door before your nose." +When Gruenhagen rejected this demand as an improper one, and told him to +attend to his office, but leave the church to the pastor, the warden +grew wrathful, and called Gruenhagen a renegade heretic; and the next +Sunday he actually did set his soldiers to keep the church doors and +closed the entrance to pastor and congregation both. The thousands who +followed their pastor were not unwilling to use violence against the +doer of violence; but Gruenhagen prevented that, and tried to hold divine +service in his house, and, when that also was interfered with, in the +houses of the peasants. But wherever they might be, the warden would +come with his soldiers and break up the service. + +"'And this went on for many a week, and yet so great was the power of +Gruenhagen's good influence over the believers, that no act of violence +was attempted against their tyrants. At last one day the following +peasants, Hans von Hiester, Michel Behrens, and Albrecht Lutterloh of +Lutterloh, Karsten Lange of Ollendorf, and the great Meyer from Weesen, +came to Gruenhagen and told him they knew a spot in the heath, still and +solitary and remote, which neither highroad nor footpath came near; the +warden could not easily find it out: "Let us go there on Sundays and +hear God's Word from your mouth!" And so it was arranged. Quietly one +tells it to another, and no one betrays it. The next Sunday, while it is +still night, the house doors everywhere open, the indwellers come out +one by one, and travel in mist and darkness, by distant paths, through +moor, heather, and thicket, hither to Tiefenthal. Gruenhagen is there, +and with him is his clerk, Gottlob, a believer, converted by his +pastor's means; and he carries the sweet burden of the church service. O +my beloved! here stood Gruenhagen; here were your fathers who renounced +false idols and worshipped their Saviour according to the pure Word and +ordinance He has given; their songs of praise echoed here, here they +bent the knee; for a long while your fathers' house of God was here +under the blue heaven; here were the new-born children baptized in the +name of the triune God, and the grown men and women were fed with the +bread and wine which mean the body and blood of the Lord, and so +received new strength to mount up with wings of eagles. In this place +your fathers grew to a strength of faith which would waver no more. But +more trials were coming upon them. The warden was struck by the sudden +quietness; he had expected that new attempts would be made to get into +the church. He guessed that something was going on, and could not find +out what it was. So he set his soldiers on to serve as sleuth-hounds, +and they scented the game so well that they discovered the whole. Then +one Sunday morning he got up early and watched with bitter rage to see +how the people came out of all the houses, men, women, young men and +girls, old men and children, all quiet and yet so joyous, dressed in +their Sunday clothes, and hastening to Tiefenthal. Stealthily he +followed after them, and at their place of refuge heard them preach and +sing and pray. Suddenly he heard his own name spoken; it gave him a +great shock; he heard the pastor praying for his conversion and the +congregation saying Amen. Then a great surging and conflict of feelings +arose in his brazen heart. But the time was not yet come. He dashed down +the tears that would come into his eyes, and let his supposed duty get +the victory. Resolved to suppress the hated heresy that had almost made +him soft, but too weak to do it with the force at his command, he made +known the affair to the justiciary of Zelle and asked for help. The +Zelle justiciary, nothing loath, next Sunday dispatched two hundred of +his soldiers, who lay hid in the wood till the congregation had +assembled. Then they broke forth, surrounded our fathers, just as they +were gathered around their beloved pastor for the holding of divine +service, fell first of all upon Gruenhagen himself and the crowd which +pressed round him, laid hold of him and dragged him off, and a hundred +others with him, to Zelle, with brutal ill-treatment. There the captives +were obliged to pass three days and three nights in the courtyard of the +official's house, in snow and ice (it was in November), and it was only +with difficulty that they could get a bit of bread to eat. Then they +were thrown into prison; and there for a long time our fathers had to +share the bonds and imprisonment of God's faithful servant; but no +threats, no contumely, no distress could move them to apostasy, from the +faith they had confessed. + +"'How long they lay there I do not know. At last, when the Dukes came +back from Augsburg, the hour of their freedom struck; they were let go, +and returned to their homes shedding thankful tears; the church was +again opened to them too, and the heroic Gruenhagen preached the gospel +to his people anew with fresh power. Then also struck the warden's hour +of grace; he grew tender, and was overcome by the might of the blessed +gospel; and whereas he had formerly been a zealot for the mistaken +service of God, now he became one of the strongest friends of the pure +Lutheran doctrine in all the community. Out of gratitude the parish gave +to its beloved watcher for souls this Tiefenthal with the wooded hill +here, to be for all time the property of the parsonage, which it still +is to the present day. My beloved, we have come here to-day for +pleasure; are we to come here again perhaps some day in distress? You +answer possibly, "No, that is not to be apprehended; our times are too +humane." Yes! they are humane towards all that is _human_; _i.e._, +towards banqueting and drinking, dissolute living and deceit. But that +our times are not too humane towards what is _godly_, is testified by +the persecutions directed against the Lutherans in Baden and Nassau, +where various Lutheran preachers have had to pay fine after fine, and +lie in the common prison, because they preach and baptize and observe +the communion in the Lutheran manner, and whereto the preaching must +often be held in mountains and clefts of the rocks to be had in peace. +And besides, the kingdom of Antichrist is advancing with constantly +quicker and more decided steps. Even now it everywhere rains words of +abuse upon the saints, the praying people, the hypocrites, the +enthusiasts, the mad folk, and by whatever other names beside they may +call them. And who knows how soon the time may come when the word will +again be true,--"They will put you out of their synagogues," and +"whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service." I could if +I would read you letters that have come from many cities and villages, +filled with such threatenings and cursings and coarse words against me +that they would fill you with astonishment. Therefore ask yourselves +again seriously the question, would you also be ready to give money and +blood, body and life, for the Lord Jesus and for your faith? would you +also be ready to suffer bonds and imprisonment for the Lord's sake? If +it be so that you could not or would not do that, then you are not +worthy to bear the name of Jesus Christ; for whoever hateth not father +and mother, wife and child, farm and farm stock, and his own life also, +for Jesus's sake, he is not worthy of me, the Lord says. To confess +Christ in peace and in pleasant times, that is easy enough; but to do it +through distress and death, to stand fast in the baptism of fire, that +is another thing. Christians of nowadays are accustomed to easy living; +how would the cup of suffering taste to them? They are drowned in +delicate and luxurious habits; how would they bear privation? They have +corrupted themselves in cowardice and indolence; how should they be +strong and brave under persecution? And listen to me now, you who are +gathered here together in such numbers; what do you think? If the +soldiers all of a sudden came upon you, to run you through, or to carry +you off somewhere where there are no feather beds, would you stand it? +would you cheerfully give yourselves up to be dragged off? Or would you +make long legs, keep a whole skin, and deny your Saviour? O God! grant +that all of us may be able to cry with the Apostle Paul, "I count all +things but loss that I may win Christ." "I am persuaded that neither +death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things +present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, shall be able to +separate me from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord!" +Let us now sing with the sound of the trumpets our Luther's hero song-- + + "Ein' feste Burg ist unser Gott."'" + +"What does that mean?" said Maggie. + +"It means, 'The Lord is my strength and my fortress;' or, more +literally, Maggie, 'Our God is a sure stronghold.'" + +"'When this hymn had been sung, it was time for our noonday meal. So +after we had prayed the prayer before eating, the people arranged +themselves everywhere, in larger and smaller groups, on the green grass +or the brown heather, and with giving of thanks enjoyed the food they +had brought along with them. Those who had nothing took gladly the spare +bits of those who had too much. And all were filled; and beer, and +water, and even sugar-water, were on hand too to quench the burning +thirst. I had myself a further particular pleasure. A few of our +festival companions had brought with them some mighty pieces of +honeycake as a gift for me. That suited me exactly, and I had it packed +in with other things in my basket of provisions. Now you should have +seen the glee when I called the children to me and snapped off the sweet +bits for them. There came even a pretty good number of larger people, +who wanted to be children too, and have their bite after the children +had had enough. When we had eaten we had the prayer of thanks, and then +the beautiful song, + + "Now let us thank God and praise Him," &c." + +"'A blast of the trumpets proclaimed the renewal of divine service; and +again the people arranged themselves in their former places and order +for a new and last refreshing of their spirits.'" + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + + +"Is that all?" said Maggie. + +"All of that story," Meredith answered. + +There was a long silence. On hill and rock and river there was a +stillness and peace as if nowhere in the world could blood ever have +flowed, or wrangling been heard, or men been cruel one to another. So +soft and warm the sunlight brooded, and the dry leaves hung still on the +trees and not a breath moved them, and the liquid lap of the water +against the rocks far down below just came to the ear with a murmur of +content. There was nothing else to hear; and the silence was so +exquisite that it laid a sort of spell on everybody's tongue, while the +mild sunlight on the warm, hazy hills seemed to find out everybody's +very heart and spread itself there. A spell of stillness and a spell of +peace. All the party were hushed for a good while; and what broke the +charm at last was a long-drawn breath of little Maggie, which came from +somewhere much deeper then she knew. Mr. Murray looked up at her and +smiled. + +"What is it, Maggie?" + +"I don't know, Uncle Eden. I think something makes me feel bad." + +"Feel bad!" echoed Esther. + +"I don't mean feel _bad_ exactly--I can't explain it." + +"I suppose she has been thinking, as I have been," said Meredith, "that +it does not seem as if this day and my story could both belong to the +same world." + +"Ah!" said Mr. Murray, "this is a little bit of God's part, and the +other is a little bit of man's part in the world; that is all." + +"But, Uncle Eden, in those dreadful times it don't seem as if there +could ever have been pleasant days." + +"I fancy there were. Don't you think the people of Hermannsburg must +have enjoyed Tiefenthal, sometimes in the early starlight dawn and +sometimes in the fresh sunrise?" + +"Uncle Eden, I should always have been afraid the soldiers were coming." + +"On the other hand, those people always knew that God was there. And +there is a wonderful sweetness in living in His hands." + +"But yet, Uncle Eden, He did let the soldiers come." + +"_He_ did not go away, Maggie." + +"No; but those must have been dreadful times." + +"Well, yes. They were no doubt hard times. And yet, Maggie, it remains +true--'When _He_ giveth quietness, then who can make trouble?' Think of +Paul and Silas, beaten and bleeding, stiff and sore, stretched +uncomfortably in the wooden framework which left them no power to rest +themselves or change their position; in the noisome inner dungeon of a +Roman prison, and yet singing for gladness. People cannot sing when they +are faint-hearted, Maggie. The Lord keeps His promises." + +"I wonder how many people would stand Pastor Harms's test?" Meredith +remarked. + +"They are not obliged to stand it," Flora rejoined. "There are no +persecutions now; not here, at any rate. People are not called upon to +be martyrs." + +"Do you think the terms of service have changed?" said Mr. Murray +looking at her. + +"Why, sir, we are _not_ called upon to be martyrs." + +"No, but are you not called to have the same spirit the martyrs had?" + +"How can we?" + +"What is the martyr spirit?" + +"I don't know," said Flora. "I suppose it is a wonderful power of +bearing pain, which is given people at such times." + +"Given to everybody?" said Meredith. + +"Of course, not given to everybody." + +"To whom, then?" + +"Why, to Christians." + +"And what is a Christian?" said Mr. Murray. "Are there two kinds, one +for peace and the other for war?" + +"No, I suppose not," said Flora, somewhat mystified. + +"'Whosoever shall confess me before men, him will I also confess before +my Father which is in heaven.' So the Lord said. Now in times of +persecution, you know what confessing Christ meant. What does it mean in +these days?" + +"I do not think I understand the question, Mr. Murray." + +"In the Roman days, for instance, how did people confess Christ?" + +"I don't know. They owned that they were Christians." + +"How did they own that? They refused to do anything that could be +constructed into paying honour to the gods of the people. They might +have said in word that they were Christians--but nobody would have +meddled with them if they would have hung garlands of flowers upon +Jupiter's altar." + +"No," said Flora. + +"How is it in these days?" + +"What do you mean, sir?" + +"I mean, how is Christ to be confessed in these days?" + +"I don't know," said Flora; "except by making what is called a +profession of religion,--joining some church, I suppose." + +"Does that do it?" + +"I do not know how else." + +"Why, Uncle Eden," said Maggie, "how can one do it any other way?" + +"One cannot do it in that way, my pet." + +"_Not?_" said Flora. "How then, Mr. Murray?" + +"What do people join the church for, then, Uncle Eden?" Esther inquired. + +"Those who enlist in Christ's army must certainly put on His uniform. +But who shall say that the uniform does not cover a traitor?" + +"A traitor, Mr. Murray?" Flora looked puzzled. + +"Yes. There are many traitors. There were even in Paul's time." + +"Traitors among the Christians?" + +"So he wrote. 'Many walk, of whom I have told you often, and tell you +now again even weeping, that they are _enemies of the cross of Christ_.' +They were professors of His name, nevertheless, Miss Flora; but confess +Him before men, except in word, they did not. So my question stands, you +perceive." + +"How to confess Christ nowadays so that there shall be no mistake about +it?" Meredith added. Flora and Esther and Maggie sat looking at Mr. +Murray, as at the propounder of a riddle. Fenton pricked up his ears and +stared at the whole group. + +"What did those people do, Mr. Murray?" Flora asked. + +"Paul tells. He says of them that their 'glory is in their shame;' they +'mind earthly things.'" + +"How can one help minding earthly things, as long as one lives in this +world?" + +"One cannot, Miss Flora. But the characteristic of a Christian is, that +he seeks _first_ the kingdom of God." + +"How?" + +"First, to have the Lord's will done in his own heart; next, to have it +done in other people's hearts." + +"But you were talking of doing something to show to the world that you +are certainly a Christian, Mr. Murray?" + +"Yes, Miss Flora. Shall I tell you some of the ways in which this may be +accomplished?" + +"Yes, if you please. I am completely in a fog." + +"I never like to leave anybody in a fog. Now listen, and I will give you +some of the Bible marks of a real Christian. + +"'_Whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot +be my disciple._'" + +"But, Mr. Murray!"---- + +"Yes, that is just it exactly!" said Meredith, delighted. + +"How can one forsake all he has? Be a beggar?" + +"Not at all. Give it all to Christ, and be His steward." + +"Not to please yourself in anything!" cried Flora. + +"I did not say so. And the Bible does not mean so. For another Bible +mark of a Christian is, in the Lord's words-- + +"'_My meat is to do the will of Him that sent me._'" + +"But can't one do anything that one wants to do?" cried Flora in dismay. + +"Many things. But a Christian has no pleasure in what does not please +God." + +"How is one always to know?" + +"I am going on to tell you in part. '_Whatsoever ye do, do all to the +glory of God._'" + +"That don't tell _me_," said Flora. "How can I tell what will do that? +And how can one do _everything_ so? Little things--and life is very much +made up of little things. Dressing, and studying, and reading, and +playing, and amusing one's self." + +"O Flora?" Maggie cried; and "Why, Flora!" Meredith said, looking at +her; but neither added anything more. + +"The Bible says, '_Whether ye eat or drink, or whatsoever ye do_,'" Mr. +Murray answered. "In another place, '_Whatsoever ye do, in word or +deed_.'" + +"Well, Mr. Murray, I don't understand it; take eating and drinking--how +can that be done to the glory of God?" + +"You can easily see how it can be done _not_ to His glory. Any way that +is not becoming His servant is not to His glory. Therefore, in +excess--of things that do not agree with you and therefore unfit you for +duty--of costly dishes, which take the money that might feed starving +people." + +"But I can't feed all the starving people!" said Flora. + +"It is something to feed one. But I will give you another Bible mark, +Miss Flora, '_He that saith he abideth in Him_,' that is, in Christ, +'_ought himself also to walk even as He walked.'_ Now remember how +Christ walked. He was here, '_as one that serveth_.' He '_went about +doing good_.' He '_pleased not Himself_.' He '_did always those things +that please' God_." + +"But one can't be like _Him_," said Esther. + +"That depends entirely upon whether you choose to be like Him." + +"O Uncle Eden! He was"---- + +"Yes, I know, and I know what you are, and I, and all of us. It remains +true,--'God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of +His Son Jesus Christ our Lord;'--'chosen, that we should be holy and +without blame before Him in love.'" + +There was a pause of some length. Flora was silenced, but her eyes had +filled, and her face wore a pained and bitter expression. Meredith had +glanced at her and thought it better not to speak. Maggie was in a depth +of meditation. Fenton had gone scrambling down the rocks. Esther looked +somewhat bored. + +"Have you got your book there, Meredith?" Mr. Murray asked. + +"Yes, sir." + +"Read us something more. And after that you may all bring your +questions. We came here on purpose to talk, as I understood." + +"There are different sort of things here, sir. Shall I give you a +change?" + +"What you will-- + + "'O day most calm, most bright, + The fruit of this, the next world's bud-- + Th' indorsement of supreme delight, + Writ by a friend, and with his blood; + The couch of time; cares balm and bay; + The week were dark but for thy light; + Thy torch doth show the way.'" + +"That's better than anything I have got, sir," said Meredith. + +"No. But it is good. And just here and to-day the Sabbath seems dressed +in royal robes. I could not but think of those lines." + +"I confess, Mr. Murray, Sunday is nothing like that to me," said Flora. + +"You are honest, Miss Flora. That gives me some hope of you. No, +naturally the Sabbath does not seem like that to you yet.--Well, +Meredith?" + +"Is there more of it, sir?" Meredith's sister asked. + +"More than you would care for, Miss Flora.-- + + "'Sundays the pillars are + On which heav'n's palace arched lies; + The other days fill up the spare + And hollow room with vanities.--'" + +"And yet that need not be true, either. Go on, Meredith. What will you +give us?" + +"Two stories, sir, on the words, 'Hold that fast which thou hast, that +no man take thy crown.'" + +"'On the twenty-fifth of June 1530, therefore three hundred and forty +years ago, as is well known, our Lutheran Confession of Faith was +delivered before the diet at Augsburg. There was the powerful emperor +Charles V., and his brother, King Ferdinand, besides a number of +electoral princes, dukes and bishops. Before this crowd of some three or +four hundred nobles, stood a little company of seven princes and two +represented cities; that is, the Elector John the Constant and his son +John Frederick of Saxony, Margrave George of Brandenburg, Duke Ernst the +Confessor and his brother Francis of Lueneburg, Landgrave Philip of +Hesse, Prince Wolfgang of Anhalt, and the two burgermasters of Nuernberg +and Reutlingen. These nine stood forth with the spirit of heroes, and +confessed, under signature of their names, that in this faith they would +live and die, and that no power of earth or hell should make them turn +from it. For the Lutherans were wickedly slandered, as men who no longer +believed in anything, and who therefore deserved no other than to be +rooted out from the earth. That was why the Lutheran princes had +requested that it might be granted them to declare their faith publicly +before the Diet; to the end that everybody might know how their belief +rested upon the Scriptures and stood in harmony with the universal +ancient Christian Church; and indeed had flung away only the false human +teachings which had found their way into the Church. For this purpose +the twenty-fifth of June was fixed. The electoral chancellor Beyer +stepped into the middle of the hall with the written Confession of Faith +in his hand. The evangelical princes rose and stood listening while it +was read, and testified that this was the faith they held, to which by +God's help they would stand unmoved. Then did all that were present hear +what the faith of the Lutherans was; there stood the doctrine of the +triune God, of original sin, of the eternal Godhead of Jesus Christ; of +justification before God through grace alone by faith in Jesus Christ, +&c., though I hope I do not need to tell you any more about it; I think +you all know the Augsburg Confession and have read it, for surely you +are all of you Lutheran Christians, and all Lutheran Christians know the +Augsburg Confession. But if there be one among you who does not yet know +this act of confession, let him be ashamed of himself, and get a copy +with all speed, and read it, and read it again. When it was read aloud +at Augsburg, the impression it made was very great; people saw that the +Lutherans had been shamefully slandered. Duke William of Bavaria +reproached De Eck with having represented the Lutheran doctrine to him +in entirely false colours. The doctor answered, he would undertake to +refute this writing from the Christian fathers, but not from the +Scripture. Then the duke returned, "So, if I hear aright, the Lutherans +are _in_ the Scriptures, and we near by!" + +"'There did the steadfast Lutherans keep that saying in their +hearts--"Hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown." +Ay, when before the beginning of the Diet the Lutheran ministers +earnestly besought the Elector of Saxony that he would not for their +sakes run into danger, but graciously permit them to appear alone and +give in their declaration before the emperor, the undaunted prince made +them answer--"God forbid that I should be shut out from your company; I +will confess my Lord Jesus Christ with you." + +"'This is one story about those words; now I will give you another--'" + +"Stop one minute, Ditto. Uncle Eden, I do not exactly understand all +that?" + +"What do you not understand?" + +"Who were all those people?" + +"The Catholic nobles of the German empire, with Charles the Fifth, a +very powerful emperor, at their head, and the chief Catholic church +doctors and dignitaries,--all that on one side; representing the powers +of this world. On the other side, a little handful of men whom Luther's +teaching had awakened out of the darkness of the Middle Ages, confessing +Christ before men; representing the feeble flock of His followers." + +"Yes," said Maggie thoughtfully. "Was there danger?" + +"There was great danger to whoever got into the power of the Catholic +lords." + +"Do you think the world is always against the truth, Mr. Murray?" Flora +asked. + +Mr. Murray answered in the words of the psalm--"'Why do the heathen +rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? The kings of the earth set +themselves, and their rulers take counsel together, against the Lord and +against His Anointed, saying, Let us break their bands asunder, and cast +away their cords from us.'" + +"But all times are not like those times of the Reformation?" + +"Not just. The world power strives against the Church in a variety of +ways, sometimes with force and sometimes with guile. The beast in the +vision, who has his power from the devil, sometimes makes war with the +saints; and sometimes 'he causeth all, both small and great, rich and +poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand or in their +foreheads; and that no man might buy or sell save he that has the +mark.'--Miss Flora, I believe the war times are the less evil and +dangerous. Well, Meredith, you bear interruptions philosophically. Go on +with your new story." + +"This new story 'happened more than two hundred years ago, at a place +called Galgenberg' (that is Gallowshill, Maggie), 'in the neighbourhood +of Hermannsburg. In old times a gallows used to stand there, on which +thieves and oath-breakers were hung.'" + +"Oath-breakers!" said Mr. Murray. "It seems the Saxons kept their hatred +of untruth. But I beg your pardon, Meredith." + +"It's half the fun, to stop and talk, sir. 'At that time the criminal +jurisdiction was located in Hermannsburg; and four times in the year, at +quarter-day, court was held here and the judgment carried into effect as +soon as delivered. To this end the justiciaries of Hermannsburg, Bergen, +and Fallingbostel came together here and held the court, after they had +first attended the weekly service in the church at Hermannsburg to +prepare them for their vocation; for quarter-day always fell upon a +Wednesday. However in those days perjury and theft were so rare, that +once it happened that twenty years passed away, with court held every +quarter-day, and nobody was sentenced. The justice of Hermannsburg had +two staves, one all white, and one parti-coloured. If he found no one +guilty, he broke the coloured staff; if, however, anybody was convicted, +then he broke the white staff, with the words, + + "The staff is broken, + The judgment is spoken, + Man, thou must hang." + +"'And then, after the pastor had prayed with the criminal, the sentence +was executed.'" + +"Fearful times, sir," said Meredith pausing. + +"Horrible!" echoed Flora. + +"Two sides to the question," said Mr. Murray. "I am musing over the +novelty of the combination. Twenty years without one man convicted of +theft or a false oath! Think of that, and you will comprehend the horror +of the crime which made such sudden work with the criminal." + +"I will go on," said Meredith.--"'Some old people are yet living who +have seen the gallows which stood on the Galgenberg. Now I will tell you +my story about the words, "Hold that fast which thou hast, that no man +take thy crown." It was in the Thirty Years' War, which from 1618 to +1648 raged between the Catholics and the Protestants. Through all this +miserable time the parish of Hermannsburg enjoyed the rare good fortune +of having a faithful shepherd over it; his name was Andreas Kruse; he +became pastor in 1617, and died in 1652. His successor, Paulus +Boccatius, gives him this testimony in the church register--"True as +gold, pure as silver. Ah, thou faithful and good servant, thou hast been +faithful over a few things; I will make thee ruler over many things." +For years at a time the church at Hermannsburg was closed to him. At +those times he went with his people into the wilds and held divine +service there. Furthermore, the whole of the neighbouring pastors were +either dead of the plague, or killed, or driven away; so that he took +care of all their parishes beside his own; and this he did for +twenty-five years. One good supporter he had in a bailiff called Andreas +Schlueter, who died in the year 1643, and lies buried in the churchyard +at Hermannsburg; a man after God's heart, who faithfully stood by his +pastor and often hid him away in his house for weeks at a time. The +pastor did not merely celebrate divine service; he had also preserved +the silver church vessels from the plundering hands of the enemy. These +silver vessels were used in the service of the Lord's supper; and after +it was over, the sacristan or clerk set tin ones in their place upon the +altar. They did not mean to act any lie by this means, however, for the +tin vessels were not made for the purposes of deception, but had been +there beforetime. Things went on in this way until the year 1633. At +that time Duke George assembled an army and marched against the imperial +forces His men were burning with an eagerness for the fight, which +delighted the duke. The enemy were stationed at Nienburg and Hameln. +Seeing that the duke was approaching them they drew back to Oldendorf in +the Hesse country, and there the duke got hold of them in the month of +June 1633. When his faithful followers asked him, "What shall the battle +cry be?"--"God with us!" answered the duke; and therewith they went at +the enemy bravely. And soon the foe were so fearfully beaten that they +scattered and fled in every direction--fifty imperial standards and +twenty cannon remaining in the duke's hands. + +"'Among the fugitives were the two imperial generals Merode and +Gronsfeld. The former was wounded to death and died at Nienburg. +Gronsfeld fled in such haste, that he lost his sword and plumed hat. The +duke kept these for himself, to be his share of the spoils. In their +flight the imperialists came through the Lueneburg country, with the most +frightful outrages which they committed by the way. Among these, the +record tells of a lieutenant captain, named Altringer, who came to the +village of Hermannsburg and plundered the inhabitants; he pushed his way +even into the parsonage, and asked the pastor "what he had to give him?" +"I am a poor man," the latter replied; "you may open all my boxes." They +did so, and--ten shillings was all they found. In a rage at this, they +beat the doors and windows to pieces, and summoned him--"You must have +some church furniture too--here, out with it!" The pastor answered, +"Have you been in the church yet?" "Those are tin vessels," said the +enemy; "you are bound to have silver ones as well. Where are they? give +them up." "No," said the faithful pastor, "that is what I will not do." +"Where have you hidden them?" "You are not going to find out." + +"'Upon this they condemned the brave man to the "Swedish drink." This +frightful punishment consisted in the following: The victim was brought +to the dung-pit, his mouth was forced open, a gag put between his teeth, +and then dung water poured down his throat; after which men stamped +with, their feet upon his bloated body, until either he confessed or +gave up the ghost. Now they had already brought Pastor Kruse to the +dung-pit. There, before they began, he prayed with a loud voice, "Lord +Jesus, have mercy on me." The lieutenant captain was moved with pity. +"No," he said, "this man shall not die by the 'Swedish drink.' To the +gallows with him! he shall hang." Arrived at the gallows he was there +asked again, "Where is the church service?" He answered, "I shall not +tell you where." Thereupon order was given to execute the sentence. But +in the first place he kneeled down and prayed for his enemies also, that +God would not lay this sin to their charge, but give them grace to +repent. Then he mounted the ladder, and the noose was already round his +neck; meanwhile a tall man coming from Celle stepped up behind a tree, +where, himself unseen, he could observe everything. At the same instant +people were seen on the other side coming from Hermannsburg, and making +signals with a white cloth to signify that they had got the church +vessels. Where had they found them? They considered that surely the +pastor would have buried them in the deepest part of his house, that is +in the cellar. But in what spot? This they discovered in the following +manner. They poured five or six pailfuls of water on the cellar floor. +At first for a while, it stood there; then all of a sudden it began to +run together towards one place and there sink in. "Ha, ha," said they; +"here is a hole in the ground; the things must be buried there." So they +dug it up and found the church vessels. When the pastor saw the +communion service in the hands of the enemy, then the tears rose to his +eyes. But as for the effect those people had hoped for, that is, that +his life might be saved, they found it would not do; the hard lieutenant +captain would not change his order; the man must hang. + +"'Then stepped out yonder tall man from behind the tree--it was General +Gronsfeld; and he spoke. "Will you put to death this man who in dying +prays for his enemies, and who weeps for his church service and not for +his own life? Set him at liberty!" The pastor stretched out his hands +to the general and implored, "Ah, my lord general, the church vessels!" +But he answered, "I cannot give you those back--they are the booty of my +soldiers; but your life is granted you." + +"'The parish people of Hermannsburg used the tin service for a long +while after that, till towards the end of the war silver vessels were +again provided. Kruse remained pastor here until 1652. He too kept that +saying in his heart--"Hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take +thy crown."'" + +"What awful times!" was Flora's comment when Meredith stopped reading. + +"The world has moved a little since then," Mr. Murray observed. "Let us +be thankful such barbarous cruelties are no longer practised by the +civilised part of the world; and civilisation is spreading." + +"But I don't think much of that story," Esther went on. "The man made a +great deal more fuss about the soldiers having his church service than +was at all necessary. That wasn't a thing to die for." + +"By his lights, and his love for the sacred vessels, it was. You must +take his point of view; and then you will find him, as I do, very +noble." + +"But it is very difficult to take other people's point of view, Mr. +Murray, especially when it is unreasonable." + +"Who shall judge?" said Mr. Murray smiling. + +"You mean, _I_ might be the one who was unreasonable." + +"Anybody might, occasionally. And it is of the very essence of charity, +Miss Flora, to take other people's point of view. Only so can you +possibly come to a right estimate of their action." + +"I don't like that story much, Ditto! I mean, not so much. I wish you +would read another," said Maggie. + +"I will read you another," said Meredith; "and it shall be very +different. + +"'The story that I am now about to tell you is such a one as certainly +nobody expects to hear from me; it is namely, the story of a +night-watchman. But there is no sort of reason why you should laugh at +this word, for indeed the story is a pretty one; and I wish all the +night-watchmen in city and country would take after this man and do as +he did; that is, provided they could do it from the bottom of their +hearts. A poor cottager in one of our country villages, some years ago, +out of curiosity, came to one of our mission festivals. There to his +astonishment he heard that the Lord Jesus will have all men to be saved, +that are in the whole earth, even the poor heathen; and that accordingly +He has commanded His servants, the Christians, to cast the net of the +gospel into the sea of the heathen world. He heard how the heathen are +to be saved, because Jesus died for all men; how they can nevertheless +no otherwise be saved than through faith in Him; because there is +salvation for sinners in no other but only in the name of Him who was +crucified for sinners and is risen again. Meanwhile however, by means of +this mission festival the dear man himself is taken in the net of the +gospel; for he sees that he also is a sinner, and therefore for him also +there is no salvation except in Him who forgives sins, because He has +made reconciliation for sinners with God. And now, finding himself +salvation in Christ, this experience of his convinces him that nobody +but Jesus can really help the poor heathen. But then since Jesus can +come to the poor heathen in no way but by his Word and sacrament, and +his Word and sacrament the heathen have not, it becomes very clear to +his mind that the Word and sacrament must be carried to them. This, +moreover, can be done only by messengers to the heathen, who must be +sent to them, because they have not got wings to fly thither. Then he +begins to ponder the question, how he can do something to help. So he +buys himself a mission-box, that he may always be putting something in +there when he has anything to spare. As nevertheless what goes in is +only the mites of poverty, it looks to him a great deal too little. He +makes the resolve now that every quarter of a year he will go round the +village with his box to collect for the mission. But this is a resolve +he cannot perform; for inasmuch as the mission is not known to the +people of his village, he reflects that where there is no heart for the +mission, naturally there are no gifts for it. And there he was quite +right, and did a wise thing to let his collecting project alone. So +about that he gives in, and quietly hangs up his mission box in his +room, on a nail opposite the door, so that every one who comes into the +room can see it. And people do observe it, and many a one asks what sort +of a thing that can be? He makes answer, it is for this purpose: that +whatever goes into it will be applied to the converting of the heathen. +And so in this way some few mites do actually get in; which, however, at +the end of each year bring but a small sum. Now as this sum is still far +too small to content him, he turns simply to the dear Lord Jesus, and +says to Him--"Dear Lord, as for going to the heathen myself, that I +cannot do: I am too old, and I have not learned enough. But because Thou +hast done so much for me and in me, I would like greatly to do something +for Thee, and truly a little more than I have done hitherto. So give me +Thy Holy Spirit, that I may know how to manage it; for without Him man's +knowledge is nought." Following upon such a prayer then, the Lord +appointed him to be nightwatcher. For without his having in the least +anticipated such a thing, the village community invited him to undertake +the service of the night-watch in the village. He made answer, he must +take the matter into consideration before God and with his wife. The +latter was not at first disposed to be pleased that he should wake while +others slept; and his own flesh also takes to it not kindly, to have to +wander about in the village in snow and rain, when it is cold and when +it is stormy, while everybody else is lying upon his ear. But his former +prayer recurs to him, the Lord is certainly now giving him something to +do; and so he says to the Lord Jesus--"My dear Saviour, if Thou canst +use me in this way, keeping watch in the village with Thy holy angels, +who are about us at all times, then give me strength and joy to do it!" +And as the Lord grants him both, the thing is settled, and in the name +of Jesus he accepts the office of night-watch. The custom in that place +makes it a rule, that on New Year's night the night-watch should sing +under people's windows a couple of pretty Christian verses, as it were a +New Year's greeting; to one this verse, to the next the other verse, and +so round at all the houses. New Year's day then, or the day after, he +may go round again visiting house by house, and wish happy New Year; and +the people give him according to their means and according to their +inclination a gift, smaller or larger, and these gifts belong to his +service earnings; it is no begging either, for the stipulation is made +at the time he is put in office. With true gladness of heart now in the +New Year's night he sings under all the windows in the village; and as +he does this, he seems to himself just the same as a priest of God; his +office seems to him a right holy one. And particularly where he knows +that a sick person is lying in a house he sings the loveliest verses of +faith and comfort, so that tears run down over his own cheeks in the +doing of it. That night is verily a night of triumph in his work; and he +begins to bear a cordial love to his calling, as one the Lord has given +him and has sanctified. To go round on New Year's day, however, and wish +the people joy, that is what he cannot make up his mind to; it is a +festival and a holiday; it belongs to the Lord; and it must be spent in +the church and with the Bible. But the next day he has time, and then he +will go; and then his mission-box occurs to him, which is still hanging +there on its nail. Now he knows what he is to do. He takes the box in +his hand and goes the rounds, house after house, and gives his good +wishes. Everywhere the people receive his hearty congratulations kindly, +and every one puts his hand in his pocket with alacrity to fetch out a +little present for him; the faithful man has indeed done his work so +honestly, and but just now has sung for them so heartily and such +beautiful verses! But he holds forth his box to his benefactors, and +begs them to put whatever they design for him in there, for what they +give is to go to the conversion of the heathen. So upon that one asks +him a question, and another asks him a question, and he has opportunity +to open his mouth with gladness and testify of the misery of the poor +heathen, and of the sacred duty of helping them, that so they may be +converted. And God gives His blessing both to deeds and word; and now +the man finds himself able to send in not a little, but a good deal, for +the conversion of the heathen, who lie so heavily on his heart. + +"'Do you ask where this happened and who did it? It happened in our +country, and six nightwatchers have done it. Who are they? Go along and +ask the Lord in the last day; He has got all their names written down. I +shall not tell them to you, for I will not rob them of their blessing. +It might happen, however, that one or the other of them may read these +lines. If that be the case, then I say to him, "Keep still and do not +betray thyself, that thou lose not thy humility."'" + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + + +"I must say, Ditto, you read us the most extraordinary variety of +stories." + +That was Flora's utterance. Meredith, however, sat looking very gravely +into the water, which was rolling its little waves along at his feet far +below. The sun had got lower while he had been reading; the lights and +colours were changing; shadows fell from the hill-tops and began to lie +broad on the river, cast from the western shore; but all softened in the +haze, which now was getting in a strange way transfused with light; and +a few little flecks of cloud were taking on the most delicate hues. + +"Mr. Murray," Meredith broke out, "that story is not exaggerated? I +mean, the doing of the people in the story is not, is it?" + +"Miss Flora thinks so." + +"Don't you, Mr. Murray?" said the young lady. + +"Let us hear your reasons, please." + +"Well, Mr. Murray, surely life is given to us for something besides bare +work. We are meant to be happy and enjoy ourselves a little, aren't we?" + +"Most certainly." + +"Those good men,--I dare say they were good men,--seem to me to have +been mistaken." + +"You think, for instance, they might have kept some of their New Year's +money to buy their wives new dresses?" + +"Yes; or to get a good dinner, which I suppose they never had; or a +carpet, suppose, for the bit of a room they lived in." + +"What do you say, Esther?" + +"Oh, I think just as Flora does, Uncle Eden. I think those people were +very extravagant." + +"Maggie?" + +"Uncle Eden, I do not know if they were extravagant; but it seems to me +they might have kept a _little_ for their own New Year." + +"You all overlook one thing." + +"What is that, sir?" several voices asked eagerly. + +"Those good men were not acting so very contrary to your principle. They +were doing, every one of them, what gave him the most pleasure with his +money. That is what I understand you to advocate. The only difference +is, that they found their pleasure in one thing, and you would find +yours in another." + +"But, Mr. Murray," Meredith began. + +"Yes, Mr. Murray," said Flora eagerly taking the words out of her +brother's mouth, "you have really not said anything. The question comes +round,--_ought_ we to find our pleasure in what they did, and in nothing +else?" + +"That is not the right way of putting it. The Lord does not demand that, +nor desire it; but that we should seek _first_ the kingdom of God. You +may remember too that the spirit of our life, if we are Christians, must +be the same as Christ's; for 'if any man have not the spirit of Christ, +he is none of His.' Now the motto of His life was, 'My meat is to do the +will of Him that sent me.' And that, Miss Flora, must make pleasing God +the great pleasure of a child of God." + +"That is what I think," said Meredith. + +"Then are we to have no pleasure?" Flora repeated. "I mean, no pleasure +of our own?" + +"I have been trying to explain that. I do not know any pleasure much +sweeter than pleasing some one that we dearly love; do you?" + +Flora looked very gloomy. + +"Put out of your head any notion of bondage or hard lines of action. 'I +_delight_ to do Thy will, O God!'--is the true way of stating it. And +that is the only sort of service, I think, that the Lord really is +pleased with." + +"Well, does He want us to do like those people, and give literally all +we have got, for the heathen, or the poor?" + +"The Bible rule is, 'Every man _according as he purposeth in his heart_, +so let him give.' If His heart will be satisfied with nothing less than +all, you would not forbid Him?" + +Meredith's eyes sparkled, and he looked at Flora, but she would not meet +him. + +"It may be and often is the case, that the Lord's best service requires +some of a man's money to be spent on things that seem personal; still, +if he loves God best, all will be really for God. Education, +accomplishments, knowledge, arts, sciences, recreation, travel, +books--provided only that in everything and everywhere the man is doing +the very best he can for the service of his Master and the stewardship +of his goods. That does not shut out but increases his delight in these +things." + +"That is enough!" exclaimed Meredith. "You have answered all my +questions, sir. I see my way now." + +"It will be a way apart from mamma and me, then, I suppose," said Flora, +her eyes filling and her cheeks reddening. + +"No," said Mr. Murray gently, "perhaps not. Meredith, we have had a +sufficient interval of talk; suppose you read again. I am selfish in +saying so; for while my ears listen, my eyes can revel in this wealth of +colour. What will you give us next?" + +"May I choose, sir? It touches what we have been talking about, another +little story. It is a story by the bedside of a sick day-labourer." + +"I don't believe we shall like it, Ditto," said his sister. + +"It will not hold us long. Let me try.-- + +"'It is a long while ago, that I was once standing by the bedside of a +sick day-labourer, who had a wife and four children. The man had been +ill for weeks, and the sickness had swallowed up all his money. Death +was near, and he was glad of it; he had only one remaining wish, that he +might receive the symbols of the body and blood of the Lord Jesus in the +Holy Communion. I administered them to him. + +"'We sang with a number of friends and neighbours who were gathered +together, the song, + + "Who knows how near my end may be!" + +"'He sang the words correctly along with us, for he knew the hymn by +heart. His wife and children sang too. As we stopped at the fifth verse, +I saw great tears in his eyes; but I said nothing at the time. The sick +man spoke his confession devoutly, and afterwards received the bread and +the wine which are in figure the body and blood of our Lord Jesus +Christ. His eye beamed with joy. Then after the blessing was said we +sang the most glorious verse of the same hymn,--"I have fed on Jesus' +blood," &c. The neighbours and friends went away, after they had +cordially pressed his hand and said to him, "In the Lord's presence +we'll be together again." I remained alone with the sick man and his +family. Then I asked, why he had wept when we were singing, whether +perhaps it was a trouble to him that he must go away from his wife and +children? He looked at me with open eyes, almost reproachfully, when I +said that, and answered, "Does not Jesus stay with them then? Has not +the Lord said He would be 'the father of the fatherless and a judge of +the widow'? No; they will be well looked after; I have prayed the Lord +that He would be a guardian to them. Isn't it so, mother, that thou art +not worried either, and thy heart is not anxious? Thou, too, hast faith +in Jesus!" "Surely," said the woman, "I believe in Jesus; and I am glad +thou art going to Jesus. In good time I will come after thee with the +children. Jesus will help me by His Holy Spirit to bring them up." +"Well--why did you shed tears then?" "For joy. I was thinking, if the +singing goes so lovely even down here, how beautiful it will be when the +angels sing with us. That was what made me weep, for joy, because such +blessedness is so near before me." And now he made a sign to his wife. +She understood the sign, went to the cupboard, and fetched out a little +sort of a cup dish, which was her husband's money-box. Six groschen were +in it, all that was left over of his possessions. He took them out with +trembling fingers, laid them in my hand, and said, "The heathen are to +have those, that they too may learn how to die happy." I looked at the +wife; she nodded her head pleasantly and said, "We have agreed upon +that. When all is paid that will be needed for the funeral, it will +leave just these six groschen over." "And what will you keep?" "The Lord +Jesus," said she. "And what are you going to leave to your wife and +children?" I asked the man again. "The Lord Jesus," said he; and with +that whispered me in the ear, "He is very good and very rich." So I took +the six groschen for the heathen, and put them, as a great treasure, in +the mission money-box; and it was hard for me to give them out again; +only if I had not paid them out, I should not have fulfilled the dying +man's wish. In the following night he fell asleep. We buried him as a +Christian should be buried, that is, publicly, with the ringing of the +bell, with preaching, singing and prayer; and there was no weeping done, +neither by his wife nor by his three oldest children, neither in the +church nor by the grave. But the youngest child, a boy of five years +old, who followed the bier along with the rest, wept bitterly. I asked +him afterwards, why he had wept so bitterly at his father's grave? The +child answered me, "I was so troubled because father didn't take me with +him to the Lord Jesus; I had begged him so hard to take me." "My child," +said I, "your father could not take you along with him; only the Saviour +could do that; you ought to have asked _Him_." "Shall I ask Him now +then?" he questioned. "No, my child. See--when the Saviour wants you, He +will call you Himself. But if He chooses that you shall grow to be a man +first, then you must help your mother and let her live with you. Will +you?" He said, "I would like to go to Jesus; and I would like to be big +too, so that mother can live with me." "Well, then, say to the Lord +Jesus that He shall choose." "That is what I will do," said the boy; and +was quite contented and pleased. + +"'The faithful Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ give us all a happy end. +Amen.'" + +There was the usual pause after Meredith had done reading. Flora, +however, could not keep back long her expression of opinion. + +"I protest!" she said. "Those people were utterly fanatical! Mr. Murray, +isn't it true?" + +"O Uncle Eden, do you think so?" cried Maggie. "I think it is +beautiful." + +"Maggie is too young to understand," remarked Esther. "Those people were +very unnatural, I think." + +"How?" said Meredith. + +"Yes, how?" Mr. Murray echoed. "I should like to hear the arguments on +both sides." + +"A man who is dying, and has a wife and four children," said Flora +solemnly, "has no _right_ to give his last six groschen away. I don't +know how much a groschen is, but that don't make any difference. He has +no right to to do it!" + +"You emphasise, 'a man who is dying,'" said Meredith. "Would the case be +different if he were a man living and going to live?" + +"Why, of course." + +"How?" + +"He would work then, and earn more. How stupid to ask, Meredith!" + +"But an accident might happen to him; or he might fail to get work; or +he might miss his pay." + +"Yes, of course. I think it would be fanatical even then. But when he +was dying, and couldn't do anything!"---- + +"But if in any case he must trust for a day--what does it signify? God +can send help in a day." + +"I should not think He would, when people throw away wantonly what they +have got already." + +"What is given to Jesus isn't thrown away," said Maggie. + +"And He always pays it back with interest," said Mr. Murray. "And what +is entrusted to Him is never neglected. I think that old German peasant +was very safe in his proceeding." + +"But so unnatural!" cried Esther. "Not to be sorry to leave his wife and +children!" + +"I have no doubt he was very sorry to leave them. The only thing is, he +was more glad to go to Jesus." + +"I cannot understand that." + +"Not till you know the Lord yourself; and I do not deny that one must +know Him well, to be so eager to go to Him. One does not easily leave +the known for the unknown." + +"Let me read another bit of a story, or history," said Meredith. "We +cannot come to an agreement by talking; these things must be _lived +in_--must they not, Mr. Murray?" + +"Yes, read. But see the sky!" said Mr. Murray. "And the colours along +the shore! Wonderful, wonderful! What a Sunday evening this is." + +Meredith sat silently looking for a few minutes. With every quarter of +an hour of the descending sun, the world was growing now more like a +fairy-tale world. The lights and the shadows and the colours were making +such exquisite work, that the bit of earth the gazers were looking upon +seemed not to belong to the earth of history or the life of experience, +but to be something unearthly, and glorified. With all that, the Sabbath +stillness! There was the lap of the water at the foot of the rocks; the +rustle of the dry leaves down below where Fenton was prowling about; the +call of the bugle sounding out some order for the dragoons on the other +side at the post; between whiles the absolute repose of nature. + +"I wonder if the new heavens and the new earth will be anything like +this!" said Mr. Murray with a long breath. + +"This is not like our common world. Well, Meredith--it is hard upon you, +but it is better than too much talking." + +"It is not hard upon me, sir. I am getting all my ideas cleared up. + +"'Holy Scripture saith, that the hearts of the children shall be turned +to the parents, and the hearts of the parents to the children. I will +tell you a story about that, which, I hope, may be of use; so much the +more, that in this regard one sees so much that is senseless. + +"'I knew a man once, who was the very ideal of a just living, upright, +honourable man; but Jesus he knew not. Among his fellow-men he was held +in general, well-deserved esteem; for he was pleasant and winning in +intercourse with them, and in his whole character there was something +naturally noble. No prayer was ever heard in his house, neither at +table, nor mornings and evenings, nor was ever the morning and evening +blessing read. But love and peace reigned in the house, between parents +and children, and master and mistress and servants; and nothing +dishonourable was tolerated. In other things, however, the way of the +house was the way of the world; card-playing was had there, now and then +dancing, and sometimes it might happen that an oath came out, when the +angry vein was swollen; nevertheless, worldly gaiety was never permitted +to go beyond bounds; the man would not suffer that. Nobody read the +Bible; though the man had a Bible which he had inherited from his pious +mother and held in high honour; it had the chief place on his +book-shelf; but it was made no use of, only now and then taken down to +have the dust brushed off it. This man had a whole flock of children; +and a wife who clung to him with such inmost affection, that many a time +when she heard his step on the floor she would call him into the room +where she was, and when he came in and asked what she wanted, would +answer him, "Oh, I only just wanted to see you, and now you may go off +again." In outward things he was pretty comfortable; made a living, but +also had a good deal of a burden to carry; was a diligent worker, +however, and by little and little got on in the world. He was not often +seen at church or the Lord's Supper; yet did not absolutely neglect +them. Nevertheless, the man had a special spite against _pious people_, +of whom in his life he had known a few. Those pious people of his +acquaintance can indeed not have been of the right sort; for from their +example he had come to the firm persuasion that pious people, all and +sundry, were no better than hypocrites. He used often to tell of a pious +man he had known, who used to read a great deal in the Bible and in +religious books, and used also to hold meetings for prayer in his house, +while at the same time he was a miser and put out his money to usury. +Another one he had known, who in externals made as fair pretences; but +with that was of such ungovernable temper and such unmeasured brutality +that on more than one occasion he had beaten a man nearly to death. +Therefore, as I said, he held all pious people to be a humbug.'" + +Meredith paused a moment, and Flora spoke up. + +"There!" she said, "_I_ know such people. Don't you think, Mr. Murray, +that sort of good people do more harm than good?" + +"What sort of good people are they, Miss Flora?" + +"Why, sir, I mean, like these Meredith was reading about. I know such +people. They are selfish, and envious, and get angry, care for nobody in +the world but themselves, and are not at all particular about telling +the truth." + +"Therefore _not_ good people." + +"But they are members of the Church, sir, and they go to the Communion." + +"Don't you know, the Lord forewarned His disciples that a large portion +of His so-called Church would be none of His? You need not be surprised +at it. It is just what He told us would be." + +"Then how are we to know?" + +"You can know with certainty about yourself," said Mr. Murray with a +smile. "It is not difficult to find out in your own heart whether Christ +or self comes first. For other people, you can afford to wait till the +judge comes, cannot you?" + +"You are thinking, Flo, are you not, that this man and his family were +just about the right pattern?" said her brother. + +"I think such people are pleasant," Flora confessed. "They make no +pretences. That man seems to have been just and kind and nice." + +"Ah, you make a mistake," said Mr. Murray again. "We all make pretences, +of one sort or another, true or false. Such people as you are speaking +of pretend _not_ to be Christians; and no doubt with perfect truth." + +"But is not God pleased with justice and kindness and benevolence?" + +"_With_ disobedience?" + +"Surely He commands us to love one another?" + +"He commands first that we love _Him_." + +"Isn't that loving Him?" + +"Love always shows itself towards the beloved one; _afterwards_ towards +the objects the beloved one cares for." + +"May I go on?" said Meredith as Flora paused. "I think my story will +illustrate this." + +"Go on, by all means. Perhaps an illustration will make it clear to +everybody." + +"'This man was a scholar in the law; and was already pretty well on in +years, when one of his sons, a special favourite with him on account of +his fine parts and who was just studying law at the time, at the +University, learned to know his Saviour, and turned to Him with all his +heart. The instrument of his conversion was a faithful minister, whose +preaching he had attended diligently, and with whom he afterwards came +into very intimate terms of intercourse. Now when this son's heart was +filled with intense love to his Saviour, such as I have seen equalled in +few men, nothing was more natural than that he should send longing +wishes towards the parents and brothers and sisters whom he loved so +tenderly; wishes that they too might learn to know the Saviour; and so, +in his letters, he poured his whole heart out, told them without reserve +what had gone on in his own heart, and how he was now rejoicing in the +certainty that his sins were forgiven and in the sure hope of +everlasting life. "Oh that all men were as happy as I!" he cried out in +his letters. For a long time he was left without an answer. At last came +a letter from his father, it ran thus: "My son, your letters were wont +always formerly to be a refreshment and a delight to me; now, on the +contrary, they are a vexation and a bitter grief. I see that you are +exactly in the way to become like those hypocrites of whom you used to +hear me tell. I beg that you will either write as you have been +accustomed to do, or not write at all." + +"'The son answered, "Father, you have always enjoined it upon me to tell +the truth; you always impressed it upon me that there is no more +contemptible and cowardly being than a liar, for he has not even the +spirit to be honest; and now do you want to compel me to be untrue? +Either I must write you what is according to my heart; for lie I cannot +and will not, neither will I make believe; or I must indeed do as you +say and not write at all." This startled the father, for he had in +former times said to his friends,--"The lad will not tell a falsehood; +he would sooner let his head be taken off;"--and he was honest enough to +write to his son, "Well, write what you like; if you are not a +hypocrite, you are a fanatic; but you shall tell no lies; there you are +right and I was wrong." + +"'Soon after this the time of the holidays came about, and the son took +his journey to his parents, to spend the holidays with them as it was +his wont to do; for it has been already remarked that love and peace +reigned in that house. As he came in, his mother met him with tears, and +looked at him in a very critical way, as if she feared he were not right +in his head; but he caught her heartily round the neck and kissed her +and hugged her, whispering at the same time, "Mother, don't look at me +with such a doubtful face; I have got all my five senses yet." Then he +went to his father in the sitting-room, and would have fallen on his +neck too but the father at first kept him off with all his strength; +till his son asked him, "Thou art my dear good father always, and always +wilt be so; am I thy son no longer? and why not? what have I done that +is wrong? is reading the Bible and praying anything wrong?" Then the +father kissed his son and spoke--"I must honour the truth, thou hast +done nothing wrong, my son!" For an hour or so they talked together +about the professors at the University, and about the lectures the son +had been attending there; and in the meantime the mother had got supper +ready, and they went to table. The son stood up, folded his hands and +prayed. With that the father thrust his chair back till it cracked, and +ran out of the room, and the mother full of anxiety ran after him. The +son, however, did not follow them, but after he had heartily prayed for +his father and his mother, he sat down, and with tears ate his supper. +When he found his parents did not come back, he sought his own room, and +once more poured out his heart before his faithful God and Saviour; then +he slept quietly until morning. Next morning naturally the first thing +was to go at his prayers again; then he read a chapter in his beloved +Bible; and went afterwards to the dwelling-room, as he was accustomed. +His father was there, sitting in his arm-chair, and turned pale one +minute and red the next. The son gave him his hand cordially and bade +him good-morning, and to his mother as well. "My son," his father then +asked him, "are you master in the house? or am I? The son answered, "Who +but you, father?" "Why do you take upon you then to introduce prayer at +meals, seeing you know that it is not our habit here?" "Father," the son +answered, "did I then say that you and my mother were to pray? I asked +expressly only, 'Come, Lord Jesus, be _my_ guest'--whereas elsewhere +usually the prayer is, 'be _our_ guest.' I knew it was not your custom +to pray; therefore it would have been an untruth to say, 'our guest,' +and that would have been assuming, too, for it would have been trying to +draw you in." "But why did you not let the whole thing entirely alone? +you knew very well we have no such regulation here." "Not for you, +father; for me, however, there is such a regulation; and if I had taken +my supper without praying, I should have been false to my God; and it is +certainly not your pleasure that I should be false towards God, since +you cannot endure any falsehood towards men." "No," said his father, +"you are not to be false; well, pray away, for all I care; but only when +we are alone, not when strangers are by, else we should become a +laughing-stock." "Father, I could not be untrue to God for my own dear +father's sake; should I for the sake of strangers? I am not ashamed of +my God and Saviour before any man, neither before strangers nor before +the king himself; and I will be faithful and true to my God. If it is +not your pleasure to have this thing done when strangers are present, +then do not call me to table." The father said, "Boy, where did you get +your pluck?" "I love the Lord," the son answered, "who has redeemed me; +I would go into death a thousand times for Him." "You are no hypocrite, +my boy," said the father; "well, for all I care, you may be pious, if +you only will not be a hypocrite." + +"'From that time the ice was broken; and I have myself seen it with my +own eyes, how father and mother and son used to read together in the +Bible, pray and sing together, and how the brothers and sisters one +after the other turned to the Lord. Rarely have I known a house in which +the Lord Jesus was so fearlessly acknowledged as in that house. And do +you know what of this history I would like to inscribe in your hearts, +yea, would like to burn into your hearts with letters of fire? It is +this. Let your Christianity be no lip work; let your religion not +consist in words; lip-work Christianity is hypocritical Christianity. +True religion is a fact. The genuine believer is upright and makes no +pretence, neither to God nor man. The heartfelt conviction--"Boy, you +are no hypocrite"--ought to be forced upon the beholder by the walk and +behaviour of every real believer; if that had been the case, the world +would present a different aspect from what it offers now. But most +people's Christianity is a fashion of speech; and so it is lying and +hypocrisy; therefore it can at one and the same time, like Pilate, +chastise and set free, pray and neglect prayer, confess and not confess, +just as happens to be convenient in the circumstances. It is not +required that you should preach to everybody you fall in with, as if it +were your vocation to set up lights for everybody's guidance; much more +would often be spoiled than mended in that way. But to be a Christian, +to walk as a Christian, and thus to confess one's Christianity honestly +in action, just because it is so and you are not going to be false +either towards God or towards men; that is the way in which the hearts +of the parents are turned to the children, and the hearts of the +children turned to the parents.'" + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + + +The sun had got low, in fact, he was dipping behind the dark line of +Eagle Hill; and everybody looked and watched. The bright ball of fiery +gold disappeared, leaving a trail of glory; lights glowed against +shadows on the hazy hill shore; little flecks of cloud in the west grew +gorgeous, and a low-lying rack of vapour in the south-east took on the +loveliest changes of warm browns and purples and greys. And as the sun +got further below the horizon, the cloud scenery became but the more +resplendent. + +"Mr. Murray," Flora began, "you will think I am always taking +objections." + +"Well, Miss Flora--what now?" + +"Please to criticise this story Ditto has been reading. I would rather +you did it than I." + +"By 'criticise' you mean, find fault?" + +"If you see reason." + +"Suppose I do not see reason?" + +"But do you not, really?" + +"Wherein?" + +"Mr. Murray, I like things kept to their proper places." + +"We are agreed there." + +"And I think it is a pity to make religious observances, or what are +meant for them, repelling and disgusting to other people." + +"Certainly. As how, for instance, Miss Flora?" + +"Well, I never like to see people--I _have_ seen it--make a show of +praying at table, where no general blessing has been asked by the person +at the head of the table or a minister. It just makes them conspicuous, +and as good as says that they are the only right people there." + +"That is not a pleasant impression to receive." + +"No, and I did not receive it. I thought it was a mistake. And quite +ill-bred." + +"But perhaps those people felt that they wanted a particular blessing, +where there was no general blessing asked as you say." + +"They might ask for it quietly, secretly." + +"Yes. Would they get it?" + +"Why, Mr. Murray! Doesn't the Lord always hear prayer?" + +"No. It is written--'He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, +even his prayer shall be abomination.'" + +"But what law is there about saying grace at meals, in public?" + +"There is this, Miss Flora. 'Whosoever shall confess Me before men, him +will I also confess'"---- + +"But everywhere, Mr. Murray? Must we be confessing _everywhere_?" + +"What places would you make the exception?" + +Flora was silent. + +"Public places in general?" + +Still Flora was silent. + +"Allow me to ask--Do you approve of the custom anywhere of asking a +blessing upon our meat?" + +"Certainly--in one's own house. Papa did it always. Meredith does it." + +"Then, Miss Flora, if it is a right thing to do at home, how is it not a +right thing to do abroad?" + +"Everywhere, Mr. Murray? Would you do it in a restaurant?" + +"If it is a right thing to do, Miss Flora?--why not in a restaurant?" + +"Or in somebody else's house perhaps, where it is not the custom?" + +"Why not?" + +"Why it seems to me like a sort of preaching to people; like saying to +them that you are better than they are; setting one's self up." + +"Pardon me--how can it be setting myself up, to thank my Father in +heaven for what He has given me, and to ask Him to let me have also a +blessing with it?" + +"Why couldn't you do it quietly?" + +"I should always in such places do it quietly; not aloud." + +"But I mean--without letting anybody know it?" + +"Why should not people know it?" + +"Excuse me, Mr. Murray; but I always think it is making a show--making a +pretence." + +"If it is a pretence, the worse for me, whether at home or abroad. But a +_show_ I want it to be, Miss Flora; a show that I am a child of God, and +love to own my Father's hand everywhere." + +"You are very good to let me talk just what I think, without being +offended," said Flora. "You will not think me rude, Mr. Murray? I really +want to know your opinions. Don't you think that in such things there is +a tacit implied reproof of the other persons present who do not as you +do?" + +"How can I help that?" + +"But is that polite?" + +"That question sinks before the other--Is it duty?" + +"I cannot see it to be duty," said Flora. + +"I have always been a little confused about it," said Meredith; "in such +cases and places, I mean." + +"It makes one very disagreeably singular," Flora added. + +"It is impossible to follow Christ fully, Miss Flora, and not be that +more or less." + +"_Disagreeably_ singular, Mr. Murray?" + +"I agree with you, I am sure, in thinking that it is disagreeable to be +singular." + +"But must one? I always thought it was such bad taste." + +"You perceive it is not a question of taste." + +"Why then of necessity?" + +"Because whoever follows the Lord fully will live in a way the very +opposite of that which is followed by the world. He will be marked out +from it--even as the Lord was Himself." + +"Still, one is not to make one's self unnecessarily odd," said Meredith; +"and I have until now been in doubt whether people did not do it in +this very matter of asking a blessing at tables where nobody else +followed the practice." + +"I am sure it is not unnecessary," said Mr. Murray. "I am sure that +thought is a temptation of the enemy. I am sure that the simple fact of +having, though in so small a matter, shown one's colours and confessed +Christ, is a help all through the day to go on confessing Him, as +occasion may serve." + +Silence fell after this, and some of the party noticed how the sky and +clouds were changing. The sun had sunk below the actual horizon now; +long since he had dipped behind Eagle Hill; and the gold and the purple +were fading from the racks of vapour which had caught and given the +colours so brilliantly. Pale purple, pale fawn, ashes of roses, then +soft greys succeeded one another. The eastern hills had lost their +light; the shadows were gone, night was softly letting her mantle fall +on the world. Still the little party sat on the rock, and looked, and +felt the soft breath of the air, and watched the fading glory. Nobody +wanted to move, and twilight would last long enough to let them get +home; and so they waited. Fenton, I suppose, had gone home, for they +heard the rustle of his footsteps no longer. By and by, as they watched +the grey strips of vapour which had been so brilliant a little while +ago, they began to change again. The greys took on a purplish warm hue, +which brightened and brightened, and then pure carmine began to touch +the soft under folds and edges of the clouds, increasing in vividness, +until over all the sky every speck and mass of vapour was glowing in +brilliant crimson. For a few minutes this; and then it too faded, and +rapidly the crimson sank to purple and the purple back to grey, and all +knew that the reign of night and shades would be broken no more till the +sun rising. Slowly the little party got up from the rock; unwillingly +they turned their backs upon it; lingeringly they left the place which +had been so pleasant, and took their way down the hill through the +gathering dusk. The walk was still very pretty; Maggie held her uncle's +hand, the others clustered round, and they went running and skipping +till the level land was reached, then slowly again, as if loath to have +the evening quite come to an end. + +It was pleasure of another sort to gather round the tea-table, bright +with lights and covered with good things. + +"I do not think," Meredith observed, "that I ever enjoyed more in one +day." + +"Lucky for you!" said Fenton. "I don't see the use of having Sundays, +for my part." + +"How can you help having them?" said Maggie. "They must come, just like +Saturdays, or Mondays." + +"That's deep!" said Fenton. "But if they must come, as you have +originally discovered, why can't one use them reasonably." + +"As how?" said Mr. Murray, preventing an eager outbreak of Maggie's. + +"Like other days. Why shouldn't I fish, for instance? or shoot +partridges? The fish don't know the difference. Why should one mope on +one particular day?" + +"I never do," said his uncle. "I am sorry you have such a bad taste." + +"As what, sir?" (fiercely). + +"As to mope." + +"How's a fellow to do anything else?" + +"Depends on himself." + +"Well, what's the use of my not fishing? Why shouldn't I fish on +Sunday?" + +"Don't you know?" + +"No, I don't," said Fenton. "That's just it. If I knew any good reason, +of course it would be different." And he sagely muttered something about +"priestcraft." + +"There are two reasons," said Mr. Murray calmly, while Maggie flushed up +and even Esther stared at her brother. + +"I never knew any," responded Fenton. + +"Do you care to know them?" + +"If they _are_ reasons," Fenton rejoined impudently, "it would be +unreasonable not to care." + +"Very true," said Mr. Murray smiling. "I will begin with the lesser of +the two. It is found in the nature of man, Fenton. Man is so +constituted that he cannot, year in and year out, stand a seven days' +strain. Neither brain nor muscle will bear it. That has been tested and +proved. In the long run, man cannot do as much working seven days, as he +can do working only six days." + +Fenton knew that what his uncle gave as a fact was likely to be a fact; +he had no answer ready at first. Then he said, "I spoke of fishing, sir; +that is play, not work." + +"As you do it, I suppose it is. But we are talking of the fact of one +day in seven being set apart from the rest, and the reasons. You see one +reason." + +"What's the other?" + +"The other is still more difficult to deal with. It consists in +this--that God says the day is His. As Ruler and King of the world, He +lays His hand upon that seventh day and says, This is mine." + +"I don't see any reason in that," said Fenton. + +"No. But you see the claim and the command. Those must be met, or +disobeyed at our peril." + +"What's the use?" + +"One great use is, to remember and acknowledge that God _is_ Ruler and +Owner of all. So when we cross the boundary between Saturday and Sunday, +we step over on ground that is not ours." + +"There is no good in being stiff and pokey," said Fenton. + +"No. It is only a stranger on the ground who can be that. One who knows +the Lord and loves Him is specially at home and free on the Lord's day." + +"But I thought the Jewish Sabbath was done away?" said Flora. + +"The formal Jewish Sabbath. But not the spiritual. If you study the +matter, you will see that Christ made careful exceptions to the literal +rule in only three cases--where mercy, or necessity, or God's service +demand that it shall be broken." + +"Don't you think a farmer ought to get in his hay on Sunday, sir, if he +saw a storm coming up?" Fenton asked. + +"I dare not make any other exceptions than the Lord made," his uncle +answered. + +"Don't you think trains ought to run on Sunday, Mr. Murray?" said Flora. + +"I must say the same thing to you, Miss Flora." + +"But in cases of sickness and accident, sir?" + +"Have you the notion that Sunday trains are filled with persons who have +been summoned somewhere by telegraph?" + +"No--but there are such cases." + +"Yes; well. Do you think, honestly, that thousands of people ought to +break the Lord's rule every Sunday, in order to give relief here and +there to the anxiety of one?" + +"I can tell you," Fenton broke out, "your doctrine is furiously +unfashionable. There is not a fellow in our school that doesn't do as he +has a mind to on Sunday." + +"Other days too, I suppose." + +"Of course." + +"That is just what, in your sense, a Christian gives up; not on Sunday +more than on other days. That is the difference between a Christian and +another man; one does his own will and the other the will of God, which +is also his own." + +Fenton muttered something to Esther, who sat next him, about an "old +foggy," but the subject of conversation was carried no further. Mr. +Murray purposely changed it, and the evening passed in very pleasant +talk, alternating with some Bible reading. Only, towards the close of +the evening Fenton started the question, "where they would go the next +day?" + +"Suppose we leave that for Monday to take care of," Mr. Murray answered. + +"But, sir, there might be some arrangements to make." + +"To-night?" + +"Perhaps; but at any rate I might want to give some orders in the +morning." + +"I don't think we should have a good time, if we consulted about it +now." + +"Why not, sir?" + +"You forget. It is the Lord's time. And if we want Him to give us His +favour on our expedition, it seems to me we had better not offend Him +about it beforehand." + +"But, sir!"---- + +"But, Mr. Murray!" put in Flora. "Just to _speak_ about things?" + +"Time enough to-morrow, Miss Flora. And this is the Lord's time, you +know." + +"But just _talking_--not doing anything?" + +"Doing a good deal in imagination. What's the difference? Study the +fifty-eighth chapter of Isaiah, the last two verses. Sir Matthew Hale +gave it as his testimony, that he found business concocted on Sunday did +not run off well in the week. No, we will leave the question till +to-morrow at breakfast, if you please." + +"I can't understand it!" said Flora, as she went upstairs. + +"Study those verses in Isaiah," said Meredith, who overheard her. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + + +A bright little party gathered round the breakfast table Monday morning. + +"Now, Uncle Eden," cried Maggie, "where shall we go to-day? It is Monday +now." + +"What is proposed?" + +Several plans were ready. + +"Down in the cove of the bay," said Fenton, "where the lower brook comes +in--then I can fish off Old Woman's rock till lunch is ready." + +"I propose the Indian falls," said Esther. "Flora and Meredith have +never seen them." + +"_I_ say, Fort Montgomery," said Maggie. + +"Fort Montgomery!" There was a general exclamation. + +"Where is that?" Meredith asked. + +"Seven miles down the river. Oh it is just lovely!" Maggie explained. +"We go down with the tide and come back with the tide, and spend the day +down on the hill there, opposite Anthony's Nose. I showed you from the +front door which Anthony's Nose is, Ditto." + +"That would be delightful. The day is going to be perfectly quiet and +warm and sunny--just the thing." + +"Seven miles," Fenton grunted. "Who's going to do the rowing?" + +"I," said Meredith. + +"And I," said Mr. Murray. + +"And we can take Fairbairn," said Maggie; "and we had better, for there +will be the baskets to carry." + +"Nonsense--I can carry baskets," said Meredith; "and get wood, and all +that." + +"I think we can do without Fairbairn," said Mr. Murray. "I like the +plan. It is just the day for it. If it only turn out to be just the time +of tide also!"-- + +"We'll soon see about that," cried the boys. There was a rush and a +whoop and a race to the boat-house, and then a more leisurely return. + +"It's all right," said Meredith. "Couldn't be better. It is half-past +eight now, and the tide just beginning to turn. It will be running down +till two o'clock--and just give us a nice current home." + +"And a good pull, too," said Ponton. + +"_That's_ all right, old boy. Come! don't you pull backwards. Now, how +soon can we be ready?" + +"Just as soon as we can get our lunch ready, and the things," said +Maggie. "You might pack the things, Ditto, and get them into the boat, +while we see about lunch." + +"What are 'things'?" + +"Why, cups and saucers, and tea-kettle, and matches and plates, and +paper to light the fire, and everything, you know." + +"Go off," said Mr. Murray, "and see about victualling the ship. I can +manage the cups and saucers." + +So Maggie and Esther ran to consult Betsey, who now held a nondescript +position of usefulness in the family, and was acting cook while Mrs. +Candlish was away--cook proper being absent on leave. + +"O Betsey! we are going out, to be gone all day; and now, what can we +have for lunch?" + +"Lunch, Miss Maggie!"-- + +"Yes, and you know we want a good deal. There are six of us." + +"You know, it's Monday." + +"Well, what of it?" + +"There h'aint so much as if t'was any other day. You see, yesterday it +was Sunday." + +"Oh well! what have we got, Betsey? I know you have got something." + +"There's bread, Miss h'Esther." + +"We want more than bread. And butter, and tea and coffee and all that. +We must have something more, Betsey. What _have_ you got?" + +"The chickens is nothing left of 'em; and that 'am bone h'aint got much +on it. I do think, Miss Maggie, ye consume a great deal in the woods!" + +"Of course we do. And we want a good, hearty lunch to-day, because the +boys and Uncle Eden will have a long way to row. Come, Betsey, make +haste." + +"There h'aint a living thing in the 'ouse, but h'oysters, and h'eggs, +and potatoes. That is, nothing cooked. And ye want dressed meat." + +"Oysters?" said Maggie doubtfully. + +"Capital," said Esther. "And sweet potatoes. We can bake them in the +ashes. And eggs are good. Meredith will make us another friar's omelet." + +"There's nothing else for ye," said Betsey, summing up. + +So Fairbairn carried a great bag of oysters down to the boat, and a +basket with the potatoes and eggs, and the kettle, and a pail to fetch +water in. And into other baskets went everything else that everybody +could think of as possibly wanting from the house. Affghan and worsted, +finally, and the merry party themselves. + +Ten o'clock, and a soft, fair, mild day as could ever have been wished +for. Not much haze to-day, yet a tempered sunlight, such as October +rejoices in. No wind, and a blue sky far more tender in hue and less +intense than that of summer. Little racks of cloud scattered along the +horizon were, like everything else in nature, quiet and at rest; no +hurry, no driving; no storms, no ripening sun-heat; earth's harvests +gathered in and done for that year, and nature at rest and at play. And +with slow, leisurely strokes of the oar, the little boat fell down with +the tide; she was at play too. Sunshades were not opened; shawls were +not unfolded; in the perfection of atmosphere and temperature there was +nothing to do but to breathe and enjoy. At first even talking was +checked by the calm beauty, the grand hush, of earth and sky. The boat +crossed over to Gee's Point, and from there coasted down under the +shore. There the colours of the woods showed plainly in their variety; +dark red oaks, olive green cedars, dusky chestnut oaks and purple ashes; +with now and then a hickory in clear gold, or a maple flaunting in red +and yellow. They all succeeded one another in turn, with ever fresh +combinations; on the opposite shore the same thing softened by distance; +overhead that clear, pale blue of October. + +"I do not realise that I am living in the common world!" said Flora at +last. "I seem to be floating somewhere in fairy-land." + +"It's October--that is all," said Mr. Murray. + +"Then I never saw October before." + +"Aren't you glad to make his acquaintance?" said her brother. + +"But how can one come down to November after it?" + +"Oh, November is _lovely_!" cried Maggie. "It is lovely here." + +"At Mosswood? Well, I can believe it. But at Leeds November comes with a +scowl and a bluster and takes one by the shoulders and gives one a +shake--to put one in order for winter, I suppose." + +"I don't think shaking puts anything in order," remarked Esther. + +"No. Now _this_--" said Flora, wistfully looking around her--"this comes +as near making me feel good, as anything can." + +"Take a lesson--" said Mr. Murray. + +"But after all, the months must be according to their nature," said +Flora. + +"Certainly. The difference is, that _you_ may choose what manner of +nature you will be of. It all depends, you know," Mr. Murray went on +smiling, "on how much of the sun the months get. And on how much of the +sun you get." + +"How can I choose?" said Flora. + +"How? Why, you may be in the full sunshine all the time if you like." + +Again the boat dropped down the stream silently. The way was long; +seven miles is a good deal in a row-boat; so they took it leisurely and +enjoyed to the full the consciousness that it _was_ a long way, and they +should have a great deal of it. By and by they came to a little rocky +island or promontory, connected with the mainland by marsh meadows at +least if by nothing more, to get round which they had to make quite a +wide sweep. When they had passed it and drew into the shore again, they +were already nearing the southern hills which from Mosswood looked so +distant and seemed to lock into one another. They had the same seeming +still, though standing out now in brighter tints and new and detailed +beauty. On and on the little boat went, coasting along. No further break +in the line of shore for a good while; only they were nearing and +nearing that nest of hills. At last they came abreast of one or two +houses, where a well-defined road came down to the river. + +"Do we land here?" asked Flora. + +"Not yet. Round on the other side of that bluff we shall come to a +creek, with a mill; that is the place. Are you in a hurry?" + +"I should like to sail so all day!" + +They floated down with the tide and a little movement of the oars; there +was absolutely no wind. The sloops and schooners in the river drifted or +swung at anchor. Hardly a leaf moved on a stem. The tide ran fast, +however, and the little boat slipped easily past the gay banks, with +their kaleidoscope changes of colour. This piece of the way nevertheless +seemed long, just because the inexperienced were constantly expecting it +to come to an end; but on and on the boat glided, and there was never a +creek or a mill to be seen. + +"Uncle Eden," said Maggie, "there _used_ to be a creek here somewhere." + +"Certainly." + +"There is none here now," said Flora. + +"That you see." + +"I can look along the shore for a good way, Mr. Murray. Are we going +quite down to those mountains?" + +"No. You will see the creek presently." + +"The banks seem without the least break in them." + +"It will not do to trust to appearances. Have you not found that out +yet?" + +"I tell you what, I'm getting hungry," said Fenton, who was taking his +turn at the oars. + +"Eleven o'clock. You will have to control your impatience for some time +yet," said Meredith. + +"I can tell you, this boat is awfully heavy," said Fenton. He had meant +to use a stronger word, but changed it. "Can't we get lunch by twelve?" + +"Oh no! we shall have some reading first, I guess," said Maggie. "Lunch +at twelve? Why, you never have it till one, Fenton." + +"Makes a difference whether you are pulling a dozen people and forty +baskets along," rejoined her brother. "It's an awful bore, to have to do +things." + +There was a general merry burst at that. + +"What sort of things, Fenton? Do you want to live like a South Sea +Island savage?" his uncle asked. + +"Uncommonly jolly, _I_ should think," responded Fenton. "Dive into the +surf and get a lobster, climb into a tree and fetch down a +cocoanut--there's your dinner." + +"A very queer dinner," remarked Maggie, amid renewed merriment. + +"I never heard that lobsters were fished out of breakers, either," said +Flora. + +"You seem to think it is no work to fight the breakers and climb the +cocoanut trees," remarked Mr. Murray. "However, I grant you, it would +not occupy a great deal of time. Is your idea of life, that it is useful +only for eating purposes?" + +"It comes to that, pretty much," said the boy. "What do people work for, +if it isn't to live! I don't care how they work." + +"Some people's aim is to get where they will do nothing," said Mr. +Murray. "Do you see a bit of a break yonder in the lines of the shore, +Miss Flora?" + +"Is it?--yes, it is the creek!" cried Maggie joyously. "It is the creek. +Now you can see it, Flora." + +It opened fast upon them now as they came near, quite a wide-mouthed +little creek, setting in among wooded banks which soon narrowed upon it. +Just before they narrowed, an old mill stood by the side of the water, +and there were some steps by which one could land. There the boat was +made fast, and the little party disembarked, glad after all to feel +their feet again; and baskets one after another were handed out. + +"What is all this cargo?" said Fenton, grumbling; "and who's going to +carry it to the top of the hill? Suppose we stay down here?" + +"And lose all the view?" said Maggie. + +"And the walk? and the fun?" said Esther. + +"Fun!" echoed Fenton. "Just take that sack along with you, if you want +fun. What ever have you got in it? cannon balls?" + +"Oysters." + +"Oysters! In the shell! Why didn't you have them taken out? What's in +this basket? this is as bad." + +"Cups and saucers, and spoons and plates, and such things." + +"We could have done without them." + +"How?" + +"Eat with our fingers." + +"You had better go to the South Sea Islands, and done with it," said +Esther. "Come--you take hold of one side of the basket and I of the +other." + +"No, Essie," said her uncle; "that would be very unchivalrous. Do not +ask Fenton such a thing. In the South Sea Islands men may make women do +the work for them; but not here. Come, my boy, here are three of us and +only a basket apiece; take up your burden and be thankful, and be +brave." + +I am afraid Fenton was neither; but he shouldered his basket; and being +an athletic fellow, managed to reach the top of the hill without more +muscular distress than the others showed. Of the state of his mind I +say nothing further; but the truth is, the way was rather long. Nobody +knew the shortest cut to the place they desired to reach; so they wound +about among thickets of low cedar, sprinkled here and there with taller +pines, going up and down and round about for some time. At last they +found their way to the top of the ridge, and wandering along in search +of a suitable place for their rest and pleasure, came out upon an open +bit of turf and moss on the highest ground, over which a group of white +pines stretched their sheltering branches. The view was clear over a +very long stretch of the river with its eastern shore; indeed they could +look up quite to the turn of the river at Gee's point; Gee's Point +itself hid Mosswood from them. + +With acclamations the party deposited their baskets and threw themselves +down on the bank. The gentle warmth of the sun was not shorn of its +effect by the least stir of wind; the moss and grass were perfectly dry; +and the lookout over river and shores was lovely. Sugarloaf showed now +true to its name, an elegant little cone. The sails of the two or three +vessels the party had passed in coming down the river were so still that +they served to emphasise the general stillness; they hung lazily waiting +for a breeze and could not carry their hulls fast or far. + +For a while the pleasure party could do nothing but rest and look. But +after a while Meredith roused himself to further action. He began +wandering about; what he was searching for did not appear, until he came +back with an armful of green, soft, pine branches. + +"Now if you will just get up for a few minutes," said he, "I will give +you a couch to rest upon." And he went on to lay the branches thick +together, so as to form a very yielding comfortable layer of cushions, +on which the party stretched themselves with new pleasure and strong +appreciation. Meredith had to bring a good many armfuls of pine branches +to accommodate them all; at last he had done, and flung himself down +like the rest. + +"When do you want your fire made?" said he. + +"Somebody else is hungry, I am afraid," said Flora. + +"I cannot deny it. But I can wait as long as you can!" + +"I am _very_ hungry," said Flora. + +"I believe I shall be," said Mr. Murray, "by the time our luncheon can +be ready. Here's for a fire!" + +They all went about it. To find a place and to arrange stones for the +kettle, and to collect fuel, and to build and kindle the fire. Stones +for the chimney-place were not at hand in manageable size; so Mr. Murray +planted three strong sticks on the ground with their bases a couple of +feet or so apart and their heads tied together; and slung the kettle to +them, over the fire. This was very pretty, and drew forth great +expressions of admiration. Then while waiting for the kettle to boil, +they all threw themselves on their pine branches again and called for a +story; only Fenton sat by the fire to keep it up. Meredith took his book +from his pocket and laid it on the pine branches, open before him. + +"You could not attend to anything very deep till you have had something +to eat," he said. "I will give you something easy." + +"Most of your stories are so profound," added Flora. + +"Never mind; listen." + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + + +"'The story that I am going to tell now happened here in Hermannsburg.'" + +"A great many things seem to have happened in Hermannsburg," Flora +remarked. + +"Yes. Just think what it must be to live in a village with a history. + +"'It is, for one thing, a beautiful story for passion week; and then it +gives a lovely picture of the relation in which princes and their +vassals at that time stood to one another. The Thirty Years' War had +brought frightful misery over our country. Havoc and devastation had +come even into the churches. So, for example, in this place; the +imperial troops had not only plundered the church and carried away +everything that was of value; for to be sure the people here were +Lutheran heretics; but they had even broken to pieces all the bells in +the tower, and driven off no less than five baggage waggons full of +brass metal, to be recast for cannon. And the last one, the big bell, +was broken up and about to be carried away by the Croats; the horses +were even put to the waggon; when suddenly the blast of trumpets and the +battle-cry, "_God with us!_" announced the coming of Lutheran troops, +and scared the Croats away. So the metal was left behind. After the +Thirty Years' War, gradually the people gathered together again; but the +number of them was very small, and many a farm had to lie waste for want +of both farmer and farming stock. There are said to have been at first +only ten families come back to our parish village, with four oxen and +two cows. Besides all that, towards the end of the war epidemics were +constantly prevailing, so that, for example, in this parish, in the +thirty years from 1650 to 1680, three pastors died one after another of +contagious epidemics; namely, Andreas Kruse'" (that was the fellow who +stood out so for his church vessels), "Paulus Boccatius, Johannes +Buchholz; and the fourth Justus Theodor Breyhan, who died in 1686, was +three times at death's door. Those were troubled times! + +"'This Breyhan was a childlike good man, whom his parish held in great +love and honour, for both in spiritual and in material things there was +no better counsellor for them. Like a true father he stood by the +bedside of the sick and the dying, to show them how to die happy, and +like a good father he comforted the survivors, and by the live and +powerful words of his preaching, poured new strength and fresh courage +of faith into all hearts. With all that, this man was a singular lover +of the _sound of the bell_. In his opinion it was a remarkable thing, +that the heavenly King would allow his bells to be cast of the same +metal in which earthly princes cast their guns; and his highest wish +was, to get a great church bell again. The metal indeed was still on +hand; but who would have it cast? There was only a little bell still +hanging up in the tower, which was called the Bingel bell, and dated +back to the year 1495 (it is there still) and had been too insignificant +to tempt the Croats. With that on Sundays people must be rung to church, +and with that the tolling for the dead must be done at funerals. It did, +it is true, give out a fine, lovely, clear note; but the good dear +Breyhan often wept great tears when he heard the sound of it; it seemed +to him that it was too disrespectful to the great King in heaven, that +he should have no better bell than that. He could hardly sleep at last +for thinking of it. Especially at the high festival days and in Passion +week, and on occasion of funerals, he was in great uneasiness. Then it +was in the fast season of the year 1680, he was again sick unto death, +and in his fevered fancies he was continually praying to the dear Lord +that He would not let him die before he could have the bell properly +tolled at his burying. He recovered, and on Good Friday was again able +to preach. The congregation wept for joy at having their beloved pastor +among them again, and never perhaps have more ardent thanks gone up to +God from the parish than did that day. The time of the Easter festival +passed by, and they rejoiced with one another over the glorious +resurrection of the Lord Jesus. The third day of the Easter festival (at +that time there were still always three feast days), he told the +congregation that they must pray for him faithfully; for the next day he +was going on a journey after a bell which in his illness he had promised +to the Lord. + +"'The next morning his honest old parish farmer Ebel was at the door +with a little farm waggon, and asked him where they were to go? and +whether it was to be a long or a short journey? You must know the man +was under obligation to take several long journeys for his pastor, +lasting some days, and several short expeditions of a day only each. "It +shall be a short one for to-day," the pastor answered. "I think with +God's help to ride to Zelle." So after Ebel had attended morning worship +in the parsonage, for he would not willingly have missed that, Breyhan +mounted into the waggon, set himself down upon a spread of straw, took +his hat off and said reverently--"In God's name!"--and then they went +forward, step by step, as the manner was then; for in those days people +were not in such a hurry as they are now. Before the city they stopped, +and with prayer and thanksgiving ate the breakfast they had brought +along with them. Then Breyhan took his vestments out of a clean linen +cloth and put them on, and one could see by his lips that he was +speaking to himself or praying. Good Ebel felt himself growing quite +devotional at the sight, and he drove into the city with twice the +spirit he had had before, because now everybody might see that he had a +pastor in his waggon.'" + +Meredith paused a moment to glance up at the river and hills opposite, +and Maggie broke forth, + +"The people in that country seem to be very unlike the people in this +country?" + +"You mean, nobody here would care so much about carrying a minister in +his waggon," said Meredith laughing. + +"Well--he wouldn't, would he?" + +"I am afraid not. More's the pity." + +"Why, Ditto?" said his sister. "What are ministers so much more than +other people?" + +"They are the King's ambassadors," said Mr. Murray, taking the answer +upon himself. "And you know, Miss Flora, the ambassador of a king is +always treated as something more than other people." + +Flora looked at him. "Mr. Murray," she said, "ministers do not seem like +that?" + +"When they are the true thing, they do." + +"But then besides," Maggie went on,--"how could anybody, how could that +good man care so much about a _bell_? What difference did it make +whether the bell was big or little?" + +"Superstition"--said Flora. + +"No, not exactly," responded Mr. Murray. + +"That other man cared so much about his silver service, and this one +about his bell--they were both alike, but I don't understand it," said +Maggie. + +"How would you like your father to have his table set with pewter +instead of silver?" + +"O Uncle Eden! but that--" + +"Or to drive a lame horse in his carriage?" + +"But, Uncle Eden--" + +"Or to wear a fustian coat?" + +"But that's different, Uncle Eden." + +"Yes, it is different. This concerns our own things; those matters of +the vessels and the bell concerned God's things." + +"Then you approve of building very costly churches, sir?" asked +Meredith, whose head was running on churches lately. + +"No, I do not." + +"How then, Mr. Murray?" said Flora curiously. + +"Because _the_ temple of the Lord, the only one He cares much about, is +not built yet. I hold it false stewardship to turn aside the Lord's +money into brick and mortar and marble channels, while His poor have no +comfortable shelter, His waifs want bread, and a community anywhere in +the world are going without the light of life and the word of +salvation." + +"What do you mean by _the_ temple of the Lord, Uncle Eden?" said Maggie. +"I thought there was no temple of the Lord now?" + +Mr. Murray pulled out his Bible from his pocket, opened and found a +place. + +"'Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but +fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the household of God; and are +built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ +himself being the chief corner-stone; in whom all the building, fitly +framed together, groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord; in whom ye +also are builded together, for an habitation of God through the +Spirit.'" + +"How lovely!"--said Meredith. + +"I didn't know that was in the Bible," said Flora. + +"The literal Jewish temple was in part a type of this spiritual one. And +as in Solomon's building, 'the house was built of stone made ready +before it was brought thither; so that there was neither hammer, nor +axe, nor any tool of iron heard in the house while it was in building,' +but the walls rose silently,--so it is in this temple. The stones are +silently preparing, 'polished after the similitude of a palace;' +silently put in place; 'lively stones built up a spiritual house;' so +the Lord says, 'He that overcometh, will I make a pillar in the temple +of my God.'" + +There was silence for a few moments, when Mr. Murray added, "_That_ is +the temple, Meredith, that I think the Lord wants us to build and help +build. I think any diversion of the money or strength needed for this, a +sad, sad waste; and no honour to the Lord of the temple, though it may +be meant so. Come, go on with Pastor Breyhan; I like him. His was a +true-souled care for God's honour. I hope he got his bell." + +Meredith went on. + +"'To Ebel's question, "where he should drive to?" the answer was, "To +the Stechbahn;" that was a road which lay opposite the ducal castle. +Ebel's wonderment grew greater and greater, but Breyhan kept still, +slowly dismounted, gave orders to Ebel that he should drive to the inn, +but he himself went straight on to the ducal castle. As he had expected, +for it was just eleven o'clock, he found the duke sitting in front of +the entrance to the castle. For about this hour the duke was wont to sit +there and allow everybody, even the lowest of his vassals, to have free +access and speech of him. If there were no petitions, or complaints, or +the like on hand, he would converse in the kindest and most affable way +with everybody, and many a peasant could boast that in all +simple-heartedness he had shaken hands with his liege lord. Breyhan +found the duke (it was George William) surrounded by a number of people. +However there can have been nothing of consequence going on, for when +the duke saw the pastor approaching, he signed him immediately to come +near. Breyhan presented himself; and related simply and in childlike +wise how things stood in Hermannsburg, and how the people had not yet +been able to get their affairs rightly under way since the terrible war. +George William listened kindly, and many a tear came into his mild eyes +as Breyhan told him of the sick beds and the dying beds. + +"'"You want to ask some help in your need?" demanded the duke. + +"'"No," was the answer; "we can manage as yet to get along with these +earthly troubles. But we have a spiritual trouble, that we feel more +keenly, and which we cannot deal with by ourselves, and in that you must +help us, my lord duke; this is what I have come for to-day." He told him +now all that he had on his heart respecting the bell; how that the +beautiful metal was there yet, but no means to get it cast, and that +that was for the duke to do. The duke was delighted with the childlike, +honest nature of the man, and his hearty confidence that the duke's help +was certain; and he could not help putting Breyhan's faith a little to +the test. + +"'"Dear pastor," said he, "you are suffering in a small way from the +after effects of the Thirty Years' War; on the other hand, I am +suffering the same thing on a great scale. Your village treasury is +empty, my castle treasury is empty, and the country's treasury to boot. +So I cannot shake down the money for you out of my sleeves. If all the +people in the land came to me to get their bells cast for them, what +would be the end of it?" + +"'Breyhan was of opinion that the case was somewhat different with +Hermannsburg. Since one of the duke's ancestors had founded the church +there, one of the descendants might well have a bell cast for it. The +duke, however, would not yet give in, but teased the petitioner with all +sorts of objections, just to see what he would answer; he loved clever +and witty speeches. Breyhan did what he could to satisfy the duke's +objections. At last it got to be too much of a good thing, and he said, +"My lord duke, I have now been a good while asking a boon of you, as a +humble vassal may ask his prince; but as asking does no good, I will now +_order_ you to have the bell cast. Perhaps you are not aware that I am +lord of the manor to you, and that you are my liegeman. A liegeman must +stand by his feudal lord with his goods and with his blood, with life +and honour. The bell we must have; it is needful for our holding of +divine service. You are not obliged to give us the whole bell; you are +only to have it cast. Now it does not indeed stand in your title-deed +that you must have a bell cast for us; therefore I cannot put you out of +your farm for not doing it. But it does stand therein written that you +must make hay for me three days in every year, and do a day's work for +me in every week, for which service each time you are to get a half +gallon of beer. Hitherto your bailiff has put a man to do it, and I have +consented; but if you do not have the bell cast, then you must come +yourself and make hay and cut wood." + +"'You should have seen the duke then. "My dear pastor," said he, "that +is something I did not know before, that you are my lord of the manor; +in that case, I must take shame to myself that I have let you stand here +all this while. Come into the castle with me." He seized his hand and +led him into the house, sent for his wife, and said in a solemn voice, +"See here, my dear wife, until now I have supposed that I was the first +man in the country; and now to-day I have come to know that the +Hermannsburg pastor stands highest, for he is lord of the manor to me. +Let preparation be made for his dining with us." While the servants made +ready, the duke sought better information, and learned now that he +actually held a farm in Hermannsburg from the Hermannsburg benefice, the +contract for which on every occasion of the coming of a new pastor, or +of a new duke's assuming the government, must be ratified over a cup of +wine, and upon which, besides the yearly service money, the above +obligations rested. The duke was so delighted at this, that he not only +promised Breyhan to yield obedience and have the bell cast, but he +begged him in the humblest manner that he would spare him in the matter +of the hay-making and wood-cutting, for he was not exactly in practice +in the matter of those two exercises; then jestingly he begged his wife +to apply to the pastor herself for him, to let grace take the place of +right. And as he was not slow to do this, all was soon settled. At table +Breyhan was requested to make the prayer, and the conversation went on +most charmingly about things of God's word. + +"'The faithful carter Ebel meanwhile did not know at all where his +pastor could be staying so long; and as he certainly understood so much +as that the duke had taken him into the castle, he got into such +trouble, because he thought something evil had befallen him, that he ran +into the castle and demanded to have his pastor back; not a little +wondering when he found him sitting at table with the duke. Still more +was he comforted, when from the duke's table itself a draught of beer +was given him. + +"'After the meal was over, Breyhan drove joyfully back to Hermannsburg. +The duke had not only granted his petition, but also declared that he +would come to the consecration of the bell, and would be a guest with +his lord of the manor. Breyhan promised him a friendly reception, but +made the stipulation that he should bring only his lady duchess along +with him, for his house was not prepared for entertaining guests. And +now the business went forward according to his wish. The bell was cast +in Hannover, and was, as Breyhan had desired that it might be, ready by +the fast time of 1689. It was adorned with a threefold inscription. At +the top stood: + +"'"PRAISE HIM UPON THE LOUD CYMBALS; PRAISE HIM UPON THE HIGH-SOUNDING +CYMBALS. LET EVERYTHING THAT HATH BREATH PRAISE THE LORD. Ps. cl." + +"'In the middle of the side stood: + +"'"George William, by the grace of God duke of Brunswick and Lueneburg, +patron of our churches." + +"'And below (this is a verse--I will translate it as well as I can): + +"'"_Through the grace of God I am alive again, and give you the call to +church by my voice. Come willingly, be brisk and ready, then will I also +speak out gloriously when you are going to the grave._" + +"'"_Anno 1681, Nicholas Greue in Hannover cast me._" + +"'Our ringing is still done with this bell, which has a very fine tone, +and whoever likes can still at the present day read on it the above +inscription. + +"'The Friday before Palm Sunday was fixed for the consecration of the +bell; the duke arrived the day before with his wife; spent the night +with his lord of the manor, attended the evening and morning worship and +the preaching on Friday the fast day, and was present at the +consecration of the bell, which took place immediately after divine +service. When the bell was drawn up into the tower, and hung upon its +scaffolding, ready for its first ringing, and when the first stroke +softly sounded, then Breyhan and the duke and duchess beside him, the +nobleman of Hermannsburg, who was called Von Haselhorst, and the +bailiff, whose name was Pingeling, together with the whole congregation, +fell upon their knees in the churchyard; and while the bell continued to +be softly rung, the prayer of consecration was spoken. After the +Paternoster, the full, sonorous notes of the bell pealed out, and there +was not an eye but had tears in it as the long-missed tones floated off +so gloriously through the air. The dear Breyhan's heart was bounding, +and full of joy he spoke out--"Lord, now lettest thou Thy servant depart +in peace." The afternoon they spent at home, only the duke could not +refrain from making a trial at the wood-cutting, which however did not +succeed very well; whereupon then the pastor magnanimously promised that +he would content himself with the observance hitherto rendered, and +never demand of the duke personally that he should make hay or do days' +works. Then the duke requested that for his sake the evening worship +might be held earlier to-day, for he wished to get back again to Zelle. + +"'From that time he came again once every year, either for Good Friday +or for Easter; and in the year 1686 he followed to the grave the remains +of Pastor Breyhan, who died in the thirty-fourth year of his age. The +evening of Wednesday before the sixth Sunday after Trinity (the date is +not given in the church book), when he felt his end drawing near, he had +the great bell rung once more; and while it was ringing, at which time +the greater portion of the parish, either in their homes or standing in +front of the house, were in prayer, with a glad gesture he fell asleep. +His dying lips prayed, "Christ, Thou Lamb of God, who takest away the +sin of the world, have mercy on me, and give me Thy peace, O Jesus. +Amen." + +"'The funeral was on Saturday. And as often as I hear the bell ring, I +cannot help thinking of the dear, good Breyhan and the kindly duke +George William, and the saying recurs to me--"The memory of the just is +blessed." + +"'Finally, I remark once more, that from this story I have taken up a +thorough disgust for the new-fashioned _law of redemptions_. By this law +the above-mentioned farm has lately been detached from the benefice. +Before that, I was the most distinguished man in the kingdom of +Hannover, for the king was my parochial tenant and I was lord of the +manor to him; _now_ I am an insignificant country pastor and such, it is +well known, have neither form nor beauty.'" + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + + +Fenton had been crying out that the kettle was boiling; and yet, when +Meredith stopped reading nobody was in a hurry to move. The little group +lying there upon the pine branches was as quiet as the day; and there is +no describing the beauty of that rest in which nature for the moment +seemed to be still. The delicate clear blue overhead; the still racks of +white cloud here and there upon it, doing nothing and going nowhere, +only lying fair on the blue; the breathless atmosphere in which an aspen +leaf would have hung motionless; the broad river below moving its strong +current so silently and so unobtrusively; there was no token of motion, +unless in a vessel which was slowly drifting down while her sails hung +windless by the mast; the profound quiet had something imposing. I +cannot tell how, some grave, sweet influence seemed to press upon every +heart in the company; and for a few minutes after the reader's voice +ceased, the stillness was significant. + +"We seem to be out of the world!" Flora remarked at last in an +undertone. + +"Why?" Mr. Murray asked. + +"I don't know. Confusions and disturbance are nowhere in sight. It is +all peace." + +"And purity," added Meredith. + +"How nice if one could live so!" Flora went on. + +"You may, to a great degree, live so," said Mr. Murray. "It will not be +always October, and your couch may not always be such a feathery one; +and yet, Miss Flora--I fancy that Pastor Breyhan lived in very much such +an atmosphere all his life." + +"The story is just in harmony with the day and the place; isn't it?" +said Meredith. + +"It is odd that one can be interested in such a story," said Flora. "And +yet I have been interested." + +"For that very reason, I suppose," said Mr. Murray. "There is something +breathing out, both from the story and the day, which we all know we +want,--unless we have got it already." + +"But, Mr. Murray, one cannot live in the world and be quiet," said +Flora. + +"There is a promise or two, however, to that effect. 'When He giveth +quietness, then who can make trouble?' And the Master said to His +disciples, 'Peace I leave with you.' 'He that cometh to me shall never +hunger.'" + +"I wish I knew what it means!" said Flora, furtively getting rid of a +tear which had somehow found its way into her eye. + +"I'll tell you what," cried Fenton, "if you don't come, the water will +all boil away. Don't you mean ever to have luncheon? I don't know what +you are thinking of, with your old stories!" + +This brought the party to their feet. And now, some went at unpacking +and arranging the things which had been brought along in bag and basket; +Flora lit the spirit lamp and set the coffee a-going; while Meredith and +Fenton put the potatoes in the ashes and took care of the process of +roasting the oysters. It was not so warm to-day that the fire was +disagreeable, which was lucky, as the oysters demanded a good bed of +coals; the potatoes likewise. Finally, Meredith set about making a +friar's omelet. When all was ready and the tea drawn, they sat round the +fire on the grass, and made a most miscellaneous and most enjoyable +meal. + +"Coffee! how good the coffee is!" said Meredith. + +"And did you _ever_ see such good roast oysters?" cried Maggie. + +"They ought to be good," Fenton growled; "they cost a precious sight of +work to get 'em up here." + +"And Ditto's omelet is so nice!"--Maggie went on. + +"If one could live in the open air!" said Meredith, "how good it would +be. I do not mean the omelet! but everything else. It's a great loss to +live in houses." + +"Lots of convenience, though," said Fenton. + +"Look at the heap of oyster-shells Fenton is throwing behind him!" cried +Maggie presently. + +"What's that to you?" said Fenton. "There are oysters enough. Don't +meddle. If anything is a nuisance it is a meddling girl." + +"How about a meddling boy?" Mr. Murray asked. + +"Boys don't meddle," said Fenton. "It is girls." + +"I suppose that is because the boys do the things that have to be +meddled with," said Maggie sagely. + +Fenton scowled, but the others laughed, and the meal went merrily +forward. + +"How much time have we?" Flora asked. + +"For what?" + +"For staying here, and reading. How long before we must break up and go +home?" + +"We can take our own time," said Meredith. "The tide will be good. +Indeed it will be only getting better and better. It will turn about two +o'clock." + +"We must get home in time for dinner," observed Fenton, however. + +"I really should think you might wait a while for that," said Esther. +"Uncle Eden, if anybody else comes here this fall, they will see exactly +what we had for lunch." + +"How so?" + +"There are the egg-shells, and potato-skins, and Fenton's heap of +oyster-shells." + +"You do not think we will leave them here? Besides, there are several +heaps of oyster-shells, I think; they are not all Fenton's." + +"Fenton's is the biggest. But what will you do with all these things, +Uncle Eden?" + +"Carry them away." + +"Where to, sir?" asked Fenton. + +"Down the hill." + +"Why, sir?" + +"How would you like such a quantity of rubbish left in the woods at +Mosswood, by some happy picnic party?" + +"This isn't Mosswood, sir." + +"No, it is some other wood." + +"But it is nobody's ground." + +"How can you venture to affirm that?" + +"Well, I mean, it is nobody's ground in particular." + +"That is more than you or I know, my boy, and is moreover highly +improbable. We are certainly not intruding on anybody's privacy; but we +have no right even here to leave things worse than we found them?" + +"And we have got to lug all this trash down to the river again?" + +"What do you think?" + +Fenton thought it was "no end of a bore;" nobody else, however, did +anything but laugh at him. After the oysters were all disposed of, the +oyster-shells went back into the bag, ready for transportation; Fenton +remarking with great disgust that they were just as heavy and took up +more room than before. Egg-shells and potato-skins were swept up; cups +packed away; coffee and teapot restored to the basket; hands washed; and +finally the group gathered again on their couch of pine branches to +enjoy every minute. They had a good space of time left them still, and +the day promised to finish its fair course without change, except change +of beauty. Fenton joined the group now, having nothing to do, and +hopeless of inducing them to break up before the last possible minute. + +"What are you going to give us this afternoon, Meredith?" Mr. Murray +asked. + +"I have been keeping it, sir; one of my best; a story out of the Thirty +Years' War. Shall I read?" + +"By all means." + +"'In the parish of Hermannsburg there is a forest-house, situated about +an hour and a half from the church village; the place is called Queloh, +and it lies in the midst of the forest. On the other side, about a +quarter of an hour further on is a beautiful beech wood, which goes by +the name of Buchhorst. In old times this place was inhabited by two +peasants who belonged to the wide-spread peasant family of Weesen. The +name of the one was Drewes, and of the other Hinz. They were both good +and God-fearing men, and with their whole hearts devoted to the dear +Lutheran church. Those were the times of the Thirty Years' War in which +they lived, and they had to bear their share in all the distresses which +that miserable war brought with it; they bore it also willingly, for the +Lord's sake. + +"'Although they had been stripped of their goods a number of times by +the Catholic soldiers, they had nevertheless preserved their most +precious things, that is, their books; their Bibles, singing books and +catechisms. These were, you must know, very necessary to them, for in +those days there were as yet no village schools. In the entire parish of +Hermannsburg there was but a single school, and that was in the church +village; and this school was attended by the children only for one year, +or it might be only half a year, previous to their confirmation. For all +the rest, every house-father must himself play the schoolmaster. And in +many respects, those must have been glorious times. Every evening when +the fire was kindled on the hearth of the so-called Flett'" (a sort of +hall or common room between the barn and the house), "'and the women +were busy on the hearth with their cooking, the house-father with the +whole of the household assembled around the fire--children, servants, +and maids. Then the little ones were instructed in spelling and reading, +in which business the servants and maids were faithful helpers of the +house-father. After that, the catechism was taken in hand; some +spiritual songs were sung; a portion was read aloud from the Bible and +talked about, in the course of which very lovely and profitable words +were often spoken; the old histories and legends and stories of the +country, handed down from father to son, came in for their share of +attention; the laws, manners, and usages which custom had made binding +were discussed; and the "Flett" hour was one so full of enjoyment and +so full of instruction that it was looked forward to during the whole +day by both old and young. And this "Flett" hour was a strong fortress +against the intrusion of innovations; and it can be shown, that the new +ways, that is, the godless new ways, never came until the "Flett" hours +were given up. This Flett'" (or great middle hall of the house) "'with +its hearth was as it were the home sanctuary, in a certain degree the +domestic altar. From there, too, the peasant could overlook his whole +house and prevent any disorders. Usually there was only one +dwelling-room in the house, called the "Doenz," which, however, was for +the most part used merely for eating and spinning, and served for the +whole, for grandparents and father and mother and children and men and +maids; for the meals were also in common; and that old people should be +portioned off and take what was called their part, was a thing unheard +of; it would have brought unending disgrace upon the peasant's head. It +was just as little thought possible that the peasant should take his +meals separate from his men and maid-servants; they all formed one great +family. + +"'I said awhile ago, that in the ravages of the war these people had +saved what they held dearest, namely, their books. They had managed it +in this way. In every "Doenz" the furniture consisted only of a large +table, a table with folding leaves'" (a Klapptisch--I don't know whether +that is a table that folds together, or a table shelf that folds up +against the wall), "'a cupboard, and some wooden chairs and stools; but +by the side of the stove there stood a "grandfather's chair" of more +pretension, covered with leather, in which indeed the peasant himself, +when he came home from the field in the evening, was wont to rest +himself for a while. The seat, also covered with leather, they had made +movable, so that it could be lifted up and shut down; and beneath this +seat the books were placed in security; nothing was to be seen of them +when the seat was shut down, and nobody would look for them there. And +it was quite needful that they should preserve their books so +carefully; for the Catholic soldiers in the Thirty Years' War waged a +regular war of extermination against Lutheran books. + +"'One evening, Drewes the father, that is, the farmer, was sitting in +his house, with his people around the hearth in the "Flett," and they +were just speaking of the great victory which the Lutherans under +General Torstensohn had fought for and gained at Leipzig; and the +house-father was giving his opinion that soon now surely enough blood +would have flowed, and that peace must be near. Upon that came his +neighbour hastily in and said,--"Neighbour, hurry and loose your cattle, +and let us flee to the wood; the emperor's forces are only half an hour +off." Quick everybody sprang up; the cattle were muzzled to prevent +their bellowing; the few bits of clothing and some victuals were caught +up; and away they went plunging into the thickest part of the forest, as +fast and as noiselessly as they could. Hinz closed the procession, and +when the cattle were got out of sight he took post behind a tree, that +he might see what the soldiers would do. He had not long to watch; for +it was scarcely a quarter of an hour later that bright flames went +crackling up into the sky; both houses together with the out-buildings +were in a blaze. The soldiers were enraged that they had found no booty, +and had set fire to everything. Hinz hastened now into the thick of the +wood after the others, and when he caught up with them he told them of +their misfortune. With that, they all fell upon their knees and thanked +God that he had saved their lives and their cattle; and it never came +into any one's head to weep so much as a single tear; they could build +huts for themselves in the wood; and their hearts did not hang upon +things of this world. But what is this? what could all of a sudden force +such a deep sigh from Father Drewes that it absolutely startled them +all? what could bring great tears into the eyes of that strong man, whom +nobody had ever seen weep before? "Godfather Hinz," he said with his +voice half stifled with pain,--"our books! our books! Ah, they are burnt +up by now! our own and our children's only treasure and comfort!" And +behold, they all then fell to weeping, men and women and children, men +and maids, as if their hearts would break. At last spoke out the old +Father Hinz, an eighty-years-old grey-headed man,--"Hush, children! if +our books are burned, our God and Saviour is not gone with them; we have +Him in our hearts; and His Word we have too, not only in the Bible but +in our memories. I will say out a chapter for you every morning and +every evening, out of my heart." Then they grew quiet, and he folded his +hands and began at once, and prayed first the twenty-third psalm, and +then the seventy-third psalm, and finally the eighth chapter of the +Epistle to the Romans; all verse for verse from the beginning to the +end.'" + +"The twenty-third and the seventy-third?" said Maggie interrupting. +"Which are they?" + +"Don't you know? The twenty-third begins,--'The Lord is my Shepherd; I +shall not want.'" + +"And it goes on,--" said Mr. Murray,--"'He prepareth a table before me +in the presence of mine enemies; he anointeth my head with oil; my cup +runneth over.'" + +"Not very appropriate," said Flora. + +"I thought very appropriate." + +"Why they were just in great want, sir; even of the most ordinary +comforts." + +"A good time to remind themselves of their extraordinary comforts." + +"What had they to justify them in talking of their 'cup running over?'" + +"Something which they know who know, Miss Flora, and other people would +try in vain to comprehend." + +"Well, the other word, 'I shall not want;'--they were in want already." + +"No," said Meredith, "excuse me. I have read what comes after." + +"They were in want, Ditto, certainly." + +"Only such want--never mind, I will not forestall my story." + +"What is the other psalm?" Flora asked. + +"Very beautiful in this connection," said Mr. Murray, who had got out +his Bible. "It begins,--'Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as +are of a clean heart.'" + +"There again!" said Flora, "what reason had they just then to think that +He was good?" + +"That is faith, Miss Flora." + +"Faith?" the young lady repeated. + +"Yes. Faith takes on trust, when it cannot see." + +Flora looked at the speaker. + +"The psalm goes on to describe the temptations to doubt which had beset +the psalmist on observing the prosperity of wicked people and the hard +times the Lord's people often had; and then how he saw his mistake; and +then he breaks out, 'Whom have I in heaven but Thee? and there is none +upon earth that I desire beside Thee. My flesh and my heart faileth, but +God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.'" + +"That is beautiful, and appropriate," said Flora. + +"As soon as a man gets where he can say--'Thou shalt guide me with Thy +counsel, and afterward receive me to glory,'--he can stand a few ups and +downs in this life. The choice of passages made by that old man was +beautiful in the extreme; and proved not only that he knew the Bible, +but that it was part of his life." + +"And the chapter of Romans?" + +"A worthy third in the trio. That is a chapter of triumph in the +Christian's privilege and hopes, ending--'Who shall separate us from the +love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or +famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?... Nay, in all these things we +are more than conquerors, through Him that loved us. For I am persuaded, +that neither death nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, +nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any +other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which +is in Christ Jesus our Lord.'" + +Flora's eyes filled, and she said nothing; and Meredith took up his book +again. + +"There is another word in that chapter that fits, sir--'All things shall +work together for good to them that love God.'" + +"It would certainly take faith to believe _that_," said Flora. "I can +imagine a little that other things and hopes might console people +suffering trouble in their persons and goods; but now, for instance, +what possible benefit could it be to those people to have their houses +burned, and to be driven into the wild wood with no shelter and nothing +or very little to eat, and likewise very little to put on?" + +"Well, I had better read," said Meredith. "Pastor Harms stops there, +after telling how old Drewes recited Scripture, and asks, 'Could my dear +readers all of them have done as much? just ask yourselves once quietly; +and whoever is forced to say, "I could not do it," let him be ashamed +from the bottom of his heart! + +"'A special impression was made by the words, "Though I walk through the +valley of the shadow of death," &c., and those others, "My heart and my +flesh faileth," &c., and again, "I am persuaded, that neither death nor +life," &c., and after they had all sat still a while, they raised their +heads up cheerfully, took each other's hands, and broke out with one +voice in the words-- + +"'"Dennoch bleibe ich stets an Dir," &c.'" + +"What does that mean, Ditto?" + +"'Nevertheless, I am continually with thee.' 'Then they went quietly to +sleep in the wood, and lodged there beautifully, warm and safe under the +wings of their God, and beneath the sheltering arms of the fir-trees; so +that the sun was already shining through the branches when they waked +up. Then they milked the cows, to get some breakfast for the children, +and after that they all gathered round the old father to remind him of +his promise. And the old man did not delay, but prayed first the +twenty-seventh, and then the forty-second and forty-third psalms, and +for the last, the twelfth chapter of the Epistle to the Hebrews; so +devoutly and so confidingly and so unhesitatingly, that they all could +not have supposed but that he was reading to them out of the big Bible +that had been under the arm-chair; and in most of the parts they prayed +with him word for word. Then they looked gratefully to the old man, and +after they had first asked the blessing, then drunk the milk, and at +last said grace, the others remained in the wood; but the two peasants, +Drewes and Hinz, with their two servants, set out to go back to the +place where their houses had stood. As they went off, the old Father +Hinz called after them, as if he were in a dream,--"Children, see about +the books too!" Slowly they drew near the place of the conflagration; +carefully listening and looking around them; but nothing was to be seen +or heard, all was as still as death, only the birds were hopping and +singing in the branches. At last they came within view of the place +where the fire had been; but just as they were about to run thither, a +low moaning came to their ears from the corner of the wood, near the +place of the fire. They were Christians, therefore they did not do like +the priest and the Levite, but like the kind-hearted Samaritan; they +went off towards the quarter from which the moans came; and what did +they see? Two badly-wounded soldiers, sitting in the two grandfather's +chairs at the corner of the wood. How came they there? The troops on +their march through had had these wounded fellows with them; who for +their weakness proved unable to go any further; so their comrades +determined to leave them behind. But to let the houses stand for the +sake of affording them shelter, was more than the inflamed rage of the +soldiers, disappointed at finding everything empty, could see their way +to. However to show some sort of humanity to their comrades, they had +dragged the two old chairs out of the houses to the corner of the wood, +placed the wounded men in them, and then completed their work of +destruction; following which they had all marched off. And now, when the +wounded soldiers saw standing before them the four men whose houses +their comrades had laid in ashes, they looked for nothing else but +death. But not anger nor revenge, but peace, yes, blessed joy, beamed +from the faces of those four men; God had certainly saved their beloved +books for them. Now they did not care that their houses were gone. The +soldiers were treated, not as foes, but as benefactors. They carried +them away into the wood where the rest of the people were; and when the +chairs were seen, and the seats were lifted up, and the books found +uninjured, then there was a thanksgiving and praising and glorifying so +loud and so glad, that the angels in heaven must have joined in; the +very little children ran to the books and kissed them devoutly and +gleefully. The two soldiers were tended as if they had been blood +kindred; milk was given them to drink; and now, also, since the host of +incendiaries had marched away, the way was open to fetch food again out +of the villages. It was proposed to bring the wounded men to the nearest +hamlet; but they were too weak for it; and they begged that they might +be kept in the huts in the wood. And now it came to pass that nothing +refreshed those two soldiers more than old Father Hinz's talk from the +Word of God, and his prayers. Even at the eleventh hour, they turned to +the Lord Jesus; and the pastor in Hermannsburg gave them the Holy +Communion after they had confessed their sins, had received the +assurance of forgiveness, and had declared that they believed in Jesus +Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, and were persuaded that His body +and blood were truly represented to them in the bread and the wine. This +communion was a right blessed day of joy for the inhabitants of the +wood. But God was preparing for them yet another special rejoicing. For +when the last hour of the two soldiers was drawing near, they summoned +the old father and the two peasants to their dying bed, thanked them +anew with tears in their eyes for the salvation which they had found for +their souls, and made over to them the legacy of their military +doublets; with the intimation, that after they were dead, they should +rip out the seams of them. This was done, when the men had first been +honourably buried; and now were discovered, sewed into the doublets, +such a stock of gold pieces, that not only the burned-down houses and +stables could be built again, but also the men and maids might receive a +handsome reward, and a new altar cloth could be given to the church at +Hermannsburg. + +"'The lord of the manor of Hermannsburg had assigned to the two soldiers +a place in his portion of the churchyard, where, at the north-east +corner of the churchyard wall, their graves were covered with a stone. +This stone lay there until, after the male line of the lord of the manor +had died out, the so-called Allodium was sold, and along with it this +stone. It bore the following inscription:-- + +"'"ANNO 1642 DOMINI NOSTRI JESU CHRISTI MORTEM OBIERUNT ET HOC LOCO +SEPULTI SUNT FRIEDERICUS WENCESLAUS BOHEMUS ET MARTINUS JURISCHITZ +LUSACIUS, QUI BIBLIA INSCII SERVAVERANT ET PER BIBLIA IN AETERNUM SERVATI +SUNT:" that is, + +"'"In the year of our Lord Jesus Christ 1642 died and are here buried +Friedrich Wenzel of Bohemia, and Martin Jurischitz of Lusatia; who +without knowing it had saved the Bible, and through the Bible have been +themselves saved unto everlasting life." + +"'On the other side of the stone stood the words--"Hinnerk Hinz and +Peter his son and Drewes Johan have had this stone erected for two gold +gulden out of the Landsknecht's doublet." + +"'Two years after the end of the Thirty Years' War, those two peasants, +of their own free will, pulled down their houses in the Buchhorst and +built them up again in the village of Wesen; for the reason, that after +the devastations of those years the wolves had so got the upper hand +that it was no longer possible to be secure from them. Twice, with great +difficulty, they had recovered their children from the wolves, which +already had them in their grip and were dragging them off; and then they +thought, to stay there longer would be to tempt God. Those two farms +are still in Wesen and are yet called Drewes' farm and Hinz's farm, +although the possessors in these latter days have long borne other +names. May God give us from this old story the blessing, that we may be +ever more as strong in the Bible and as firm in faith as the men of old +were.'" + + + + +CHAPTER XXI. + + +"That is one of your very prettiest stories, Ditto," cried Maggie when +he stopped. + +"Yes," said Flora, "I think so." + +"It must be a good story that can be listened to here," said Mr. +Murray,--"and I have been listening with great attention. I have been +thinking, while I was looking out over all this beauty and receiving so +much by my ears of another kind of beauty,--I have been thinking and +rejoicing to myself over the fact, how good our God is. 'Mountains, and +all hills; fruitful trees, and all cedars; young men and maidens; old +men and children: let them praise the name of the Lord.'" + +"Uncle Eden," said Maggie meditatively, "how _can_ hills praise the +Lord?--or trees?" + +"Don't they?" + +"How, Uncle Eden?" + +"_Don't_ they, I ask?" + +"But they could not hear anybody tell them to praise." + +"You are a literalist. How can 'the trees of the field clap their +hands'?" + +"Does the Bible say they do?" + +"It says they will. And it says 'Let the floods clap their hands; let +the hills be joyful together before the Lord; for He cometh!'--" + +"But that is very strange too," said Flora. "'He cometh to judge the +earth;' I know the chant; but it seems solemn and dreadful, and it is +sung in the minor key." + +"I know," said Mr. Murray. "The composer did not understand the +rejoicing either." + +"But how can any one, Mr. Murray?" + +"Those 'that love His appearing,' Miss Flora?" + +"I suppose I am very bad, Mr. Murray; but I tell you just how I feel. +That seems to me the most awful of times, and nothing but awful." + +"Perfectly correct, Miss Flora, and just as it is described in the +Bible. When the kings and the great men and the rich men will say to the +mountains and to the rocks, 'Fall on us, and hide us!'--" + +"But you talk of being glad?" said Flora, looking a good deal troubled. + +"Ay, but I was thinking of the other party," said Mr. Murray +gravely,--"from whom will go up a very different cry, a shout of +gladness--'Lo, this is our God! we have waited for Him, and He will save +us.'" + +"Save them from what?" + +"From all the oppressions and miseries inflicted upon them by the rulers +of this world; and more, from all the evils under which humanity has +been groaning ever since the fall. Then will strike the hour of the +world's freedom. That will be the time when the bridegroom cometh, and +they that are ready will go in with him to the marriage. Don't you think +they will be glad, who have been waiting in darkness and weariness for +so long? Then comes the marriage supper, and the everlasting union +between Christ and His Church. Should not the Church be glad!" + +"You said, 'they that are ready.'" + +"Yes." + +"Who are they?" + +"Do you remember the parable of the marriage supper? Don't you +recollect, one man had not on a wedding garment?" + +"But what _is_ the wedding-garment?" said Flora, who looked as if she +had some difficulty to keep her composure. + +"Shall I answer you in the words of one of old time?--'I will greatly +rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for He hath +clothed me with the garments of salvation, He hath covered me with the +robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, +and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.'" + +"Then it is something given," said Flora slowly. + +"Given, by the King to the guests; a free gift, Miss Flora, to all who +accept the King's invitation." + +Flora asked no more, but lay still on her couch of pine branches, +looking out on the calm and glorified hills. Nobody else broke the +silence; I think Fenton was gone to sleep; and the others were quiet. + +"The shadows are going the wrong way," said Flora at last. "I wish this +day would last longer!" + +"'A thing of beauty is a joy for ever,'" said Meredith. + +"Don't quote such a dreadfully hackneyed sentiment!" said his sister. +"How comes it, Mr. Murray, that beautiful things in nature never grow +hackneyed?" + +"They are always fresh. No two days in one's experience are just like +each other." + +"There never was a day in my experience like this one," said Flora. +"Ditto, aren't you going to read some more?" + +"It will be a variety, if I do." + +"We are made to like variety--as Mr. Murray has just reminded you." + +Meredith guessed that his sister cared more about putting off the hour +of departure than about the reading in the abstract; and he opened his +book again, for nobody else made any objection to Flora's proposal. + +"I shall read you," said he, "the story of a pastor and a farmer." + +"Those are the people your stories are generally about," said Flora. "I +hope the variety will lie in the treatment. Go on. I don't care what you +read." + +"'In a certain country, that I am not going to name, there is a parish +village. In the parsonage lives a pastor; it is not I, however. This +pastor faithfully serves our beloved church with the Word of God, which +he preaches in truth, and with the holy sacraments, which he administers +as he ought. And wherever this is done, the fruit will not be wanting; +for God has promised it, and He keeps His word still, although among +men there is little truth or faith any longer to be found. + +"'With temporal goods, however, this pastor is not specially well +provided; and were it not that he has a living God in the heavens, he +must many a time grow anxious and dispirited; which in truth he does not +always escape, as he himself humbly confesses. For if you have a small +benefice, a large family, and a couple of children at school to boot, +sometimes that gives even a believer the headache; though indeed there +is no need for that, were faith but strong and prayer simple enough. Now +there are cultivated fields belonging to the living; but as the pastor +cannot drive the plough spiritual and the plough agricultural both at +once, he hires out his ground; that he may give himself the more +diligently to the cultivation of hearts. From these hired-out acres +comes not a small part of his scanty means, and therefore it becomes a +very desirable thing that he should dispose of his ground suitably. With +most of his fields, indeed, this is not difficult, for they are fruitful +and favourably situated and easy to get a good tenant for them. But one +of his pieces of ground, and a pretty large one, lies on the slope of a +hill which is wooded at the top; this field nobody will take, because in +great rains loose earth and stones come rolling down over the slope from +the hill above, and in this way the whole crop may easily be destroyed. +It comes to my mind that the fault probably lies at the door of the +beloved Enclosings. In the course of them it might well happen that too +much wood has been cleared from the hill and sold. By that means the +soil has been laid bare and the rain floods can wash it off anywhere +they come. At any rate, nobody wants the field; and it always gives the +pastor a stab in the heart when he comes past it; and he does not +content himself with thinking, but he prays too, and promises that he +will give to the Lord Jesus, for the mission, a portion of the hire of +the field, if only a tenant may be found for it. + +"'And He in the heavens has heard the pastor's prayer. Not long after, +there comes a man of the parish, who is not in possession of ground +enough to make his farming suffice for the wants of his family, and who +therefore would willingly hire some more acres. He offers to take the +neglected field off the pastor's hands. The upright pastor does not hide +from him the reason why the field has hitherto found no tenant. But this +man, who loves the Lord Jesus, and who therefore is a hearty friend of +his pastor, declares that he has already quietly considered all that; +and he has thought among other things that it must be very important to +the pastor to let out this field, for to be sure the boys cost money; +and it is very desirable for himself to hire a field, since he also has +a great many mouths to feed. So both of them would be the better off. +The Lord must have the care of the thing, and that He is well able for; +he himself also would pray the Lord faithfully to this end, and he would +make it the one stipulation with his beloved pastor, that he would stand +by him and help him in faithful prayer. The two men gave each other the +hand upon that. The man hiring the ground had also told the Lord that he +would give Him a portion of the produce of the field for the conversion +of the heathen, and that all the same whether the produce were much or +little. But the man had said nothing about this to his pastor, and he +again on the other side had said nothing to the man about his own +contract with the Lord; so that each of them had thus kept in his heart +a secret for himself, which was known to the Lord alone. But surely I +know that the Lord thereupon looked kindly on both the men. + +"'Now in the autumn the farmer sets himself vigorously to work to get +the field in order; and the Lord gives His blessing upon it; up comes +the seed merrily, and the winter does it no hurt; the Lord has +graciously sheltered it. With a wet summer the corn really shoots up, +and stands so fine that it is magnificent to see. Both pastor and farmer +are heartily glad at the sight, and both at the same time have a secret +recollection of their vow, and are still more glad. But many of the +peasants, who are not lovers of the Lord, and therefore also not lovers +of their good pastor, and of the good farmer as little, feel no +pleasure, but a regular hateful grudge in their hearts; for indeed there +is everywhere a plenty of envy and spite to be found among unbelievers, +because they make their god out of what is earthly, and that is all they +care about. However they comfort themselves with the thought that when +the thunder-showers once come with their violent rain-pours, then surely +there will be stones and soil enough rolling down upon the field from +off the hill in the end to destroy all that is standing upon it. Verily +that is not a godly sort of satisfaction, but a true Satanic delight, +for Satan rejoices when any evil happens to people. + +"'And at last, the wish of the peasants seems to be fulfilled. There +comes up an uncommonly violent thunder-storm; the rain pours down from +heaven in streams, as if the clouds had burst; so that regular brooks +are flowing down the village streets. Then the envious people triumph; +there is no mistake about it, the field lying so exposed on the slope of +the hill must be thoroughly laid waste. Those two men, it may well be, +tremble too, for the storm is too frightful; but lose heart they do not; +on the contrary, the need drives them to more ardent prayer: "Lord, +help, and do not let the field be spoiled. Thou art the strong, almighty +God of Sabaoth, and Thy hand is not shortened, but Thine arm is +stretched out still." So they prayed; and when the storm was past they +went confidently up to the field, a good many accompanying them; and as +they were going, and while the many who went along could hardly hide +their delight, they were singing in their hearts the hymn-- + + "Was mein Gott will gescheh allzeit, + Sein Wille ist der beste; + Zu helfen ist Er dem bereit, + Der an Ihn glauebet feste."'" + +"Ditto, we don't understand that." + +"It means about this. 'The will of my God be done always. His will is +the best. He is always ready to help them who rest on Him in firm +faith.'" + +"'With that they are able to look up cheerfully and they are of good +courage. And when they arrive at the field, what do they see? The entire +field is unharmed. The stalks of grain lift their heads up bravely, as +if they too would give thanks for the beautiful rain which has so +refreshed them. But on both sides of the field a whole stream has poured +down from the hill, and nothing is to be seen but a wild mass of rocks +and stones. Whose is the strong hand which seized the rain flood, and +parted it just before it came to the field, and so gently led it down on +both sides of the field? Moved to the depth of their hearts, our two +friends were constrained to cry out--"The Lord, He is the God! The Lord, +He is the God! Give our God the glory." And it is to be hoped that many +of the unbelievers, if not aloud, yet quietly joined in the prayer with +them. + +"'And now, when the harvest was finished, and the farmer brought to the +pastor what he had promised to give the Lord of the produce of the +field, and then also the pastor's vow was made known to the farmer, the +two fell upon their knees again and thanked the Lord for His goodness, +because His mercy endureth for ever. Must not such gifts to the heathen +go with God's special blessing resting upon them?'" + +"Is that all?" said Maggie. + +"That is all," said Meredith smiling. + +"I do not know what to make of that story," said Flora. + +"Why?" + +"Storms come from natural causes." + +"Oh, do they?" said Meredith. "You do not believe then what the psalm +says--'He commandeth and raiseth the stormy wind'"---- + +"But that is poetry." + +"So is this," said Mr. Murray,--"'Who hath divided a watercourse for the +overflowing of waters; or a way for the lightning of thunder; to cause +it to rain on the earth, where no man is; on the wilderness, wherein is +no man; to satisfy the desolate and waste ground; and to cause the bud +of the tender herb to spring forth?'" + +"Well," said Flora a little abashed, "isn't it poetry?" + +"I do think, Flo," said her brother, "you have forgotten all our talks +around the breakfast table in Florida and elsewhere." + +"Here again," said Mr. Murray,--"'He saith to the snow, Be thou on the +earth; likewise to the small rain, and to the great rain of His +strength.' It won't do, Miss Flora, to resist the fact. And I would +remark, that the highest poetry is the highest truth also." + +"But do you think, Mr. Murray, if it is so, that God will change His +arrangements just for men's asking Him." + +"I don't _think_, I know it, Miss Flora. It is precisely the Lord's way. +But we cannot stop to talk about that now. My friends, do you see where +the sun is?" + +"Oh, must we go?" cried they all. + +"It is a pity, isn't it? But this would hardly do for a night's +lodgings; and if we are to sleep at home, we must take the necessary +steps." + +Slowly they gathered themselves up from their pine bushes, and shook +themselves; literally and figuratively, I might say. + +"What are you going to do with your oyster shells, Fenton?" his uncle +demanded. + +"I don't want to do anything with them," said the boy. + +"You always want to be a gentleman." + +"What has that to do with it?" + +"A gentleman never needlessly annoys anybody." + +"Nobody comes here," said Fenton grumblingly. But they all laughed so at +him that he pocketed his ill-humour and took his share in carrying the +wrecks of the feast down to the creek side. + +Then with the tide they swept up the river. I can never tell you how +pretty it was. The day had kept its character of clear quiet beauty +without change; and now as the sun began to get lower in the western +sky, and shadows stretched along under the shore on the river and fell +in lengthening patches or lines from hill-tops and trees, it did not +grow cold. Quiet and sweet the air was, even on the water; and the +rowers dipped and raised their oars in steady time, and in silence. +Nobody wanted to talk. They passed the island or promontory a little +above Fort Montgomery, passed on and on, keeping the mid-stream now, +passed Gee's Point, saw the boat-house looming up before them,--and were +at home. + +The very next day it rained. + + +THE END. + + +PRINTED BY BALLANTYNE, HANSON AND CO. + +EDINBURGH AND LONDON + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Pine Needles, by Susan Bogert Warner + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PINE NEEDLES *** + +***** This file should be named 38922.txt or 38922.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/8/9/2/38922/ + +Produced by Chris Curnow, Lindy Walsh, Julia Neufeld and +the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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