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diff --git a/38922-h/38922-h.htm b/38922-h/38922-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..a846a87 --- /dev/null +++ b/38922-h/38922-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,11433 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" /> + <title> + Pine Needles, by Susan Bogert Warner. -- A Project Gutenberg eBook. + </title> + <style type="text/css"> + +body { + margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; +} + + h1,h2,h3,h4 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; +} + +p { + margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; +} + +hr { + margin: 3em auto 3em auto; + height: 0px; + border-width: 1px 0 0 0; + border-style: solid; + border-color: #dcdcdc; + width: 500px; + clear: both; +} + + .pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + /* visibility: hidden; */ + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: smaller; + text-align: right; + color: #999; +} /* page numbers */ + + .blockquot { + margin-left: 5%; + margin-right: 10%; +} + + .center {text-align: center;} + + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + + .gap { margin-top: 1em; } + +/* Images */ + .figcenter { + margin: auto; + text-align: center; +} + +/* Transcriber Notes */ +div.tn { + background-color: #EEE; + border: dashed 1px; + color: #000; + margin-left: 20%; + margin-right: 20%; + margin-top: 5em; + margin-bottom: 5em; + padding: 1em; +} + +/* Poetry */ + .poem { + margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + text-align: left; +} + + .poem br { display: none; } + + .poem .stanza { margin: 1em 0em 1em 0em; } + + .poem span.i0 { + display: block; + margin-left: 0em; + padding-left: 3em; + text-indent: -3em; +} + + .poem span.i2 { + display: block; + margin-left: 2em; + padding-left: 3em; + text-indent: -3em; +} + + .poem span.i4 { + display: block; + margin-left: 4em; + padding-left: 3em; + text-indent: -3em; +} + + .signature { + text-align: right; + margin-right: 5%; +} + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +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 + + + + + + +</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 archĉology. 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 gestĉ Landolfi, Apostoli Salzonum, qui Horzĉ 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 ĉternum +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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