Part 26 (1/2)
”'Laura,' said I, 'spare the reproach. The love of Petrach, whose soul grew up in golden fetters, whose strongest emotions, whose most natural actions were, through a long life, constantly repressed by the dictates of duty and honor, she content might pa.s.s long years in that contemplation which was on earth her only solace. But I, whose life has all been breathed out in love and ministry, can I endure that my existence be reversed? Can I live without utterance of spirit? or would such be a stage of that progressive happiness we are promised?'
”'True, little one!' said she, with her first heavenly smile; 'nor shall it be thus with thee. A ministry is appointed thee--the same which I exercised while waiting here for that friend whom below I was forbidden to call my own.'
”She touched me, and from my shoulders sprung a pair of wings, white and azure, wide and glistering.
”'Meta!' she resumed, 'spirit of love! be this thine office. Wherever a soul pines in absence from all companions.h.i.+p, breathe sweet thoughts of sympathy to be had in another life, if deserved by virtuous exertions and mental progress. Bind up the wounds of hearts torn by bereavement; teach them where healing is to be found. Revive in the betrayed and forsaken heart that belief in virtue and n.o.bleness, without which life is an odious, disconnected dream. Fan every flame of generous enthusiasm, and on the altars where it is kindled strew thou the incense of wisdom. In such a ministry thou couldst never be alone, since hope must dwell with thee. But I shall often come and discourse to thee of the future glories of thy destiny. Yet more: Seest thou that marble tablet? Retire here when thy pinions are wearied. Give up thy soul to faith. Fix thine eyes on the tablet, and the deeds and thoughts which fill the days of Klopstock shall he traced on it. Thus shall ye not be for a day divided. Hast thou, Meta, aught more to ask?”
”'Messenger of peace and bliss!' said I, 'dare I frame another request?
Is it too presumptuous to ask that Klopstock may be one of those to whom I minister, and that he may know it is Meta who consoles him?'
”'Even this, to a certain extent, I have power to grant. Most pure, most holy was thy life with Klopstock; ye taught one another only good things, and peculiarly are ye rewarded. Thou mayst occasionally manifest thyself to him, and answer his prayers with words,--so long,' she continued, looking fixedly at me, 'as he continues true to himself and thee!'
”O, my beloved, why tell thee what were my emotions at such a promise?
Ah! I must now leave thee, for dawn is bringing back the world's doings.
Soon I shall visit thee again. Farewell! Remember that thy every thought and deed will be known to me, and be happy!”
She vanished.
WHAT FITS A MAN TO BE A VOTER?
A FABLE.
The country had been denuded of its forests, and men cried, ”Come! we must plant anew, or there will be no shade for the homes of our children, or fuel for their hearths. Let us find the best kernels for a new growth.” And a basket of b.u.t.ternuts was offered.
But the planters rejected it with disgust. ”What a black, rough coat it has!” said they; ”it is entirely unfit for the dishes on a n.o.bleman's table, nor have we ever seen it in such places. It must have a greasy, offensive kernel; nor can fine trees grow up from such a nut.”
”Friends,” said one of the planters, ”this decision may be rash. The chestnut has not a handsome outside; it is long encased in troublesome burs, and, when disengaged, is almost as black as these nuts you despise. Yet from it grow trees of lofty stature, graceful form, and long life. Its kernel is white, and has furnished food to the most poetic and splendid nations of the older world.”
”Don't tell me,” says another; ”brown is entirely different from black.
I like brown very well; there is Oriental precedent for its respectability. Perhaps we will use some of your chestnuts, if we can get fine samples. But for the present, I think we should use only English walnuts, such as our forefathers delighted to honor. Here are many basketsful of them, quite enough for the present. We will plant them with a sprinkling between of the chestnut and acorn.”
”But,” rejoined the other, ”many b.u.t.ternuts are beneath the sod, and you cannot help a mixture of them being in your wood, at any rate.”
”Well, we will grub them up and cut them down whenever we find them. We can use the young shrubs for kindlings.”
At that moment two persons entered the council of a darker complexion than most of those present, as if born beneath the glow of a more scorching sun. First came a woman, beautiful in the mild, pure grandeur of her look; in whose large dark eye a prophetic intelligence was mingled with infinite sweetness. She looked at the a.s.sembly with an air of surprise, as if its aspect was strange to her. She threw quite back her veil, and stepping aside, made room for her companion. His form was youthful, about the age of one we have seen in many a picture produced by the thought of eighteen centuries, as of one ”instructing the doctors.” I need not describe the features; all minds have their own impressions of such an image,
”Severe in youthful beauty.”
In his hand he bore a white banner, on which was embroidered, ”PEACE AND GOOD WILL TO MEN.” And the words seemed to glitter and give out sparks, as he paused in the a.s.sembly.
”I came hither,” said he, ”an uninvited guest, because I read sculptured above the door 'All men born free and equal,' and in this dwelling hoped to find myself at home. What is the matter in dispute?”
Then they whispered one to another, and murmurs were heard--”He is a mere boy; young people are always foolish and extravagant;” or, ”He looks like a fanatic.” But others said, ”He looks like one whom we have been taught to honor. It will be best to tell him the matter in dispute.”