The Tiffin weekly tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1859-1868, 1859-06-10


all the paths Of the forest, You have heard
the songs Of an the birds, you have pluck.
ed noscgays of all the flowers, and then
'adicu to The beauties Of the country Fa-
milurity descends like veil betweenyo
and creation, and makes you blind and
deaf
And thus Il was now with Brother Al
.fus. Like men whose abuse Of ardent
spirits has made them cease 20 feel their
power, he looked with indifference on the
spectacle which in his eyes had once been
rovishing. What heavenly beauties thon
could occupy throughout eternity soul
which the works OF God on earth could
charm for the moment only Asking
himself this question, the monk walked
on, his eyes on the ground, but seeing
nothing, and hs arms folded on his
breast, He descended into the valley,
crossed the stream, passed through the
woods and over the hills. The tower Of
the convent was beginning already TO
fade in the distance, and at length he
stopped He was on the verge Of a vast
forest which extended az for as the eye
could reach, like an ocean Of ycrdure.
A thousand melodious sounds met his
ears from every side, and an odorous
breeze sighed through the leaves.
Aftcr casting an 0stonishod look upon
the soiN obscurity which rcirned in the
wood, Alms entered with hesitation, as
If he were treading on forbidden ground.
As he advanced, the forest bccamo larger
he found trees covered with blossoms
which oxhaled an unknown perfume II
had nothing enervating in Il, like those OF
earth, but was, az Il were, D sort Of moral
emanaton which embalmcd the soul II
was strengthening and delicious q the
same time, like the sight Of a good action,
OF the approach Of lover. At length,
he perceived farther on, a glade radiant
with marvellous light He sat down 10
enjoy the prospect, and then suddenly the
song Of a bird overhead fell upon his eni
sounds so sweet as 20 defy description
gontler than the fall Of oars on a lake ir
summer, than the murmur Of the breeze
amongst weeping willows, or the sigh o.
a sleeping infant. All the music Of the
air and earth and wafer, the melody oil
the human voice, or of instruments, seem,
cd centered in that song. II was hard
ly a song, but floods Of melody il wat
= not language, and yet the sweet voic,
spoke, Science, wisdom, and poetry, al
were in it-and in hearing it one acqui.
red all knowledge.
Alfns listened for long time, and viii
increasing pleasure. At last, the lighl
which illumincd the forest began 70 fade
and a low murmw was heard among th,
. trees, and the bird was silent
Alfus remained for a while motionless
as if he were awuking from an enchante,
sleep. He at first looked around in a sor
j. of stupor, and then arose. lie found hi
q feet benumbod his limbs had lost thei
3 agility. II was with difficulty he directeJ
J. his steps towards the monastery.
it But the farther he went, the create
IS was his surprise. The face Of the who'll
10 country seemed changed. Where he hu
l. before seen sprouting shrubs, he now saw
10 wide-spreading oaks. He looked for tn
=, little wooden bridge by which he was nc
he customed TO cross the river. IL was gone
and in its place was a solid arch {
10 stone. On passing a hedge on whic
h. some woucnw were spreading some clotnu
.y 10 dry, they stopped TO look at him, an
T. said among themselves "There Is an oil
70 man dressed like the monks of Olmut7
e We know all the brothers, but we hay
10 never seen him before"
r "These women are FOOLS" said Alfus
> and passed on. But at last he began /
3 feel uneasy. He quickened his footstep
ID as he climbed the narrow pathway whicl
e led up the hill side towards the convent
k But the gate was no longer in It's oil
n place, and the monastery was changed Il
L lis appearance il was greater in extent
* and the buildings were more numerous
s. A plane tree, which he had himself plan
ted near the chapel a few months before
n covered the sacred buildings with It's foil
le age. Overpowered with astonishment
ID the monk approached the new entranc
N and rang gently. But il was not tn
!; same silver bell, the sound of which h
& knew so we'll A young brother opene
o the door. p..
le "Whut has happenedl 2" asked Alfus
S, "is Antony no longer the porter of tn
ID convent %
p 81 don't know such person." was tn
ht reply. Alfus rubbed his eyes in astonish
,s ment.
ie Gam I then madl" he exclaimed
O. "ls not this the Monastery of Olmuti
" which | left this morning."
is The young man looked at him.
p al have been porter here for iiveyear
e; was the rejoinder, "and do not remeu
Der to have ever seen you"
10 A number Of monks were walking u
r, and down the cloisters Alius ran t
H. wards thom, and called them but non
he answered. .l
il He went closer, but not one Of thel
st could he recognize. r...
nd "Has there been a miracle here!" h
in cried. "ln the name Of Heaven, my br,
he theirs have none Of you ever seen me bC
III lorel Does no one know Brother Alfus
ar All looked at him with astonishmen
"Allus," at last said the oldest, "ther
st was formerly monk Of that name at III
I'd convent. I used to hear the old mel
at long ago, when l was young, talking
IN him. He was o learned man but dream
81 or, and fond of solitude. One day 4
nd descended into the valley, and was iO
es sight Of behind the wood. They expel
" ted him back in vain. He never return
as ed, and none knew what became
H., him but it is now hundred years
o. more since that"
ay At these words Alfus uttered lou
'r- cry, for he understood Il all and failiu
re on his knees, he lifted up mis- hands ar
cd exclaimed with fervor; I.FF-7.
st "Oh my God it,has been thy viii
n show me my folly in comparing the jol
a of earth with those Of heaven. A cent
us ry has rolled over my head as a sing
rs day, while listening 10 the bird viii,
ld sings in thy paradise. InOw undeTstaI
re eternal hanuiueeg q Lord he curacio,