The Tiffin weekly tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1859-1868, 1859-06-10
THE BIRD OF PARADISE.
A SWEDISH LEGEND.


Before Luther began to preach the Re-
formation, monasteries studded the slopes
of every hill in Germany, huge buildings
with a quiet, peaceablo aspect, surmoun-
teddy slender tower rising in the midst
ofthe forests through which the ringdoves
hopped from branch to branch. Those
gray walls covered many fault, and ma
ny an error, but they sheltered men also
who were insensibe TO worldly lows.
saints whose thoughts dwelt only on the
heritage promised by Christ.
At Olmutz, in particular, there was one
who lsi fsss,. sl,,,tt,lt.
out the surrounding country by his piety
and learning he was a simple and unuf
fected man, like allmen whose knowledge
is great, for science is like the seattle
farther we advance the wider grows the
horizon, and the less do we seem our
selves. Brother Alfus had had, neverthe-
less, his seasons OF doubt and misgivinp,
but after having wrinkled his brow and
whitened his hair in vain disuuisitions, he
had at last been compelled to fall back
upon the faith of little children and then
confding his life to prayer, as to an an
chor Of mercy, he suffered himself to rock
gently in the tide of pure love, holy vis-
ions, and heavenly hopes.
But in little while rough squalls BEGAN
again TO shake the sanity bark. The
temptations Of the understanding returned
and reason began haughtily TO question
faith. Then Brother Alfis grew sad ;
dark clouds began to float over his spirit;
his heart grew cold and he could no
longer pray. Wandering through the
country, he sat upon the mossy rocks,
fingered by the foam of waterfalls, and
sauntered amidst the murmurs of the for
est but It was in vain that he sought
light from nature. To all his inquiries
the mountains, the leaves, and the
streams gave but one answer-Godl Bro
ther Alfus came out victorious from many
of these struggles, and each time his
faith was made tirmer than ever, for temp
totion is the gymnasium of the conscience;
il i does not destroy, It strengthens il.
But after time inquiltude again came
over his spirit more keenly than ever,
He had remarked that everything beauti.
ful loses its charm by long use; that the
eye soon grows tired Of the most beauti.
ful landscape, the ear Of the sweetest
voice, the heart Of the fondest love ant
then he asked how shall we find, even in
heaven a source Of eternal Joy In the
midst Of magnihcenee and delight which
have no end, what win become Of oul
restless souls
/ VIII not unchangehble pleasure at last
bring on eRaut ETERNITY : what a wore
for creatures who know no law but thal
Of change and diversity ? What mar
would wish his sweetest pleasure 70 las
forever o my God no more past anC
no more future no more remembrance,
and no more hopes Eternity! eternity
o soTowful word o word which has
spread fire and lamentation upon earth
what must tnou, then, mean in heaven =
Thus spoke Brother Alfus, and every day
his doubts became greater. One inor
ming he issued from the monastery before
the other monks had risen, and descended
into the valley. The fields, still mois
with last nights rain, were glistenine un
der the first rays of the rising sun, like
maiden smiling through her tears Alfui
strolled gently through the shady thicketi
on the hillside. The birds, which haC
but just awoke from their slumbers, wer,
perched in the hawthorns, shaking dowr
rosy blossoms on his bald head an,
some butterflies, still half asleep, flev
lightly in the sun to dry their wings.
Alius stopped 10 gaze on the scene be
fore him lie remembered how beautifu
il had seemed when first he saw il, an,
with what transport he had looked for
I ward to ending his days in that deligtfu
reueat For him poor child ofthe city
accustomed TO see naught but dark court
and s0mbre walls, these flowers, an,
trees, and clear air, were bewitchine no
velties. How quickly passed the year o
his noyitiate Those long rambles in thl
valleys, aud those charming discoveries
Sueams muTmuring through the corn
flags. glades haunted by the nightingale
eglaatine roses, Wild strawberries-wba