Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1861-01-14
5Aurfester 9aiIp Spy.
Translated for the berator from the German Of Hans
Christian Andersen
M A STORY.

In the garden, all the apple trees were in
blossom; they had bioomed before the green
leaves shot forth in the yard, the ducklings
walked around, and the cat also summed her
self, and licked the sunshine from her paws;
and when one looked over the field, there
stood the corn, each stalk alike shining IN
magnificent green, and swittering and ciirp-
ing could be heard from oil the little br~s as It
it were great holiday, which in truth it was
for it was Sunday. sTi,e bells were ringing
and the people were going to church, dressed
ia their best clothes, and all looked so pleased,
yes, there was something pleasing in all it
was 4 day SO warm and blest, that one could
indeed say--Gel everywhere is yeiy good 10
us men tss W
But within, in the church, the pastor stood
in the chancel, and spoke 50 loud and SO me.
nacingl He said, Mankind were all wicked
that on account of this, God would punish
them, and when they died they would all go
to hell, and burn everlastingly, zealously
quoting that ''llie worm never dies, aud the
fire is nor quencled," and that mo peace or
rest could ever be toundDl This was awful
to lis en- to, and he uttered it with such c0n
vincing sincerity describing hell as pestiier-
Gus pit, where all the ofial OF the worl flowed
together, and there was no other air than the
hot, burning, sulphurOus hanies--no ground
or bottom, and they 1.-THE wicked ever sank
deeper and deeper into everlasting silence
His description was awful, but he spoke3it
from his full heart, and tile people ia church
were completely terrified by it. Outside, in
tile ms anwbile, the little birds sang deigtiul-
ly, the sun was beautifully warm--it was as il
eacl, bird and plant said, How perfect Is Gods
goodness toward us all Indeed. outside, it
was not at all like the pastors preaching.
The same evening, near the hour for rest,
4he pastor pazed at his wife as she sat there,
absorbed ID thought.
What ails you o. inquired lie Of her.
Indeed, what ais me 4" said she, Il tind
am not able to collect my thoughts righily-
that cannot justly comprehend what you
preached to-day, that there are SO many wick
ed. and that they shall barn ereflastingly
Eveilastingly, ali, how long an, human
being, sinner before God, yet / could not
find it ia my heart to suffer the most wicked
to burn externally; and then how should The
dear God be able to, he whe is SO endlessly
good, and who also knows how evil CONES
from w;llloat aud within No, / can never
believe it myself, although you say il"
Il was autumn; the trees were stripped of
their RAVES the zeaIsus, austere pastor sat
BY tie coach OF one dying--closiug the eyes
OF a pious, believing sepl-tIle wife OF his
bosom.
III any one can find rest ia the grave, and
grace before God, it is thon. said he; and
he folded her hands, and read a psalm TOR tue
dead
They bore her to the grave; two great tears
rolled down the cheeks OF the severe nlan,
AM in the parsonage it was still and empty
the tight OF the house was extinguislied She
had gone home.
Il was night; cold wind dashed across the
head OF the pastor lac opened his eyes, and it
seemed to him the neon slisne iista his room,
but there was no nioofl A figure was there,
standing before his bed he saw the spirit OF
bis dead wife. which looked 50 sad and griesed
lit was as Il 1t would speak ID llin
And lie half raised himself in bed, stretched
out his arms towards her, and saitl-fF 70 thee
also is everlasting rest gruaged Thou suf
ferest Thou the best and islogt pious Is
it IN my power to procure thee rest in the
grave 81