, 1862-08-14
swedish Legend Of HternitY.

m0nasterleS studded the slopes OF every hill 10 |
Germany; huge buildings. with quiet, peaceable
aspect, surmounted by slender tower rising in |
the midst Of the forests through which the ring
doves hoped from branch 10 branch. Those gray
walls covered many a fault and many an error, but
they sheltered men also who were insensible TO
worldly iOys-saints whose thoughts dwelt only on
the heritage promised by Christ.
AT 0lmutz, in particular, there was one who
had rendered himself famous throughout the sur.
rounding country by his piety and learning. He
was a simple and unaffected man, like all men whose
knowledge is great for science is like the sea-
the farther we advance the wider grows the hori-
zon, and the less do we seem ourselves Brother
Allhs had had his seasons Of doubt and misgiving
but after having wrinked his brow and whitened
bis hair in vain disquistions, he had at last been
compelled to fall back upon the faith Of little chill
dren; and then con6ding his life to prayer, as to
an anchor Of mercy, he suffered himself to rock
gently in the tide Of pure love, holy visions, and
heavenly hopes.
But 10 little while rough squalls began again
to shake his 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. Wan
dering through the country, be sat upon the NOISY
rocks, fingered by the foam Of waterfalls, and saun
tered amidst the murmurs Of the forest but II
was 10 vain that he sought light from nature. To
all his inquiries the mountains the leaves. and the
streams gave but one answer-GOdl Brother
Alfus came out victorious from many Of these
struggles, and each time his faith was made frmer
than ever; for temptation Is the gymnasium Of
the cOnseience-f It does not destroy, 1t strength
ems It.
But after time inquietude again came over his
spirit more keenly than ever. He had remarked
that everything beautiful loses its charm by long
use that the eye soon grows tired Of the most
beautiful landscape, the ear Of the sweetest voice,
the heart Of the fondest love; and then he asked,
how shall we ind even In heaven, source Of eter-
nal jOyI In the midst Of magnifcence and delight
which have no end, what will become Of our rest
less souls? viii not unchangeable pleasure at
last bring on ennui? Eternity! what word for
creatures who know no law but that Of change
and diversity What man would wish bis sweet
es pleasure to last forevpr2 O,my God no more
past and no more fnturel no more remembrance
and no more hopesl Eternity eternity o soF-
rowful wOrdl o word which has spread fire and
lamentation upon earth, what must thou, then,
mean in heavenl
Thus spoke Brother Allns. and every day his
doubts became greater. One morning he issued
from the monastery before the other monks bad
risen, and descended into the valley. The fields,
still moist with last nights rain, were glisteniug
smiling through her tears. Alfus strobe gently |
through the shady thickets on the hillside. The |
birds, which had but Just awoke from their slunl-
bers, were perched in the hawihoFns, shaking down
rosy blossoms on his bald head and some butter
flies, still half asleep few lightly in the sun to
dry their wings
Alfus stopped to gaze on the scene before him. |
He remembered how beautiful il had seemed when |
first he saw It, and with what transport he had
looked forward to ending bis days in that delight
iul retreat. For him, poor child Of the city. ac-
custOmed to see nought but dark courts and sombre
walls, these flowers and trees, and clear air, were
bewitchiDg novelties. How quickly passed the
year Of his novitate! Those long Fambles In the
valleys, and those charming discoveriesl Streams
murmuring through the corn-aags, glades haunted
BY the nightingale. eglantine rosPs, wild stFawber
ries-what Joy to light upon them first time To
meet with springs from which he had not yet drank
and mOssy banks upon which he had never yet re-
clined But alas these pleasures themselves do
not last long; very soon you have tTayersed oil
the paths Of the forest, you have heard the songs
Of all the birds, yOn have plucked nosegays Of all
the flowers and then adieu to the beauties Of the
country. Familiarity descends like q veil between
you and creation, and makes you blind and deaf
And thus it was now with Brother Alfus. Like
men whose abuse Of ardent spirits has made them
cease to feel their power be looked with indiher-
ence on the spectacle which In his eyes had once
been 50 ravishing. What heavenly beauties then
could occupy throughout eternity soul which the
works Of God on earth could charm for the moment
onlyI Asking himself this question, the monk
walked on, bis eyes on the ground. but seeing no
thing, and bis arms folded on his breast He de
scended 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 be stopped. He was
on the verge Of q vast forest, which extended as
far as the eve could reach like On ocean Of verure
A thousand melOdious sounds met bis eaIs from
every side, and an OdOrous breeze sighed through
the leaves.
After casting an astonished look upon The soft
Obscurity which reigned in the wood. Aius entered
with hesitation as Il he were tFeading on forbid
den ground. As he advanced. the forest became
larger; he found trees covered with blossoms vhic
exhaled an unknown perfume Il had nothing en-
ervating IN Il, like those Of earth, but was as 4
were, a sort Of moral emanation which embamed
the soul II was strengthening and delicious at
the same time. like the sight Of good action or
theapproach Of lover. At length he perceived
farther on, glade radiant with marvellous ight.
He sat down TO enjoy the prospect, and then SUD
denly the song Of bird overhead cell upon hise
sounds 90 sweet as to defy description--gsntl
than the fall Of oars on lake in summer. than the
murmur of the breeze amongst weeping willows
or the sigh Of sleeping infant. All the musieof
the air, and earth. and water, the melody Of The
human voice, or Of instruments, seemed centeFed
in that song. Il was hardly song. but hoods Of
melody; Il was not language, and yet the sWeei
voice spoke. ScieDce, wisdom, and poetry. AZ
were IN il and in hearing Il one acquired all
knowledge
Alfus listened for along time, and with increas.
ing pleasure. Al last, the light which hiumined
- - - f.as anA q lou muruuT ma 1
heard among The tres, aud the bird was silent.
AIfus remained for aWhie m0tiOnlesa, - i be were
auakinV from an enchanted sleep. he 81 drsi |
Ioaked around in a SORT of siup0r, and then aIuoA