, 1873-04-06
LITIz, AND M0RAVlAN CUSTOMS.


and hustle; it's tall buildings and crowds Of gay-
dressed people, fades away and in it's stead I
see again the quaint -Morayian village @where
pedestrians are fow, and vehicles yet fewer. I
tread once more its silent. moss-grown streets i;
seeing, on either hand, the low, rough-stone
houses whose small, square windows are all
draped alike in simple white.
Atthe end OF the principal street stands the
seminary. Peaceful enough it looks in its cool,
white robe, Of which (for the time is June) I
catch stray glimpaes through the heavy
greenery Of the lindens from which
the building takes its name One
would think. it Just the place for q
quiet, uneventful life; but it has at least one
bitter honrtchistory: Several years ago the
queenly-looking woman, who shared his Home
justthrea months, and then left him forever.
The sudden trouble darksned heart and mind,
and, reaigning his position; he left the place to
shut himself up alike. from sympathy and
curiosity ~ " :: .,:.: :. ..
Adjoining the seminary stands the church, 80
handsome building, which would do credit to q
much larger place. The MoraYian services have
pleasant .davoring Of those extremes Of
Professionalism; the Methodist and Episcopal de-
nomination,-unitingt the severe simplicity ot the
first to some Of the forms Of the second.
The Moravian manner Of celebrating Christ
mas is very peculiar, and at the same time worry
admirable. . Christmas Eve, every house. is
thrown open, and you are free to enter, though
the inmates. ba perfect atraagors, md view the
Christmas tree They do not content them
selves simply With tree, % we DO, but place II
On q platform, and then e1pend. their ingenuity
resented an elegant country estate:- The ground
was made Of soft, green moss, through Which
ran glass canal, holding running water the
whole hadthe effect Of a clear brook wandering
through verdant meadoW-1ands. Trees dotted
lodged the :tiniest Of :: tiny birds. You
were. supposed to reach the hand
some mansion by roads OF snowy. graSel:'
There we're summer-houses, and glass deer, and
wooden coEs, and tin horses and woody Sheep
and everything that one can imagineto complete
the charming idea Early In the evening" evety-
body that can possibly do so. goes to church !;
and assure you they lose nothing by t,.even in
q temporal sense.
d1ab dresses, white aprons, and small, dainty
white caps, enter with wax taperB, which. they
light, giving ono to each child present this
represents the star or Light which tho shep-
herds, keeping watch by night saw and fol-
with trays and baskets; the former bearing cups
of fragrant coffee, tho latter holding most de-
icious coffee-cakes. These being distributed,
one cup aud cake to each person, whether
members or strangers, tho choir (Which Is
uttered nearly two thousand years ago; and re-
uttered so many myTiads Of times since, have
yet lost nothing OF their divine joy and sweet
ness: Glory to God in the highest, and on
earth peace, good viii towards men" r., .
Gods Acre" Ali the stones are laid fiat upon
the graves; each one bears the@: name, the usual
dates, and some simple epitaph:. No display or
distinction ia allowed; and the stone which
marks the last resting-place Of one who was
which charitable hands have placed over what
was once beggar at his door,
For down the street is o long, white fence
reaching it. and PASSING ssnr9ngh tf1 Hs1 gate
the farther end, is the original spring walled in
but allowed to flow out through the grounds in
q clear, broad stream Spanning it at intervals
arc two moss-coTered, stone bridges; and rustic
seats arc. scattered here and there under the
lofty trees. -. :
the mischievous eunbea1hs. stenl through the
dense branches to hold riotous carnival on the
creen-sward. feel the influence Of the Intense
stiffness which broodg over all the place, until
it seems to me that to leave the struggling,
noisy, .outslde world, to dwell in this serenely
ancient village, would insure one perfect peace
and happiness.
+ But suddenly catch the faint, sweet strains
Of far-oH music. Up in the steeple they are
playing the customary three airs for the death
Of some one. All !! even hare they havo death
Even here, remembering the sad drama enacted
at Linden Hall, sorrow goes hand in hand with
ife. -,
And 80, as the last mournfu1 notes die out on
the summer-air, turn my face again to the
busy, outside world. Behind me lies the quaint
Mornvian village, silent as city Of the dead,
under the cloudless June sky. Before me stretch
long vistss Of dull, gray, worhng-days, wherein
sha1 be many battles, many defeats, but also
some victories.
Better fifty years Of Europe than cyc1o Of CathAyi
MIRIAM KIRKLAND.