New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-03-05

/ remember also how I once lay In
the grass, and everything around
me tossed and nodded, and buzzed,
and twittered; and then came q
whole swarm of little, many-footed,
winged creatures, which lighted upon my
forehead and eyes, and said good day"
But my eyes panied me, and I called my
mother, and she said, ':Poor fellow! how
the gnats have stung him!" Then could
not open my eyes, nor see the blue sky
any more. But my mother had bunch
of fresh violets in her hand, and it seemed
to me as if dark-blue, fresh, aromatic per-
fume passed through my head; and even
now, when I see the first violets, remem-
Der this, and it seems as if must shut
my eyes so that the dark-blue sky of that
day may rise over my soul.
Yes, and then remember how again q
new world opened to me; and it was more
beautiful than the star world and the
violet perfume. 1t was an Easter morn
ing. My mother walked me early, and
before the window stood bur old church.
It was not fine; yet it had high roof and
high steeple, and on the steeple golden
Cross, and it looked much older and
grayer than the other houses. Once l
wanted to know who lived there, and
looked in through the grated door. But
inside it was all dark, and cold, and dread
full, aud not q soul in the whole house,
and afterwards always shudd cred
whenever I passed by the door.
Now, early on that Easter morning it
had rained, and when the sun rose in
full splendor, the old church, with it's
grey slate roof and its high windows and
its steeple with the golden cross, shone in
wondrous brightness. All at once the
light that streamed through the high
windows began to move and live. But it
was much too bright to look at; and as I
shut my eyes the light still came into my
soul, and there within all seemed to
CLEAN and to yield perfume and to sing
and to ring. 1t seemed to me as if
new life began within me; yes, as if I
had become another creatures and when
I asked my mother what it was that I
heard she said twas an Easter hymn they
were singing in the church. What dear,
holy chant it was that then penetrated
my soul have never been able to
find out. It must have been an old
hymn, such as sometimes broke through
The infexible soul of our Luther. never
heard it again. But even now when hear
IN adagio of Beethoven, or q psalm of
or q chorus Of Handel, yes
sometimes in the Scottish Highlands or in
Tyrol, when hear simple song. the
nigh church windows again Tighten, and
he organ-tone penetrates my soul, and
lew world opens--more beautiful than
he starred heavens or the breath of violets.
These are my membranes of my
arliest childhood-and over them hovers
beloved mother-face; the mild, grave
ook Of father; and gardens and Vine
ards and soft green lawns, and vener-
bic old picture book. This is all that I
an trace upon the first faded leaves of
lemory.
Afterward it becomes clearer and
,lainer, names and shapes step forth,
OF only father and mother, but brothers
nd sisters, friends and teachers, and
crowd of strangers. Oh, yes, about
there is SO much written in
,emory.
second Remembrance.
Not far from our house, and opposite to
,e old church with the golden cross,
,ere stood large building, still larger
Ian the church, and with many towers.
hey also looked quite gray and old; they
ad no golden cross, but stone eagles sat
pom their tops, and large white and
lae flag waved from the highest, exactly
yer the high doorway where the steps
'ent up, and where, on each side, two
oldiers on horseback kept guard. The
ouse had many windows, and behind the
,indows were seen red silk curtains with |
olden tassels, and all about the in
losure stood old linden trees, which
4 summer overshadoved the old |
ray walls with their green foliage,
nd bestrewed the lawn with their white
erfumed blossoms had often looked |
yer there, and in the evening when the !
ntens yielded their perfume, and the
'indows were lighted up, 1 saw many |
cures, like shadows, moving here and
here, and music sounded from above,
nd carriages drove up from which women
nd men descended and hurried up the |
teps. They all looked SO beautiful and
God; and the men had stars on their |
reasts, and the women had fresh flowers |
, their hair, and I thought, s'why don't |
on, too, go in?" One day my father took
10 by the hand and said: 1--WE shall 60 |
, the palace to-day. But you must be-
ave politely if the Princess speaks to
on, and must kiss her hand.
was about six years old, and was de-
GIFTED as one can only be delighted at
* years. I had already had so many |
lent thoughts about the shadows that |
aw in the evening upon the lighted win
ows, and had heard at home SO much |
God of the Prince and Princess; how |
aey we're so gracious, and gave help and
omfort to the poor and sick, and how