Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1900-03-17
A SHADOW.

Hans Alicnus lived in humble cottage
in Jcrrsalcm. Ouc evening he stood long
before the open window shutter. How
difficult it was tn ct at closing it. The
air was cool. the city STILL Below in the
narrow, hilly street came Il mulctccr
astridc. STOPPING forward over the back
of the ass. whose little hoofs clicked and
Slipped on the big. smooth stones. He
sang Il mUuutonoUS song i'll the customary
paintive draWling, nasal tones of the
FASTENER, and as Ii" passed along the
sound of his voice reminded one of the
b#gpipc
On the window sill lay manuscript
dissertation, and SO clear and brilliant
WAS tur February moonlight that Hans
could read the fine writing without diff
GcuIty. 1t was defense of the establish
cd order of things, of standStill conscrva-
ti-r. admitting of no exception. And
n he stood there in the city where the
idea of human brotherhood was born and
hal gone forth over the earth. rs he
glanced over the pages of the document.
he said to himself: NO. no: we young
people arc natural foes to conservatism.
We are the ones who now, in all ages,
have hrukun ground for the truths which
hav" proceeded from this city" As he
Sp' Ike nc made an unconscious movement
with his hand. At the same time his
glance fell upon his own shadow on the
wall. outlined by the moon.
lie could not restrain his laughter.
Was not that the shadow of an actor. the
head thrown back. the hand extended as
if he were dcciAiming some stirring
passage?
\ feeling of shame swept over him as
he considered for the first time that.
among the ideas transmitted from that
city to the western world as cargo of
precious jewels, was tiny pearl, hui
mainly.
He closed his eyes and pressed his
hands over his face, and Il thousand little
stars seemed to flash before his sight.
To be sure, it was merely the pulsations
of his own blood which produced this
sensation. and yet, little by little, those
tiny lights ceased to rcvolv6 and looked
for ali the world like the pale stars which
he had just been watching in the iirma
mcnt. At length, aroused by voices in
the street. he looked out.
Between the houses opposite there cX-
tended Il wall. On the ground in front
was Il bright fire, and by that fire stood
Christ surrounded by few disciples and
lEltlltS. Just btHlIiu MIN HIS SnauOW
was clearly defined upon the wall.
John, the disciple whom he loved, mo
chanically picked up blackcncd coal
and with it outlined the shadow until he
had drinratcd the entire figure of the
Master upon the wall. Then he dropped
the coal and entered into conversation
with the rest.
Next morning. when Hans Alicnus
again stood at his open window and saw
the people pass. there were many who
stopped and looked with curiosity at the
drawing on the wall.
THAT represents shoemaker; his
back is howcd.' said the shoemaker.
You talk nonsense" returned the
fIuitcrCr: that STOPPING posture proves
that he is fruit vcndcr. They forgot to
draw the basket on his back, but that
half open mouth shows clearly that he
was crying: 'Pomcgranatcs! Come and
buy. Come and buy"
\ high official of the Sanhcdrn who
passed. and who of course did not mix
his voice with the gable of the trades
people. thought to himself: 1T is perfect
ly plain that that represents a learned
man and thinker. One might almost
tax" it to be Il portrait of me. Positively
it is me; not bad, either. Probably some
of the tradcspcoplc drew it. or course
they all know me more or less"
Meanwhile one of the spectators had
silently approached the carbon drawing.
He had Il simple dcmcanor and Il kind,
patiC!tt face. Nothing great was known
OF him. no chronicle has preserved his
name, for he led retired life, away
from the noise of the world. With hands
crossed over tn" knob of his walking
stick he contemplated the drawing.
"Nhat Il noble forchcad!' he thought.
"Nhat lofty humanity that bent figure
suggests. oh, if only one could be like
that. Brt why wish for the impossi-
BILE"
As he stood there, silent and humble,
tn" likeness to the drawing was so stril-
ing that everybody fell back, pointing to
him iii whispers.
Startled and ashamed he slipped away.
unable to understand why they should
stare at him.
In his conscious humility he had re
Semhcd the Christ shadow.
Had l." knoWn this, and. proud in that
consciousness. stood erect, the likeness
would lave vani~hcd.-St. Louis Globe
Democrat.