Year: 1859

Out wv ythhb oceuiS 10 rest anu Whlb-LHe
whole OF nature expresses grand resigna-
tion, rs il prepares itself to meet its fate,
to enter It's wintry grave Still ascends,
fresh aud soft, the fragrance Of earth, from
the forests and the leaf-clad primeval noun
tans but yet little time, and it reposes
stiff and cold beneath the white euveloping
shroud 1t knows it, and waits in-'the
calm Of Allhallows.'


We may perceive something resembling
this calm during the latter periods Of Her
thas history vet, at the same time, some
thing more. Man, the lord of nature, does
not, like nature, yield to fate only in pas
sive submission he meets It, he bows him
before it, in the living consciousness of the
purpose OF his change, and even at the ap-
| rroach of winter, prepares himself for the
life of the new spring. 1t is his glorious
privilege. This was deeply acknowledged
by Hertha and it gave fresh trait of
nobility to her not ordinary exterior, and
endowed her with a new power over the
minds of others And if her calmness was
frequently disturbed, and dark shadows at
times fell over her peace, yet the fault Of
this lay less in herself than in the world
with which her honest soul had still to CON-
bat.


They who saw her during tne few months
which preceded her decease, were for the
most part greatly struck by her appearance
aud manners. One Of these describes a
visit paid to her.


L waited alone for short time in the
Iduna-hall, whilst was announced, and
occupied myself in contemplating its heau-
tiful statutes and blossoming plants. had
not seen Hertha for many years, not since
the time when l had considered her proud
and somewhat dlsgreeable girl, evidently
out of harmony with herself and the world.


Presently the door of the hall opened,
noble figure, but wasted with sickness, en-
tered, supported on staff with q white
ivory head in this form ! had difficulty in
recognising the Hertha of former years
The ambitious and sometimes contemptuous
character of her expression, which had for
merly rather offended my self-love, was no
longer observable. There was something
perfectly frank and friendly in the smile
with which she advanced to meet me. She
seemed to be above all the petty feelings
and thoughts of this world 1t was in the
beamng eyes and the noble, arched fore
head, that was best able to recognise the
former Hertha, yet these now bore an ex-
preston of quiet power and serenity which
formerly was foreign to them. Every feature,
every line OF her countenance seemed to me
to speak OF rich inward history. The
strongly developed nostriIS had no longer
their somewhat arrogant expression, and
all bitterness seemed changed to quiet mel
anchoy. But above oil this, end over the
whole countenance, beamed tboSe splendid
eyes with their transGguring light The
hair which was put back from the temples
allowed their singularly beautiful outline
to be seen, whilst simple white kerchief
or veil, fell softly, shadowing as it were the
head, and around the sunkeu cheeks Her
tina, as she now is, might serve as model
for SibyI, or for the Prophecies Yala, if
the expression Of patient power and of n
power of deep maternal tenderness did
not render her rather the type of the Mac
cabean woman, the mother of the Martyrs


i was so affected by the sight of this
noble ruin, of the formerly stately woman,
that could scarcely restrain my tears
But she spoke SO calmly and kindly to me
that soon became calmer, and listened
with indeScribable pleasure to her converse
ton, rich as it was in life's experience, and
so filled with great thoughts for the future
She is severe in her demands from our sex,
precisely because she estimates its vocation
so highly. She spoke of her pupils with
great tenderness. The old expression, both
in voice and countenanee, returned, how
ever, when she spoke of the false views
which parents take with regard to their
daughters education, and OF the impedi-
ments which our laws place in the way of
the development of young women. But
the bitterness again disappeared before the
trust and hope in the future,


She was unable to receive my daughters
iuto her school, because she fUresaw that
she must shortly discontinue it, on account
of her health, which will not permit her
much longer to give the necessary atten-
tion to it. This subject however she touch
ed but lightly. have been told that the
physicians consider it improbable that she
will live over the year, and left her with
the sorrowlnl feeling that should see and
| hear her no more. shall never forget the
light in her glance, nor the affection which
| saw beam from the eyes Of the young as
accompanied her into the school-room =
All seemed to know that she soon would be
taken from them, and il was plain to see,
DO tn from her looks and their eyes how
painful this parting would be-


In the meantime, what was the sta to Of
that soul whose silent conflict and inner
most longing no one knew but God and the
friend who was no longer on earthH We
will obtain our answer from entries in her
diary.


SELECTIONS FROM HERTHAs DIARY.
1T is now more than three years since L
wrote anything abont myself After
Yngve's departure, lost, in some respects,
interest in myself, and my time and thoughts
we're occupied in working TO live. Now
again write in order to employ myself,
for have now leisure. Upon the cliffs of
Marstrand, with the great sea roaring
around me, enjoy little season of rest,
for the first time during many years. How
beautiful, how delightful it is, for little
while to have nothing more to do than the
flowers aud the trees to battle in the sun
shine aud lie earresSed by the winds. Yet
| should not have come hither on my own