their friend and benefactor' should be given to one who refused them a lodging, began to be now convinced that his companion was a devil; and begged to go on alone. But the angel said, "Hear me, and depart.

6. "When you lived in your hermitage, a shepherd was killed by his master. He was innocènt of the supposed offense; but had he not been then killed, he would have committed crimes in which he would have died impenitent. His master endeavors to atone for the murder, by dedicating the remainder of his days to alms and deeds of charity.

3

7. "I strangled the child of the knight. But know, that the father was so intent on heaping up riches for his child, as to neglect those acts of public munificence' for which he was befōre so distinguished, and to which he has now returned. I stole the golden cup of the hospitable citizen. But know, that from a life of the strictest temperance, he became, in consequence of possessing this cup, a perpetual drunkard, and is now the most abstemious of men.

8. "I threw the poor man into the water. He was then honest and religious. But know, had he walked one half of a mile further, he would have murdered a man in a state of mortal sin. I gave the golden cup to the rich man, who refused to take us within his roof. He has therefore received his reward in this world, and in the next will suffer for his inhospitality." The hermit fell prostrate at the angel's feet, and, requesting forgiveness, returned to his hermitage, fully convinced of the wisdom and justice of God's government.

V.

79. TAULER.

AULER, the preacher, walked one autumn day,

Pondering the solemn Miracle of Life;

1 Běn`e făc′ tor, one who confers a benefit or does good.

'Im pění i tent, not repenting of

sin;

of a hard heart.

A tōne', to make amends.

6

giving very liberally for the comfort, happiness, or pleasure of others.

"Ab ste mi ous, sparing in food or strong drink.

6

Strasbourg, (strås bårg), a strong

'Mu nif i cence, a bestowing or ly fortified city of France.

As one who, wandering in a starlèss night,
Feels, momently, the jar of unseen waves,
And hears the thunder of an unknown sea,
Breaking along an unimagined shōre.

2. And as he walked he prayed. Even the same
Old prayer with which, for half a score of years,
Morning, and noon, and evening, lip and heart
Had groaned: "Have pity upon me, Lord!
Thou seest, while teaching others, I am blind.
Send me a man who can direct my steps!"
3. Then, as he mused, he heard along his path
A sound as of an old man's staff among
The dry, dead linden-leaves; and, looking up,
He saw a stranger, weak, and poor, and old.
4. "Peace be unto thee, father!" Tauler said;
"God give thee a good day!" The old man raised
Slowly his calm blue eyes. "I thank thee, son;
But all my days are good, and none are ill."
5. Wondering thereat, the preacher spake again;
"God give thee happy life." The old man smiled:
"I never am unhappy." Tauler laid

6.

His hand upon the stranger's coarse gray sleeve :
"Tell me, O father, what thy strange words mean.
Surely man's days are evil, and his life

Sad as the grave it leads to."

"Nay, son,

Our times are in God's hands, and all our days
Are as our needs: for shadow as for sun,

For cold as heat, for want as wealth, ǎlike

Our thanks are due, since that is best which is ;
And that which is not, sharing not His life,
Is evil only as devoid of good.

And for the happinèss of which I spake,

I find it in submission to His will,

And calm trust in the holy trinity'
Of Knowledge, Goodness, and Almighty Power."

1 Trin' i ty, three united in one; especially, the union of the three persons (the Father, the Son, and the

Holy Spirit,) in one Godhead, so that all are one God as to substance, but three persons as to individuality.

7. Silently wondering, for a little space,

Stood the great preacher; then he spake as one
Who, suddenly grappling with a haunting thought
Which long has followed, whispering through the dark
Strange terrors, drags it, shrieking, into light:
"What if God's will consign thee hence to Hell ?”

8. "Then," said the stranger, cheerily, "be it so.
What Hell may be I know not: this I know-
I can not lose the presence of the Lord;
One arm, Humility, takes hold upon
His dear Humanity; the other, Love,
Clasps his Divinity. So where I go

He goes; and better fire-walled Hell with Him
Than golden-gated Paradise without."

9. Tears sprang in Tauler's eyes. A sudden light,
Like the first ray which fell on chaös clove
Apart the shadow wherein he had walked
Darkly at noon. And, as the strange old man
Went his slow way, until his silver hair

Set like the white moon where the hills of vine
Slope to the Rhine, he bowed his head and said:
"My prayer is answered. God hath sent the man
Long sought, to teach me, by his simple trust,
Wisdom the weary schoolmèn never knew.”

10. So, entering with a changed and cheerful step
The city gates, he saw, far down the street,
A mighty shadow break the light of noon,
Which tracing backward till its airy lines
Hardened to stony plinths,' he raised his eyes
O'er broad façade and lofty pediment,"
O'er architrave' and frieze and sainted niche,
Up the stone lace-work chiseled by the wise

5

* Architrave, (årk ́I tråv), the part of a roof which rests on a column. "Friēze, a flat member or face of the upper part of a column, which is often enriched with figures of animals, or other ornaments of sculpture.

11.

Erwin of Steinbach,' dizzily up to where

In the noon-brightnèss the great Minster's tower,
Jeweled with sunbeams on its mural crown,
Rose like a visible prayer.

"Behold!" he said,

"The stranger's faith made plain before mine eyes!
As yonder tower outstretches to the earth
The dark triangle of its shade ǎlone
When the clear day is shining on its top;
So, darkness in the pathway of Man's life
Is but the shadow of God's providence,
By the great Sun of Wisdom cast thereon;
And what is dark below is light in Heaven."

JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER,

A

SECTION XVIII.

I

80. THE FISHERMAN OF CASCO BAY.

PART FIRST.

MONG the numerous islands in Casco Bay, there are few, indeed, which at present contain more than a single dwelling; yet a century ago, the traveler would have been cheered with the mingled hum of business and of pleasure; and could have rested beneath many a hospitable roof, the ruins of which are now scarcely visible.

2. They were formerly inhabited by fishermen ; but, on account of the frequent attacks of the Indians, these huts were abandoned, and, being of slight materials, soon sunk into decay. Near one of these ruins, and not far from Diämond Cove, is the grave of Michael Burn, of whom the following story is related. 3. One evening, as he sat at the door of his hut, listening to the waves which broke on the rocks that surrounded him, his

1 Steinbach, (stin' båk), the name of three small towns of Germany. 2 Mural, resembling a wall. • Căs' cō Bay, in Cumberland

county, Maine, extends east from Portland about twenty miles.

4 Century, (sent' yu ry), a hun dred years.

dog, which was lying at his feet, suddenly sprang up, and, dart ing toward a projecting cliff,' plunged into the water. The fisherman, presuming from his earnest manner that something uncommon had attracted his attention, hastened to the spot. from which the animal had leaped; but the night was too dark to discover either the dog, or the object of his pursuit, and the murmur of the waves prevented his ascertaining what direction he had taken.

4. For a long time, he awaited his return in vain, and, at last. supposing he was engaged in a fruitlèss chase after some seals," which frequently made their appearance, he retired to rest. Scarcely, however, had he sought his pillow, when the wellknown bark, and a scratching at the door, not only announced his return, but anxiety for his master's presence.

5. He opened the door; the dog whined, pulled him gently, as if wishing him to follow, and suddenly left him. Having lighted his lantern, he left the hut, the dog, by his barking, directing the path; but, on approaching the shōre, judge of his surprise to find by his faithful animal a human being, and to all appearance a corpse.

6. It was evident that the dog had just drawn him from the water, but there were no marks of violence on his person. He opened his waistcoat-the body was still warm; and, filled with the hope of restoring animation,' he bore it to his hut. His exertions were not in vain. In a short time, the stranger gave signs of returning life, and by the next morning, he was enabled to converse with his generous preserver.

7. "You probably recollect seeing a vessel near your harbor, yesterday," said the stränger. "In that vessel, it was my misfortune to have been a passenger: Heaven grant that my beloved wife has not likewise fallen a victim to perfidy and ingratitude. I am a native of America, but for some years past I have resided in France, where I acquired a considerable fortune. Desirous of spending my last days in the land of my fathers, I

1

Cliff, a high and steep rock; a very steep or overhanging place.

2 Seals, animals that live mostly in the water, and are taken for their skins; there are two general kinds, the hair seal and the fur seal.

3

An`i ma' tion, the state of being lively, brisk, or full of spirit and vigor; breath; life.

Per fi dy, the act of violating faith, a vow, or promise; treachery; the violation of a trust reposed.