his hand, he listened
attentively. He understood little of the sermon; but his eyes hung upon
the preacher's lips, and his mind followed his intentions if not
his thoughts.

When the procession returned to the church amid the renewed peal of the
bells and triumphant strains of music, Ivo clasped the crucifix firmly
with both his hands; he felt as if new strength had been given him to
carry his God before him.

As the crowd dispersed, every one spoke in raptures of the "gentleman"
and of the happiness of the parents of such a son. Christian the tailor
and his wife came down the covered stairs of the church-hill in superior
bliss. Ordinarily they attracted little attention in the village; but on
this occasion all crowded around them with the greatest reverence, to
present their congratulations.

The young clergyman's mother returned thanks with tearful eyes; she
could scarcely speak for joyous weeping. Ivo heard his cousin, who had
come over from Rexingen, say that Gregory's parents were now obliged to
address their son with the formal pronoun "they," by which strangers and
great personages are spoken to, instead of the simple "thee and thou,"
by which German villagers converse with each other.

"Is that so, mother?" he asked.

"Of course," was the answer: "he's more than other folks now."

With all their enthusiasm, the good people did not forget the pecuniary
advantage gained by Christian the tailor. It was said that he need take
no further trouble all his life. Cordele, Gregory's sister, was to be
her brother's housekeeper, and her brother was a fortune to his family
and an honor to all the village.

Translation of Charles Goepp.

The following passages from "On the Heights" are reprinted by consent of
Henry Holt & Co., holders of the copyright of the translation.

THE PEASANT-NURSE AND THE PRINCE

"There, my boy! Now you've seen the sun. May you see it for seven and
seventy years to come, and when they've run their course, may the Lord
grant you a new lease of life. Last night they lit millions of lamps for
your sake. But they were nothing to the sun up in heaven, which the
Lord himself lighted for you this very morning. Be a good boy, always,
so that you may deserve to have the sun shine on you. Yes, now the
angel's whispering to you. Laugh while you sleep! That's right. There's
one angel belongs to you on earth, and that's your mother! And you're
mine, too! You're mine, indeed!"

Thus spake Walpur