ed the young and old, the visitings
of a foreign nature, made the accustomed home more agreeable to them.
Religious sentiments, pious designs, were developed, and at a later
period, in peace brought to perfection. On the road they encountered
the poor and sick, who needed assistance, all the feelings of the heart
were renewed and reinvigorated, for man requires a similar renewal at
times, that he may not become too monotonous to himself. Shall I also
remind you, that by this means their native land became to all more
endeared and beloved? without mentioning, that people from far
countries became acquainted, and one heard of this and that from
another; affection and also marriages were contracted among the distant
mountaineers, and thus the useful, the good with piety and an
inclination for the wonderful, as well as the love of nature went hand
in hand." "All this," said Edmond, "however much you may speak in its
favour, the Huguenots call idolatry."

"It would be so too," answered the old man, "if persecution, hatred and
malice, were excited by this love and festivity. It might be perilous
to celebrate the festival now, especially if it should be interrupted
by enthusiasts of the other party. In bygone years, however, I have
seen even protestants, who were unable to look upon the puerile
ceremony without shedding tears. For it is just in a similar way, when
man suffers himself to yield to his most cherished sentiments as if he
were at home, when in an entirely childish and artless spirit he draws
near to his God, or to his representative, his mother, or the saints,
(whom he believes nearer to the nameless one,) plays and sports with
the dreaded, the worshipped, laying aside all solemnity and all serious
pomp, then does mankind appear purest and simplest. All ages, all
nations are the same, let them think and worship as they like, have
never been able to do entirely without it, and what we are often
compelled to hear from free-thinkers or reformers, that we have again
introduced the old overthrown idolatry, is only, if rightly understood,
in the spirit of love, the regeneration of the human mind, which will
never permit this source of its holy thirst to be exhausted. But abuse
and error attach themselves to everything human. Indeed, the most
beautiful body consists merely of earth, and dust; and yet beauty is
more sublime than the moist clay of the fields."

Thus was Edmond compelled to hear from strange lips his former