, but as I had delayed, I suffered myself to
be consecrated a priest at a distance, and was transferred to this
solitary part of the mountains. Since then, I have never heard of my
friends, of Euphemie; I even wished to avoid ever seeing them again,
that I might not renew the pains of deep, vital wounds. And yet it is
but weakness, to turn away from the path of sorrow.--It had become
dark, and the two friends repaired to the lighted room, to partake of
the little evening meal. The young peasants who had been there before,
reentered, and led with them a young and beautiful girl. The latter
shewed the pastor the flowers and the ornaments, with which they
intended on the morrow to adorn the image of the mother of God. 'Now,
at last,' said the young and happy Caspar, 'is the time come, reverend
sir, that I can lead home my Louison, my bride. You know very well how
she desired to spend to-morrow's festival still as a virgin, in order
that she might be able to carry our Mary, and sing too. It has been
sorrow enough to me, to be compelled to defer my happiness for so long
a time; but for once she has persisted in her pious obstinacy. Well,
truly it is precious to have such a christian wife, such a holy
treasure. All is well, that everything has been so prosperous as yet;
for who can tell what evil may come between, when man places his fate
on such trials as these, and binds himself to hours and days. However
everything is already arranged for the wedding, and all danger and fear
is surmounted.' 'How thou talkest.' said the blushing Louison, from
whose eyes laughed her approaching happiness; and the fulfilment of all
her wishes. 'I have been friendly to thee for two years past, but must
I on that account love the mother of God less? Ah! the history as it
has come down to us, is too affecting, and therefore we must be
thankful towards her. Look you, my strange young gentleman, before
the village stood here, there was nothing far around but field and
forest. No vine, no olive-tree was to be found here. Then went a poor
wood-cutter, who had come from a distance into the wild forest to cut
down a tree for his trade. And as he applied his hatched to it, he heard
a sigh, and as he listened, a singing. A light appeared in the gloomy
forest, and above in the tree, in the oak trunk, there sat as if in a
hollow the mother of God, and commanded him to build a church on that
very spot. The man made known the miracle, the wood was cleared, an