d
behind the altar of our church stands still the same old oak trunk, in
which the holy virgin already dwelt from time immemorial as a testimony
and a remembrance. Thus was our good church founded, thus has the
village risen, and men have drawn near the beloved spot, for our Mary
would not thus dwell in solitude any longer. Look Caspar, thus but for
our gracious mother, there would be no house, no man here, and our dear
parent's house, and I, and thou would not be in the world, and upon
this spot of earth, and for all this must we be thankful to her.'

"All well and good," said Caspar, "but just because she is so amiable,
she would certainly have granted us with all her heart, our happiness a
long while ago. God and the saints are not like us men, who are so
ambitious on one little point, that we neglect true honour." "Is it not
true, Caspar," said Louison, laughing, "if thy new jacket with shining
buttons had not been ready, thou wouldst willingly have deferred the
wedding?" Thus laughing and jesting they withdrew again to go and seek
the clerk with whom they wished to consult how best they might attach
the flowers and garlands to the altar. The old man felt happy that his
penitents loved to approach him with this child-like confidence, and
respected him just as much as a father, while at the same time they
fearlessly associated with him in play and merriment. Edmond was grave
and melancholy; when it was time to separate to sleep, he abruptly
asked the priest, as he grasped his hand: "Well, reverend sir, did you
then afterwards in your station find that happiness of which you
dreamed in your youth?"

"Happiness," said the old man, "what is it men call thus? and of what
avail would their dreams be then, if it were to be met with in reality.
I soon saw in the beginning, with bitter sorrow, that I was too
enthusiastic, that my companions in the same calling, my superiors, did
not partake of my burning zeal; disapproved of it indeed, or declared
it heresy and false enthusiasm. They were too much occupied about their
community, the ensuring of their condition, their influence in the
world, and the binding of souls, to have kindled ardour within them, or
to have sought that faith in emotions, which was so necessary to my
life. Well, somewhat late, I undertook to examine the teachers of my
now abandoned church, and discovered that they were not altogether so
inimical to Christianity as I had fancied. I thought that I perceiv