a story from the sand-hills-第9节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


let　down　and　looked　wonderfully　large　and　beautiful　with　its　silken

sails　and　rigging：



　　　　　　　　　　　　　〃The　ropes　were　of　silk；　the　anchor　of　gold；

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　And　everywhere　riches　and　pomp　untold；〃



as　the　old　song　says。

　　　　The　young　couple　went　on　board；　accompanied　by　the　whole

congregation；　for　there　was　room　and　enjoyment　for　them　all。　Then

the　walls　and　arches　of　the　church　were　covered　with　flowering

junipers　and　lime　trees　breathing　forth　fragrance；　the　branches　waved；

creating　a　pleasant　coolness；　they　bent　and　parted；　and　the　ship

sailed　between　them　through　the　air　and　over　the　sea。　Every　candle

in　the　church　became　a　star；　and　the　wind　sang　a　hymn　in　which　they

all　joined。　〃Through　love　to　glory；　no　life　is　lost；　the　future　is

full　of　blessings　and　happiness。　Hallelujah！〃　These　were　the　last

words　Jurgen　uttered　in　this　world；　for　the　thread　that　bound　his

immortal　soul　was　severed；　and　nothing　but　the　dead　body　lay　in　the

dark　church；　while　the　storm　raged　outside；　covering　it　with　loose

sand。

　　　　The　next　day　was　Sunday；　and　the　congregation　and　their　pastor

went　to　the　church。　The　road　had　always　been　heavy；　but　now　it　was

almost　unfit　for　use；　and　when　they　at　last　arrived　at　the　church；　a

great　heap　of　sand　lay　piled　up　in　front　of　them。　The　whole　church　was

completely　buried　in　sand。　The　clergyman　offered　a　short　prayer；　and

said　that　God　had　closed　the　door　of　His　house　here；　and　that　the

congregation　must　go　and　build　a　new　one　for　Him　somewhere　else。　So

they　sung　a　hymn　in　the　open　air；　and　went　home　again。

　　　　Jurgen　could　not　be　found　anywhere　in　the　town　of　Skjagen；　nor

on　the　dunes；　though　they　searched　for　him　everywhere。　They　came　to

the　conclusion　that　one　of　the　great　waves；　which　had　rolled　far　up

on　the　beach；　had　carried　him　away；　but　his　body　lay　buried　in　a

great　sepulchre…　the　church　itself。　The　Lord　had　thrown　down　a

covering　for　his　grave　during　the　storm；　and　the　heavy　mound　of　sand

lies　upon　it　to　this　day。　The　drifting　sand　had　covered　the　vaulted

roof　of　the　church；　the　arched　cloisters；　and　the　stone　aisles。　The

white　thorn　and　the　dog　rose　now　blossom　above　the　place　where　the

church　lies　buried；　but　the　spire；　like　an　enormous　monument　over　a

grave；　can　be　seen　for　miles　round。　No　king　has　a　more　splendid

memorial。　Nothing　disturbs　the　peaceful　sleep　of　the　dead。　I　was　the

first　to　hear　this　story；　for　the　storm　sung　it　to　me　among　the

sand…hills。





　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　THE　END

。