the blue flower-第28节

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would　go　about　to　rob　any　one　of　such　a　thing　as　that？　　It　is
a　prize　that　only　a　fool　would　think　of　taking。　　Besides；　the
young　man　parted　with　it　of　his　own　free　will。　　He　bargained
with　me　cleverly。　　I　promised　him　wealth　and　pleasure　and
fame。　　What　did　he　give　in　return？　　An　empty　name；　which　was
a　burden〃

〃Servant　of　demons；　be　still！〃　　The　voice　of　John　rang
clear；　like　a　trumpet；　through　the　hall。　　〃There　is　a　name
which　none　shall　dare　to　take　in　vain。　　There　is　a　name　which
none　can　lose　without　being　lost。　　There　is　a　name　at　which
the　devils　tremble。　　Go　quickly；　before　I　speak　it！〃

Marcion　shrank　into　the　shadow　of　one　of　the　pillars。　　A
lamp　near　him　tottered　on　its　pedestal　and　fell　with　a　crash。　　In
the　confusion　he　vanished；　as　noiselessly　as　a　shade。

John　turned　to　Hermas；　and　his　tone　softened　as　he　said：
〃My　son；　you　have　sinned　deeper　than　you　know。　　The　word　with
which　you　parted　so　lightly　is　the　keyword　of　all　life。
Without　it　the　world　has　no　meaning；　existence　no　peace；　death
no　refuge。　　It　is　the　word　that　purifies　love；　and　comforts
grief；　and　keeps　hope　alive　forever。　　It　is　the　most　precious
word　that　ever　ear　has　heard；　or　mind　has　known；　or　heart　has
conceived。　　It　is　the　name　of　Him　who　has　given　us　life　and
breath　and　all　things　richly　to　enjoy；　the　name　of　Him　who；
though　we　may　forget　Him；　never　forgets　us；　the　name　of　Him
who　pities　us　as　you　pity　your　suffering　child；　the　name　of
Him　who；　though　we　wander　far　from　Him；　seeks　us　in　the
wilderness；　and　sent　His　Son；　even　as　His　Son　has　sent　me　this
night；　to　breathe　again　that　forgotten　name　in　the　heart　that
is　perishing　without　it。　　Listen；　my　son；　listen　with　all　your
soul　to　the　blessed　name　of　God　our　Father。〃

The　cold　agony　in　the　breast　of　Hermas　dissolved　like　a
fragment　of　ice　that　melts　in　the　summer　sea。　　A　sense　of　sweet
release　spread　through　him　from　head　to　foot。　　The　lost　was
found。　　The　dew　of　peace　fell　on　his　parched　soul；　and　the
withering　flower　of　human　love　raised　its　head　again。　　He　stood
upright；　and　lifted　his　hands　high　toward　heaven。

〃Out　of　the　depths　have　I　cried　unto　Thee；　O　Lord！　　O　my
God；　be　merciful　to　me；　for　my　soul　trusteth　in　Thee。　　My　God；
Thou　hast　given；　take　not　Thy　gift　away　from　me；　O　my　God！
Spare　the　life　of　this　my　child；　O　Thou　God；　my　Father；　my
Father！〃

A　deep　hush　followed　the　cry。　　〃Listen！〃　whispered
Athenais；　breathlessly。

Was　it　an　echo？　　It　could　not　be；　for　it　came　againthe
voice　of　the　child；　clear　and　low；　waking　from　sleep；　and
calling：　　〃Father！〃




THE　FIRST　CHRISTMAS…TREE

I

The　day　before　Christmas；　in　the　year　of　our　Lord　722。

Broad　snow…meadows　glistening　white　along　the　banks　of　the
river　Moselle；　steep　hill…sides　blooming　with　mystic
forget…me…not　where　the　glow　of　the　setting　sun　cast　long
shadows　down　their　eastern　slope；　an　arch　of　clearest；　deepest
gentian　bending　overhead；　in　the　centre　of　the　aerial　garden
the　walls　of　the　cloister　of　Pfalzel；　steel…blue　to　the　east；
violet　to　the　west；　silence　over　all；a　gentle；　eager；
conscious　stillness；　diffused　through　the　air；　as　if　earth　and
sky　were　hushing　themselves　to　hear　the　voice　of　the　river
faintly　murmuring　down　the　valley。

In　the　cloister；　too；　there　was　silence　at　the　sunset
hour。　　All　day　long　there　had　been　a　strange　and　joyful　stir
among　the　nuns。　　A　breeze　of　curiosity　and　excitement　had
swept　along　the　corridors　and　through　every　quiet　cell。　　A　famous
visitor　had　come　to　the　convent。

It　was　Winfried　of　England；　whose　name　in　the　Roman　tongue
was　Boniface；　and　whom　men　called　the　Apostle　of　Germany。　　A
great　preacher；　a　wonderful　scholar；　but；　more　than　all；　a
daring　traveller；　a　venturesome　pilgrim；　a　priest　of　romance。

He　had　left　his　home　and　his　fair　estate　in　Wessex；　he
would　not　stay　in　the　rich　monastery　of　Nutescelle；　even
though　they　had　chosen　him　as　the　abbot；　he　had　refused　a
bishopric　at　the　court　of　King　Karl。　　Nothing　would　content
him　but　to　go　out　into　the　wild　woods　and　preach　to　the
heathen。

Through　the　forests　of　Hesse　and　Thuringia；　and　along　the
borders　of　Saxony；　he　had　wandered　for　years；　with　a　handful
of　companions；　sleeping　under　the　trees；　crossing　mountains
and　marshes；　now　here；　now　there；　never　satisfied　with　ease
and　comfort；　always　in　love　with　hardship　and　danger。

What　a　man　he　was！　　Fair　and　slight；　but　straight　as　a
spear　and　strong　as　an　oaken　staff。　His　face　was　still　young；　the
smooth　skin　was　bronzed　by　wind　and　sun。　　His　gray　eyes；　clean
and　kind；　flashed　like　fire　when　he　spoke　of　his　adventures；　and
of　the　evil　deeds　of　the　false　priests　with　whom　he　contended。

What　tales　he　had　told　that　day！　　Not　of　miracles　wrought
by　sacred　relics；　not　of　courts　and　councils　and　splendid
cathedrals；　though　he　knew　much　of　these　things。　　But　to…day
he　had　spoken　of　long　journeyings　by　sea　and　land；　of　perils
by　fire　and　flood；　of　wolves　and　bears；　and　fierce　snowstorms；
and　black　nights　in　the　lonely　forest；　of　dark　altars　of
heathen　gods；　and　weird；　bloody　sacrifices；　and　narrow　escapes
from　murderous　bands　of　wandering　savages。

The　little　novices　had　gathered　around　him；　and　their
faces　had　grown　pale　and　their　eyes　bright　as　they　listened
with　parted　lips；　entranced　in　admiration；　twining　their　arms
about　one　another's　shoulders　and　holding　closely　together；
half　in　fear；　half　in　delight。　　The　older　nuns　had　turned　from
their　tasks　and　paused；　in　passing　by；　to　bear　the　pilgrim's
story。　　Too　well　they　knew　the　truth　of　what　he　spoke。　　Many　a
one　among　them　had　seen　the　smoke　rising　from　the　ruins　of　her
father's　roof。　　Many　a　one　had　a　brother　far　away　in　the　wild
country　to　whom　her　heart　went　out　night　and　day；　wondering　if　he
were　still　among　the　living。

But　now　the　excitements　of　that　wonderful　day　were　over；
the　hour　of　the　evening　meal　had　come；　the　inmates　of　the
cloister　were　assembled　in　the　refectory。

On　the　dais　sat　the　stately　Abbess　Addula；　daughter　of
King　Dagobert；　looking　a　princess　indeed；　in　her　purple　tunic；
with　the　hood　and　cuffs　of　her　long　white　robe　trimmed　with
ermine；　and　a　snowy　veil　resting　like　a　crown　on　her　silver
hair。　　At　her　right　hand　was　the　honoured　guest；　and　at　her
left　hand　her　grandson；　the　young　Prince　Gregor；　a　big；　manly
boy；　just　returned　from　school。

The　long；　shadowy　hall；　with　its　dark…brown　rafters　and
beams；　the　double　row　of　nuns；　with　their　pure　veils　and　fair
faces；　the　ruddy　glow　of　the　slanting　sunbeams　striking　upward
through　the　tops　of　the　windows　and　painting　a　pink　glow
high　up　on　the　walls；it　was　all　as　beautiful　as　a　picture；
and　as　silent。　　For　this　was　the　rule　of　the　cloister；　that　at
the　table　all　should　sit　in　stillness　for　a　little　while；　and
then　one　should　read　aloud；　while　the　rest　listened。

〃It　is　the　turn　of　my　grandson　to　read　to…day；〃　said　the
abbess　to　Winfried；　〃we　shall　see　how　much　he　has　learned　in
the　school。　　Read；　Gregor；　the　place　in　the　book　is　marked。〃

The　lad　rose　from　his　seat　and　turned　the　pages　of　the
manuscript。　　It　was　a　copy　of　Jerome's　version　of　the
Scriptures　in　Latin；　and　the　marked　place　was　in　the　letter　of
St。　Paul　to　the　Ephesians；the　passage　where　he　describes　the
preparation　of　the　Christian　as　a　warrior　arming　for　battle。
The　young　voice　rang　out　clearly；　rolling　the　sonorous　words；
without　slip　or　stumbling；　to　the　end　of　the　chapter。

Winfried　listened　smiling。　　〃That　was　bravely　read；　my
son；〃　said　he；　as　the　reader　paused。　　〃Understandest　thou　what
thou　readest？〃

〃Surely；　father；〃　answered　the　boy；　〃it　was　taught　me　by
the　masters　at　Treves；　and　we　have　read　this　epistle　from
beginning　to　end；　so　that　I　almost　know　it　by　heart。〃

Then　he　began　to　repeat　the　passage；　turning　away　from　the
page　as　if　to　show　his　skill。

But　Winfried　stopped　him　with　a　friendly　lifting　of　the
hand。

〃Not　so；　my　son；　that　was　not　my　meaning。　　When　we　pray；
we　speak　to　God。　　When　we　read；　God　speaks　to　us。　　I　ask
whether　thou　hast　heard　what　He　has　said　to　thee　in　the　common
speech。　　Come；　give　us　again　the　message　of　the　warrior　and
his　armour　and　his　battle；　in　the　mother…tongue；　so　that　all
can　understand　it。〃

The　boy　hesitated；　blushed；　stammered；　then　he　came　around
to　Winfried's　seat；　bringing　the　book。　　〃Take　the　book；　my
father；〃　he　cried；　〃and　read　it　for　me。　　I　cannot　see　the
meaning　plain；　though　I　love　the　sound　of　the　words。　　Religion
I　know；　and　the　doctrines　of　our　faith；　and　the　life　of
priests　and　nuns　in　the　cloister；　for　which　my　grandmother
designs　me；　though　it　likes　me　little。　　And　fighting　I　know；
and　the　life　of　warriors　and　heroes；　for　I　have　read　of　it　in
Virgil　and　the　ancients；　and　heard　a　bit　from　the　soldiers　at
Treves；　and　I　would　fain　taste　more　of　it；　for　it　likes　me　much。
But　how　the　two　lives　fit　together；　or　what　need　there　is　of
armour　for　a　clerk　in　holy　orders；　I　can　never　see。　　Tell　me　the
meaning；　for　if　there　is　a　man　in　all　the　world　that　knows　it；
I　am　sure　it　is　thou。〃

So　Winfried　took　the　book　and　closed　it；　clasping　the
boy's　hand　with　his　own。

〃Let　us　first　dismiss　the　others　to　their　vespers　said　he；
〃lest　they　should　be　weary。〃

A　sign