Seite:Marsh Hallig 1856.djvu/270

270THE HALLIG.

will have his children rejoice, not only in his heaven,
but on his earth ; he will have them not only thank him
as the great Father above, who pours out his consola-
tion upon the weary and heavy laden, but also as a
Father here below, who is present with the happy as
well, and loves the hearts which are grateful to him for
having made their pilgrimage so bright with sunshine,
so rich with blossoms. And we will make a merit
for ourselves, by doing penance continually, and take
pleasure in denying ourselves the enjoyment of his tem-
poral blessings, as if we hoped in so doing to establish
a claim upon his promises for eternity ! That is a false
modesty which refuses to receive any thing at his hand,
a modesty which seeks to add something to the divine
work of redemption, as if cheerful faith, childlike love,
and the sanctification which results from such faith and
such love, as the fruit follows the blossom, were not
sufficient ; but as if by rejecting all pleasure in the
works and gifts of God here below, a sacrifice, worthy
of consideration, was offered."
  "O no," cried Godber, "it is not so! and if I had
ever thought so before, you have long since cured me
of this sickly humility which is the child of pride.
But, Maria could never be happy by my side. In every
cloud which shaded my brow she would see Idalia, in
every thought which I did not utter she would read
that name. Waked by painful visions from her own
slumbers, she would listen to my dreaming words, and
I should live with her in constant fear of giving her
occasion, even though innocently, of doubting my love.
It would be quite a different thing if we had not known
each other before, but broken faith always leaves a