craving a blessing from one of a life so pure and self-denying as his host.

At the door of the hut, the monk found Gottlob who had early been gotten rid of, it will be remembered, but who, for reasons of his own, had seen fit to await the termination of the conference.

"Thou here, son!" exclaimed the Benedictine. "I had thought thee at peace, in thy bed, favored with the benediction of a hermit so holy !"

"Good fortune is sure to drive sleep from my eyes, father," returned Gottlob, dropping in by the side of the monk who was walking through the cedars towards the ancient gateway of the camp.

I am not of your animal kind, that is no sooner filled with a good thing than it lies down to rest; but the happier I become, the more I desire to be up to enjoy it."

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Thy wish is natural, and, although many natural desires are to be resisted, I do not see the danger of our knowing our own happiness."

"Of the danger I will say nothing, father, but of the comfort, there is not a youth in Deurckheim, who can speak with greater certainty than myself."

"Gottlob," said the Benedictine, insensibly edging nearer to his companion, like one willing to communicate confidentially, "since thou namest Deurckheim, canst say aught of the humor of its people, in this matter of contention between our holy Abbot and Lord Emich of Hartenburg?"

"Were I to tell thy reverence the truth that lies deepest in my mind, it would be to say, that the burghers wish to see the affair brought to an end, in such a way as to leave no doubt, hereafter, to which party they most owe obedience and love, since they find it a little hard upon their zeal, to have so large demands of these services made by both parties."

"Thou canst not serve God and Mammon, son so sayeth one who could not deceive."

"And so sayeth reason, too, worshipful monk but to give thee at once my inmost soul, I believe there is not a man in our Deurckheim, who believes himself strong enough in learning to say, in this strife of duties, which is God and which is Mammon !"

"How do they call in question our sacred mission-our divine embassy-in short, our being what we are ?"

"No man is so bold as to say that the monks of Limburg are what they are; that might be irreverent to the Church, and indecent to Father Siegfried; and the most we dare to say is, that they seem to be what they are; and that is no small matter, considering the way things go in this world. 'Seem to be, Gottlob,' said my poor father, and thou wilt escape envy and enemies; for in this seemliness there is nothing so alarming to others; it is only when one is really the thing itself, that men begin to find fault. If thou wishest to live peaceably with thy neighbors, push nothing beyond seeming to be, for that much all will bear, since all can seem; whereas being oftentimes sets a whole village in an uproar. It is wonderful the virtue there is in seeming, and the heart-burnings and scandal, ay, and the downright quarrels there are in being just what one seems. No, the most we say, in Deurckheim, is that the monks of Limburg seem to be men of God." "And Lord Emich ?"

"As to Count Emich, father, we hold it wise to remember he is a great noble. The Elector has not a bolder knight, nor the emperor a truer vassal; we say, therefore, that he seems to be brave and loyal."

"Thou makest great account, son, of these appa rent qualities."

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Knowing the frailty of man, father, and the great likelihood of error, when we wish to judge of acts and reasons, that lie deeper than our knowledge, we hold it to be the most prudent. No, let us of Deurckheim alone, as men of caution!" "For a cow-herd, thou wantest not wit-Canst read !"

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By God's favor, Providence put that little acci dent in my way when a child, reverend monk, and I picked it up, as I might swallow a sweet morsel." ""Tis a gift more likely to injure than to servė one of thy calling. The art can do little benefit to thy herd!"

"I will not take upon myself to say, that any of the cattle are much the better for it; though, to deal fairly by thee, reverend Benedictine, there are animals among them that seem to be."

"How! wilt thou attempt to show a fact not only improbable but impossible? Go to, thou hast fallen upon some silly work of a jester. There have been numberless of these commissions of the devil poured forth, since the discovery of that imprudent brother of Mainz. I would gladly hear in what manner a beast can profit by the art of printing?"

"Thy patience, Father Siegfried, and thou shalt know. Now here is a hind that can read, and there is one that cannot. We will suppose them both the servants of Emich of Hartenburg. Well, they go forth of a morning with their herds; this taking the path to the hills of the Count, and that, having read the description of the boundaries between his Lord's land and that of the holy Abbot of Limburg, taking another, because learning will not willingly follow ignorance; whereupon the reader reaches a nearer and better pasture, than he who hath gone about to feed upon ground that has only been trodden upon too often before, by hoof of beast and foot of man." """hy learning hath not done much towards

F

clearing thy head, Gottlob, whatever it may have done for the condition of thy herd!"

"If your worship has any doubts of my being what I say, here is proof of its justice, then-I know nothing that so crams a man and confuses him as learning! He who has but one horn can take it and go his way; whereas he that hath many, may lose his herd while choosing between instruments that are better or worse. He that hath but one sword, will draw it and slay his enemy: but he that hath much armor, may lose his life while putting on his buckler or head-piece."

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"I had not thought thee so skilful in answers. And thou thinkest the good people of Deurckheim will stand neuter between the Abbey and the Count?"

"Father, if thou wilt show me by which side they will be the greatest gainers, I think I might venture to say, with some certainty, on which side they will be likely to draw the sword. Our burghers are prudent townsmen, as I have said, and it is not often that they are found fighting against their own interests."

"Thou shouldst know, son, that he who is most favored in this life, may find the balances of justice weighing against him in the next; while he who suffers in the flesh, will be most likely to find its advantage in the spirit."

"Himmel! In that case, reverend Benedictine, the most holy Abbot of Limburg himself may fare worse hereafter then even a hind who now lives like a dog!" exclaimed Gottlob, with an air of admiration and simplicity that completely misled his listener. "The one is said to comfort the body in various ways, and to know the difference between a cup of pure Rhenish and a draught of the washy liquors that come from the other side of our mʊuntains; while the other, whether it be of necessity or inclination I will not take upon myself to say

drinks only of the spring. 'Tis a million of pities that one never knoweth which to choose, present ease with future pain, or a starving body with a happy soul! Believe me, Father Siegfried, were thy reverence to think more of these trials that befall us ignorant youths, thou wouldst not deal so heavily with the penances, as thine own severe virtue often tempts thee to do."

"What is thus done is done for thy health, future and present. By chastening the spirit in this manner, it is gradually prepared for its final purification, and thou art not a loser in the eyes of thy fellows, by leading a chaste life. Thou wilt have justice at the settlement of the great account."

"Nay, I am no greedy creditor, to dun Providence for my dues. I very well know that what will come cannot be prevented, and therefore I take patience to be a virtue. But I hope these accounts, of which you tell us so often, are kept with sufficient respect for a poor man; for, to deal fairly with thee, father, we have not overmuch favor in settling those of the world."

"Thou hast credit for all thy good deeds with thy fellows, Gottlob."

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"I wish it were true! To me it seems that the world is ready enough to charge, while it is as niggardly as a miser in giving credit-I never did an evil act and as we are all mortal and frail, most holy monk, these accidents will befall even your saint or a Benedictine—that the deed itself and all its consequences were not set down against me, in letters that a short-sighted man might read; while most of my merits and considering I am but a cow-herd they are of respectable quality-seem to be forgotten. Now your Abbot, or his Highness the Elector, or even Count Emich

"The Summer Landgrave!" interrupted the monk, laughing.