CHAPTER XXI.
CONCLUSION.
The next spring, when the country was covered with verdure and flowers,the Count, accompanied by his wife, and daughter, and Mary, went to hishome at Eichbourg. Towards evening they approached the village, andwhen Mary saw in the light of the setting sun the familiar churchsteeple, the Castle, and the cottage where she had spent so many happyyears with her father, she was so deeply touched that tears started toher eyes.
But in the midst of the sorrowful memories which the scene called up inher mind, there came to her a devout feeling of thankfulness for thewonderful way in which God had led her back.
"When I left Eichbourg," she said, "it was in disgrace, and withoutever expecting to come back again. The ways of Providence aremysterious, but God is good."
When the carriage stopped at the Castle, the servants and officersbelonging to the Count's household were waiting to receive them. Maryhad a warm welcome from them all. Every one showed the greatest joy atseeing her again, and their congratulations on her innocence havingbeen proved were manifestly sincere. The old judge who had sent herinto banishment was among those who welcomed her most cordially. Takingher hand in the presence of all the servants, he asked her pardon forthe mistake he had made. He expressed his gratitude to the Count andCountess for having so nobly repaired the injustice, assured them thathe reproached himself for the misfortune, and that he was willing to doeverything in his power to discharge his debt.
The exciting day came to an end, and Mary was glad to escape to herchamber. Next morning, the sun shining brightly into her room woke herearly. As soon as she was dressed she ran to visit her father'scottage, and to walk once more round the old familiar garden. On herway she met numbers of the villagers, and all of them showed greathappiness at seeing her.
The old farmer and his wife, who had now been settled some time in thecottage, were delighted to meet her again. They kissed heraffectionately and assured her of the happiness of their new life.
"When you were without a home," said the farmer, with tears in hiseyes, "we received you and your father into our own, and now that weare old and had no place that we could call our own, you give us thischarming cottage in which we might spend our declining years."
"Yes," said his wife, "it is always well to be generous and hospitable.We never know how soon we shall receive it again."
"Well, well," said her husband, "I am glad we did not think of thatthen. We took Mary and her father in without hope of reward. However,the maxim is not the less true, 'Do good to others and you will alwaysfind some one to do good to you.'"
When Mary entered the cottage, the sight of the place where her fatherused to sit raised a host of sad but sweet recollections in her mind.She walked round the garden and kissed every tree planted by his hand,seeing in each an old acquaintance. The little apple tree which hadbeen their favourite, was just now covered with blossom, and before itshe stopped to meditate for a little on man's brief life, which fadesaway before the tree which he has planted. In the arbour where she hadpassed so many happy hours with her father, she rested a little, andgave herself up to reflection. Looking around on the garden, which hehad cultivated so diligently by the sweat of his brow, she fancied thatshe could still see him, and tears streamed from her eyes, when sheremembered that he had gone from her for ever. But one thought soothedher heart and made her calm, the thought that he had gone to a betterworld, and was now reaping the reward of his beautiful life.
As long as Mary lived she spent some weeks every spring at the Castle,cherished and honoured by every one there, and endearing herself to thepeople of the village, and particularly to the children, among whom shewas a great favourite. Her delight was to take them apart and to talkto them of the Saviour, and she had the happiness of believing thatmany of them under her instructions gave their hearts to God.
A monument had been erected to her father in fulfilment of a promisewhich Amelia had made to Mary that evening when she found her sittingon her father's grave. It was an elegant monument of white marble,ornamented with an epitaph in gold letters. Besides the name of thedeceased, his age and occupation, nothing in the way of epitaph wasadded but these words of Jesus--
"I am the Resurrection and the Life: He that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live."
Underneath these words a beautiful basket of flowers had been cut froma design drawn by Amelia herself. Underneath the basket was written--
"_All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof as the flowers of the field. The grass withereth, the flower fadeth, but the word of the Lord endureth for ever._"
The erection of this monument gave great satisfaction to the good oldminister of Erlenbrunn. The dark background of the fir trees threw themonument into relief, and gave it a very beautiful appearance; and whenthe rose tree planted by his grave was in bloom, and its branchescovered with roses bent over the marble, which was of dazzlingwhiteness, the sight was a striking one. The humble old man's monumentwas the most beautiful ornament of the rural churchyard, and the goodminister never allowed strangers to leave the church without takingthem to see it.
When some people observed that it was a good idea to have put a basketof flowers on the tomb of a man who was at the same time a gardener anda basket-maker, the old minister would say--
"But it is something better than a good idea. The basket of flowers tellsmore than you know, and it is not without reason that our villagers lookupon it as the symbol of a touching story. The ground on which we treadhas been bathed with a daughter's tears."
Then he would pour into the attentive ears of strangers the familiarstory of the basket of flowers, concluding his recital with theassurance which this whole story is intended to illustrate: That pietytowards God and truth towards men will never fail to triumph over themalice of the worst of foes.
Let our readers who have followed this touching story be assured thatunder all circumstances it is best to do as Mary did--walk in the fearof God, love and obey their earthly parents, stand fast by the truth,and under all circumstances trust fully in God. Thus they will livehappy and die with a sure prospect of eternal glory.
THE END
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