Pine Needles Page 11

  CHAPTER XI.

  "Uncle Eden," said Maggie, "do you like Meredith's story?"

  "Yes."

  "Do you feel like talking now, Uncle Eden?"

  "What about?"

  "But I mean--do you feel like _talking_--about anything?"

  "Depends on the subject, Maggie. Hark to that woodpecker!"

  "Mr. Murray does _not_ feel like talking, I know," remarked Flora. "Hefeels--if he ever feels!--lazy."

  "No, Miss Flora, not exactly. And yet, how delicious this quiet is!"

  "And the smell of the pines!"

  "And the warm, luxurious air!"

  "And the light through the pine branches, and upon the coloured leavesyonder."

  "Yes, and the blue of the sky," said Mr. Murray, who lying upon his backhad a good view. "Blue, through the pine needles. Such an ethereal,clear blue; not like summer's intensity."

  "I like summer best," said Flora.

  "I like this. But what did you want to talk about, children?"

  "O Uncle Eden! a great many things. You see, we do not all think alike."

  "Naturally."

  "And we want you to tell us how we ought to think."

  "_You_ do," said Mr. Murray laughing. "That will answer for ten yearsold. I am sure the others are more independent."

  "But we want to know what _you_ think, Uncle Eden--about ever so manythings. We have been saving them up till you came. Ditto wants to knowwhat Christians ought to do--about some things."

  "And I hope you will tell him, Mr. Murray," said Flora, "what Christiansought _not_ to do--about some things."

  Mr. Murray raised himself up on his elbows and looked at the youngpeople around him. It was a very pretty picture. Fair young faces, thatlife had not clouded, intelligent and honest; bright young figures inall the freshness of neat attire and excellent personal care; thesetting of the green wood, the brown carpet of pine needles, the hazyOctober air, here and there the crimson of a Virginia creeper, here andthere the tawny hues of a cat-briar or a wild grape-vine; stillness andsoftness over all, the chirrup of a cricket, the cawing of two crowsflying over, the interrupted tap of the woodpecker, just making younotice how still and soft it was; and then the bright, living youngfaces raised or turned, and waiting upon him. Mr. Murray looked andsmiled, and did not at once speak; then he asked what subject camefirst. So many answers were begun at once that all had to stop; thenMaggie, getting the field, said--

  "We want to know how much a Christian ought really to give, Uncle Eden."

  "Say, rather--how much he ought to do," put in Meredith.

  "Yes," added Flora; "we do want instruction on that point. Some of usare rather wild."

  "Too big a subject for the present time and place," responded thereferee of the little company. "To-morrow is Sunday; let us keep it forto-morrow, and come out here, or to some other place, and discuss it."

  "That is delightful!" cried Maggie clapping her hands. "Now, what weresome of the other things, Ditto?"

  "About the Saxons. But Mr. Murray did not hear our first story."

  "Oh, I know. I guess he knows. You do know about the old Saxons, don'tyou, Uncle Eden?"

  "I know there was such a people."

  "And you know they were very good and very bad--both at once; and wewanted to know _how_ they could be so much worse, and yet so muchbetter, than people nowadays."

  "How 'so much better'?"

  "They told the truth, Uncle Eden."

  "There were no cowards and no marriage-breakers among them," Meredithadded.

  "And then how 'so much worse'?"

  "Oh, they were cruel! they offered human sacrifices; they werefrightfully cruel."

  "Yes," said Mr. Murray thoughtfully; "the contrast seems strange. Theywere a noble people in many ways."

  "But Pastor Harms says they are not half so good now that they areChristians," Maggie went on.

  "If that is true, there must be a reason for it."

  "Yes, Uncle Eden, of course."

  "And that reason cannot be found, in their Christianity."

  "But how is it, Uncle Eden?"

  "Human nature is very much alike at all times, my child."

  "But the old Saxons were not like the old Romans, Uncle Eden. The wordof a Saxon was better than a Roman's oath."

  "And the modern Saxons are not like their forefathers," said Meredith;"at least, according to Pastor Harms."

  "I have no doubt he is right."

  "And Frenchmen are very different from Englishmen," added Flora.

  "And both from Americans. And the Dutch from all three. We might go onindefinitely."

  "Yet they are all descended from Noah's sons," Meredith remarked.

  "It is a very curious subject, and rather deep for some of the presentcompany. Many things go to make the differences between one nation andanother. In the first place, the several families of Shem, Ham andJapheth are all strongly marked."

  "Are they, sir?"

  "Then, among the tribes of any one family, differences grow up from manycauses. From the sort of country they inhabit, the climate thatprevails, the scenery their eyes rest on, the ease or difficulty ofobtaining food, and the means necessary to that end; from the religionthey believe in, their situation with respect to commerce andintercourse with other nations; their habits of life superinduced uponall these."

  "But the modern Saxons live where the old Saxons did, sir?"

  "Barely. The country was at that time all one wild tract of forest andmoor, where life had need be of the simplest; and where it was sustainedin great measure by the chase and by a rude husbandry. No cities, nochurches, no libraries, no merchants, no lawyers, no fine furniture, nodelicate living. Nobody therefore wanted money, and nobody tried to getit. That makes all the difference in the world, children."

  "Money, Uncle Eden?"

  "Look at the map of Germany now; run your eye over the cities. Rememberthe treasures of art in this and that gallery; the beautiful oldbuildings almost everywhere; the great trading houses; the life ofcomplicated interests, political, literary, scientific, social,critical, artistic, mercantile; think of the books, the pictures, thestatuary, the jewellery, the carvings and engravings, the luxurious andmagnificent living. Everybody wants money now, and nearly everybodyeither has it, or is working hard for it."

  "Does money make so much odds in national character?" Meredith asked.

  "It is the root of all evil," Mr. Murray said smiling.

  "But, Mr. Murray, you do not seriously mean that?" said Flora.

  "The Bible says it, Miss Flora; not I."

  "But what can you have, or do, that is worth anything, without money?"

  "Exactly! That is the general opinion. So everybody is striving to getmoney."

  "Well, people would stagnate if they did not strive for something."

  "Quite true. Nevertheless, the Bible award proves itself. If you examinefacts, you will find that the love of money is at the bottom of nearlyall the crimes that are committed; and at the root of all themeannesses, speaking generally."

  "Then you would make out money to be a bad thing, Mr. Murray!"

  "Not money necessarily. But 'if any man _will be rich_, he shall fallinto temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts,which drown men in destruction and perdition.'"

  "Then was that the reason, Uncle Eden, why those old Saxons were sonoble, because they had no money?"

  "One reason, I fancy. Along with trade and riches, don't you see, comesthe temptation to underhand and false dealings, that money may be gotfaster; and so comes cringing for the sake of advantage, and flatteryfor the same. And then, with luxury comes dislike of hardships, andneglect of manly living, and people's moral sense gets weak along withtheir bodily powers. Self-indulgence drives out the noble uprightnessthat was maintained when people feared nothing."

  "But religion--Christianity?" said Meredith. "That ought to have mademore difference the other way."

  "So it would if it prevailed. But a name is not Christi
anity; and thereal thing is only here and there. The wheat in the midst of tares, asthe Lord said it would be."

  Maggie drew a long sigh.

  "The wheat must show itself for what it is," said her uncle smiling ather, "and bear a fine head of fruit, to rebuke the tares. Your oldSaxons, however, were a fine stock to begin with."

  "I think I understand this question," said Meredith.

  "I do, too," said Maggie.

  "I am sorry Mr. Murray thinks so ill of money," remarked Flora.

  "Of the love of it, say."

  "But how can one have it--or not have it, for that matter--and helploving it?"

  "So the danger comes in. And the difficulty of giving it all to Christ."

  "O Uncle Eden! you are getting upon another of our questions now."

  "And we have had enough serious talk for one time. Leave it tillto-morrow, Maggie."

  "Shall I read some more?" said Meredith. "Or have you heard enough?"

  "By all means, read. This is luxury."

  And Mr. Murray stretched himself comfortably on the pine needles andclasped his hands under his head, repeating, "This is luxury!" whileMeredith opened his book again.

  "Another Saxon story, Ditto?" Flora asked.

  "Out of the Saxon chronicles. Yes. 'The story that I am going to tellyou now, happened in ancient times and at a place called Dagefoerde.

  "'Our forefathers, the old Saxons, were then divided into ediling ornobles, freiling or free peasants, and serfs. A freiling, by nameHenning, lived on this farm, in the days when Hermann Billing was Dukeof Saxony. At that time--it is 900 years ago--our country was already aChristian country, but still had hard fights to go through with theheathenish Wends, who made inroads almost yearly into our Eastphalianland, plundering and killing, and showing a special rage against thechurches and the priests. The strong arm of the two excellent emperors,Heinrich and Otto, it is true, kept back these heathen and held them inawe; but, notwithstanding, they availed themselves of every opportunityto renew their murderous onslaughts.

  "'Now when once Kaiser Otto was gone to Italy, and staying a long whileaway, they were minded to profit by his absence; for they supposed thatnow they could burn and lay waste to their heart's desire, and with nohindrance. So they came with a great host, burned down the churches,killed the priests, dragged off men, women, and children, and treasuresof booty, and came as far as to this part of the country. It is told oftheir frightful rage against Christianity, that on one occasion theytook more than twenty Christian priests, stripped off their clothes, cutbloody crosses on their faces, breasts, bodies, and backs, and then tiedthem by their feet to the tails of their horses, which they drove roundand round till their victims were dragged to death.'"

  "It cost something in those days to be a Christian," said Meredith withsomething of a shudder.

  "There have been many such days in the history of the Church," said Mr.Murray. "And yet, it pays to be a Christian. It did then."

  "I do not see, for my part, how people stood it, there and in otherplaces," said Flora. "I should think they would not have dared toconfess they were Christians."

  "They could not be Christians and not confess--neither in those days norin these days."

  "Why, Uncle Eden?" said Esther, who seldom said anything.

  "You know the Lord's declaration--He will own those publicly who own Himpublicly, _and nobody else_."

  "But why couldn't they own Him privately?"

  "Will you tell me how that is to be done, my dear?"

  "Why, by beautiful Christian living and acting," said Flora.

  "Don't you see, if such living could be found among those who are inname and profession not the Lord's, it would fight all _against_ Hiscause and Him? What sort of confessing of _Him_ is that?"

  Nobody answered, and Meredith went on.

  "'In the meanwhile the valiant Duke Hermann had gathered his faithfulfollowers and moved forward to meet the enemy. All the ediling andfreiling were called upon for such expeditions of war, none other havingthe right to bear arms. The ediling served on horseback and the freilingon foot, and each one brought his own weapons with him. And Henning, thefreiling of Dagefoerde, was among the Christian warriors who accompaniedthe Duke. Not far from here is the Huenenburg, an extent of heath onwhich there are a number of burial mounds. There it came to a battlebetween the Christians and the heathen. The fight was long and bloody;Christ led the one host, Satan the other. The Christians fought fortheir faith, the heathen fought for their prey. Before the battle,Hermann with his warriors had cast himself upon his knees and besoughtthe Lord Christ that He would be their leader. Therewith came the stormof the heathen upon them, already certain of victory, for they were manyand the Christian number was small; Hermann, in his noble eagerness toprotect his poor people, not having had patience to wait for furtherreinforcements. But the Christians stood immovable, like a wall, and theheathen fell in heaps under their swords and spears. In the Christianarmy there were twelve priests wearing white garments, who bore a whitebanner with a red cross; and wherever the fight raged most madly,thither they carried their banner, singing, "Kyrie Eleison, ChristeEleison, Kyrie Eleison;" the Christian warriors dashing after them,joining in the holy song, wielding their hacked swords, and withirresistible force driving the heathen back. In vain the heathen soughtto slay the priests and to seize their white banner; every Christianpresented his breast as its bulwark against the foe. Whichever way thebanner turned, victory went with it. Louder and louder sounded the"Kyrie Eleison," with more and more valour and joy of victory theChristians pressed forward. Then one of the Wendish leaders, Zwentiboldby name, gathered once more the bravest of his people to make a stormyeffort for the banner of the cross. His rage of onset broke through someranks of the Christians; already he had penetrated to the nearneighbourhood of the priests; when a foot-soldier from among theChristians manfully planted himself in his way and thrust his sharpspear against the heathen's broad breast, so that the coat of chainarmour he had on was broken, and the spear pierced through his heart.Now there was no stand made any longer; the heathen fled, and in terrorthey cried out, "Christ has conquered! Christ has conquered!"

  "'Duke Hermann looked about him to see the brave freiling who had donesuch a deed of heroism; it was Henning, the freiling of Dagefoerde. Forhis reward, Hermann dubbed the brave man knight upon the field ofbattle, and Henning returned to his house as an ediling. Though but fora little while. For Hermann was minded to profit by his victory andcompel his stubborn enemies to keep the peace in future. So he pushed onwith his army, now greatly reinforced, into the country of the Wends,and Henning went with his Duke.

  "'Not far from the Elbe there was a temple of the heathenish idolRadegast; this temple stood within a strong fortress, called thefortress of Radegast, where now the village of Radegast lies. Theheathen had collected and carried to this place all the treasures of theprey they had seized in their plundering incursions. Hermann resolved tostorm this fortress, and therewith to destroy the bulwark of heathenismon this side the Elbe. The heathen defended themselves with the braveryof despair; many assaults were beaten back, and many a Christian fell indeath before the ramparts of the fortress. The tenth day of the siege,the Christians held divine service and on their knees prayed the Lord ofhosts to give them victory. Then they rushed upon the place to take itby storm; and among the foremost of those who clambered up the rampartsof the fortress was Henning of Dagefoerde, who in order to inspirit theChristians and terrify the heathen set up the field-song of theHuenenburg--"Kyrie Eleison, Christe Eleison, Kyrie Eleison!" Just as hehad sung it through, an arrow from one of the enemy pierced his boldheart; he fell to the ground in death, but as a dying conqueror, who hasgained the battle for Christ and with Christ. The fortress was won;those of the heathen who would not yield were put to death. Hermanndashed away a tear from his manly eye as he buried the brave Henning,and he said to Hilmer, Henning's oldest son, a boy of sixteen, who hadcome along to the war, "My son, you are early fledged. Your father was atr
ue Christian and a true Saxon; follow in his steps, and so long as Ilive, I will be your father." Of all the enormous booty which Hermannfound in the Wendenburg Radegast, this noble man kept nothing forhimself. One half of the treasures he set apart, to rebuild with themall the churches which the Wends had burned down; the other half hedistributed among his knights and warriors. Hilmer of Dagefoerde got hisshare too, and indeed a double portion, one for himself and one for hisfather. When he returned home, he took counsel with his mother what theyshould do with it; and they agreed together that it should be used forthe glory of God. They erected a chapel in their own house, with analtar and all the fittings of a church. Part of the money was applied tothis use, and with the remainder a chaplaincy was founded in the churchat Hermannsburg, which at that time was the only church in the wholeOerze valley, with the stipulation that the chaplain should come everySunday to Dagefoerde and hold divine service in the chapel there. Aservant, with a led horse, must go to fetch him every time fromHermannsburg, and bring him back thither again. This service atDagefoerde lasted till the Reformation. But when the evangelical faithwas preached in Hermannsburg by the valiant Pastor Gruenhagen, who, as Itold you awhile ago in Tiefenthal, was converted to the pure Lutherandoctrine by an artisan fellow who read him the little Lutherancatechism, then this service at Dagefoerde ceased, because the possessorsof Dagefoerde held stiffly and firmly by the Catholic faith, andobstinately rejected the pure doctrine. But now for a long time therehave been lords of Dagefoerde no more. The race died out; and when oneonly of the family was left, he entered a Catholic cloister, where, inthe year 1616, he died. Then the reigning Duke gave the manor ofDagefoerde to the lords of Lueneburg, and they again sold it to somepeasants, after they had divided the farm into two. So these farms haveagain become what they were originally--peasant farms. God grant to thepresent owners that they may stand firm and true to the pure faith ofour beloved church, that they may earnestly strive to be genuineChristians and genuine Saxon peasants; then will it go well with themand with those that come after them.'"