第253章

During the long evenings she had spun constantly, and round the distaff were woven threads finer than the web of a spider; human eyes could never have distinguished these threads when separated from each other. But she had wetted them with her tears, and the twist was as strong as a cable. She rose with the impression that her dream must be a reality, and her resolution was taken.

It was still night, and her father slept; she pressed a kiss upon his hand, and then took her distaff and fastened the end of the thread to her father's house. But for this, blind as she was, she would never have found her way home again; to this thread she must hold fast, and trust not to others or even to herself. From the Tree of the Sun she broke four leaves; which she gave up to the wind and the weather, that they might be carried to her brothers as letters and a greeting, in case she did not meet them in the wide world. Poor blind child, what would become of her in those distant regions? But she had the invisible thread, to which she could hold fast; and she possessed a gift which all the others lacked. This was a determination to throw herself entirely into whatever she undertook, and it made her feel as if she had eyes even at the tips of her fingers, and could hear down into her very heart. Quietly she went forth into the noisy, bustling, wonderful world, and wherever she went the skies grew bright, and she felt the warm sunbeam, and a rainbow above in the blue heavens seemed to span the dark world. She heard the song of the

birds, and smelt the scent of the orange groves and apple orchards so strongly that she seemed to taste it. Soft tones and charming songs reached her ear, as well as harsh sounds and rough words- thoughts and opinions in strange contradiction to each other. Into the deepest recesses of her heart penetrated the echoes of human thoughts and feelings. Now she heard the following words sadly sung,-

"Life is a shadow that flits away

In a night of darkness and woe."

But then would follow brighter thoughts:

"Life has the rose's sweet perfume

With sunshine, light, and joy."

And if one stanza sounded painfully-

"Each mortal thinks of himself alone,

Is a truth, alas, too clearly known;"

Then, on the other hand, came the answer-

"Love, like a mighty flowing stream,

Fills every heart with its radiant gleam."

She heard, indeed, such words as these-

"In the pretty turmoil here below,

All is a vain and paltry show.

Then came also words of comfort-

"Great and good are the actions done

By many whose worth is never known."

And if sometimes the mocking strain reached her-

"Why not join in the jesting cry

That contemns all gifts from the throne on high?"

In the blind girl's heart a stronger voice repeated-

"To trust in thyself and God is best,

In His holy will forever to rest."