A Tale of the Kloster

wledge him, and he sh

ib

lost were all given to me; for children must turn their love toward somebody or something, as surely as the rivers run to the sea whence they come. As for me, I doubt not that the

of the little birds, their delicate harmonies frequently emphasized by the harsh cawing of the crows flying in a thin line overhead, while from the deep recesses of the forest came now and the

out of doors, came the fall, with its magnificent coloring of hill and woods; but none the less the shortening days and the keen air were portentous of the d

as a heretic, presuming on my meekness of temper could find no sneer or taunt or insult too mean not only for me but

ntors bodily and hurl them headlong into the brook-and at times I wondered whether I had not been justified had I done so. But my wise father had early impressed on me that any weakling can resent injury, while only a truly great nature can forgive; that the more we learn to forgive, the more we grow like Him who suffered everything and forgave all. So in all the afflictions mine enemies heaped upon me, especially through my boy, the

and afflictions, so that Sonnlein not infrequently seeing me in this gloomy state would confide to his playmates, the birds and flowers, that I was cross. Indeed, I came to

ough and yet perhaps not so strange-for the right human heart leaneth toward the companionship of others-during the summer a camp was laid out for all the Solitary at the very spot where now the Kloster stands, and where at that time Brother Beissel, the leader of the hermit

lkner Swamp, from Oley and elsewhere, so that the settlement soon grew into large proportions. But for all these good people there was no cabin or house large enough for the holding of worship, as the little hermit huts were barely big

der being still asleep. As he saw me, he hastened forward with his gentlest smile; for though he could be as stern and forbidding as Jove, our brother could, when it pleased him,

tle place on the Cocalico," he said; for he always affected great humility, even though w

"and yet every earthly paradise hath its

the child?"

at. "Were it not for his dear companionship I had b

should not have suspected anything had it not been he was watching my face closely all the while. But with all my

responded, "i

times and scratched the ground with his stick, he inquire

d to make him come to the point, if it took all day, for I kn

a large building where our Brothers a

ade answer, still with

o me: "This house which we have erected to the glory of God we have called Kedar, 'the house of sorrowfulness'"; after another pause, "it containeth a hall for the meetings an

wisely," I said

y across his breast, saying to me as he turned about to leave: "When thou ar

again like one who had forgotten something. "Now," thought I, "shall I see the kernel of the nut he hath been cracking"; for I had not stirred, knowing he would

him for I hear he is a

lowers can no longer bear Broth

r will not hurt

been recalled as teacher,"

g you to take his p

ling of Brother Wohlforth, he was suc

man," I sa

sometimes he discourseth eve

excellent zeal," I mur

hours be too long even for preachin

great length," I admitted; "still an eloqu

he hath spoken half an hour, most of the Solitary be

e not so rude and ungod

s recalled, and now we have n

otten thyself,"

I dislike greatly in man or woman-"We want thee, Brother Miller. The Solitary all want thee. We must have thee. I am enjoi

boy who had by this time come out to me and was hanging shyly t

invitation extends to him," he rep

say "Good-bye," but the strange feeling between Sonnlein and Bro

ack of companionship and intercourse with kindred souls was after all very dear to me, so that I was almost resolved to recall my promise; but in my bewilderment I turned t

rother Beissel's visit, Sonnlein and I, my back loaded with my books, among them a number of volumes on the law, of which science I have been all my life an eager student, started out together sorrowful

onnlein, who had to be carried much of the way on our backs-to Ephrata, and by evening we were in the welcoming