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〃The thought arises； perhaps； from the arrogance of men；〃 said thehusband。 〃It seems a great pride to believe that we shall live forever； that we shall be as gods！ Were not these the words of theserpent； the father of lies？〃
〃Surely you do not doubt the existence of a future life？〃exclaimed the young wife。 It seemed as if one of the first shadowspassed over her sunny thoughts。
〃Faith realises it； and the priests tell us so；〃 replied herhusband； 〃but amid all my happiness I feel that it is arrogant todemand a continuation of it… another life after this。 Has not somuch been given us in this world that we ought to be； we must be；contented with it？〃
〃Yes； it has been given to us；〃 said the young wife； 〃but thislife is nothing more than one long scene of trial and hardship to manythousands。 How many have been cast into this world only to endurepoverty； shame； illness； and misfortune？ If there were no future life；everything here would be too unequally divided； and God would not bethe personification of justice。〃
〃The beggar there；〃 said her husband； 〃has joys of his own whichseem to him great； and cause him as much pleasure as a king would findin the magnificence of his palace。 And then do you not think thatthe beast of burden； which suffers blows and hunger； and worksitself to death； suffers just as much from its miserable fate？ Thedumb creature might demand a future life also； and declare the lawunjust that excludes it from the advantages of the higher creation。〃
〃Christ said： 'In my father's house are many mansions；'〃 sheanswered。 〃Heaven is as boundless as the love of our Creator； the dumbanimal is also His creature； and I firmly believe that no life will belost； but each will receive as much happiness as he can enjoy； whichwill be sufficient for him。〃
〃This world is sufficient for me；〃 said the husband； throwinghis arm round his beautiful； sweet…tempered wife。 He sat by her sideon the open balcony； smoking a cigarette in the cool air； which wasloaded with the sweet scent of carnations and orange blossoms。Sounds of music and the clatter of castas came from the roadbeneath； the stars shone above then； and two eyes full of affection…those of his wife… looked upon him with the expression of undyinglove。 〃Such a moment；〃 he said； 〃makes it worth while to be born； todie； and to be annihilated！〃 He smiled… the young wife raised her handin gentle reproof； and the shadow passed away from her mind； andthey were happy… quite happy。
Everything seemed to work together for their good。 They advancedin honour； in prosperity； and in happiness。 A change came certainly；but it was only a change of place and not of circumstances。
The young man was sent by his Sovereign as ambassador to theRussian Court。 This was an office of high dignity； but his birth andhis acquirements entitled him to the honour。 He possessed a largefortune； and his wife had brought him wealth equal to his own； for shewas the daughter of a rich and respected merchant。 One of thismerchant's largest and finest ships was to be sent that year toStockholm； and it was arranged that the dear young couple； thedaughter and the son…in…law； should travel in it to St。 Petersburg。All the arrangements on board were princely and silk and luxury onevery side。
In an old war song； called 〃The King of England's Son；〃 it says：
〃Farewell； he said； and sailed away。
And many recollect that day。
The ropes were of silk； the anchor of gold；
And everywhere riches and wealth untold。〃
These words would aptly describe the vessel from Spain； for herewas the same luxury； and the same parting thought naturally arose：
〃God grant that we once more may meet
In sweet unclouded peace and joy。〃
There was a favourable wind blowing as they left the Spanishcoast； and it would be but a short journey； for they hoped to reachtheir destination in a few weeks； but when they came out upon the wideocean the wind dropped； the sea became smooth and shining； and thestars shone brightly。 Many festive evenings were spent on board。 Atlast the travellers began to wish for wind； for a favourable breeze；but their wish was useless… not a breath of air stirred； or if itdid arise it was contrary。 Weeks passed by in this way； two wholemonths； and then at length a fair wind blew from the south…west。 Theship sailed on the high seas between Scotland and Jutland； then thewind increased； just as it did in the old song of 〃The King ofEngland's Son。〃
〃'Mid storm and wind； and pelting hail；
Their efforts were of no avail。
The golden anchor forth they threw；
Towards Denmark the west wind blew。〃
This all happened a long time ago； King Christian VII； who saton the Danish throne； was still a young man。 Much has happened sincethen； much has altered or been changed。 Sea and moorland have beenturned into green meadows； stretches of heather have bee arableland； and in the shelter of the peasant's cottages； apple…trees androse…bushes grow； though they certainly require much care； as thesharp west wind blows upon them。 In West Jutland one may go back inthought to old times； farther back than the days when Christian VIIruled。 The purple heather still extends for miles； with its barrowsand aerial spectacles； intersected with sandy uneven roads； just as itdid then； towards the west； where broad streams run into the bays； aremarshes and meadows encircled by lofty； sandy hills； which； like achain of Alps； raise their pointed summits near the sea； they are onlybroken by high ridges of clay； from which the sea； year by year； bitesout great mouthfuls； so that the overhanging banks fall down as ifby the shock of an earthquake。 Thus it is there today and thus itwas long ago； when the happy pair were sailing in the beautiful ship。
It was a Sunday； towards the end of September； the sun wasshining； and the chiming of the church bells in the Bay of Nissumwas carried along by the breeze like a chain of sounds。 The churchesthere are almost entirely built of hewn blocks of stone； each like apiece of rock。 The North Sea might foam over them and they would notbe disturbed。 Nearly all of them are without steeples； and the bellsare hung outside between two beams。 The service was over； and thecongregation passed out into the churchyard； where not a tree orbush was to be seen； no flowers were planted there； and they had notplaced a single wreath upon any of the graves。 It is just the samenow。 Rough mounds show where the dead have been buried； and rankgrass； tossed by the wind； grows thickly over the whole churchyard；here and there a grave has a sort of monument； a block of half…decayedwood； rudely cut in the shape of a coffin； the blocks are brought fromthe forest of West Jutland； but the forest is the sea itself； andthe inhabitants find beams； and planks； and fragments which thewaves have cast upon the beach。 One of these blocks had been placed byloving hands on a child's grave； and one of the women who had e outof the church walked up to it； she stood there； her eyes resting onthe weather…beaten memorial； and a few moments afterwards herhusband joined her。 They were both silent； but he took her hand； andthey walked together across the purple heath； over moor and meadowtowards the sandhills。 For a long time they went on without speaking。
〃It was a good sermon to…day；〃 the man said at last。 〃If we hadnot God to trust in； we should have nothing。〃
〃Yes；〃 replied the woman； 〃He sends joy and sorrow； and He has aright to send them。 To…morrow our little son would have been fiveyears old if we had been permitted to keep him。〃
〃It is no use fretting； wife；〃 said the man。 〃The boy is wellprovided for。 He is where we hope and pray to go to。〃
They said nothing more； but went out towards their houses amongthe sand…hills。 All at once； in front of one of the houses where thesea grass did not keep the sand down with its twining roots； whatseemed to be a column of smoke rose up。 A gust of wind rushedbetween the hills； hurling the particles of sand high into the air；another gust； and the strings of fish hung up to dry flapped andbeat violently against the walls of the cottage； then everything wasquiet once more； and the sun shone with renewed heat。
The man and his wife went into the cottage。 They had so