gl eee ee ee ee ee ee 92 EMBLEMS OF CHRIST. | listening to them humming. I could see nothing then ; all around me was dark ; but gradually light came. At first I saw the sun a little, when it was very hot; then a little more, and at last the full light. I began to come out of myself; my mind went with the bees. I saw the mountain, the ' rocks, the lake, the flowers, the mosses, and at night, when alone, I thought about them all. When I hear people talking of this or that—of whin- “TI know those things—they are black, brown, _ green.” I saw them in my mind’s eye, and every day, I knew them better through my dear bees. -| Therefore, I love them very dearly, Monsieur Hen- _ nétius. Ifyou only knew how it pains me when their honey or their wax has to be taken from them !’ ““*T believe you, my child, I believe you.’ no bounds. “During the next two days, Reesel talked to me about her feelings ; she knew all the flowers, all the alpine plants, and described to me a great many which no doubt are found on inaccessible heights. “The poor girl was frequently moved to tears when speaking of her dear friends, the little flowers. ‘“‘< How often,’ said she, ‘ have I talked for hours together to a little yellow broom or to a tender forget-me-not with large blue eyes, and shared their griefs! They all longed for wings to fly away ; all complained that they were drying up on the earth, and that they had to wait days and weeks for a drop of rain to refresh them!’ “ And then Reesel told me about the long, endless conversations: it was perfectly wonderful! One would fall in love with a sweet briar, only to hear her talk, or feel deep sympathy and compassion for the feelings of a violet, its woes and sufferings. | “What more can I say, dear ladies? It is _ painful to quit a subject on which the soul has so many mysterious sensations, and thought so wide a field ; but every thing in this lower world must have an end, even the sweetest dreams. gentle breeze began to waft the mists off the lake. From my window, I could see the rolling mass increasing visibly ; and the breeze went on raising it gradually, disclosing now a peep of blue sky, now the steeple of a hamlet, a few verdure-clad mountain-tops, now a clump of fir-trees or a valley. The immense floating mass rose ever towards us. At ten o’clock it had passed us. The huge cloud resting on the bare crest of Chasseron still looked threatening ; but a final effort of the wind drove it down the other side of the mountain, and it disappeared in the chasms of Sainte-Croix. “Then the mighty nature of the Alps seemed berries, blackberries, or heather, I say to myself; ! | “My delight at this wonderful discovery knew ; | | “On the third day, early in the morning, a| to grow young once more ; the heather, the tall | fir-trees, the old chestnuts drenched with dew glittered more brightly ; they looked cheerful, yet at the same time, serious. One felt the hand of God, His eternity, in all this. “JT went down-stairs very thoughtful. Resel was already in the bee-house ; Young, half opening the door, pointed to her, sitting in the shadow of the wild vine, her head bent, as though in a trance. “Take care,’ said he, ‘ not to disturb her! Her spirit is elsewhere. She is asleep, she is travelling, she is happy !” “Thousands of bees were humming like a golden cloud at the mouth of the abyss. “For a few minutes, I contemplated this won- derful sight, praying in my heart to the Lord to continue His love to the poor child. * Then, turning round,— “<« Maitre Young, it is time for me to go.’ “Then he himself buckled on my knapsack and handed me my stick. Catherine looked at me affectionately. They both accompanied me to the ' threshold of the chalet. which have not yet received scientific names, and | “<« Well,” said Walter, pressing my hand, ‘a pleasant journey to you! and I hope you will think of us sometimes,’ “J shall never forget you,’ I replied in a melan- choly voice. ‘May heaven grant you the happiness you deserve!’ «** Amen, Monsieur Hennétius,’ said kind-hearted Catherine, ‘Amen! A pleasant journey to you! Good-bye!’ “Then Iwent away. They stood on the terrace till I had reached the high road. Three times I turned round to wave my hat; they, in return, waved their hands. Good folks! How is it that we do not meet with more like you ? “Little Reesel accompanied me as far as the foot of the hill, according to her promise. For a long time her gentle music cheered the weary way ; I seemed to see her in all the bees which came to hum in my ears, and I fancied I heard her Saying to me gaily, in her little musical voice, ‘Courage, Monsieur Hennétius, have courage ! Isn’t it very hot ? come, shall I kiss you ? Ha, ha, ha! Don’t be afraid ; you know well enough what good friends we are.’ “Tt was not till I had reached the end of the valley, that she at last took leave of me, when the low rippling of the lake drowned her gentle hum- ming. But the thought of her followed me all my journey, and I don’t think it will ever leave me.” EMBLEMS OF CHRIST. THE TREE OF LIFE. Oh! Tree of Life Beneath whose blessed shade We may lie down and rest, None making us afraid.