Seite:Marsh Hallig 1856.djvu/289

289

SIGHTS.

children here in the dust. Help is in his counsels. He
will neither leave nor forsake any that are here ; but I
am only sent hither that the soul of this dying man
may depart in peace.'
  "At these words he lifted the folds of his vesture,
and the sparrow, warmed into new life upon his breast,
flew forth, and perched upon the window. In its sill,
lay a broken crust, the last store of the poor family ;
and the hungry bird, lighting near it, pecked off crumb
after crumb. Suddenly the face of the dying man
seemed transfigured. His eye followed, with kindling
light, every motion of the bird, which fluttered around
the new found food, tasting it now on this side, now on
that. And more and more plainly was joy mirrored on
the features of the dying man, and more and more blessed
was the expression of peace on his countenance. He
raised himself again as if the strength of his youth had
returned, a tear of gratitude glistened in his eye, now
turned toward heaven, and trust, and confidence, and
hope, were enthroned on his cheerful brow. Then, look-
ing again at his family, he stretched out his hand to-
ward his wife and children, pointed to the sparrow on
the window, said in a clear, firm voice,
  "'Behold the fowls of the air ; for they sow not,
neither do they reap nor gather into barns, yet your
heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much
better than they !'
  "He spoke, and gazed at his wife, whose eyes had
been dry so long, till gentle tears flowed from them ;
and then his soul departed in peace."