" The dying man took the twig, and was glad. He
smelled on it the fragrance of Paradise, and then was his soul
elevated: "Children," said he, "eternal life dwells not for us on the
earth; you must follow after me; but on these leaves I breathe the
refreshing air of another world." Then his eyes failed; his spirit
fled hence.
Adam's children buried their father, and wept for him thirty days; but
Seth wept not. He planted the twig upon his father's grave, at the
head of the dead man, and named it the twig of the new life, of the
awakening up out of the sleep of death. The little twig grew up into a
high tree, and by it many of Adam's children strengthened themselves
with comfort of the other life. So it came to the following
generation. In the garden of David it blossomed fair, until his
infatuated son began to doubt on immortality; then withered the twig,
though its blossoms came among other nations. And as on a stem from
this tree, the restorer of immortality gave up his holy life; from it
the fragrance of the new life scattered itself around far among all
nations. W.G.C.
* * * * *
ANCIENT NAVAL LAWS.
The laws made by Richard I. for the preservation of good order in his
fleet, when he was sailing to Palestine, were as follows:--He that
kills a man on board shall be tied to the body and thrown into the
sea.
Pages:
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31