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Page 10
Gilbert looked up in the speaker's face to ascertain if he were in
earnest.
"And but for that little bell, where should you be at this moment?"
"Here, Father, most likely!"
This was said so calmly and maliciously, that Father Omehr could not
repress a smile. But it quickly vanished, and left behind an expression
of deep sorrow.
"And must this fatal feud last forever?" was his passionate exclamation;
"are ye ever to revel in carnage, like the lion of the desert--and shall
the example of the Son of God inspire nothing but contempt for those who
imitate Him?"
The missionary buried his face in his hands, and Gilbert, abashed by the
solemn rebuke, kept a respectful silence.
"O Gilbert! Gilbert!" resumed the priest, lifting his tearful eyes from
the ground, "if your God submitted to insult and stripes and death to
save you, can you not patiently endure for His sake a few slight
injuries?"
"Our injuries are not slight," replied the youth, "nor is the vengeance
of the house of Stramen an idle threat. They have burned the houses of
our serfs, desolated our fields, butchered our kinsmen and dependants;
shall we not protect ourselves, even though our resistance makes their
blood run freely? They have accused my father of a crime of which he is
innocent, and have sought to visit upon him real chastisement for the
imaginary murder. Shall I stand still and tamely see them wreak their
most unrighteous wrath upon my guiltless parent's head?"
"I should be glad, my son, if you confined yourselves to mere
resistance; but how often have you inflicted, within sight of this very
door, the injuries of which you complain? Could you see what I see--the
orphan's piteous face, the widowed mother's tear of agony--blighted
hopes and unavailing regrets--you might pause in your fearful
retaliation!"
"They have brought it on themselves," said Gilbert, musing, "_they_ are
the aggressors."
"Alas! be not the means by which their sins are aggravated."
"You must address yourself to them!" returned the other.
"And have I not? Day and night I have reasoned, implored, prayed; I have
represented the folly, injustice, and impiety of their violence; I have
held out to them the anger of God and the maledictions of man; I have
employed art, eloquence, and reproof: but all in vain. Oh, what years of
misery has your quarrel cost me! Could I only live to see it healed; to
see you once more living like Christian men, employed in atoning for
your own sins, not in arrogantly chastising each other's faults; to see
the sword of discord broken, and peace and love and safety proclaiming
the Divine efficacy of our holy religion! We all have enough to do to
vanquish ourselves, and have little time to spare in subduing others,
unless we aid them in conquering their passions, and then we promote our
salvation: but your conquests only peril your eternal welfare."
Gilbert understood from this last remark that his companion had read
what was passing in his mind, and he contented himself by saying:
"Believe me, Father, I regret their obstinacy."
"You are young now," pursued his monitor; "but, trust me, when your old
limbs fail you, and your sight waxes dim, your angry deeds will rise
like spectres around you and haunt you to the tomb."
Gilbert attempted no reply, but listened with the air of one who
approved the advice, but despaired of ever profiting by it. After an
interval of meditation, Father Omehr arose and spread some soft fleeces
in the corner of the room.
"May you sleep soundly, my son," he said, "and beg of God grace to
moderate your angry passions. Your bed is not very soft, but it is in
your power to sanctify it, and then it will be better than the down
which muffles those who disdain or neglect to invoke the Divine
protection."
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