“I thought there was something in it.”
“You thought right; the most precious part is within. So it is with you, and all people, my child. Your body, which can be seen and felt, is like the case of the jewel; your soul is the jewel itself.”
“What is a soul?” said Ann.
“When I speak to you, you think of what I say—the part of you that thinks is the soul; if any were kind to you, you would love them—the part that loves is the soul. You can see that tree; it lives, but it has no soul in it, it cannot love or think. Do you understand me now?”
“Yes,” answered the girl.
“You cannot see this jewel, because the case is shut; I am going to open the case, and show it to you.”
Mrs. Claremont unclosed the little case, and Ann beheld a very beautiful jewel, which sparkled like a star in the rays of the sun.
“This jewel was given to my great-grandmother on her marriage,” said Mrs. Claremont.
“Oh, how bright and fine it is!” cried Ann; “it does not look at all old!”
“It will never look old. When I and my children’s children are in their graves, it will look beautiful and fresh as ever! And so it is with the soul. Our bodies must be laid in the tomb, but our souls—those jewels within—will never, never die!”