"It is so small, Felix," said Ilse; "and yet all that was and all that is, does not make the mother so happy as the soft beating of the little heart in its breast."
"Restlessly the thinking mind struggles after the eternal," exclaimed the Scholar; "but he who holds wife and child to his heart, feels forevermore united in holy peace with the high power of life."
The cradle rocked, as if moved by spirit hands. Thus does the treasure look, blessed Bachhuber, that thy active hand has helped bestow upon a future race. Thou hast not acted well by us. Thou hast done us wrong. But when we think how studiously active thou wast, in the old manor-house and elsewhere, to perform, to the glory of coming generations, the kindly offices of a match-maker, we cannot be angry with thee on this solemn, festive occasion. All in all, we must say thou wert an unfortunate, ill-starred fellow, and hast been the cause of much trouble. But thy heart was kind. And after all, Tobias, thou hast been taken up into heaven--with a question-mark it is true: for thou shalt ever wear on the back of thy celestial cowl a tag of Satan's making--a mark for all future time of thy dealings with the lost manuscript of Tacitus.
[THE END.]
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 1]: Compare the library scene in the chapter "A Day of Visits," Vol. 1, p. 265, of this novel.
[Footnote 2]: Andres means "the other."
[Footnote 3]: A festive and bibacious celebration, in honor of some prominent person, or commemoration of a great event.