The son was too deeply moved to speak to his father of the blessedness of meeting again in this world, which he had enjoyed by anticipation during his journey. Who could have courage to speak of the joys of an earthly meeting to one whose mind was absorbed in the contemplation of a meeting in heaven?
Gottreich, suddenly startled, asked, “Father, what ails thee?”
“I do think thereon; and death is beautiful, and the parting in Christ,” murmured the old man. He tried to take the hand of Gottreich, which he had not strength to press. He repeated, more and more distinctly and emphatically, “O thou blessed God!” until all the other luminaries of life were extinguished, and in his soul there stood but the one sun, God!
At length he roused himself, and, stretching forth his arm, said earnestly, “There! there are three fair rainbows over the evening sun! I must go after the sun, and pass through them with him.” He sank backward, and was gone.
At that moment the sun went down, and a broad rainbow glimmered in the east.
“He is gone,” said Gottreich, in a voice choked with grief. “But he has gone from us unto his God, in the midst of great, pious, and unmingled joy. Then weep no more, Justa.”
* * * * *
His youth was innocent; his riper age
Marked with some act of goodness every day;
And, watched by eyes that loved him, calm and sage,