Page:Life in the Old World - Vol. I.djvu/270

286 many of the young men who are at the present time, most full of promise for the future. Edmond de Presançe, Philippe Trottel, Penchaud, and many others, are amongst these. He was a true man; humble, and with bowed head, passing over the fields of earth, but his hand sowed fruit-bearing seed. Thousands of hearts have blessed it.

Mine is amongst these. For I stood solitary and depressed under many anxieties in my northern home, when a volume of Vinet's Discours Evangeliques was sent to me by his widow.

These strengthened and consoled me. A. Vinet became my friend, in certain questions my teacher. His spirit attracted me to Switzerland, and here have I, above all things, learned to love him still more. Seldom has a man been so universally beloved. And if I were tempted—and I am sometimes—to call for the assistance of some saint in my inner combat, I should lift beseeching eyes and hands to Alexandre Vinet.

When now about to leave Lausanne, and the Canton Vaud, it is very pleasant to me to place this humble thank-offering upon the grave-stone of its noblest teacher, the prophet of the New Church!

And now to Geneva, to the City of Calvin, to the Rome of Protestantism!