Page:Scribner's Monthly, Volume 12 (May–October 1876).djvu/615

 

 PRINCESS ILSE.

the Deluge, when all the waters of the earth met together, and their wild waves climbed up the mountains and overflowed the highest peaks, there was great confusion among the different streams, and when the Lord at last took compassion upon the poor earth, pierced the dark cloud-curtains with the clear light of Heaven, and bade the waters separate and seek their way homeward to the valleys, neither brook nor stream would ever have found its old bed again, if a troop of kind angels had not descended upon the earth and guided them carefully in the right paths.

So when the outlines of the mountains emerged from the Flood, the angels came and went down from all sides into the valleys, driving the waters slowly before them.

As they came down farther and farther, they arranged the course of the streams and brooks, fixed the limits of the ocean, and shut in the lakes with sharp chains of rocks, or with green meadows and forests. Making use of both wind and sunbeams, they bustled about on the wet earth, brushing the mud from the grass, and drying the heavy foliage of the trees; and they were so active about it that the many water-mists, which they stirred up, hung like thick veils above the cliffs in the mountains. The work had lasted already several days, when a tired angel sat resting on one of the highest peaks of the Alps. From thence he had an extensive view toward the north, south, east and west, and thoughtfully he looked down upon the green earth which had come out of the great bath of expiation so pure and fresh. How lovely it is, thought he, how dazzling in its purity! but will it keep itself thus pure? Will all the misery of sin and all the soil of sin which have just been washed away with so much water, never spring up again? Will sin never again touch the blooming face of the purified earth with its black fingers?

A gentle foreboding sigh heaved the breast of the good angel, and he turned his eyes upward toward the morning sun, which, burning, blood red, stood high up in the horizon. He looked long toward the side whence the German streams started. He saw them gliding in the distance, the large main streams, the smaller ones flowing into them, and a whole army of satellites, tiny rivers and brooks, hastening joyfully along. He was pleased to see that all confusion was lost on the way, and that every little stream, no matter how small or insignificant, was accompanied by an angel to lead it back to the right path if it strayed aside, and to guard it carefully, lest awkwardly or heedlessly it should fall over the cliff. 