Page:The grandmother; a story of country life in Bohemia.pdf/296

290 went to his execution as to a feast. The handsome man was pitied by all; they fought for the song that he had composed in prison, and every one wished that he might be pardoned, since he had killed his friend through jealousy, but the other one, they said, had shot a girl out of pure maliciousness,—a girl who had never done him any harm.

"Thus each judges according to his own feelings. 'So many heads, so many opinions;' to each eye things appear different, and therefore it is hard to say: 'This is thus and cannot be otherwise.' Only God knows the world. He looks into the innermost depths of the human heart and judges it; He understands the language of animals; before Him is unfolded the chalice of every flower; He knows the path of every worm; the rustling of the wind is according to His commands; the streams flow the way He has pointed out."

Mr. Beyer again made a long pause; his pipe had gone out, his eye sparkled with animation, his face resembled a mountain dale lighted up with the soft light of the autumn sun, and upon whose bosom there is still green shrubbery and flowers, even though the top of the mountain is already covered with snow.

All turned their eyes upon him, until Grandmother spoke out: "You are right, Mr. Beyer; one loves to listen to you, it seems like a Scripture lesson. But the little folks must go to bed; your son must be tired after his journey, and you, too. To-morrow we will finish our conversation."

"That buzzard you can give to me for my owl," said the gamekeeper to Orel.