Eighteen, bundred years ago, one came upon the earth heralded by angels, who sang "Peace on earth, and good will to men." And the prophecy of that song will come to pass. The unnatural war among men, societies and nations, must cease. Slowly, and certainly the cloud and tempest will roll back, unveiling the clear and serene sky, and humanity, self-bound like Prometheus to the rock, will shake off the vulture which tortures it to agony. Peace will come to all the earth, for God has sent a token and given promises of it. the dove fly out from the human arl, over the wide sea of earth's ruin, plucking the olive leaf, and the bow of promise shall be hung in the Heaven's, that the water of war's desolation shall no more cover the earth. Then shall Yes "God is Love"-the bird of song His untaught melody pours forth, Yes! "God is love"-the shower that falls To feed the wandering herds that rove- The streamlet in its pebbly bed; That the bright sun pours from above: oasis verdure crowned, Cleaves the bright sunny air, but seems to tel Mourning friend! I would not chide thy sorrow; yet I fain Art thou alone? His? Then thou art not unfriended nor alone, For round thee hovers still a heavenly host, Thy head from every danger, and for thee, Art thou his? Have the friends truth In coldness from thee-teaching thee the Of earth his Idols, all too soon will find There is a friend Look up! look gladly up! "I am," saith Christ Come forth immortal, never more to die. Ah! afflicted one, Here is the fountain-come and bathe thy In its pure, living waters, and go forth, THE WHITE DOVE. EMILLIA. The little Lina opened her eyes upon the world in the arms of her father, the good Gotleib. He kissed the child with a holy joy; For," said he, "now is a thought of God fixed in an eternal form;" and he felt that a God,—this also thrilled his warm, manly heart Divine love flowed into this work of the great with a wondrous love. He felt the inmost of his being vibrating as with an electric touch, to the inmost of the little new-born innocent. But the rapture of the young father was altogether imperfect until he had sealed his lips who lay there so white and beautiful in the in a love-kiss upon those of the fraulein Anna, cent maiden, she twined her arms around Gotnew joy of a young mother. Like an innoleib's neck, and grew strong in the influx of warm lifet hat flowed into her responsive caress of the husband of her heart. Then Gotleib held up the newly-born Lina, and the mother's lips touched the soft cheek of the tiny little one with a living rapture, as if all of Heaven were embraced in this heart-possession. thanked God for the beautiful gift of love tears even as the sun exhales dew-drops from a pure flower, and said, "Dost thou weep for joy, sweet one?" And Anna said "Once-not long since I had a dream-a beautiful dream-that this day has been realized. I dreamed that I was in a quite heavenly place yet the place was as nothing -it was a state for I sat with an infant in my arms-a bright innocent little one-and theu dearest Gotleib! knelt beside me: and an angel-woman stood near us, in a soft heavenly glory, and said in low musical, spiritwords" Behold the fruit of the union of good and truth." And then methought thou didst embrace me with a new joy of love, and whispered "an angel of God is born of us." This little one is the dream-child, dear Gotleib." Thus beautiful was the birth of the little Lina, who grew daily, in a pure innocent loveliness. While she is expanding in the first days of her new, breathing, sensitive life, we will go back to the former life of Gotleib and Anna. Gotleib Von Arnheim had first seen the light in this same small cottage, on the confines of the Black Forest of Germany. He was born with a large, loving heart. But the father and mother, and the dear God were the only beings on whom his affections were fixed; for his sensitive nature shrank from the contact of the honest hearted, but rough, peasant neighbors, that made the world of their simple life. But soon death came, and the good father left the earth for the beautiful Heaven-world. The little Gotleib missed his kind father; but his mother told him of the bright inner-life, and how his father yet lived and loved him; and the heart of the boy was comforted; he felt a sense of elevation in having his father, whom he had known so familiarly here upon earth, now the companion of angels, and living in such a bright and beautiful world. Ah, life had to him such an inner-beauty; and when still, dreamy moments of leisure intervened between his work and play, he revelled in such dreams of fancy, as lent light | and life and joy to his whole being. But the death of the kind father had not only carried the boy's fancy to the other world; it was also drawing the mother's heart away to the spirit-land. Gotleib saw his mother's face grow thin and pale; he knew that she was weak-for oftentimes in the long winter evenings, as he read to her from the holy Word of God, her hand would drop wearily with the raised spindle, and she, who was never before idle, would fold her hands in a quiet, meek resignation. At such times a tremor would seize the boy's heart. The mother saw it; and one night, when his fixed tender gaze rested on her, she raised her spiritual eyes to his and said, "Dear Gotleib! thou wilt yet have the good God to love." 66 'Ah, mother! mother!" cried the boy, "Wilt thou too, leave me?" His head was bowed upon her knees in bitter grief; the desolation of earth was spread like an impenetrable pall over his whole future. Suddenly he looked up, full of a strange bright hope, and said"Mother, I too may die." Then the mother put off her weaknessand long and loving was the talk she held with her boy. She told him that from a little one he had ever loved God; that the first word he had ever pronounced was the name of the holy one. She had taught him to clasp his tiny baby hands and look up and say, "God,- ere any other word had passed his lips. She had named him Gotleib, because he was the love of God to her, and he was to be a lover of God. As she talked, the boy grew strong and calm, and said— Yet, oh, my mother! God is so great for the heart of a small child. God is so high and lifted up in the far Heavens, that I feel myself but as a tiny blade of grass that looks up to the far sun-dear mother! the earth will be too lonely; ah, there is no hope but in death." "No, my son," said the mother, "there is a beautiful hope for the earth also. I will tell you what will make you love God more truly than ever." The boy was fixed attention. "Thou did'st not know dear Gotleib, that when God created thee a strong, brave boy, He also created a tender, gentle little maiden like unto thee in all things, save thou wert a boy and she a maiden. Thou wert strong and able to work; and she gentle and born to love thee." leib. Where is she?" enquired the excited Got "But "I know not," replied the mother. God knows, and he will watch over the two whom He has created, the one for the other; and on earth or in Heaven, the two will meet. Is it not better then, not to wish to die, but to leave all things to the will of God? For what if thy little maiden is left a on upon the earth, and there is no strong, manly heart upon which she may lean-and no vigorous arm to labor for her-how will her spirit droop with a weary, lonely sadness? No, my son, live! and the joy of a most beautiful, loving THE WHITE DOVE. ompanionship may yet be thine. The earth will not be desolate ever to thy orphan-heart, with this beautiful hope before thee." Thus, in the cold wintry night of a dark sorrow, did the good mother plant a living seed of truth, that afterwards sprang up into a vernal flowery Eden, that bloomed in the boy's heart with an eternal beauty. When the early Spring came, Gotleib looked calmly and lovingly on the beloved mother, who was leaving for the inner world. Death was beautiful to him now; it was simply the new birth-time of a mature living soul. awakened in his heart was the guiding star of all his efforts. That little maiden created for him, and to be supported by him! The image was ever before him. Yes, he was a student for a high and noble use. Science was to be to him the instrument of a life of love and blessedness. To do good to others, and thus to provide for the maiden, was what led him to the arduous study of medicine. It mattered not that cold and hunger and toil all bound him in an earthly coil. The warm, hopeful heart has a wonderful endurance. The delicate, attenuated form of the young student seemed barely sufficient to The spirit of the mother's love seemed to hold the bright and glowing spirit that looklinger over the home of his childhood, and it ed out from his soft eyes, when he received was a great sorrow to leave the cherished his degrees. The desire of his life was growspot; but his mother told him he was to seek ing into a fruition: and when he returned to a brother of her's in the distant town of Hei- his poor lodgings a sense of freedom, of gratdelberg. As Gotleib turned from the now itude, and of delight, crowned his yet barren voiceless home of his parents, a fervent desire life. To work! to work! seemed now the arose in his heart that he might again be one call of his being: but whither was he to permitted to dwell beneath this sheltering go? There was the childhood's home, to roof and amidst its living associations. which his heart instinctively turned: but The boy went forth into the unknown alone and desolate, he could not dwell there. world, with a living trust in his heart in the Gotleib had not forgotten his mother's lesgreat God. His was a simple, childish faith, sons; he knelt and prayed to God for guiborn of his love-to him God was not a mys- dance. Even as he kneels, and feels his spi tery. It was a Divine personality he loved. rit is in the sunshine of God's presence, there Jesus had walked the earth, and his father is a knock at the door, and the good Proand mother also all were now spirits-none fessor Eberhard enters. He has marked the the less to be loved and trusted than when student in his poverty and toil, and feels that upon the earth; but now they were to him in he will now hold out a helping hand to the transcendent states of glory. The Lord Je- young beginner. As Professor of Anatomy, sus, as being infinitely great and glorious, was he needs the quick eye and delicate hand of the alone One to whom he now looked for an expert assistant. help-though ever as he knelt to pray to Gon he felt that his angel-mother bowed with his spirit, and by her prompting, beautiful words of humiliation and praise came to him, that he himself could never have thought of; hence the affections of his heart all grew up into the inner spirit-world. And years passed in the good town of Heidelburgh, years that brought blessings to the orphan-boy, as they flew. The God in whom he trusted had provided for him-had awakened a friendly kindness in many warm hearts. Gotleib looked upon the Herr professor, as heaven-sent, and in a few days was installed in all the luxury of a life of active use. Years passed away, and Gotleib Von Arnheim longed with a man's full heart for a woman's sympathy and responsive affection. He had seen bright eyes gleam and soft cheeks flush at his approach, and he had looked wonderingly into many a sweet face. But he had not yet seen the little maiden of whom his mother spoke-who was to be the reflex of himself. All these German maidens were altogether different from-and his And Gotleib, who was at first designed by heart remained unsatisfied in their presence. his relatives to spend his days over the shoe- He felt no visions of eternity as he looked maker's awl and last, at length found himself into their friendly faces. Sometimes hope by his own ardent exertions and the helpful almost died out. But his trust in God seemkindness of others, a student in the University. ed to forbid the death of this sweet hope. This was to him a most pure gratification- Often he said, "the good God would not have not because of a love of learning-not be- created this intense desire in cause of ambition, to attain a position before dependent upon Him, were He not intending one so wholly his fellow-men. Oh! it was quite otherwise to satisfy it." with the good youth-he had one object in the maiden is not upon earth, she is in HeavAt all events, he thought, "If life. The hope that his dying mother had en." So he worked and waited patiently. that arose from his heart before he slept. He felt a sense of gratitude for the uses he was permitted to perform to his fellow beings, and in his prayers, he felt that light shone from the Divine sun upon that sorrowing maiden, and it was as if she knelt by his side, and his strong spirit-arms upheld her in the sunshine of God's love. The wintry winds were howling, as it were, a wild requiem over the lordly ruins of the crime stained castle of Heidelberg. Cold and bitter, and clear was the starry night, when the weary Gotleib issued out of the Herr Professor's warm house to answer the late call of a sick woman. Gotleib looked up into those illimitable depths where earths and suns hang suspended, to appeal to the When the morning came, Gotleib awakenmaterial perceptions of man that this is not ed with a delicious sense of enjoyment in life the alone world-the alone existence. The-with a looking forth into the events of the silent bright stars comforted the earth-wearied heart in which the day's toil had dimmed the spirit's perception. Gotleib stepped on bravely through the frosty darkness, and said hopefully to himself, "There is yet another world-another life than this." And now he stood before the house in which his services were needed. He entered a chamber, whose bare poverty reminded him of his student days. But far sadder was cold poverty here, for a lady lay on a hard couch before the scantily furnished grate, and her hollow cough, and the oozing blood that saturated her white handkerchief, rendered all words unnecessary. day, that he had never before experienced. He hastened through his morning duties with an elasticity of spirit and hope that was altogether new to him. Though, as yet, his feelings was not defined into a thought, it was a faint perception, a dim consciousness that the elective affinities of his heart had all awakened. And while he thought he was in an excessive anxiety to see after his feeble patient, he was borne on rather by the attractions of his heart's love. He paused in a thrilling excitement of hope and doubt before the door of the poor chamber-he dreaded to have the agreeable impressions of the last evening dissipated. But when he knocked, a light tread was heard; the door was gently opened, and the pale Anna stood before him, with such a gentle grace, and so earnest a look of gratified expectation, that, as she said in subdued tones, A young girl with blanched cheek and tearless eye of agony, knelt by the wan sufferer. Gotleib felt himself in the sphere of his life's use; cold and fatigue were alike gone. The sick and almost dying woman "I hoped it was you," his heart bounded seemed to revive under his touch-it was as with exultation, to think that the young girl if strength flowed from the physician into the had him in her thoughts. But as he approachpatient. His very presence diffused an air of ed the sick bed, his reason told him what was hope and comfort through the desolate apart-more natural than her wishing for the arrival ment, and the kind serving-girl, Bettina, who of her mother's physician. had guided him to the humble lodging, seconded all his active efforts to produce warmth and comfort, and soon returned with one of his prescriptions-an abundance of fuel for the almost exhausted grate. The cheerful blaze threw its strong light upon the young girl, who at first knelt in hopeless grief beside her dying mother. What was it that thrilled the heart of Gotleib, as he looked upon this young maiden? Was it her beauty! no! he had seen others more beautiful. Was it her sorrow? no! he had seen others quite as sad. But whatever it was, Gotleib felt that he had met his destiny; the fulness of his being was developed to him; and all unconsciously the maiden turned to him as the Providence of God to her. She seemed to rest her troubled heart upon his strong understanding. He said her mother would not die immediately, and she grew calm. It was very late that night when Gotleib retired; and very fervent were the prayers A careful glance, by daylight, around the humble apartment, revealed to Gotleib that Anna worked with her delicate white, ladylooking hands, for the support of her dying mother. A table, placed by the window was covered with artificial flowers of exquisite workmanship, and while he yet lingered in the chamber, Bettina, the maid, entered from the street door, with a basket filled with the same flowers-looked at Anna, and shook her head mournfully. The young girl's lips quivered and she pressed the tears back when she saw no purchaser had been found for her labor. Gotleib saw and felt with the most intense sympathy all that was passing. He lingered yet longer he made encouraging remarks to the sick mother, and at length ventured to approach the table, and gazed with admiration on the beautiful flowers, while his brain was busy in devising how he was to make them the medium of conveying aid to the suffering mother and daughter. He turned |