y of epitaph was
added but these words of Jesus--

"I am the Resurrection and the Life:
He that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live."

Underneath these words a beautiful basket of flowers had been cut from
a design drawn by Amelia herself. Underneath the basket was written--

"_All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof as the
flowers of the field. The grass withereth, the flower fadeth, but
the word of the Lord endureth for ever._"

The erection of this monument gave great satisfaction to the good old
minister of Erlenbrunn. The dark background of the fir trees threw the
monument into relief, and gave it a very beautiful appearance; and when
the rose tree planted by his grave was in bloom, and its branches
covered with roses bent over the marble, which was of dazzling
whiteness, the sight was a striking one. The humble old man's monument
was the most beautiful ornament of the rural churchyard, and the good
minister never allowed strangers to leave the church without taking
them to see it.

When some people observed that it was a good idea to have put a basket
of flowers on the tomb of a man who was at the same time a gardener and
a basket-maker, the old minister would say--

"But it is something better than a good idea. The basket of flowers tells
more than you know, and it is not without reason that our villagers look
upon it as the symbol of a touching story. The ground on which we tread
has been bathed with a daughter's tears."

Then he would pour into the attentive ears of strangers the familiar
story of the basket of flowers, concluding his recital with the
assurance which this whole story is intended to illustrate: That piety
towards God and truth towards men will never fail to triumph over the
malice of the worst of foes.

Let our readers who have followed this touching story be assured that
under all circumstances it is best to do as Mary did--walk in the fear
of God, love and obey their earthly parents, stand fast by the truth,
and under all circumstances trust fully in God. Thus they will live
happy and die with a sure prospect of eternal glory.

THE END

_Printed by_
MORRISON & GIBB LIMITED
_Edinburgh_

End of Project Gutenberg's The Basket of Flowers, by Christoph von Schmid

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