Frank looked at the patched clothes of the old man, his coarse shoes,
his stockingless feet, and meagre body, and felt compassion for him.

"For us poor people the earth bears but thistles and thorns." After a
pause, the old man continued, "We have to undergo many tribulations and
difficulties, and sometimes we even suffer from hunger. But thus it is
in the world. The good God will reward us in the next world for our
sufferings in this."

These words sounded strangely to Richard. Raised as he was in the midst
of wealth, and without contact with poverty, he had never found
occasion to consider the lot of the poor; and now the resignation of
the old man, and his hope in the future, seemed strange to him. He was
astonished that religion could have such power--so great and strong--to
comfort the poor in the miseries of a hopeless, comfortless life.

"But what if your hope in another world deceive you?"

The old man looked at him with astonishment.

"How can I be deceived? God is faithful. He keeps his promises."

"And what has he promised you?"

"Eternal happiness if I persevere, patient and just, to the end."

"I wonder at your strong faith!"

"It is my sole possession on earth. What would support us poor people,
what would keep us from despair, if religion did not?"

Frank put his hand into his pocket,

"Here," said he, "perhaps this money will relieve your wants."

The old man looked at the bright thalers in his hand, and the tears
trickled down his cheeks.

"This is too much, sir; I cannot receive six thalers from you."

"That is but a trifle for me; put it in your pocket, and say no more
about it."

"May God reward and bless you a thousand times for it!"

"What does that cross indicate?"

"That is a weather cross, sir. We have a great deal of bad weather to
fear. We have frequent storms here, in summer; they hang over the
mountain and rage terribly. Every ravine becomes a torrent that dashes
over the fields, hurling rocks and sand from the mountain. Our fields
are desolated and destroyed. The people of Salingen placed that cross
there against the weather. In spring the whole community come here in
procession and pray God to protect them from the storms."

Richard reflected on this phenomenon; the confidence of these simple
people in the protection of God, whose omnipotence must intervene
between the remorseless elements and their victims, appeared to him as
the highest degree of simplicity. But he