rehend life and
suffering, and I am now firmly convinced _that there is no fruitless
suffering, and that no virtuous endeavour is in vain_. Winter days and
nights may bury beneath their pall of snow the sown corn; but when the
spring arrives, it will be found equally true, that 'there grows much
bread in the winter night.' It has pleased Providence to remove the
covering from my eyes here upon earth; for many others will this only
be removed when their eyes have closed on the earthly day; all will,
however, one day see what I now see, and acknowledge what I now
acknowledge with joy and thankfulness.

"Clear and bright now lies my way before me. In concert with my beloved
children, with the teacher of my youth, and my friend, who I hope will
spend in my house the evening of his days, I will convert this place
into a vale of peace. And when I shall leave it and them, may peace
still remain amongst them with my memory! And now, thou advancing age,
which already breathes coldly on my forehead; thou winter twilight of
earthly life, in which my days will sink more and more, come and
welcome! I fear thee no longer; for it has become warm and light in my
heart. Even under bodily spasms and pains, I will no more misconceive
the value of life; but with an eye open to all the good upon earth, I
will say to my dear ones:

Bewail me not, for I am still so blest,
The peace of heaven doth dwell within my breast."

Mrs. Astrid laid down her pen, and lifted up her tear-bright and beaming
eyes; she caught sight of Harald and Susanna, who arm-in-arm wandered
down the dale. They went on in gladness, and yet seemed to contend; and
the question between them was, indeed, upon a most important
matter--namely, which of them should hereafter have in their house the
_last word_. Harald wished that this should hereafter be, as lord and
master, his exclusive prerogative. Susanna declared that she should not
trouble herself about his prerogative; but when she was in the right
intended to persist in it to the uttermost. In the mean time they had
unconsciously advanced to the spring--the Water of Strife--which had
witnessed their first contention, and over which now doves, as at the
first time, circled with silver-glancing wings. And here Harald seized
Susanna's hand, led her to the spring, and said solemnly--

"My wife! I have hitherto spoken jestingly, but now is the moment of
seriousness. Our forefathers swore by the bright water of Leipter