Are the children of the earth grown so homeless? Do they fear to take a
moment's rest? Do they dread to look inward and see their own emptiness?
Are they longing for something they have lost--some hymn, some harmony,
some God?
God? They find a bloodthirsty Jehovah, and an ascetic on the cross. What
gods are these for modern men? Religious history, not religion.
"Peer," says Merle again, "for God's sake try to sleep."
"Merle, do you think I shall get well here?"
"Why, don't you feel already how splendid the air is? Of course you'll
get well."
He twined his fingers into hers, and at last the sound of Louise's hymn
came to him once more, lifting and rocking him gently till his eyes
closed.
Chapter II
A little road winds in among the woods, two wheel-tracks only, with a
carpet of brown pine-needles between; but there are trees and the sky,
quiet and peace, so that it's a real blessing to walk there. It rises
and falls so gently, that no one need get out of breath; indeed,
it seems to go along with one all the time, in mere friendliness,
whispering: "Take it easy. Take your time. Have a good rest here." And
so on it goes, winding in among the tree-trunks, slender and supple as a
young girl.
Peer walked here every day. He would stop and look up into the tops of
the fir trees, and walk on again; then sit down for a moment on a mossy
stone; but only for a moment--always he was up again soon and moving on,
though he had nowhere to go.
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