Запретный лес
XV. Hallowmass
Shewasathingtoofineandgracioustobetouchedwithsuchdolefulcares.Yetitwasthethoughtofherwhichkeptyouthaliveinhim,andinhisdreariestmomentsgavehimaliftoftheheart.WhenhelookeddownfromtheHillofDeeronthedarkshroudofMelanudrigillandbesideittheshawsofbirchandhazelwhichstretchedtowardsCalidon,hesawhisstrifeasathingnaturalandpredestined,andhehimselfasonlyapuppetinthegripofprimordialpowers.Thethoughtgavehimtheconfidencewhichspringsfromhumility.
OntheSabbathhepreachedfromatextinEcclesiastes:"SoIreturned,andconsideredalltheoppressionsthataredoneunderthesun:andbeholdthetearsofsuchaswereoppressed,andtheyhadnocomforter;andonthesideoftheiroppressorstherewaspower;buttheyhadnocomforter."Hishearerslookednodoubtforsometopicalword,buttheydidnotfindit;fewrealizedthemeaningofadiscoursewhichDavidpreachedrathertohimselfthantoothers.Itwasaconfessionoffaith,apleaforpersonalreligion,andananathemaagainstshibbolethsandformulaswhichdidnotdwellintheheart.Solongasreligionisapawninagameofpolitics--theargumentran--solongwilltherebeoppressorsandoppressed,withtruththeperquisiteofneitherside,andthereforecomforttonone....Thecongregationwasnotablyreduced,forthefiveeldersandtheirfamilieswereabsent.Buttherewasonenewfigurewhosatmodestlyinthebackpartsofthekirk.
