THE THORNY ROAD OF HONOR [2]
break the force of the waters, and the ship continues its course;
and the beam of the steam engine shortens the distance between far
lands from hours into minutes.
O human race, canst thou grasp the happiness of such a minute of
consciousness, this penetration of the soul by its mission, the moment
in which all dejection, and every wound- even those caused by one's
own fault- is changed into health and strength and clearness- when
discord is converted to harmony- the minute in which men seem to
recognize the manifestation of the heavenly grace in one man, and feel
how this one imparts it to all?
Thus the thorny path of honor shows itself as a glory, surrounding
the earth with its beams. Thrice happy he who is chosen to be a
wanderer there, and, without merit of his own, to be placed between
the builder of the bridge and the earth- between Providence and the
human race.
On mighty wings the spirit of history floats through the ages, and
shows- giving courage and comfort, and awakening gentle thoughts- on
the dark nightly background, but in gleaming pictures, the thorny path
of honor, which does not, like a fairy tale, end in brilliancy and joy
here on earth, but stretches out beyond all time, even into eternity!
THE END
.