dazzling, that Narzim could not endure its brightness. He prostrated
himself on the ground, and on rising, beheld neither the angel nor
his dungeon, nor the wretch who shared his chains. His eyes opened;
he awoke; daylight was shining into his cottage; Elima and Missour
still reposed there. Narzim had lost nothing; he felt his heart
expand with joy. It flowed into it as from an inexhaustible fountain,
which the words of the angel had unsealed. There was strength in his
soul, and it seemed to communicate itself to his limbs. He appeared
to himself to have passed over the days of his childhood, to such an
extent did a new vigour animate his whole being. The virtue he had
just contemplated presented itself to him, with all his duties; and
in the fulfilment of these duties he perceived the seeds of happiness.
"Mother," said he to Missour, as soon as she had opened her eyes to
the dawning day, "I complained of misery without thinking that I had
not yet purchased happiness. Solely occupied in sharing the sports
of Elima, I have too far prolonged my childhood, and your tenderness
for me has too long forgotten the years which, as they pass, ought to
bring with them the time for labour. Look at the arms of Narzim, they
are strong, and shall cultivate for you our field of rice."
His mother smiled, and placed in his hands the instruments of labour.
Narzim learned to use them, and use increased his strength. Missour
was no longer overpowered by fatigue, nor was the end of her days
overshadowed by that despair which an exhausted body sheds over a
sick mind. Joy again returned to the lips of Elima, and to the eyes
of Narzim. Sometimes he raised them towards heaven, as he had done
at the moment when he first learned how much he loved virtue: then
his soul became filled with a holy and sweet confidence, and with a
deep sense of gratitude towards that great Being who has placed in
the heart of man the germ of a happiness of which nothing can deprive
him, but his own will.
THE END.
WYMAN AND SONS, PRINTERS, GREAT QUEEN STREET, LONDON.
Transcriber's note
Obvious printer errors have been silently corrected. Original
spelling was kept. Variant spellings were made consistent when a
predominant preference was found.
Chapter headings have been harmonized and made consistent both
in text and in Table of Contents. Illustrations have been moved
so that they do not break up paragraphs while remaining close to
the text they illustrate.
The following changes were made:
Page v: in the Table of Contents, page '313' replaced by page
'309'
Page 46: 'on' replaced by 'in' (in twenty-four days)
Page 70: 'Juliet' replaced by 'Juliette' (Madame de la Fère
turned to Juliette)
Page 102: 'be' inserted (What is to be done?)
Page 109: 'come' replaced by 'came' (Suzette, who had followed
her, came forward eating)
Page 256: 'together:' replaced by 'together!' (she said, "we
shall make it together!")