The clock of the Potsdam Garrison Church, which Frederick the
Great in his day had placed in the tower of that cathedral, and
which hourly chimed familiar strains, suddenly stopt. The cause
of this sudden cessation of both its works and its music was the
intrusion of a brown butterfly, which alighted in its wheelworks.
Is it not often thus with the heart of man, out of which well songs of
joy and praise--songs suddenly and unexpectedly reduced to silence? The
cause of it often is so insignificant a thing as a transient thought, a
carking care, which becomes entangled in the delicate spiritual works
and brings the heavenly music to a standstill.
(3297)