Christian Gellerts Last Christmas

Gellert's Last Christmas, by
Berthold Auerbach

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Title: Christian Gellert's Last Christmas From "German Tales"
Published by the American Publishers' Corporation
Author: Berthold Auerbach
Release Date: September 18, 2007 [EBook #22665]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK
CHRISTIAN GELLERT'S LAST CHRISTMAS ***

Produced by David Widger

CHRISTIAN GELLERT'S LAST CHRISTMAS
By Berthold Auerbach

From "German Tales." Published by the American Publishers'
Corporation.
1869
Three o'clock had just struck from the tower of St. Nicholas, Leipzig,
on the afternoon of December 22d, 1768, when a man, wrapped in a
loose overcoat, came out of the door of the University. His countenance
was exceedingly gentle, and on his features cheerfulness still lingered,
for he had been gazing upon a hundred cheerful faces; after him
thronged a troop of students, who, holding back, allowed him to
precede them: the passengers in the streets saluted him, and some,
students, who pressed forwards and hurried past him homewards,
saluted him quite reverentially. He returned their salutations with a
surprised and almost deprecatory air, and yet he knew, and could not
conceal from himself, that he was one of the best beloved, not only in
the good city of Leipzig, but in all lands far and wide.
It was Christian Furchtegott Gellert, the Poet of Fables, Hymns, and
Lays, who was just leaving his college.
When we read his "Lectures upon Morals," which were not printed
until after his death, we obtain but a very incomplete idea of the great
power with which they came immediately from Gellert's mouth. Indeed,
it was his voice, and the touching manner in which he delivered his
lectures, that made so deep an impression upon his hearers; and
Rabener was right when once he wrote to a friend, that "the
philanthropic voice" of Gellert belonged to his words.
Above all, however, it was the amiable and pure personal character of
Gellert which vividly and edifyingly impressed young hearts. Gellert
was himself the best example of pure moral teaching; and the best
which a teacher can give his pupils is faith in the victorious might, and
the stability of the eternal moral laws. His lessons were for the Life, for
his life in itself was a lesson. Many a victory over the troubles of life,
over temptations of every kind, ay, many an elevation to nobility of
thought, and to purity of action, had its origin in that lecture-hall, at the
feet of Gellert.

It was as though Gellert felt that it was the last time he would deliver
these lectures; that those words so often and so impressively uttered
would be heard no more from his mouth; and there was a peculiar
sadness, yet a peculiar strength, in all he said that day.
He had this day earnestly recommended modesty and humility; and it
appeared almost offensive to him, that people as he went should tempt
him in regard to these very virtues; for continually he heard men
whisper, "That is Gellert!"
What is fame, and what is honor? A cloak of many colors, without
warmth, without protection: and now, as he walked along, his heart
literally froze in his bosom, as he confessed to himself that he had as
yet done nothing--nothing which could give him a feeling of real
satisfaction. Men honored him and loved him: but what was all that
worth? His innermost heart could not be satisfied with that; in his own
estimation he deserved no meed of praise; and where, where was there
any evidence of that higher and purer life which he would fain bring
about! Then, again, the Spirit would comfort him and say: "Much seed
is lost, much falls in stony places, and much on good ground and brings
forth sevenfold."
His inmost soul heard not the consolation, for his body was weak and
sore burdened from his youth up, and in his latter days yet more than
ever; and there are conditions of the body in which the most elevating
words, and the cheeriest notes of joy, strike dull and heavy on the soul.
It is one of the bitterest experiences of life to discover how little one
man can really be to another. How joyous is that youthful freshness
which can believe that, by a thought transferred to another's heart, we
can induce him to become another being, to live according to what he
must acknowledge true, to throw aside his previous delusions, and
return to the right path!
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