Memories | Page 4

old acquaintances whom I knew as well as my
nut-crackers and leaden soldiers.
My heart beat quickly as I ascended the high stairs with my father, and
just as he was telling me I must call the Princess "Highness," and the
Prince "Serene Highness," the folding-door opened and I saw before
me a tall figure with brilliantly piercing eyes. She seemed to advance
and stretch out her hand to me. There was an expression on her
countenance which I had long known, and a heavenly smile played
about her cheeks. I could restrain myself no longer, and while my
father stood at the door bowing very low--I knew not why--my heart
sprang into my throat. I ran to the beautiful lady, threw my arms round
her neck and kissed her as I would my mother. The beautiful, majestic
lady willingly submitted, stroked my hair and smiled; but my father
took my hand, led me away, and said I was very rude, and that he

should never take me there again. I grew utterly bewildered. The blood
mounted to my cheeks, for I felt that my father had been unjust to me. I
looked at the Princess as if she ought to shield me, but upon her face
was only an expression of mild earnestness. Then I looked round upon
the ladies and gentlemen assembled in the room, believing that they
would come to my defense. But as I looked, I saw that they were
laughing. Then the tears sprang into my eyes, and out of the door, down
the stairs, and past the lindens in the castle yard, I rushed home, where I
threw myself into my mother's arms and sobbed and wept.
"What has happened to you?" said she.
"Oh! mother!" I cried; "I was at the Princess', and she was such a good
and beautiful woman, just like you, dear mother, that I had to throw my
arms round her neck and kiss her."
"Ah!" said my mother; "you should not have done that, for they are
strangers and high dignitaries."
"And what then are strangers?" said I.
"May I not love all people who look upon me with affectionate and
friendly eyes?"
"You can love them, my son," replied my mother, "but you should not
show it."
"Is it then something wrong for me to love people?" said I. "Why
cannot I show it?"
"Well, perhaps you are right," said she, "but you must do as your father
says, and when you are older you will understand why you cannot
embrace every woman who regards you with affectionate and friendly
eyes."
That was a sad day. Father came home, agreed I had been very uncivil.
At night my mother put me to bed, and I prayed, but I could not sleep,
and kept wondering what these strange people were, whom one must
not love.
* * * * *
Thou poor human heart! So soon in the spring are thy leaves broken
and the feathers torn from the wings! When the spring-red of life opens
the hidden calyx of the soul, it perfumes our whole being with love. We
learn to stand and to walk, to speak and to read, but no one teaches us
love. It is inherent in us like life, they say, and is the very deepest
foundation of our existence. As the heavenly bodies incline to and

attract each other, and will always cling together by the everlasting law
of gravitation, so heavenly souls incline to and attract each other, and
will always cling together by the everlasting law of love. A flower
cannot blossom without sunshine, and man cannot live without love.
Would not the child's heart break in despair when the first cold storm of
the world sweeps over it, if the warm sunlight of love from the eyes of
mother and father did not shine upon him like the soft reflection of
divine light and love? The ardent yearning, which then awakes in the
child, is the purest and deepest love. It is the love which embraces the
whole world; which shines resplendent wherever the eyes of men beam
upon it, which exults wherever it hears the human voice. It is the old,
immeasurable love, a deep well which no plummet has ever sounded; a
fountain of perennial richness. Whoever knows it also knows that in
love there is no More and no Less; but that he who loves can only love
with the whole heart, and with the whole soul; with all his strength and
with all his will.
But, alas, how little remains of this love by the time we have finished
one-half of our life-journey! Soon the child learns that there are
strangers, and ceases to be a child. The spring of love becomes hidden
and soon filled up.