Sister Carmen | Page 4

is not brought before this
tribunal.
About ten o'clock one morning, an elegant carriage, drawn by two
spirited horses, passed through the quiet, scrupulously clean streets of
the settlement, and drew up at the door of the hotel, or, as they call it,
the general lodging-house; and from the vehicle sprang a young and

very distinguished-looking gentleman with erect, military bearing and
noble features. He was followed by a lady, and a young girl of about
twelve years of age, and a tall, lanky lad who had not yet lost his
boyish awkwardness.
"Unharness and take the trunk to the Sisters' house," said the gentleman
to the coachman.
The newly-arrived guests entered the sitting-room, which was entirely
unoccupied, and whose clean, freshly-sanded floor seemed almost to
shine with a consciousness of its own spotlessness. The host, a quiet
old man, entered to receive their commands, which he attended to in
person. Everything was done silently; not even the plates and glasses
rattled as they were placed on the-table; and when all was prepared, the
man left the room, not attempting, after the manner of hosts in general,
to enter into conversation with his guests, or to ply them with questions
as to whence they came, whither they were going, etc.
The lady, a very remarkable-looking woman, was apparently the
mother of the three others, but seemed young to be the parent of the
eldest, who had evidently numbered thirty years.
The breakfast, which was excellent and well served, was quickly
disposed of; and dinner being ordered for two o'clock, the little party
left the house. On the street, the same stillness, the same absence of
people prevailed as elsewhere.
"Do you know the way to the Sisters' house, mother?" asked the young
man of the lady as they led the way, the two younger ones following
behind.
"Of course, Alexander," she replied. "I was here once, some years ago,
on a visit to President von Karsdorf, and I can perfectly remember how
full of interest the whole place was, and how pleased the Karsdorfs
were to think they could end their lives in this peaceful, quiet spot."
"Such extraordinary order and cleanliness seems almost like a matter of
pride and show on the part of these humble people--as if the inner

purity of their souls must needs be manifested in this extreme, outward
neatness," said the gentleman, laughing.
"You are prejudiced against the Moravian character, I know, and yet
there is so much that is good in them!" argued the lady.
"That may well be so, mother. I am willing to acknowledge all their
good qualities," said her son; "but these numerous forms which intrude
themselves upon every occasion seem like fetters and bonds to free
souls. So much unnatural restraint and parade of sanctity is offensive to
me. I never could tolerate hypocrites, and such they surely must be,
although, of course, they would be shocked at the idea; for under all
this excessive humility, this parade of piety, I venture to say there lies
much concealed of which we do not dream. One can imagine how
much Herr von Karsdorf, an old epicure and man of the world, must
have dissimulated to conform himself to the manners of this
community, to be allowed to end his days here."
His mother shook her head. "I think," she said, "that the subdued, pious
bearing of the members has become like a second nature to them, and is
now, therefore, not hypocritical. Besides, think how excellent is the
domestic economy of the settlement; how active and prosperous they
are in trade and various industries. They have many practical, temporal,
as well as spiritual objects to which they devote themselves."
"I grant all that; but such immense importance is attached to little
things. Their work would be very trifling and ridiculous if attempted on
a large scale. It resembles the wonderful industry in an ant-hill,
unremitting and earnest, but petty labor. No genius is displayed. What
great men have arisen from among them? Who are the distinguished
scholars and artists which have gone forth from their ranks?"
"And how about their sufferings?" interposed the other, quickly. "Their
struggles amidst privation and misery, and persecutions of all kinds in
distant lands, for the sake of their faith, and to rescue wild heathens
from depravity and barbarism, and win them over to the Christian
religion? Do you not deem that a noble work? Consider their admirable
regulations as regards education; are they not excellent? I look for the

greatest improvement in Adele, as the result of her stay here.--But it
seems to me I have turned into the wrong street, for the Sisters' house is
certainly not here!"
"Here come some people at last," replied Alexander--"a girl with a
child. They will be able to direct us."