This was deeply acknowledged by Hertha; and it gave a fresh trait of nobility to her not ordinary exterior, and endowed her with a new power over the minds of others. And if her calmness was frequently disturbed, and dark shadows at times fell over her peace, yet the fault of this lay less in herself than in the world with which her honest soul had still to combat.

They who saw her during the few months which preceded her decease, were for the most part greatly struck by her appearance and manners. One of these thus

describes a visit paid to her.

"I waited alone for a short time in the Iduna-hall, whilst I was announeed, and occupied myself in contemplating its beautiful statues and blossoming plants. I had not seen Hertha for many years, not since the time when I had considered her a proud and somewhat disagreeable girl, evidently out of harmony with herself and the world.

"Presently the door of the hall opened, and a noble figure, but wasted with early sickness, entered, supported on a staff with a white ivory head; in this form I had difficulty in recognising the Hertha of former years. The ambitious and sometimes contemptuous character of her expression, which had formerly rather offended my self-love, was no longer observable. There was something perfectly frank and friendly in the smile with which she advanced to meet me. She seemed to be above all the petty feelings and thoughts of this world. It was in the beaming eyes and the noble, arched forehead, that I was best able to recognise the former Hertha, yet these now bore an expression of quiet power and serenity which formerly was foreign to them. Every feature, every line of her countenance seemed to me to speak of a rich inward history. The strongly developed nostrils had no longer their somewhat arrogant expression, and all bitterness seemed

changed to quiet melancholy. But above all this, and over the whole countenance beamed those splendid eyes with their transfiguring light. The hair which was put back from the temples allowed their singularly beautiful outline to be seen, whilst a simple white, cambric kerchief, or veil, fell softly, shadowing as it were the head, and around the sunken cheeks. Hertha, as she now is, might serve as a model for a Sibyl, or for the Prophetess Vala, if the expression of patient power and of a deep maternal tenderness did not render her rather the type of the Maccabean woman, 'the mother of the Martyrs.'

"I was so affected by the sight of this noble ruin, of the formerly stately woman, that I could scarcely restrain my tears. But she spoke so calmly and kindly to me that I soon became calmer, and listened with indescribable pleasure to her conversation, rich as it was in life's experience, and so filled with great thoughts for the future. She is severe in her demands from our sex, precisely because she estimates its vocation so highly. She spoke of her pupils with great tenderness, and in particular praised most highly two young under-teachers in the school. The old bitter expression, both in voice and countenance, returned however, when she spoke of the false views which parents take with regard to their daughters' education, and of the impediments which our laws place in the way of the development of young women. But the bitterness again disappeared before the trust and hope in the future.

"She was unable to receive my daughters into her school, because she foresaw that she must shortly discontinue it, on account of her health, which will not permit her much longer to give the necessary attention to it. This subject however she touched but lightly. I have been told that the physicians consider it improbable that she will live over the year, and I left her with the sorrowful feeling that I should see and hear

her no more. I shall never forget the light in her glance, nor the affection which I saw beam from the eyes of the young, as I accompanied her into the schoolroom. All seemed to know that she soon would be taken from them, and it was plain to see, both from her looks and their eyes, how painful this parting would be."

In the mean time what was the state of that soul whose silent conflict and innermost longing no one knew but God and the friend who was no longer on earth? will obtain our answer from entries in her diary.

We

SELECTIONS FROM HERTHA'S DIARY.

It is now more than three years since I wrote anything about myself. After Yngve's departure, I lost, in some respects, interest in myself, and my time and thoughts were occupied in working to live. Now again I write in order to employ myself, for I have now leisure. Upon the cliffs of Marstrand, with the great sea roaring around me, I enjoy a little season of rest, for the first time during many years. How beautiful, how delightful it is, for a little while to have nothing more to do than the flowers and the trees; to bathe in the sunshine and be caressed by the winds. Yet I should not have come hither on my own account, because the soft air of "the Madeira of Sweden" cannot benefit me, even if it can do me any good, but my sister Maria requires sea-bathing; her white lips and cheeks attest sufficiently that she suffers from the disease so common to young girls whose employment is sedentary, and who are devoted to teaching. Ah! this life and labour is not proper for her, because she does not

like it; but in what other way, excepting this, can she earn her living? I look around for her, but I can see nothing. She was not formed to struggle with poverty and want. Martha can go through this conflict much better. But will not the occupation which alone offers to her, that of housekeeper, drag down her upwardstriving mind, and chain it to the petty, to the common, drag down her soul? And what is her future?

66

Sweden! thou bringest up thy young daughters too much in the spirit of the step-mother, and this will be avenged upon thy sons and daughters to the third and fourth generation.

66

August 1st. I accomplish this day my forty-first year. But I feel myself still young. I fancy I could now first rightly begin to live for others, if only I had the time. Fresh feelings, new thoughts, come up with the fresh breezes from the sea; and views open vast as infinite space. Could I develope-could I impart all that dawns within me; but it cannot be on earth; for I must shortly die. And I do not wish to live when I can no longer work. I wish not as a profitless burden to consume the little that I may have to leave to my sisters, my beloved care-takers. Maria is benefited by the sea-bathing, the fresh country-life, and I am also able to go out with her in boat-excursions among the rocks.

"How fresh, and at the same time peculiarly Swedish, is the character of this scenery. The stranger sees only, in the first instance, naked grey cliffs, in the midst of the roaring waves; everywhere rocky islands and reefs. He approaches them, and as if by magic, they open them. selves, and reveal in the bosom of the rocks charming groves and gardens, in which tall white lilies bloom, and ivy and wild honeysuckles clamber around the mossy granite. The vegetation is splendid in the little valleys. at the foot of the mountains; and from every point the visitor gazes out over the restless blue sea, and breathes

its refreshing but soft air. Oh, this sea, how many thoughts it awakens-thoughts, which here on earth I shall never be able to work out!

August 7th. Is it the disease which gains ground, or is it this want of occupation which does not agree with me?-but my sleeplessness increases, and bitter thoughts and feelings which I cannot bear, and from which I beseech of God to deliver me, have again awoke. The sight of my sisters even awakes them, for what is to become of them when I am gone? My fatherly friend, Judge Carlson, is also gone. My sisters have no friend in the world, no support. Both are well gifted, but not extraordinary young women; they are extraordinary only in their nobility of mind and their self-sacrificing love. How different would have been their lot if they had been early accustomed to exercise their powers in a noble independence, in an atmosphere of freedom, and if the property which-silence! silence bitter thought, silence.

"God-all good Father, it is not thee whom my voice accuses, for thou hast declared woman to be free, and hast endowed her with manifold good gifts, and hast created the earth rich and beautiful. The bonds which thou hast laid upon her are those of love, are those of His spirit. Oh, how willingly do I bow myself before Thy laws. But before human statutes, which bind what Thou hast unbound, which close up the paths which Thou hast made open, which limit, which impoverish, which mete out the liberty which Thou hast given to all, which clip the wings of conscience and power that souls may be kept in the dust-before these statutes I will never bow myself through all eternity, no! and again no! And those human beings who maintain them, who cry peace where there is no peace- They know not what they do.' Father, take this bitterness out of my heart, and give me thy peace, before I die!