THE MONUMENT
AMELIA DID NOT FORGET HER PROMISE that she would order a monument to be erected to good old James. The design she chose was simple but very beautiful. It was of black marble, and the name and age of the good old man were engraved on it in letters of gold. The only additional inscription were these words of the Lord Jesus: "I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live" (John 11:2525Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: (John 11:25)). Under these words there was sculptured in bas-relief a perfect likeness of the basket, just as it was when first filled by Mary, and tastefully wreathed with flowers. Under the basket were these words: "For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: but the word of the Lord endureth forever" (1 Peter 1:24-2524For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: 25But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you. (1 Peter 1:24‑25)).
The minister of Erlenbrünnen was much pleased with the design and took the charge of seeing the monument erected in its proper place. It had a fine effect under the dark fir trees; and the beautiful rose planted by Mary grew and flourished and threw its lovely wreaths over the dark marble. The roses clustered thick and bright round the monument but were not suffered to grow so as to hide the inscription. The black marble and the bright wreath of roses were the emblems of
JAMES RODE
AGED 72 YEARS
"I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me
though he were dead, yet shall he live." -John 1125
The Monument
Death and the crown of glory to which it leads.
All the strangers who visited Erlenbrünnen were taken by the minister to see this tomb.
"It is a good idea," said some of the visitors, "to put a basket of flowers upon a gardener's grave."
"It is something better than a good idea," replied the minister. "The basket of flowers tells more than you know, and it is not without reason that our villagers look upon it as a symbol of a touching story. The ground on which we tread has been bathed with a daughter's tears."
Then he would pour into the attentive ears of strangers the familiar story of the basket of flowers, concluding his recital with the assurance which this whole story is intended to illustrate: That piety towards God and truth towards men will never fail to triumph over the malice of the worst of foes.
Let our readers who have followed this touching story be assured that under all circumstances it is best to do as Mary did—walk in the fear of God, love and obey their earthly parents, stand fast by truth, and under all circumstances trust fully in God. Thus they will live happy and die with a sure prospect of eternal glory.
THE END