I leave thee,--not
sorrowfully,--for thou art in shelter and safety--the strong
protection of thy husband's love defends thee and the safeguard
of thine own innocence. My blessing upon him and thee! Serve him,
Thelma mine, with full devotion and obedience--even as I have
taught thee,--thus drawing from thy womanlife its best measure of
sweetness,--keep the bright shield of thy truth untarnished--and
live so that at the hour of thine own death-ecstasy thou mayest
depart as easily as a song-bird soaring to the sun! I pass hence
in happiness--if thou dost shed a tear thou wrongest my
memory,--there is naught to weep for. Valdemar will give me the
crimson shroud and ocean grave of my ancestors--but question him
not concerning this fiery pomp of my last voyage--he is but a
serf, and his soul is shaken to its very depths by sorrow. Let
him be--he will have his reward hereafter. And now farewell,
child of my heart--darling of mine age--clear mirror in which my
later life has brightened to content! All partings are brief--we
shall meet again--thou and I and Philip--and all who have loved
or who love each other,--the journey heavenwards may be made by
different roads, but the end--the glory--the immortality is the
same! Peace be upon thee and on thy children and on thy
children's children!"
"Thy father,
OLAF GUeLDMAR.
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