Note: Translator Pauline Bancroft Flach died in 1966, less than 70 years ago. Therefore, this work is protected by copyright, restricting your legal rights to reproduce it. However, you are welcome to view it on screen, as you do now. Read more about copyright.
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ONLY OF THIS WORLD 365
crown go from man to man. The people stood with
their wax-candles in their hands and lighted up the
crown with them. Those who could read, read; the
others saw that at least there was an inscription.
And each one who had held the crown in his hand
instantly extinguished his candle.
When the last candle was put out, Father Gondo
turned to his pilgrims who had gathered about him.
“I have brought you here,” he said to them, “that
you might find one who gives the soul peace and an
entry to God’s kingdom; but I have brought you
wrong, for this one has no such thing to give. His
kingdom is only of this world.
“Our unfortunate sister has gone mad,” continued
Father Gondo, “because she came here and hoped
for heavenly benefits. Her reason gave way when
her prayers were not heard. He could not hear her,
for his kingdom is only of this world.”
He was silent a moment, and they all looked up
at him to find out what they ought to think of it
all.
He asked as quietly as before: “Shall an image
which bears such words in its crown any longer be
allowed to desecrate an altar?”
“ No, no!” cried the pilgrims. The people of
Diamante stood silent.
Father Gondo took the image in his hands and
carried it on his outstretched arms through the
church and towards the door.
But although the Father had spoken gently and
humbly, his eyes had rested the whole time sternly
and with compelling force on the crowd of people.
There was not one there whom he had not subdued
and mastered by the strength of his will. Every
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