THIS story is from the sand-dunes or sand-hillsof Jutland， but it does not begin there in theNorth， but far away in the South， in Spain. Thewide sea is the highroad from nation to nation;journey in thought; then， to sunny Spain. It iswarm and beautiful there; the fiery pomegranateflowers peep from among dark laurels; a coolrefreshing breeze from the mountains blows over theorange gardens， over the Moorish halls with their golden cupolas and coloured walls. Childrengo through the streets in procession with candles and waving banners， and the sky， loftyand clear with its glittering stars， rises above them. Sounds of singing and castanets can beheard， and youths and maidens dance upon the flowering acacia trees， while even the beggarsits upon a block of marble， refreshing himself with a juicy melon， and dreamily enjoyinglife. It all seems like a beautiful dream.
Here dwelt a newly married couple who completely gave themselves up to the charm oflife; indeed they possessed every good thing they could desire—health and happiness， richesand honour.
“We are as happy as human beings can be，” said the young couple from the depths oftheir hearts. They had indeed only one step higher to mount on the ladder of happiness—theyhoped that God would give them a child， a son like them in form and spirit. The happy littleone was to be welcomed with rejoicing， to be cared for with love and tenderness， and enjoyevery advantage of wealth and luxury that a rich and influential family can give. So the dayswent by like a joyous festival.
“Life is a gracious gift from God， almost too GREat a gift for us to appreciate!” said theyoung wife. “Yet they say that fulness of joy for ever and ever can only be found in the futurelife. I cannot realise it!”
“the thought arises， perhaps， from the arrogance of men，” said the husband. “Itseems a GREat pride to believe that we shall live for ever， that we shall be as gods! Were notthese the words of the serpent， the father of lies?”
“Surely you do not doubt the existence of a future life?” exclaimed the young wife. Itseemed as if one of the first shadows passed over her sunny thoughts.
“Faith realises it， and the priests tell us so，” replied her husband; “but amid all myhappiness I feel that it is arrogant to demand a continuation of it—another life after this. Hasnot so much been given us in this world that we ought to be， we must be， contented withit?”
“Yes， it has been given to us，” said the young wife， “but this life is nothing more thanone long scene of trial and hardship to many thousands. How many have been cast into thisworld only to endure poverty， shame， illness， and misfortune? If there were no futurelife， everything here would be too unequally divided， and God would not be thepersonification of justice.”
“the beggar there，” said her husband， “has joys of his own which seem to him GREat，and cause him as much pleasure as a king would find in the magnificence of his palace. And thendo you not think that the beast of burden， which suffers blows and hunger， and works itselfto death， suffers just as much from its miserable fate? The dumb creature might demand afuture life also， and declare the law unjust that excludes it from the advantages of the highercreation.”
“Christ said： 'In my father's house are many mansions，'” she answered. “Heaven is asboundless as the love of our Creator; the dumb animal is also His creature， and I firmlybelieve that no life will be lost， but each will receive as much happiness as he can enjoy， whichwill be sufficient for him.”
“This world is sufficient for me，” said the husband， throwing his arm round hisbeautiful， sweet-tempered wife. He sat by her side on the open balcony， smoking a cigarettein the cool air， which was loaded with the sweet scent of carnations and orange blossoms.Sounds of music and the clatter of castanets came from the road beneath， the stars shoneabove then， and two eyes full of affection—those of his wife—looked upon him with theexpression of undying love. “Such a moment，” he said， “makes it worth while to be born， todie， and to be annihilated!” He smiled—the young wife raised her hand in gentle reproof，and the shadow passed away from her mind， and they were happy—quite happy.
Everything seemed to work together for their good. They advanced in honour， inprosperity， and in happiness. A change came certainly， but it was only a change of place andnot of circumstances.
the young man was sent by his Sovereign as ambassador to the Russian Court. This wasan office of high dignity， but his birth and his acquirements entitled him to the honour. Hepossessed a large fortune， and his wife had brought him wealth equal to his own， for shewas the daughter of a rich and respected merchant. One of this merchant's largest and finestships was to be sent that year to Stockholm， and it was arranged that the dear youngcouple， the daughter and the son-in-law， should travel in it to St. Petersburg. All thearrangements on board were princely and silk and luxury on every side.
In an old war song， called “the King of England's Son，” it says：