[O. T. by Hans Christian Andersen]@TWC D-Link bookO. T. CHAPTER IX 3/8
The mist condensed itself now to one drop--our globe was one enormous egg-shaped drop; light and warmth operated upon this huge world egg, and hatched, not alone ONE creature, but millions.
These must die and give way to new ones, but their corpses fell as dust to the centre: this grew; the water itself condensed, and soon arose a point above the expanse of ocean.
The warmth of the sun developed moss and plants; fresh islands presented themselves; for centuries did a more powerful development and improvement show themselves, until the perfection was attained which we now perceive!" "But the Bible does not teach us thus!" said Louise. "Moses invented his account of the creation," answered Otto; "we keep to Nature, who has greater revelations than man." "But the Bible is to you a holy book ?" asked Louise, and colored. "A venerable book!" returned Otto.
"It contains the profoundest doctrines, the most interesting histories, but also much which belongs not at all to a holy book." "How can you say such things ?" exclaimed Louise. "Do not touch upon religion in her presence," said Sophie; "she is a pious soul, and believes, without desiring to know wherefore." "Yes," said Wilhelm, "this winter she became quite angry, and, as I believe, for the first time angry with me, because I maintained that Christ was a man." "Wilhelm!" interrupted the young girl, "do not speak of that; I feel myself unhappy at this thought; I can and will not see the Holy brought down to my level, and to that of every-day life.
It lies in my nature that I commit a sin if I think otherwise than I have learned and than my heart allows me.
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