Gonda; or the Martyrs of Zaandam [pp. 452-462]

4GONDA.
flames surrounded him, and the spirit of
Jan Hoorn was gone.
When Heer Bart with trembling step
and quivering lip had passed through
the crowd, there was a strange mixture
of respect, anger, and anxiety among the
spectators of the cruel scene.
"Heer Bart feels bad," some whispered.
"Why, he looks as if he were going
to the stake himself! " said others.
And so it was. The priest was aware
that he had witnessed a murder in the
name of religion. The man whom he
had come to confess and absolve had
opened more of the truth according to
the gospel to him, than he had ever
learned in his studies with Pastor Claes.
It was the martyr who had to absolve
him from the unwilling crime of seemingly approving the murder.
Pastor Bart felt that he had led a
sheep to the slaughter. And yet his
priestly vow was binding. Could the
Holy Church commit murder?
He reached the dwelling of Jan Haviksz, at Zaandam. A man of wealth,
but giving more than his tenth to the
poor. A man of studious habits, few
words, simple manners. A father of a
numerous family, whose wife was, like
himself, quiet, somewhat reticent. They
had the name of being God-fearing people, attended mass, observed feasts and
fasts; but the rumor was that they gave
often hospitality to those of the "new
faith"-that they helped them in many
ways. Yea, it was in their house that
Jan Hoorn had been arrested.
Heer Bart lifted the heavy knocker.
It took some time before the door was
opened by Jan Haviksz himself. At the
sight of the priest he was startled, but
soon recovering from his surprise, he
said:
"Come in, Heer Bart; glad to see
you."
The priest was less composed. For
a few moments he stood speechless. At
last he said, with somewhat trembling
voice:
"Is little Gonda here?"
Jan Haviksz looked sternly at the
priest, who with downcast eyes stood
waiting for his answer. But knowing
him as a man of charity, and wishing to
be prudent, he avoided a direct answer
by asking him to come in and take a
seat.
What they conversed about, we can
not tell. Heer Bart never mentioned it.
But what followed, Gonda well remembered in after-life.
Jan Haviksz left the room, and found
Gonda in the arms of his wife, who tried
to soothe the orphan child. He whispered a few words, and took the little
one by the hand, leading her to where
Heer Bart was sitting in trembling expectation.
Gonda was a lovely child, about five
years of age, of fair complexion, with
thoughtful eyes. Tears were rolling down
her cheeks when she stood before the
priest, who took her in his arms, and
with a husky voice said: "Gonda, I'll
be a father to thee."
The child answered not, but looked up
to Jan Haviksz, who said: "Yes, dear
Gonda, Heer Bart will take care of thee;
he promised so to thy father."
At the word "father," the child broke
out in sobs, all the while nestling in the
priest's arms.
That very evening a new life dawned
for Heer Bart. When coming to his
parsonage, his old and trusty Betje, the
keeper of his solitary home, took charge
of Gonda; carried her to her little bedroom, adorned with many pictures of
saints; told her she was the Virgin's
own little one, and Pastor Bart would
care for her.
The child was quiet and thoughtful.
Tears had ceased to stream-now and
then a sob; at last she sunk on her knees,
resting her head on the lowly couch..
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