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BOSTON PUBLIC

UBRARY

TALES FROM ALSACE,

" The

monk

disappears like a shadow into the dark

TALES FROM ALSACE OR

SCENES AND PORTRAITS FROM LIFE IN THE DAYS OF THE REFORMATION

^0

HBrainn from ©Iti C5)ronicUs

TRANSLATED FROM THE GERMAN

WITH INTRODUCTION APPENDED TO THE FRENCH EDITION BY

THE FRENCH TRANSLATOR,

E.

ROSSEEUW SAINT-HI LAI RE.

LONDON JAMES NISBET &

CO.

21

1868.

BERNERS STREET

EDINBURGH

:

T.

CONSTABLE,

PRINTER TO THE QUEEN, AND TO THE UNIVERSITY.

CONTENTS. PAGE

PREFACE BY FRENCH TRANSLATOR,

UNCLE BALTHASAR'S

RELIC,

....

THE KAISERSBERG DOCTOR AND LITTLE MAT, THE OLD

ST.

STEPHEN'S TOWER AT MUHLHAUSEN,

vii

44

83

CROOKED-BEAK,

104

THE MINISTERS OF THE WORD,

138

THE

177

FUGITIVES,

SPITZI,

218

.

GOING HOME,

247

MASTER NICHOLAS,

279

THE FOREST-HOUSE,

316

THE FUR

356

COAT,



PREFACE BY THE FRENCH TRANSLATOR, PROFESSOR ROSSEEUW SAINT-HILATRE.

Happening house, B.,

I

to be,

some

was enjoying,

home

of

my

friend

Pastor

the sweetness of that Christian hospitahty v;hich

world knoweth not, and of which, were

would be

my

Mul-

eight or ten years since, at

the

in

One evening my

jealous.

hands a

man

tract I ever

tract

is

not ignorant,

it

dear friend put into

pamphlet containing not much more than

little

a printer's sheet, saying,

mise, for

it

the

saw

'

Do

read that

Now,

!'

!

may be

it

it is

the best Ger-

necessary to pre-

some French readers who may not know

that a

it,

usually a short narrative intended to bring out in

strong relief

some

religious truth set in a very simple frame,

usually borrowed from real

That same evening

life.

I

read

the tract of which this volume contains a translation,

'Master Nicholas.'

I

was so much struck by

its

merit,

the elevated tone of feeling and graceful naivete which it

from beginning to end, that

pleasure of translating

it

I at

by

mark

once promised myself the

and making

it

known

in

France.

Preface.

vlii

The

next morning, as

thanked Pastor B. for

I

question was one which

first

me

eager to put to

'

:

Who

my

depths of your remote Alsace

And

my

here, I

must

unknown

had so much break

to

incognito^

but to

may have

now no

youth

its

make

the wished-for I

modesty with which

veil of

guessed,

it is

a

woman) has

cannot be more than partially withdrawn.

herself,

She was once young, preserves

no

But the secret of the anonymous author

as the reader

enveloped

is

delight. in translating, I hastened not only to

have no right to betray, and the (for,

which

This unknown author

After having read the work I have

me.

through the

acquaintance.

she

from the

for us

"?'

confess, I have reached a point at

embarrassment begins.

longer

my

unknown

the author of this

is

which you are disinterring

chef-d'oeuvre

his gift,

readers would doubtless be

is

so

now no more,

but her heart ever

She looks back upon

!

illusions for her,

life,

which has

but which has enriched her with

treasures of experience manifest in each line that flows from

her pen. little

work

If,

dear reader, you long to

at

once so

—now you know

all

light

I

if

the

author, to find her out

by working

it

out in your

have tried to sketch I fulfilled

my

racy,

know

and so

the writer of a

truly deep,

of her that I have any right to

only remains for you, its

and

little

own

tell.

volume leads you

by means of

it,

and

why, It

to love

to complete,

thoughts, the rough draught

for you.

promise to myself, and translated

'

Master

Preface.

much

Nicholas^ with as

my

work of

care as I could have lavished on any

own, and with

the author's friendship.



ix

all

I felt

the freedom granted it,

may

and long enough too, as

however, easily

my

me by

duty to wait,

be perceived,



till

another was added to the first-born to form

one

tract after

this

slender volume.

During the

interval, the author of

'Master Nicholas' {Meister Klaus) and of 'Little Mat'

by

has, in the quietest way, advancing

{Der Kleine Matthis)

gentle steps, attained, I will not say fame, too high-sounding

a word for these larity.

that part of

France,

little

Not Alsace

is

which

it

now

matters, but an ever increasing popu-

but Germany, and

alone,

contiguous with the frontier of

is

familiar with

The

'

Strasburg Tracts as such. '

But what touches the author most sensibly of her

anonymous work,

heart, that she has

in the success

the assurance, so sweet to her

is

been the means of doing some good.

With the exception of some few masterpieces of destined to last for ages, nearly

as

quickly

as

all

their

and I

my

whom

inspiration,

must plead

'

their

literature,

books here below pass away writers.

volumes, great or small, of which

Master from

especially

it

Happy,

may be

then,

the

said, as of the

authors derived their every

gift

they go about doing good.' guilty to having felt jealous

country as regards this

little

work, which

on behalf of is

in

reality

French, as being Alsatian, although originally written in

German.

One

object in presenting

it

in its

new

form,

is

to

!

X

Preface.

give its I

it

Having obtained, by

right of citizenship in France.

means, some welcome rest amid more serious labours,

noAv offer

French reader, by no means without

to the

it

a feeling of uneasiness on

(I will

not disguise

arising

from the state of the times and of current

it)

behalf,

its

literature.

In fact nothing can have less resemblance to the fashionable novels of the day than these tales, for they breathe the

The

purest morality, and are inspired by the tniest piety.

heroes of the

little

ideal world in

succeed

in painting

learned

to love

first

her picture,

at large, yet so in

its

well,

it

heart

in the sixteenth

be able to

necessary to have

As

little

to

to the

known

frame of

to

Alsace, so

and manners, so French

morals its

is

;

author delights

and

;

right well.

worthy of being known

science,

patriotism and

them

always Alsace, so

is

it

them so

my

which

dwell are almost always children

to

!

France

German in

its

Alsace, which, in a word, inscribed,

century, so

many an honoured name

in

the pages of our martyrology, and which ought, at least, to

be very deeply attached to that

faith

which cost her so

dear

The

scene

is

often placed in our narratives in one of

those fine old small towns of Alsace, which seem so fresh, so mediceval, as

by the the

levelling

first

if

but just exhumed, and as yet untouched

hand of our monotonous

i^lace there

appears,

as in the

'

civilisation.

In

old St. Stephen's

Tower,' one of those ancient edifices, dear to every burgess

Preface.

xi

as a living personification of his native town,

the luck-

till

day dawn when the hammer of speculation must needs

less

Then

begin the work of demolition. the old tower, one with

it,

living in its

again, incrusted in life,

days, like that of Melchior,

— perhaps

we behold some

of the good

capital antiquated figure, characteristic

old

the most original of

our author's creations.

But some reader, resolved to be amused only according to rule,

and

compromising himself by yielding

afraid of

freely to the pleasure

he

feels in

bethink him of inquiring for '

Are they intended

You do

whom

addressed to then

tell

me

all if I

it

it,

than

I

man

I

do know

heart.

have deceived you, or

As

%

should waste

for

%

In truth, I

doubt whether the author can

What

who have any

their right address.

destined.

tales'?'

and I.

may

grown-up persons

are they written, gentle reader

more about

stories,

they are

not pretend that a reasonable

know nothing about tell

whom

for children or for

time in reading children's

For

reading these

me,

I

is

that they are

Only read them, and if

they have reached

have read them to grave

personages, who, with a tear in the corner of the eye and a smile on their

lips,

have been surprised at finding them-

selves either melted or tales

;

charmed by these despised

children's

and when, by chance, children have heard them, they

have been entranced and captivated on finding their own language so well understood.

— Preface.

xii

Here, however,

we touch on

interest,



genius,

so different

among

the richest of

that of the nature

The German poet and a

genius little

from ours

in

and

France,

the varieties of the

all

^

a question of more grave

and character of the German-

may be

human

family.

described in two words

coupled together

child

certainly

!

There

a

:

an

is

indescribable mixture of the naive and the lofty, the in-

and the sublime, connected with the perfect good

fantine faith

of that primitive people,

who have kept

sible youthfulness,

still

fresh after ages

If there exist in this world

made

two

irrepres-

have passed over

varieties of national genius

One

is

always ironical

always ready to laugh at others, and at himself too. other, simple to a degree almost

impatient of irony, which

is

always quick to grow angry it

strikes

me

German

I see her

^

*

nature.

French

taste,

little

its

nature,

feeling itself misunderstood.

which

truly reflects this

Thus,

instinctively shrink

Genie,''

ever repugnant to if

The

to childishness,

I

at first sight

may

double tendency

admire her audacity when

not afraid to condescend to certain

familiar that

sudden, a

amounting

that, in a style

seem humble, our author of the

would

it.

not to understand one another, assuredly they must

be the German and the French.

Now

to

.closer

Nature than we have, and who are gifted with an

details,

always rather mounted on

from them.

And

so

stilts,

again, all of a

vignette of an Alsatian landscape sketched

— a word scarcely capable of being adequately

translated.

— Preface.

by a master's hand,

xili

— an unfolding (altogether unlooked human

of the workings of a

deep

laid bare with a

soul,

for)

penetration which surprises one, reveals, in the midst of a

and of acute

childish narrative, treasures of life-experience,

and sagacious observation.

M.

'

Josse, thou art a goldsmith

So be

reply.

it

But

!

if

I

!'

may be my

have succeeded

reader's

securing

in

these precious pearls in a setting by which they lose nothing,

have revealed to France the

if I

home

familiar, so

her, I

it

life

of a people

and a whole

in such close contact with her,

me

that after

my

all

time

so

literature,

charming, yet the existence of which

appears to

now

new

is

to

not wasted.

is

have always loved Germany too well to believe in the

To draw

possibility of a

war between France and her

together

two great nations, held aloof from one

these

another by so

know one

to

stretch out a

many

prejudices, one

another,

must

!

teach them

first

and to

then to love one another,

hand mutually across

that noble

Rhine which

rather unites than separates them. I

have travelled much and often in the north and in the

south,

and have been much struck by one

the Bible life

is

Wherever

not the corner-stone of education, of society, of

in general, there

the people at large.

is

no

literature for children,

Look

at Spain, Italy,

every land, in short, in which the Bible is

fact.

no reading

for the child

—none

is

— none

France

itself

not read.

for the

for

working

There

man

!

xiv

Preface.

In Germany, in England, on the contrary, we find a mass of popular and juvenile Christian literature, in which the national genius fairy tales

is

Instead of those

reflected as in a mirror.

which repel one by

their nonsensical character, or

of those novels which rouse one's indignation by their immorality,

you have immortal works such

or Uncle Tonis Cabin^

—writings

as Robinson Crusoe

for all ages, for all classes

of society, calculated to charm every succeeding generation. Or, in a humbler rank, you have narratives such as those

now

offered to the reader,

faith

and human sympathy, impregnated with

drawn from the

living sources of all

the tender-

ness of the family circle, addressed to and understood by all,

but more especially by children and by unsophisticated

readers. I

This

is

and popular

the juvenile

my

cannot but covet on behalf of

tomed

as she

is

for

two centuries

literature

which

native land, accus-

to reign over

Europe

in

the empire of mind, thanks to her immortal phalanx of great writers, to

whom

one

art

alone

is

lacking, that of

speaking to the young and the popular mind, and of reaching I

this

it

by frequent appeals

to the heart.

have hitherto dwelt on the tender and childlike side of work.

more

I

must not conclude without saying a word on

serious character,

little tales.

attention,

This

and on

it

on the

its

really historical value of these

was which

first

this side I believe,

peculiarly attracted

my

dear reader, they will

be found not unworthy to engage yours.

You

will find,

XV

Preface.

along with a profound acquaintance with Alsace and her ancient chronicles, a page,

hereby added

full

of glory yet hitherto inedited,

to that History of the Reformation to which

each century and each people must contribute quota,

—which

own

must be evermore continued, never com-

The

pleted here below.

mind a

its

authoress has formed in her

certain ideal, both religious

and

own

historical, of the

annals of the Reformation, which she seeks to work out by availing herself of the old legends of her native country,

only supplying by fancy that detail which historic narrative leaves blank.

In these

stories,

apparently detached and independent of

one another, we may discern a secret plan which binds them together, betrayed

all

by the re-appearance of the same per-

sonages in altered positions and at different ages.

endeavour

in a

few words to draw an outline of

this

I shall

general

framework of the whole, that the author's object and idea

may be '

better understood.

The ManiLscript of Father Aniulph'^ forms but a species

of prologue, detached from the work, but for,

and leading us on to

one of those ancient life

It

first

castles of Alsace,

Part of the

first

beincj omitted in the

;

there

it

preparing us

introduces us into

and

of a noble family of the middle ages

Benedictine cloister ^

it.

into the ;

home

then into a

reveals to us the secret pre-

tale, 'Uncle Balthasar's Relic,'— the other part French translation.

xvi

Preface.

occupations of a pure soul, in earnest about

about the holy gospel, which, so long

found again, four centuries the

later,

lost,

its

was

be as

it

and

were

We see

by Martin Luther.

germs of the Reformation deposited

first

vocation,

to

in the depths

of this monastery, in the shape of the controversy of the

Immaculate Conception, a more serious controversy than might

at

first

sight

be imagined, between two orders, of

which one, the Benedictines, represents science and

— the

other, the Franciscans, ignorance

however '

Little

it

piety,

and fanaticism, not

to the exclusion of ability in worldly affairs.

Mat;

'

The Tower of

and

St. Steplwi's^

'

Crooked-

Beak; are ingeniously devised entablatures, destined to place in bold relief the early scenes of the Reformation,

with that twofold character of simple naivete and of mental conflict

In

'

which marks

its first

The Ministers of

steps

on the

soil

of Germany.

the JVord' the author introduces us

to the ver)^ heart of her subject,

and German Protestantism

showing us

at large

had

entering into peaceful possession of their

all

that Alsace

to suffer before faith.

One

feels

penetrated with respect and pity as one enters the humble

parsonage of Matthew Zell (the yore), in jail

and

which the persecuted of

and the

stake, find a refuge,

^

littie

Mat'

all lands,

of days of

fleeing

from the

and share a common

faith

its trials.

In

'

Spitzi' the interest

striking as to rise

still

grows, and the scene

even to the dramatic.

It

is

is

so

a fine and

Preface.

xvii

'

who only

touching creation, that of the poor pastor forth from his obscurity to

that

humble heroism of

martyrdom

A

faith

which leads him to regard

one of the functions of

as

century has elapsed

—the

his ministry

!

heroic age of the Reformers

With the baptism of blood of the Thirty

has passed away.

Years' War, liberty of conscience has been gained of arms, at the expense of

Protestantism in face the light of

longer

many

Germany can day

been extinguished, courage.

!

But since the

faith

many

lives lost,

at last

hold up

fires

the Church the gospel.

head and

well as

as

soil,

—no

by the blood of the martyrs, the seed of

Germany needs

!

force

of the stake have

waxed languid

has

by

tears shed.

its

Already Rationalism germinates in that

fertilized

issues

go to the martyr's death, with

a

new Luther

Nevertheless the old faith of

to restore to

it

early days

is

its

preserved in some remote valleys of Alsace, and 'Master Nicholas' shows us in the workshop of the aged cooper

Here we may

see

the hidden germs of Pietism in that pious childhood

of

the

dawn of a new

opener, as in like

religious awakening.

manner we

see the grand traditions of

Luther yet living and breathing

in that

manly and

original

conception, the master-cooper of Ribeauville. Finally, in

'

with Christian

The

Forest-House'' the author's

sympathy another of the sore wounds of

poor Alsace, one which liberty herself has I

mean

hand touches

failed to heal.

the religious condition of the Jews in that land.

Preface.

xviii

where they feared,

are,

more

by

a

hated and

so richly

more

The

other part of France. his little daughter

Leah

paradox,

strange

than in

influential

old

once more

at

colporteur

Simeon and

afford striking types of that race,

endowed with Heaven's

which, bowing under

gifts,

the weight of the Divine sentence, turned

away from the

things of heaven to look only at those of earth

and prostrate

tians,

race,

now no

religion will

a fallen

;

save

left

its

remind Chris-

notwithstanding their prejudices (which often, alas

seem but too fied), that

'

well founded, or at least

salvation

their misdeeds,

the

having

This affecting narrative

nationality.

any

is

more

or less justi-

of the Jews,' and that, in spite of

we ought

to

behold

in

them

'

!

all

our fathers in

faith.'

RossEEUW Saint-Hilatre. Versailles, December 1S67.

While gratefully acknowledging Professor RosseeuwSaintHilaire's great kindness in permitting the translation of his

beautiful preface to be prefixed to this volume^

which adds to the French

edition,

^

—a

Legeiides de

preface

r Alsace,'

not only the prestige of his distinguished name, but also an intrinsic value

and

interest, as well as the

authority in historic literature,



imprimatur of an

the English translator has

xix

Preface. only to call the reader's attention to the fact that Coat,' *

The Fur

published in the original only very shortly before the

Legendes

last,

'

'

appeared, and therefore here unavoidably placed

ought chronologically to stand immediately after

'

The

Miiiisiers of the Word.'

Professor

Rosseeuw

Saint-Hilaire's translation contains

only a selection from the Strasburg Tracts,



not, as

he has

himself stated, owing to any partiality in his appreciation of the authoress's -writings, but to reasons applicable to the

French public alone, and of which he competent judge.

nay

feels

The

is

certainly the

most

English translator ventures to hope,

confident, that those tales which here complete

the series, will, in Great Britain, be read with an interest

not inferior to that inspired by those alluded to in the

French Preface.





!

UNCLE BALTHASAR'S EXTRACTED FROM

*

We

One Lord, one

HIS PAPERS.

one baptism.'

faith,

RELIC.

Eph.

iv. 5.

here at once usher our readers into the Reign of

when Robespierre's bloody yoke was heavily kingdom of France, and his

Terror,

pressing the unfortunate

opac-

complice Schneider was perambulating our beautiful Alsace with the guillotine, like a pedlar with his wares that time the

;

only at

bargains were for property and blood, for

our heads and for our

lives.

Not long since, the famous The Convention decrees that

decree

had been

there

a Supreme Being,' to which our blind poet Pfeffel

is

issued,

'

replied with his characteristic satire *

Thou,

clear

The dictum

Lord God,

art

now

again allow'd to be

power amid the Franks. To Paris straight an angel embassy must come. To bring from Heav'n th' Almighty's humble thanks It

was

this of sov'reign

for every

one a time of fear and anxiety

breathed heavily, as in the sultry der-storm

;

' !

and however

air

patriotic

;

we

which precedes a thun-

we were

in Strasburg, yet

the wish was brooded over, especially by us young people, to shake off the

bloody yoke, and to overthrow the

tyrant.

Uncle Balthasar s Relic.

2

Our older

who were more prudent than we young

friends,

hot-headed fellows, advised us to take a journey on foot during the Whitsun holidays. gau, to I

was

Pfirt,

It

to be into the Sund-

had not seen

my beloved bride, whom whom I would so gladly

long time, and

for a

have brought home very soon to be the

my

But

house.

in

shook under our swallow us up, his

to Basle.

to go, however, a stage further, to dear Zurich, to

Father Lavater, and to Frederica I

was

and thence over the Jura mountains

faithful mistress of

those dreadful days,

a rich

when

the ground

and threatened every moment to

feet,

man

could scarcely think of building

house and of establishing his own

fireside, far less I,

since I never possessed either gold or silver.

The

prodigious power of steam was at that time

known, and a journey from Strasburg

still

un-

to Basle, even without

going the roundabout way of the Jura mountains, was considered such an undertaking as could not be begun without a formal farewell of the whole family. little

I

had fastened

knapsack, and for the ease of mind of

my good

my

sister

Selma, and as the best passport in those times, had placed the red Jacobite cap

upon

my head for any He had been came.

upon

packet of

'

assignats'

it,

which

I

would not have worn

money, when at

and a

fled to the monaster)^ of

my

letter for

M.

Luppach, near

Theobald had met M"^^

cousin Theobald

and brought

Diedel,

St.

Delille at St.

Delille, Pfirt.

Diedel,

m^

a

who had

My

cousin

and had

promised her that he would send the money and the letter safely to

him the favour

her husband. ;

but to deliver

I

would

letters to

willingly

have done

emigrants was then

Uncle BaltJiasar's Relic. a state crime, and called me,

'

I,

3

hero of the quill/ as

had not the courage

to take such

my

companions

dangerous goods

Selma suggested the idea of sewing the

with me.

in the lining of

my

would look

for

My

it.

proposed idea, and

Jacobite cap, where certainly

letter

no one

cousin was quite in ecstasy at the

I, noletis

volens^

Our journey was favoured with

The

during the Whitsun holidays.

promising a rich harvest of

was obliged

to agree to

the finest weather. trees

fruit.

were in

full

The corn and

It

it.

was

blossom, the vines

were growing luxuriantly, and the beautiful blue sky was

on the prosperous

smiling hearts

it

was

But

plains.

otherwise

far

— anxious

in

poor human

fears,

suspicions,

anguish and pain on the one hand, and on the other bold

and barbarous covetousness.

defiance, wild licentiousness,

At Mulhausen, which Confederation, soldiers,

front of

and

his

Some

and

at that

which

time belonged to the Swiss

was

surrounded

we saw the guillotine erected on the the Crown Inn and we were told ;

companions were then seated

by French

little

square in

that Schneider

at the table at dinner.

inhabitants of the town were silently surrounding the

newly invented

which they contemplated with a

scaffold,

kind of curious awe

;

but one saw by the

determined

countenances of these people of the Sundgau that they felt

themselves to be

inclined to

bend

free,

their

still

and that they were by no means

We

necks to the bloody yoke.

heard that Schneider was going to Altkirch, where he would arrive before the evening,

took

hoped

away for,

all

our

and remain some

appetite

for

the

and though we had intended

good

time.

That

dinner

we

to rest ourselves in

— !

Uncle Balthasar s Relic.

4 the it

'

as quickly as

be

if

noticed, I

it

now we hastened away from

old Swiss town, yet

little

we had

wings, by the nearest gate

was foremost

cealed letter caused

me

in the flight



to sweat with anguish,

and

\

for the con-

and

it

burned

my back. While I was thus runquickly in advance, my red Jacobite cap dangled so ning so comically round my knapsack that one of my companions, to tease me, shouted after me Pfeffel's verse like

glowing coals upon

'

coward cap how Ensign Hare back his colours bright lets fly His lady friends in glee too well aware 'Tis there most sure to meet the foeman's eye See on

Aye

his

to the



At

last

we made

into contact

with

None

a halt.

!

come

of us wished to

Schneider and his improvised

'

com-

Some advised us to return, we should have met Schneider, and probably fallen hands. Some wished to go direct to Basle, and

mittees of the public safety.'

but thus into his

give

up the Jura mountains, but they were the great object

of the

little

journey.

But

at that

moment

a large waggon

with two strong horses coming up, the driver, a good-natured peasant, offered to take us to Altkirch.

From

a distance of less than three hours to Pfirt.

good, and moreover there was moonlight, so reach Pfirt quite comfortably

;

thence

it

was

The road was that we could

and the next morning

it

was

arranged that we should see the castle and the neighbour-

hood, and then take our wished-for *

And

thasar's flight,' cried out

No

flight to

the mountains.

the cuckoo's pursuit will not equal the rapidity of Bal-

one of

sooner said than done.

my merry companions

We

drove to Altkirch

again. ;

there

Uncle Balthasar's Relic.

5.

took a guide, went through a very beautiful

forest,

and

reached the old residence of the once powerful Counts of Pfirt,

to

We

at nine o'clock in the evening, tired to death.

put up at the Bull Inn, kept by a citizen

whom

I

was to give the

The

Delille.

letter

and the

assignats for

intelligence of Schneider's arrival at Altkirch

had spread general consternation, even

mountain

named Vogelweid,

village,

and on our

besieged with questions.

We

in the peaceful little

we were immediately

arrival

were obliged to relate when

and where we had met him, and what we had heard of In the confusion around

plans.

and the unfortunate

letter to Delille

In vain

a millstone.

me

I

I

weighed

me down

sion

:

in the parlour,

and so taken up with him.

like

sought to speak to the landlord of

the Bull privately, in order to acquit myself of

he was

his

was very uneasy,

surrounded by so

their claims, that I

During the whole night

I

my

commis-

many

people,

could not get near

was dreaming of Schneider,

of hatchets and of the guillotine, and more than once started

up very much frightened.

companions were

still

all

asleep

I rose

when

early,

and

I

my

I slipped noiselessly

out of the large room, where a night's lodging had been pre-

pared for us on fresh straw. '

decade

'

had happily

ing was remarkably

fallen

Silence reigned without.

The

on a Sunday, and the morn-

fine.

Hastily I passed through the stone gate, and over the

portentous

drawbridge of the old baronial

occupied with the best get rid of

letter,

castle,

and with the thought how

I

only

could

it.

But above, on the

castle height, the finest point of our

6

Uncle BaltJiasar s Relic.

beautiful Alsace, in the pure fresh

morning

my

and the

trouble, the letter, Schneider,

soon forgot

air, I

The

guillotine.

glorious prospect, the quiet solemnity of the Sabbath, which

seemed

to

come down

in blessing

to the fruitful land below, as

it

from the azure sky above

my

lay spread out at

feet in

the loveliest garb of spring, between the range of the Vosges

and the Rhine and distant Black Forest,

mind

heart and

to

Him whose

the morning' (Hosea

We on

'

it

was

prepared as

is

vi. 3).

had no longer any Sunday

this height,

in

poor France

;

but here,

really a primeval Sabbath, such as that

must have been on which Christ rose triumphant

Down

grave.

laid a

after

he had performed his

me, in

an apparition of bygone ages.

hand, reading devoutly in his

me

when

the

Above, not

far

from

Inn on a mossy stone, rosary little

book of

That

prayers.

in

him, for in those days of bold

little

flock of the faithful were obliged

confidence

infidelity,

forest, at

then he vanished under the

;

sat the landlord of the Bull

gave

castle,

orisons,

first

nosegay of fresh flowers, gathered from the

the foot of the stone cross ruins, like

o'er the

below, in the ruined chapel of the

monk, who,

knelt a

my

raised

all

going forth

conceal themselves, the right hand of fellowship was

to

stretched out to Christians of whatever name,

was the token of recognition,

among and

the early Christians.

told

him

at

once that

I

like I

and prayer

the sign of the Cross

approached the landlord,

had been directed

to

him

in

order to deliver a commission for Mr. Delille. '

Ah

!

for

for several

Mr. Delille

weeks

in

?

Yes, he has been

the monastery of

Luppach

living ;

here

but yester-

Ujicle BaltJiasars Relic,

day

7

got wind that the red gang was approaching Alt-

it

kirch,

<

and thereupon he went

'

Is that far

'

A

from here

good walker can reach

Mr. Dehlle infernal

safe

is

machine

up

to Blochmont.'

'

%

two or three hours

in

it

but

;

and the executioners with

there,

their

not mount up thither as long as the

will

good people of the Sundgau have

Rely upon

fists.

that,

citizen.'

I

my '

took the packet of assignats and the red cap out of pocket.

Here

is

letter for

money,'

Mr.

The money

letter stay

now-a-days, and

send with

cap a

in the lining of the

the kindness to

has cost

my

all

heart, but let the

Letters are dangerous goods

citizen.

it is, it

and

Blochmont, citizen Vogelweidl'

at

I will

where

'

Would you have

Delille.

send both to him *

I said,

many

a one his

who has

life

taken charge of them.' *

But what must

then

I

do

with

it ?

cannot be

I

burdened, as with a guilty conscience, during the entire journey,' exclaimed ^

No, certainly

above who

is

panions, and it

me I

in

almost in despair.

I,

not.

I

take

will

for there

it,

more powerful than Schneider and

He

is

here, in God's

the

Lord and Master of us

name, and

it

will

not

come

is

his

all.

take the letter from

its

Give

to grief

was proceeding to draw the thread out of the order to

One com-

hiding-place,

lining,

when

suddenly we heard the sound of noisy voices ascending the

mountain, and in a the whole

swarm of

trice

my

we saw

ourselves surrounded

by

companions, and by several inhabi-

8

Balthasars

Uficle

tants of Piirt,

my

and with lightning speed

pocketed

I again

There was a perfect Babel of confusion

red cap.

town below, they informed us

little

Relic.

;

every

moment

from Altkirch and the neighbourhood were

in the

fugitives

arriving.

Some

wished to go to Blochmont, others over the mountains into Switzerland, and others wished to remain in concealment at

to

and aid from the

All desired counsel

Pfirt.

lord of the Bull

know

my

;

the quickest

friends also turned to

way of

and of reaching Mariastein was certainly confidence

gallant land-

him and wished

getting out of this mouse-trap,

in safety,

in his

e?i

route to Basle.

Lord and Master,

to

It

whom

he had just been praying, that had given to the landlord of the Bull a peace

and security which astonished me.

With

almost the bearing of a king, he stood in the midst of the anxiously embarrassed countenances around him. '

Only keep quiet and

with you and

all will

see what

is

gentlemen of Strasbourg, will

to

go

well.

be done.

I say,

for

you there

enough of the tery of

therefore,

;

castle rock,

Luppach

;

I will

go down

you, young

however, that the Bull Inn

no longer hold you, and moreover

pleasant

I will

To it

would not be

when you have seen

go down below into the monas-

send you your dinner there, and

then immediately afterwards you can set out on the way to Mariastein.'

He

whispered to

me

as

we were going away,

*

When

you

reach the monastery give the letter to Brother Wendelin.'

To

Brother Wendelin!

But surely there was no

soul in the deserted cloisters of the monastery,

our footsteps and the song of

my

living

where only

friends resounded.

'

Uncle Balthasars Relic.

The most courageous among uneasy, and therefore

9

us had begun to feel rather

some of our party had

struck

rock patriotic songs which were

castle

vogue.

Secular songs, as well as sacred, exercise an

song

irresis-

Secular songs intoxicate like stimulants

tible influence.

sacred

up

then in

on the

elevates,

and calms the mind,

attunes,

;

as

pure clear spring-water refreshes and revives our wearied

My

limbs.

companions had been singing

They stormed

were more vociferous now.

lustily,

in

and made many very unseemly jokes on what they

cells,

At

found in them.

last

they came to a locked door, and

having for some time shaken and battered

after

and

empty

the

they were about to force,

when

all at

make

the attempt to break

monk

figure of a

once the

it

it

in vain,

in

by main

glided noise-

lessly

from a concealed side-door, and quickly vanished

again

like

a shadow into the

exclaimed the wild youths,

'

dark passages.

stand

still,

'

Halt

!

and give an account

of whence you come,' and on they went, in closed ranks, singing the air of the Marseillaise,

'

To

arms, citizens

your battalions,' in pursuit of the poor monk, several passages,

led

and then down a steep winding

to the crypt of the

brotherhood encircled

monastery.

the

chests built into the walls,

black iron door.

and the

skulls

first

crypt

;

The

—form

through

stair

which

graves of the

they resembled

small

and each secured by a small

Many were

standing open and empty,

and bones of the dead, which were lying

around, sufficiently proved

how

the barbarous Vandalism of

the Revolution spared not even this quiet habitation of the

dead.

In this dreadful place

we found

the

monk, deadly



'

Uncle BaltJiasar s Relic.

10

pale and motionless, standing before a door, which, as

I

afterwards learned, led to the mortuary chapel.

The

*

fellow stands there for

my

growled one of foremost, but reserve corps

;

the world like a statue,'

all

companions, who hitherto had been

who now, visibly alarmed, followed in the and now again the most courageous stepped

forward,

and sang, or rather screamed, amid peals

laughter,

'

arrive' and they so assailed the poor

down, dropping a

black box and a

little

concealed under his cowl, at the feet of

At

he looked

first

him

The been made so,

me

that he sank

skull,

which he had

this

with terror, but

giddy crew.

arms round him.

when

I

nodded

to

a friendly way, he answered with a grateful, pathetic

in

skull

smile.

do

at

monk

my

hastened to him, and put both

I

of

enfants de la patrie, le jour de gloire est

AlloJis,

and

of

it,

was now picked but

up,

and game would have

somehow my companions could not all expressed some degree of

countenances

their

perplexity. ^

What kind

causes

Let

me

*

Yes



got between

it is

%

'

its

teeth,

which

asked one of them.

cried another.

see,'

thasar must

I

it

to grin at us so wrathfully

it

*

among

of a ticket has

in Latin,

translate

and that

it

I

do not understand.

for us, for

he

is

Bal-

the only student

us.'

took the ticket and read '

They

all

raising the

:

As thou art now, so once was As I am now, thou soon shalt

I,

be.

remained as quiet as mice, and, while

box from the ground, and replacing a

I

was

thick roll

1

Uncle Balthasars Relic, of parchment which had fallen out of

1

my

it,

brave com-

panions went out of the vault noiselessly, and I was

With great

alone with the monk.

him

left

difficulty I got out of

was Brother Wendelin, and had remained

that he

in

the service of M.'Delille in the monastery, while the other

monks had for

all

escaped to Mariastein.

He

had taken us

Schneider and his companions, and had therefore fled

He

in such terror.

come, and

felt

had

also

beHeved that

hour had

his last

would prefer dying beside the holy

that he

relics

of the monastery, because he would then hope with

more

certainty to have an interest in the intercessions of

no longer had any

the saints, although he since the world,

come

He

to

and even

me

all this to

overflowing thankfulness

him he fancied

that I

guillotine,

visions of



with

many

digressions,

could say to

for in spite of all I

which he had never seen, and wonderful In the mor-

which had taken possession of him.

now conducted me,

good Wen-

the

had secreted the pictures of the Virgin and the

together with the relics of the monastery, and

throughout a strange and motley appearance. glass

and with

had saved him from Schneider, and also

tuary chapel, whither he delin

fear of death,

beloved monastery, had be-

him no better than purgatory.

related

from the

his]

coffins,

in

which were

lying,

of each.

although Brother Wendelin related to

He showed me

cross, the staff of

many

presented

There were

on half-decayed

cushions, the entire skeletons of different saints I forget,

it

Saints,

also a piece of the

satin

whose names

me the

wood

legends

of the true

a pilgrim, rosaries, and other things,

which the Crusaders had brought from the Holy Sepulchre,

2



'

Balthasars

Uiiclc

1

Relic.

and which had possessed miraculous power.

But

was now a thing of the

atheistically

And

that

little

under your arm

It

It

had been

all

that

by these wanton and sacrilegious robbers.

violated *

past.

black box which you carry so carefully

— what

my own

is its

history

It is

'

Is this the skull of a saint?'

'

I

am

relic

;

it

V

does not belong to the monastery.'

'

not able to say what poor soul once dwelt in

it.

always stood, however, together with the label which you

translated to-day into

therefore I prize

it

German, on Father Hugo's

table,

and

so highly.'

'

Who

was

this

Father

'

Truth to

tell,

he was a Benedictine, and therefore did

Hugo

?

not belong to us, as we are of the holy Franciscan order or rather were, for there

is

nothing

left

of us now,' he added,

with a deep sigh.

'What made him come '

He came

to

Luppach?'

over from Mariastein, where he could not

agree with the Fathers on the subject of the mother of God,

who

worshipped there, and to

is

grimage

;

from our less

whom

so

many go on

pil-

and though he experienced much harsh treatment prelate,

and from him of Mariastein, he neverthe-

remained steadfast

in his opinion, that

God

alone must

be worshipped.' '

'

He He

knew

was then a Jansenist perhaps V was not so

really,

but very

every flower, herb and

much

of that sort.

blade of grass

;

He

and when

the

box and

his

spring came, he sallied forth with a large tin

Alpenstock, and said to me, " Now, Brother Wendelin, shake

3

Uncle BaltJiasars Relic. off the dust

from your

mountains.

We

will

feet,

1

and come up to the beloved

He

go and botanize together."

was

a botanist, and the large folios in which he kept his dried plants he called his herbarium;

name

and he knew not only the

of every plant, but also the particular property with

which God had endowed

it,

and

could apply some healing herb. suffering he has cured,

only

known

to

One

every bad accident he

in

Yes, and the amount of

and the pain he has soothed, are

above, and to myself

who always accom-

panied him in his wanderings, when, in spite of wind and weather, he climbed up the mountains to seek remedies for his

poor

patients.'

The monk was

as

if

transfigured

;

animated, and an expression of deep feeling his death-like glassy eyes, so that I

became beamed from

his rigid face

contemplated him with

amazement. During the conversation we had seated ourselves on the bier,

us,

and when

and then

I

at the

involuntarily of a saith the

looked

first

at the dried-up

countenance of passage

in

bones around

my companion,

Ezekiel

xxxvii.

Lord God unto these bones, Behold,

breath to enter into you, and ye shall

5

I

thought

:

I will

'

Thus cause

live.'

Brother Wendelin however continued

:

'

And

the tending

of fruit-trees he understood like no one else in the country.

He

brought our espalier apples and pears to a

of real magnificence ate

when

;

and the peaches

I say that they

brought a great deal of persons

I

were as large as

money

of rank in the

!

point

do not exagger-

my

fist.

This

to the monastery, for all the

neighbourhood and from Basle

4

Uncle BaltJiasar s Relic.

1

bought

And

their fruit of us.

flowers in our garden

flowers

yes, dear

!

Hugo's auriculas and pinks were remarkably

Father

!

beautiful,

and

and monasteries wished

the gentlemen, gardeners,

all

we had

sir,

as fair as those in Paradise

to

have some of them. So he carried on a brisk trade with the

monks of Upper Baden and every autumn I have taken many a load of cuttings thither, and then have brought some from Baden back to our monastery.' ;

'

You were

of Father

then

very fond

Hugo, Brother

Wendelinr ^

And how

could

it

be otherwise

appeared in spring, he would say Wendelin, and

let

:

the

warm sun

"Bestir thee, Brother

and when

I

had done

so, yes,

was a pleasure to see the tiny green leaves unfold them-

and the tender buds

selves,

"

When

]

me

us carry out our beautiful pots of auricula

into the dear, bright sun ;" it

to

Thank

And

now we

Hugo came

before Father

just like

raising their heads, as

you. Brother Wendelin,

the

knew nought

if

to say

to our monastery, I

auriculas in winter



in a

:

are indeed glad."

dark

cellar,

was

and

I

save the sweeping of cloisters and the per-

forming of church services, and was always fearful and anxious.

I

was

afraid of the

before His Holy Sacrament

Hugo seem and a

said to me, to regard the tyrant,

you with

Hugo

!

all

for

"What

Lord our God, and

like is

an aspen

He

is

His heart."

I

trembled

But Father

the meaning of this?

Lord our God

and yet

leaf.

as

if

He were

a cruel

You man

your merciful Father, who loves "

Ah

!

that cannot be. Father

no human being has ever loved poor Wendelin

since he has

been

in this

world

— not

even his father and

— 5

'

Uncle Balthasar s Relic. mother, for as a

little

I

never

child

knew them, and came

and

;

1

^

to the

monastery

Lord of heaven and earth

that the

should love me, the chief of sinners



no, Father

Hugo,

that

" Listen, Brother Wendelin, do you think

is

impossible "

if

we always allowed our

!

auriculas to remain in the cellar,

and never brought them out into the warm sun of God's heaven, that

air

and

poor soul does not perish but carry

and looked

Then Father Hugo

voice as tender as

if it

then took out of that

how

book of

German how He and

Oh

is !

!

the Gospel, ;

—how

see that your

of your slavish

seized

man

I

could carry his

therefore half-wonder-

my

hand, and, with a

black box

I

(it

— and,

:

He

Brother Wendelin."

always stood on let

me

see,

remember, he called

and translated some of

it

for

what

it

me

the into

gracious and tender the Lord Jesus was

loved poor sinners

—how He

now

appears for us,

our Advocate before God's holy judgment-throne.

dear

that

sir,

and when again I

a

him

parchment

Oh now

it ?

at

soul,

little

his table) a thick roll of

did he call

cell

had come from heaven, he said

the sun of the

is

dark

out into the bright sun of heaven."

it

soul into the sun,

"Love

"Then

sun."

in the

did not, however, understand

ingly.

fra-

" No, Father Hugo, their growth would certainly

"

%

be stopped without

fear,

free

produce such exquisitely tinted

and that they would afford such delicious

flowers,

grance

they would

my

ears,

anxious and overpowered with

fear,

fell

I felt

like

heavenly music on

derived comfort from that beautiful verse which Father

Hugo made me

learn

by heart

than

man

lay

this, that

a

down

:

"Greater love hath no

his life for his friends."

man

Uncle BaltJiasars Relic.

1

Here

good Wendelin folded

the

down

rolled slowly

childlike fervour,

his

Ah

'

!

his hands, a large tear

haggard cheeks, and he

Lord

how could

Jesus,

said, I

with

so have

forgotten, during this reign of terror, that out of love to

me Thou

didst die

Deeply moved,

good

*

Never have

hand of the

own.

He looked

I

so cheered since Father Hugo's death,

felt

into your custody to the

Your

!

;

?



for the

What

!

little

Lord our God has

good

me

black box

certainly sent

for that purpose.

you thinking

are

heart

But you must do

patiently.

Will you kindly take this

Brother

of,

Wen-

you must keep them yourself

do take them, dear

The book

my

you have done

monastery expressly

relics

No

delin?

Oh

my

truly

one more favour.

'

in

How

and you have listened so

'

warmly

it

for a long time in silence, then with a friendly smile

exclaimed,

you

cross?'

seized the cold, withered

and pressed

brother,

me

at

upon the I

sir,

containing the Gospel

I

beg and pray of you.

is

written in Latin, with

which you must be well acquainted, and

any one who can read

it

into

German

for

I

have no longer

me

;

and there are

besides beautiful stories about the former generation of the

noble counts of to me,

whom whom

Pfirt.

Hugo has me about a

Father

and he has also told

often related

them

Benedictine monk,

he rejoiced in the prospect of meeting in heaven, and

he would immediately seek out on entering his

Now

eternal rest. lived to see

all

is

with him, and, thank God, has not

the troubles of our time.'

*

How

'

Just five years.

long

he

is it

since he died?

To-day

is

the anniversary of his death

;

Uncle Balthasars Relic. and when,

my

in

mortal

me

as

come

if

to

me

you raised

fright,

from the ground, and looked

1

me

at

so gently

so kindly,

it

was to

my dear Father Hugo, grown young again, had my assistance from heaven. In his last hours he

was continually pointing

to the httle black box, as

if

he

wished to say something to me, which unfortimately I could

make

not

After his death I took

out.

cealed, because I

was always

it,

in dread lest

and kept it

it

con-

should contain

something which might lead people to accuse him even his grave



Therefore

poor Father

for

soon depart hence, and die to *

know

that

it is

Hallo, Balthasar

Dinner

We

is

!

'

ready

rose.

possible to

With

a great deal.

it

be a comfort to

will

exclaimed one of stair

'

;

why

are

my

I

M.

all

I

friends from

light of day.

!'

quietly took the letter out of the red cap, to let

it

be despatched as soon as

Delille.

my

heart,' replied he, placing the letter in his

bosom, and pressing the black box into significant

I shall

me when

you hiding yourself?

from that musty vault to the clear

and begged the monk

'

suffered

in your hands.'

above on the winding

Come up

Hugo

beg of you to take the box with you.

I

in

and beseeching

my

hands with a

gesture.

Brother Wendelin became quite lively and talkative, even with

my wild

companions.

He waited

upon us

accompanied us afterwards over the ridge to Mariastein.

chest in

my

emotion and

While we were

knapsack, and

it

eating,

and

as far as the road

he packed the black

was not without hearts

tears in our eyes that

B

at dinner,

full

of

we bade each other farewell.

Uncle BaltJiasars Relic.

1

At Basle was

in

I

found

letters

the lovely banks of the clear

My

from Zurich.

Upper Baden, and begged me

Limma

Frederica

to join her there.

me

she helped

On

to look

With holy awe, we un-

through the contents of the chest.

folded the yellow, almost worn-out leaves of the Testament,

and transcribed from the Vulgate.

written in a very neat hand,

Two

old manuscripts, also in the Latin tongue, interested

The

uncommonly.

was written

first

by Father Arnulph, and another Benedict.

leisure, I

have them

made me promise

would

'

Oh

!

'

said Frederica,

'

hovv

at the record of these noble

Lord, one Avho

of

all,

In

Him we

German, and

the

in

Word

bond of

it

is

faith,

above

of

men love,

one's heart to look

How

!

closely are

which embraces

Enoch

all

own

to our

we the

times

!

one baptism, one God and Father

all,

and through

all,

and

in us all?"

and

!'

Brother Wendelin, of the hero of our

prepared for him a very pretty

warms

are all one in holy fellowship, here below

there above

become

into

mind, which had honestly

children of God, from Abel and

One

them

translate

in faith in Jesus Christ.

united to them by the

'^

who was when I had

that,

had found peace

struggled after truth, and

God, and

by Brother

Father Hugo's diary gave us a deep

printed.

into a very beautiful

insight

at a later period

related their contents to Frederica,

I

so fascinated that she

time and

me

in the twelfth century

little

little

whom

little

I

had much to

company

at

agreeable surprise.

purse, into

tell,

had

Baden. Frederica

She knitted a

which every one of the company

put his mite, and the wealthy several dollars the monastery where Wendelin was

still

had

;

then, from in

remem-

Uncle Balthasar's Relic.

19

brance, flowers were bought, and packed in a large box,

Baden bonbons and

besides

A

delicacies.

and

her,

to deliver

as

happy

how much chest,

which

better is

become my beloved till

later,

and

been

and the packing,

silver,

and pictures of saints, has

and

me

to

a holy sepulchre,

and most lovely memories.

happy, and with a heart

weeks

it,

all

of ebony lined with

scrolls

relic,

had

the great morning of the resurrection, I have

my fondest

confided

We

to give than to receive.

is

it

made

and adorned with wonderful

to which,

to receive

as children during the purchasing

felt

The black since

him

Wendelin.

lines for Brother

added a few and we

in safety to the landlord of the Bull

it

the latter to ask

I wrote to

Inn.

kinds of sweetmeats and

all

lady from Basle offered to take the box with

my

full

Baden

I left

of early love and hope

a few

:

Frederica died of a low fever, and the Lord

then said to me, 'Thou shalt go through

life

alone.'

The same day that I received Frederica's papers from Zurich, a letter came from Father Lavater, and another from the landlord of the Bull at follows '

Pfirt.

I will give

them both

as

:

Among the

heavy

afflictions

deeply-tried Balthasar, one

is,

which

lie

upon me, my dear

that I cannot fly to

you

in

person, instead of sending a few lines of brotherly consolation

and

heartfelt I

say.

my

sympathy.

I felt

was ashamed that

I

your sad

loss, that I

can truly

could do absolutely nothing for

friend under so afflictive an event.

My

may

heart's desire

Ah

!

what should we be without these touchings of God's hand

]

and prayer Daily do that

I

is,

that God's healing finger

feel this

happens

to us

more deeply.

touch you.

May we

in everything

be led to recognise God's love comfort-

20

Uncle BaltJiasar s Relic.

ing us from on high

Dear brother

!

where you do not see

and

;

in

the Lord, believe

this fiery trial

let

be to you a

pledge and seal of sweet and heavenly consolation

and

Amen

!

John Caspar Lavater.

!

In great haste.'

'

'

Amen

Greeting to you, Citizen Balthasar, *

hereby inform you that we

I

Brother Wendelin.

He

had desired

remembered

and

to

to you,

the benefits bestowed

morning buried

be most kindly

to

much

thank you very

for all

They The money came

upon him from Upper Baden.

were a source of great pleasure to him. at

this

an acceptable time, as thereby we were able to nurse him

well during his illness,

and

early yesterday he spoke to lord,

me

to let

me

him want

for

nothing

unreservedly, and said,

;

and

"Land-

send some one to Mariastein; a brother must come to

Holy Sacrament,

with the

night Father

Hugo

Wendelin, shake

up with me

for I shall very

appeared to

me and

into Paradise,

than on our mountains

;'

said,

from your

off the last dust

where much

soon '

die.

Last

Now, Brother

feet,

and come

fairer flowers

bloom

" and then the Brother folded his

hands, and said with a loud voice, " Praised be the Lord Jesus Christ," to which

I,

without end. Amen."

Then

died in the fellow, *

name

it

The

for the pitcher

became me,

all

was very

!

grateful to

you

for the letter

cannot

only taken to the fountain

and the Lord our God

is

World

was indeed an honest

rule of red republicanism is

replied, "

was over with him, and he

He

of the Lord.

good Brother Wendelin

!vL Delille

money.

as

till it is

ever the Master of us

and the

last for ever,

all.

broken,

Uncle Balthasars Relic. '

hope you are

I

in

good

health,

again in more peaceful times to pitious circumstances than

was topsy-turvy.



I

2

and that you

Pfirt,

on that Sunday when everything

remain your obedient servant,

'VoGELWEiD, Landlord of the Bull Years have

now passed away

pilgrim's dress

go home.

will

laid aside,

is

I

come

will

and under more pro-

j

the day

Inn.'

declining

is

;

the

and soon the weary wanderer

have employed the quiet hours of

life's

eventide in carrying out Frederica's wish, and have translated both the Latin manuscripts.

I

have had neither the

courage nor the leisure to do so sooner translated

came

relics

young

my

them into

my

which

I

but after I had

;

ought to relate

how

those dear

hands, and in doing so I became quite

Those were

again.

life

I felt that I

certainly the happiest days of

spent in dear Baden beside

and the remembrance of them has been

my Frederica, my withered

for

warm spring sun was for Brother AVendelin's The withered leaves unfold and grow green

heart what the auriculas.

again, '

and the crushed bud of

Because

said,

I live,

ye shall live

life

also,'

and therefore there comes

uplifts its

bowed

head.

our Lord and Master has

to us animating as a vernal

breeze from across the grave, the sound of those words, Resurrection,

Here script.

— Re-union.

follows the translation of Father Arnulph's

The

second, by Brother Benedict, which

ing episode in the history of the Counts of later, if

the

Lord

will,

and our

life is

is

Pfirt, will

spared.

manu-

a fascinat-

appear

22

Uncle BaltJiasars Relic.

TRANSLATION OF THE LATIN MANUSCRIPT OF FATHER ARNULPH. Thy

Sanctify them through

Written a.d. 1175,

^^^

Thy Word

Truth,

is

Truth.'—John

Mo?iastery of Veldpach,^ by

^^^^

Brother Ar?iulph, of the holy Order of lately

Domestic Chaplain

to

St.

vie,

Benedict,

the noble Counts of Pfirt.

In the year a.d. 1144, Frederick the

First,

Count of Pfirt,

together with his consort the Countess Stephanie, and his

son Louis, the present reigning Count of monaster}^ of Veldpach, for the glory of

Pfirt,

founded the

God and

for the sal-

vation of their immortal souls, and by a deed authorized the venerable

monks

Abbot of Cluny

found there a colony of

to

of the holy Benedictine order, so that, under the

direction of a prior, they might serve

and do

upon

their parts

earth.

At

God without

distraction,

towards the extension of His kingdom

that time I

Ortlieb, Bishop of Basle,

was sent by the Right Reverend

from the cathedral school of that

town, where I had been a pupil, to the Fathers of Cluny in the monastery of Veldpach, divinity there,

in order that I

and especially that

I

might become familiar

with the writings of the Abbot of Clairvaux,

Bernard

;

and

I

noble Count Frederick the castle of Hohen-Pfirt.

Now

now

called St.

was subsequently received into the holy

Benedictine order, and later

^

might study

still,

First,

In this

called Feldbach, situated

during the lifetime of the

appointed chaplain of the

difficult

post

I

have neither

between Altkirch and

Pfirt.

Uncle Balthasar's Relic.

done anything,

said nor

in

my

public capacity, knowingly

could not answer at the Great

and

willingly, for

Day

before God's holy judgment-throne.

which

compelled on account of

I

23

my

am, however,

I

and of the

great weakness,

which always cleaves to me, to acknowledge that

in sight

sin

of

the Omniscient God, w^ho tries the heart and reins, I must

always stand as a great sinner

and while

;

I

was an inmate

of the baronial castle, I have often grievously sinned through anger, harsh

and unseemly words, and too severe judgments,

which may our merciful God not lay to

my charge,

but by His

grace forgive, for the sake of the merits of the blood of our crucified

Redeemer Jesus

ledgment of

sin, I will

venerable prior, relate of

my

Pfirt,

why and

wherefore

I will

of our monastery, so that our holy

the Apostles and '

among the archives order may not incur any

deposit the manuscript

suspicion of having denied our

Church,

was deprived

I

domestic chaplain to the noble Counts of

office as

and

After this sincere acknow-

Christ.

then, according to the wish of our

common

Martyrs, and the

faith, for

which

loved not their lives unto the death,'

— the

belief in

the holy Trinity, in the person of the Mediator, in the

by the shedding of

Christ's

Holy

common redemp-

Ghost, in the grace of God, and in our tion

faith

holy Fathers of our

blood on the cross ^



am ready to die, acknowledging it with my last breath before God and men Amen. The circumstances I am about to relate occurred during faith for

which

I

!

the administration of

my

In the beginning, that ^

is

holy office at the castle of to say as long as the old

Wilhelm, Abbot of

St.

Thierry,

1

139.

Pfirt.

Count

Uncle Balthasar s Relic.

24

went on

lived, everything

the duty confided to

of the difterent

and

and

well,

me by God,

members of the noble

to the best of

my

was enabled

to

fulfil

and confessor

family, conscientiously,

Old Count Frederick was a

ability.

brave man, and he ruled

I

as the pastor

lands and in his house

in his

in a spirit of chivalry.

He

placed his son, the young Count Louis, under

management and a very feeble

and firmness of

nature

;

of his father's

or of his mother's impetuous

will,

and he preferred poring over books and hunting.

and he often

to

tilting,

This seriously displeased the Count,

said to me,

and do not make

my

however, had

latter,

without a grain

character,

ability

^v^estling,

The

instructions.

'

Rouse

that boy. Father Arnulph,

monk

either a soft fellow or a

of him, for

he must one day rule over a country and people, to defend them, and preserve them from

noble Lord,'

I

then replied

makes out of His

wood

clay what

* ;

He

all

;

the potter,

is

We

pleases.

into iron, nor clay into steel

'Yes, most

injustice.'

God

but

hence

cannot make a

I

young man

lion-hearted knight or a brave warrior of our since the

Lord our God has given him neither the

nor the power for

and

cannot change

;

taste

it.'

But we got on, nevertheless, with the help of God,

head and heart of the old Count were

for the

in the right place,

and the mind of the young Louis was open

to the reception

of the sacred truths of Christianity, and he was willing to

be led and instructed trembling reed, ately the

in the fear of

moved by

God

every breath

;

;

but he was a

and as unfortun-

wind always blew from two opposite quarters with

the

Uncle BaltJiasars Relic.

25

Count and Countess, and very often whirlwinds

fol-

lowed,

it

was frequently a hard case with the young Count,

especially

when

the hot, scorching wind of his mother in-

clined this trembling reed of a lust of the flesh,

our,

young soul towards the

sinful

towards luxury and haughtiness of demean-

and towards

riot, revellings,

and the

lust of the eye.

In course of time, Count Frederick asked the hand of the pretty son,

young Countess Richenda of Habsburg

and Count Louis was over head and ears

was transported

into the third

who had been brought

to

for his

in love,

and

heaven over the lovely maiden

him from

the

good lands of

Switzerland.

During the marriage

festivities at the castle there was

no end

of mirth and rejoicing, of singing and the sound of music. After the celebration of the wedding, however, ever)'-thing

resumed ess

its

ordinary course, and the two ladies, the Count-

Stephanie

and her daughter-in-law, were obliged

to

remain within bounds, and to behave most properly as long as the old

Count

lived.

The

latter

had the joy of seeing

two grandchildren come into the world, namely the dear Herzelande,

who was

comfort and joy; and hereditary

Count of

little

the apple of her grandsire's eye, his also the

Pfirt

little

boy Frederick, the

and Egisheim, who turned the

heads of both his mother and his grandmother, and they vied with each other in spoiling and mismanaging the child, so that he threatened to

could not prevent little

boy was

this,

still in

become an Absalom. The old Count unfortunately, as he died

when

the

swaddling clothes.

After his departure, and

when we had buried

the wearied

26

Uncle BaltJiasars Relic.

body, according to his wish, in the church of our monaster)^ at

Veldpach, then, by the

will of

God and

his

own

right, his

son Louis was to wear the Count's crown, and to be Lord of Pfirt and the surrounding lands.

He

sincerely desired

to tread in the footsteps of his deceased father,

fear of

God

to rule his lands

and people,

that he has a Master in heaven

respect of persons.

ever be said,

He

was so

mother and

*

The

craftily

—a

as

just Judge,

Of good Count Louis spirit

is

and

in the

one who knows

it

who

has no

might how-

willing, but the flesh is weak.'

ensnared and sung to sleep by his

his beautiful

young

wife, that,

though he wore

the crown on his head, the two ladies nevertheless ruled the roast,

and acted without any

control, according to their

own

pleasure, especially the Countess Stephanie, for during the

time that her brother, the old childless Count Ulrich of

Egisheim, was lying on his sick-bed, and she foresaw that the castles and territories of the family of Egisheim, together

with her entire domain, would be inherited Louis, and then by her idol, that

was no

on

in

limit to her

little

extravagance

;

Emperor's palace,

Pfirt

than at the

—what with pages, maids of honour,'min-

banquets, tournaments and dances, eating and

drinking, carriages

and

horses, wrestling

and hunting, and a

cart-load of costly furniture, splendid attire,

of gold and

by Count

and things were carried

a grander style at our castle of

strels, festive

first

imp Frederick, there

silver,

pearls

and precious

things of that description.

and valuables

stones,

and other

When, however. Count Ulrich

of Egisheim died soon afterwards, and the rich inheritance

devolved on the house of his

sister,

our Countess Stephanie,

Uncle Balthasars Relic.

2^

then the tempter came to her and led her up to a high moun-

balcony of her high

tain, viz., the

and showed her

castle,

the surrounding country from the Rhine to the Vosges,

all

and

to the

most distant boundaries of Burgundy, and then

he spoke these words give thee,

me and ;

and the glory of them to

whomsoever

worship me,

wilt

And

to her heart

all shall

:

for that

:

I will, I give

be

All this

'

it.

power

will I

delivered unto

is

If thou therefore

thine.'

who

the poor Countess did not look unto Jesus,

alone could have saved her poor soul, and have given her the

strength

Thou thou

to

'Get thee behind me, Satan.

ejaculate,

Lord thy God, and

shalt worship the

complacently on the riches of out at her

only shalt

this

rest

world which lay spread

feet.

'All that

tempter.

Him

But she suffered her covetous eyes to

serve.'

is

mine,' her proud heart repeated after the

She held out her hand to him

covenant, and the compact was

the unholy

in

made which would

carry

her to everlasting destruction. I too, Father Arnulph, then suffered

wheat by the

like

lacking in love, and forgot what

be

of,

and

I

the

manner of

dealt out hard words, threats,

against the unchaste

with

myself to be

and thus deeply sinned.

devil,

sword.

and immoral called

I

the

spirit I

was

should

and reproofs

creature, like St.

Countess

sifted I

Peter

Stephanie

a

haughty idolatrous Jezebel,

and the Countess Richenda

an adulterous Herodias

especially, I addressed

;

and

Louis harshly, and told him that

him

the soul of his

little

son,

God would

Count

require of

and that he was severely

28 to

Uncle BaltJuisar s Relic.

blame

boy be brought up under such

the

for letting

a bad system, and for allowing him to indulge passions.

accused him

I

honoured

being

of

and prophesied that he would share ous words

stir

up

me was

against

anger,' the wise

among

great

me

derisively called

only

man

me

and deprived

of

my

holy

bounds of secular power

me

have permitted

But God,

it.

had placed a gentle dove child Herzelande,

She was her

He

angel.

in

and

\

from the

if

Count Louis would

His great grace and mercy,

darling,

and

namely the

among

the

guardian

his

and she was a

real blessing.

was about the same time that Father Weridon, of the

Franciscan order, came to the

wisdom of

castle.

He

possessed the

the serpent, but unfortunately not the harmless-

ness of the dove.

At

first

he wished to speak kindly to

He

everybody, and behaved extremely well to me. to drag

me

into the controversy

Immaculate Conception. This, however,

short,

he ingratiated himself with everybody, but

at all

charmed, and In this

my

I

my

I

evaded. I

In

was not

withdrew myself more and more from

retirement I began to examine myself,

and the grace of the Lord led wickedness in

wanted

between our two orders as

to the

him.

castle,

had been within the

stood there like a rose father's

and they

The Countess

this falcon's nest,

in

griev-

clung with his whole soul to the child, and the

child to him, It

who

so,

it

'

the anger

the noble family,

office, if

do

to

But

says

Father Wolf.'

'

who

Eli,

more than God;

Eli's fate.

Stephanie would certainly have driven

thorns.

another

mother, wife and child

his

bad

all

heart,

me

to discover the leaven of

and by the mouth of a holy inno-

\

Uncle Balthasars Relic. cent,

namely

little

word

29

He

that of the child Herzelande.

to touch

ashamed on account

my of my

heart

to

the quick.

the

little

I

if

me

little

at the

and

there,

left to herself,

upon the

the old falcon hen looked titious

were no longer

Herzelande was equally

— seeing

dove



was a

it

natural consequence that the child and myself were I related to

the words which

fell

her

many

from

my

especially

much

devoured

things, while she lips,

as

that

as a surrep-

egg which did not belong to her brood,

together.

As

of love.

spirit

they had begun to take scarcely any notice of

and to act as

became

passionate wrath, and humbled

myself before God, and- prayed for a

castle,

caused a I

when

I told

her the beautiful stories out of the Bible concerning the sufferings

and death of our Lord Jesus on the

sat with the child well,

little

Christ,

and

I often

stone seat, or by the castle

which the old Count, with great trouble and expense,

had caused

to

be hewn out of the rock, 115 fathoms deep,

in order to supply his castle with fresh water

seemed

me

to

living water of

hearts

;

but

Israelites,

mercy,

as

and

Above

to

and

it

often

if

had sinned against the Lord,

I

like

I feared I

committed

;

God had appointed me to pour the His Word upon the hard rock of human

as

me

like

Moses had doubted His grace and

the

great

should never succeed in leading the souls into the heavenly

Canaan.

the stone garden-seat two sparrows had built their

nests in the wall, to the great delight of Herzelande,

and

while the swallow was sitting hatching her eggs, the child

had made

it

so tame with her gentle ways that

grains of corn out of her hand,

it

would eat

and Herzelande often stood

Uncle BaltJiasar s Relic.

30 for

hours on the bench, and watched with a solemn gaze the

struggUng

efforts

of the birds

lows wore mourning

for the

Lord

ought not to be eaten, and that

away

the

for the old steward of the

;

and white swal-

told her that the beautiful black

had

castle

life

of one such.

and therefore they

Jesus,

it

was a deadly

And when

the

sin to take

young ones came

out of the eggs, the old ones took the grains of corn from

Herzelande's hand into their open beaks, and they began to

be fledged, and to spread of her heart,

in the joy

more than once

be able to all else,

I

Then

fly.'

'

Oh

young sparrows

that our

with the dear

little girl I

and rejoiced with her so much over the

seemed

to

me

as though I understood

my

be glad

!

soon

will

soon forgot birds, that

And

almost seemed to have become a child again.

often

child,

upon

fell

neck, old grumbler that I was, and called out, too. Father Arnulph,

The

their little wings.

now

it

for the

first

time the blessing of the holy innocence of childhood,

and

also that saying of Christ,

heaven.' castle,

God.



'

Of such

the

is

kingdom of

But unfortunately, there was another child

at the

who had almost made me disbelieve these words of The little boy Frederick was malicious as a little

panther, and cruel as though, like the

Pagan twins Romulus

and Remus, he had been suckled by a

fierce she-wolf,

on a loving human mother's

had never

lain

to afford

him a

deprive his good

breast.

really diabolical delight if little sister

It

and

seemed

he could either

of a pleasure, or else

mar and

damp it. When at last Herzelande's wish was reaHzed, and the young swallows flew rejoicing at

it,

for the first time,

then the wicked

little

and the

child

boy watched

had been

like a lurk-

Uncle Balthasars Relic. ing'cat,

3

and pounced upon one of the helpless

feathers.

I

came up

as the waiting-maid

birds,

little

and, amid peals of mocking laughter, pulled out

its little

was screaming and

remonstrating, and Herzelande, trembling and deadly pale,

was vainly endeavouring

to release the tortured bird

the bloody fingers of the

little

severely for is

my

Wolf

from

reproved him '

What

and he flung the poor writhing

aristocratic

quite getting the better

monster a sharp box on

up the swallow, and threw

well, in order to put little

1'

Then my wrath

feet.

of me, I gave the young the ear, picked

the

I

he made a mocking face at me, saying,

it,

that to you. Father

creature at

When

boy.

an end to

its

it

into the castle

Thereupon

sufferings.

boy raised a cry of murder, threw himself down on

madman, crying out, Oh, grandmother, grandmother. Father Wolf has struck me !'

the ground like a

'

The Countess Stephanie rushed very red in the face

angry voice inquired, to raise

;

out in her rich silk dress,

me

she looked at

'How have you

your hand against

my

noble grandson

related the circumstances to her quite calmly, '

and

fiercely,

in

an

dared, Father Arnulph, 1'

I

then

and added,

Therefore, most noble Lady, I exhort you, in God's name,

and

in virtue

and

if

of ray holy

ber that God's holy hateth his son betimes.'

I

if

you love the

;

Word

says,

"

He

little

at heart,

boy,

remem-

that spareth the rod

but he that loveth him chasteneth him

"

During

and

office,

you have the welfare of your house

my

conversation the Countess

became

quite pale,

could not help noticing what a transformer of the

human countenance anger

is.

In one

moment

it

can paint

it

Uncle Balthasar s Relic.

32

red as crimson, and in another, white as ashes.

The Countess

Stephanie forthwith asked the waiting-maid to Hft the Httle

boy from the ground, and to carry him into the castle. This however was no easy task, for the furious child began to kick like an unmanageable foal

and struck her

girl,

when

I

girl to

'

Do

not touch him,

Then she took

!'

away with him

and when

me away roughly, and let me never see

in her arms,

and rushed

who

of her frock, and the old

Herzelande was sobbing without intermission, seated myself beside her, and wished to comfort

I

why

castle well,

Because

little

did you throw the poor

where

it

it

voice, little

'

Oh

!

Father

swallow into the

must have been instantly drowned f

I pitied

handled, and

any

boy

had come.

bosom

asked in her gentle

she

Arnulph,

it,

my

child;

would have been a

had been dreadfully

it

sin to let

it

writhe and

longer.'

But could not the Lord Jesus have cured beautiful

its

and

one on the shoulder and the other on the head

of the child.

'

;

having tamely fluttered about for some time, were

sitting

suffer

fist

on the stone garden-seat, and had concealed the

sitting

birds, after

*

hands of the poor

clenched

again alone wdth Herzelande,

other young swallow in the

her,

the

as hastily as she

now found myself

now

bit the

control him, the Countess pushed

and exclaimed,

was

he

stepped forward and wished to help the trembling

you again

I

;

in the face with his

little

feathers

my

it,

and made

grow again V

He thought it good so to do Him all things are possible but I knew beforehand that He would not do so.' '

Yes

for with

certainly,

child, if

;

Uncle Balthasai's Relic.

And why not?' When a poor animal

*

'

deprived of

then

its life,

is

33

tortured to death, and needlessly-

God does not

bring

to

it

life

again.

He, however, who has committed the wicked deed,

will

escape punishment as those ungodly children

who

as

little

mocked

the prophet Elisha,

and were torn

in pieces

by

bears.'

And will

'

Lord send a bear now

the

asked Herzelande

devour Frederick

done

to the

poor swallow.

wicked children

in the

name

so cruelly

?'

in consternation.

would only be what he deserves,

It

'

to

for

Elisha cursed the

of the Lord

and they

sent two bears out of the wood,

what he has

;

and the Lord

tore the children

in pieces.'

But you have surely not cursed Frederick

'

cannot

surely.

could not with a good conscience say

I

as I

had more than once done so

Oh

'

else a

him

1

pray, pray,

bear will

to pieces,

?

No

!

you

Father Arnulph, have done that?'

in

my

No

to the child,

heart.

do not curse him, Father Arnulph, or

come

out of "Wolf's Hollow,"^ and tear

because he has so cruelly tortured the poor

bird!' I

stood there before the child in her dove-like innocence,

an old and great sinner; and the Spirit reproved me,

I,

and

spoke

not,

for

I

in

those words



'

Bless

and curse

Herzelande had folded her hands; she

Near the Castle of

name

heart

have called thee to distribute blessings, and

not cursing.' 1

my

Pfirt there is

to this day.

C

a hollow which bears the same

Uncle BaltJiasar s Relic.

34

me

glanced up at

with the large tears in her eyes, and with

an angelic look she asked me,

'

Can

Lord Jesus not

the

He

forgive Frederick also his deadly sin, even as

the murderer on the cross *

The murderer on

and

the

Lord only

repent of their

Oh

'

!

then

Him, my child, who pray to Him and

the cross prayed to

forgives those

sins.'

we

for pardon, so that

how

and mother

hearts

we

Father Arnulph

may

he

and may teach him

sin,

not be devoured by the bears.

also

if we two pray with all our Now, you have promised me.

and

;

be heard. !'

At that moment came one of the Count's the waiting-maid, to

the

well

;

Countess Stephanie to destroy

;

my

hid her face in '

Now we

must pray

may

so that she the bears little

;

much

and to

grandmother

I

I

not, with Frederick,

be torn

consume

willingly

have called down

the adulterous generation.

softly,

in

by

His dear

sin.'

Spirit

for the Lord, the

me

to pieces

Lord Jesus

was which the Holy

had been zealous would

frightened flew

Father Arnulph,

also,

swallows, and has committed a great it

the

swallow to her heart,

little

for she has grieved the

This then

me.

commanded by

garment, and whispered to for

with

and as the nest was tum-

bling down, the old swallows being

Herzelande pressed her

suite,

pointed out to him

she

the swallows' nest, which he had been

away.

lead

to pray

our grandmother would weep, and our

father

shall

may

pray that the Lord Jesus

will

Frederick to repent of his

Only think

forgave

?'

wished to teach

Lord of Sabaoth, fire

from heaven

But to pray

for the

Uncle Balthasars Relic.

35

poor erring children of men, to pray and wrestle

me

immortal souls intrusted to

do

and

;



that I

for the

had neglected

who prayed

for malefactors,

and who

willeth not the death

and

of a sinner, but rather that he should be converted

With

live.

this

view of the

cross,

my

angry heart, so greatly

lacking in love, could no longer judge and condemn,

pubHcan

like the

breast It

and

came

cry,

Weridon.

and

God be

me

merciful to

and

upon

my

a sinner.'

to pass that, a few days after,

said

:

'

Count Louis sent

The latter addressed me thus in honeyed words, The Lord bestows an office, and the Lord deprives

of the same

God

how

for the foolishness of

;

rule the world.

to the favour

A

was not

men and

the

wise man, however,

is

wisdom superior

and the disapprobation of men, and he knows

to recognise the finger of

saw through I

'

in the gospel, I could only strike

me, and the summons was delivered through Father

for

of

to

stood there before the cross of the Redeemer,

I

it all,

in

God

in everything.'

and knew which way the wind was

the least surprised

when

I

came

I

now

blov/ing.

into the

presence of Count Louis and perceived on the table a large

document with an episcopal

me

seal.

The Count stood

before

with a particularly embarrassed countenance, and looked

as though he did not

had

in

hand.

know how to introduce the subject he who was also in her father's

Herzelande,

my

presence, gently pulled toe into the

with

deep recess

garment, conducted

in the

me on

window, and pointed

tip-

softly

an upraised finger and joyful countenance to the

window-pane above.

had suspended a

There the old steward of the

little

basket,

had placed a

Uttle

castle

moss and

Uncle Balthasar s Relic.

36 flannel in

it,

swallow,

and had made a bed

And

'

young rescued

for the

the old swallows are flying up and

see,

down, and feeding the young one, and they are teaching

how

to

so that

fly,

when

me

exclaimed Herzelande

Then Count

Louis,

stretched out his

hand

who had

of emotion, said,

full

'

in old

am

I

it

so often

is

as de-

in ecstasy.

stepped

also

me, as

to

it

may go home

about. Father Arnulph, where

lightful as in Paradise,'

a voice

it

warm country you have

with them to the beautiful,

spoken to

comes

the winter

forward,

and with

times,

heartily sorry. Father

Arnulph.' *

May the

child soon

go

to her heavenly

home

for she

;

is

too good for this wicked world, and the company of Korah

which rebels against the Lord

!

'

I

exclaimed as

Thereupon the poor Count was took the child Herzelande

in his

if in

a dream.

He

greatly alarmed.

arms, and asked,

'

What

do you mean. Father Arnulph?' '

Pardon me, most noble Count,

God knows

it)

do not wish

the child also.

well in the end with your noble house to

it.

Up

to

be (and

a messenger of evil tidings to you, for you

me and

are dear to

I

But ;

here at your castle the wind

it

can never go

therefore look is

you

being sown, and

therefore only the whirlwind will be reaped.' '

You do

our beloved mother injustice, and you do not

acknowledge the pious designs of the noble think

now

of the

many

lady.

religious institutions she

Only has en-

dowed from

the foundation of your monastery of Veldpach

to this day,

when she

is

intending to build a monastery at

the foot of our castle-rock on our property of Luppach, in

Uncle Balthasars Relic. order to present the '

it

Holy The founding

37

to the brethren of the strictest order of

Franciscans.'

pious

of

churches and monasteries,

Those

most noble Lord.

God

ence,— and

— that

God

therefore to

of

very good and praiseworthy,

only, however,

has given the means

building

the

institutions,

is all

is

can do

this to

alone the honour

whom

and

to say, wealth

influ-

The

due.

is

sanctuaries, however,

which are the most pleasing to God,

and which we should

all

to us,

build for

Him,

are those in our

own

There, on that territory which has been intrusted

hearts.

we should endeavour, by

the grace of God, to found

a temple which shall be the habitation of the Holy Ghost.

In every home, be

it

a palace or a cottage, each

member

of the same ought to carry about with him a holy place

where God dwells, and where everything

is

not appear to me, however, and perceive

it,

I

and

this inner

It

does

think you must yourself

most noble Count, that

any trace of

and

quiet

peaceful as within the sacred walls of the cloister.

spiritual

here, at Hohen-Pfirt,

temple of

God

is

to

be found.'

The Count looked down on fusion for a while,

the ground in

and repeatedly passed

Herzelande's golden

curls,

some con-

his fingers

through

then suddenly he replied,

'

Do

you know that you and your order are accused of heresy before the chapter at Basle?'

Count

*

Impossible

'

Yes, really and

!

Louis.'

truly,

Father Arnulph

!

you are accused

Holy Mother of God, and of not rendering her due homage and worship.'

of not believing in the

Uiiclc BaltJiasars Relic.

38 '

Did you formerly

me in the instruction now from Father Weridon ?'

learn that of

imparted to you, or just

Thereupon Count Louis pulled Herzelande's

He

roughly that the child screamed aloud.

so

then drew

who can assume

himself up quickly like one

curls

I

authority,

stepped to the table, and handed the episcopal document

me

to

with the words,

sorry, really ver}^ sorr)-

'

Once

again. Father Arnulph, I

but as matters

;

now

stand,

and

am for

the honour and peace of our noble house, you will easily

perceive

.' .

.

perceived only too well

I

ever, to observe

document

it,

that,

is

and

I

I

;

did not wish him, how-

inquired calmly,

and what has

it

'

What kind

of

do with me, Count

to

Louis r *

Father Weridon had better explain

it

to you, for naturally

On

he understands these things better than

I do.

of the serious accusation which rests

on your

account

order,

by

reason of the alleged offence against the Holy Mother of

God, and wife,

at the desire

who do

of

my

beloved mother and dear

not wish the stain of heresy to rest on our

noble house, the venerable Bishop of Basle has appointed

Father Weridon, of the Holy Franciscan order, to be our

domestic chaplain all

respect,

former holy

at

Hohen-Pfirt.

You, however, with

he has deprived of the administration of your office.'

After I had unfolded the document, read

discovered what table,

it

contained,

and quietly answered,

I '

laid

it

down

it,

and had

again on the

That Father Weridon,

the desire of the Countess Stephanie, has

at

been appointed

Uncle BaltJiasars Relic.

my

domestic chaplain at the castle in

my

have been deprived of this

have nothing to

I

which

ever,

relates

to

full

it

was a box on the

and not

Count Louis.

and

that I

— against

all

how-

That,

the imagined heresy of our highly is

a wicked

in the Bishop's

well that the sole

office

stead,

holy office there

say,

esteemed Benedictine order not a word about

39

my

ground of ear,

and there

lie,

document.

being deprived of

and a swallow tortured

at all a matter of faith in the

her immaculate conception, which latter

is

You know

my

to death,

Holy Virgin and is

a very subtle

point of theology, that you, most noble Count, and your

cannot understand, and on which you are not called

lady,

to give an opinion.'

The poor Count stood as a

boy,

little

me

before

had found him out

I

as in past times in a He,

when,

and he looked

humbled, that Herzelande climbed up on the

so

and asked me, Arnulph '

'

Why

table,

have you made papa so sad, Father

'

%

Would

to

awakening

God,

my

in the heart of

child,

that I

had succeeded

in

your noble father that sorrow of

which no one repents, and which works repentance unto salvation I

!

'

folded

triest

I replied,

my

deeply moved.

hands and prayed,

the hearts

and

ment throne we must sin

reins, all

'

O

Lord God, Thou who

and before whose holy judg-

appear, behold

hangs like a black thunder-cloud over

Thou mercy.

turn

it

away according

Do Thou

to

Thy

how this

the curse of

house

!

Do

great goodness and

Thyself awaken the poor misguided souls

with the persuasive call of

Thy

grace, that they

may be

Uncle Balthasar s Relic.

40

delivered from Satan's grasp, and

may

turn to

Thee and

live.

Amen.'

Thereupon Count Louis on

his

knees,''

down

lande knelt

head of

and wept

my

fell

down, pale and trembling,

beside him I spread

that

He

high.

Herze-

hands over the

I

down upon

prayed to the

would save both these immortal souls and

keep them from the take them

my

pupil and his child, and I called

them blessing and strength from on Tord

and when

like a child,

evil one, or else that

away out of

this

He

would rather

abyss of sin into the heavenly

Paradise.

thereupon shook off the dust from

I

bundle, took

my

staff in

my hand, and

descended from the proud baronial in the

monastery, that

traction,

my

I

my

feet, tied

up

castle into

might there serve

my

God

quiet cell

without

and by diligence and prayer prepare myself

heavenly home.

my

with cheerful courage

dis-

for

Amen.

But the reproach cast by the Franciscans upon our order

vexed not only our prior and our whole self

on the subject

among

till

ourselves

opinions, and

And

We

very specially. far if

on

fraternity,

but my-

often conversed with one another in the night,

and earnestly inquired

our order really held such erroneous

had apostatized from the holy Apostolic

in all the writings

and confessions of

faith.

faith of the

holy

we only found mention of a Triune God, and nowhere of four Gods in one, as it must be if the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, and the Virgin, were one. The Lord further commanded that Martyrs, Fathers of the Church and Councils,

baptism should be administered in the name of

God

the

Uncle BaltJiasars Relic. Father, and the Son, in the

name

believe that

of the

when

and Holy Ghost

Holy

— in no wise, however,

Yes

Virgin.

41

;

and

I

would almost

the haughty spiritual despots presume to

we

create gods for themselves, faith of Christianity into

are again fallen from the

the darkness of heathenism, and

instead of the gods of Olympus, worship a whole host of self-created deities,

and so

fied Saviour of the world,

away from

fall

who

alone

'

of

us wisdom, righteousness, sanctification,

However, while we were

Christ, the cruci-

God

is

made unto

and redemption.'

sitting diligently

all

over our

books, and were especially studying that of the holy

Abbot

Bernard, and one of us believed he had found this thing in

my mind, who was whom an inward voice,

Augustine occurred to

his writings, St.

long seeking after the truth, and to

which was the voice of God, spoke

And what was he we are now reading

to read

'

Take and

read.'

Something similar to what

Human wisdom and human opinions He was to read the Word of

]

and views

%

:

By no means.

%

God, which alone can be the touchstone of our it

alone abides for ever, even

passed away.

I there

when heaven and

resolved in

my

faith,

earth have

retirement, invoking

the grace of God, to read the sacred books of the

Testament,

viz.,

the account of the

since

New

wondrous incarnation

of our Lord Jesus Christ, His sufferings and death, His glorious resurrection

and ascension, and the foundation and

extension of His church upon earth, as the

Holy Ghost,

in

the four Gospels, the Acts and the Epistles, has recorded for

our edification and rule of the

Word

faith.

Above

all,

however, in

of God, the Lord himself speaks to us, and

He

Uncle Balthasars Relic.

42

by His Word, through the power of His entrance into our hearts

Word

Spirit, finds

therefore the reading of this holy-

;

should always be preceded by earnest prayer

our knees as

Almighty God

were,

it

and

;

in

yes,

;

on

the sight and presence of the

have endeavoured, as

I

an

far as

my great

weakness would allow me, to read these sacred books

in

this spirit.

During I

study, light broke in

this blessed

apprehended the great truth that God '

love hath no for his

man

friends.'

favoured

that a

man

above

all

my

upon

love.'

lay

'

soul.

Greater

down

Thou, however, Mary, thou

his life

highly

art

others, since the

be the mother of His only begotten

to

and because thou

\

this,

yes, I will say blessed

;

Lord chose thee Son

than

is

grace, but didst believe

didst not despise this wonderful

and obey even where thou didst not

understand, and didst remain so calmly standing by the cross

when

*

sword was piercing through thine own

a

therefore shalt thou be regarded in the as a pure

Yes,

we

and holy example of humility,

call

thee blessed

to

all,

there

is

only one

or on earth, whereby

God and us

all,

I,

—no

name

my

and

for ever

and

faith,

love.

!

!

for to thee

and

us,

given, either in heaven

we can be saved

Saviour, Mary,

most blessed

soul,'

in all ages

yes, all generations shall call

;

But worship thee ?

thee blessed.

and

Church

—Jesus

Christ, thy

Saviour and the Saviour of

Amen.

Brother Arnulph, of the holy Benedictine order, con-

clude and seal this ^^Titten testimony with the

common

confession of faith of the holy Apostles, Mart)Ts, and Fathers

of the Church

:

Uncle Balthasars Relic. '

I believe in

and earth; and

God

who was conceived by

the

:

he

right

shall

in the

;

;

was

come

the third day he rose

he ascended into heaven, and

to judge the quick

saints

;

;

;

life

and the dead.

everlasting.

;

sitteth

from whence

the holy catholic church

the forgiveness of sins

of the body; and the

the Virgin

crucified, dead,

hand of God the Father Almighty

Holy Ghost

munion of

Pilate,

he descended into hell

again from the dead

on the

of heaven

onlybegotten Son our Lord,

Holy Ghost, born of

Mary, suffered under Pontius

and buried

Maker

the Father Almighty,

in Jesus Christ his

43

I believe ;

the com-

the resurrection

Amen.'

THE KAISERSBERG DOCTOR AND LITTLE MAT. Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.'

Matt.

ix.

38.

It was towards the close of the eighth decade of the fifteenth century,

on the

last

Saturday of the Carnival, that the whole

population of Kaisersberg was in a state of extraordinary excitement.

Johannes Geiler^ the famous and universally

beloved Cathedral preacher of the free imperial city of Strasburg, usually

known

only as

had recently arrived as guest stein's, in

at

company with another

''the

Kaisersberg Doctor^

Count William of Rappolof the learned

men

of Stras-

burg, Sebastian Brandt, then holding an official position at Basle.

Geiler was on the above-named Saturday to revisit

the cherished

home

where as a young his

^

first

memory,

of his grandfather of blessed

child, early left

an orphan, he had received

impressions of Christianity from his pious grand-

Johannes Geiler, born

came in Ammerswihr

at Schafifhausen in 1445,

Alsace, where his father settled as notary at

was deprived by death of both grandfather at Kaisersberg.

parents,

infancy into ;

in 1448

and he was brought up by

he his

TJie

Kaiscrshcrg Doctor and Little Mat,

He

mother.

Sunday

was, moreover, to preach on the following

the church of Kaisersberg,

in

among

caused great rejoicing friends,

45

and neighbours,

for

—a

prospect which

high and low, relatives,

all,

one and

were proud of the

all

learning and eloquence of the great orator.

Now

there lived at this time in his late

house a certain

Magdalen, a daughter of

The

Kaisersberg. ears in bustle

on

said worthy

this

dame was over head and

Saturday afternoon, in her anxiety to

a hospitable reception to her honoured cousin the

Doctor of

divinity,

warmed

;

and such as was

The guest-chamber was

and fame.

striped hangings,

spun by

portraits

his ;

befitting his dignity

and well

ready, aired

bed with

the lofty four-post

with fine and snowy linen

life,

his mother's

and sj^ouse of Master Anselm, Imperial notary of

sister,

give

Dame

grandfather's

'the red

grandmother

and white

herself,

was

laid

on the wall opposite hung the

of the grandfather and grandmother, as large as

looking

down

so complacently on

the

prepared for the gifted and holy man, that

though they wished to bless him

now from

resting-place it

seemed as

above, as they

had often when here below implored a benediction on promising grandson.

In the parlour

Dame Magdalen

their laid

the great oaken dinner-table, and set the silver tankard with

the grandfather's

name and

honour, while her husband

coat of arms at the seat of filled

the shining pewter pots

with rich and delicious old wine, the produce of the grandfather's

vineyard.

purgis,

carefully

Beside the kitchen-fire stood old Wal-

watching to

dough she was baking had

see

whether the

leavened

risen satisfactorily, for she

was

46

TJic

Kaiscrsberg Doctor and Little Mat.

to have carnival cakes ready, the very cakes that were such favourites with the

Doctor

in days of yore.

For Walpurgis

had been the faithful servant of the Doctor's grandmother,

when young Hans set was now with no small then, she

had predicted

out for Freiburg as student, and

it

pride she could boast of how, even to her venerable mistress, of blessed

memory, that the youth would certainly one day become a

man

great

!

The weather was

glorious; the sun shone brilliantly in the

deep azure of a cloudless

sky, the breeze, as

and exhilarating through the roads as

The

if it

blew fresh

were midsummer.

oldest burghers

sembled

it

had dried the muddy

valley,

and

chiefs

of the people had as-

Master Anselm's house, to hand the

in front of

'drink of lionour' in the golden cup to the expected visitor

on

his arrival.

to

meet the

him

carriage, to

men

rode forward

form a guard of honour around

and others crowded the drawbridge of the old

;

and

Several of the younger

the Imperial

curiosity

their

gratified

land-steward's

with gay

train,

castle

faces,

gates,

flags,

castle,

arrival

invited carnival guests.

neighbourhood followed

jovial fellows of the

blackened

by watching the

in a

of

The motley

pipes and drums, paper masks and

behind the cavalcade, as they

filed into the

and entered, masked or unmasked, with a

multitude of hounds, falcons, and troopers.

In the heart of

this

tumultuous throng, on the bridge

leading to the castle, stood poor blind Fridli, led by his

black dog.

head

;

Scarce twenty summers had passed over his

he was

tall,

of

commanding

stature

and

stalwart

Kaisersbcrg Doctor

TJie

limbs, but fearfully disfigured

marked even

berg as cowherd sight

and the

face,

A

his sightless eyelids.

had entered the

Now,

by small-pox.

his only

way

Forester

by name, and a

'

Baron von Morshe had

lost his

his black poodle,

the gift of the

Having an extremely melodious

Morsberg.

voice,

Lord of he sang,

compassion of passers-by, sometimes the

to appeal to the

sometimes the merry ballads and national

plaintive,

much

then so

lyre,

happened

in vogue.

and

that

airs,

In his night's resting-place he had

to hear that great festivities

at Kaisersberg,

that

of gaining a pittance

was wandering through the country with '

fur-

pits

native of the Breis-

service of the

there, a short time ago,

;

47

by the deep scars and

rows which covered his whole

gau, he

and L it tie Mat.

were to take place

on the approaching Sunday the

Kaisersberg Doctor was to preach in native town; and, therefore,

hoping

for

the church of his

a rich harvest of

alms, both at the church-door and at the castle-gate, he

had

found his way to Kaisersberg, led by his

and

faithful guide,

helped forward by any kind neighbours he met.

Alas

!

on

this gala day, instead of the rich gifts

he had so

fully

sorrow.

His red

small-pox,

on which

reckoned, poor Fridli reaped but pain and

marked and discoloured by the brought down upon him coarse and cruel jeers,

and while he drew

face,

forth his lyre's sweetest strains

his liveliest carols for the

and sang

benefit of those wild urchins,

inwardly he could have wept tears of blood, to think that as yet not a single

penny had been

cast into the cap

which

Forester held between his teeth, sitting up on his hind-paws,

and looking imploringly towards

— as

he vainly hoped



The Kaiscrsberg Doctor and

48

When, on

generous public.

the

Mat.

Little

cry,

Here comes the

'

Doctor's carriage!' the crowd had suddenly scattered, and there

had been a stormy rush towards the

Fridli too

had been anxious

chance

begging an alms of that holy man, of

in

universally said that he loved

town,

little

might

to join, that he

try his

whom

was

it

the poor and needy.

all

But

a wicked boy had secretly cut the string by which

poodle led him.

Tenderly did the poor dog fawn

feet, trying to drag

him by

right way.

quite unacquainted with

made

Fridli,

his trousers to

his his

at

show him the the locality,

a false step in descending from the stone bridge, lost

his footing altogether,

and

fell

with a piercing cry of pain on

the edge of the deep moat. Little

out

Matthew,

among

Dame

Magdalen's

first-born,

who had run

blind

seeing the

man

lying

there,

companions and hastened back

to

his

left

poor

evil-disposed

But more

Fridli.

help and counsel was needed than he could give

little

;

was not nearly strong enough to help the poor man for although

he could, though with

shot through

it.

What was

to

left

alone together.

It

foot,

little

little

%

The

Mat and poor

;

I will fetch

godmother.

She

will

so

Fridli

to the gate of the

town, and he said to the groaning sufferer,

moment

road,

while before, had

occurred to the child that the

house of his godmother Ursula stood close little

he

and a sharp pain

be done

swarming with human beings but a suddenly become deserted, and

Mat

to rise,

difficulty, raise himself,

could not possibly stand upon that

were

and

the youngsters, heard the cry, turned round,

Conrad, and he bind up your

will lead

foot.'

'

you

Wait a to the

The Kaisersberg Doctor and

The

said Ursula, a venerable

L ittle

Mat,

49

maiden of Kaisersberg, had

presented at the baptismal font an infant from almost every

house in the good old town, and for this reason she was known

among young and

old only

by the name of the godmother.' '

She was the youngest daughter of

Geiler's grandparents,

and had watched the growth and training of the Doctor his early hom.e,

and helped

Kind-hearted and devout,

godly upbringing of the boy.

she bestowed half of her goods on churches, convents

mendicant

friars,

and

and twice a week she dispensed bread and

With added years the good

oatmeal broth to the poor. lady's

in

to the best of her ability in the

overweening love of order and cleanliness, and her

precision in

all

grew so supreme that everything

things,

which might break the well-regulated daily monotonous

made

course of things jarred against her inmost soul, and

her so thoroughly unhappy, that only her favourite

Mat

To-day she had decked

violence to her jog-trot ways. self out in

had

her greatest

that very

moment

state,

— a rare

event indeed,

— and

'

stj-aw wme,'

never as good anywhere as from her wine-press, when

Mat came running up 'Why,

and wiped

Vin de

paille,

— so

little

as she stroked his

his face with her handkerchief,

what a strange look you have ^

^

in breathless haste.

child!' said his godmother,

hair from his eyes,

her-

fetched from her cellar, to welcome

her venerated nephew, a bottle of Alsatian

'

little

could occasionally succeed in constraining her to do

!

You have

surely

been

called from the ripe grapes being left lying

straw for some time before they are pressed.

on

The Kaisersberg Doctor and

50

playing some wild prank, and will not rest

and you

seizes you,

Godmother

^

replied the boy, hardly

!'

proposal, —

begin his

and

he,

poor

'

Oh, that

what

is :

will

'

Are you

in

can any one be so

Mat

bad

foot

it

it

and an alms

spiteful

I

?

besides.'

'11

His

!

tell

you

And

if

I

after his injured foot,

and heal

my house

Is

it.'

be quite dark, and very,

be a

bitter night),

and poor

in

!'

him

to fetch

what then. Mat

in,

What

%

and do look is

to

become

?'

Oh, then you must have some straw

laid in the barn,

him

able to walk again

lie there,

No, child

!

and be kept

that

I really

he

till

is

cannot do

and you must not propose

question,

Ursula, quite in consternation.

me by storm, and my home !

!'

an hospital

No, godmother, that cannot be

do send Conrad

of him afterwards

his foot

lying out there in the ditch all

left !

%

will

will

you must have him brought

'

string,

you may bind up

your senses.

But, godmother, soon

night with his

*

some one

!

Conrad must take the old wheelbarrow^ and draw poor

blind Fridli cannot be

let

to

dog leads him,

be of no avail to him now, godmother

very cold (for father says

*

his

so badly injured that he cannot stand.

Fridli here, that ^

knowing how

!'

How

!

Conrad must take him a new foot

!'

has fallen plump into the castle-moat

fellow,

Poor creature

by which

string,

and hurt himself sadly '

the chill wind

Godmother, only think

'

has cut poor Fridli's

till

good earnest

sick again in

fall

Mat.

Little

force

me

'

You

It is

!

it

!'

and !

out of the

said the

good

are not going to take

to receive this blind vagrant into

The Kaisersbei'g Doctor and '

But, but

sure '

said

!'

—^oh yes, godmother, Mat

little

You know you

and

He

And

!'

good

coaxiiigly, in his

will

be taking him

you your reward

will give

taught us to his

you

L ittle Mat.

5

will receive him, I

am

most beseeching

tone.

for the Lord's

sake,

in heaven, as

mother has

with these words he rushed to the stable

and was out again and

friend Conrad,

in the

courtyard with the servant and the wheelbarrow, before his

godmother had time

to recover herself,

and

paced up and down before her own door plexity, saying to herself angrily,

can make anything of hearted

me

'

That clever

little

rogue

Ursula was by no means hard-

!'

but to receive into her clean,

;

She

to say no.

in the greatest per-

tidy,

well-ordered

barn a blind beggar, very possibly covered with vermin

and even

to touch,

dirty foot,

— now

Sunday dress

to bind

too, just

up

\

and doubtless very

when she had put on her best that was really more than

No, indeed

!

his sore

ought to be expected of her

!

Nevertheless she could only

!

hush the voice of conscience, which gently whispered suggestions of a

more generous

nature,

by inwardly resolving

to

expend a whole imperial dollar on the

case,

it

over for treatment to the

or the

'

Beguines

'

and hand '

Blotz-

Briider^ ^

Meantime the wheelbarrow, containing poor lustily

Fridli,

and

pushed forward by Conrad's strong arm, accompanied

^ The common

'

Beghards,^ or

'

Lollards,'

people only by the

name

were

in

Alsace

known among

of 'Blotz Brethren,'

i.e,

'

the

Small-pox

Brethren,' because they usually nursed those suffering from that loath-

some

The Beguines were women who lived together, having common, and devoting themselves to the care of the sick,

disease.

all things in

*

but without taking any vows.

'

by

Kaisersherg Doctor and Little Mat.

TJic

52

Mat and

little

'

Forester/ had already reached

Close behind them followed a messenger from

the house.

Dame

dog

the

Magdalen, sent

inquire

to

about her

son

little

Matthew, and to announce to Ursula that the Doctor had just arrived,

and was most desirous of seeing

aunt with as

little

Now

delay as possible.

his

worthy

then the poor

godmother, divided between her anxiety and her joy, had nothing for

it

but to submit, willing or unwilling,

desperate bite of the sour apple,



that

is

—to take a

to say, to lead the

blind patient at once into her barn, and to desire Conrad to prepare fresh straw for his couch.

And when poor blind

at last

sightless eyes

he was actually laid down there, the

in

Fridli,

and

the burning heat of fever, with his

frightfully disfigured face, the tears

pain and of grief rolling

down

his furrowed

cheeks as he

clasped his hands convulsively, and exclaimed in his dialect,

'

Oh, mother,

my own

were once more beside thee likewise seen to trickle features

own

mother, would that I

then indeed were crystal drops

!

down

little

of

'

Ursula's

more calm and comely

then did she forget the disarranging of her tidy

;

barn, the chances of vermin, and the gala dress.

She bent

tenderly over the poor sufferer, said a few words of sympathy

and comfort, examined

his swollen foot, ordered poultices

of herbs prepared with wine

;

and not

Conrad everything that could be needed herself thrown a

she take

little

warm

Mat by

until she

had given

for sick-nursing,

the hand, and, tripping as lightly as

though she had suddenly grown younger by twenty go across

to the

and

blanket over the poor man, did

years,

house of the old grandfather, there to give

Kaisersberg Doctor and

TJie

L ittle

Mat.

53

a right hearty welcome to her dear nephew, the Kaisersberg

On

Doctor.

her way thither, however, the excellent god-

mother's heart began somewhat to

near she

felt

more and more

how

she ought to accost her nephew.

him

as

Hans, and with the famihar

the

good old days

No

%

!

as she

fail her, for

that

'

drew

know

that she really did not

Should she address

Thee and '

'

Thou

'

of

would be most unseemly

towards so learned and devout a man, and the anointed of the Lord,

and one too who had brought such honour

family

Yet she did think the

!

Doctor of

not the very

this

old,

Divinity,'

— ah

!

yesterday,

Hans whom,

— she

before true

God

and

or lips

to the

Master

'

Was

!

as a child of three years

she remembered the time

'great

the

Your Honour,'

would hardly go across her

as

still

though

it

were

had fetched from Ammerswihr, when the

parents, her brother-in-law in

'

death,'

to the

and her

and

she

died off so quickly

sister,

had

solemnly promised

weeping mother that she would with

faithful love

undertake the charge of the orphaned

boy?

On

the staircase of the old homestead she was

venerable domestic Walpurgis,

came to

who

met by the

with joyous greeting

assure her that, 'though the learned doctor of divinity

did indeed appear as distinguished-looking and saint-like as

any gracious lord bishop could

same

affable

Hans

was

be, yet he

as in days of yore.'

still

He had

the very

recognised

her instantly, had shaken her cordially by the hand, and

had even asked her whether she continued lent cakes as in his grandmother's time,

baked

for his last breakfast,

when he was

to

and

bake as excelas those she

starting as a school-

TJie

54

Kaiscrsbcrg Doctor and Little Mat.

boy, sallying forth for the

home

time from his

first

into the

wide world.

by

Fortified

worthy godmother was

this assurance, the

about to enter the parlour with a lighter heart, yet with a

when

very low curtsey withal,

the

Doctor

stately-looking

rushed up to her, seized her in his arms, and cried out with a voice

full

of frank glee,

thou dear old Ursula thee again indeed, their

*

A

thousand, thousand welcomes,

Most

!

you the instant

as in duty

bound

Not

to

make my

their respects to

be thought of

honour

for the

loving salutations

but Magdalen assured

;

down

did wish to insist on going

I

I arrived, to

more pleasure by waiting '

turned upside

younger belongings, instead of waiting

to be paid all the other way. to

is

come and pay

the older folk must

if

have I longed to see

heartily

But now-a-days the world

!

me

should give

I

quietly here.'

for a

moment

The

!

idea of such a

thing as the learned Doctor taking the trouble of coming to

me '

!'

stammered out the overjoyed but astonished Ursula.

Listen

what

Hans

I

now

say.

as of old, to

always show

much

favour to leave

once

then,

have got to

all

I

for

am

all,

still

whom, from

dear good old soul, to

thy ever grateful

his

love and kindness

;

therefore

expressions of honour, and

So

separation.'

Doctor led the worthy godmother

to the seat

again after

of honour reserved for her, observing that to her, since

allusions

now many years of

God we meet

saying, the

do me the

all

to the Doctor's degree, to rest in silence,

grace of

nephew

youth up, thou didst

on that occasion she was

blessed gi-andmother.

He

it

that

strictly

filling

by the

belonged

the place of his

proceeded next to introduce to

L ittlc Mat.

The Kaisersberg Doctor and

55

her his young friend the distinguished Master of Arts, Sebas-

Brandt/ now labouring

tian

but the son of a

Basle,

at

burgess of the good city of Strasburg, and therefore pass the season of Lent

He

added with a

if I

say that I have promised

sly laugh,

two nights he would

home among

at his

come

to

his kindred.

Will you be angry, dear aunt,

'

my

dear friend that for these

welcome under your

find a hospitable

roof?'

The poor godmother grew

blind beggar in her barn, and in her guest-chamber,

pared

hand

for

it

and

If only

!

The

pale with consternation.

now this

all

the stranger gentleman

when

she was so unpre-

could have

she

known

before-

!

But

Dame

Magdalen, who read

in her face all the thoughts

that were passing through her mind, whispered softly,

need only be quiet and give her the keys

;

'

She

she would during

supper send Walpurgis across to prepare the accommodation for her

unexpected

And now came

visitor.'

the turn of

little

Mat

to

be also presented

by his father to the Doctor, with the remark, of his age indeed

;

but

if

air,

was

The Doctor

kiss,

after

lifted

him up

which the

all

in

little

and discipline of the good old

felt his

to

bed

heart

at six o'clock.

warmed and drawn out

and amid the society and surroundings ^

small

is

despatched to the nursery, there to eat his bread

and milk, and be put

scenes,

The Doctor

and gave him a hearty

fellow, according to the usage

time,

He

only he turn out a good boy,

else will signify little enough.'

the

'

in the

familiar in

Sebastian Brandt was born at Strasburg in 1458.

Kaisersberg Doctor and Little Mat.

TJie

56

;

and he found even

its

large cushions, his

days of yore, where nothing was altered the well-remembered easy-chair, with

grandmother's favourite

where she used to hear him

seat,

say his prayers, and to recount to him that

still

memory.

lived in his

he said to

his aunt,

'

was

it

and

part in a masquerade,

Do

many an

old story

you remember, Ursula,'

also in the carnival season

young fellow of

high-spirited

'

dance that followed

in the

;

a

I,

would gladly have taken

fifteen,

;

and

you, although no chick then, nor addicted to gaieties, would gladly have gone with

me

mother related

dream she had had

Oh

*

yes

to us a

I recollect

!

approached her

That

'

sends to roughly

;

to see the sight

she said a peasant with a scythe

in the night



!

more convenient time



^just

we deck and fooleries, and we

disguise ourselves, carry

drink,

"

have, one and

Come

of ourselves.

Lent begins

Woe

to

!"

I

swing of sensual pleasure

end

\

this

!"

my

carnival fools

must

I cut !

replied to her,

mow without down

Be ye

in the

any intermis-

full

and giddy

therefore wise,

and con-

thou knowest not whether thou mayest

on Ash- Wednesday be " Children

made

The mower however

him whom

sider your latter

We

thou back on Ash-Wednesday rather,

My time is at all times.

sion.

all,

we have eat, we on all manner

at present

other things to do than to think of thee.

for then

grand-

'

.

.

is to say, friend Death, whom the Lord our God mow down whom He will. But she addressed him enough, and said, " Ho now thou must come back

to us at a

of

my

but

;

.

still

in

the

land of the living

!

grandmother then continued, " forget not

dream, and do nothing, and go nowhere, where the

man

The Kaisersberg Doctor and with his scythe would

For we old

unexpectedly meet you.

young ones may count upon

home on

it,

die

death

you with

fill

L ittle Mat. terror if

folk

must

5

7

he should

die,

but you

suddenly and rapidly, before you

;

may overtake

that occasion, Ursula

We both

you."

and when,

;

stayed at

in later days, as

a travelling student, I have been surrounded by temptations of

all

and

sorts,

many

astray into

my

my

a foolish prank,

my

has recurred to

companions have sought

to lead

mind, and has been the means of saving

me

from

many

'

Yes,'

answered the godmother, with a deep sigh

true

:

a

folly.'

the young may^ but

when one

is,

'

more and more

Dear

and

to heaven, silly, silly

fearfully at

folk

;

said,

we

Yet we that,

ah

it is

and

then grim

one that one's heart

raised his hand, pointed

;

" There

a devout Christian was

'

home he

his

my

is

But we are a

horned

forget our real Fatherland,

all know we dread

!

;

!'

though we were to dwell '

in the sixties,

Ursula,' said the Doctor,

once asked where was

ing

on

like myself, far

'

;

old people must die

we

Death stands and frowns so quails

me

grandmother's dream

and act as

for ever here below.'

that

we must

death,

entrance to our everlasting

die,

though

home

;'

it

and, notwithstandis

really

but the

thus spoke Sebastian

Brandt. '

That

is

and by our

He who

only because sins

we have

have departed

wanders too

far

all far,

fallen far

away from God,

indeed from Him.

from home does not find the way

back,' remarked the Doctor. *

I have, for

my part,

done

all

that could be required,

and

The Kaiscrshcrg Doctor and Little Mat.

58

more

have spent a golden

too, for I

florin in

purchasing

from a Dominican monk, newly arrived from Rome, an absolution-ticket for ^

Thou

monk

can

my

all

sins,

past or future.'

shouldest however have bought from the Domini-

good supply of honest penitence

in addition a

without that no ticket of absolution

poor Ursula, although golden

A

florin

!

'

to the spot,

exclaimed the Doctor.

He

home

her this

Dame Magdalen

and the godmother stared

amazement.

question,



No, Master Doctor ;

my

'

Dear excellent

removed thy ;

and he who could

a heavy stone off

no, tell

poor

if

riveted

Doctor

in utter

hast brought

me

that

filled

with tears.

there a capital bottle of wine,

if

quaffed '

you had given

my

me

!

And

But allow

me an empty

during

quite comfortto suppose the

bottle,

could

I

have

if I

had done so

I

should

!'

yet thou wilt act towards

never wouldst towards a

life

me

?'

Why, Hans,

have been mocking you '

me.

out of that

elixir

Preserve

me

when my stomach, which does not now

ably, begins to molest



has not

it

answered the godmother

always bear the sedentary and studious

case,

?'

the reason why, would roll

dear Ursula, which will refresh and strengthen the season of Lent,

me, has

soul, tell

fear of death

nephew Hans,

me

heart,'

with quiet modesty, her eyes

'Thou

at the

while

lips,

listened as

took her by the hand and gently asked

that ticket of absolution *

actually have cost thee a

smile was seen to curl Sebastian Brandt's

Master Anselm and

done

may

it

;

worth a farthing,

is

God the Lord man Thou

sinful child of

!

as thou

wouldst

The Kaisersbcrg Doctor and

Him

with thy ticket of absolution bring to

healing elixir for thy sin-sick soul from '

But what then must

I do,

'

Repent, dear

that

soul

;

mourn on account of them " Lord, forgive

is

uprightly; and

me my

sin,

!"

And

!

it

daily, in right

thou doest

ivithoiit

sin, into

money and without

hour of death, without price, by Ursula ?

The Lord is

me

for

by

thy stricken and

fear of death,

it all

i),

Iv.

and comfort

life,



as

it

and buy wine and

price'" (Isa.

grace for sanctification in

but that which

God

so,

:

pour the costly wine of His grace, and the

Spirit,

written in the Prophet Isaiah, " Co7?ie

milk

good

will,

and mercifully receive if

and

whole heart, pray thus

trembling heart, and drive out from

signifies,

'

to say, confess thy sins

sweet assurance of the remission of

is

59

an empty bottle

nephew Hans %

to say with the

is

Jesus Christ's sake

His Holy

Mat.

though thou assuredly canst not drink the

for a sacrifice,

German, that

Little

free gift

which for the

— dost thou hear,

stands not in need of thy golden florin

well-pleasing to

Him

is

a contrite heart

a soul longing for everlasting salvation.

And

that,

;

and

thank

God, even the poorest may have.' '

Why

then has no one ever told

heaving a deep

Again the face, as

me

this

V asked Ursula,

sigh.

significant smile spread over Sebastian Brandt's

he struck in with,

'

Yes, indeed

Truth in our days is seldom heard, do pervert God's holy word, Their glosses change or smooth away His Gospel, who is the Truth, the Way

Men

1

"The

Fools' Ship,"

^

!

by Sebastian Brandt.

'

6o

TJie

Kaisersherg Doctor and

'Your hand, cousin

Mat.

Master Doctor of Divinity and worthy-

exclaimed Master Anselm

!'

L ittle

of that shameful

traffic in

^

;

if

you

also disapprove

and admit the worth-

absolutions,

money, that

lessness of a forgiveness of sins purchased for

does

my

heart good.

any man

in

Never yet have

I

seen any

nor

priest,

any ecclesiastical orders whatsoever, avow those

opinions so honestly.' Heartily did the Doctor shake his cousin by the hand,

and with solemn earnestness he added must not

'

With

all this

we

dear Anselm, that the ransom paid to

forget,

deliver us from our sins

we



is

the blood of Christ, and

are bought with a price indeed

— dearly bought

thus

As

!

for

the absolution, the learned Master of Arts there could repeat to

you a

capital

How goes

rhyme

that hits the

mark

well

on that

point.

the couplet in your " Fools' Ship," Friend Sebas-

tian?'

His

answer ran thus

friend's '

:

So worthless absolution 's found, That none will bid, nor beg, all round Yea, many would not pay their groat,





Though

in their easy-chair, unask'd, 'twere got.'

The Doctor added state of

yet further,



decay the Christian Church

the worship

of

;

God

'

is

In what a melancholy at present

!

How

has

degenerated into a mere theatrical

show, to which the spectators hardly condescend to give their attention

%

The nobihty appear

at high

mass

in the

cathedral, with clattering high-heeled shoes, with sporting

hounds, and with falcons prepared for the chase, which occasionally they set a-flying during

pubHc

service

by way

The

Kaisersheror; Doctor ^)

and Little Mat.

6i

of an amusing pastime, while others during mass transact

among themselves

worldly business

organ, which he, Geiler, called the

'

!'

He

went on

to relate

had been placed over the cathedral

that a grotesque figure

had had

to remove,

which had been

pipe-monkey,' behind which, in the festival days

of Whitsuntide, a droll fellow had been in the habit of con-

ceahng himself, to entertain the

mob by

coarse humour, and his comical songs

of making a short cut

his

howhngs, his

that, for the

;

to the adjacent market, the

sake

custom

had been established of carrying sucking pigs through the cathedral, so that the cries

and screams often compelled

the officiating priest to be silent St.

;

out in

feast of

episcopal vestments had performed the service

full

that people

had gone

to church disguised,

cessions and sung worldly songs at

had come

to church

disgraceful

pieces

composed

that even priests

for the school theatre,

with these

in the holy edifice

and thus continuing

This reached

climax

its

Adolphus's Day, the feast of the dedication of the

cathedral,

within

;

now again, to alternate

mummeries, they were acting

to desecrate the house of God. St.

them

;

had formed pro-

masked, and carried on the most un-

seemly buffoonery, and that

on

from the

that,

Nicholas to that of the Holy Innocents, a boy decked

its

when men and women awaited

the break of day

holy walls, with singing and dancing, with tricks

and scandalous sports

;

when

the high altar was turned into

a sideboard, and wine-barrels were placed in the chapel of St.

Catherine

!

He wound

up with the words,



'

Ah

!

when-

ever I have to witness these outrageous abominations in the holy place, I

seem

to hear the Lord's voice of thunder

Doctor and The Kaisersbcrz ^>

62

My

crying aloud, "

house of prayer

(Mark

xi.

;

house

be called of

shall

made

but ye have

Mat.

Little

it

all

nations the

a den of thieves."

17.)^

Whereupon Sebastian Brandt launched on the immoral

tions, specially

life

forth in lamenta-

of the higher and lower

ranks of clergy, the pride of the prelates, their boundless avarice, the ignorance of the village priests,

dissolute

He

of the monasteries.

life

and the

sensual,

and Master Anselm

agreed in calling upon the Doctor to prosecute with

all his

might his appeal to the Emperor, the Pope, and the Bishop, in favour of a

Reformation of the Church.

Geiler, however, replied in a '

Dear

time that

friends, every

I

somewhat mournful

tone,

have cherished some hope of

seeing these shameful abuses and vices put

down

in the

midst of us, our Holy Father the Pope,'and our most gracious lord the Bishop, and

all

prelates

and

courtiers,

have

failed

must excuse

rightly to

understand me, on which account

them.

urge most earnestly the necessity of reformation

I

as regards the clergy, the worship of

I

God, and the convents

they understand the point to be the preservation of these. '

And

so

that all things remain as of old

it is

But you must not

purpose on

suffer yourself to

this account,

faithfully fulfil

your

task,' said

be erected ^

For

now

be frightened from your

Sebastian Brandt.

details,

;

'

You, the

you, for

whom

causing that beautiful stone pulpit to

in the cathedral

vol.i. pp. 51-53-

!'

dear Master Doctor, and you must

Bishop's confessor, the people's favourite magistrates are

:

all

;

you, whose credit stands so

see Rohrich, History of the Reformatio7i in

Alsace,

The Kaisei'sherg Doctor and Little Mat. high both with Pope and Emperor, others,

ment

—you

are fitted above all

and are manifestly chosen of God,

in beginning this great

6^

to

be the

instru-

work of the reformation of

the Church.' '

I

doubt that very much, friend Sebastian

being called to

must go I say

\

however that may

but,

and things cannot,

my

be, the system

in the

name

of

God

they cannot, continue as they are in our poor Christen-

And

dom.

reform our

God

it

to pieces,

I (^oubt

;

as

because Emperor, King, and Pope decline to

life,

it is,

without sense, without reason, and without

the Bishop of

bishops, Jesus Christ, will

all

take pity on His fallen Church, and will send a reformer will better

who

whom

understand the whole matter, and for

I

may be sent only to prepare the way. A voice within tells me I shall not live to see that day but when it dawns on ;

you, remember, I beseech you, that I have foretold '

Yes,

right

truly,'

interposed

Sebastian

it.'

'

you are

dear

Master

Brandt,

!— St. Peter's bark,

waves surging round

her,

Threatens 'mid deep'ning gloom to founder Or must, if through this storm she ride, Strain'd, helpless,

Therefore Doctor,'

let

added

maim'd,

us

faithfully

he,

'

that

its

do

bufifetings abide

our part,

we may

;

!

not, in the great

day of

the harvest, be found like the wicked and slothful servant

who had

hid his talent in the earth.

sow, the other water

;

and

it

is

the

One must

plant

and

Lord who giveth the

increase.'

With these and other

similar

conversations the three

The Kaisersberg Doctor and Little Mat.

64

men

beguiled

time

tlie

a late hour,

till

when

Sebastian

Brandt accompanied Ursula to her home, and entertained her so well that, captivated by his

humour and

manners, she forgot the bhnd beggar and

his attractive

all

the trouble

and disturbance which she had apprehended from her hospigentleman.

tality to the stranger

Little

Mat

slept as soundly

could be wished or expected parents, around

and awakened in

the

whose bed angels held

As Master Anselm had

as bright as

happy child of pious their silent vigils.

honour of the Doctor invited

in

all

the persons of dignity in Kaisersberg to share his Sunday dinner,

little

Matthew was

to

go to

ately after his breakfast, to pass the

always greatly enjoyed. Fridli yesterday

He

godmother immedi-

his

day with

her,

which he

had, moreover, promised poor

evening to pay him an early

visit,

and

to

save his buttered roll for him, the regular supplement of his

Sunday

His excellent father had taught him

breakfast.

always scrupulously to keep a promise

and so our

little

made

to the

poor

friend, arrayed in his best jacket, his light-

brown locks flowing from beneath right merrily to his

his velvet cap, tripped off

godmother Ursula.

His friendly mien,

bright eyes, rosy cheeks, glowing from the breath of the fresh

morning breeze,

all

gave him a something that attracted

every one that met him.

Very

different

his straw couch.

was the aspect presented by poor

He

was not

murmuring against Him, darkness in his soul.

for

at

which reason he was

He knew

Fridli

on

peace with God, and was

not, for

filled

with

no one had ever told

The Kaisersberg Doctor' and

God

him, that

'

does not

afflict

Little

Mat.

willingly the

65

children

of

men,' but as a wise Father disciplines them in His love. Fridli

had understood, as no one

among his neighbours

else

management of

the mysteries of the

understood,

all

and herds

he had been clever and expert

;

in

When

he was of his proficiency.

very proud

flocks

work, and the Blotz

Brother at Morsberg explained to him that he must remain blind for

life

within

him

which

to

when,

in

had run

since his eyes

out, Fridli's spirit rose

in rebellion against this inscrutable will of

him appeared no more recent

less cruel

days, led

by

than unjust.

God,

And

his faithful poodle,

he

crossed a bridge, or walked along the bank of a river, and

heard the rushing sound of the water, he would gladly have

thrown himself into ence, were

it

it

make an end

moment

to cry out to him,

'

of his departure from home,

be good and devout,

Fridli,

forget not to pray, be ever mindful of

Now

indeed he did

for his father

;

children, this

and

!'

an unspeakable longing for that

his

was dead, he was the eldest of

poor old mother was

in

six

extreme penury.

account poor Fridli laid by every farthing he could

and fed on hard, coarse, black bread, with a touch of

garlic to give

it

a flavour.

to Kaisersberg, where, as

on

of eternity

But to return empty-handed— no, that he could

Forest.

not do

On

feel

God and

mother's heart, and for the hut in the Black

faithful loving

spare,

of his miserable exist-

not that the image of his pious mother appeared

to him, and, as at the

seemed

to

large gains,

making

his

On

this

account too he had come

we have

seen, he

had reckoned

and had more especially looked forward

to

lament before Doctor Geiler, and presenting to E

The Kaisersbcrs: Doctor and L it tie Mat. i>

66 him a

petition for aid, since

was universally said among

it

the

common

all

the poor and unfortunate, and succoured

folk that

the Doctor took a kindly interest in

'

man had been wont And now poor Fridli

other

them

no

as

to do.'

and lame

blind

lay there,

too,

beginning to realize that he could not beg for alms at the

door of the church, could not be admitted into the presence of the Doctor, and alas return to his dear little

had been

when

his

worst of ' !

all,

Oh,

could never, never

could but die

if I

at length the

welcome dawn appeared,

the bright rays of the sun began to illuminate the clear

azure sky, there lay poor Fridli, despairing as to his

and without any hope

fate,

—he

offer

him a cup of new milk

Fridli gloomily replied, ;

far rather

No^ no,

had '

melancholy

it is

'

he wished neither to eat nor to

a sin to speak thus

there in the castle ditch,

surly tone, as

deepest

if

! '

said

little

Mat,

who

and had heard these words.

should have done better to

been so kindly

in the

!'

just entered the barn,

We

in

for breakfast

would he drown himself

water he could find '

in a

was pushed away with a grumbling rebuff;

vain did Conrad

drink

God, sunk

in

own

In vain did his faithful Forester lick his face and

stupor.

hands

!'

exclamation in the bitter anguish of the past

And when

night.

!

mother

he

is

let

him

lie last

night out

not more grateful for having

received,' grunted out

Conrad

in a bitter

and

he stood prepared to take away the cup of

milk. Little it,

Mat, however, took

with the buttered

roll

it

out of his hand, and carried

he had saved from his breakfast, to

ll

TJie

on

Fridli

Kaisersberg Doctor and

warmed by

Mat.

up the poor

his straw couch, rousing

so friendly a way, and bidding the heartily, that Fridli,

L it tie

6/

sufferer in

dog good-morning so

the boy's spirit and cheerful-

ness as by a sunbeam, began to drink the milk and to eat the

As might be expected, each

roll.

tasted better than

the other, for since his poor mother had brought

from Freyburg

Christmas

for his

such a dainty across his

lips.

With

him one

he had never had

feast,

this

awakening of old

memories, better and softer feelings were likewise awakened

poor blind man's

in the spirit

was charmed away.

Fridli

queries put by his sympathizing

opening

his

and the dark,

heart,

little

friend,

all

whole heart to him, recounting every particular

home and

Morsberg, the dreadful small-pox, and his despair on

ing he had at having

the

and ended by

regarding his good mother, the beautiful cows at his at

evil

bitter,

answered frankly

become

come

blind, his home-sickness, his

to Kaisersberg all in vain,

now

deep

find-

distress

that he could

neither collect alms at the church-door nor speak to the great

and good Doctor.

With the long discoursing on

all

these matters a heavy stone had been rolled off poor Fridli's breast

longer

;

he knew not how or why, but so felt

so

it

was that he no

unhappy since he had spoken out

and given vent

all his

mind,

to his lamentations.

Conrad, who had been going backwards and forwards,

was so moved by the blind man's misery that he had fetched his

own

pillow,

and pushed

and had clean forgotten to church.

Little

it

in

under

silently

Fridli's

head,

to begin his preparations for going

Matthew, however, who had been

listen-

ing attentively, and whose shrewd eyes were sparkling like

6S

gems, said in a consolatory tone,

good courage,

Fridli

to get

this

;

cousin the Doctor to

and

L ittlc Mat.

Kaisersbcrz Doctor and
TJie

'

Cheer up, and be of

very afternoon

come and

see

boy jumped

little

my

ask

will

you here

you taken home to your mother

assurance the

I

in this barn,

After which

!'

and

up, called the poodle

ran into the house, where his godmother was

still

sitting at

breakfast with her guest. Forester,

who

usually could not bear

little

always began to bark or to growl at any one his

poor master, on

at

once,

and ran

this

in

occasion followed

little

Mat's

call

godmother's parlour at his

the

to

boys, and

who approached

heels.

He

was met by screams from the

Mat, leave that nasty dog outside

affrighted Ursula.

!

Oh

fie,

Matthew

'

Oh

!

!

Mr.

Magister,' she added, turning to the learned Master of Arts, '

pray excuse

this

dear

little

wild rogue

abruptly, threw the door wide open,

the dog, which

to drive out

young '

!'

And Ursula

rose

and vainly endeavoured

had taken refuge behind

his

friend.

Godmother, godmother,

and beg

for

poor Fridli

not?' asked

hand on the

little

I

Mat most

creature's

may go

at the

to-day with Forester,

door of the church,

may

I

beseechingly, as he laid his

cowering head, and stroked and

soothed him.

His worthy godmother,

still

quite beside herself, so dis-

concerted had she been by the sudden intrusion of the dirty poodle, was excited beyond

all

measure

at this extraordi-

nary request, so that she stared at the child in speechless

amazement, hardly knowing whether she could have heard

TJic correctly,

Kaisersberg Doctor and

—whether

L ittic Mat.

69

The

she was awake or in a dream.

whole scene, however, was so comical, that Sebastian Brandt could not restrain a hearty laugh.

This inspired

Mat

little

He

with fresh courage.

caught

Ursula by the hand, drevv her back to her chair, and repeated

most coaxing tone,—' Yes,

in his

me

allow

name

See, only look

!

—has been

poodle

how

yes, I

dog

the

'm sure you

—Forester

taught to beg!' whereupon he

upright on his hind-legs, gave

sit

him

will

is

his

made

the

his

cap to

hold between his teeth, and artlessly recounted the whole tale of Fridli's misfortunes

ceeded

expound

to

and

own

his

his home-sickness,

the church-door, that the poor blind

alms

after

He

all.

told

and pro-

plan of begging in his stead at

it

all

man might

still

get his

so simply, so heartily, so

touchingly, that neither Sebastian Brandt nor the

godmother

could refrain from tears. '

nature

on

Ursula, after

Yes,' said

a pause,

this

the child's

is

whenever he sees any unfortunate creature he

;

to obtain relief for him,

fire

'

and would shed

is all

his heart's

blood on his behalf '

Oh, leave him

Ursula

It

!

possession

in

world, for he can carry parts

from

these

all

little

manner,

To beg

seemly

for )'ou,

! '

it

all

Dame

riches of this

to the realms of glory

replied

when he Then

Sebastian Brandt.

at

my

the church-door, that would not be

dear

little

fellow,

nor would

to take the poodle with you, since both

worship of

the

Mat, he added in a friendly but solemnized

turning to '

of this treasure,

more precious than

is

God

;

but

I

it

be proper

would disturb the

promise you to consult with the

TJie Kaiscrsbersr

Doctor

Doctor and Little Mat.

very day as to the best way of rendering real

this

assistance to poor Fridh.'

Now

Httle

Mat would

certainly have given anything

he

possessed for leave to stand and beg at the church-door,

and

set

up the poodle

because he

the hearts of

was the best means of melting

church-goers into charity towards his poor

all

But he was trained to unquestioning obedience

friend.

he

to exhibit his clever tricks there,

fully believed that

silently led Forester

back

to the barn,

man

tunity of informing the blind

;

so

and took the oppor-

made by

of the promises

the kind and learned Magister, thereby pouring a healing

balsam into

At

his

wounded

moment

that

heart.

the bells of the town pealed their

all

joyous invitation to the house of God. little

favourite

honoured

Ursula took her

hand, and, accompanied

by the

unmingled with solemn awe, to worship God, and to the preaching of her beloved

We

life in

the

profane mocking of burg.

It is

Church all

to listen

and venerated nephew.

have already described the extinction of

Christian

by her

guest, sallied forth in a state of eager longing, not

in the

faith

and

days of Geiler, and the

holy things in the Minster at Stras-

easy to conclude from what was carried on

in

the great cathedral of the provincial capital, under the very

eyes of the high ecclesiastical authorities,

scandalous were

the

how

yet

doings habitually witnessed

more during

Divine service in the churches througliout Alsace. Nevertheless,

devout

such

ecclesiastic,

that in the

is

the

moved by

influence

of a single

truly

the Spirit of Christ himself,

church of Kaisersberg, on

this

occasion, the

The Kaiscrsberg Doctor and Sunday

To

services

went on amid

L ittic

stillness

the Doctor's great joy, there was not a

Mat.

7

and reverence.

mask

to

be seen

;

assembled citizens occupied their proper places in

the

demeanour

respectable attire and with seemly

the brother-

;

hoods, nuns, and members of the several orders came from their respective

convents in

fitting

order and dignity

;

the

nobility from the surrounding castles, the imperial 'Landvogt'

(Land-steward), with his guests, did not

appearance too, and although

it

tide festival, a great occasion in high

unmasked and

in

plain

life,

Whether

clothes.

the

from the

pulpit,

precious stones, their long

as he

their trinkets, their gold

veils,

costly lace

bold

had

them openly

ladies of Strasburg, addressing

and censuring

gracious

lest the

and outspoken preacher should reprove them done the

his

yet he appeared

matrons and noble damsels may have dreaded

lately

make

to

fail

was the principal Shrove-

and

and

silk gar-

ments, wherewith they were bedecked in the house of God,

and

all

of which he classed as

'

sinful

trumpery, with which

demon of pride is wont to purchase immortal souls, that he may then plunge them into everlasting perdition,' we cannot certify, and have no means of ascertaining. the

preached on that morning on Matt. xxv. 40

Geiler '

Inasmuch

these

my

done

as ye have

brethren, ye have

it

done

:

unto one of the least of it

unto Me.'

He

began

by explaining the origin of the fast of Lent in the Christian Church,

its

being fixed as a period of forty days, because

the Lord had fasted forty days and nights in the wilderness,

before

He

commencing His

went on

to tell

great

how

work of redemption on

earth.

the early Christians fasted, giving

72

The Kaisersbcrg Doetor and

to the

poor two-thirds, or

He

simplest meals.

Mat.

money

at least the half, of the

usually required for food,

satisfying themselves

with the

exhorted his hearers to carry out their of the word, and concluded with an

this full sense

fasts in

Little

urgent appeal on the duty of accepting with Christian love,

poor

for the Lord's sake, the responsibility of caring for the

and the unfortunate, '

Ye have done

it

unto me,' and

for they shall obtain

The

'

—remembering

:

Blessed are the merciful,

'

mercy' (Matt.

Lord,' he exclaimed

the Saviours words

v. 7).

with

earnestness,

not

did

'

command you

to build churches

and convents, while

at the

same time you

suffer the living stones, the unfortunate

whom

He

His brethren, to languish

calls

We do not read

in neglect.

He will say in the my Father, inherit

"Come,

in the Bible that

last

judgment,

ye blessed of

the

kingdom prepared

for

you from the foundation of the world, because ye have churches, founded monasteries and prebendal

built

and

so forth," but, " for I

meat

was

I

:

thirsty,

stranger,

and ye took

was

and ye

sick,

unto me."

1

and ye gave

me in me

visited

:

:

me

drink

me

was a

I

:

naked, and ye clothed I

was

by no means intend

build churches and monasteries. the one

stalls,

was an hungered, and ye gave

in prison,

to say that

No

;

but

and not leave the other undone,

me

:

I

and ye came it is

wrong

we ought

for love

is

to

the

to

do

first

and great commandment.'

Musing and deeply impressed, the godmother walked slowly

homewards with

little

^Matthew.

She

felt

as

though

her nephew the Doctor had on that day preached quite specially for her.

On

reaching

home

she bent her steps

The Kaisersberg Doctor and Little Mat. straightway to the resting-place of the

whose injured

poor bUnd man,

foot she carefully examined, talking to

way

the while in such a told

as to soothe

and comfort him.

him he must not torment himself any

would gladly keep him

until

a glass

of good

Conrad,

who would

him She

longer, for she

he should be able to walk

His dinner was sent to him from her

quite well.

73

strengthening

table,

and

wine in addition, which

generally have viewed such proceedings

with a jealous eye, seemed to-day to regard as the right and natural

he too had been

thing, for

at

church, and

had

devoutly listened to the Doctor's admirable discourse.

The was,

'

universal opinion expressed that day in Kaisersberg

No

one ever preached as did the Doctor.'

solemn, fervent words, which seemed to straight heart,

to

'

message

from God, had found some entrance to

many a

and had

any

at

Master Anselm. their

rate called forth the earnest resolve

to communicate.'

of mind prevalent

among

Such was also the tone

the guests invited to dinner

by

These, as they took their leave, gave, one

promise with plighted

hands as a sign of good

faith,

longer suffer the living stones



His

as a

do good and

by one,

come

troth,

and a warm shake-

that they

would not any

—the poor and the unfortunate

to languish in helpless misery.

With a heart relieved and cheered, the Doctor went, after vespers, to visit his

Fridli,

lavished on

him by

and beg

him

for

On

their

way

Brandt related to him the story of

to her house, Sebastian

poor blind

dear aunt Ursula.

and of the loving care and kindness litde

at the

Mat, and the child's anxiety to go

church-door.

The Doctor was

de-

TJic

lighted,

and on reaching

tion was, *

it

The

*

Where

house

he

till

is

now

that he is

is

had begged little *

'

is

his first ques-

poor

from

FridH'?'

As

for permission to

— such

and

his foot,

be kept and tended

restored,'

fully

how

suffering less

to

to her nephew's inquir)'.

Mat.

dweUing

his aunt's

the Httle boy, and

is

man

blind

settled

is

L ittle

Kaiscvsbcrg Doctor and

74

that

in

was Ursula's reply

to little Mat,' she added,

'

he

go into the town to join his

companions.'

What

procession

is

this

coming towards

a chorister boy?' asked Sebastian Brandt,

us,

headed by

who was

stand-

ing in the window. '

is

Oh, that

is

our wild

little

original

again to hold a service with the

done on Sundays

before.'

it

he

boys, as he has often

So said Ursula, who instantly ,

recognised in the chorister boy her

Two by

Depend upon

!

little

own

little

Mat.

two, with most exemplary order and regularity,

followed the boys his companions, each carrying his supper in his hand.

Little

Mat, a white

shirt

surplice over his clothes, bell in hand,

thrown by way of

and ringing as he

went, led the way with the utmost gravity, and guided them to the" barn *

We

where poor

Fridli lay.

must go and watch

their proceedings!'

the Doctor and Sebastian Brandt

at

exclaimed

the same moment.

So

saying they went with Ursula to the door of the barn, where

they stood unobserved. Little

Matthew had gone from house

together all his playfellows, telling them,

to '

house to gather they must

come

with him to his godmother's barn, in which he was about to

conduct Divine worship, and to repeat to them the sermon

L ittle

The Kaisersberg Doctor and preached by

his cousin

poor blind

over, lay

Doctor Geiler, and

who had been

Fridli,

his fall at the castle moat.

by Avas

now

he added,

present,'

'

In

this

Mat.

the Doctor say, none other than the

man

blind

himself,

Carnival, to offer to

poor

up as a

it

And

Fridli.'

lowed willingly the

sacrifice to the

and

his supper-roll,

whatever money he might have earned by singing

it

there

his cousin

Lord Jesus

and therefore each of them must bring

more-

in Avhich,

so hurt yesterday

had heard

as he

75

in the

Lord Jesus by giving

those wild, high-spirited boys

all

summons

of the

little

missionary, and

fol-

when

the two learned gentlemen, with their lady friend, secretly

approached the open door,

them

all,

by

led

it

was a pleasant

Mat, marching round

little

couch, at the foot of which sat

sight to see

Fridli's straw

with the cap

Forester,

between his teeth, upright on his hind-paws, while each as

he defiled past

silently

dropped

boy

his Carnival cake, apples,

nuts and buttered roll into the beggar's pouch, and the

penny, with an occasional addition of a small silver coin, into the poodle's cap,

and Conrad stood by,

and looking as

devoutly folded,

if

rapt in

hands

his

amazement,

watching the doings of the juvenile party.

As

boy threw

the last

formed a

circle

round

in his offering, they all closed in

little

Mat,

who placed

ground, clasped his hands, and prayed thus Jesus

!

do

restore poor

do take him

when we

all

safely

it

unto

me

my

as ye !

home

;

to his dear



'

Dearest Lord

do heal his foot; little

mother

!

go to Thee in heaven, then surely Thou

say to us, as

Inasmuch

Fridli's sight

and

the bell on the

and

And wilt

cousin the Doctor has promised to-day,

have done

Amen.'

it

to

poor

Fridli,

ye have done

The Kaisershcrg Doctor and Little Mat.

yd

Hereupon

the Doctor, deeply touched, stepped forward

into the circle of silent children,

who shrunk back

the sight of him, laid his hand, as

on

little

'

spirit,

'

Gron.^ up,

little

and thou

boy,

shalt be

r^

Great

!



as great as

you are

inquired our

?"

looking up with his sparkling eyes at the figure of his illustrious relative.

would have '

shyly at

to invoke a blessing,

Mat's head, and said, apparently inspired with a

prophetic great

if

to give

up

!

tall

friend,

and

stately

Well then indeed people I

me

calling

Oh, blessed simplicity

'

little

Little

Mat!'

truly of such

is

the

kingdom of

heaven,' said the Doctor with emotion, as he pressed the child to his heart.

Doctor Geiler then and

there, in the

godmother's barn,

delivered a discourse to the cliildren, which,

of God, afterwards bore rich little

by the grace

more than one of those

ones, and which was never effaced from the

most of them

to their latest day.

to his attentive

loved

fruit in

little

to Himself,

When

memory

of

he was describing

young hearers how the blessed Lord Jesus

children,

how

while on earth

He

called

them

and embraced and blessed them, and how the

experience of that day was to show them that even children

could love

Him

in return for

and could serve Him, and

His redeeming love to them,

offer to

Him

sacrifices of thanks-

giving in the persons of His sick poor, and of any suffering or

unhappy ones, suddenly little Simson Hiller rose up, retired behind the barn-door, and stood there weeping bitterly. ^

These words are recorded as having actually been addressed Zell, as a child, by Doctor Geiler.

Matthew

to

TJie

What

*

the matter with you, poor Httle fellow

is

Sebastian Brandt,

Oh

'

'



I '

who had followed

'

must go to

What

hell

77

V asked

hira,

more and more

replied Simson, sobbing

!

Lord Jesus cannot love me,

the

L ittie Mat.

Kaisersbcrg Doctor a]id

for I

am

violently,

such a bad boy,

!'

hast thou done

'

%

Simson turned as pale as death, then flushed crimson,

began '

and

to tremble violently,

at length

stammered

out,

Mat had better tell it he knows all Matthew would not for some time bring out what he had

Little

to say

!'

;

;

he turned to Simson instead, and

console him,

'

The good Lord

you only say the Lord's Prayer however, the

Doctor joined

and Simson added, but

punished,

I

Do

'

tell

said, as if trying to

will certainly forgive you, if

all

;

him

to

tell

all,

then I shall indeed be

have peace of mind

shall

When,

right earnestly.'

urging

in

!

Mat

little

'

threw his arms round the Doctor's neck, and whispered softly,

-It

was Simson who yesterday cut

Fridh's string,

and so he

is

to

blame

in

two poor

and

for his fall

all

his

lameness.' '

for

Well,' said the Doctor,

Simson

Simson If

?

to

'

be guilty of

that !

was indeed an

evil action

But how do you say now,

you had not deliberately planned

you had known what injury

it

it,

had you

%

would cause the blind

man, you never would have cut the

string in two,

would

your Simson however shook both hands, and said did do

it

maliciously,

his head,

in a

and

I

covered his face

suppressed voice, did laugh

when

I

'

^yith

No, no

saw him

I

fall

I !

The Kaisershcrg Doctor and

78

Oh

yes,

punish

deserved '

Now,

me

as severely as

it

again to the '

Doctor, as he

the

said

truly,'

I

;

have

fully

because

Christ's sake,

you on the cross

! '

He

then turned

your

!

He

you

sin is forgiven

for Jesus

bore your punishment instead of

!

quite

sure,

'Is that

child

any one

in

and gently and solemnly added,

fellow,

little

Be comforted, my

turned towards

such a hearty, upright, penitent confes-

'

have never yet met

I

you choose

Mat.

!'

Sebastian Brandt, sion

Little

sure?'

many

asked Simson with

tears. *

As

sure as that in presence of the holy angels in heaven

there

is

come

to

But now

joy to-day over your sincere repentance.

poor

Fridli here

!

You must

Happily our gracious Lord God has out of even this

How

evil.

ask his pardon too.

mercy brought good

in

think you, Fridli

should

I

1

say you by no means wish now you had not had that

and had not been brought among us here

Poor

bewildered by

Fridli, quite

he had met with, and

all

now

*

Fridli,'

heard

On '

me

!

am

I

Oh

Fridli

!

forgive

me

;

'

can you sing what you have

church?'

the blind

Well then,

'

so grieved.'

asked the Doctor,

in the

how-

Hiller,

straw couch, and seizing both his

his

hands, weeping bitterly, cried out,

only forgive

heard, could only

Simson

stammer out a few disjointed words. ever, knelt beside

barn

the love and kindness

all

he had just

in this

fall,

?

man

answering

raise the "

Dciim Laiidaums

— We '

in the affirmative,

Herr Gott, dich loben wir praise Thee,

O God

!

')

he replied, !" '

(the

and

Te

forth-

Kaisersberg Doctor and Little Mat.

TJie

79

with Fridli, with his ringing and melodious voice, gave out that glorious old

and Ursula,

all

Geiler, Sebastian Brandt,

Doctor

hymn.

chimed

and the song of praise swelled

in,

out with solemn sound, and rose to the throne of the merciful

Triune God.

Hand in hand hymn was being

stood Simson Hiller and

Mat

little

as the

sung, the latter turning his bright intelli-

gent glances, so

full

of tender feeling,

first

sympathy

in

towards his weeping playfellow, then in love and joy up

towards his Father

in

— the former fixing

heaven

the down-

tear-bedimmed eye on the

cast look of his dark, thoughtful,

like Peter after his fall

and

his pardon,

ground, as

if,

vision the

manner of death by which he was

he saw in

to glorify

God.

Sebastian Brandt contemplated the two boys with deep interest

;

the last notes of the Te Deiwi died away, he

when

turned to his friend the Doctor with the question, 'What

do you think '

At any

reply (Luke

The

is

little

become of

likely to

rate, the

had

fellows

listening

promising him Fridli

to

with them,' was the

all

his

long since departed to their still

tale,

sitting

giving

was indeed

in a far better

how kind

must remain blind

by poor

him

human mood than

assistance, as far as

gladly acknowledging that he

is

66).

i.

homes, when the Doctor was the barn,

these two boys?'

hand of the Lord

Fridli in

help could go. in the

morning,

every one was to him

all his life,

and

advice,

;

yet

to that he could not

bring his mind to submit, and his last word to the Doctor, in reply to all the advice '

But why then

am

I

and comfort he

blind T

tried to give, was,

The Kaiscrsbo'sr Doctor and Little Mat. i>

8o

Listen to

*

I

me

now,

Fridli,' said

the Doctor

can give no other answer than

Godr such

But suffering God's the

is

way towards

fore try again,

Lord

will,

to thy

in

His

for

kingdom of heaven.

God's

with the

and you

will,

hammer

will see that

of His grace, beat the

light to shine in Fridli's soul

to

So

say.

may

!'

Whether the worthy Doctor succeeded

tion

sake,

There-

worthless penny into a golden coin, wherewith you

gain everlasting bliss

inward

why

and stamp on your beggar's penny your

humble acquiescence the

the

this,

cheerfully,

will

'

;

" It is the will of

far,

however,

we

in

certain,

is

causing the

are not in a posiafter the

that

Doctor's conversation with him, he was more peaceful, and

seemed much comforted. Ursula's

till

being more

Simson

Easter,

Fridli

receiving

remained

frequent

at

godmother from,

visits

and more cheered by, both

little

and

Mat and

Hiller.

When, on Easter-Monday, Sebastian Brandt once more passed through Kaisersberg, he took blind Fridli with him

on

his

journey to Basle.

The poor man was

laden with

proofs of the liberality of his Kaisersberg friends, and from

down the Rhine by Freyburg the Black Forest. Perhaps we may be able to discover our subsequent narratives how matters went with Fridli

Basle his kind patron sent him to in

at a later period,

come As

and whether

little

Matthew did

truly be-

great in the vineyard of the Lord.

regards Dr. Geiler, he

preached and laboured in

Strasburg with great blessing for thirty years more. steadfastly refused all the brilliant offers

made

to

He

him of

The Kaisersberf^ a Doctor and

Little

Mat.

8i

preferment in Augsburg, Freyburg, and Basle, and remained

beloved Alsace, and

faithful to his

among

that

now be

its

people,

whom

to hear him,

and never

Emperor on the

at

by no means

it is

right

he should

truly loved,

was the favourite of the

who came

often to Strasburg

him by any name but

subject of the abolition of the rack,

any

reformation in the

that

all

and

he wished and aimed

He

rate effect great good.

way

that

Geiler appealed urgently to the

he did not succeed in he did

i.,

called

of 'The Kaisersberger.'

at,

He

so entirely forgotten.

good Emperor Maximilian

if

he so

achieved a

of procuring milder treatment for

prisoners, causing spiritual consolation

and exhortation and

the administration of the holy sacrament to be granted to

those under sentence of death,

all

which had heretofore, and

from time immemorial, been cruelly denied them, and he did

much

to increase the

number of good

raise the standard of teachers

and

schools,

their position.

and to It

was

through his influence that Sebastian Brandt, the famous poet of the 'Fools' Ship,' was, in

1500

a.d.,

appointed

Chancellor of his native city of Strasburg, where he

mained

till

his death, in T521,

of accomplishing

much

re-

and where he was the means

for the public

good.

In unison

with his friend Geiler, Brandt succeeded in founding several institutions for the benefit

unfortunate, at Strasburg.

of the poor, the sick and the Geiler died in 1510, in his sixty-

fourth year, deeply lamented

common in his

by

all,

and

especially

by the

people, and the spirit which yet speaks even to us

sermons bears witness that he was a

faithful servant

of God, and a zealous labourer in his vineyard.

He

was

82

TJie

Kaisersherg Doctor and Little Mat.

buried under the beautiful stone pulpit in the Strasburg Cathedral, which the magistrates had caused to be erected

on purpose

for

him,

and

around which, whenever he

preached, so great a multitude had crowded to hear the

Word.

May

his

memory be

ever held in veneration, and prove a

blessing in the midst of us

!

two interesting and discriminating articles on Geiler, by Adolphe in the Revue Chretienne, March and April 1862, many further particulars are furnished concerning the life, opinions and in[In

Schseffer,

fluence of this reformer before the Reformation, of said that, living in the

dim

evangelical light, he, like

whom

it

is

truly-

noonday of Moses, saw but entered not the promised

twilight of dawn, preceding the

While conscious of the mediaeval taint manifest in his strong and other superstitions, his unbounded trust in holy water and the sign of the cross, his quaint and strained allegorical renderings of Holy Scripture, and his false estimate of charity and

land.

belief in witchcraft

God (shown in the first paragraph of page 80, in the words actually quoted from his writings), we cannot but admire his bold testimony against the worldliness and immorality of his age, and contrast his groping after purer, clearer light, with the deepening twilight of many in our own day, who, loving the darkness rather than the light, willingly turn their backs on the doctrines of the patience as meritorious before

Reformation.



7>'.

]

THE OLD ST. STEPHEN^S TOWER AT MULHAUSEN. '

'



Thou desirest truth in the inward parts.' Ps. li. The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out

2 Pet.

ii.

6.

of temptations.'

9.

There thou

standest

after the long,

still,

dear old tower, grey and solemn,

weary struggles of

life,

and thy

bells

chime

or peal with a tone of pathos, as though they would fain

tell

us that thou belongest not to the new-fangled world that has

sprung up around thee, and that the time has come when they

may

well ring thee also into thy quiet grave,

and thy

may be laid low and take its rest Well, we grant thee the needed repose, for thou hast lived an eventful life, hast seen many a generation pass away, and hast taken part in many a contest, but, thank God, likewise in full many a noble victory And if venerable head

!

right heartily will

!

only

we understood

way of

thy silent language, thou wouldst,

farewell, recount to us

and seek

to impress

on us many a

But to every one of us take leave of thee, for

we

it

a

memorable

by

scene,

useful lesson.

would be a melancholy task

love to recall that time

when

to

the

when we returned from our beloved home, and once more beheld

young heart beat high with foreign parts to

many

joy,

The Old

84

Stephens Tozuer at Miil/iausen,

St.

thy stately summit from

^Vherefore

afar.

feel

I

day

this

inwardly constrained to relate what I have read in the old

who was tower-watchman during many, many a year, and to whose

chronicle, about Melchior Kiiffer,

on thy

lofty height

heart thou wast so dear, that he

would rather have died

than have parted from thee.

Cousin Melchior, as people used to

call

him, was a most

strange, eccentric character, always doing ever}-thing in a

way of

his

own, and sometimes impracticable enough

others to get on with.

As watchman of

no man had anything glued to his post

;

to say against him, for he

— he

seemed

espied with his hawk's eye every

impropriety committed within the town, or even beyond

bounds

;

for

the tower, however,

and often did he

lift

up

his voice

and

utter a

its

word

of warning, through his speaking-trumpet, to one or another

who was

treading forbidden paths, thereby making himself

not a few bitter enemies.

number of each hour threatened the

and

in every

as

it

By night he came round

emergency

;

whether of

rang a stormy peal of bells to

fire,

summon

;

flood or war, he

help.

watchman, he stood firm

yet he was so singular, so different from

beings

and when danger

he blew an alarm with the said horn,

city,

his character of

regularly blew the ;

In short, in

And

as a rock. all

other

human

he descended so very seldom from his dearly-

beloved tower, and as age advanced upon him, more and

more seldom, below,' he

and

lanes,

till

at last

was wont I

seem

noise and tumult,

he never came down

to say,

^

to pant for breath strife

at all.

in the narrow, ;

all is

gloomy

'

Down streets

dust or mud,

and bickering, envy and

ill-will.

The Old But up on heaven,

St.

Stephen's

Tower

—there the sun shines

live quietly '

St. Stcpheiis Tozvcr at Miilhrntseiu

We

and

have the

I

pure

fresh,

forth bright

and

clear,

can readily believe he

lives in peace,

know

like to

with

and

whom

alone up there, and never associates with any said old Ursula at her fruit-stall

Cousin Melchior

down

to the said

'

Thou

the

of

and

I

down

Ursula,

town-clerk's

shalt not steal.'

is

is

human being

orchard,

Moreover, be

old Melchior Kiiffer, was not alone

;

!

Now

starry night shouted

was enjoying a walk

as she

no

always

in the square.

had once upon a

'

it

he would

quarrel, the silly old hermit, in his tower-nest, he

Zwingel

air

in peace.'

wonder, for we should

*

85

a it

voice

known,

in

of warning, he, the

good

he had a remark-

for

ably agreeable society in his wall-flower, rosemar}^, migno-

and the lovely pinks which he knew so well how

nette,

and which rejoiced

train in flower-pots,

by

his heart

to

their

sweet fragrance on the trellised summit of his church-tower

and Cousin Melchior loved venerable tower with alike,

the

all

his

tender nurslings and his

his heart, for they,

spoke to him of God, the Giver of

balmy breath of the scented

all

flowers,

one and

good

;

all

and, with

and the deep-toned

music of the tower-bells, there ascended likewise to heaven the voice of his prayers and thanksgivings. the

Lord with a

and were so there

on

full

He

praised

heart that his flowers flourished so well

fragrant,

and

that

he was permitted to dwell up

his quiet tower-top, where, in his opinion,

he was

Heaven than down below among the stir and human society. He had besides yet another

far nearer to

unrest

of

nursling,

and

this

was a

living soul, of

whom

old Ursula

86

down to

Old

TJie

St. Stephen's Tozver at MiilJiaiiscn.

in the square

him than

beloved

knew not

;

who was

but

dearer

dearer than even his

This was

Tower.

Stephen's

St.

at all,

the world besides

all

little

Augustine

Kramer, the guild-master's young son. Augustine's mother had obtained this boy from the Lord

answer to much prayer, as Hannah did her Samuel. Long years of wedlock had been unblest with any children, and when at last this little boy came into the world, she in

called

him Augustine, because, during the few months

pre-

vious to his birth, the Prior of the Augustinian Convent had

narrated to her

pious son

much

of the history of

it

were her dedication of him to the Lord,

entreating that he might

become

as devout, as faithful a ser-

vant of Christ and His Church as the mother's prayer was heard. loveable, warm-hearted child,

St.

But

his

mind and

this fair picture

without

life

many

of the gentle

;

Little

when

which the Lord had

had

its

dark side too, as ever}^thing

and so matters did not flow on smoothly, not

a struggle and

many

Dame Kramer and

a bitter tear, in the history

her

little

pet.

vine-

home and among

of his guild, ruled with a rod of iron.

little

The

Kramer, was an upright man,

but hard withal and violent, who, at

wont

Augustine became a

soul develop themselves.

dressers' guild-master, Nicholas

members

And

Augustine was.

and the older he grew, the more

beautifully did the noble gifts with

has in this

IMonica and her

praying with her for her child yet unborn, and

;

forestalling as

endowed

St.

And

so,

the

even

Augustine had scarcely learned to walk, he was

to chastise

him sharply for the

and often to scourge him

into

slightest

misdemeanour,

wounds with

his rod, so that

TJie

the

little

Old

St. Stephen's Tozver at Miilhatisen.

fellow, being of a very tender nature,

once made

ill

and, what was

;

was more than

worse, imbibed such a

still

dread of his father that he grew pale and trembled

him coming his loving

mother so as nearly to break her heart it,

if

he saw

This naturally grieved

or even heard his voice.

winced the more under

^y

;

and she

bowed down under

because,

the

heavy yoke of matrimony with such a husband, she could not venture to remonstrate against the father's hard and unloving treatment of their only child.

hoped lord

but

that the birth of his son

and master, and awakened better it

seemed

Alas

she had

!

would have softened her feelings in his heart

as if the very contrary were the case, for never

had she seen him so the poor boy.

irritable

My poor,

'

pray for thy birth

Oh

1

Such was one day her

and passionate as towards

poor

little

why

Augustine,

did I

out upon that hard, inhuman sex

!

bitter exclamation, as

!

weeping she

pressed her child to her bosom.

No Dame *

years,

need of taking Kramer.

this

The

matter too

stern

much

to heart,

Master Kramer

and cannot stand the noise of childish

Cousin Melchior, who

at that

moment was

heard her cry of

But

my good

now up

in

prattle,' said

bringing her a

rich golden wall-flower for the Easter festival,

'

is

and thus over-

distress,

my unhappy

child will be ruined

by

this

ill

usage.

Look here yourself and see how pale and thin he has grown, and how full he is of fear and trembling, and wanting in all life '

and joyousness

You must

his father.

as

!

much

It is as I

as possible

have

said.

keep him out of

Be

sure

sight of

you can never

The Old

88

Stephens Toiver at Miilhaiisen.

St.

man

contrive to accustom the old

morning he always goes on the

in the vineyard

and

to the field

and

hill,

In the

to children's ways.

in the

to look after his

evening he

sits

men

under

the great lime-tree, or has his glass of wine at his guild.' But, then, in the afternoon

'

me and

up

fellow

me.

you what

how

shall see

with

me

do

to

him

You must send

!

the

little

to the

my

as for the apple of

eye,

and

rosy his sunk, pale cheeks will soon grow,

the fine fresh air

in

time for

this terrible

daily to the tower to pass these evil hours with

I will care for

you up

one

for the little

I will tell

'

comes

!

Augustine, wilt thou

!

Up

church-tower?

yonder

I

come up give

will

thee pretty flowers and a gay, many-coloured Easter ^^
For a

ment his

while the child looked fixedly and in amaze-

little

at the

keeper of the tower, then suddenly he threw

arms round

his

neck and shouted

in glee,

Cousin Melchior carried him in triumph up to

The poor mother Yet

sighing.

on

his return

about his

main Melchior was seemed

the threatened punishment

!'

his tower.

right enough, for

;

have forgotten

to

he was

fashion good-natured and cheerful,

been

I will

that day, the stern father never inquired

boy, and

little

Yes,

followed him with her eyes, musing and

in the

home

'

all

about

actually after his

—more

so than he

own had

for a long time.

And from tower

daily,

was up

that time forward Augustine

and sometimes

all

day long,

for

in the

whenever

the father's countenance seemed lowering and stormy, or there was too carried

him up

much doing early.

careful

mother

Each time she took him

up, the

at

home,

his

The Old

Tower at Mulhaiisen.

St. Stephen's

fellow shouted aloud for joy,

little

his old friend

became

as

know which he loved best, Under Cousin Melchiors care he

grew

fresh

and

and very soon he and

one heart and one

not

beautiful

He

soul.

the tower or

did

keeper.

its

flourished so well that he

the flowers

like

89

in

tower

the

arbour, so that his mother's heart was overflowing with joy

and thanksgiving. But no

happy and thankful was Cousin Melchior

less

His loving, childlike

himself

spirit,

so long surrounded

only by inanimate objects, expanded in fellowship with the

opening mind of his young charge, and the treasures hitherto

now

concealed within were Augustine, showed

him

of grain, the vineyard

fields

He

developed.

played with

the distant blue mountains, the rich hill,

meadows and

the green

the dark forests, with the villages encircling the town.

explained to him

how Dame

the sturdy daughter of the

111,

Sundgau, down there, receives

in her

bosom

the clear crystal

waters of the merry DoUer, and carries them to the lowlands,

God

— down

to the great noble

has created and ordered

gloriously for the

On

He

all

away with her

Rhine

;

and how

things so beautifully

and

good of the children of men.

the fine autumnal evenings he called

him

to

admire

the golden sunset glow, which he was wont to call the gate

of heaven night,

and

:

he told him to wish the sun a friendly good-

him up

stirred

to take delight in the twinkling

evening star,— Just such a '

'

as that

star,

perhaps,' he

which led the three devout wise

would remark,

men

to the cradle

of the infant Jesus at Bethlehem.'

And

in winter

%

Ah

!

that

was the

little

boy's jubilee

The Old

90

St. Stephen's

Tower at

MiilJiaiiseii.

up

season, for in the snug room, beside the hot stove

tower, Cousin IVIelchior would take tell

in the

and

his knee,

own enchanting way, such wonderful

him, in his

that,

him on

tales,

waking or sleeping, he could only dream of them, and was obliged

his old friend

to recount

them again and yet

During the narrations. Cousin Melchior was also

again.

often engaged in carving for his little pet,

When

there

till

was a

wooden

figures of all sorts as toys

knew no bounds.

the child's ecstasy

fall

of snow, he was dragged round the

tower-top on a plank dignified with the

man

or else a

of

snow was made,

eyes,

name

were coloured with charcoal, a pipe was stuck

and a cane little

in his hand.

of sledge,

mouth and nose in his

mouth

Full of inquisitive glee did the

ragamuffins of the square below peer up to Cousin

Melchior's masterpiece, and overjoyed were they

when he

allowed them to ascend the tower and gain a near and

admiring view of the snow-man, after which they rushed

down

to

go and make one

beside the

like

in front of the belfry-house,

it

crier's little platform.

whiter and more

beautiful!'

'

mine

Still

merrily clapped

his little red half frozen hands.

Melchior,

watchman,

the

and

Master

Augustine, led a quiet, peaceful, happy Stephen's

But

Tower

in this

for

is

far larger,

shouted Augustine,

as

Kramer's

life

little

together on

St.

m.any a year.

world everything passes away; the bright day

as well as the evil

day comes

to

an end

;

and

soon,

so, full

the period arrived at which Cousin Melchior and his favourite could

intimacy.

he

So Cousin

no longer maintain

this

The puny, weakly Augustine

close

little

and loving

had, by

God's

The Old blessing,

St. Stephen's

at his birth

grown

and as the guild-master's good wife

God

for the service of

became necessary

to send

him

and holy

calling.

to school, that he

Once upon a time

it

might learn fit

him

too,

it

denly flashed upon the master of guild at dinner that '

to

is

in the ministry,

somewhat, and begin to receive some training to his high

into a

dedicated her child to the Lord, that

him

say, destined

;

gi

Miilhauseft.

to his mother's heart's content,

and

strong and healthy boy

had

Tower at

it

for

sud-

was

While mak-

high time to bring the boy under discipline.'

ing an exclamation to this effect, he mechanically suited the

word by

action to the

and

his

seizing his stick, so that Augustine

mother shrunk back

terrified,

and drew closer to one

another, with a silent mutual understanding as to what

'

bring-

ing under discipline' might signify in the father's vocabulary.

The mother, however, being a prudent woman, held her peace, did not contradict her husband, but went to her father-confessor, the Prior of the Augustinian Convent, to

whom

she opened her heart, pathetically laying before

him

her dread of the paternal harshness and severe blows for her Augustine,

little

home

receive the

vent

;

if

forced to attend school and to live at

The

instead of up in the tower.

boy

as a pupil

promising to

obtain his consent.

make

among

all right

Prior proposed to

the scholars at the con-

with her husband, and to

This he actually succeeded

in effecting,

only the father insisted on the condition that on Sundays

and feast-days Augustine must dine not abandon

under

his

all

own

discipline,

eye.'

at

home,

'

but must have him occasionally

These were often enough

val days for the poor child.

as he could

doleful festi-

92

TJlc

Old

St. StepJiciis Toivcr at Miilhaiisen.

Cousin Melchior was cross,

— and

same time

at the

a heavy one

was

it

called to bear his

That which had

for him.

been long impending, but had been hitherto only whispered secretly,

now came

even discussed

be spoken of loudly

to

in the Council,

was

and

that, therefore,

watchman would be In

too

far

old and infirm to be capable any longer of efficiently ling his duties,

and

in the guilds,

that he

viz.,

fulfil-

a young and active tower-

forthwith needed, and easily to be found.

vent her spite against her

truth, old Ursula, resolved to

reprover of the speaking-trumpet, and also to obtain his

perch and good salary for her lazy son, a trouble at

lofty

home, had raised

As

the

So

alone.'

Augustine

it

conspiracy against Melchior.

this

proverb

old

was

and

in

to

says,

'

be forced

seldom come

Misfortunes

To

case.

this

part with his

leave

to

little

beloved

his

St.

Stephen's Tower, on which he had, so to speak, taken root for so long,

seemed too much

nigh broke

the old man's

murmur

or complain

;

to

come

and when

once, and well-

all at

He

heart.

however

did not

at night

he had sounded

the hours by the blast of his horn, he stood

still

with clasped

hands, cast an imploring look up to the starry heavens, and

poured forth

his grief into his

Heavenly Father's

Or

ear.

else

he descended, to enter the vast empty church, and there he knelt full

tine

down and

thus offered up a childlike petition

must come

to pass,



his going to school.

Now,

O

well that this

by

child abundantly live if

they drive

!

me

that I

Lord

must !

lose

from

my

I

know

Augus-

bless the dear

But Thou knowest also that work.

'

:

I

cannot

Therefore take me,

I

pray Thee, for Jesus Christ's sake, up to heaven to be with

The Old

Stephens Tower at Miilhausen.

St.

Thyself,

and

tower

Yet not as

!

When,

me

suffer

shortly

to

die

whom

to

Thou

the

afterwards,

Wernherr Dagsperger,

up yonder on

but as

I will,

my

93

beloved

!'

wilt

venerable burgomaster, the

city

owed

so much,

took his part so warmly, and obtained permission for him

remain

to

at least

temporarily in his office at the old tower

and when, that same evening, Augustine with fellow, his

his senior school-

Bernard Romer, came running up joyously,

neck and cried

Prior says

out,



Only

'

you are too old

to

think,

your flowers

so

;

now

on

be always eating only bread

and garhc, and fetching the water up to water

fell

Cousin Melchior, the

to the top of the tower

we, Bernard and

evening, after working hours, to take you a

I,

are,

every

warm meal from

the convent kitchen, and to bring you up a pitcher of water,

and

to stay with

Cousin

folded his '

you

rivers of water

;

vesper

bell,'

— then

indeed

I

am

!

Thou

turnest the hearts of

indeed unworthy of

all

men

as

the faithfulness

compassion which Thou hast shown to a miserable

sinner such as I It

the

hands, and looking up to heaven exclaimed,

Lord, I thank Thee

itnd

till

Melchior with deep reverence doffed his hat and

am

!'

was on Christmas eve

;

Augustine had learned his

lessons capitally, and brought his father a satisfactory testi-

monial to

this effect,

he might be allowed

with the request that, as his reward, to pass the

the convent instead of at home.

approaching holidays in

Before returning to the con-

vent he was to take his mother's Christmas-box to Cousin Melchior, in the shape of a whole basketful of victuals and

a bran-new fur cap, and to-morrow he was to be exempt

The Old

94 from

St. StcpJiens

his father's iron rod,

free to

spend

ous festive

Who

!

could well be happier than

When

the Prior.

sound

little

Beside the belfry he met Bernard Romer, also

%

watchman from

bringing a liberal Christmas-box for the old

happy

these glori-

all

days, even to Twelfth Night, in the midst of his

schoolfellows

Augustine

and

Toivcr at Mulhaiisen.

asleep, as

the two boys arrived, old Melchior was

was

his

wont

Peaceful like a

at that hour.

he lay wrapped in his mantle on his straw

child,

couch, the dark lantern burning at his side, and the crackling cheerfully in the

little

iron stove.

fire

Quietly and

cautiously did the boys set in order the contents of their rich baskets, lighting

all

the Christmas tapers, and then softly,

carrying the lantern with them, they went to the trellised arbour, there to wait for his awakening, and to witness his

glad surprise. It

clear

might be about ;

down

five o'clock

in the square

;

the evening was cold

and

below there was a motley and

noisy crowd, for the cradle of the infant Jesus was set up in the church of candles,

St.

by many hundred

Stephen's, surrounded

and the townsfolk were flocking custom was,

tions, as the

to

pay

manger.

at the holy

their devo-

The

wild and

uproarious young fry were running round the church with little

wooden

up a horrid

rattles called

din,

!'

their

fell

while,

or

'

'

'

Rdtschen^ keeping

Here we

are,

bringing

Bernard and Augustine looked down

on the merrymaking from

when

Rari-en

and crying the

the angelic greeting

with the glee,

'

their lofty tower,

to laughing

became

and shouting with the

jokes and witticisms seemed

to

infected rest,

and

be unheard,

Augustine snatched up the watchman's horn, which lay in

The Old

St. Stepheiis Toiver at MiilhaiLsen.

a corner outside, and ^ in a

blew once, the

twice, thrice,

full-sounding

fit

of thoughtless drolleiy he

the old tower reverberated with

till

Had

blast.

he blown an

horn, not greater would have been

Doors and windows flew open

tion

was on

enchanted

tumult

the

at once, lights

excited.

appeared on the

people rushed out of the church,

streets in every direction,

looking up anxiously to

95

Stephen's Tower, and the ques-

St.

What is The guards at the

all their lips,

'

alarm sounded

?'

up the bridges

in ratding speed,

and

the matter

why

%

the

is

draw

gates hastened to

to close the gates,

and

forthwith the burgomaster betook himself to the Town-hall.

But before rose,

himself,

array

these results had followed the fatal blast,

all

from

startled

his

couch in

who, knocking over the table with

of Christmas

exclaiming wofully,

thou played

me

boxes, hurried '

Oh

this trick

out

all

into

I shall lose

?

goodly

its

the

Augustine, Augustine,

!

my office

arbour,

why

down

in despair, the

cried through his trumpet,

watchman

'What

is

at the

the matter

?'

hast

certainly!'

While the two boys were standing aghast and the old looking

up

Cousin Melchior

terror,

man

Town-hall to

which

query Cousin Melchior was obliged, fetching his horn with a deep sigh, to reply at once,

Upon which

the

'

Nothing,

it

was a blunder!'

watchman below responded by and the people

furious invectives,

vociferating

in the market-place vied

with him in loud abuse, throwing stones at the tower and shouting,

mand

till

the parish priest

silence

and

try to

still

came out of

the church to

the tumult.

poor Augustine, motionless and speechless ing whether he was

Up

com-

yonder stood

too, hardly

awake or dreaming, and whether

it

knowreally

96

Old

TJic

St. StcpJinis Tozvcr at Miilhaiiseii.

who had caused

could be he

the mischief by his untimely

all

blast. '

And now,

me

sent to call

to account.

dare not

I

let

did

it,

no

tell

lie

God

!

tongue, as no one I too

God

is

forbid

is

it

was

Augustine

I

;

only say

did not



that also

I

had

know when

(true likewise)

fell

—and

that

true, for

is

I it

you

upon the old man's neck sobbing, and

No, assuredly

I

did not

But hark

!

Melchior, although father should beat

me

be

all

of no use,

my

ye,

Cousin

to death, I miist

that I blew the blast, for otherwise they

you from the tower and dismiss It will

to death,'

Augustine

from malice, did you, Augustine V

it

'

I shall

!

true)

happened through inadvertence

'

'

Let him only hold his

!

the snare

most

wakened up what o'clock

tell

sigh.

aware of your having been up here.

me from

preserve

fallen asleep (which

exclaimed,

you here;

was Augustine

it

beware of saying anything untrue, and may

will

did not do

find

would beat him well-nigh

for his father

added Cousin Melchior with a deep must

Avith his lantern,

him

and, Bernard, beware of telling any one that

who

comes the

youngsters, run down, for there

Town-Council, marching along

officer of the

would drive

you.'

You

boy.

will

only receive

merciless blows, and your poor mother a fresh heartbreak.

They

will

now have somewhat

which they were so long waiting

knew you done

did

his duty,

it,

his eye

would never have happened.

and got only

And

for.

they would say,

and kept

complain of against me,

to



If the

watchman had

on these youngsters,

He

his deserts, so there

'

even though they

is

has forfeited his

an end of

it

!'

this

office,

TJie

Old

Tower at Miilhaiism.

St. StcpJieiis

97

But already the sound of the city-messenger's heavy step

was heard on the steep boys to stay

Old Melchior ordered the

stairs.

at the other side of the trellised platform, while

he went to the

message from

little

chamber

in

the

tower to hear the

Meanwhile

his stern lord the burgomaster.

Bernard and Augustine

and returned

softly crept down-stairs,

unobserved to the convent, greatly relieved by finding that

no one had missed them.

Now

Poor Cousin Melchior!

indeed thy foes have

triumphed, and during these merry days of Christmas holiday, merciless

was thy

fate

As

!

ill-luck

would have

two

it,

stone bottles of wine formed part of the Christmas-box

one of these was broken town-officer,

in the fall of the table,

met on entering the

little

chamber

by a strong smell of wine, and by the

to

tell

his tale

how

Cousin Melchior, with

sanctimonious

more nor

less

his

tower

had flashed

below of roast

geese, sausages, bottles of wine, etc. etc., lying

of the tower-chamber, and

in the

sight of victuals

scattered on the floor, thought a sudden light

upon him, and knew how

;

and the

on the

to expatiate on the air,

floor

demure

being neither

than an arrant hypocrite, living a jolly

life

of good cheer, being manifestly addicted to tippling, so that

a drop too

much must have been

blown

horn

his

for

the cause of his having

nothing, and thus put

citizens into a state of panic.

was

growing as

assailed

watchman.

on

it

all

the worthy

All which tale spread like

wildfire in the guard-houses, at the gates, guilds,

all

and

in the various

went, so that Burgomaster Dagsperger sides to

make him

Right sorrowfully did he

G

dismiss the guilty

say at last

to the

98

Old

TJlc

town-clerk that

Melchior in

bowed God.

so

would be impossible

it

I

if

so

it

A

for

them

man

old

to

keep old

himself meekly

In God's name then forward to

'

must needs be

have a conscience

conscience at rest

!

The

office this time.

his head, saying,

meet death,

A

St. Stephen's Toivcr at MiilJiaiiscn.

at rest



such

if

is

the will of

!

Nay, old Melchior, not altogether

?

him

voice within whispered to

incessantly,

'

It is

not right of thee to have counselled Augustine to conceal the truth, voice,

and thus

to

have led him

so faithfully to

warn and

making a

lie,

and

this

' :

is sin.'

He who So

it

That same

after his erring

deliver them,

to

Augustine's young heart thus is

astray.'

—of the Good Shepherd who goes

— also

sheep

spoke to

conceals the truth

came

to pass that the

aged watchman of the tower and the youthful scholar of the convent each

down

a mountain weighing

felt

his spirit,

and

how a little unweb of lies, and drag us deeper meshes, how in the end we could but

they both learned by painful experience truth

may

entangle us in a

and deeper

into

its

sink into despair,

if

indeed the Lord could ever forget to

be gracious and merciful. In the ancient chronicle first '

it

stands recorded that on the

rent-day after the Epiphany, that

Melchior

Kiififer,

is

on

St.

the tower-watchman, was

Lucia's Day,

summoned

to

appear before the worshipful the Council, to answer to the accusation of blowing a false alarm.'

Before the sitting of

the Council, Burgomaster Dagsperger,

who

him

how

well, sent privately for the it

had come

timely a blast

;

to pass that

heartily

wished

poor old man, and asked him he had been guilty of so un-

and how he could account

for those roast

The Old geese,

had

broken

St. Stephen's Toiver at Millhausen.

bottles,

and such

When

like.

been awakened with a

fallen asleep,

gg

he replied he

start,

not

known

the hour, and upset the table in his fright, the burgomaster naturally asked

what had frightened him, and who had

Upon which poor Cousin

brought the Christmas boxes. Melchior, fancying

it

necessary for Augustine's sake to with-

hold the truth, could not hobble out of the scrape without telling a

from its

downright

his lips,

came

improbability,

lie,

which, far from flowing smoothly

so awkwardly, that his patron, struck

and puzzled by the

and remark, that

himself, could only shrug his shoulders,

he could not say anything better assuredly be dismissed.

and returned

to

lie

in self-defence

man withdrew

old

if

he must

downcast,

ancient tower like a criminal to his

to his

But what was to him

prison.

seemed

The

by

he was doing

injustice

far

more

distressing

under the ban of Heaven

still,

—he

in his soul, so that

he could not pray.

For Augustine,

too, these days

phany were a time of

about the season of EpiOften

real purgatory.

at a later

did he relate in what anxiety and dread he lived

burden weighed him down, almost guiltiness;

as

if it

truth,

because his

the

had been blood-

spirit

held captive at his will by the father of

let

period

how

and how, nevertheless, he had not strength nor

courage to confess the

however,

;

who knew

the old

watchman

was as

lies.

full well,

it

were

The Prior, who had not

Bernard's melancholy and Augustine's altered mien pass

unobserved,

and who, moreover, was aware from what

quarter the unlucky Christmas-boxes came, went

good dame of the

guild,

and then up

to old

first

to the

Melchior himself

100

TJie

Old

St. Stiphciis

On

to the top of the tower. itself,

Ton'cr at Miilhaiiscn.

the \txy day of the Epiphany

while the boys were eating their Twelfth-Night cake in

the refectory, and crowning the their usage

King of Beans, according

to

from time immemorial, with his paper crown,

the Prior called the two young friends, Bernard and Augustine, into his cell,

When on

where they stayed

till

far

on

in the night.

the following day, the Feast of St. Lucia, the

Council had assembled to investigate the matter, and the old watchman's friends and foes,

among

the rest the guild-

master, had congregated to be present at the decision,

when

Cousin Melchior stood there, bowed down, with

his grey

locks hanging disconsolate, waiting to be brought

down

dishonour to the grave

;

then the Prior entered the

accompanied by Bernard and Augustine, led the

up to the burgomaster, and

straight

said,



'

in

hall,

latter

Here, right

worshipful and gracious gentlemen of the Council, I bring

unto you the true criminal.

watchman was his horn,

He

asleep, recklessly

it

was who, while the

blew that dire blast with

and thus caused the worthy

panic, which he

now

heartily repents

of.

citizens a needless

He now

declares

himself willing to undergo any pain or penalty which

may

be decreed by the most honourable Council'

Summoned and encouraged by proceeded to

relate simply, in a

the Prior, Bernard then

few words, the whole course

of events, from their being intrusted with the Christmas

and

their visit to the arbour at the top of the tower,

gifts,

— to the

confusion caused by the concealment of the true story to save Augustine from his father, and the consequent suspicion resting

on Cousin Melchior.

The Old In solemn

and

Tower at Mil thatisen.

St, Stcphciis

and with deep

silence,

citizens listened to the

attention, the Council

young and eloquent scholar of

But Augustine, who stood trembling

the convent-school.

condemned

before the burgomaster like a culprit

seemed, while Bernard was speaking, to

removed from

lOi

When

his heart.

his

to death,

a heavy weight

feel

companion had

finished

speaking, Augustine held his head higher with a sense of

and

freedom,

large bright eye steadily

fixing his

on the

burgomaster, he exclaimed out of the fulness of an honest heart,

I



Thank God,

'

out at last

is

it

You

!

know now

all

And

was to blame, and Cousin Melchior innocent.

Mr. Burgomaster,

be dismissed, tower

let

—you

me

and

parent, took his hand,

give

me

even conceal the truth

I

;

the

said

Never, never will

!

boy

w^ent

up

most humbly

I tell

a

lie

;

to his stern '

:

Father, for-

never again will I

would rather be beaten

to death

Cousin Melchior hereupon ran forward, clasped favourite in his arms,

who have

I, it is I, sir,

just wrath

to

hide

truth

punishment, which

;

I

;

:

'

It is

sinned and incurred your severe but

young

soul,

and caused him

do therefore remit the poor alone have deserved

he wiped them

first

child's

!"

But here an unusual glistening was seen to appear father's eyes

!'

his little

and said to the guild-master

for I led astray this

;

the

now,

sure he will not

never drive him from his beloved

will

The next moment

!'

am

say to you, I

in the

with one hand, then with

the other, but he could not hinder the tear rolling slowly

down At

to his beard. this

juncture the question was put to the vote,

whether the worshipful

the

Council should declare the

The Old

I02

watchman of sede

him

in

St. StcpJicns Tozver at Miilhauscn.

the tower guilty of neglect of duty, his

A

office.

large

and super-

majority of votes was

recorded in favour of a negative reply

;

and on the motion of

the town-clerk, a letter, sealed with the official signet of the

town, was addressed to Melchior Kiiffer, appointing him, in consideration of his faithful services for thirty years, to the office

of perpetual tower-watchman at

St.

Stephen's, with the

promise of an assistant being granted him

in case of neces-

the shape of a lay brother of the Augustinian Con-

sity, in

vent. '

But,' interposed a certain

member

had promised poor Melchior's '

is

it

written in

of the Council,

who

office to old Ursula's son,;

our law, the penalty for blowing a false

alarm shall be three days' imprisonment

the tower

in

on

bread and water.' '

That sentence

I

am

prepared to undergo, as

blast!' exclaimed Augustine, with '

'

Even

so,

my

young

friend,'

something

I

blew the

like glee.

rephed the burgomaster

you have incurred the penalty, and the law must take

course.'

care of

Then

turning to the Prior, he added

and watch over these two boys

worthy and reverend

father, for

it

seems to

' :

Take good

as before,

me

its

that the

most

Lord

has destined both to be chosen instruments for good in

His Church

!

Old Melchior returned

by but

his friends, old full

of thankfulness

his feeble petition that

And

to his tower in triumph, escorted

and young. ;

for the

He

was humbled and

Lord had graciously

still,

fulfilled

he might be suffered to die up there.

the guild-master not being, as

all

had

feared, in a

The Old

St. StepJiciis

Tower at

MiilJiaitsen.

103

rage because Bernard had alluded to Cousin Melchior and

Augustine being

in

dread of his blows,

down

contrary ashamed, and looking

solemn

air,

as

muning with tine's

if

himself,

being on the

with a thoughtful and

were exercised and he were com-

his spirit

hand between

— but

and

taking, for the

first

time, Augus-

two hands, being altogether,

his ow^n

from that day forward, much gentler and kinder,



all this

too was manifestly the answer to the prayers of his excellent wife, for 'the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous

man

availeth much.'

Augustine bravely endured his three days' imprisonment in the tower

merry and

on bread and water,

spirited,

the

to

the

first

in the chronicle

convent-school.

His pious

— not

the ancient chronicle of the

out doubt, the names of

many

— stand

souls

who

town of

registered, with-

God

will bless

eternity for his preaching of the blessed gospel.

Word

of

He

evangelical preacher in his native city, and

Miilhausen, but the record on high

all

which he returned,

answered as regarded him.

mother's prayers were

became

after

God we

read

' :

They

the brightness of the firmament to righteousness as the

these wise teachers

we

that be wise shall shine as ;

and they

stars for ever

shall

to

In the

not seek

and

that turn ever.'

many

Among

in vain for the

name

of our friend Augustine Kramer.^ Augustine Kramer was among the first to proclaim the pure gospel As early as 1522 he had gathered round him a small evangelical congregation holding fellowship as a Reformed Church. ^

in Alsace.

CROOKED-BEAK. '

Blessed

him out

is

the

man whom

of thy law.'

— Ps.

thou chastenest,

'Godliness with contentment '

Be not overcome of

O

Lord, and teachest

xciv. 12. is

great gain.'—

i

Tim.

vi.

6.

but overcome evil with good.'

evil,

— ROM.

20, 21.

xii.

We read in our

ancient chronicle of Miilhausen that in the

year 1508 a dreadful pestilence raged in Alsace, which in

our town alone, then numbering 1500 inhabitants, laid low

400

That must

victims.

the day, have been

There stood

'

truly,

according to the language of

a great death.'

at that

time in the Blauwlattengasslein, or

Blauwlatten lane, a half-dilapidated

little

by Hans Hiigelin, the working miller, with Hans Hiigelin had, as a young fellow,

Waldner von Freundstein had

settled

having

in

lost his

a

home

young

his mother-in-law

and

his

own

at Lyons.

This

Count

After

Later

it

he

still,

he returned to Miilhausen with

two young

children.

town he obtained employment with the latten,

followed

to the Italian war.

of his

wife,

house, inhabited his family.

In his native

miller of Blauw-

and the above-named dwelling was cleared out and

given him for his abode.

Crooked-Beak.

The

little

Hans,

means disposed do by

heart,

as

and

prime of

marry again, although often exhorted so

to

little

his mother-in-law, Lette,'

'

be tempting

His two

Theresa, were the joy of his

known among

Frejich Letfy,'

frugal in her housekeeping, that his part

seemed by no

life,

master and his fellow-workmen.

his

Walsche

'

in the

still

Frank and

children,

05

family worked industriously, and lived in great

retirement.

to

1

the townsfolk

was so orderly and

Hans thought

God were he

it

would on

to himself a

to take

and thereby run the chance of bringing dispeace and

wife,

among

trouble

his family,

where hitherto

all

had been quiet

and harmony. was

It

Hans

truly a peculiar

in his

home

circle,

and

characteristic

—one with which

that

life,

especially the female portion of them, could not

The very fact of and brought home a French

by any

means sympathize.

his

foreigner,

mother-in-law,

name,

'

Idelette,'

was unpronounceable

of

his fellow-citizens,

having married a

for them,

whose

and who

talked French with his children, a language which not one

of the neighbours understood

from ours

!

—was

in itself



for those

days were difterent

obnoxious to people to

time immemorial everj^thing foreign had grain. all

Besides, Idelette

around

her,

was so

whom

from

been against the

peculiar, so very unlike

and moreover she had a book

—whether

MS. or printed our old chronicle does not inform us,

— and

read daily in this book, and also taught the children to read it;

and

ways.

this

For

burgesses,

was the most unheard-of of

all

that the nobles in their castles,

and

her strange

and even the

in particular the right worshipful the

Mayor,

1

06

Crookcd-Bcak.

should teach their children to read order of things, natural and right

!

—why, But — the

ones of Hans Hiigelin, the working miller that '

Letty,'

by

and a thing plainly not little,

little

No, indeed; in the

be endured

to

in the

ragged

!

was an unpardonable piece of impudence

little

was

that

French

In short,

!

every one began to whisper about this proud

who tried, forsooth, to who had little intimacy

foreigner

raise

herself above

equals,

with

any of them, but

her

received often enough suspicious visits from strangers, with

whom all

she read in her big book, and who,

belonged to those heretics, the

Alsace and in Switzerland as

France as

Among

'

Lyonists

'

or

Waldenses' or

who

poor Idelette and manifested

known

in

Lollards,' in

Dame

Griindler, a

in the

tall,

way, lean

house next to the

frequented by none of the best company,

for drinking, carousing, dancing,

rently reported as to this

mischief of

'

without cause calumniated

evil a spirit as the

miller's,

was believed,

hostility to her in every

woman, who kept a small tavern Blauwlatten

it

Winkeler^

Pauvres de Lyons.'

'

the neighbours,

none was of so

'

*

all sorts,

Dame

and gambling.

and was not nice as

her ways of breadwinning,

— that she had

many an

It

was

cur-

Griindler that she was up to to the choice of

do with many a

to

many a wed a bad husband, and sealed the fate of many young woman when on the verge of ruin. No one, how-

game

at cards,

with

evil

deed, had helped

light girl to

a

ever, ventured to

dreaded

her.

speak openly of

Those wlio were

and fought shy of her

;

all

this,

one

for every

better than she stood aloof

while the evil-disposed treated her

to fair speeches, but whispered behind her

back that

'

she

Crooked-Beak.

107

was a wicked old hag, a

sort of witch,

worked abundance of

and against

evil,

who had

whom

it

already

was neces-

sary to be on one's guard, as she was in league with evil spirits.'

And

as

from the beginning the children of dark-

ness have ever hated and persecuted the children of so also this the gentle

Dame

little

Theresa, nor the merry

would she have shown her

had she not stood

light,

Griindler could not endure Idelette, nor

awe of the

in

though Hans did indeed leave

little

Gladly

Frank.

deeds as well as words,

spite in

just

all his

vengeance of Hans,

for

neighbours unmolested,

he always expected that others should equally leave him and his in peace,

and

v/as

possessed of a right sturdy

which

fist,

inspired a certain degree of respect.

To fatal

return then

to our chronicle of the

epidemic was then raging.

ways,'

and

He

the excellent

saw

fit,

Hans

Dame

this

left in

charge of the young

it

who were open-

judgment of God which could not French Letty.

'

fail

Now,

would soon enough be seen whether, with her

devout hanging of the head and she could

great death,' to call

This was truly a triumph

to be sent to break the pride of that

to be sure,

'

Griindler and others like her, the

A

Hiigelin to his everlasting home, while

orphans, helpless and desolate.

mouthed about

year 1508.

God's ways are not as our

by means of

the poor old grandmother was

for

'

manage

all

her boasted good works,

to earn a pittance for herself

and the

children.'

In truth, the situation of Idelette and the

was sad enough. xlix. 11),

'

Yet not

Leave thy

in vain has the

little

Lord

orphans

said (Jer.

fatherless children, I will preserve

them

1

08

Crook cd-Bcak. and

alive,

meaning

and so

it

the old saying,

Prayer

*

God

'

is

the guardian of the poor,'

Hans

And

the wall round the widow's dwelling.'

is

proved here, to the great amazement and

wrath of

Dame

and her

Griindler

greater

still

Not only was

friends.

Hiigelin, notwithstanding the taint of heresy, honour-

ably buried like other Christian

by them beforehand,

monk

Augustinian

— but

latten miller granted

and the

Bernard Romer, an

took the most

children.

them the cottage

employed Theresa

The Blauw-

rent-free,

him thoroughly

mill to train

miller's wife

— a point greatly doubted

almost daily, and

affectionate interest in her

Frank into the

men

also Father

held in high esteem for his learning and

Idelette

visited

piety,

The

Not without deep

thy widows trust in me.'

let

is

and took

in his work.

to help her in house-

hold work and in that of the farm-yard, where she had specially to feed

and clean the poultry, and as she had

early learnt sewing from her grandmother,

had been very expert plied with

many

and household enabled

a penny.

some

assistance

and

so,

and peacefully suffered

little

of her

with

in the

miller's wife,

mill,

God's help, little

all

whose

growing fond both in

own when and where

quiet

youth

Theresa thus to

and of the grandmother, took pleasure

of the

girl

offered,

The

in her

was constantly sup-

work by the good housewife of the

large family

earn

at her needle, she

who

adding

occasion

went on smoothly

home.

Its

inhabitants

no need, for prayer and industry sweetened their

cruse of water and seasoned their oatmeal-broth.

they neither had nor wished

they did almost daily procure

to



have.

More

Yet one dainty

to wit, a fresh egg for the

Crookcd-Bcak.

who had

old grandmother,

from cramp

hands and

we have

109

suffered for a long time past

the stomach and rheumatic pains in her

in

How

feet.

the heroine of our

she

and

yet to relate,

came

to possess the fresh egg

this leads us to

'

Crooked-Beak^

tale.

Crooked-Beak was a beautiful crested snow-white hen.

As

it

crawled out of the egg, Theresa,

who

carried the

new-fledged chicks into the sun in her apron, and scattered grain for their

scraped

first

lustily

managed

food, at once observed that although the

feathered

said tiny

friend,

on the earth with

to pick

up a

up the small creature grief that the

like

brothers and

its its

little

and discovered

upper and under parts of

sisters, it

never

Theresa took

single grain of corn. in her hand,

yet

feet,

its

to her

beak crossed

each other obliquely, forming something like an open pair of scissors, and that

it

food was heaped up. little

could therefore only eat when

chick after this fashion, and

brood were tripping for them,

gaily

Crooked-Beak

so,

while the rest of the

about to gather the food scattered

sat

on her shoulder, eating

at its ease out of her well-filled hand.

tame

that

it

flew

up

to her as

down

Thus

on her

it

its

corn

became so

foot, and,

to her needlework, settled to

shoulder, where

it

soon as she entered the

poultry-yard, followed her, perched

she sat

its

For a long time Theresa fed her

usually enjoyed

its

when

roost on her

mid-day slumbers.

Before autumn had arrived, Crooked-Beak had grown such a beauty that Theresa was quite proud of

it,

with great glee she said to the miller's wife,

good

mistress, at

and one day *

Only

look,

the fine large tuft on the head of this

I

Crookcd-Bcak,

lo

little

chicken

while

all

By

!

Bat why does

'

mark we may be

this

sure

the rest of the same brood are cocks

not eat with the others

it

is

it

a hen.

!'

asked the

%'

mistress. '

Because

it

'Ah,

I see

Look

cannot.

Then

!

here, see

how

beak

little

its

!

crosses over in front

is

it

of

little

poor

avail for the

creature to be such a beauty, and a hen to boot, for

be condemned to the same slaughter as the cocks. fatten

it

little

must

it

Only

well first!'

'Crooked-Beak

have her dear

to

And

Theresa.

piteously ejaculated

neck twisted!'

little

she pressed her

as

feathered favourite tenderly to her bosom, her tears began to flow. '

Well now

bird

It

%

—but

what

Oh

feed '

it

Ah

!

but,

my

little

last

'

I

little

chick

may be

you must not

;

fritter

I shall lose

allowed to put

good, kind mistress all

me

to

it

!

I will

it.'

away your time

!

can manage to eat alone.

return

special feeding.'

morsel of bread with

can assure you, mistress,

If only I

its

do give

Theresa, you must work and learn to

gain your livelihood

with this

to spare for

dear, kind mistress, pray

and share !

can be done with the poor

could only perish in the course of the winter, for

no one would have time '

else

I

!

the winter.

If

Oh will

!

its

no time with

food into a saucer,

pray, pray give

gladly do your

it

to

sewing

it.

it

me, in

we had but Crooked-Beak, my

old grandmother, whose infirm limbs keep her a prisoner to her chair all day,

would not be so lonely

at

home when

Crooked-Beak. I

am

in the mill

1 1

she would have a living creature to keep

;

her company.' '

my

Well, for

grandmother's

Michaelmas present that,

Theresa

was wishing

I

any

at

although in

;

you the hen

part, I gladly give

sake.

rate, so

my

all

for

you may take

life I

your

you some

give

to

it

for

never yet heard of

human being.' own exclaimed

such a thing as a hen being company for a '

Crooked-Beak

my

own,

my

very

!

'

Theresa, as she kissed and hugged her pet with childlike

Oh may God reward you, mistress Oh you know how rich and how happy you have made us, soon Crooked-Beak will lay eggs, and then we shall

joy.

'

!

!

!

little

for

!

always have something for grandmother to eat '

Have you not always something for her now 1 asked the if alarmed. You are never in want, child V '

mistress, as '

Oh

you,

'

no,

!

no

Lord Jesus

for the

;

madam, have been very

did forbid

my

telling

you

But

kind.

of

it

so gracious, and

is

—but

.

.

.

.

.

.

grandmother since father's

death we have only oatmeal-broth, and grandmother longer able to take that

;

and when

it

get anything else, except occasionally a mess

any milk you her.

But

if

may happen

for her every day.'

And

the

made

That does

to give us.

Crooked-Beak soon

is

with

refresh

lays eggs, I can boil

little girl

no

disagrees she cannot

one

jumped and clapped

her hands. '

and

I tell

you what, Theresa, come into the house with me,

I will give

grandmother

enough

to

;

you grain

to feed the hen,

and you must come

make

a

and milk

daily

to

for

fetch

your milk

good milk-pottage, and on meat days a

Crookcd-Bcak.

1 1

bit

little

never

Now

of meat.

let this slip,

remember, Theresa, you must

even should

it

store-chamber, laid

bacon, and

some

my

escape

So saying, the good housewife of the

butter and eggs, meal, a flitch of

a bottle of wine, in a basket,

while somewhat in this strain

:

'

and soliloquized the

Yes, yes, so

Because the gracious Lord supplies thee at thy well-garnished

O

the starving.

Lord

memory.'

mill repaired to her

it is,

old Kitty

liberally,

thou,

board, forgettest to sympathize with !

enter not into judgment with

me

!

Great indeed were the joy and thankfulness in Theresa's

home, on her return with Crooked-Beak and her basket.

On

Frank hearing how kind the

well-filled

miller's wife

had

been, he gave his grandmother his pledge that he would stay at the mill

and render

faithful service to the surly miller all

his life long for the sake of the

excitable fellow, Frank,

had

generous mistress.

This

in fact already repeatedly given

proof of his hot-headed temperament, by refusing to put up

any longer with the ill-humour and whims of a very severe master, and declaring his preference for

and going

to the wars as his father

old Idelette

who

had no easy job

becoming a

had done.

soldier,

Thus poor

in controlling the youngster,

nevertheless had at bottom a fine disposition, and was

ready to go through

fire

and water

for his sister or his

grandmother.

new home.

Frank

made

her up a nest of straw beside the hearthstone.

Close

to

stood a

Crooked-Beak led a merr}'

it

with her food the

little

her

dish with water and sand, and a second

— the barley

good dame

life in

for

at the mill.

which was never forgotten by

So the pet fowl enjoyed

all

Crooked-Beak.

113

her meals quite at her ease, generally seated the while on Theresa's shoulder, and making a point of waiting

grandmother carefully collected

old

formed her

When

dessert.

crumbs which

the

winter came, she was allowed

warm bed-chamber, under

to sleep in the

the

till

the stove

;

and on

Christmas-Eve Theresa was greeted in the morning by the discovery of the boiled

it

milk-rolls,

soon

the

for

miller's wife

first

old

her.

empty-handed,

But when the

woman's supper!

Father Bernard

— then indeed

nuts,

of cast-off clothing, and,

articles

and thanksgiving

praise

great was her joy as she

came. with her Christmas boxes, apples,

and various

after

How

^%%.

—he,

by no means

too,

Idelette's heart overflowed with

her

to

God and

She

Saviour.

folded her hands, the children knelt beside her, and she

poured forth a short and hearty prayer, her unpremeditated utterance of praise, followed noster

by the

petitions of the Pater-

—the Lord's Prayer— repeated

in her

broken German

with such devout fervour, that tears stood in the mistress's eyes,

and she involuntarily

young ones

as

concluding with

the

tidings of great joy

a Saviour.' this too in

fell

on her knees beside the

Father Bernard pronounced the blessing, words,

...

for

'

Behold,

unto you

is

I

bring you good

born

this

day

After which he sang with the children

German, so

could understand,



'

that their kind friend

Glory to

God

.

.

.

— and

from the mill

in the highest,

and on

earth peace, goodwill towards men.'

On felt

returning home, the miller's wife

before in her

one of

his

life,

and said

to her

felt

as she

husband,

had never

who was

in

most crabbed moods, and bent on wrangling

H

:

Crookcd-Bcak.

Il4 '

Leave

me

peace now, old Martin

in

this

;

evening

me

quarrel with you, but only ask you to forgive alas I

!

too often done so already; for truly

had

it

I

cannot

for having,

seems as though

been hearing the song of the blessed angels

just

in

heaven,' '

He who

Thus

departs from evil

Word

says the

tion to fools to depart from evil^

Idelette.

She had become

Griindler.

That

and the

an abomination to xiii.

Eng.

an

('// is

19.

So was

vers.)

abomination

fools.'

abominait

with

Dame

to

should go well with these humble folk

it

mean home and

in their

is

of God, Prov.

Bernard

their penury, that Father

should take

miller's wife

and loving an

true

-so

interest in them, all this filled her with bitter jealousy,

And

inflamed her spiteful hatred. fire

of

an unruly

hell, is

of iniquity

'

(James

evil, full

5-8), so

iii.

swore that she would never

rest

as the tongue,

to

work

in

records, but so

the

much

first is

and

set

on

of deadly poison, a world

accordingly that

till

Dame

instance

Grundler

French Letty should

be driven out of the town and the country set

'

How

too.

she

our chronicle nowise

certain, that the matter

was brought

before the parish priest and the worshipful magistrates, and that the former called Father Bernard to account for the

misdemeanours carried on under the roof of the French

widow

in

the

Moreover,

Blauwlatten Street.

that,

— the

wise, prudent and venerable burgomaster having procured

information

on the

subject,



it

was

settled

measures must shortly be taken against the foreigner placed in confinement,

by the

town-officer to

Dame

all

that evil,

strong

and the

which was recounted

Griindler, with

whom

he was

Crooked-Beak.

wont

to pass

bling.

He

all

almost every evening in drinking and gam-

own

added, as his

would be

115

if,

suggestion, that the best of

by hook or by crook,

Dame

Griindler could

gain possession of the suspicious big book, for then they

would have proof positive of the sorcery

in

own

their

hands, and the suit against the French heretic for witchcraft

would be So

it

good

as

came

as gained.

to pass that,

on a



it

was

in the Carnival,

and wild merry-makings had been carried on Griindler's,



Idelette

was

sitting still

when

at

Dame

and peaceful with her

grandchildren, reading to them from the big light of their little lamp,

when

bitterly cold night,

a piercing north wind was blownig

book by the

the tavern guests, heated with

wine, and incited by the spiteful speeches of their hostess against the poor foreign widow, rushed out en masse, and

pouring forth a torrent of abuse and imprecations, proceeded to attack the

little

cottage, smashing the tiny

round panes

of glass in the leaden-framed windows with a shower of stones. falling

When on the

their heads,

the tumult began, the rattle of broken glass floor,

and the whiz of stones

Theresa raised a cry of

Beak, frightened out of her nest, flew round in

might have done

Frank seized

in a poultry-yard if a weasel

his old

flying

about

and Crooked-

distress,

terror, as

had broken

she in.

rheumatic grandmother in his arms,

carried her out into the kitchen, placed her at the fireside,

and was rushing down-stairs prepared and

its

dear inmates,

besought him with stay, stay,

Frank

;

many

to defend his

when Theresa, tears to

clinging

remain with them.

home him,

to '

Oh

!

what can you do, alone and unarmed.

Crooked-Beak.

Il6

men?

against these wicked, drunken

take your

Let

'

*

They

me

alone, Theresa,' cried Frank, glowing with rage,

for should they

me

murder

ten times over,

I

avenge the injury on these malicious knaves

At

this

moment

when

Roman

the

'

soldiers

Frank gave no answer

;

must and

will

hand on

his

!'

the grandmother laid her

shoulder, and gently asked,

say

will certainly

life.'

Frank, what did the Saviour

were nailing him to the cross?'

his face

was glowing,

with his feet and knocked his clenched

fist

—he stamped

against his fore-

head. ^

What

did your Saviour say

%

softly

'

repeated the grand-

mother. '

Father, forgive them, for they

whispered Theresa,

Hot tears down before in

rolled his

know not what

down

as he threw himself

his cheeks, ;

and when

he hid

his face

She suffered

his tears

at length

her lap, and wept like a child.

still

they do,'

clinging to her angry brother.

grandmother

to take their course,

at length all

was once more

below, the wild raging throng having dispersed, and the

shrill

heard, *

still

Dame Griindler being no more woman said lovingly but seriously,

blustering voice of

then the

Thou must

for they too

old

forgive them, Frank, as the

know not what

Lord

forgives thee

Poor old Idelette was obliged, with Crooked-Beak, sleep in the cold kitchen

;

they do.'

on the

floor,

Theresa gathered up the stones and

tiles

to

while Frank and

thrown into the

bed-chamber, and endeavoured to put things into order again as best they could.

But next came the question,

Who

was

Crooked-Beak, to

pay

broken windows

for the

117

Money

%

they had none

;

the doers of the mischief they knew, indeed, well enough,

but before any tribunal the poor calumniated widow, with

had no chance of obtaining righteous

the desolate orphans,

When Frank, on

redress.

to the miller

the following morning, appealed

about the matter, he could get no hearing even he too had had his head

from him,

for

gossip, so

much

so that he

family notice to quit his premises,

had not

stood between him and the oppressed

and given

with spiteful

filled

would gladly have given the poor his brave Kitty their defender,

as

notice to her growling old Martin, that

fair

the field or in the mill he was, as a matter of right, lord

master, and free to rule

pleasure

;

and dispose of everything

all

But

she had no business to interfere.

at

'

in

and

at his

home,

the household concerns were her jurisdiction equally as a

matter of right

;

therefore

grandmother and her

will of

her own.

was, that the cash

now he would was

little

This decision was

street.'

final, for

would not

suffer the

old

orphans to be turned into the final, for

the miller's wife had a

But again the other side of the matter all

pertained to the husband's jurisdiction

not pay for the broken panes

;

and

this

;

too

the miller was a headstrong man.

Nevertheless Griindler,

she

and

— and

this

satisfied

Letty was a witch

was

really too

much

for

Dame

her more than ever that that French

— that very evening

saw

fresh glass in the

windows, and towards dusk Frank fixed a great board in front of

them

the world

all '

to prevent

had paid

I will tell

you,'

any danger from stones.

for the

broken panes

whispered

little

Who

in

?

Theresa to her kind

Crooked-Beak.

1 1

friend from the mill, ing.

'

The Lord

replaced for

Dame

when she came

and he has done

us,

across late in the even-

Jesus told Father Bernard to get them

But you must not

it.

Griindler

From time immemorial

the vintage has been the great

season of festivity with the people of Miilhausen.

hundred years ago, as dead

in

in

our

own

days, the

the true joy of harvest

to

most

rejoices

Him



is

and

to

its

not

one

at the vintage, originating full

of frivolity and

—those known by the

Stitten im Lande^' or

sacrifice of praise

many

epithet,

Quietists'),

'

that in the vintage of

in our old chronicle,

1

510, noted

a heart did bring

and thanksgiving, and did

to consider the poor.

The worthy poor

{^

we may believe

Lord the

fail

offers

to doubt, since

Exceptions to the general rule there have, by

'quiet ones in the land'

as a rich

hand

joy was

of a quiet, moral and loving character,

the grace of God, always been,

truly

stir

this

His grace, and

Pagan customs, were noisy and

impropriety.

and so

in

—we have reason

whereas the scenes of men^'making in ancient

Whether

that which, while enjoying the rich

in the Giver

sacrifices of praise,

joy in the Lord

Three

town appeared

autumn, because every creature that could

or foot had gone to the vineyards.

gifts,

tell

!'

friends,

lady of the mill had been mindful of her

and had been

that family she

liberal in her largesses

had taken under her

protection.

towards

However

sour the master of the Blauwlatten mill might be as he

looked on askance, his brave Kitty would not be deprived of her right to insist that for once Frank and Theresa should

have a merry day

like the rest,

and go with

their neighbours

Crooked-Beak. Zuckerberg

to the

large vineyard.

morning

Sugar-hilV), where the miller had a

{^

So

119

actually

it

came

to pass that in the

both started early with the miller's family

his ei7iployes for the vineyard,

Frank

in highest glee,

and

all

Theresa

on the other hand oppressed and anxious, so burdened with care indeed that,

allowed

it,

her grandmother;

had

called late,

woman

if

only her kind mistress would have

home

she would have preferred staying at for the

with

previous night Father Bernard

and had been long closeted with the old

in secret conversation, since

which

it

seemed

as if

a funeral pall had been spread over her dear face, usually so peaceful and serene. and, for the

about

first

She was grave and rapt

in thought,

time since Theresa was of an age to reflect

she had gone to rest without reading in her big book,

it,

saying that her eyes ached, and that she preferred repeating

some of

it,

for she

knew

nearly the whole by heart.

All this

had caused Theresa many a puzzled, sorrowful thought. While she was thus cogitating amid the vineyard merrymakings, her solitary old grandmother was, however, already

comforted right well by her dear Saviour, on cast

all

her burden, and

answered her cry by

Dame too was

Griindler full

thoughts of

filling

own

thoughts.

at

it,

and

home, and she !

they were

her

own mind

But, alas

She was turning over

sion of the suspicious book,

actually

she had

her with peace.

whether the lucky moment had not come

authorities,

whom

relieved her of

had likewise remained

of her evil.

who had

in

for getting posses-

and handing

it

over to the

through her friend the town-officer.

There was

no creature

in

the street,

save herself and that

Crooked-Beak.

20

1

French Letty, mill, sat

for old

who was watching

deaf Ulrich,

the

now

snoring on the stone bench, as she had even

ascertained by peeping through the window.

was so much crippled

Idelette

in the limbs

Dame

Griindler,

movements,

No

widow's

on the

sooner thought of than done

sly,

she glided

down

last

health,

and inquiring

in return

by

saying,

Idelette that she hers, over

concerning her welfare, every corner.

"into

'

She had begun to weary,

would show

come

for her benefit.

to

to ask as a favour of

her, for once, that big

which she was wont

as

there so

left

book of

to pore so diligendy, and,

perhaps, indeed she would be kind enough to read

now

her

Softly,

!

she responded to her neighbour's queries

long alone at home, so she had

it

in

the lane, entered the

peered with a keen, hawk's-eye glance

At

and brisk

room, and, while receiving her hospitable

little

salutations,

yet strong

house with the book secured

to get out of the

as her booty. like a cat

who was

painfully raise

would be more than time

herself with her crutches, there for

by rheumatism

and before she could

that she could not walk,

To which

some of

Letty replied that

it

grieved her to be obliged to refuse the request, but she had lent the

waxed

book

to a dear friend.

Whereupon Dame

and she poured her not at

all,

forth a torrent of abuse.

but sat

still,

'

little

to find in

it,

— and

she would speedily find the

the place to which

it

Idelette

answered

peaceful and composed, while

the vixen searched through the

and

Griindler

so wroth that she could no longer contain her rage,

little

room,

—soon

done,

protested with an oath that

book

herself,

and carry

it

to

belonged, and where Idelette too

Crooked-Beak.

would have her mask of piety torn

what was concealed behind

1

and

off,

very bottom of the chest,

earthquake.

frail

little

Still

had

to the

no book, she ran

off

slamming the doors behind her so

reviling,

violently that the

finding

still

would see

after she

rummaged

vainly ransacked every place, and even

raging and

all

However,

it!'

2

Idelette

tenement shook as sat

there,

with an

if

with folded hands,

looking up to heaven, and as tears of thankfulness rolled

down her

pale cheeks, she exclaimed,

graciously hast

So

far all

Beak was

Thou

had gone on

just then sitting

new-laid egg,

and

my

preserved

'

Ah

dear Lord,

!

treasure for

me

but unfortunately Crooked-

well,

on her

nest, in

which she had a

began

after the fashion of all poultry she

when Dame

to raise a loud cackling

how

!'

Griindler stormed out

and rejoiced

meet with any

of the house.

Hearing

living creature

on which she might vent her anger, the said

Dame

moment

You What have beggarly

!

shall serv-e

!

and feeding chickens wings, stuffed

out of the

is it

!

if

folk to

'

all,

and bragging

' !

;

full

ourselves

Speech

the saying of a wise

man

Aha

you

!

do with eating eggs

into her apron,

Ah

house again.

even so with us

'

turn at the right

!

many

!

But

full

often

a grief and trouble have

by unnecessary is silver,

of old,^

and hurried

poor, poor Crooked-

only thou hadst held thy tongue

brought upon

1

my

she seized Crooked-Beak by the

!

egg and

it,

little

to

and with the words,

turned round,

accursed animal

Beak

this,

silence

is

we

talking, boasting gold.'

— one that we have

This was all

often

Often quoted as a saying of Talleyrand, but attributed by the French

translator here to

an Arabian proverb.

122

Crooked-Beak.

need to have whispered Master, to

whom

in

O

Set a watch,

us to pray,

'

the door of

my

lips,'

endure and to be

In the school of that

our ears.

Holy Ghost

the

in the 141st

Lord, before

Psalm teaches

my

in that school Idelette

mouth, keep

had learned to

She did therefore hold her peace,

silent.

when Frank and Theresa came home, and she merely

said,

'She had heard Crooked-Beak cackling loudly, and then crowing anxiously, and she believed some one had carried off the bird.'

For more than one reason she deemed

it

wiser to keep silence altogether as to the invasion of her

premises by

Dame

In the

Griindler.

place, she did not

first

wish to increase Theresa's dread of the wicked old for the

girl

stood

on seeing her

in

wholesome

In the second place, the old

at a distance.

grandmother had a

Dame,

such awe of her that she trembled even

fear of her

fear of sin

;

own



it

was indeed only a

she dreaded the violent rage and

excitement of Frank and of the miller's wife, and as she that

'

(James

20), she preferred laying her

i.

tale of all her

Him

for

complaint and the

need before the Tord alone, and praying to

her oppressor.

the loss of Crooked-Beak

Most ;

little

bitter

indeed to her too was

could she to-day relish even

the delicious grapes which Theresa had brought the vintage, because her pet

was not there

out of the palm of her hand.

fruitless

home from

to pick the skins

Poor Theresa was incon-

solable in lamenting her vanished darling

a

knew

the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God

search in the mill and up and

;

after

down

having had

the street, in

every hole and corner, she was sobbing so bitterly as she left

the

court-yard that even poor deaf old Ulrich was

Crooked-Beak. melted

was

of her grief; he beckoned to Frank,

at the sight

moment coming down from

at that

23

1

who

the hay-loft, where

he also had been seeking in vain, and whispered to him, <

Look ye now, Frank,

on the

I

'11

ye what

tell

This afternoon

right scent.

I



think I have got

I

saw the

witch

vile old

opposite creep into her house like a fox into his hole, with a

she should have the hen

what

if

work

too, not

Griindler

is

march

in league with the

act in the matter, all

%

fat

time

and be you as dumb as a

Yet often

I

us.

fish.

So

let

have heard better with I

me

Yes, yes,

shall

knows

my

two

prove

it

too.'

Frank went home

in silence,

pondering, but never repeat-

At supper the poor

ing Ulrich's surmises.

mournful mood, not one of the three

eat.

Dame

powers of darkness, and

an injury on

to inflict

eyes than they with their sharp ears, and

in

goose

set slily to

think deaf old Ulrich observes nothing and

nothing.

this

stolen

But we must

straight in at the main-door, for

would soon contrive

they

might carry a

as he

well-filled apron,

The egg

for the

for the miller's wife

trio sat together

much

disposed to

grandmother was not wanting indeed,

had remembered

that,

but Frank was of

opinion that in the boiling Theresa had poured more tears

than water over

it,

and

as he

made

the remark, so strange

a twitching came over the corner of his mouth, and so significant a glance

was darted from

Idelette, alarmed, laid her

hot tear

fall

on

it,

hand on

his flashing eyes, that his,

and as she

felt

a

she herself could no longer restrain her

tears.

'In this said

)';ear

of grace 15

10,'

we

further read in the

1

Crooked-Beak.

24

old chronicle,

'

the to^\^l of Miilhausen

had so completely,

by the grace of God, recovered from the troubles, persecutions,

before, that

it

and wars

vaults,

effects

had endured

had attained a most flourishing

town-hall was built, and beside

and

it

it

large

of the

forty years

state.

cellars,

Anew

granaries,

wherein were to be preserved the provisions,

public documents and treasures of the town.'

Now

German

the Knights of the

desirous of doing their part

caused vaulted

aisles

Stephen's (which the

to

orders of chivalry were

on the occasion, and they

be erected

Emperor Charles

in the

church of

St.

the Fourth had in the

year 1354 presented to the Teutonic Knights), and added,

by the hand of the master-builder, Hans of Constance, the crowning point to

worthy

zeal,

spire.

its

The

authorities, with praise-

had already, on the erection of the

choir,

ordered several imposts to be levied for the beautifying of our parish church.

Thus, for example, the best garment

of every deceased individual

fell

to the church

;

the burghers

were to contribute, each according to his means, some corn

and wine, others geese, hens, pigeons,

etc.,

and on the

appointed days they were to bring their levies to the

Ga-man Housed or Town- Hall. On one of these days the Knight-Commander of the land, Ritter' George von Andlauw, being in the German House in

steward in the

his

'

own apartment, heard an

extraordinary noise in the

window to see among many other

court below, and stepped forward to the

what was the matter. citizens,

Down

there

male and female, he saw

Dame

Griindler, with a

basket containing a hen, which she was desirous of present-

Crooked-Beak.

125

ing to the town-steward as the church-tax laid upon her.

But before her stood Frank,

his face

boldly maintaining the hen was

feloniously

by Dame Griindler on the first Dame, for her part, was defending

day of the vintage.

stolen

The

glowing with rage,

his property,

said

tumult and screams, the other

— deaf

herself with

screaming

in concert,

of Frank's fellow-workmen

and another

Ulrich

women

stepping forward as witnesses, and saying to the steward, *

They

knew

well

the

hen by

its

crooked beak, and

assuredly belonged to the Hiigelin family, and not to

She again

Griindler.'

persisted,

her rightful property, for the

and vociferated that

Frenchwoman Letty

the absence of her grandchildren, sold

it

witch

!'

;

and with the exclamation,

'

Dame was

it

had, in

at the vintage,

Thereupon Frank grew yet more

to her.

bolder too

who were

it

You

irate,

lie,

and

you old

he snatched the basket violently from the hands of

the vixen.

At

this juncture the noise

and tumult were so great that

the Knight-Commander, dreading a riot and hand-to-hand fight,

rushed quickly down-stairs to restrain the wild mob.

Meanwhile the

lid

of the basket had sprung open, Crooked-

Beak, snuffing the free

and flown, crowing

air

of heaven, had spread her wings

lustily the while,

straight into the

arms

of Theresa, who, pale, and with eyes red with crying, had that

moment

Bernard.

welcomed '

entered the Court hand in hand with Father

On it

in

Crooked-Beak,

seeing her feathered friend

fly to

her she

her arms with tears of joy, and cries of

my own

little

Crooked-Beak

The crowd had drawn back

!'

respectfully at the sight of

1

26

Crooked- Beak.

the universally beloved Father Bernard,

and of the Knight-

Commander of the land, who also inspired reverence silence was suddenly restored among the populace conversing in Latin, many an eye were and while these two ;

was her

sympathy on the weeping Theresa, and on

fixed with

who had come

slim brother,

tall,

to stand beside her as

her protector, his flashing eyes downcast for the time out of deference to his two superiors, but unable to restrain his joy

and the victory gained.

at the liberation of the bird

The judgment

King Solomon could hardly

of the wise

have been expected with greater suspense than that with

which the assembled burghers

now awaited

in the court

the decision of the Knight-Commander.

He,

after convers-

some time with Father Bernard, turned with a sharp

ing for

glance towards

Dame

faction towards the

Griindler,

young

wish to put

it

and looking keenly

satis-

at the

into the

'

hands of our steward as your due,

the equivalent of that which

money The

and then with one of

You maintain then that this hen name [of God and of justice, and you

former, he said to her,

belongs to you in the

pair,

is

levied

on you

as church-

?'

old

Dame

replied

the affirmative,

in

with

many

asseverations, adding a torrent of abuse levelled against the

who had dared

rascal

against citizen.

to

be

due,

and

to

vilipend

Upon which

silent,

and

—the hen

your business

is

is

thus publicly to lay a complaint

the

her,

an

aged and respectable

Knight-Commander ordered her

said sternly,

'

Enough, you have paid your

accepted as your equivalent, and thereby

concluded

:

you may

retire.'

And imme-

Crooked-Beak.

1

diately turning to the steward, he asked,

was the

two

his purse, laid

'Add

Church, and

fully

forthwith

his

out

said,

have

I

these witnesses, purchased of the

all

paid for it

hand, and

This hen

these coins to the church-money.

free to dispose of I

The Knight drew

reply.

shillings in the steward's

hereby, in presence of

What may be

'

'At the utmost one

the esthnated value of this hen?' shining, your worship,'

27

it

;

is

therefore mine,

and

I

am

my will and pleasure. And thee, my poor child,' — laying

according to

present

it

to

hand gently on Theresa's bowed-down head, and ad-

dressing her in a kind and conciliatory tone

go home



'

Take

and

it,

in peace.'

For an instant

all

stood as though petrified on hearing

unexpected dictum, but presently there arose a murmur

this

which gradually became a loud expression of approbation, '

That

ment

is

!

capital

!'

The

'

'Wellsaid!'

'

'Welldone!'

old hag has found her

match

'Ajustjudgat last

But

!'

Frank respectfully approached the Knight-Commander, held

May

out his hand, and said, with ill-suppressed emotion,

'

God reward

right-

eously, loyal

!

You have judged

and should you ever need two strong arms, and a

and

Hiigelin,

with

you, most noble Knight

faithful heart in

who

all his

is

your service, then think of Frank

bound by

might, or to lay

the ties of gratitude to serve you

down

drew forward Theresa, who,

his

bashfiil

life

for you.'

He

deep reverence before the Knight, and whispered,

God reward you

in

then

and trembling, made a

time and in eternity

!'

Then

the

'

May

young

pair departed with light and rapid steps. '

That fellow pleases me, and the maiden

also,' said

the

128

Crooked-Beak.

Knight-Commander him

into the

to

he accompanied

German House.

The wrath began

to Father Bernard, as

of

Dame

Griindler

complain loudly of

rabble always

now

'

now knew no bounds she way in which that foreign ;

the

obtain a preference in our town, and are

permitted with impunity to calumniate honourable citizens,

and

in

which, moreover, with certain personages of high

rank, a comely face

and rosy cheeks are worth more than

the lawful rights of a venerable and respectable citizen

Several of the bystanders sought to pacify her. Ulrich,

on with abuse, she ought rather gratitude to the

hen out of

his

further inquiry

own ;

'

to

That instead of running acknowledge her debt of

Knight-Commander

for

having paid for the

privy purse, and abstained from making

for if the

before a Court of Justice

matter had been formally brought it

would have fared

ill

with her,

the witnesses would have been against her,

seeing that

all

and could

easily

have brought overpowering evidence of

theft.'

These home-thrusts so incensed the angry dame exclaimed with a this

Deaf

however, the journeyman miller, and some other

burghers, said plainly to her face,

her

!

day forward

sold the hen to

fearful oath, if

me

'

May

I

that she

be a cripple from

be not true that the French Letty

it ! '

Whereupon, scolding

noisily,

and

German Court. The Knight-Commander, however, when quietly ensconced with Father Bernard in his own apartment up yonder, was most anxious to know what all this had to do with the French widow in the Blauwlatten Street. Why she was quivering with rage, she

left

the

Crooked-Beak.

And above

suspected of heresy?

1

29

whether the holy

all,

Father was acquainted with that book by means of which

was believed to practise the black

Idelette

Full well

'

Father

'

;

am

I

acquainted with

since I have for

art

%

replied the

truly,'

it,

some days past had

in

it

my own

hands.'

Well

'

'An

;

and what

sort of

book may

be then

it

'

1

old Bible, a copy of the French version

by Peter

Waldo, which has been handed down from father

to son in

Idelette's family for generations,

precious, esteemed indeed their

and held sacred and most most costly family

treasure,

the most valuable heirloom of their ancestors.' *

She

is

stunned.

then a Waldensian '

!

'

exclaimed the Knight, as

Then indeed she must be ordered

tory, for within the

must be suffered

if

off our terri-

bounds of our town no such

evil

weeds

to take root.'

Father Bernard responded by simply asking the question,

'

Do men

(Matt.

vii.

'

How

*

I

gather grapes of thorns or

mean,

to apply that, Father

Sir Knight,

Has not the Lord " shall know them 1

...

But

*

That

is

'

1

is

'

1

you might yourself have recognised

pleased the proof as to what

'

of thistles

16.)

do you mean

the two young people with

in

figs

whom

you were so highly

spirit their

grandmother

explicitly declared, "

she really a Waldensian

By

is of.

their fruits ye

'

1

a point on which, in good truth, I cannot certify

you, forasmuch as I never questioned her on the matter.

One

thing however I

know

of a surety, Sir Knight, that I

Crooked-Beak.

130 in

this

silent

and devout

example by which

God

(Rom.

believeth'"

have seen a Hving

I

have learned that the Gospel of Christ

I

"is the power of

sufferer

i.

unto salvation to every one that

16).

For a while the Knight-Commander

and down the room with long stood

and

still

warning voice

Romer, take heed '

On

strides,

paced up

then he suddenly

before the Father, laid his hand on his shoulder, in a

said

silently

Word

the

!

Thou

Bernard Romer, Bernard

' :

standest on slippery ground

of God, Sir Knight

On

!

that

!

Rock on

which the Lord hath builded His Church, and against which the gates of

hell shall not prevail.'

They looked one another

in

the face for long, shook

hands without another word, and In the humble dwelling

same evening, a

souls.

.

parted friends.

.

in the Blaiiwlatten Street,

feast of joy

by three simple

.

on

this

and thanksgiving was celebrated

The grandmother was happy, not among

only because they once more had Crooked-Beak

them, but more especially because the Lord had so graciously preserved her Frank, and not permitted that he, led

away by

his violent passions, should

be involved '

And

in

repast, for to-night

eggs,

besides '

crime, or

now,' exclaimed Theresa joyously, as she heartily

embraced the old woman and

commit any

any scrape.

we

;

'

now

and Crooked-Beak

in

shall prepare

I

We

are rich folk.

the

a rich

have milk, butter,

midst of us

again

!

What

is

the matter in the street

and screaming

! '

1

said the grandmother.

Hark

!

what a noise

Crooked-Beak.

131

Frank hastened

Theresa shrunk back in alarm.

out,

but

speedily returned in agitation with his master's wife, who,

pale as death and with clasped hands, sank

down on a

chair. '

Has any

misfortune happened

%

'

asked Idelette and

Theresa with one breath. of God,' slowly and solemnly replied the

'A judgment miller's wife

of

my

'

j

and

Yes

body.

sure enough, the

it

has given

it is

;

awful



me

Lord has judged her

*

Judged whom?' eagerly inquired

'

Dame

Yes, truly

Griindler.

;

awful oath, as she was leaving the

would go lame

a shock in every limb

makes me shudder ;

it

for life if

it

Idelette.

she declared, with an

German

Court, that she

was not true that you had sold

her that hen.

She then turned homewards,

and

On

scolding.

step caused her to

she

lies,

but,

!'

still

swearing

own door a false She could not rise and now there

the threshold of her

fall.

;

bemoaning

writhing like a worm,

ing infernal torture.

Truly she

is

herself as suffer-

struck

down by God

Himself!'

*We must '

The poor

run to help her

!'

quickly exclaimed Idelette.

creature must have broken a leg or dislocated

her hip-joint

—a

bad job enough

to Father Bernard,

and beg him

at her age.

to bring the

you, Frank, go with the mistress, and

and lay her on her

lift

tained that

'

Doctor

the poor

fly

and

;

woman

bed.'

But the grandmother spoke to deaf

would venture

Theresa,

to go.

Frank and the

Certainly the

.

.

.

ears.

No

creature

main-

miller's wife

may God

preserve us

!

.

.

.

Crooked-Beak.

132

...

the

is

staring visibly out of the old dame's eyes, and,

moreover, she launches such curses at Idelette and her grandchildren that really

approach

it

would not be advisable to

her.'

Father Bernard had been anxious that very evening to

and

restore to Idelette her beloved book, at

rest,

reaching the Blaiiwlatten Street, he was not a

Dame

prised to find the crowd gathered round

house, and to learn what had occurred.

God

!

that

'

mind

to set her

having only good news to carry to her; but, on

seemed every one's

*

one was willing to touch the subject of

;

her from

afar with spiteful curiosity, others with shrinking fear

horror. it

not

And yet some the command of

should overcome that our gracious

evil

God

help must be given somehow. the

Lord Jesus

His

that

chastises even the

be led to acknowledge

as

Is

disciples

we not assured wicked among the

their sins,

may be

and

to

converted and

flee

live

no one would help good Father Bernard

sufferer

and

with good, and are

children of men, not in wrath but in love, that they

crucified, that they

of

and no

this awful stroke,

Some beheld

nor to render her any assistance.

sur-

A judgment

thought

first

little

Griindler's

from the ground,

1

still,

and

him alone with the unfortunate

woman, he went straightway

to

Idelette's

called out Frank, sent Theresa for the doctor,

the miller's wife to go with

So then

to raise the

for all fought shy of her

stood coldly aloof, leaving

may

to Christ

him

to her

lowly

home

and entreated

unhappy neighbour's

house, to arrange everything needful for the nursing of the invalid.

He

felt

bound however

first

to spare time for a

Crooked-Beak.

133

devout Paternoster offered up with Frank and the wife,

and

petition,

word

for a little '

Forgive us our trespasses as

trespass against

At

us.'

each member of the

circle

on

to impress

we

miller's

their hearts that

forgive those that

did go as he wished, and

last all

performed his or her Christian duty

towards the suffering woman, to the great joy of the good old grandmother,

who could

no help

give

but yet

herself,

did the best she could, and in truth more than they

all,

for

she continued unremitting in silent, earnest prayer, that the

Lord would teach love wife,

of

and would

in

to her

Frank and

Dame Griindler. And now what of the

old

Dame

herself?

stroke was, as the neighbours said, for the

to the miller's

mercy soften the hard and stony heart

Lord had taken her

at her

Assuredly this

a very judgment of God,

word

her hip-joint, and was a cripple for

:

she had dislocated

life.

But the Lord,

according to His great mercy and loving-kindness, after chastising her for a while, granted her space for repentance,

and dealt with her

in the riches of

indeed a hard struggle

There was

in the case of this veteran sinner

a long time she refused to

God, to confess her

His grace.

bow under

sins, to repent,

the almighty

;

for

hand of

to bid farewell to all

her animosities, to see either the miller's wife, or Frank, or Theresa, or her grandmother, or to suffer them to approach her bed. see,

However there was no one else whom she could else came near her, for those of a better sort

no one

shuddered

proved by

at

the idea of the

this visitation

the disreputable

anathema under which,

of God, she seemed to

women who

lie,

as

while

at first agreed to nurse her for

1

Crooked-Beak.

34

the sake of large payments, tended her so carelessly, cheated

her so shockingly, and carried on such wild doings in her house, that she was forced at

deprived of

all

last, in

order to avoid being

her worldly goods, to follow Father Bernard's

wise advice, by resigning the care of herself and

all

her con-

cerns to the kind and thrifty miller's wife.

And

when,

thereafter, she

found herself

rounded with an atmosphere of

all

at

once

merited but much-dreaded lecturing andupbraidings Theresa,

little

come

who

sur-

love, instead of the well;

when

with her heavenly Father's aid had over-

the fear of the old

Dame, chatted with her

friendly way, handled her injured limb so gently,

in such a

and sought

with such tender compassion in every way to alleviate her pain

when even

;

the

monosyllabic Frank and the stern

mistress of the mill became, under the persuasive influence

of old

milder

Idelette,

more sympathizing; when

and

'French Letty' herself repeatedly caused Frank to carry

down beside her sick-bed, and there, freely and of her own accord, read for her benefit large portions of the beloved old book, and spoke in her own simple way of Jesus Christ the Saviour of sinners, who 'will have all men to be saved,' who came down from her across and set her

heaven and died upon the cross

Dame

Griindler;

—then

the

for sinners,

warm

even such as

breathings

of faithful

Christian love did gradually thaw the hard ice of this evil

heart

;

then the heavenly Physician entered within, and by

His Holy

Spirit cast out the

so long a time soul in

seven

evil spirits

had grievously tormented

bondage

as Satan's slave.

her,

which

for

and held her

Crooked-Beak.

135

This transformation did not indeed take place without

many

Adam in a man has in Dame Griindler

a conflict and relapse, for old

often a very tough

life,

and the old man

repeatedly rose again, and began afresh to pursue his former

grumble and so

courses, to wrangle, scold,

the miller's wife

and

'Why

felt,

we one and

endure so

all

Dame Griindler

and plaguing from

teasing

lost all patience

more than once well-nigh should

that

forth, so

much

She was a

%

sort

of incarnate fiend from the beginning, and would be to the

Every one ought to be just and give her her dues,

end.

and then take no further trouble about

However,

shown mercy

her.'

The Lord had

was of another mind.

Idelette

to her in her

deep necessity, and

He had

taught her also to be merciful, had given her grace to re-

ward

with good and thereby to

evil

on the head of her enemy.

It is

'

heap coals of

always the case

fire

when we

pray heartily and perseveringly for any one, seeking at the

same time

to

show kindness and

son becomes dear to of indifference love

is,



like

\

us,

and so

heat,

she strove to resist



it,

to

to

do good, that the per-

and can never again be an object it

was with

be

felt,

Dame

not seen

Griindler. ;

But

however hard

gradually the beneficent effects of this

love did overcome her, and she was constrained to love first little

Theresa, then Idelette, and at last even Frank and

the miller's wife. desolate heart was

whom

As

this love

awakened

to a

Idelette's silent pleadings

began

new had

to spring up,

life,

her

and the Lord,

to

risen acceptably, like

Abel's sacrifice, awakened and enlightened and converted

her soul, and His grace led her to repent and to seek salva-

1

36

Crooked-Beak,

tion with wrestlings, supplications

and much exercising

ot

spirit.

Those who had seen her formerly would hardly have recognised her now, so utterly transformed was the expres-

and the glance of her now friendly

sion of her countenance eye.

was indeed a lovely

It

the following year,

on the bench

Griindler sat peaceably together latten street,

warming

her

down

in the Blaiiw-

It

was the

time that the

first

from her bed, and Frank had carried

risen

that she might

Crooked-Beak was

Dame

their weary, aching old limbs in the

mild rays of a waning sun.

lame woman had

autumn days of

sight in the

when the aged grandmother and

also

be revived by the sweet fresh

air.

and must evidently have

there,

forgiven her former foe, and that right heartily, for often of

had

late she

and to-day she greatly

popped

company with Theresa,

visited the invalid in

into her

crumbs so caressingly

relished the

crooked beak by that very hand which had

inflicted the injury of old.

'No! Who could have

predicted

last

this

autumn?'

involuntarily exclaimed Theresa, as she prepared to

go up

to the vineyard hill with the miller's wife. *

Ah, indeed, that

feel as I

you

is true,'

responded

do, I cannot understand

look at that hen of yours,

purpose in thy heart

all

Therefore,'

glory, praise '

added

that evil,

who had

Idelette,

and thanksgiving

Amen,' answered

Dame

Griindler

it is

;

'

I

Whenever

!

Thou didst Lord God has

say to myself, "

I

and our

graciously brought such blessing out of '

Dame

how

'

to

!

Him

'

"

it

be

all

the honour,

!'

Griindler and the miller's wife,

joined the group at that moment.

Crookcd-Bcak.

137

Further details regarding the end of this

have not found

We

we

less,

shall hereafter

Bernard Romer, but that

tell

we may

In the meantime

hers

?



also there

fall

in

and who can

once more with

?

let

us each

as precious

Whether we

and

all

solemnly examine our-

and as sacred

daily read in

it

live

its

precepts, as did Idelette, walking

working by love

%

to wit, the

faith,

and whether it,

and obey

and

that faith

in the spirit that breathes in

by



as old Idelette did

as she did,

we

and walk

Neverthe-

meet again the Augustinian monk,

and ask whether we hold our own Book

Book of books

been the

take in their welfare.

in this said ancient chronicle,

Frank and Theresa

selves,

farewell to the inhabitants of the

however warm may have

street,

we could not but

interest

we

our town-chronicle of the olden time.

in

must therefore bid

Blaiiwlatten

history

little

THE MINISTERS OF THE WORD. In

'

all

things approving ourselves as the ministers of God.

2 Cor.

Parson in '

Master

in

Zell,^ parish priest of

Cathedral of Strasburg,

the

15 21,

Lawrence's chapel

commonly

the

simply

called

he himself informs

IStatthew,' had, as

the year a.d.

St.

vi. 4.

us,

begun,

memorable year of the Diet

of Worms, to preach the gospel to the people of Strasburg,

by a course of regular expositions of

The

of the Bible.

streamed

such multitudes

in

the chapel of

crowded congregation. the

to

and

Zell's parishioners

Dean and Chapter

truth,

hear his sermons, that

'Lawrence was soon too small

St.

books

single

citizens, thirsting after light

for the

then turned to

with the request that their parson

might be permitted to use the so-called

'

Doctor's Pulpit^

formerly placed by order of the magistrates for Geiler's

Gladly would the

use in the middle of the Cathedral.

Dean, Count Sigismund of Hohenlohe, have granted petition, but

their

he was out-voted by the other members of the

Chapter, and the stone pulpit was forthwith closed by their orders,

which occasioned no small

When,

at large.

nomy, which ^

stir

among the burgesses Book of Deutero-

shortly afterwards, the

Zell

was

Matthias Zell,

just

bom

beginning to expound, was

in Kaisersberg, a.d. 1477.

The Ministers of the Word. printed and circulated in the

ment and discontent first

German

1

language, the excite-

For the

rose to the highest pitch.

Word

time for a thousand years the

even to the unlearned,



of

God was open

time a book of the Bible

for the first

was printed and published

39

in Strasburg,

— 'and now,

forsooth,

they would fain stop the mouth of our beloved preacher

God from

they seek to withhold the word of

malcontent

Thus on the

citizens.

and

us,

us out of the salvation of our souls!' loudly

to cheat

grumbled the

of expectation,

tiptoe

both the authorities and the populace awaited the course of

coming It

service,

to

events.

was early on the

when

old

'

Sunday

first

in

Advent, before morning

Mey-Babeli,^ Zell's faithful cook, was seen

wend her way towards Gourd Lane from '

'

her master's home.^ in the beautiful

the Parsonage,

Mey-Babeli was a native of Miillheim

little district

of Markgrafler.

She had been

a servant in the household of the parson's old aunt at Freiburg, after

whose death she had passed, with the inheritance of

From

house, garden and farm, to the nephew.

Freiburg in

Breisgau, where he filled a professorial chair, she

lowed him

to Strasburg

;

in

fol-

and she was devoted with her whole

soul to her revered master.

appear to be

had

But to-day Mey-Babeli did not

her usual cheerful

mood

;

her eyes were red

with weeping, she hardly bestowed any salutations on the ^

*

Mey-Babeli,' a familiar appellative,

keeper Barbara.' ^

The

literally

signifying

'House-

Ti\

spacious and ancient Cathedral-Parsonage, the

home

of Zell,

Court Street (Briiderhof's-Gasse), opposite the present Episcopal Seminary, and had an exit towards Jews' Street. Judging

stood

in Friars'

by the ground

it

occupied,

it

must have been of very large

size.

The Ministers of tJie Word.

140

and hurried along so rapidly

passers-by,

once she was forced to stand '

Yes, yes, Mey-Babeli,

me, one cannot be so ago when one was your strength,

—we

when one grows

brisk, or

Gourd Lane

shall arrive all in

the

at

spectable Sunday the '

portly

Do

not hurry beyond

good

in her

into

most

re-

rosary in hand, and holding also

attire,

Book of Deuteronomy.

Ah

!

directly,

is

it

you,

Dame

Butzer V said Mey-Babeli, as

Kate.

.

.

.

But

Gourd Lane

1

— what

is

I

little

the matter

Only look

It is

!

!

must of necessity,

Maiden

talk with

now

this

morning

crowded with men,

packed so close that you could walk over

Oh

if

Unfortunately,' added she

cannot linger an instant, for

I

'

'

before Divine service begins, have a

*

Dame

time,' said

who turned

wife,

same moment, clad

awakening out of a dream.

in

you and

old, like

run on so nimbly as long

in one's teens.

Butzer, the master-cooper's

more than

that

to recover breath.

still

their

!'

heads

do you actually not know yet that the guild of

joiners has assembled,

and they are carrying over

to the

made in your master may

Cathedral the wooden pulpit which has been

Master

Schiitz's

preach

in the

workshop 1

It is all that

Yes, yes, most gracious

Minster.

sirs,

the

Very Reverend the Dean and Chapter, you may lock up the Doctor's stone pulpit, but you can no longer thereby lock

up God's Word from as well to us,

Master Matthew

us.

and apply

it

as well

home

will

expound

to our hearts

it

from

the slender pulpit of wood, as from your fine sculptured

stone one which you have

'What do you

now

barricaded

!

say?' exclaimed Mey-Babeli in consterna-

The Ministers of the Word. 'What? my master

tion.

preach to-day in

to

is

Cathedral instead of in the Chapel of joiners have

made

a

new

pulpit

141

St.

the

Lawrence, and the

on purpose

for him, to

spite the Cathedral Chapter?' '

It is all true, sure

enough, just as

I

have told you.

This

time Striidel-Hans has proved worthy of his name' ally signifying

'

Blustering

'

or

'

Hot-headed John

(liter-

and

'

'),

in

a few days' time he has contrived and manufactured a portable pulpit, which

may

indeed be a

shaky and hastily

little

got up {gestrudett), yet will be sure to stand firm enough to

bear your master's weight, for he '

Alas, alas

bring '

'

my

!

'

is

small and light enough.'

sobbed out Mey-Biibeli,

'

What do you mean, Mey-Babeli V I mean that I wish Strudel-Hans with

were where the pepper grows testily,

that will certainly

poor master to utter ruin at once

gulping

down

!'

!

his

wooden

rejoined the good

her tears with a violent

holding up her handkerchief

pulpit

woman

effort,

and

to conceal her eyes, red

and

swollen with weeping.

Dame

Butzer had no time to inquire further regarding the

sorrows of Master Matthew's faithful domestic, for while she

was speaking, the procession fonned before Master workshop, and as

back on both wards

all

marched

it

was being

sides with

joined

it

in

set in

solemn

motion, the crowd

Immediately

gravity.

most regular order.

in full dignity the virtuous

;

fell

after-

and foremost

First

and honourable Master

of the Guild, Justice Schiitz, with his the insignia of his dignity

Schiitz's

official staff

then followed

of the guild of joiners, each having the

the

all

Book

and

all

members

of Deutero-

The Ministers of the Word.

142

nomy

hand, 'for the purpose,' as

his

in

preface to

'

it,

is

stated in the

of promoting the custom of taking to church

with one the book from which the subject

is

and having the opportunity there, before

be chosen,

to

preaching

the

of reading over the text about to be explained.'

begins,

Next came 'Hot-headed Hans,' Master

Schiitz's

foreman;

with his GoUath-hke hmbs, he carried the pulpit as easily

on

his

broad shoulders as

if it

were a mere washerwoman's

two other journeymen carried the platform on

basket

;

which

it

was to

ladder by which

rest, it

while a third followed, bearing the

Then came the among the rest Maiden Katherine,

was to be ascended.

wives and daughters of the master joiners, the gifted daughter of Justice Schiitz,

with her two chosen friends, the highly esteemed widows,



the Dames known by the name of die Krdftinne?i,' who had, from early youth, dedicated themselves, Kraft,' with their bosom friend Katherine Schiitz, to the service of '

'



the church

thereby

Dame

and

won

Maiden

aiming

at

and poor, and had

and veneration.

Butzer and Mey-Babeli

latter specially '

to the care of the sick

universal love

now

To

these last

joined themselves, the

being in closest proximity to

Kate.'

In the great Minster square, before the Cathedral, the Patricians and Councillors were awaiting, with anxious

and

long-strained expectation, the proceedings of the burgesses.

There were

to

be seen, beside Daniel Ming the reigning

meisier (chief magistrate), the ex-magistrate Herrlin, cillor

others

Pfarrer (Sebastian Brandt's son-in-law), ;

there too was the aged

Am-

Coun-

and several

and venerable Wimpheling,

The Ministers of the Word. Geiler's

friend, leaning

most confidential

on the arm of

his

Jacob Sturm of Sturmeck, the famous Stdttmeister

pupil,

(burgomaster) of Strasburg, in that day '

143

German

the ornament of the

commonly designated

nobility,'

who,

tumul-

in the

tuous and perilous times of the Reformation, merited in the

homage of

highest degree the grateful orders,

fraternities,

canons,

was easy

it

small effort to restrain against

Old men

all

it

them no

cost

Over

several guilds with their masters,

with an air of firm resolution.

close array,

in

to discern that

expression of discontent.

all

them were the

drawn up

The

his native city.

and monks were

groups, to outward appearance quiet

standing in various

enough, while yet

priests

and young, matrons and maidens,

all

were together

expecting the beginning of the pubHc worship of God.

At

last

of the joiners

procession

the

Minster square

;

the bells pealed

;

arrived

the

at

opened

the sacristan

all

the doors, and in a few minutes the vast area of the build-

crammed with human

ing was

prised was Master

Matthew

empty, and his hearers

by

their

master,

apprentices,

all

beings.

to find the St.

Not a

Led

assembled in the Cathedral.

Schiitz,

'

sur-

little

Lawrence Chapel

Hot-headed Hans,' with

the

had quickly and expertly put up the wooden

pulpit in the very centre of the Cathedral, in front of the

locked-up stone one, which the date 1487 visible

proceeded to fetch

and lead him Zell

on

upon

their

respectfully

is it.

standing there to this day with

The Masters

of Guilds then

beloved preacher from the Chapel

up

to seat

him

in the

ascended the steps under deep emotion, his

knees

in prayer, while [the

new fell

pulpit.

at

once

organ pealed forth

its

144

Ministers of the Word.

T^Ji^

accompanied by the rich harmonies of a

thunders, choir,

and the glorious song of

of

praise

the

church, the Te Deum laudamtis, was re-echoed from

Had any

a thankful heart.

full

ancient

many

observer closely watched the

preacher during that interval, he might have seen him, his

whole soul voluntarily

of the impression

full

made by

the singing, in-

his eyes to that stone pulpit, then cast a long,

lift

deep, resting look on Geiler's grave, the silent tears mean-

down

while coursing

had died

out,

read out his

his cheeks.

As soon

as the last chords

he offered up a fervent prayer,

text,

after

which he

and preached with extraordinary unction.

The sermon over, the congregation dispersed with as much stillness and decorum as they had shown in assemHot-headed Hans and his associates carried the bling wooden pulpit back to Gourd Lane, and from the Chapel of St. Catherine there emerged a train of monks with ;

holy water, incense and lighted candles, to reconsecrate the desecrated spot Forgetful of

behind a

pillar,

all

around. Maiden Katherine Schiitz sat

deep in the study of those glorious

courses contained

in

the

Book

of

Deuteronomy.

continued reading long after the church was empty.

behind

her, Mey-Biibeli

dis-

She Close

was mechanically passing the beads

of her rosary through her fingers, waiting impatiently for the

time

when Maiden Kate should have

and when she might be

finished her devotions,

free to consult her about her affairs.

Suddenly the door of a confessional near them was opened,

and out stepped the Dean, who approached Katherine Schiitz,

and laying

his

hand on her shoulder,

said gently.

'

The Ministers of tJie Word.

145

Katherine, I have somewhat to say to thee.'

Immediately

the damsel closed her book, rose and followed the Count

Mey-Babeli glanced complacently

into a side aisle.

two noble

figures,

a dignity about her as

true, there is

born, and fore she

fit

is

and soliloquized thus

to converse with kings

the ver}^ person,

and no

if

at the

half-aloud,

'

It is

she were a princess

and emperors. other, to tell

There-

my

to

it

poor master.'

At length Mey-Babeli did in the Minster square.

find herself alone with Katherine

She grasped her hand, and, heaving

a deep sigh, said in a most beseeching tone,

Maiden Kate, trive to get his, for

'

Oh

for the sake of all the blessed Saints,

Hot-headed Hans

burn that wooden pulpit of

to

my poor

unless he does, assuredly

himself into utter beggary upon

dear

!

do con-

it

master

will

preach

!'

Katherine could scarcely control a smile, but, perceiving the perplexed and excited state of her worthy friend, she

answered good-naturedly, such matters

day meal, tell

me

all

at

ask you.

This

is

not the place to discuss share

my

noon-

which, without fear of interruption, you

that

in

is

in a hesitating, timid tone,

Maiden Katherine

without which

I

may

Mey-Babeli promised so

your heart'

however

to do, adding first

'

come home with me and

:

Schiitz, to

lend

me

'

a

I

must

florin,

should be unable to give Simon Scheldt pay-

ment for the errand he has run

:

he returned yesterday even-

ing from Freiburg, and longer I really cannot, for decency's

My

sake, keep

him out of

nothing of

it

already

Katherine instantly gave her the

!'

.

.

.

but

his

money.

... ah

I

good master knows

you know what

I mean money she

The Ministers of the Word.

146

saying

required,

present



in

her friendly way,

meet again soon

to

They

!'

parted,

hour before vespers Mey-Babeli appeared

and related

to her as follows

all

Farewell

'

at

for

the

and about an

Maiden

Kate's,

weighed upon her

that

mind. '

Master Matthew Zell had inherited, from the

ceased

sister

at Freiburg,

lately de-

of his father, of blessed memory, two fine houses

and a splendid vineyard,

all

which he had, being

a Strasburg parson, rented to a certain Stoffel Bosenstein,

whom

Mey-Babeli never could endure, nor could she bring

herself ever to expect any

had been of old a

calker.

good from him, seeing

that he

Moreover, Master Matthew had,

out of his patrimonial possessions, lent out a certain amount

of capital to the late young nobleman Conrad von Kranz-

now, upon which

his

widow was

interest in the shape of a yearly

in the

sum

habit of paying

of nine

florins.

Ac-

cordingly, every year of late, during the season of Advent,

her

master had

sent the post-runner

Simon Scheldt

to

Freiburg, to collect his interest from Stoffel Bosenstein and

Widow von Kranznow, on which errand the said Simon had now been despatched as usual. He had returned the night and with empty hands, saying that by

before, half-dead

name of His Imperial Highness ArchDuke Ferdinand, the honourable Council of Freiburg had made over said houses and grounds to said Stoffel Bosen-

orders and in the

stein as his actual

Matthew rights

Zell to

and

titles

and lawful possession, declaring Master

be thereupon deprived thereto.

had paid down the nine

for ever of all his

AVhen Widow von Kranznow florins to

Simon on the

table, as

The Ministers of the Word.

147

he was on the point of popping them into his purse, a rap

was heard

at the door, a

and

"

said,

town messenger entered the room

That money you have

just received

not carry away with you, for I forbid sequestrate

Council."

money in the name Whereupon he tore up the Not

to the mint.

she

interest or gain to '

And was

tale,

my

hereby

receipt prepared

by

added Mey-Babeli with

tears, as

that they can there bring in

poor master

any

!'

the post-runner not informed on what ground

or pretext they could

of his

'

I

and straightway carried them

florins,

indeed,'

wound up her

you must

of the Worshipful

the

Simon, pocketed the

and

it,

make bold

goods and possessions

to rob your

in so

good master

shameful a manner?'

inquired Katherine. '

Ah

!

yes indeed, and that

nigh breaks

my

heart,

is

the very thing that well-

and old Simon's

my

must act thus because

master

and an ungodly preacher, one who against the clergy

and the

Tliey say they

too.

is

a Lutheran heretic

stirs

authorities,

up the populace

and who

for

that

reason would be shortly excommunicated by the Pope, and laid

by the Emperor under the ban of the Empire, and

therefore burnt alive

Maiden

Kate,'

!'

sobbed out Mey-Babeli, her hands

— — she proceeded

clasped in despair.

'

Oh

I

so well

how

to give

up

do,

:

parsonage, and break to Job's post.

!

my

do, I entreat of you, dear '

come

this

evening to the

poor master the news of

have not the heart to do

to set your words.

And you

this preaching, at least for

it,

this

and you know

will

persuade him

a time, and to content

himself with saying mass as the other parish priests do.

The Ministers of the Word.

148

And And

then Hot-headed

my

then

master

when he has only

Hans may burn

wooden

pulpit.

not always be giving away a florin

will

penny

a

his

own

to call his

!'

And what more, Mey-Biibeli ?' Ah Maiden Kate, how can you be so composed ? However, I may tell all to you in confidence. Trusting to *

'

!

my

the interest from Freiburg,

he had

;

so

we

speak to him on

when

master has given away

now reduced

are

this

matter

mean

I

;

all

and you must

to penury,

way

the

in which,

the people from town or country bring their tithes or

dues, he says to them, "

Keep your money, and take your home again with you,

butter and eggs and your sucking-pigs

them

or carry gives

And

to market."

them money from

the call again and again

his :

own

that were all

if

purse,

But he

!

and then there comes

" Mey-Babeli, give this poor

man

a glass of wine and a good hunch of bread to strengthen him,' or,

Lay an

'

may

take

one

year's

and never and has

extra cover at table, that this poor

some hot soup with us end

to another

The

receiving.

called

my master

;

we

And

!"

so

it

woman

goes on from

are always dispensing freely

collector

is

angry already about

ing his parishioners and injuring the public interest. I

do know

that

it

will bring

him a

;

and

if

only

and exert myself

I

we

life's

were young again, and able to work

as of old, I

and replenish the exchequer hold expenses

Now,

blessing that he does not

help in oppressing the poor, and sucking out their

blood

it,

to account right sharply, for spoil-

would

trust to

my own

thrift,

sufficiently for all the house-

really need,

from the produce of our

garden in the Schweighof, and with what

little

we

still

draw

The Ministers of the Word. from Kaisersberg,^ but alack-a-day now, and I

am

going quickly

know not what

master '

to do,

down

nor what

is

life

sober truth

in

become

to

Cheer up and keep your mind

has

is

my

of

poor

power

all

left

evening.

;

tation.

to the

be with you

sitting in his

will assuredly

was not

task of expounding God's

for this

!

study in deep medi-

had sunk heavily on

All at once the thought

that he alone

poor folk

You may reckon on me

I shall certainly

Master Matthew was

in all

and the love and tender compas-

shown

unrequited.

!

Lord and Master,

keep and protect His own

to

dangers and necessities

not be

Mey-Babeli

ease,

at

in the service of our great

sion which he has

mind

slow in busy

and

hill,

!

your master

who

am

I

!

149

sufficient to

word

his

undertake the great

to the

whole people

;

he

alone could never carry on the great work in opposition to Princes, Bishop

and Chapter; and so he clasped

and exclaimed, strong not do much.

my work

is

in faith,

But the cause the labour in



'

It

Thy

is

Thy

is

true,

his

hands

one alone can-

cause, dear Lord,

vineyard.

Now

and

know

I

assuredly that Thou, good and faithful Householder and Father, wilt soon thrust forth

more

labourers,

shall

have associates to be husbandmen with

field

of

Thy

sowing.

How

can

already gone forth to seek such

I

doubt

and that

it?

me

in

Thou

I

the

hast

!

Katherine entered, followed by Mey-Babeli with the post^

Besides the garden close to the Fishers' Gate,

as the in his

Schweighof Garden, Zell native town of Kaisersberg.

still

known

at

Strasburg

possessed some landed property

^

The Ministers of the Word.

150

The two

runner.

both stood, with throbbing hearts,

latter

at the half-opened door, waiting anxiously to see

Katherine

simple words, telling

him

how

also

related

their

had occurred,

that

all

and concerned Mey-Babeli

distressed

and Simon were on the

how

Calmly, with few and

master would bear the sad tidings.

subject.

As soon

was

as her tale

ended. Master Matthew gave her his hand, with a friendly

and warm expression of liarly genial



well, in

house,

God's name,

hope

I

gratitude,

let

;

also robbed, stripped,

little if I

'

unjust towards so

in,

them

I

!

so cruel

and

German



'

it is

all in

a crying

Freiburg.

for all this was,

shame

!

I told

— stealing

and

!

Be of good comfort, dear

my

enemies

against me, they cannot drive

earth.

it

!'

!'

say so before them

however furiously

on

and

seized her master's hand, and cried

how can any one be good a man

that the plain

seeing that

into the world,

interposed Simon Scheidt, nervously twisting

ay,'

plundering

and nailed to the

bare and in very penury

it

cap round and round on his head,

Openly did

'

Oh

came

I

depart from

Mey-Babeli rushed

'Ay,

my

If they take

!

my vineyard, yet the earth and my Lord Jesus Christ. He, the

naked and helpless

out with tears,

his

own pecu-

If they take

Lord and Judge, was cross

his

Well now, dear Kate,

us go forward

things therein belong to

matters

'

have a house not made with hands, eternal

I

in the heavens. all

and with

look and tone he said,

all

power

is

children,' replied

Zell,

'

for

may set themselves in array me out of Christ's dominions,

given unto

Him

in

heaven and

Therefore weep not, Mey-Babeli, for whitherso-

The Ministei's of tJic Word. ever they

may

chase

His blessed hand

us,

hold us up and to guide us

bumper

of

See

I

now

I

— there

you have him

known how

again,'

florin



from you

pay, Mey-Babeh,' said

outside the door. folk'' [E?-bvoikY

leeches,

from

I

'

whispered the

double pay

this day,

full

at all

this point

all

But

Oh

!

tell

you

I

!

!'

Simon Scheldt

to her

well that the " hereditaij like

they can against him to drive him

may God

preserve him in

it

!

and

Lutheran heretics were as good and devout as he

all

If

!

should

I

draw blood from your poor master

and muster

his office.

know

'

him any pay

to give

beseech you, do talk reason to him on

Keep your

Dost

job.

'

had not borrowed the

'

for his

%

housekeeper to Maiden Kate,

never have

Simon a

give

had such a disagreeable

errand, because he has

'

be there to

will

Now,

!

good Kaisersberg wine, and a double pay

hear, Mey-Babeli

faithful

Amen

!

151

should be one to-morrow

is,

if

I

!

Within the study Katherine yet lingered to deliver the

warm and

brotherly salutations of the Dean.

morning,' she said,

'

Early

'

this

he was aware of the unpleasant circum-

stances that had happened to you at Freiburg, and he

is

of

opinion that you ought forthwith to present a petition to an

honourable Councillor of

this place, that

friend with the Council of Freiburg,^ ^

The name by which

he

may

stand your

and help you

in those days the

to regain

populace were wont to

designate the highest grades of ecclesiastics. 2

This petition Zell actually did present, but without success.

The

reply of the Council of Freiburg to that of Strasburg was, that they

could do nothing further, having been forced to act as they did by order of their lord, the Archduke Ferdinand.

The Ministers of tJie Word.

152 your

And

rights.

ficence

Count

as the

aware that works of bene-

is

and compassion are a heart's necessity with you,

you must allow him the pleasure of paying in the place of Stoffel Bosenstein

So

in the

Hohenlohe,

Matthew

.

.

and Widow von Kranznow.'

hand the purse which she

saying, she laid gently in Zell's

had

.

this year's interest

morning received from Count Sigismund von for that purpose, in the Cathedral.

Zell

looked

silently for a

little, first

at the purse,

then at Kate, and then he turned his glance upwards and said with

deep

feeling,

'

Ah

this

!

comes from

that

Lord who well knows what we need, and gives before

we have asked

hand and added

my

and be

cheerfully,

treasurer, dear

Mey-Biibeli and other at

all

on

I

me

'

then took

even

Katherine's

But you must keep the money

Kate

and

to refer the

to forbid her plaguing

money

'

!

Look now,

the fact

is,

cannot any longer understand one an-

this point,

love to authorize

He

!

it

good

it

it

will

be a true labour of

good old soul

me any more

to you,

and

with these wretched

matters.'

Katherine promised to do as was proposed.

Mey-Babeli

too was pleased with the arrangement, and Master

was of opinion

that

'

it is

a

good and blessed thing when the

Lord our God sends one so dear a

'

Let us praise

God

help.'

with joyous

strain,

His word has come to us again Now Winter's chill and gloom are o'er, !

Summer

is

nigh,

Matthew

— ev'n at the door,

Sweet flowerets ope

their fragrant store

The Ministers of the Word. He who

can

153

things thus transform,

all

Will to the end the work perform

!

Master Matthew Zell had uttered prophetic words prayer, strong in faith, w^as heard,

God was

and

The good and

not put to shame.

and Householder had gone

Father

faithful

forth to seek labourers for

vineyard, and in the spring,

when

sent to Strasburg two such

;

his

:

confidence in

his

His

He

the swallows returned,

one a learned,

and

rich

distin-

guished prelate, the other a poor, exiled, refugee preacher.

The

and learned

rich

Capito

(his true original

prelate was named Wolfgang German name being Kopfd), an

and

associate of Zell's in his youth,

Freiburg, a Doctor of Divinity, of

He was born

in

Hainault

councillor in that place.

but soon turned from

it

his

in 1478, his father

He

being

i^Iedicine. farrier

and

began by studying medicine,

to divinity,

obtained his Doctor's degree.

fellow-student at

Laws and of

At

which he pursued

first

till

he

he was parish-priest at

Bnichsal, afterwards Professor in the University of Freiburg,

and

at

a later period preacher in the

Abbey Church

at Basle,

where he connected himself with the great Erasmus, and helped zealously in promoting the circulation of Luther's writings.

him

In 1520, the Elector Albert of Mayence to his Court,

Court-preacher.

upoQ him, Strasburg.

and appointed him

summoned

Chancellor and

In the same year Pope Leo x. bestowed

unsolicited, the Provostship of St.

Thomas's

at

Capito had on more than one occasion warned

Luther to beware of prosecuting great

his

violence.

his glorious

That sturdy hero of the

work with too faith,

Martin

Luther, saw, however, in these exhortations only the worldly

The Ministers of the Word.

154

wisdom of

the wily courtier, and considered

of indifference towards justice

and

judgment

truth

opinion and

filled

with

is

them

ill-will

as proofs

most sacred, towards

Deeply wounded by

itself.

of his

motives, and

that

all

and indignation against the

cabals of the Electoral Court and the absence of

dom

which prevailed

of conscience

possessed the Elector's

fullest

to every expectation,

all

there,

Abbey

of

St.

free-

all

who

Capito,

confidence, resigned, contrary

his

appointments, and

brilliant

betook himself in 1523 to Strasburg, there to seek the

severe

this

misunderstanding of his

rest

in

Thomas's, and to Hve in retirement, de-

He

voted to the better convictions of his mind and heart.

was a man of great

and refined

cultivation, dignified

in

man-

ners and bearing, and so pure and strict in his moral tone, that he never suffered

Martin

Bucer

any but male servants

(originally

preacher, was the son of a cooper,

Martinmas day 1491.

Convent

He

bom

and the

Heidelberg.

spirit

in the

on

Dominican

Prior, discerning the

rising spirit of the talented youth, sent at

poor refugee

in Schlettstadt

was educated

in his native town,

in his household.

the

Biitzer)^

him

to study divinity

There Bucer penetrated deep into the

of the Bible

;

he became, however,

of his manifest rejoicing at Luther's

first

of reformation, exposed to the hatred of

in

consequence

steps in the all

work

the brethren of

his order; this issued in his quitting the order in 1520,

and

prosecuted by that famous inquisitor, that hunter of

and

all

sundiy heretics, Jacob von Hochstraten, he took refuge in the Castle of Ebernburg, the stronghold of the valiant Franz

von Sickingen.

The brave knight

sent

him on

to Luther

The Ministers of the Word. to invite

him

1

55

On

also to accept a safe retreat in his castle.

the recommendation of various friends, Bucer was appointed

The

Court-preacher by Frederick, Count Palatine.

ous

of a palace, and the restraint under which, to a

life

certain degree, he

this point

Hiitten

under

thence pastor

five

in

his

marriage with

months

living of the

jurisdiction.

Elizabeth

little

In

town

There Bucer

Palass.

Driven

by war, he joined the evangelical

later

Henry Motheren

Rhenanus,

and Nicholas Gerbel.

him the

1522, Sickingen gave

of Landshut, then

was united

to lay his conscience, rendered

strongly, in his letters to Beatus

Ulrich von

Zwingle,

May

was forced

Court so painful, that he expressed regret

his residence at

on

luxuri-

at

Weissenburg, where he preached

the gospel with blessed results, but here too he was followed

by the dangers of approaching war, and of the threatened ban, so that he betook himself as a fugitive to Strasburg,

simultaneously with Capito, towards the end of

deep poverty.

arriving there, like him, in

May

1523,

His learned friend

Gerbel had already invited him to Strasburg two years before,

and

in

that city his father,

who had

established

himself there in 1508, had acquired the rights of citizenship.

When

the post-runner,

Weissenburg on business

Simon

Scheidt,

who had been

for the Council,

at

brought to the

master-cooper Butzer a letter from his son, and the news that he

had been

laid

under the ban by the Bishop of Spires,

and (being thereby forced arrive at his parents' wife, great

home

to leave Weissenburg),

the following day with his

would

young

indeed was the perplexity and consternation of

the worthy old couple.

The

father hastened to seek out his

The Ministers of the Word,

156 son's friend

and patron, Nicholas Gerbel.

Gerbel went to

the proper official under the Bishop to obtain leave for

Bucer to take up

position

his

This

episcopal jurisdiction.

under

Strasburg,

at

his

however, declined to

official,

receive him, and insisted strongly on stern discipline in con-

The

sequence of Bucer's marriage.

home to

sorely troubled,

and

his wife

Master Matthew to entreat

Matthew

old father returned

straightway hurried off

his counsel

and

aid.

Zell listened with sympathy, saying a few

of comfort, and reminding her of the Lord's words,

one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or

name's sake, everlasting

Every

sisters,

Dame

(Matt. xix. 29).

life'

all

that

.

.

but

.

.

.

or

my

shall inherit

Butzer replied,

and the good

.'

burst into a flood of tears.

But

.

.

.'

interposed

your husband

is

commodation

in

not

an hundredfold, and

shall receive

'she fully believed

'

words

or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for

father,

Dame

'

her friend,

old, his earnings are

your house

know how you can

fugitives,

— that

'

is it, is it

is

offer

not,

sighed out the anxious inquiry,

times

small,

are

evil,

and the

ac-

limited enough, so you hospitality

my good

After drawing a deep breath

the

to

Mistress?'

and nodding '

do

your poor

she

assent,

And who can

give

him

defence and protection against the episcopal ban?'

'That must be done by some honourable Member of Council,' answered Zell.

'And

as for all the rest, allow

me, with God's help, to provide.

And now go home

peace, dear friend, for the Lord never forsakes His

Go,

in passing, to

Maiden Katherine

Schiitz,

and say

in

own

!

that I

The Ministers of the Word. beg her as a favour your good

man

to

to

come

to see

me

be calm and keep

157

here directly.

his

mind easy;

Tell

I shall

consult this very day with our friend Gerbel, and with the

Dean, and afterwards

Thanking him

Dame

let

you know how you ought

and

heartily,

feeling

greatly

to act' relieved,

Butzer withdrew from the excellent pastor, leaving

room with long

him, however, to pace up and

down

strides in great perplexity, until

he was interrupted by the

He met

Maiden Kate.

arrival of

wanted by frankly

me

again to help related to her

stating,

'

his

her inquiry as to what he

To-day already, you are wanted

as a friend in need, dear

how

Kate

He

!'

then

the young preacher of the gospel, Martin

Bucer, had been laid under the ban and driven to flight for the gospel's sake, and was coming to Strasburg with wife,

them

how

was

poor parents to receive

in their small dwelling, while,

on the other hand, here

was he

it

living in this spacious Cathedral-parsonage

Mey-Babeli was strange and crotchety,

many

so

his

for his

impossible

about,

!

But then

and had always

obstacles to propound, and misfortunes to grumble

if

he wished to be hospitable, or to receive the

homeless, and offer them a place of refuge, that he shrunk

from encountering

And

*

so then I

her,

am

and began

I

am

be quite bewildered.

young wife

receive Martin Bucer Avith his

and

to

to tell Mey-Babeli that

you wish to

into your house,

to prepare everything for the reception of the

fugitives?' calmly rejoined Katherine. '

Ah

!

yes, dear

Kate,

God

bless you,

you can hardly

conceive what a heavy load you have taken from ray heart

The

conflict

is

waxing

hotter,

and the breach

in the

I

Church

The Ministers of

IS8 is

In these hard and troublous times,

inevitable.

me

seriously to consider

minister of the

But when

Word.

the

it

my

is

Word and champion

have a

I

what

little

it

behoves

duty to do as a

of Christian liberty.

Mey-Babeli, and

dispute with

then have to care for matters myself, to see that food

provided for the hungry, and a refuge for the

my

that disturbs

therefore that

God

mind, and unfits

the

me

Lord has sent you

you must continue

be

to

sojourner in this world

:

for

my

And

work.

as a dear help,

now,

—you

consent,

and

am

for ever, as long as I

— there

is

fugitives, all

a

— eh

!

dear Kate V

Katherine straightway put her hand to the work, but she

had

on the part of Mey-

to encounter strong opposition

Babeli,

who maintained

any room, because each one

;

one

for

it

she could not possibly clear out

was positively necessaiy

hemp, another

for fruit,

to

occupy

a third for

drying lentiles, pease and beans and seeds, a fourth for storing clothes

had *

safely

and shoes

buried

all

for her master, while in a fifth she

the

treasures

inherited

from the

blessed Mistress,' the Doctor's wife of Freiburg

;

therein

she had deposited tables and chairs, and a chest about the size of

Noah's

ark, filled with linen,

— she

had piled up a

towering mountain of feather-beds, had preserved in a trunk the

blessed Mistress's

damask wedding-dress, jewels and

other articles of state apparel, with

all

and sundry other

valuables

And Maiden Kate had

already banished hemp, lentiles,

pease and beans and seeds, to the stone floor below, and to the cellar,

when Mey-Babeli,

still

fruit

standing in an attitude

The Ministers of the Word.

159

of defence, guarding her treasure-chamber, pathetically be-

sought that

might be spared

at least

it

But

!

all

was un-

avaihng

:

before sunset the inexorable Kate had, with the

help of

'

Strudel-Hans,' got the 'blessed Mistress Doctor's'

up

large bedstead put

had caused

all

had sought out

it,

feather-beds,

all



that

be carried into

furniture to

was required even among the

which Mey-Babeli could not brook with-

all

out keen vexation, as

his

one of the newly cleared chambers,

bedroom

and extricated the necessary linens from the

ark-like chest,

sacrilege.

in

needful

When

great joy,

it

was

in her eyes sheer

plunder and

Master Matthew came home he found, to

not only a bed-chamber for his expected

guests, but a suitable study fully fitted

up

for the

young

preacher.

The poor faith

fugitive,

and unwearied

Martin Bucer, who, by his steadfast

activity,

soon became the soul of the

Reformation in Strasburg and in

all

Upper Germany,

tered, the very next day, into possession of the

pared

for

him by

home

enpre-

that liberal hospitality which, gratefully

and with a heart deeply moved, he accepted from Matthias Zell.

Master Matthew soon

warm

affection,

felt

drawn towards him

in

took a brotherly interest in him, and per-

mitted him to deliver lectures in Scripture,

first

in the

grew too numerous

Soon afterwards a to the Magistrates,

warned

German on books of Holy Parsonage, and, when the audience

for that, in the

Chapel of

requisition was addressed '

St.

Lawrence.

by the Bishop

that the married priest Butzer might be

to quit the city, that

he might be dealt with as one

under the ban, and punished accordingly.'

Bucer hereupon

The Ministers of the Word.

i6o handed

to an honourable Councillor his written reply, in

which he

says,

'

how

greatly he rejoices in this opportunity

of rendering an account of his doctrines and of his

how ready he was

go even unto death,

to

if it

found that he was teaching anything not contained Scripture,

life

should be

anything that tended not to increase

in

Holy to

faith,

kindle love, to implant principles of peace, obedience and

He had

submission.

never, to the best of his knowledge,

caused offence by his conduct, and now, as a

and a refugee ful

son

the Council for protection and for the rights of citizen-

His marriage, which the Bishop brought against him

ship.

as his chief crime, he

Word

;

was prepared

he thereby forfeited an

ecclesiastic

mitted in

all

;

all

them

he

God's

which

to all

is

was indeed aware that and

demanded

to

rights

be per-

and

to

as a layman, as concerned bodily

He

required

and demanded no

God, who feeds the very sparrows, would supply

his temporal necessities.

common

He

for that

benefices, emoluments,

therefore

and property.

tithes.

light.

it,

points to acknowledge the authorities,

yield obedience to service

to justify from

he never intended to conceal

righteous never shuns the

as

citizen's

Christian, he appealed to the right worship-

all

But he did hope that the liberty

men, namely, that of serving

his

neighbour

with the learning he had been enabled to acquire, and seeking to earn his living thereby, would not be denied

him by

the worshipful the Council.'

The Council granted

his

request.

received as citizen under the

Martin Bucer was

municipal protection, and

henceforth permitted to preach in the Cathedral alternately

The Ministers of the Word. with Matthew

obhged

'Hot-headed Hans' was, to be

Zell.

up the wooden

to put

i6i sure,

pulpit again for him, because

the Cathedral Clergy obstinately refused to grant the use of

the Doctor's pulpit, which, in the end of January of that

same

on the application of the Council,

year, they had,

opened for the use of

re-

Zell.

The engaging little Dame Elizabeth, with her meditative won all hearts by her quiet sweet ways. Even

blue eyes, had

Mey-Babeli forgave for her sake what she had long borne a grudge against Maiden Kate

these two

human

the irruption into

for, to wit,

her treasure-chamber, and began

to

be of opinion that

life

The all

of

there

all

had been

excellent Capito

is

quite the reverse.

Things

rest

in

in the

Parsonage

life.'

and quietness above

to find

them

there.

in this life,

He

met with

general were in a state of

Some, awakened under

defended him and

to the old faith,

had sought

new

too often the case

violent fermentation. ing,

quite a

and had hoped

else at Strasburg,

had, however, as

truly

beings lived together like the angels in

Heaven, and since they had been dwelling the

'

his doctrine

;

Zell's

preach-

others, anxious to cling

wished to drive away the preacher.

Parties

stood over against one another in hostile array, and mutual recrimination was fulminated against those opinion.

The populace indeed was

so

who

differed in

excited

that a

general rising against the ecclesiastics was apprehended at

any moment

;

restraining the

the magistrates having hitherto succeeded in

movement only by

paternal discipline. universally,

In the higher

even from those who,

L

wise moderation and circles,

like himself,

Capito heard

were heartily

1

The Ministers of the Word.

62

devoted to the cause of the Reformation, but who, unlike him, were anxious to avoid a separation from the mother

Church, the expression of such sentiments as the following



'

It

was highly to be desired,

come

peace, that Zell should

own

Strasburg of his

the cause of the

free will,

leave

to the resolution to

his sermons being manifestly

excitement, while

remove him by order of the

:

for the sake of the public

was impossible to

it

authorities without rousing the

indignation of the people, and stirring them up to tumult on

behalf of their favourite.'

He

of peace.

— and

Capito was, above

a

all else,

man

determined to seek out his quondam pupil,

himself,

in

most urgent manner,

the

With

matter upon his heart.

this

to lay this

purpose in view, he

re-

paired one beautiful Saturday to Zell's parsonage.

As he

and Bucer were

entered, Zell

sitting together at

supper, refreshing themselves, after the burden and heat of

the day, with confidential conversation, and with a feast of strawberries which

fragrant in

Mey-Babeli had

just

brought

Dame

from the garden, while the bright and genial

Elizabeth

was

acting

butler

in

supplpng

with his cool drink of beer fresh from the

her

Martin Zell's

cellar.

joyous and hearty welcome was

a true

tender-spirited Capito

himself so attracted by

Bucer's modest

and

;

he also

felt

dignified bearing,

calling that of the only family circle he

his

nearly

own mother's

in

overcame him.

breathed

felt

his

the

to

and so touched by

the picture of quiet, peaceful domestic



cordial

life,

suddenly

re-

had ever known,

childhood, that his emotion

The pure atmosphere he

here

so genial and home-like that he would fain

The Ministers of the Word.

163

have lingered and taken his ease, forgetful of the object

Yet he was bound

which he had come.

at

however against the grain

his commission,

once to

for

fulfil

in his present

After talking for an hour with the two ministers of

mood.

him an interview

the word, he asked Zell to give

There he seriously represented to him

study.

discourses were causing increased discord

and how

far better

it

would be

if

among

'

in his

how

his

the citizens,

he would remove from

Strasburg, rather than give occasion for

him that he had brought confusion

^

being said of

its

among

all

classes of the

community, the most worshipful the Council, the reverend ecclesiastics,

and the devout body of the

Zell listened amiably, then coolly '

Dear Provost, you

talk of these matters as

they he very near his heart, and

feel that

faithful at large.'

and firmly

who

holds the

Scriptures to be a matter of professional study, gift

the

To me

of God.

and therefore

I

manner of

God

to rule.

Bishops, and



it

is

the very word of

dare not treat courtiers.

As

it

monks and

Holy

and not a

God

in truth,

with indifference, or after

I believe, so I

That by the preaching of the all

replied,

one who does not

speak, leaving gospel. Pope,

made

priests are

to

wax

less

me not my commission is, that Christ alone shall wax great IN the hearts of believers. My parishioners hear me gladly I cannot grudge them that, but no man can say that God wills that I have excited them against the clergy. and

less,

all

that I care httle about,

it

concerns

;

I

should stay here for the use and advantage of the flock

which ^

is

so

much

desiring

His

word,

and so eagerly

See Rohrich's History of the Refor77iation in ALace,

i.

153-5.

The Ministers of the Word.

164 receiving

And

it.

stay

I

am prepared

shall, although I

to

expect nothing but an evil name, shame, mockery, and at

last,

be sent forth from

this

if

no rougher usage should occur,

land with loss of this

hour

dignities

I ;

all

my

to

too

to

have attained neither Provostships nor any other

I

have never indeed sought any, and can therefore

my own

never be accused of having sought

To

Up

possessions and patrimony.

interests.'

the reproach next brought against him, that he preached

much

in the spirit of Luther, that

and pugnaciously,

Zell replied,



'

You

other hand say, you have not heard in the pulpit

;

be Lutheran.

now

but I

is

me

... I on the much of Luther

so.

say

forsooth the whole Bible

I

:

have, however,

diligently read his works, as indeed I I find

not because such

is

them

true, I

still

is

my

have never proved the truth of

from Luther's writings

and wherever

to say, too violently

say

held to

doctrine

faithfully

and

do read them,

have preached the same,

the doctrine of Luther, but because

it

THE TRUTH AND THE DOCTRINE OF GOD. I haVC bccn led into the understanding of the Holy Scriptures by Luther's is

writings, all this

and

this insight I

would not give up

in

exchange

for

world's goods, even though he be a heretic a thousand

times over.

Therefore, once for

that Luther's doctrine

cannot do

that,

doctrine, forbid

we it

is

all,

show to me and

contrary to God's word

you

will, God permitting, maintain the said who may, even though God's enemies

should rage themselves to death in fury against

Deeply struck by

;

to others

for, if

this

heroism of

faith,

it.'

Capito stood trans-

fixed before the friend of his youth,

whom

believed possessed of such boldness.

Ashamed

he had never of his

own

The Ministers of the Word,

165

lukewarmness, and of the considerations of self-interest which

had hitherto withheld him from a truth,

he held out

his

hand

solemnly vowing before

Lord Jesus before men,

free

confession of the

to Zell in token of brotherhood,

God and that

He

before

him

to confess the

might confess him in

also

The very next Sunday he mounted the pulpit of his Abbey Church, to the great surprise of the people, unaccustomed to see a distinguished prelate demean the great day.

himself by undertaking the despised office of a preacher.

He

exhorted them to concord, and stated that his chief

object

in

preaching was to

the

silence

calumny which

accused him of being ashamed of the gospel.

Symphorian Pollio (his real name was Althiesser), known among the common people as Master Zymprian,' '

appointed, by the Grand Chapter, Cathedral-preacher, for the sake of opposing his influence to that of Zell, was at this very juncture enlightened with the light

and he

also stepped forward at

of the gospel,

once as a witness for the

The Canons deprived him of his office, and bestowed it upon Caspar Hedio. Hedio was then residing truth.

at

Mayence, was a Doctor of Divinity, and had entered, by

means of the study of Christianity in

the

;

the Bible, into the true spirit of

but although he had openly declared himself

favour of the Reformation, call,

hoping that

his gentle

would exercise a salutary

still

the Chapter gave

him

and peace-loving disposition

influence.

It

was

also fixed as a

condition that he was not to ''dare to be guilty of Lutheran preaching.'

To

this

he pledged himself; and repeatedly

from the pulpit he declared that he was resolved to preach

1

The Ministers of the Word.

66

not at

and

all

purity,

the doctrines of Luther, but only, with clearness,

Word

the

Thus did Bucer, Zell,

of God.

Capito, Althiesser

work together

to

and Hedio, along with

promote the triumph of pure Bible

Soon others too were associated with them, so

truth.

Master Matthew was enabled joyfully to exclaim, prophesy that ere long

Behold indeed

am no

this

that I

not

labourers

?

sent forth others, so that I

longer obliged to work alone in His vineyard

From wont

God would send forth more

The Lord has

!

— Did !'

time forward the Evangelical preachers were

to style themselves,

'

The Ministers of the Word.'

Capito gained great influence by his frank avowal of the truth,

on

and by

this

his solid,

pregnant discourses

;

but he was

account so hated by the dignified clergy, that he

was obliged,

like Bucer, to claim the rights of citizenship,

and

to have recourse to the protection of the city.

lost

all

his lucrative income,

and a year

later

we

find

He him

'The gospel has made a clean sweep of all my and pensions and I trust, if the Lord will, there is

writing, tithes little

;

enough danger of those

making me too

rich

in

whom

to

I

He

parish priest of St. Peter's the Less.

any stipend, and drew only three support of his assistant and

now

He

worldly goods.'

minister

was then

refused to receive

florins weekly, for the

sacristan.

The

magistrates

could not induce the other preachers to allow them to be-

stow a richer income on them.

As

the Strasburg Reformers

have been reproached with having separated themselves from the old Church from interested motives, with a view to earthly gain,

we may quote

Bucer's reply

:

'Three

florins

The Ministers of the Word. a week, wherewith to maintain

wife

self,

167

and

child,

— such

are our riches.'

Meantime, the quiet folk

Cathedral-Parsonage were

in the

leading together a happy and harmonious stillness

and

simplicity, the

life,

maintaining, in

Dame

even tenor of their way.

Elizabeth was ever and anon so friendly and cheerful, so expert in

all

feminine handiwork, so neat and orderly in

her arrangements, that influence.

all

around her

felt

her beneficent

She and Katherine, who was often

at the Par-

sonage, soon learned to understand and love one another

and

in

home, weary

when

Zell

and Bucer had returned

after their labours,

and often discouraged by

the evening,

the conflicts they had to sustain and the contempt they

had

to endure, they

mind and

spirit

were strengthened, and their tone of

was elevated, by converse with the noble

Katherine, or calmed and

hearted

On

elasticity.

cheered by Elizabeth's

the fine

summer evenings

Hedio, and the Dean often joined the

circle.

light-

Capito,

On

these

occasions Elizabeth brought out her guitar, and struck up

one of Luther's choice hymns '

A

'

Out

safe stronghold our

God

is still,'

or of the depths I cry to Thee,'

or that glorious lyric *

by Speratus

Now

is

salvation

come

to us,'

Katherine and their male friends chimed fully thrilling

along the narrow Briiderhof's-Gasse,' '

by

its

in,

and wonder-

was the sound of the beautiful chorale borne

— opening many a heart

softening influence to the sanctifying

power of the

1

The Ministers of the Word.

6S Yes

gospel.

hymns of

the

short time

it

truly,

was the might of these

great

first

German Church of the Reformation, that in a became the established usage for the people

to assemble in



— so

numbers every evening before the Parsonage,

at first only to listen to these chorales, but afterwards to

learn

them by In

selves.

heart,

and

be trained to sing them them-

to

this instruction

Katherine acted schoolmistress,

hymn

over again, the latter sang

needed to insure

its

when

the former

had

to all present over

and

Elizabeth teacher of singing; and

repeated the words of the

with them as often as was

it

resounding, under the free and expan-

sive vault of the evening sky, as a

song of praise from one

heart and one mouth, filling with deep and holy joy the faithful pastors of these sheep.^

On

a cold

November day

of that same year 1523,

Katherine Schiitz repaired to the Cathedral, serious

and meditative mood

in

Maiden a more

than she had been seen in for

a long time, and bent on having an interview with Count

He

Sigismund of Hohenlohe. affection as usual,

and asked

received her with fatherly

in a friendly

way what had why

led her so earnestly to implore a secret interview, and

she looked so grave and solemn

For a 1

little

%

while the maiden stood embarrassed, blushing

Wolfgang Dachstein,

Matthis Gergeter, a musician, were the

and

Organist and Vicar of

monk and

first

Thomas's, and

an excellent compose German church-hymns, Capito, Althiesser, and Heinrich soon afterwards composed a variety

in Strasburg to

to adapt psalms for singing. Vogthorn, a citizen of the place,

of beautiful hymns.

St.

chorister in the Cathedral,

The Ministers of the Word.

169

crimson, after which she regained her composure and repUed,

calm and self-possessed tone,

in her usual

noble Count, what

is

'

I

wish to know,

your opinion on the subject of the

marriage of the clergy?'

And how dost thou come to ask this question,

'

Katherine

?

Count Sigismund.

replied

'Well, the

approve of

aged and venerable Wimpheling does not

He

it.

is

so

things in general, that he

much is,

as

dissatisfied with the state of

you must probably be aware,

leaving Strasburg and returning to his sister at Schlettstadt.

He with

his friend Geiler, ever

aimed

united within herself, purged from

And now

formed.

having one Church,

at

all

abuses and truly re-

he sees before him a Church torn

He

asunder, divided into two hostile camps.

by

conflict

hoped

strife,

above

soul, for,

my

gone to all

surrounded

and

heart.

The noble The marriage of

love.

old man's the clergy

repugnant to him, wounding his inmost

else

even

is

hatred and discord, where he had

for peace, concord,

grief has is

and

were certain that

if it

in the primitive Church,

it

was

originally allowed

he holds that priests and members

of any religious fraternity in our days are

still

bound by

their

vows.'

'The holy

of matrimony

state

is

forbidden of

God

to

none, Katherine, but by the Fathers of the Church alone, with a good purpose doubtless, to priests and fraternities.

But as matters said in

my

at present stand, I

Little

Book of

can but repeat what

of the Cathedral establishment, " It

is

better to transgress

the

commandments of men by matrimony than

Uw

by unchastity."

'

I

the Cross, to all the ecclesiastics

the Divine

The Ministers of the Word.

1^0

Oh

'

replied Katherine, blushing, 'that

!'

in question new, but

ground, and



and she

'

said with

not the point

is

cast her eyes down, to the

a voice trembling with emotion,

'Master Matthias Zell yesterday formally applied to

my

father to ask

Well,

'

.

answered

then

.

I

am

sure your heart has already softly

in the affirmative,' replied the

Oh, may

'

I

.

Count, with a smile.

be broken a thousand times rather than that

it

should act against the will of God,

Matthew should be bound by

No vow can

'

ought, as

his

vow

.

if

indeed Master

.' .

bind against God's law, Katherine; a bishop

we read

in St. Paul's Epistle to

Timothy

(i

2-7), to be " blameless, the husband of one wife

iii.

thus also

we

see that the brothers of the

Peter were married

apostle

celibacy

is

my

hand.'

(i

Cor.

ix.

Tim.

;"

and

Lord and the

The law

5).

one of those " voluntary humilities

"

(Col.

of ii.

18-23) which have proved a snare to the poor children of

men, and which have

gro\ATi

now require

and taken root

as a cancer in

The question now is, to maintain the word of God against the traditions and for this reason the priest who is a lover of of men

the Church, and

to

be eradicated.

;

chastity should enter into the holy estate of matrimony, that

the incontinent offences '

That

day.

may

follow his

example, and that thus

and scandals may have an is

what

But as he

friend Martin is

end.'

Bucer also said to

himself married, I did

me

to-

not venture

unconditionally to acquiesce in his opinion.' '

And

that

yet you might easily have recognised in the blessing

has so manifestly rested on Bucer's happy married

The Ministers of tJie Word. the evidence of

life,

God

will.

man

not good that the

thee

:

It is

being according to God's mind and

Lord spake these words (Gen.

the

an help-meet

its

should be alone

And

for him."

ought to have a help-meet,

otherwise he will break

'

Then you and

too,

make him now say unto

I will

;

manner

I

my

who might be

him

ever beside him,

and enduring

in labouring

down beneath

;

his burdens.'

most noble Count, would give your sanc-

1'

blessing

With

of our

18), " It is

not for the excellent Zell to stand alone in his

a dear helper, to assist

'

in like

ii.

post and amid the storms of our times, and he

difficult

tion

171

whole

Katherine

heart,

;

and that

in the

Holy Triune God, who created you both

name

for

one

who so wondrously brought you together and What God joins let not man put asunder !'

another, and led you.

Katherine's tears flowed

deep emotion whispered, your blessing in

The Count intrusts

Wilt thou

laid

to

fulfil

fast,

Oh

his

it

right

in a

!

she knelt down, and with

me

then, I entreat you, give

most venerable lord

this matter,

nounced these words

Lord

'

!

hand on her head, and pro-

solemn tone,



'

Katherine,

the

you a noble but an arduous vocation. with self-abnegation, in

faith,

love,

and

humility?' '

'

And may

I will.

weakness

God's strength be made perfect in

my

!'

Katherine,

most of your

God

sex.

has endowed you with

gifts

Will you not presume and

reason of the grace vouchsafed to you

%

far

above

be uplifted

by

Will you be, not

only a faithful helper to your husband in his office and his

The Ministers of the Word.

172

household, but also obedient and submissive to him, as

Godf me poor

it

behoves a Christian wife to be before Oh, Lord Jesus, make

I will.

'

devout before Thee *

We

Lord

and ominous

live in evil

foretold to

in our day,

in

spirit

and

!

His

times, Katherine

disciples, so

it is

;

and as the

about to come to pass

and has already begun, that " whosoever killeth"

or persecuteth " us will think that he doeth

God

service."

Will you act as a mother to the young and struggling

Church

?

Will you offer an asylum to the exiles, seek out

and

persecuted

the

and

unfortunate,

the

comfort

and

strengthen them in the faith V '

my

I will give

possessions, day ness, to the

Strasburg, '

my

strength,

my

night, with great joy

community of

believers

yourself

sacrifice

and not the brethren

honour and

and

and to

and lay them as a footstool

But you must

others,

body,

and

thee,

my

at thy feet for,

my

willing earnest-

beloved

!

and minister

to,

in the faith alone, Katherine.

Will you then perform to the

glory of Christ, works of

mercy towards those who are otherwise minded,

yea, even

unto foes and persecutors V '

and and

I will.

creed.

I

am But

to render

not bound to agree with every man's faith I

am bound

service to

to

all.

Master and Exemplar, Jesus

show love and compassion, That

I

am

taught by

my

Christ.'

After this had passed between them, the Count solemnly

blessed Katherine Schiitz, and set her apart as Zell's faithful helper,

and a deaconess devoted

service of the

to minister as such in the

Evangelical Church.

And

Katherine kept

The Ministers of the Word.

God

her prom'se, and by the grace of

173

she remained faithful

to the end.

On

December

the 3d of

was once more

filled

following, in 1523, the Cathedral

to overflowing.

And

amid the

there,

thousand prayers and blessings of the throng of specta-

Master Matthew Zell led

tors.

hymenaeal

and

his

beloved Katherine to the

Bucer performed the marriage

altar.

service,

holy bond of wedlock had with God's blessing

after the

been solemnly

tied, the

happy

pair together partook of the

holy sacrament of the Lord's Supper in both kinds.

The

brethren united in fellowship with them according to

'

communion

of

saints,'

riage in a quiet

the

attended the celebration of the mar-

and devout

spirit,

and

after

a festive

it,

gathering in the house of Master Schiitz drew together the

more immediate family

circle,

with a few choice friends to

greet the newly-wedded couple.

Not a

more radiant on

creature assuredly was

sion than old Mey-Babeli

\

for,

had unanimously petitioned the Council be appointed

this occa-

as the Guild of Gardeners

to their parish church

of

that Martin Bucer St.

Aurelian's, as

preacher with the cure of souls, she, poor soul, had been looking forward with dread to the

moment when he and

his

bright hearty Elizabeth must leave the Cathedral Parsonage,

and she and her master must be

them

as

it

were

hfeless

Babeli had always *

Maiden

became sonage

Kate.'

my full

'

felt

and

left

alone, with

extinct.

And

all

around

then Mey-

such a peculiar affection for the

For,' as she

master's treasurer

was wont

to say,

'

we have always had

since she

the Par-

of guests, and have never run short of

nor lacked anything needful.'

money

The Ministers of the Word.

174

Mey-Babeli herself was by degrees illuminated and warmed

by the

light of the glorious gospel, so that she learned to

believe

and

to discern

which,' as she

many

things

unknown

was accustomed to remark,

to those beautiful

Whenever she repeated

one of them, she was more edified by it

it

'

all

or sang

than by the sermon,

God

often did, for which sin of hers might

And now, Matthew

dear reader,

Mat of blessed memory

Geiler

'

if

thou hast recognised in Master

Little

'

pleasure to hear that,

consecrated, as

if

the

see

the

pious

whom it

friend

Johannes

were, in his god-

will doubtless give thee

it

Lord

future occasion to have another to

Word, our old

of Kaisersberg,

mother's barn for his holy calling,

there

graciously grant

!'

the faithful minister of the

dear

will,

we may hope on a

peep into the old Parsonage,

minister

Katherine, leading a Christian

death

;

never put her to sleep, which unfortunately the sermon

her forgiveness

the

before

might be traced

hymns which Maiden Kate and Dame

Elizabeth had taught her.

for

'

Zell,

life

with his beloved

and dying a blessed

!

The

eventful year

drawing to

its

close.

season

1523, that

On

the ist of

of conflict, was

December

the most

worshipful the Council of Strasburg had passed a able edict in the following terms

:

— 'All

memor-

who devote them-

selves to preaching shall in future preach nothing else save

the

Holy Gospel, unmixed wdth human fables, and shall God and all that tends to promote

proclaim the doctrine of

The Ministers of the Word. love to

God and man,

Thus was a

and openly,

freely

175 to the people.'

decisive victory obtained for the Evangelical

cause.

In August 1524,

and Althiesser

Hedio,

Capito,

also

entered into the holy state of matrimony.

As after

regards the

manner

in

which the Evangelical pastors,

having begun by preaching Apostolic doctrine to the

people from God's holy word, proceeded to remodel the worship of God,

according to the

also

document yet

ing description in an old

themselves

German

:



'

extant,

for

tongue, and thus ordered

mercy

fession in the

simple

the follow-

drawn up by

Divine Worship shall be performed -.^first,

exhort the congregation to confess their

God

original

we have

fashion of the early Christian Church,

;

in the

the preacher shall

sins,

and

to entreat

then he shall pronounce the general con-

name

of

all,

beseech the All-Merciful for

mercy, and declare to believers the forgiveness of their sins

through the blood of Jesus Christ. shall offer

by an

of the Apostles, accompanied

another

After a short

hymn sung by

exposition.

the congregation shall

sing

Articles of the Apostles'

Creed

After the sermon

the metrical version ;^

up a prayer

for the authorities,

shall pray to

God

for

the memorial-feast of Jesus' in

rhyme, and

set to

of the

the minister shall then offer

and

an increase of

the congregation of His people

Arranged

After

the congregation there shall follow

the sermon upon a text in the Gospels.

*

hymn he

up a prayer, and read a passage from the writings

for all faith

may be

mankind

and of

;

he

love, that

enabled to celebrate

death with profit;

he

shall

music by Wolfgang Dachstein.

The Ministers of

lyG

the

exhort the communicants that they

munion of the Lord's Supper

Word,

may enjoy

the holy com-

in faith, in order that they

may be strengthened thereby, that they may die unto sin, may willingly bear their cross, and grow in love to their words of

neighbour; thereafter he

shall read the

and

bread and the wine of the Lord,

shall distribute the

taking part in

the holy feast himself also.

institution,

A

hymn

of

praise from the congregation, a short prayer of thanksgiving,

and the benediction,

shall close the service.'

Besides this principal service of Divine 'worship on the

summer began

Lord's day, which in

at

seven o'clock, in

winter at eight, and besides the noon-day sermon in the Cathedral, service was performed in the various churches early in the

morning

morning and

service, called

in five churches.

'

late

in the

Morning

We may assume

weekly were delivered in the

city,

evening

an early

;

Prayers,' being held daily

that at least

and

fifty

sermons

were so regularly

all

may easily be formed of the earnestness and zeal with which citizens and common people sought spiritual food and the 'one thing needful!' Ah! how lukewarm, how indifferent are we in comparison of our attended that some idea

fathers

!

unbelief!'

Dear Lord

!

*

increase our faith

'

and

'

help our

THEFUGITIVES. '

In

all

2 Cor.

things approving

ourselves

as

of God.'

the ministers

vi. 4.

* For v/hosoever shall give you a cup of cold water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not

lose his reward.'

Mark

In Kenzingen, a Austria,

situated

ix.

41.

little

in

the

town subject

dominion of

to the

South-Rhenish province of the

Breisgau, a preacher, Master Jacob Other

by name, a native

of Spires, had for some time drawn the people towards him-

warm

self in

holy

life

attachment, attracting them no less by his

Bishop of Constance had on

him before bled

them

all

The

than by the free preaching of the gospel.

his tribunal.

The

the citizens of the

account repeatedly called

this

local magistrate then assem-

little

that this affair of Master

place,

and represented

to

Jacob was one that very

Honourable Council of the town,

closely concerned the

which had never received from him anything but love

That

and kindness. town to

authorities

put

had

it

was a hitherto

down blasphemy and

that since

fact patent to all

other

that the

endeavoured

ineffectually

flagrant

vices

Master Jacob had been preaching God's

among them

all

these evils

had been held

M

in

but

;

Word

check

;

for

The Fugitives.

178

which reason the Council had resolved that they would receive the

Word

God

of

according to the gospel

thus held forth by Master Jacob

;

and rather than abandon

this

they would see their town wall destroyed, so that not

truth,

The

one stone should remain upon another.

burgesses

unanimously agreed they would hold with body and soul to the doctrine

Minister of the Word, and were

of the

ready to lay down their

The noble

under King Ferdinand, promised the

fief

citizens to leave

them

their preacher

him three

also promise

it.

Wolfgang von Hirnheim, who held

knight,

Kenzingen as a

would

lives for

things, viz., not to partake

Holy Sacrament under both

of the

they on their side

if

kinds,

and never

have either baptism administered or mass celebrated

German leave

tongue.

As regarded

them undisturbed, and

other matters,

in

comply with Master Jacob's own

to

in the

he would

case of need, he would request,

and

assist

him

to

answer honourably before the tribunal where he had to

By this compromise the knight hoped to preserve peace among the citizens, and to avoid encountering the appear.

wrath of his liege

But scarcely had he returned to

lord.

the Court of Ferdinand

(it

was

in the year 1524)

when a

peremptory order arrived, enjoining the preacher to leave the town without delay, because his doctrine was seen to

produce only a wicked and malicious tion

and conspiracy.

mourning and consternation. parted, a

hundred and

beloved fugitive as

spirit

of insubordina-

The whole town was fifty

When burgesses

filled

with

Master Jacob de-

accompanied the

far as the nearest village.

Meantime,

The Fugitives.

1

79

however, the town was occupied by Austrian troops, the gates were closed,

and the

escort the minister were not

citizens

The

to seek refuge in Strasburg.

whom

they had

left

who had gone forth to They were forced

re- admitted.

females of their families,

behind, were

All Bibles

ill-treated.

and Lutheran books of which possession could be obtained were burned

and on the

;

sessions a to kneel

New

On

of

pos-

Testament had been found, was compelled

his

the right

left

among whose

town-clerk,

down, and then and

and children,

was

pile of ashes, all that

consumed books, 'the

the

there, in presence of his wife

head was chopped

bank of the Rhine,

^

off.'

at the ferry, not far

from

Kehl, sat the aged Andrew, in front of his clay-built hut, busily engaged in

day,

and the

mending a

earth,

every living creature on ing rain from heaven.

of

fish,

It

was a

sultry

its

to-day had a

good take

his net

had

While repairing the damage he repeatedly

wiped the perspiration from first

summer

face, to languish for the refresh-

Andrew had

and had caught so large a salmon that

given way.

look,

net.

parched and burnt up, seemed, with

his face,

to the heavy thunder-clouds

and

cast a wistful

which were gathering

with threatening aspect on the horizon, then to the beautiful

slender spire of the Cathedral of Strasburg, which

rose up over against

heavens as a '

^

Andrew, From

silent is

the

him across the Rhine, pointing

to the

reminder of the things that are above. lad at the ferry V cried out our old

a narrative written by a Kenzingen fugitive.

History of the Reforniaticn, part

i.

pp. 405-407.

See Rohrich's

8o

TJie Fii^^itivcs. t>

acquaintance, the post-runner, Simon Scheidt,

who had run

hastily along the footpath beside the river. '

God

Simon

bless thee,

rejoined Andrew.

!

'

*

I

know

not where the lad and Frank have put themselves now

Unluckily they are for the most part wherever they

again.

ought not to be, and their heads are brimful of nothing but

Bwidschiih conspiracies and such

silly

What

follies.

wretched point matters have reached with our young these our days '

!'

But you must

must be

hail

some one

also will require to

'

I

!

And

from Kenzingen.

they

their reach-

were any delay the Austrian troops

at their heels.'

the news then

Is

Andrew

be taken over instantly on

for if there

this,

might be

else instantly,

across without delay, to announce in the

ferried

city the arrival of the fugitives

ing

a

fry in

true that

Frank brought early

this

morning from Kehll' '

Alas

!

but too

true,

And

Andrew.

it

is

no wonder

if

our youngsters find their stock of patience run short under

such inhuman tyranny, and schiih

But hark

league.

they are already

And

!

if .

.

they do swear to the Bund.

.

yes,

sure enough, there

!

in truth, while

he was speaking, there might be seen

approaching up the Rhine the long procession of

fugitives,

who, on beholding before them the guardian walls of the hospitable refuge city of Strasburg, where they hoped to

and an asylum, struck up

find protection

Hymn,

in chorus Luther's

so calculated to strengthen faith under trial '

A

safe stron":hold

our

God

is still.

The Fugitives. Simon and old Andrew and went forward

to

1

8

reverently took off their caps,

meet the hundred and

fifty

men, who,

braced by the singing, though wearied and footsore, had

now reached

But when the leader of the choir,

the ferry.

an old blind man,

whom

Master Jacob Other was himself

leading and supporting with his arm, sang out those words in the last verse

And though they take our life, Goods, honour, children, wife,'

*

then, indeed, these homeless refugees, driven

homes, wives, children, heart.

in

cast

all,

Many sobbed

a glance

—broke down

from their

alike in voice

and

aloud, others sank exhausted, or

of agony and despair upward to heaven.

Master Jacob and the bhnd old singer alone continued with firm,

clear voice the

inspired originally '

by the Holy Ghost himself:^ Yet is their profit small These things shall vanish

The

The young

melody of those consolatory words,

city of

Arbogast, where they had

St.

succeeded in selling the large salmon

were

fully

the large

sum

The ^

much

one,

Carlyle.

and

inherited from his

widowed, and died soon

early

whom

of self-denial, care, and, above

— founded

on

after-

he had educated to mature

Heiner, was short and thick-set

Luther's Chorale

Thomas

Andrew had

obtained.

who was

wards, two grandchildren, years with

at a high price,

on surprising the old grandfather with

intent

only daughter,

all.

remaineth,'

fishermen, Frank and Heiner, were return-

from the convent of

ing

God

Psalm

xlvi.,

and

;

all,

prayer.

the other, translated

by

1

82

TJic Fugitives, i>

Jacobea, a gentle, blue-eyed riage

had been given

girl,

by Andrew a few years ago

had become a most serviceable occupation, and, as

the

to

man

old

Frank

assistant to

often

mar-

in

Hiigelin,

him

in his

expressed

who own it

to

Jacobea, *was just in every business he had to do with;'

but

who

nevertheless had latterly

by

his violent

many an anxious

hot-headedness caused him

temper and

At

thought.

the sight of the unfortunate fugitives from Kenzingen the

two young

made

men were

moved

deeply

;

and while Heiner

instant preparation for ferrying the post-runner with the

magistrate and Master Jacob across the Rhine, Frank drew aside old Andrew, and said, pointing to the money,

What

'

say you, grandfather, did not the Lord send us that great

salmon to-day, and surely

men, driven out of this heat, '

for nothing

1

These

their homes, must languish and suffer in

—and the money

Has been

was not

it

. .

.

.

given us by the Lord expressly that

we may

have the privilege of refreshing the poor with a welcome

quenching of

His name,' quickly chimed

their thirst in

his grandfather.

'And

so,'

added

as your legs can carry you,

money

he, 'run, Frank, as fast

and fetch the worth of

this

in beer.'

Frank was

off in a twinkling,

half an hour with pots of beer,

from Kehl. litde

in

He

and returned

in less

than

mugs and a supply of bread

was escorted by several

citizens

of that

town, anxious to contribute their mite towards the

good work of

charity.

of the Rhine, and old

The exiles bivouacked on the banks Andrew felt his thoughts turn to the

feeding of the thousands of Israel, as

he saw his kind

The Fugitives.

183

neighbours breaking the loaves for the weary men, and the

foaming tankards passing from hand to hand.

Jacobea had

washed the burning

feet of

many

water from the Rhine, while her

The worthy

hand.

not failed to lend a helping

She had

a poor fugitive with fresh

little

Hansli, just two years

old,

dearer to his great-grandfather than the apple of his

eye,

had unwittingly drawn a smile from some of these

rowful ones by his droll ways, at the

same

forcing hot tears into the eyes of others,

of the cherished

little

one

home,

at

were doomed never more to

sor-

time, however,

by reminding them

whom

perhaps they

Meantime the

embrace.

threatening thunder-clouds had gathered so rapidly over-

head that any moment a violent storm might burst upon them, so that

and

it

was necessary

to bring all the refugees,

safety, to a

if

to use all possible despatch,

so

it

might be, to a place of

roof over their heads, before

should begin.

it

Frank and Heiner exerted themselves nobly that the

rolling peal

first

found

all

at the ferry, so

the Kenzingen fugitives

before the gate of Strasburg, which was charitably thrown

open

to

them

at once.

Strasburg, the great

and renowned imperial

city,

where the

gospel was freely preached, where peace and concord dwelt,

and a wise magistracy provided with paternal care citizens' welfare,

versal tempests all

among

stood like an island-refuge,

the uni-

and crying oppressions of those times. There

the sufferers who, despised

sake, sought shelter

welcomed

for all the

and persecuted

and defence within her

for conscience'

walls,

were ever

in the spirit of Christian love.

The news

of

all

that

had taken place

at

Kenzingen had

1

The Fugitives.

84

reached the

when

city

even before the

arrival of the

runner

the justice of the peace, with Master Jacob,

;

and

made

appearance before the chief magistrate, to implore an

his

asylum

and

for the minister

his fellow-exiles, they

a friendly reception and a willing

met with

The burgomaster

ear.

indeed invited both to his own house, and immediately took the measures requisite for insuring

other fugitives. free

It was,

accommodation

for the

however, no easy task to provide a

and hospitable asylum

for

150

men

at a

moment's warn-

For which reason the burgomaster, Jacob Sturm von

ing.

Sturmeck, began by sending the post-runner to request the

prompt attendance of

Widows In

Dame

Katherine Zell and the two

Kraft.

full

harmony with the sentiments of her

excellent hus-

band, Dame Katherine Zell had repeatedly declared, 'All believe in

of

and confess the Lord Jesus Christ as the

God and

pitable

the alone Saviour of

welcome under our

of our table, as

we

roof,

all

men,

shall

true

common

Christ and of the heavenly inheritance.'

noble Christian matron had

Son

have a hos-

and share the common

are partakers, in

who

fare

with them, of

Acting

in this spirit,

no

less

than

thirty fugitives at her table during the first year of her

mar-

this

ried

life

;

so

much

so, that

fed, full oft,

Mey-Babeli had grumbled not a

was

really too bad,

— their

little,

maintaining stoutly that

home

must henceforth be called not the Cathedral Parson-

'

it

Asylum or Inn.' All the more was when Simon Scheldt came to summon

age, but the Cathedral

she in consternation

her mistress, and related to her the sad tale of the misfortunes of the Kenzingen folk.

But then, these were her own

The Fugitives. compatriots

many

who had met

185

with this cruel treatment, and

a Kenzingen woman had she known

familiarly

on the market-place of Freiburg

this thought,

she followed

Dame

!

Spurred on by

Katherine to the open

Town House,

square, in which, in front of the fugitives

full

in days of yore

the poor

were assembled in mournful groups.

A violent

thunderstorm was gathering, as we have already

mentioned, and after the chief magistrate, the evangelical

members of the Council, and the resident

many

a guest each, and

Hedio, moreover,

of

nobility,

had taken

them two, Bucer, Capito and

fulfilling their

part of the duty, there yet

remained eighty poor refugees, standing without shelter on the open

square, exposed to the

flashing

and

lightning

The

appalled by the thunder rolling louder and yet louder.

two Dames Kraft were urging

this counsel

here and there trying to devise

and

that,

some new quarter

running

in

they might entreat hospitality for these unfortunates Mistress Zell calmly said, of you, in God's name.

goodwill

we

shall find

So

of you.'

'Come home in the

Babeli and the ;

at the

left

Parsonage

for

right hearty

one and

the rest to follow

:

all

Mey-

two Dames Kraft hastened forward

in

door of the Parsonage they were met by

Master Matthew, who held out ing

but

saying, she took the blind leader of their choir

by the hand, led him on and advance

;

with me, every one

With His help and with

room

which

his

hand

to

each approach-

guest in token of friendly welcome, and as

the last

crossed the threshold of the hospitable dwelling, peal after peal crashed immediately above them, and torrents of rain

began to pour as

if

the very heavens were opened.

1

S6

TJic Fu^ritivcs
A

good example

mon.

edifying

and

practical than any ser-

Like wildfire did the news spread through the

Dame

*

fortunately often infectious, and often

is

more

supplies a lesson

Zell has taken eighty of the

into the Parsonage

imperial city

and

On

!'

his

hearing

it,

city,

poor Kenzingen folk

many

a burgher of the

dame, who before had been moved by

avarice or love of ease to quiet his conscience with the reflection,

to

any

'

impossible for us to give house-room

It is quite

had

refugee,'

'struck

on

and been con-

his breast

strained with the publican in the Gospel to cry,

be merciful to exhausted

me

itself,

a sinner

!

'

good wife

Babeli remarked,

baskets

full

'

as in

an

ant-hill.'

of bread, the butchers

brewers beer, the gardeners

Quite,' as

And

The bakers hams and

Mey-

sent whole

sausages, the

and vegetables, and,

last

Count Sigismund of Hohenlohe, was

the Dean,

least,

fruit

'

had

assist the

in entertaining their guests.

each did contribute in some way,

truly

God be

the thunderstorm

every one of them was anxious to

minister and his

not

When

'

Many

there also,

and certainly not empty-handed.

zen's wife

brought bedding and linen, while several put

their

a

citi-

hands to the work and helped the notable Dames

Kraft to prepare beds in chambers, halls and barns, and

on every

Devout women

floor.

to lay the tables

Dame

and

to assist

readily ofl"ered themselves

Mey-Babeli

in the kitchen.

Katherine was herself the soul of every arrange-

ment, and yet she found time withal to raise the crushed spirit

of

many

a mourner by strong words of Divine con-

solation.

Master Matthew,

after

having sundry affectionate con-

The Fugitives.

187

versations privately with individuals of the party, addressed his

assembled guests

22,

23, then offered

at their

evening devotions on Luke

Lord

blessing and consolation of the

and on the dear ones

had

fugitives

left

gone to

all

descend on them

to

After the poor wearied

behind.

and darkness and

rest,

reigned in the vast Cathedral Parsonage, while

hearted mistress with her

engaged

Matthew

many

willing helpers

no

less

worn out than

was twenty years older than

in

fell

vision once

more

poor

Fridli,

home

in his paternal

was again transported

re-

into a

deep slumber,

found himself in

in Kaisersberg,

on

—he

and saw

to his godmother's barn,

as he lay of old,

Master

—and he spouse, — while

He

which he had a remarkable dream.

large-

was yet busily

his guests,

his thrifty

posing in an easy chair in his study,

silence

its

in setting things in order for the next day,

himself,

vi.

up an earnest prayer, imploring the

his straw couch, yet not

indeed with closed, but with bright, merry, sparkling eyes,

and heard him opened

my

say,

eyes

!'

'

Only

The

think,

little

Mat, the Lord has

learned doctor, his cousin, was also

there,

and taking

come

with him, for he would take him to his dear

mother

at his

beautiful

Fridli

by the hand,

own home, where

abode

And

for them.

the roof of the barn was

them there was a stood

little

Geiler

;

Simson

told

the all

him

to rise

old

Lord had prepared a in a

moment he found

no longer overhead, but above

glorious brilliant evening sky Hiller,

up and

little

hand

in

;

and there

hand with the great Doctor

and Sebastian Brandt, the good, kind godmother,

and poor

Fridli

looked down complacently on Zell from

heaven, and chanted their old song of thanksgiving,

'We

The Fugitives

88

'd>

praise Thee,

O God

and looked up

!'

—Whereupon Master Matthew awoke,

amazement

in

at

— the

familiar face of his

beloved Katherine, bending gently over him to find out

whether he was asleep or not.

however, his dream

Still

ended, he continued to hear the singing eyes and inquired,

dreaming, or do

'You

How

'

is

hear the Te

I really

Deum

because he

the parlour,

in

and pain

inflammation in the lungs, excitement of fever, but

am

is

I still

V

It is

whom

the blind

made up a

I

from

suffering

fever

may be labouring under and may be singing only in the he

I fear

in his side.

he rubbed his

laudainus

are not dreaming, dear husband.

leader of the choir from Kenzingen, for

bed

;

now, dear Kate,

it

it is

so beautiful that

quite ele-

it

vates one's soul.' '

That blind choir-leader with the face so marked by small-

pox,

whom

dream

!'

be poor

I felt

so sure I

exclaimed

Zell.

Fridli himself!'

and hastened

had seen before, 'That must,

As he

to the parlour,

—and

then

said this, he rose abruptly

where the younger

Dame

moment

self-possessed

the

Master

hinder him,

whose hand he

close to the patient,

seized, saying with a voice trembling with emotion, Fridli, is '

it

To be

than

little

'

Why,

you V

sure,

Mat

it is !'

none other

;

and you can be none other

replied the blind

man, holding

with deep feeling between his two hands. first

that

him a cooling draught, and before

Katherine could

Matthew was standing

Kraft

At

was watching beside the sick-bed of the blind man. she was giving

my

yes, assuredly must

welcomed us

here,

'

Zell's

hand

Even when you

and more especially

at

evening

The Fugitives. prayers, your very voice

of Matthew Zell

went

reminded me

my

to

189

that

dear to me, and in particular of my beloved friend in

need

And

at Kaisersberg.

Then

heart.

much

of so

the

name

was good and

little

Mat, my kind

as I lay here, hospi-

tably received and tenderly nursed, even as I was then in

good old godmother's bam, the learned Doctor and the

the

Master of Arts from Basle, and the maiden Ursula, and Conrad, and you, and Simson Hiller,

stood, life-like,

all

before me, and I could not resist the impulse to sing, out

of a '

the

full heart,

Yes, Lord

hymn

of praise

In Thee there

!

here below and up yonder!'

is

a

we sang together then communion of saints, both !'

ejaculated Master Matthew,

touched and solemnized.

Had

not the two female friends enjoined silence, because

Fridli in his fever so

much needed

might perchance have been passed countings.

One

—What

the whole night

man

had become of

could allow him to all

Zell mournfully replied,

their '

re-

and heavenly home

'

They have

;

retire,

the dear people whose

images were so vividly present before his mind's eye

lasting

and

question Master Matthew was constrained

to answer before the blind to wit,

rest,

in catechisings

all

gone

%

to their ever-

they rest from their labours, and

works do follow them.'

And

'-He

Simson, that pleasant, fresh young branch V

was

Kaisersberg,

appointed

pastor

of the

town

minister of the

at

faithful

Word, and servant of the Lord Jesus Christ

he preached the pure gospel diligently and parishioners.

church

and was, by the grace of God, a

Accordingly, just

faithfully to his

a year ago, the Council

1

The Fugitives.

90

ordered him to appear in the Town-house immediately on his

coming down from the

short suit against

Herod

him

pulpit

for heresy,

John the

dealt with

;

forthwith to be secretly

there they prosecuted a .

.

and then ... as

.

Baptist, so they caused

beheaded on the

him

and

spot,

his

The Bishop

remains to be buried in a secluded place.

of

Basle did indeed, in consequence of this inhuman and out-

rageous deed, lay Kaisersberg under the ban, nevertheless, at the entreaty of the Ensisheim

Hiller

was only a

heretic, the

Three days since we

Government,^ and because

ban was speedily removed.

in this place

commemorated

the anni-

May

versary of his death in love, praise, and prayer.

his

blood, nice that of the Christian martyrs of the primitive days, prove the seed of the

Good-night, Fridli

Lord they ever

all

Amen

!

Fridli

was

Church

in our

They have gone

!

yet live,

poor native town

and are united with us

indeed

very

ill.

On

the

itself

and

following

which he was unable

by Master Jacob

All the history

to relate,

Other as follows

:

day

too clearly, the

result of his over-fatigue during the flight. life,

for ever

!

inflammation of the lungs declared

of his

!

before us, but in the

was supplied

— Through

Sebastian

Brandt's and Geiler's influence Fridli was admitted into a

convent 1

at Freiburg, in

which he received

his education,

Ensisheim was the seat of Government in the exterior provinces

of the Austrian Empire, to which the Sundgau and the Breisgau per-



tained. It was of A contemporary author says of this Government a despicable nature, cruel and bloodthirsty \ in a short time, 600 men were executed by its orders on account of their faith.' Jacob von Morsperg :

was

at that time Imperial

Landsvogt.

'

The Fugitives. and was trained

For the sake of

as a chorister.

named

voice and musical talent he was

ful

1

to the

9

his beautifirst

place

church choir at Kenzingen, which enabled him to

in the

take his

'

dear

old mother

little

peace and contentment with

'

home, and

to his

live in

Soon, however, she was

her.

snatched from him by death, and from the time of her departure he became, as he was

as

wont

to say, blind for the

So long as she had been beside him he had,

second time.

were, seen everything through her faithful and loving

it

and so now, amid the dark shades that surrounded

eyes,

Then indeed did

doubly solitary and forsaken.

him, he

felt

Doctor

Geiler's

words recur to

God, that

for the love of

is

his

the

mind,

way

to

'

To suffer

heaven

!'

willingly

But how-

ever deeply in earnest poor Fridli was, however painful were his efforts,

still

he could never manage to love God, because

he knew not the right way. last

shown

Other,

to

him

who was

the

That one right way was at Holy Gospel by Master Jacob means of leading him to Jesus Christ

in the

came down from heaven we might be saved and inherit

the Saviour, who, from love to us,

and died on the everlasting

cross, that

Now

life.

love kindles love in return, and as

soon as Fridli was enabled really to believe that the Lord Jesus loved him, so truly and tenderly, even as his mother

had done, yea, and whole

heart,

peace in his

far

Him

beyond, he also loved

and since then there had always been soul,

and he now knew how

it

is

with his

light

that

'

and

Faith

JUSTIFIES A MAN.' Fridli never rose again

He

died

on the

third

from that sick-bed in

day of

his illness.

He

Zell's parlour.

was lovingly

TJic Fugitives.

192

nursed, was strengthened in

many

prayers

;

faith,

and had the support of

he had also the privilege of partaking of the

Sacrament of the Lord's Supper with Master Matthew and from Kenzingen.

his friends

The Lord

led

him home

gently and blessedly, without a struggle, and his last word

was a cry of joy and thanksgiving, Saviour Jesus Christ

by

all

At

!'



'

Light

his funeral,

the Kenzingen fugitives,

!

light

Oh my

!

!

which was attended

and many Strasburg

citizens,

Master Matthew delivered an earnest exhortation to

them

sent, urging fight

ing

in these

pre-

all

solemn and troublous times

to

manfully to the end, and to win the crown of everlast-

life.

'

If a

man

also strive for masteries, yet

crowned, except he

strive

Tim.

lawfully' (2

is

xi.

he not In

5).

her letters to the citizens of Strasburg, printed on the 30th of

December

things that, fifty

'

1557, Mistress Zell mentions

burghers of the

little

town of Kenzingen

driven to flight from their home.

and on that same night house, and during fifty

among

other

In the year 1524, on one day a hundred and

I

were

in Breisgau

They came

to Strasburg,

received eighty of them into our

many weeks never fed at table fewer than many devout gentlemen and citizens

or sixty of them,

of the place having contributed towards the supplies, or

helped to entertain them.' '

elect lady

'

herself

of the guests.

During these four weeks the

became much more

intimate with

She wrote a consolatory

letter to the

many wives

of the Kenzingen exiles, which at a later period appeared in print.

By

the help of God,

and through the exertions of

good men, these refugees were by degrees provided

for,

and

they obtained the means of supporting themselves, some at

The Fugitives. Strasburg, faith

;

some

many

at other

193

towns which held to the evangehcal

of them, moreover, had the favour granted

them of being

re-united to their wives

and

children.

On

the recommendation of the ministers of the gospel at Strasburg, Master Jacob Other

was

appointed incumbent of

first

the parish of Neckar-Steinbach, then assistant to the Bernese

Reformer, Berthold Haller, and in 1532 he was moved to the parish of Esslingen, where he remained

Among

till

his death.

the rural population of Alsace, and

among

the

highlands of the Black Forest, the flame of insurrection had for a long time

intolerable

been glowing beneath the

services of tenure

and oppressions of

And

oppressive feeling of spiritual slavery.

Peasant League,' known

which

it

sorts,

lay,

the

were the

Soon, however, was superadded the more

primary cause.

*

all

The

ashes.^

burden of taxes under which the poor

was distinguished

thus arose the

consequence of the badge by

(in

— a peasant's

shoe buckled after

the fashion of those days) as the Binidschuh^ or 'League

of the Shoe.'

With giant

strides this insurrection spread in

Suabia, the Palatinate, Thuringia, etc. the fearful Peasants'

bourhood.

The

^

;

and

at Easter 1525,

out in our town and neigh-

peasantry assembled in force, exercised

their rights of justice sors,

War broke by

terrible

vengeance on their oppres-

plundered, committed murder and burnt, in relentless

The

first

of these peasant revolts in Alsace

as Whitsuntide 1493, in the villages

had originated

round Schlettstadt.

so early

The members

of the League were resolved to be free like their neighbours the Swiss, and the saying was current among them If the League and the Swiss are united, what need have we to care for Pope or Emperor?' :

N

'

TJic Fugitives.

194

convents and castles and strongholds.

fury,

the cruel Anthony,

Duke

a large army, to suppress the revolt.

and a second

at Zabern,

blood

Schlettstadt,

Thereupon

of Lorraine, entered Alsace with

A

fearful deluge of

at Scherweiler,

not far from

ended the desperate struggle which had

two months, and cost our

fair

lasted

Alsace above 36,000 indus-

men.

trious

During the raging of the short but murderous war, and after the scenes of

carnage at Zabern and Scherweiler, the

unfortunate peasants, dreading the open plain, sought safe refuge for their wives and children, and

all

their

goods and

chattels, in the two evangelical towns, Strasburg and Miihl-

hausen.

'

In the

ancient chronicle,

upon the

villages,

district '

the

of the Upper Rhine,' says the

noblemen

in the course of the

war

fell

attacked and burnt Lautersbach, Pfaffstadt,

Riedisheim, and several other places, in consequence of

which the country-folk brought hausen

for protection, in

the houses

filled,

impassable.

in their possessions to Miil-

such quantities that not only were

but the streets blocked up and rendered

The noble-minded

town-clerk,

Oswald von

Gamsharst, gave these unfortunate creatures a welcome

full

of Christian love, on which account a complaint was laid against

him before the Emperor by the Ensisheim Govern-

ment.'

In the evangelically disposed city of Strasburg

like-

wise manifestations were not wanting of the peace-bringing spirit

folk

'

of pure

gospel doctrine.

Thousands of the

^

poor

{armefi Liit), as the peasants were then called, found

protection and a kind reception within her walls, and the city

was

filled to

overflowing with fugitives.

Then, again,

Tiie Ftigitives. as

before

about the

necessary that

'full

Kenzingen,

from

refugees

many

195

should contribute and help to entertain them.' ever the blessed

is

Faith, trates

Love

is

fruit

made

was

it

a devout citizen and gentleman

of the gospel

active in

;

But such

by the power of

The

good works.

undertook to mediate between the contending

magisparties,

exhorting the nobles and gentry to mild and conciliatory

measures, the subjects to obedience and patience. ingly, the

Accord-

burgomaster, Jacob Sturm, ^ and the Deputies of

the Council, Bernard

Wurmser and Eckhardt von Rothweil,

succeeded, across the Rhine, at Lahr, Offenburg, Cappel

and Ettenheim,

in prevailing

upon the masses of assembled

peasants to retire peacefully to their homes, and in persuad-

Not

ing the Margrave to grant them pardon.

where the

poor."

deluded

rioters

so in Alsace,

turned off the deputies from

Strasburg with impudence and contempt, and remained deaf to all warnings

human Duke

On

Easter

and exhortations,

until the

sword of the

in-

of Lorraine gave them the death-blow.

Day

1525,

when

the sun was waxing low, old

Andrew, with the post-runner, Simon Scheldt, the weeping Jacobea and the

Heiner awaited larly '

little

Hansli, approached the ferry, where

their arrival with folded

arms and a singu-

downcast appearance.

May God

guide thee, grandfather

! '

said Jacobea, as she

held out her hand to bid him farewell amid Little 1

HansH climbed up on

Jacob Sturm was summoned even as

peasants.

many

sobs.

the old man's lap, threw his far as

Ulm

to

quiet

the

1

The Fugitives.

96

arms round

you

father,

neck, and coaxingly asked, 'Now, grand-

his

bring father back to us

will

Andrew embraced

—won't you

'

%

the Httle fellow heartily, laid his

hand

soothingly on Jacobea's head, and said, in a serious tone, to

Heiner,

— True repentance means '

stay at

home

again.

Protect the child and his mother

till

I

at thy

work

meet the common

let

;

till

mankind

old

Andrew

ferry.

my

return, or

!

Heiner gave the required promise, and then

shore,

!

not the devil entice thee

fate of all

father and Simon across the

Heiner

acting better.

set his grand-

On reaching the

opposite

knelt down, his head reverently un-

covered, and offered prayer to his heavenly Father.

which he instantly strode forward,

staff in

After

hand, in spite of

the eighty winters that weighed on his hoary head, as vigor-

ous and rapid as his companion, towards the city of Strasburg.

For a long time past old

man had warned

—unfortunately his

vain

all in

—the pious

grandsons against insurrection,

solemnly reminding them of the obedience due to the

powers that be, which are ordained of God. his remonstrances,

members of

the

broke

out, they

war.

When,

'

In spite of

all

Frank and Heiner had become sworn

Bundschuh

'

League

;

and when the

were forced to join the

after laying siege to

peasants had, at Jacob

fatal

Lahr and

revolt

and accursed

Ofifenburg, the

Sturm's solemn entreaty, retired

the wild groups had dispersed, and

turned out had gone to their homes,

all

those



when who had

peaceably, the Margrave promising them forgiveness,

—then Heiner too had

betaken himself once more to the fisherman's hut beside the ferry on the Rhine.

But the

violent, excitable

Frank

TJie Fugitives.

had imagined himself

still

bound by

197 by

the portentous oath

which he had sworn to maintain the twelve Articles of the League, believing his part to

it

abandon

would be cowardly and despicable on his brethren

and

allies,

the insurgent

when Duke Anthony

peasants of Alsace, at this juncture,

was marching upon them with so imposing a

force,

and

to

Alsace accordingly he had gone.

Embrace

'

had said

for

me my good wife and my old grandfather,' he

them from me they If I

home

to Heiner, as the latter set off for

fall in

shall

never see

me

fill

and

except as a free

the rightful contest for freedom

you, Heiner, must

'

;

and

a father's place to

justice,

my

poor

tell

man I then little

Hansh!' This

said,

he had hastened

off,

anxious to hide from Heiner

From

the tears he could no longer restrain. this

the shock of

message and the sight of Jacobea's grief old Andrew

was indeed bowed down beneath a load of sorrow, which he could only lay before the Lord his crying and tears. to

him

When, soon

afterwards,

him and

them

with strong

that the assembled peasantry at Dorlisheim

spatched a courier to Master Matthew to

God

Simon announced

his

Zell,

brethren in the ministry to

to Altorf, to preach the gospel

;

and

had de-

with a petition

come

that,

out to

on Easter

Monday, with the consent of the worshipful the Council, Master Matthew, Martin Bucer and Capito were to go to the peasants'

camp

to submission rest,

at Altorf, there to exhort the multitudes

and peace, poor old Andrew could

find

no

but must needs take up his pilgrim's staff and go to

Strasburg with the post-runner, to implore the ministers to

TJic Fugitives.

198 allow him to

among

accompany them, and

Frank

to seek out his

the insurgents.

How

it

came

to pass that he, the

aged fisherman Andrew,

should ever have bestowed his tenderly cherished grandchild

Jacobea

in

as follows

marriage on Frank Hiigelin, was a tale recounted

by himself

that Easter Day.

on the evening of

to the post-runner

He, Andrew, had as a

years old been received,

as

little

boy of ten

an inmate of her

family,

Weiler,

a native

of Nuremberg,

who kept

by

Anna

an aged and respectable tradeswoman in Strasburg,

a warehouse

Nuremberg goods, and proposed training him to act as a hawker in that line. In her house he received instruction

for

from a Hussite missionary,^ Frederick Reiser; and through

him he learned

to

know and love the gospel. SixtyAnna Weiler and Missionary

seven years ago, a.d. 1458,

Reiser were arrested, imprisoned, and burned alive in the ''Heretics' Fit;'

outside the town.

was close beside the gallows.) quiet

(This ''Heretics' Fit"

The remembrance

the countenance

with joy with

radiant

Anna Weiler ascended

the scaffold,

protect

life,

their hallowed

it

at a later

his faith.

were the se^d of the Church

memories had been blessed

The Waldenses, and

as a

and helped to

him against temptation and strengthen

Their ashes had been as

'

which the aged

had followed him

vision of guardian angels through a long

1

of the

peace with which his teacher met death, and of

to knit closer

period the Hussite missionaries, had,

unitedly and secretly, through the insti-umentality of the Bible, paved

the

way among

which we

call the

gelical History.

the lower classes for that great religious

Reformation,'

— Rohrich's Contributions

revolution

tcnvaj-ds

Evan-

The Fugitives. together the hidden

many days,

members of

the

and

little flock,

hearts to receive God's word.

Andrew

199

And,

to

open

more recent

in

had, in his wanderings as a pedlar, accom-

panied one and another Hussite missionary in his

visits to

the scattered communities of believers, thus penetrating even to Switzerland

and Miihlhausen,

in

which town he became

acquainted with a precious, holy soul, one

whom

Letty,' with

affection

known

as

'French

he formed a strong mutual bond of

and esteem.

After the decease of his daughter's

husband, the owner of the cottage on the Rhine,

Andrew

could no longer get on comfortably with his hawking, and therefore undertook his son-in-law's business,

ferryman at the Kehl

and became

the sake of educating his

ferry, for

He

grandchildren and training them in the fear of God. had, however, by

means of the

teachers, always kept

up

friendly

itinerating missionaries

and

communication with 'French

Letty;' and, shortly before her death, he visited her at Miihlhausen, and was constrained by her to give a solemn pledge, on the

charge of her to call Frank. later,

'

Holy

Bible, that

After Idelette had gone home, and, a

the worthy miller's wife

had

was no longer any resting-place Lane.

He soul,

for

little

also passed away, there

Frank

in the Blaiiwlatten

then came to old Andrew, and, according to his

grandmother's wish, became

good

he would take a fatherly

dear hot-headed youth,' as she was ever wont

a

first-rate

had evidently been of opinion

blessing rests on that calling,

by reason

fisherman.

She,

that a very peculiar

of the Lord having

chosen His special followers from among poor fishermen. the midst of the fishing business, the two

young

folk,

In

Frank

The Fugitives.

200

and Jacobea, grew more and more

intimate,

with one another, and were desirous

fell

in love

of being married,

He

whereto Andrew gladly responded yea and amen. never for a long time had occasion to repent of

having always proved a good son to him, and a

husband and father

to his wife

and

Only

child.

taken idea, this wild vagary about liberty, had his head, so that

unfortunate

'

he had been caught

Bundschuh

this hour, in exile

would

On

'

Frank

this,

faithful

this mis-

now

turned

in the snares of that

League, and kept thereby, up to

from his home, although, as old Andrew

fain hope, not necessarily for ever lost arriving,

on Easter Day,

at Strasburg, the old

man met

with a most friendly reception from Master Matthew, and received

much comfort from him a night's ;

freely granted

to

accompany

peasants'

camp

him

quarters were also

in the Cathedral-Parsonage, with leave

the ministers the following morning to the

What he heard

at Altorf.

Mey-Babeli, and from sundry fugitives of good Matthew Zell's kind hospitality

from

in the kitchen

— — was, however, nowise objects, like himself,

him or to relieve his anxiety regarding The two members of Council, Wurmser and Herrlin, who had been appointed to make overtures of peace at Hagenau (in consequence of the negotiations of Burgomaster calculated to soothe

Frank.

Sturm across the Rhine having proved so told,

successful),

on requesting an audience of the peasant

these gentlemen were better

sit

at

dinner

;

the city

on the wooden block and wait

leaders,

were '

that

deputies had

their leisure,'

— a huge

trunk of a tree having been felled in front of the house in

which the insurgent

chiefs took their meals.

On

repeated

The Fugitives. and urgent entreaties they were

201

at length admitted

they were compelled to deliver their message

;

but

standing,

while the leaders of the peasant force enjoyed iheir repast at their ease.

Nothing daunted by

gentlemen from the exhortation, saying,

began

city



'

It

at

this

impertinence, the

once to deliver a serious

was high time

for the 'peasants to

remember

consider their wives and children, and

danger they were exposing them

:

could never prosper, nor have a happy end, for pleasing to

God

if

:

this affair, the latter

what

to

such an insurrection it

was

dis-

they would trust the Strasburghers in

would put

it

within their power to be

freed from their burdens, and to return

the peasants across the Rhine.'

home

in peace, like

However, without

deli-

berating long, the leaders returned the following impudent

and

defiant reply:

peasants

;



now, we

'

We will

have been long enough treated as see whether

selves from taxes, services,

and

than they of Strasburg what

home

at once,

is

all

we cannot

burdens

;

another answer.'

we know better

incumbent upon

you deputies, otherwise we

free our-

us.

Return

shall give

you

^

This rude dismissal of the city councillors caused indignation and dismay rural population,

among

much

the better disposed of the

and especially among the peasants on

the Strasburg territory.^

Many

property into the town.

In the Cathedral-Parsonage some

newly-arrived 1

2

fugitives

told

fled with their families

the

tale

of

the

and

evangelical

Rohrich's History of the Reformation in Alsace, vol. i. pp. 2S8, 289. district of Strasburg then included Wasselnheim, Herrenstein,

The

Dorlisheim, Marlenheim, Illkirch, Schiltigheim,

etc.

202

TJie Fuzitives.

parson of Dorlisheim, Andrew Preunlin, revolt began,

had never ceased exhorting

who,

since the

his people to sub-

mission and peace, and who, on this Easter morn, had said, in the course of a very impressive sermon,

contrary to the gospel

by means of guns,

;

and the

true faith



'

Rebellion

is

propagated, not

is

halberts and spears, but of prayer and

On account of these sentiments the tumultuous mob sought to throw him down from the pulpit,

obedience.'

and angry

and hang him on the great lime-tree before the church door. All this furnished a shocking spectacle during divine service

and the

sacristan, with a

greatest difficulty in rescuing the minister from the

On

raging foes.

of the

with their husbands, to be then

alarmed

to entreat her

Capito,

many

tears,

were

tender Agnes ^ began

beloved Capito, and no

Elizabeth her Martin, with

who happened,

in the Parsonage,

The

no ordinary degree.

in

hands

hearing this narrative, the two

Dames Bucer and

ministers' wives.

;

few of the older peasants, had the

less

the amiable

not to venture out to

the peasants' camp, after having thus heard what was to be

expected there by any

husbands however

where duty blood

!

'

fortified

as



'

for peace.

The

certainly go, for

not lawful to confer with flesh and the

noble-minded

Katherine had

her trembling friends by her strong, rejoicing, and

courageous

Lord

calls, it is

As soon

who came to treat They must

replied,

faith,

to grant

and they had

all

united in beseeching the

His protection and blessing, Mistress EHza-

beth sang, not without deep though elevated emotion ^

Agnes, Capito's wife, was a daughter of the

Ulrich.

'

Lord of

Fifteen,'

Hans

The Fugitives. '

Hope meeldy

203

waits for the right hour

God's holy will hath

set

That come,— He will put forth His power, With joy, and none shall let What 's best, and when, full well He knows, In utmost need His care He shows



:

With '

our hearts

all

we '11

Though He may seem Still trust

Faith y^^/j-

Him

yet

!

to stand aloof.

be not afraid

!

Him

trust

near by

!

many

a proof,



Though hid in clouds array'd. His word 's more sure than vision bright, Thy heart may whisper, " Nought goes



Yet

trust

!

right

He'll save thee e'en from fright

;"

!'

Early on the following morning, old Andrew, with the peasant-courier Jorg von Geudertheim, had set out on the

journey to Altorf, and not long afterwards

When

Capito rode out on the same road. peasants'

camp beside

the

Abbey

Zell,

Bucer, and

they reached the

of Altorf, which had been

stormed and plundered, the three ministers were received

by the insurgents with great round them priests

'that

were

;

set in the middle,

now both

and

The

in the right.'

consent, saying,

of those to

wide ring was formed

Abbot of Altorf and

'

and the demand was made,

whom

they

let

the peasants decide which

ministers, however, refused their

they had

submission and peace.

come

owed

there to execute the orders

allegiance,

Moreover,

this

assembly, but a gathering opposed to

Who

several

parties should dispute concerning the con-

tested points of doctrine,

was

A

joy.

the imprisoned

and

to exhort to

was not a Christian

God and His

had bestowed on the peasants power

word.

to force others to

204

T^^^ Fugitives.

give an account of their faith

Rather ought they to leave

1

monasteries, abbots, and convents undisturbed, and themselves to

obey the

pect no prosperity.

authorities, without

If only they

which they could ex-

would quietly return home,

then assuredly the Government would take their case into consideration in a Christian way.'

After delivering these and

other similar counsels, the servants of ful,

however,

how soon words

in the village of

God

rode

off.

Mind-

die away, they dismounted

Entzheim, and wrote a document, strongly

and pointedly expressed,

which they once more sought

in

to induce the peasants to lay to heart the sinful nature of their doings, appealing

solemnly to them, reminding them

of approaching judgment, and concluding with the words, *

Body and goods we owe

to the

enemies, wilUng service to soul's sake, the

all

obedience of

;

powers that be, patience to but to

faith,

God

alone, for our

according to His holy

word, in which revolt, even against an unjust government, is

expressly forbidden.'

During the course of

all

had been perambulating

these transactions old

all

and inquiring about him

in every direction, but, alas

succeeded

in

ascertaining

amounted

Easter morning, Frank had been seen

church

at

said

to

this

among

:

in

—yesterday,

others in the

Dorlisheim, and had immediately disappeared.

he had gone to Zabern, there to procure

for the

minister, Preunlin, a written safeguard from the chief

surgent leader. tively

!

All that the peasant-courier, Jorg von Geudertheim,

vain.

Some

Andrew

the camp, seeking his Frank,

in-

Others, on the contrary, maintained posi-

he had been despatched by the originators of the

The

Fugitives.

men

attempt at murder, to go to the

205 of Hagenau, the most

furious of all the rebels, to bring reinforcements

hanging the parson might

in order that the plot for

carried

and

out,

turncoats

These reports

destroyed.

and he

heart,

all

set off for

sters for a line of

from them

fell

be

still

might be cut down and heavily on the old man's

Entzheim, there to ask the mini-

recommendation to the parson of Dorli-

sheim, as he was desirous of going to him and awaiting

beside him the course of events, watching as to what he

might have to hope or to fear for

handed

sters

up,

to

and commissioned him

sheim to insure of the rebel

its

camp

himself, during the

where Zell

city,

his lost son.

him the document which they had

The

mini-

just

drawn

to request the parson of Dorli-

being read aloud in the various sections at the

;

same time they desired Preunlin

immediate danger, to seek refuge offered

him a hearty welcome

in the in

his

home.

Andrew faithful

old

Preunlin (commonly

known

as ^Fnmuliis'), the

under-shepherd of the parish of Dorlisheim, received

Andrew with warm sympathy, and

the

document from

his three brethren with great joy; but to quit his post

go do.

to Strasburg, that

Had

begun

by

and

he would on no consideration agree to

not the united peasants of the Strasburg territory

to retreat quietly

on the strength of the promise given

the three preachers of the gospel,

of Dorlisheim,

in particular, in

peace, and should he now forsake ing the tumult as far as in

him

and were not the men

the act of returning

home

his flock, instead of

lay,

in

still-

being ready lovingly to

receive the penitent, to encourage the desponding, to guide

2o6

TJie Fus:itives

the misled into the right way, and, with God's help, to bring

back

all

had

to the path of duty

willingly offered

up

and of obedience

No

%

!

save the poor deluded peasants from destruction, and old

Andrew

him

in his

He

his life as a sacrifice to the Lord, to

by

faithfully stood

his side

arduous task, secretly and

own private grief and The Altorf camp was

his

now

and manfully aided trustfully

committing

anxiety to his God. greatly diminished,

owing to the

retreat of the insurgents belonging to the Strasburg territory,

and amid

Preunlin,

furious threats fulminated against Parson

who from

the very

resisted the insurrection, the fell

mus

beginning had vigorously

remnant of the

back on Zabern, where the

Avild

masses

insurgent leader,

Eras-

Gerber, occupied the episcopal residence (the Bishop

being absent), and the mountain passes with a force of 20,000 men, in consequence of having received intelligence that

Duke Anthony was

preparing to

fall

upon them with

At Dorlisheim the peasants had

an overpowering army.

but just returned home, and were on the point of beginning,

urged on by the entreaties of their minister and old Andrew, to cultivate the' fallow ground, to eat their bread in

peace in their cottages with their

on the Saturday

after Easter, the

body of Hagenau

rebels,

with

families,

when

suddenly,

news reached them that a a few stragglers from the

Altorf camp, was approaching Dorlisheim, fully resolved to

do summary execution on the minister and on

and

to

burn down the

village.

seized the poor inhabitants

;

On

hearing

all

turncoats,

this,

no persuasions could

to hinder their fleeing from the

a panic prevail

homes of which they had

The Fugitives.

and hastening with wives and

just taken possession anew,

children to the

and

hills

207

few only of the very old

forests, a

folk remaining in the Parsonage with old Andrew and the

Vainly did these

sacristan.

especially the venerable

last,

ferryman, urge the minister to take refuge at Strasburg or

among I

the mountains

;

he was immovable, saying,



'

If only

can lead even one of these wandering sheep to the Good

Shepherd, gladly will

Andrew, whether thus gain

A

it

added

!'

I risk

may

my

for

life

And

it.

not be your Frank

he, with a

Avho knows,

whom

I

may

melancholy smile.

death-like silence reigned that evening in the desolate

village

:

the watch-fires of the approaching masses of

armed

peasantry gleamed in the distance, and the prayer-bell pealed

solemnly and

on

thrillingly,

high, in the pure,

sounding

still

like a

warning voice from

On

the bench in front

night-air.

of the Parsonage, sat hand in hand Parson Preunlin and the

aged Andrew, each mutely contemplating the parting sun. Andrew,' began the minister, 'there are inward revelations

'

Not long

which do not deceive.

me

in a

dream by what death

I

ago, the

am

not thought indeed that the poor folk' ^

sacrifice

me

as a victim

come from

to

will

be mine

Andrew,

till

;

rather

had

words

come, and

And

so

it

would

but now,

God's flock,

the storm has passed.

shall

to

had

let

To-morrow,

!

{ar?He?i Lilt)

I

Remain with my poor misguided

word of God, and strengthen them

my

Him.

expected the stroke

I

a very different quarter !

Lord revealed

to glorify

be

came

at

;

Instruct

at this hour,

home

to pass.

I

with the Lord

On

them

in the faith.

the

shall

in the

Think of have over-

!'

Sunday morning the

2o8

TJic Fucrltives. i>

insurgents, in wild

and tumultuous

to Dorlisheim, surrounded the

turned

serted,

to

whom

in

to

approach,

and, finding

de-

it

vent their whole rage on the parson, they attributed the withdrawal of

particular

the Dorlisheim

stormed their way

force,

village,

men from

in his clerical

He

the League.

Andrew had

of the parish, in the church, whither old

accompanied him.

awaited their

surrounded by the elders

attire,

There he made one

but

last

also

fruitless

attempt to open the eyes of these unhappy men, and to

draw them back from the edge of the not deceived,' he cried aloud,

and what a man sows, sown

'a

—the

revolt,

awful

terrible

end

will

many

hand.

at

is

be too late

it

all

'

'

;

Oh

!

otherwise a

Awe-struck on

too soon, alas

!

fulfilled,

and to give heed to the warning designed to snatch

them from

ruin.

The

infuriated

upon the minister

oaths dragged ing

Ye have

of the better disposed were ready to strike on their

breasts

fell

Be

murder, incendiarism and

overtake you

hearing these prophetic words,

*

not be mocked,

will

retribution

repent and be converted before

speedy and

precipice.

that also shall he reap.

bloody seed of

deadly deeds^

God

'

him on

several of

him

men

of Hagenau, however,

like savage beasts,

and amid horrid

outside the church door, bent on hang-

On

the great lime-tree.

them were

reaching the spot, while

getting ready to

fulfil

the office of

hangman, they demanded that old Andrew should

first

pre-

pare the parson for his death, and offer up with him the '

execution prayer.'

Andrew

tated, uttered these words,

knelt down, and greatly agi'

Your Reverence,

heaven opened above you, and

I

I

see

the

implore your blessing ere

The Fugitives. you depart hence

on the

The

!'

hand gently

minister laid his

patriarch, looked with

head of the

silvery

209

scribable expression of peace

and yet of sadness

murderers, then up towards heaven, and called loud, clear voice,

'

Lord Jesus

Lay not

not what they do.

mercy receive

At

my

spirit

moment

that

forswear of the

'

Stop

down before the my own life I

Incensed

bold

intruder,

when

You

!

men

not

In

!

and

truth

the

!

I

slaves

and

for

exasperated

avenge themselves of the

man

the

him

protect

are tools

words,

these

at

minister with the

fighting for

raised their hatchets to

rebels

charge

Amen.'

!

with

!

executioner,

rights!'

just

unhappy men know

this sin to their

your reckless plots

all

his

out in a

young man rushed through the peasant

a

crowd, and threw himself exclamation,

these

!

an inde-

first at

of

God, bending

in

an

attitude of defence over the youth, received on his

own

head the furious blows of the weapons, and sank,

life-

Thus, as he had foretold, he had

on the ground.

less,

saved his friend Andrew's long-lost Frank grandfather,

forgetful

in his arms, pressed

hot tears

fell

his

head

laid

like

an

infant.

down on

he hung

him

all

close

of the wild

and long

his furrowed

to his heart, while

cheeks.

Frank himself, sobbed aloud

Meantime, the peasants had fastened the

bough of the

there, the faithful

mouth

The aged

!

around, seized the wanderer

his grandfather's shoulder,

pastor's corpse to a

his

of

for ever closed,

;

but,

when

preacher of the everlasting gospel, then by degrees the surging roar

mob was hushed

on old Andrew or on

fine old tree

;

not one ventured to lay hands

his rescued Frank, and,

o

pursued by

2

1

The Fugitives.

o

body of

the sting of an evil conscience, the whole set out for '

The

effectual fervent prayer of a righteous

much' (James

v.

Earnestly had old

i6).

God's mercy for his Frank

went

He

man

Andrew

availeth

entreated

and so the Good Shepherd

;

wandering sheep, and

after the

found

insurgents

Zabern, forthwith leaving Dorlisheim altogether.

sought

faithfully

till

In the desolating confusion and tumult of the

it.

insurgent camp, and at the storm and plundering of the

Abbey of Altorf, Frank had begun doings around.

to feel

ill

at ease,

and

in-

and deeper into the godless

creasingly so as he saw deeper

Memories of the years of

his

childhood and

youth had been awakened within, and the image of his dear pious grandmother presented

guardian angel to warn him. fully detected the

eyes,

and with

before his mind's eye as a

When, on Easter morning, he

murderous plot against the holy pastor

Preunlin, then indeed

Satan's snares,

itself

terror

it

was as though

scales

fell

he confessed that he had

and had begun

to tread his paths.

from his

fallen into

So, hasten-

ing to Zabern, he instantly implored from the rebel com-

mander a safe-conduct had

other, and, as

attend

to,

go

But Erasmus Gerber

he reckoned, more important matters to

than to trouble himself about the

village pastor

and

for the pastor.

!

life

For long he refused an audience

at last only half

heard him

;

of a poor to Frank,

and he asked him rather

to

to Strasburg as his courier, with a petition to the magis-

trate to

send ammunition for the peasants

at

Zabern, and on

the Martersberg, and help towards the defence against

Duke

Anthony of Lorraine, who was marching down on them. Disgusted and indignant, Frank left him and returned as we

The Fugitives.

21

have seen to Dorlisheim, resolved to shield the

life

of the

pastor at the risk of his own.

The martyrdom of the faithful Preunlin was not in vain. By the grace of God it was the means of saving many a soul from everlasting perdition, and many a life from

Many

the fearful carnage at Zabern. revolt,

and returned home penitent.

was the sorrow of all

the

own

hills,

Kenzingen

the day of his funeral

down

to their village

or crept out from their hiding-places.

German New Testament

from the

On

flock.

people of Dorlisheim came

from the a

his

forsook the path of

Great and affecting

fugitive

— old

—a

From

keepsake given him by a

Andrew,

at the

open grave, read

7 th chapter of Acts the history of the death of St.

Stephen, adding a few deeply impressive words and a

vent prayer

;

amid many

tears,

after

fer-

which the whole assembly knelt and sang, Luther's metrical version or paraphrase of

the 67th Psalm: *

May God be merciful to us and bless, May He our every sin forgive May the clear radiance of His face !

Lighten us on, for aye to •

May God May God

live

!

the Father and the Son,

the Holy Ghost upon Our heads His choicest blessings pour Our Triune God whom saints adore Worship in godly fear, all men,

!



And

let

Andrew remained

each heart respond at

minister to the

!

Dorlisheim as evangelist until the

honourable Council found to

Amen

flock.

it

possible to send a

He

preached

fit

pastor

faithfully, in

all

The Fugitives.

212 simplicity

ancient

and humility, as we

chronicle,

and other necessary of

God and

no means

;

recorded

it

God's word,

things which have to

the salvation

idle

find

concerning

'

Frank too was by

of souls.'

he acted as runner,

peace and the magistrates, thus

to

keep up com-

errands, he

On

home

efficiently assisting the

authorities of Strasburg to re-establish order at Dorlisheim.

love

do with the glory

munication between the peasants who had returned in

and

tranquillity

one occasion, while out on one of these

met with the agreeable

surprise of finding in the

Cathedral-Parsonage his beloved Jacobea and his Hansli,

whom Dame

the town.

That was

to be described!

our

in

faith,

had caused

Zell

to

—a joy not

truly a wonderful reunion

When, on

little

be brought into

the 17th of

May

following

(1525), 18,000 peasants had fallen at the Martersberg ('hill

of the Martyrs

')

and

at

at Scherweiler, not far

Zabem,

—and three days

later

from Schlettstadt, and

dreary and desolate in our once

fertile

all

12,000

seemed

and smiling

plains,

the very villages deserted and death-like, then Frank tra-

versed the land far and wide in the Lord's service, like a

good Samaritan, leading the

orphans to Strasburg, where charity and

and

widows and

helpless woe-begone

self-sacrificing love

pity flourished as the beauteous fruits of the Spirit,

and

the results of pure gospel preaching,

—where the Lord had

taught His regenerated Church that

none of us should

unto himself, but each for

how

all

to attain to this grace.'

'

the rest, and had ^

Dame

Zell

live

shown them

also mentions

in her aforementioned letter to the citizens of Strasburg, ^

Bucer's Instructions, published in 1523.

The Fugitives, *

213

After the cause of the poor peasants had received

its

death-

Lux

blow, I was enabled, with the assistance of Master

Hackfurth,

the

public

honourable widows, tion, in

many

almoner, ^

Dames

of the two

as well as

accommoda-

Kraft, to provide

the vacant convent of the barefooted

friars,

for

of the miserable, panic-stricken people

who were then

I organized a plan

by which many

flocking in to Strasburg.

respectable persons,

men and women, undertook

to serve

them, and large alms and supplies were contributed towards their support'

In the autumn of the same year, old Andrew, with Frank

and Jacobea and

removed

to Miihlhausen,

his old friend

and patron, the

their little Hansli,

where Frank obtained from

Knight-Commander George von Andlau, the steward in the 'German Court'

connected with



German House,' the seat of Government), and there, the Lord will, we may hope soon again to meet with him

the if

(or farm

situation of

'

and

his sister Theresa.

man

in

wife an excellent



Heiner, however, remained as ferry-

the hut beside the Rhine,

and took

and devout maiden, a native of Dorlisheim

his venerable grandfather helping

for

life,

to himself as

and bestowing

him

in his settlement

upon him.

his parental benediction

In the year 1527 the Dean of the Strasburg Cathedral,

Count Sigismund von Hohenlohe, was

by

the Pope, and deprived of

all

laid

under the ban

his dignities

and

prefer-

ments, 'because,' as was stated, 'he had adopted no ^

Formerly chaplain

of the city of Strasburg.

at

Oberehnheim, and the

first

strin-

public almoner

The Fugitives,

214 gent measures

Cathedral

;

check the heretical preaching

to

the

in

because he held the opinion that the banished

ministers were

by no means

be avoided

to

—he even

culti-

vated daily intercourse with them, and invited them to be his guests

;

because he not only tolerated the evangelical

preachers in the rural parishes within his jurisdiction, but

even in 1525 issued an order to its

all

the ecclesiastics within

bounds to preach the word of

also he

had resolved

married, and in the

who

German

of these things the

Cf'oss,

God only

because

who had

administered the sacrament of baptism

tongue, were not to be assailed on account

and

;

lastly,

because, in his Little Book of

he had defended

the

heretical

doctrines

Luther, and had spoken of them as "good."' laid

;

that the priests in the country

He

under an interdict by the Emperor, on account of

having carried on

of

was his

a confidential correspondence with the

French Princess, Margaret of Valois, and was accused of having favoured the levying of recruits

King of France. for

protection,

Huguenots

in

Alsace for the

appealed to the city of Strasburg

and soon afterwards entered the military

service of France.

the

He

When, however,

in that country

the persecution against

waxed

hotter and hotter,

he withdrew to Augsburg, and there continued his evangelical belief

till

death.

He

faithful to

died on the 8th of

August 1534, deeply lamented by his Strasburg friends. The Reformation had cause for unbounded gratitude to his

memory

;

and the image of

this

noble man, who, placed in

God's providence on so high a pinnacle, willingly gave up dignities,

honour and wealth

for his

faith,

could not be

The Ftig itives. the ranks of those who, in such solemn

among

omitted

2

1

and

troublous times, suffered so much, fought so valiantly, and

sake of re-establishing the word of

for the

sacrificed

all,

God and

faith in Jesus Christ the crucified

basis of our Evangelical Church.

by Count Sigismund

that

the

It

was

Saviour as the

in all probability

Huguenot

who

refugees,

sought shelter at Strasburg, were introduced to Pastor Zell,

and

to

them too were extended the

Christian

Even

hospitality

and kindly

welcome of the ever open Cathedral-Parsonage.

as early as the year 1524, Francis Lambert, a Fran-

ciscan from Avignon,

German

had come

frontier-city as a centre,

to Strasburg,

had

actively

and from that

promoted the

triumph of the gospel cause in France.

He

high in public esteem, and was commonly

known

At a

French Doctor.'

later period, Farel

stood very as

and Calvin

'

the

also

sought refuge at Strasburg, where Calvin (a.d. 1538) became pastor of the French congregation of Huguenots, to

he ministered hour of

upon '

he was recalled to Geneva, where, to the

until

his death,

whom

he bore his beloved Church of Strasburg

his heart.

At the repeated urgent entreaty of

Word and

the Ministers of the

of the citizens, the Council of Strasburg at length

resolved to take the decisive step, and abrogate the Mass,

which since the beginning of the measures

had been read and

in

German.

for

church-reform

In vain did the Bishop warn

threaten, in vain did the Imperial

Government send

three deputies from Spires, to endeavour to deter the Council

from such a

step,

by representing the displeasure of the

Emperor and of King Ferdinand

as sure to be thereby

2

The Fugitives.

1

The

incurred.

magistrate replied

' :

As the matter was one man, they

that concerned the conscience of every right to lay

it

before the

felt

it

Grand Council/ and leave them

to

'On Saturday, the 20th of February 1529, about seven o'clock, the Council and the xxi. met an hour earlier decide.'

In the course of that hour a

than the three hundred.

letter

arrived from the Imperial Government, pressing for an im-

mediate answer, on which

must

let

the letter

and leave

it

God's hands.

all in

was resolved,

pealed to the three hundred

;

It

after

mutual explanations

was

it

freely put to the

was then declared that 184 were of opinion that

Mass should be abrogated and dispensed

the

Council

Thereafter the Council ap-

and

and representations of the matter, vote.

— the

quietly carry the matter through,

lie,

could be proved to be according to God's

votes were recorded in favour of standing the

Mass remain

was

for neither

other time.

to the

with, until

it

Ninety-four

will. still

and

letting

One single vote Mass now nor at any

end of the Diet.

doing away with the

Twenty-one members of the Council were not

present.' '

On

that

same day

was announced by

this decision of the

Grand Council

writing to the Imperial Government,

with the statement appended to the despatch, "

that,

accord-

ing to the laws of the city, the Council could

now

take no

steps in a contrary direction 1

The

fifteen *

*

Grand

city

was divided

Schoffen''

Council.'

or

therefore

it

was best

each guild had to elect ; These three hundred constituted the

important occasions the Magistrate called

and the decision of these three hundred 'Schoffen' of the citizens was always final.

together,

to accept

into twenty guilds

Sheriffs.

On

;

in the

it

name

The Fugitives. the decision favourably, since in

was

different Chapters

The

passed by the Grand Council.

was appended

letter,

and

by members

:



"

following intimation

Their revenues were to remain undimi-

but as concerned the present ordering of Divine

worship, on

that

point

several

matters with the magistrate. (Reminiscere),

the

decree was publicly the

city-

same day,

that

deputed for the purpose, with the resolution

of Council

j

On

was made acquainted by a

Canons of the four

nished

other matters the

Emperor's disposal."

entirely at the

likewise, the Bishop

the

all

21

Roman

21st

of

of them

On

should

discuss

the following

Sunday

February,

made known, and

the

above-named

so the abolition of

Catholic worship in Strasburg and

its

territory

was solemnly carried through, and the Reformation had so far gained its immediate object.'" ^ 1

370.

See Rohrich's History of the Reformation in Alsace,

vol.

i.

pp. 369,

TZ

S PI

I.

SOMETHING FURTHER FROM THE OLD CHRONICLE OF MiiHLHAUSEN.

God remembered

'

Three men,

Gen.

Noah.'

viii.

i.

Oswald von

the old and venerable town-clerk

Gamsharst, Father Bernard Romer, and the pastor Johannes Hofer, were

sitting,

one

fine

front of the Augustinian

summer

Convent,

regarding the great questions and

place,

the

sat

pastor's

little

deep

in

conversation

momentous events of

Near them, under the great

time.

evening, on a bench in

lime-tree

the

on the market-

daughter Idelette, then two

years old, no less engrossed with the enjoyment of her

Beside the

supper.

dog of the

'

spitz

'

little

one lay crouched a

breed, whose appearance told of days of

dearth, for, as the proverb says, his eyes tail

that

;'

it

fell,

*

hunger stared

looked up so lovingly

so beseechingly, that

Little Letty,

it

lean, black

at

at the child,

you from

wagged

its

and so eagerly devoured every crumb

would have melted a very heart of stone.

however,

who had never suffered hunger, and dumb language of the poor beast,

could not understand the

pushed away the nose of determined

effort to

this intrusive beggar,

and

in

her

snub him, dropped her piece of bread.

219

Spitzi.

The dog caught ^

Spitzi,

it

and

ate

ravenously,

it

upon which the

juraped up angrily and began to cry, exclaiming,

little girl

you naughty

!

Spitzi

stamping with her

'

little feet,

and striking the creature's black, rough, matted back with her clenched

The

fist.

dog, however, never stirred, but

continued imperturbable in the enjoyment of '

Why

poor

are you crying so,

Spitzi

little

issued from the

German

The

at that

moment

Court, bringing a basket of straw-

and

his aunt Theresa, fresh

where he had gathered them

forest of the Hart,

with his father.

repast.

its

and what harm has

done you?' asked Hansli, who

berries for his uncle the pastor

from the

Letty,

screams had also attracted

child's

the said pastor and his spouse in hot haste.

But now a rough, screeching voice was heard calling from Finninger the wheelwright's workshop, across the road, '

Spitzi, Spitzi,

come

thou devilish beast, or

hither,

.'

.

.

here followed a vile oath. 'Alas and alack-a-day

exclaimed Hans, 'that

!'

wicked Mike Finninger; he to death

up

!'

in her

The boy ran

will certainly

to Theresa,

arms and was endeavouring

however, cowered

down

terrified,

A

behind the minister, as stripling,

tall

some

if

beat poor Spitzi

who had taken Letty to soothe her.

dropped the

out of his mouth, and crept trembling, his legs,

years

Spitzi,

bit of

tail

old,

and

manner, to

%

'

'

He

What

his lips,

and asked,

his aid.

now came

forward under the old lime-tree, with a thick rope

hand and an oath on

bread

between

to implore protection

sixteen

the

is

in his

in a rude, coarse

corner the black vermin had crawled away

caught the whining creature, kicked

it

along,

and

220

SpitzL

threw the rope round

ears to take

its

butchers for execution,

because of

it,

as

he

said, to the

being mad,

its

and

having, that very morning, bitten his sister Agnes.

Yes,

*

it

— because,

here under this lime-tree, she pricked

in the ears with a large needle

saw

it

myself, for I

dread of the

spiteful lad

the blood flowed

till

was present

!

I

stormed out Hans, his

!'

overcome by

dumb

his pity for the

victim of his persecutions. *

That dog is not mad,'

as he spoke, a

holding

it

Hofer

said Pastor

seriously, taking,

cup of water which stood on the bench, and

The

to the trembling animal.

creature eyed

it

eagerly, licked his hand, and then obediently emptied the

cup

to

its last

that there

pastor.

"

Now, you

*

are yourself witness, Mike,

nothing he looks less Hke than being mad,

is

when he has '

drop.

down

so gladly gulped

The

righteous

are told in God's holy

man

word

;

is

that water

!'

said the

merciful to his beast,"

we

but you and your brothers and

constantly plaguing poor Spitzi after a most un-

sisters are

godly fashion, so that often before

now

I

have

felt

boiling

with indignation, and almost called on to use the

well-

merited rod of correction.'

Michael grew crimson with rage, and impudently retorted, *

The dog belongs

with

it'

He

to

me, and

straightway

Lutheran heretics and

meddhng

I

am

free to

do

as I choose

to indulging in abuse of the

their preachers,

'who were always

with matters that did not concern them, and

ought, one at the

fell

and

same

all,

to

be burnt on the

time, the rope he

had fastened round

neck, and preparing to drag off

who

scaffold,' tightening,

Spitzi's

the poor animal, when

221

Spitzi.

Oswald von Gamsharst rose from

his seat

and barred the

way, asking him in a stern tone, as he pointed to the order of the authorities that was stuck up on the church-door, '

Michael Finninger, canst thou read V

On

meeting the glance of the severe town-clerk,

good honoured and the

evil

whom

the

dreaded, the bold and worth-

youth turned pale, drew back rebuked, and muttered

less

between

his teeth

clerk continued,

have

'

some reply inaudible

to

The town-

all.

In this mandate the Christian authorities

strictly prohibited,

under pain of severe punishment,

the abuse of preacliers of the everlasting gospel by dubbing

them

" Lutheran heretics," as well as the uttering of blas-

phemous oaths and

guilty in both points,

ing,

and with

just

whom

who

to your father,

is

been

penalty,

responsible

I shall settle the matter.'

So

say-

he took the much disconcerted Michael by the hand,

and led him

Meantime poor

you have

as

and have thus incurred the

you must come with me for you,

Now,

curses.

to Finninger's house, across the road.

the rest of the party took compassion

ill-used dog.

on the

Pastor Hofer loosed the string round

neck, and kindly stroked

its

piece of bread, with which

Hans

fed

it

its

Theresa fetched a

lean back.

little

;

Letty, who,

with the happy inconsistency of childhood,

had speedily

forgotten both anger and fright, caressed

tenderly,

while she was repeating her

call, 'Spitzi,

Father Bernard gravely exclaimed,

poor animal

free

from

'

it

and

poor, poor Spitzi

If only

we could

!'

set the

the clutches of those Finningers

!

After what has occurred, they will vent their fury on Spitzi,

and

treat

it

more

cruelly than ever

!'

222

Spitzi.

At length Oswald von Gamsharst a look of annoyance, that ality

is

What

is

They

the wind with a

full

Master John,

for I

self-will

and defiance

are both assuredly sowing to

hand, and soon they must reap the

was driven

I

and sensu-

idleness, pride,

sowing the seeds of

in his children's hearts.

whirlwind.

returned, saying with

a houseful of unruly children

The mother promotes

!

the father

;

'

poaching on your preserves,

to

preached a sermon to them contain-

ing a sharp rebuke, such as they will never either forget or forgive

!

Besides which, instead of demanding payment of

the fine due by Mike, I required that the poor dog should

be it

set at liberty, for otherwise

Hansli is

Take

death.

to

— there

faithful,

it

and a

will

they Avould have tormented

with you

it

be out of

capital watch,

Hans was to follow

the

sight of

and

render good service to your father the Hart and the surrounding

to

its

German Farm, tormentors

in these evil

in his

;

it

may

days

wanderings through

district.'

overjoyed, and coaxed the dog most caressingly

him

at once.

Spitzi,

however, always slipped

through his fingers when apparently caught, lay down at Pastor John's

him is

feet,

fawning on him, and attaching

most decided manner, as

in the

whom I wish my life long

the master

faithful all

to repel the

And

!

'

to serve, '

Who

if it

would

and to

whom

*

This

I will

be

could have had the heart

poor beast?' as Theresa afterwards remarked.

in the quiet family circle into

whose home

which

it

Pastor

was welcomed,

was then in the Augustinian Convent, Spitzi

did from that time right honourably earn

When

itself to

say,

John Hofer, who,

its

daily bread.

as senior chaplain of St.

223

Spitzi.

Stephen's church at Obersteinbrunn, had to go there to con-

duct service and to preach, took up his pilgrim's staff in the fulfilment of his pastoral duties, Spitzi, to the great reHef

and consolation of the devoted Theresa, never In the convent and before

accompany him.

failed to

door,

its

Spitzi

was Letty's playmate, and took tender care of

When

Father Bernard,

who

her.

lived with his adopted children

John and Theresa, happened to fall asleep in his easychair, Spitzi kept watch before the door, and when the dog was seen stranger

to lie

appeared,

were wont to

Bernard

still

is

now

Meantime continued

say,

far

there and not to bark or growl

the '

familiars

of the

home

minister's

Hush, hush, make no

any

if

noise, for Father

taking his noon-day nap.'

the relations with the family of the Finningers

from amicable

open

:

hostilities

they did not

indeed venture upon towards the inhabitants of the convent,

because the town-clerk and

all

the worshipful magistrates

were ever ready to back the pastor and his family.

Spitzi

likewise they were forced to leave unmolested, for

if

wicked Finninger boys

showed

them

its

^

approached

sharp,

white teeth,

moreover, barking violently when

often,

distance, so that even Pastor John,

nod

it

impHcitly

Nevertheless, bad

^

too near,

obeyed,

had

it

growling it

angrily,

saw them

whose

difficulty in

least

the

once

at

at a

beck or

pacifying

it.

neighbours these Finningers ever continued

There were three

Matthew, and Jacob, who in later to the two insolent ; Elsie the old Swiss proverb was too applicable,

sons, Michael,

years brought untold misery on their native town

and voluptuous sisters is as bad as Agnes.'



*

224

Spitzi.

to be

ingenious in devising spiteful bits of mischief, calum-

;

and cunning

nies,

tricks, all

which were unavailing to break

the public peace, because the inmates of the convent bore

with patience and Christian love.

all

For

in our

republic, as elsewhere, the gospel had borne blessed

and many a home, besides witnessed tranquil lives service.

In

St.

that of the Augustinian convent,

of piety, devoted to the Lord's

Stephen's Church, Augustine

old friend of the

St.



Jacob Augsburger,

little

fruit,

Kramer

(our

Stephen's Tower), Otto Binder, and in

the

Church of the Augustinians,

Father Bernard and John Hofer alternately expounded

God's holy word, and when, in the evening, these astical leaders

ecclesi-

assembled under the great lime-tree, the

burghers likewise gathered in the square of the Augustinians,

and

and listened devoutly to the beautiful

to the unctional prayer which, at

curfew-bell,

spiritual songs,

the tolling of the

one of the clergy was wont to

offer

up before

they dispersed.

'The Archduke, now King Ferdinand, was a zealous " Evangelicals

persecutor of the

reformed

faith)

counsellors

when

in

all

his

"

(or

like-minded with himself. of Miihlhausen gave

the people

adherents of the

dominions, and had moreover

to the gospel cause, the Ensisheim

For

this

in their

reason,

adhesion

Government sought

to

plague and persecute them in every way, both from old hereditary

we

hatred

and from the change of

read in Peter's Chronicle of the

book

vi. p.

291.

creed.'

So

Town of Miihlhausen^

Accordingly, within a short time a chaplain

Spitzi, in the to^vn,

who had preached

225

the gospel in Brunnstatt, and

Link, minister of Illzach, Johannes Hofer's most intimate friend, were surreptitiously

taken prisoners and executed sum-

marily at Ensisheim, which excited great terror,

ill-will

and

distress in the town.

Theresa

beloved John, and

powerless to quell the gloomy forebod-

felt

in particular

trembled for her

ing within her that he too would meet a similar death. she told her complaint and as she

prayer,

had learned

him back from

do of old from her pious

to

duty,

to

unman

and

xiv. 7, 8),

her husband, nor

know

well did she

full

that 'none of us liveth unto himself,'

Lord' (Rom.

But

her fears to the Lord in silent

She did not wish

grandmother. to hold

all

.

.

.

but 'unto the

every one of His people living and

dying for His service, that

is

for his brethren's

good.

In those days, however, a sultry oppressive atmosphere

overhung our poor tyrant-ridden town. citizens,

for

Almost

even Burgomaster and Council, had

lost

all

her

courage

not only were they surrounded and persecuted by a

powerful Austrian Government, but also the dear Confederates of Switzerland, to this extremity,

hoping

for protection

had taken part against Zurich,

had refused

whom men had

us,

and with the

to mediate

naturally turned in

and succour from them, solitary exception of

on our behalf

The

twelve

cantons sent four deputies, from Uri, Unterwalden, Freiburg

and Solothurn, that,

'

heresy,

in case

to Miihlhausen, with the express

command new

Miihlhausen consented to recant the

they were to spare neither

expense nor pains to

obtain justice for the tov/n at the hands of Austria, even

though they might

peril their lives thereby.

p

On

the other

226

Spitzi.

hand, in case the

refused to depart from the opinions

to^^-n

of Luther and Zwingle, the ambassadors were instructed

home

forthwith to ride

again, leaving Miihlhausen to her

fate.'

This message, as already remarked, spread great consternation and anxiet}- both ties,

among

and the

the citizens

and the majority were disposed

authori-

But

to yield.

in this

storm, as in'former ones, the venerable town-clerk, Gamsharst,

stood firm as a rock amid the surging billows

:

supported by

the devout ministers, he succeeded, with God's help, in raising the crushed spirits and re-animating the faith and courage of our forefathers. cil,

After long and stormy debates in Coun-

the following answer was communicated to the Con-

federate ambassadors, both verbally

and

in writing

*

:

The

people of Miihlhausen had abrogated nothing essentially

They had only done away

Christian in Divine worship.

with unchristian abuses. in the

Almighty

Their hope and comfort were only

God and His

everlasting

Son Jesus

Christ,

our alone Saviour and Mediator, whose holy word, according to both Testaments, they caused to be preached

them without any human

additions.

And

They were

w'ERE RESOLVED TO PERSEVERE.

among they

in all this

willing to

com-

ply with the wishes of their well-beloved allies and lords in all

things possible

glor}^

of

God and

;

this

matter,

they could by no means change tian reply.' '

however, concerned the

the salvation of their souls

;

wherefore

anything in this their Chris-

^

Peter's Chronicle of the Towti of Miihlhausen, vol.

Peter here remarks that

'

\\.

pp. 296-301.

he gives the instructions of the Confederate

227

Spitzi.

When on and

the following day, after the feast of

St.

who had been

Paul, the four ambassadors,

St.

Peter enter-

tained in the best style and loaded with marks of honour,

rode off homewards, their countenances gloomy and

sinister-

then indeed our devout forefathers realized that

looking, '

here vve walk by

'

through

much

(2 Cor. V. 7

;

not by

faith,

sight,'

tribulation enter into the

Acts

and that we must

kingdom of God

xiv. 22).

Weary and unstrung did Pastor John return home on same evening with Father Bernard. The negotiations had been long and stormy, and only after a sharp contest that

had the

victory,

by God's

grace,

And now,

been nobly won.

the pastor was, early next morning, to go to Oberstein-

brunn, and there, as his duty required, to conduct Divine

being the Lord's day.

worship,

it

Theresa

for the

first

'

Oh

!

do not go

!'

pleaded

time, and pouring out her whole soul,

she added as her reason for this unwonted entreaty, the

assurance that

knew

to

truly she

trembled for his

what danger he exposed

proclaim the gospel on Austrian territory.

him St.

that,

life,

himself, if

and well

he dared to

She reminded

during the negotiations in the Town-house and in

Stephen's Church, the youngsters of the Finninger family

and

their

Square,

comrades' had been rioting about

St.

Augustine's

throwing stones at the convent, launching forth

threats against the pastor,

and singing

in derision

ambassadors, and the reply of the town, Tcrbatifn, that the gospel simplicity and steadfastness of our pious ancestors, the anxiety, persecutions

and

distress thereby entailed

on them, and notwithstanding all may be the more clearly

these, their continued marvellous perseverance,

seen and traced to their origin.'

228

Spitzi. '

Oh woe woe !

woe

!

Hofer must now To the gallows go

!

!

While, since the departure of the ambassadors, they had, in

common

with

By way Bible

;

and

the evil-disposed, indulged in loud

all

triumphant rejoicings

at the

oppressed state of the town.

of answer the pastor silently opened Idelette's

with clasped hands he uttered a short prayer, and

then slowly and devoutly he read these words

:

'

He

saith

unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou

me %

Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third

time, Lovest thou

knowest saith

thee,

all

me

things

;

And he

%

thou knowest that

my

unto him, Feed

sheep.

I

love thee.

Verily, verily, I

when thou wast young, thou

walkedst whither thou wouldest old,

said unto him, Lord, thou

:

but

girdedst

Jesus

say unto

and

thyself,

when thou

shalt

be

thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall

gird thee,

and carry thee whither thou wouldest

not.

This

spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God.

And when he had spoken me' (John

this,

he

saith

Follow

xxi. 17-19).

Thereupon the man of God, folding said,

unto him,

deeply

moved

the death of

St.



'

An

his wife in his arms,

ancient legend relates concerning

Peter, that,

guided by the brethren, he

escaped from Rome, because the Emperor had that he should be put to death.

commanded

After the brethren had

him, and the apostle was going on his

way

left

alOne, a light

suddenly appeared around him, and he saw the Lord pass by.

" Lord, whither goest thou ?" cried Peter,

and he

fell

229

Spitzi.

upon

Then the Lord turned go unto Rome, there to be

his knees.

and said — "

I

low THOU ME

!"

Dear Theresa, Peter

a beloved and cherished wife

;

also

Lord

the '

Dost thou now wish that

—should not feed His sheep

No oh no, John !

Theresa with

tears,

!

and she

down

and

hands on

at his

I

Rome

he suffered

should not follow

?'

!

'

exclaimed

head on her husband's

bitterly.

After that both knelt

and Father Bernard, who

heads and blessed them in the name of

following morning, in the stillness of the Sabbath

and children

to

his heart,

commended

his wife

himself and them

mercy and protection of God, and then, with

as his faithful

him

that he too

fulfil

his duties, although

not.

this life long, dark,

in

an inner voice

would soon be girded by another man

and led whither he would There are

Spitzi

companion, he started on the road to Ober-

steinbrunn, there to told

God

Holy Ghost.

dawn. Pastor John rose from his couch, pressed

to the

Fol-

home

silent witness of this affecting scene, laid his

their

the Father, the Son, and the

The

had

laid her

to pray together in silence,

had been a

disciple,

crucified.

the Lord's will be mine

let

shoulder, and wept long

His

and yet he turned round on

the spot and followed his Lord, and in

martyrdom.

to

dreary days, in which a

black cloud hangs lowering over our heads, and an indescribable anxiety weighs

of Alp on Alp

:

down

the spirit as with the burden

time creeps on heavily

;

everything around

us seems pervaded with an element of leaden weight.

Such

a long and heavy day did that Sunday prove to our friend Theresa.

After she had set

all in

order at home, had wept

SpitzL

230

out her pent-up flood of tears in the church, and had be-

sought the Lord to grant help and comfort, she went to the

German Farm, where her brother Frank, his Jacobea, and old Andrew received her warmly, and closed round her in a They too, however, were restless, and full circle of love. While Theresa sought to

of uneasiness and apprehension.

hush the

risings of her troubled heart

aged Andrew, Frank

by converse with the

to the Augustinian Convent, to see whether Pastor

When at length

had not yet returned. deepened into

night,

then

silently crept out, first to the gate,

John had

evening's shades

and the long-expected one had not yet

became

arrived, the uneasiness

general,

—messengers

were

despatched to inquire, and the most conflicting rumours

were spread abroad.

The

night was

singularly dark

and soon a violent storm

;

the sky was overcast,

Wind and

arose.

rain raged furi-

ously against the round panes of the Augustinian Convent, in

whose ancient refectory for united prayer.

and

harst,

all

the waiting ones

were perpetually coming and going.

his scouts

Suddenly Hansli, who

had stood without

— threw open the door, with these words, but without

my

had assembled

In that circle was Oswald von Gams-

uncle

! '

Instantly the

'

dog dashed

men by

Too place

to

be up and doing, to

into the

It

rushed

their trousers,

then hurried back to the door, as though

mon them

a watch,

Spitzi has arrived,

room, dripping, foaming, howling and wailing.

from one to another, pulled the

as

it

meant

to

and

sum-

sally forth to the rescue.

evidently the dreaded misfortune had actually taken j

but

how and where

?

On

these points truly poor

Spitzi. Spitzi could give

no

231

At

intelligence.

this

moment

of sus-

pense the malicious face of Michael Finninger was seen peeping round the edge of the open door, like an

evil spirit,

chuckling with diabolical glee, he cried out,

They have

as,

him

He

!

'

'

then vanished as swiftly as he had come, pur-

sued by the enraged difficulty



succeeded

Spitzi,

whom Frank

with the greatest

in catching.

But now came back the mounted town-messenger sent out by Herr von Gamsharst to Obersteinbrunn, bringing the following intelligence

:

— Pastor

John had,

ducted morning service, and preached, visits

among

his

round of

the sick and from house to house, and then,

accompanied by the old his

as usual, con-

made

way homeward

forester Vincent,

he had gone on

on the road he had been seized by

:

Austrian soldiers, and taken captive to the safe stronghold, of Brunnstatt.

the Castle

The whole

village

of Ober-

steinbrunn was roused to the utmost pitch of excitement

and consternation

indeed,

;

the

enemy could not have

hazarded taking the parson prisoner place

itself,

which would

infallibly

in the

midst of the

have provoked the rising

of the peasantry, Pastor John being universally beloved and revered, not only

on account of

his present preaching

care of the spiritual interests of the flock, but also

and

by reason

of the benefits conferred by him on his parishioners during the Peasants' War,

during which

all

found

in

coimsel and consolation, in every case where

him

help,

human

aid

could be afforded. '

If

cannot

he set

is

imprisoned in the Castle of Brunnstatt we

him

free

!

'

exclaimed Oswald von Gamsharst with

232

Spitzi.

a deep sigh, 'for long before

we could penetrate

thither

and

to present our complaints in the right quarter,

to set

agoing negotiations, they would already have executed him

We know

Government makes of the ters '

trial

of our Evangelical minis-

!

He

not in the Castle of Brunnstatt

is

the forester,

who had

yet,'

chair.

'

They want

Ensisheim through bypaths, to avoid the

therefore, ye

men, up and hasten with a

quickly as possible

They must

!

with God's help you

may

how he had

to take

villages.

flag to the

and

him

Up

Hart as

pass through the forest, and

succeed in liberating the good

pastor from the grasp of his executioners to relate

said Vincent

just entered, thoroughly drenched,

had sunk exhausted on a to

!

by experience what short work the Ensisheim

!'

He

proceeded

escorted Pastor John, they too avail-

ing themselves of bypaths which he had formerly pointed

out to him for safety's sake, but which unfortunately Michael

Finninger had spied, he having that day followed the of

God

afar

off,

man

and thus gained the power of leading the

Austrians to form an ambuscade, from which they rushed

out to seize the pastor, bind him with his face downwards

on a horse, and then hasten Spitzi,

whom

death, took to his master,

and

off with their victim. ^

the soldiery were flight,

after vainly

seeking also to put to

endeavouring to defend

he, Vincent, concealed himself in the thicket,

'Johannes Hofer, senior chaplain of the town, and incumbent of the parish of Obersteinbrunn, they waylaid while engaged in fulfilling his duty as a minister appointed to proclaim God's word ; they seized him forcibly, threw a noose round him, and bound him on horseback to ^

carry

him away

prisoner.'

— Peter's Chronicle,

vol. vi. p. 295.

Spitzi.

and there overheard

233

their decision regarding the

which they should carry away

road by

their prisoner.

With the circumspection and quiet presence of mind for which he was so remarkable, Oswald von Gamsharst immediately took

all

the steps necessary for hasting to the rescue

of the captive minister.

To

drive off silently with his

woodman's cart

escape

Frank was to

notice,

all

to the forest of the

Herr von Gamsharst and several armed men were

Hart.

him

to ride with

in

the cart

;

armed and

several others,

forming no inconsiderable force, were to ride out after them

by separate paths

:

they were to effect a junction at the

forester's hut in the Hart,

self

was

to direct the

from whence the town-clerk himIn the town mean-

whole expedition.

while the walls were to be garrisoned, a strong guard was to

be

set to

watch the house of the Finningers and other

sus-

picious parties, and the sentries at the gates were to be strictly

enjoined not to allow any one to pass in or out

was not provided with the pass-word, so,'



'

God for

us.'

'

who

And

exclaimed Herr von Gamsharst with enthusiasm, as he

grasped Theresa's hand for a paternal farewell,

'

and so

let

us go forth in God's name, with His almighty aid, and in

His strength only Theresa,

!'

who had

sat there motionless

and deadly pale

like a marble statue, since the dreadful tidings

had been

brought, rose quickly as he uttered these words, and said, '

Take

Spitzi with you,

noble friend

!

He

can,

than any guide, lead you to his master's track

Lord guide and protect you '

Well said

!

and

I

too

all

;

more

safely

and may the

!'

may go

with you

! '

cried Hansli,

234

Spitzi.

as, suiting

single

the action to the word, he leapt with the dog at a

bound, into the

cart,

which had already stood some

Oswald von Gams-

time waiting before the convent gate. harst was inclined to refuse the

boy admission, but Frank

urged him to take him, pleading that he was acquainted with every

and

path and track in the

little

and that he

forest,

perhaps render the most effectual service

Spitzi could

by spying out the road along which the prisoner was carried through the Hart.

mounted

forester

solemn

the cart also,

lightning and

flashing

pouring

silence, yet strong

to

be

Father Bernard and Vincent the

and amid

rolling thunder,

they

rain,

all

and of good courage,

started

in

trusting in

who is mighty to help and to deliver. men were off, and Theresa remained refector}^ she sank down on her knees, with

the Lord

When the

the

alone in

clasped

hands, words failing her altogether, and tears refusing to flow for the assuaging of her grief

knows how

But the Lord, who well

His children, sent

to

poor Theresa an angel of consolation to strengthen her

in

to interpret the silence of

this the Gethsemane season of her soul. sister to the

Margaret Blaurer,

Reformer of Constance, Ambrose Blaurer, was

passing through Miihlhausen on her journey to intimate friend Bucer hart's hospitable

\

had spent a few days

visit

in

her most

Von Gams-

home, and was enjoying the prospect of

bearing to the Christians of Strasburg the tidings of the

and Christian courage of their Miihlhausen Having heard what had occurred, and watched

steadfastness

brethren.

the departure of the men, she betook her to the refectory,

and there

softly

and

quietly, like a

messenger from heaven,

Spitzi.

she advanced towards Theresa,

whom

235 Like the Lord and Master

she served, Margaret Blaurer had

made

it

the object

of her hfe^ to comfort the suffering, to nurse the sick, and to pray beside the dying.

Her

hearty, loving

sympathy

proved unspeakably soothing to Theresa, and when the bell of the Augustinian Convent tolled to call people to united

prayer on behalf of Pastor John, even Theresa was able, leaning on Margaret's arm, to go up to the house of God.

Pastor Otto Binder was already in the pulpit, and as he

saw the two

women

enter,

he was involuntarily led to begin,

with tones of deep emotion, Luther's beautiful

on the 130th Psalm '

hymn founded

:

From depths of woe I raise The voice of lamentation

to thee ;

Lord, turn a gracious ear to me,

And

hear

my

supplication

!

which the whole congregation forthwith most heartily

in

joined.

The

silence,

broken only by poor Theresa's sobs.

singingof the

first

verse was succeeded by a deep

make no

Otto Binder

also wept,

and had

command

himself sufficiently to speak to the people, for

to

to

small effort before he could

him Pastor John was inexpressibly

interval

of recollectedness,

dear.

During that

Margaret Blaurer sang with

her clear, silvery voice, which sounded like a note of comfort

wafted straight from heaven and vibrating in every

heart During the awful ravages of the plague at Constance, Margaret among the sick, and succoured many in their dying struggles. She was accordingly regarded by the people as a guardian angel, and beloved and venerated to the utmost. ^

Blaurer was continually

236

Spitzi,

What though I wait the livelong Until the dawn appeareth,

'

My heart It

still

When

;

the Israelite in heart,

let

Bom And

his eye

trusteth in His might,

doubteth not nor feareth

So

night

of the Spirit, do his part,

wait

God

till

appeareth.'

Otto Binder opened the Bible, these words met



And God remembered Noah'

'

(Gen.

viii. i).

'The Lord remembers

touched his heart.

They

likewise our

imprisoned Pastor John, and our poor oppressed town, which,

on the face of the great Flood, help-

like the solitary ark less

and surrounded by powerful and threatening enemies,

floats

on

in

danger and

distress,'

—thus

God

this faithful servant of

church of

St.

and

also address the mournful

company gathered on

trembling

whispered an inner In similar tones did

voice in tones of sweet consolation.

that eventful night in the

And when

Augustine.

in

conclusion

all

united in prayer, and intercessions for the prisoner of the

Lord arose from every up, the

heart, the skies

had already cleared

ominous thunderclouds had passed away, and the

down

morning-star looked

windows In the

clear

and bright through the

in the lofty vaulted roof of the little church. forester's

hut in the depths of the wood, the

had meantime awaited storm, and streaks of

when

at

in anxious suspense the last

its

fury

dawn were beginning

to

men

end of the

had subsided, and the redden the eastern sky,

they sought earnestly to devise the most successful plans for the liberation of the pastor.

by the name of the

'

High

The

Hart, then

known

also

Forest,' extended at that time

Spitzi.

beyond the town lands heim

to very near the village of

several paths led through

;

237 Moden-

Ensisheim road,

to the

it

a few through the Miihlhausen territory, others through that

No

belonging to Austria, towards Sauersheim. ever, could

convey

know by which of these

their prisoner.

roads the soldiers would

was therefore resolved that the

It

armed townsmen should

one, how-

lie

in

ambush

detachments

in

through the thicket, while Vincent the forester, Frank and Hansli, traversed the forest in a different direction, taking Spitzi

them, in the hope that he would with the

with

greatest security lead

and behold, on

them

their looking

round

covered, to the consternation of

all,

for the dog,

that

it

and no one knew what had become of our part

name of our God, and The Lord can lead you

the

let us, in !

without the dog

and

said

!'

spirit well fitted to

But

to his master's track. it

was

lo

dis-

had disappeared, it

' !

Well

!

then

with good courage, do to the right path

even

Oswald von Gamsharst with a tone

And

cheer them on.

so they parted,

hastening each to his appointed post.

Let us now turn from them to the poor captive pastor,

whom '

'

Austrian troopers,'

the

violently

bound on a

as

the

Chronicle has

horse, his face downwards,

it,

and led

War the

Miihlhausen men, and

Pastor John in particular, had been

uncommonly beloved

away.'

among

As

since the Peasants'

the country-folk, the troopers had received instruc-

tions to

convey

their prisoner through the

deep recesses

of the wood, avoiding the villages, lest any rising should take place

made

among

to set

him

the inhabitants, free.

At

nightfall,

and any attempt be however, they were

Spitzi.

238

overtaken by the storm, and obliged to seek shelter from the wind and rain in a charcoal-burner's hut, being unable to pursue their

way

gathered round the

bound

They

men were

learned to

know

shall gird thee,

God

and being

;

in those days

wont

be

to

treatment of prisoners, they abandoned him to the

Then indeed

fury of the elements.

not.'

on which the

the horse

left

outside, fastened to a tree

rough and inhuman, as in their

soldiers

which the mistress of the hovel had

kindled on her hearth. prisoner was

The

in the thick darkness.

fire

He

was

and

uprightly

;

but he

unhappy victim

;

'

shall carry thee whither

truly a

in all things

the

the force of these words,

Another

thou wouldest

devout man, resigned to the

he loved

felt at

his Saviour with his

the

same time

man

that he

of

will

whole heart

had a human,

a sinful heart within, that trembled at the thought of death as the penalty of sin.

moment

of death, entreating

and

Then, from the very depth,

in his

of extremity, did he cry to his Lord, the Conqueror

for grace to

Him

for increased faith, for consolation,

overcome the

fear of death,

and

that he

might be enabled, amid the pains of martyrdom that awaited

And

him, to praise the Lord even to his latest breath. as he lay thus

bound, the thunders rolled and crashed over-

head, the lightnings enveloped him in a glare of

light,

torrents of rain

poured upon him.

an

shrinking at the voice of the Lord, as

instinctive

Then, awe-struck, he

and felt if

a

foreboding of the terrors of judgment seized him, and in his

inward conflict with fear and faint-heartedness he could only ejaculate with a sigh, 'Lord, have

the intercessory prayers,

then

mercy upon me

rising

in

!'

But

the Augustinian

Spitzi.

239

church on his behalf from the hearts of Theresa and the

The

brethren, were not in vain.

wind and

rain ceased,

thunder were hushed, and in the tempest-darkened heart of

man

the

of

God

All grew

the day-star arose.

sprung up in his soul, he breathed more relieved, as if

of anguish. It

was

The

!

as

and caress

it

felt

among the

faithful Spitzi leapt out

and, as the old Chronicle relates, lick

light

an angel had taken from him the deadly load

Presently he heard a stirring

Spitzi



and

still,

freely,

'

How much

of the thicket,

immediately began to

master's face, hanging

its

stood below.'

bushes.

down towards

it

good did these love-tokens

of the faithful animal do to the suffering pastor

!

my good

moistened

Spitzi

said he tenderly, the tears that

!'

him

his eyes at this glad surprise bringing

relief,

canine friend quickly responding by ardent after his

own

fashion, to inspire

to the threshold,

in the

and the

endeavours,

him, and repeatedly

to

licking either his face or his fast-bound hands.

who

Spitzi,

him with hope and comfort,

never wearying of springing up

coal-burner's wife,

'

The

char-

glimmering dawn had stepped

saw the black creature hovering round the

captive pastor, and instantly retreating within the hut, crossing herself, she terror,

*

May God

came

to the soldiers

have mercy on us

shape of a black monster,

is

that parson prisoner of yours '

his

It

!

!'

said

in

the Evil One, in the

performing his pranks about !'

must be that black beast that always follows him

shadow

and

and exclaimed

one of the troopers.

like

'Gladly would I

yesterday have earned the reward which Finninger's youngster

Mike promised me

if

I could strike the accursed

animal

240

Spitzi.

But

death-blow.

its

and assuredly

fiend incarnate, for

my

Let us see

*

now

me

in the calf of the leg,

at

it,

a

very-

and

tore

devil,

!'

if

said another.

!'

never could contrive to get

bit

it

trousers besides

reward

I

must be possessed of the

it

we cannot massacre it and earn the When, however, they issued forth

from the hovel, Spitzi had slipped away, darted

like light-

ning into the thicket and vanished, leaving not a trace behind.

It

*

must have been the Evil One himself!' said

the charcoal-burner's wife, again

moved

soldiers

off with

black dog having shown

unwelcome news good grounds, struck off folk

to those

men,

for they feared, not without

that tidings of the road

men

victim yet

The

their being

leader gave the word of

command

to

case of a surprise

once

'

;

for,'

added

bring him alive to Ensisheim, they

he, will

'

even

be

if

satis-

know we have stopped

his mouth for ever from As Pastor John heard these words, he comsoul in faith to his God and Saviour.

fied if they

mitted his

in

tightly,

on which he

unable to hold their ground, they should

his death-blow at

preaching.'

to set their

more

in the centre of the troop the horse

lay strapped.

we cannot

Hart

resolved to exercise the

:

him

by which they had

into the

They consequently they bound the caution

the soldiers surrounding him, that,

give

the

had reached the town, and that the Miihlhausen

and placed

and of

The

as

fact of this

once more was truly most

free.

greatest

herself,

itself

might have sent armed

pastor

crossing

their captive.

Resplendent and victorious over night with horrors did the sun

now

rise in the clear

all

her dark

azure sky.

The

241

Spitzi.

storm had purified the

wondrous beauty. trees

and the morning burst

air,

The

birds on

httle

forth with

the bright green

were busily shaking and trimming their plumage

the rain, singing their

greeting to one another

on the

the crystal drops were glistening

;

leaves, the forest flowers

diamonds

in

and the tender mosses,

wafted up to heaven from the monarchs of the freshed after the tempest,

— sweet

forest, re-

as the savour of praise

and thanksgiving ascending from a devout heart

after

For some time the long convoy rnoved forward

in the

In some places, however, the rains

had flooded the paths and made them impassable. were obliged to

soldiers

strike

ought to

lofty

to

unknown

they halted to confer, the matter of chief

turn,

boy

diligently

bushes. is

to set foot

When

the town.

'

to

which side they

importance for them being to remain on Austrian

and never

their

open

in a free,

beeches, and

As they were ignorant

before.

The

into bypaths with

and suddenly found themselves

overshadowed by

space,

them

has

it

in silent prayer.

best possible order.

prisoner,

like

and a balmy fragrance was

the sunbeams,

been exercised

after

morning hymn, or chirping a friendly

on ground subject to the jurisdiction of

they looked around they observed a small

engaged

Hey

!

territory,

in gathering strawberries

among

youngster,' the soldiers cried to him,

'

the

which

the road to Sauersheim V '

I

have always heard,' replied he,

thither lies through '

tell

way

that the best

Modenheim.'

But we do not wish

you not

'

to pass through

Modenheim.

us where the Miihlhausen territory begins

Q

Can ?'

242 *

Spitzi.

At the boundary-stones

'

And where may

'

There,



there,

for yourselves

That the

good

[Baimsteineti).

these be

— over

you are

;

'

soldiers

V

You must am

there.

!'

had already entered the town-lands, a

quarter of a mile from the

headed Hansli knew

Bannsteinen,' sly long-

'

And when

full well.

drawn

up, the soldiers having

was broken

seek them out

than I

all taller

the long cortege off to the side to

which he had pointed, and the horse on which the prisoner

was bound being no longer surrounded by the murderous band, he sprang forward like lightning to the pastor, and whispered, set

Be of good

'

you free!

faithful

See,

cheer, uncle

there

;

they are coming to

already!'

Spitzi

is

dog rushed foaming out of the

thicket,

and

as the

and wdth one

bound darted forward and was up on horseback, prepared to defend his master, Hansli ran in among the bushes, and cried with

all

God for

/'

*

that

us

his might,

^

resounded on

the forest

Here, here,

all

echoed with the

advanced, and the

fight

bravely in the combat

for

as,

tis

T

and so earnestly

The armed men

cry.

But now

began. ;

and God for

sides so loud

Spitzi too joined

on perceiving the armed

troop from Miihlhausen, one of the Austrian soldiers hast-

ened towards the captive, to execute putting

him

to death with a single stroke

Spitzi sprang at

him

furiously,

and

severely that his \veapon dropped

God was

for

his leader's behest

our forefathers

;

bit

him

forester's

hut,

in the

on the ground.

hand so

And

so

they gained the victory, drove

the Austrians to retreat, and led off Pastor to the

by

of the javelin,

John

in

triumph

where Oswald von Gamsharst and

Spitzi.

243



Father Bernard received him with hearty love, and with

warm gratitude to God. And now,' exclaimed

Frank, as soon as he had folded

'

his liberated brother in his

honour

all

arms with overflowing

to Spitzi for ever

have succeeded

But

!

finding thee

in

for

joy,

now

At daybreak, when we

!

fancied he had run away, he suddenly came back

us

'

him we should hardly to fetch

he ran on ahead, returning to us again to point out the

;

way, until he led us to the open space, where by God's gracious help

we found

thee,

and

Let no

set thee free.

one ever say again that dogs have no heart or understanding

;

Spitzi at

any

rate

is

cleverer

and more

faithful

than

many a proud human being And I, father, I too helped and was of use, for I was the first who saw my uncle, and cried " God for us," added 1'

'

'

Hansli, as he climbed up on the pastor his

be

arms round still,

His

his neck.

father,

however, bade him

reminding him of the proverb,

Pastor John could not say his limbs

were

the rope

;

stiff

much in

reply

knee and threw

s

'

;

Self-praise stinks'

he was exhausted,

and swollen owing to the hard knots of

and the blood had been driven

to the

head

to

such a degree that he could only with dif^culty stand erect.

He

was immediately

lifted into the cart, in

straw was prepared in

haste

;

which a couch of

Spitzi took

up

his position

Hansli sat beside his head, and refreshed

at his feet, while

him with

all

fragrant

and delicious strawberries, gathered

forest glades before the sun

was up.

Von

in the

Gamsharst, also,

and Father Bernard, mounted once more

into the cart,

which Frank had decorated with oaken boughs.

The men-

SpiizL

244

#

at-arms likewise adorned their hats with green branches,

and waved verdant trophies high on

Stephen's

St.

Tower

But when the watchman

descried the wreath-encircled cart,

and the hats and boughs carried hoisted a

below through

man

every

his horn,

to the citizens

his speaking-trumpet at the higliest pitch of

The

his voice.

he blew

aloft,

and shouted the glad news

flag,

as the joyous

in the air,

procession approached the town.

tidings ran like wild-fire through the i)lace,

hastened to the walls, and when at

last the

pro-

cession arrived, and the gates were thrown open, then our

pious ancestors, gathered on the ramparts, united in the

hymn

of faith of the early Church of the Reformation '

A

safe stronghold

our

God

He,'

is

and those returning replied from without with gladsome confidence '

the bells of

vating

A

trusty shield

all

anthem of

cortege went

and weapon

the churches

first

praise to

;

accompanying the

with

their

the Church of

festive St.

soul-ele-

The

peal.

Pastor

Stephen.

John led the van, supported by Oswald von Gamsharst and

He

Frank.

was received with a joyous and cordial welcome

by the burgomaster and

his brother magistrates,

and

forth-

with sank, deeply affected, on his knees before the

altar.

Otto Binder addressed the assembled multitude with

much

feeling

from the words,

-^

And

it

shall

bring a cloud over the earth, that the the cloud '

the

ance

'

(Gen.

ix.

14).

Lord has brought

He

'

come

bow

Over our

clouds, but in

to pass, shall

city,'

when

I

be seen in

he remarked,

mercy and forbear-

has suffered them to pass away.'

The audience

spitz i.

245

were inspired" with the same strong emotion that animated the orator, and

it

seemed

to

one and

as though at that

all

solemn moment they beheld the seven-hiied bow of grace extending

glorious

its

helped, had confirmed

The Lord had

arch.

own work

of His saints, and by His goodness His

Church was thenceforward carried on

When

arms of

beloved Theresa, Margaret Blaurer

his

stood beside them like a guardian angel. with those that wept, and could that rejoiced, thanking pair,

now

Pastor John's

first

wedded

The

ningers.

God

to receive,

The man

out of a

She had wept

rejoice v/ith those

full heart,

along with

visit

was

to

the

home

of the Fin-

old wheelwright, Hans, received

him with

the reproaches he expected

and the announcement of a well-merited penalty.

of God, however, held out his hand in a friendly

manner, and

said,



Your son

'

an injury, neighbour, but ;

now

so happily re-united.

much embarrassment, dreading

evil

in our

steadfastly.

Pastor John returned home, and threw himself

into the

the

graciously

revived hope, raised the courage

faith,

God

IMichael thought to

do me

has brought good out of

therefore let us live in peace with one another,

forgive

and

Lord may

forget injuries mutually, as

forgive

us

our trespasses.'

we wish

and

that the

After which

he

solemnly and lovingly spoke to the heart of the father, exhorting him earnestly to consider the matter of the salvation of his children's souls.

and even impressed in

;

token of reconciliation.

as soon as the old

Hans Finninger seemed touched

he willingly gave the pastor his hand Hostilities ceased

wheelwright died,

his

;

wife

but alas

and

!

five

246

Spitzi.

children

went post-haste down the broad road leading to

all

destruction, so that their

bloody track

And lips

of all

;

page of our

in the

Spitzi, the

names

are indelibly city's history.

hero of the day, whose praises were on the

—we must not forget

something also con-

to record

Did not Theresa,

cerning him.

marked by a

as soon as he leapt

down

from the cart, catch him in her arms, and press him to her heart as tenderly as she had done her dear

Beak of old

And

!

'

God

does not the old autumn

hymn

say

His tender kindness sends

in

Dumb

Crooked-

little

teachers to instruct His friends.'

may we then learn from our good friend believe we may learn a precious lesson of Love

AVhat lesson Spitzi

%

I

Are we

and Humility. in

as faithful to our

heaven as Spitzi was to

Lord and Master

his earthly master

And

%

after

having saved him, on his return home, he lay down quietly

and the next day never

in his corner, fell asleep in peace,

thought he had done anything extraordinary.

him

in this

%

or have

we not

all

Are we

pious bard, Paul Gerhard, '

I rest

upon the ground

Of Jesus and His For

'tis

through

blood.

Him

that I have found

The True Eternal Good. Nought have I of mine own, Nought in the life I lead,

What Is

Christ hath given me,

— that alone

worth

?

all

like

reason to confess with our

love indeed

'

GOING HOME.

When

the unfortunate battle of Miihlberg (April 24th,

1547) had broken up the confederation of Protestant potentates

and

known

cities

as the

'

Schmalkaldische Bimd,' or

League of Schmalkald, when the Elector of Saxony was taken prisoner, and the Landgrave of Hesse had also fallen into the hands of the Emperor,

who now made no

his design of putting a violent end, with

divisions in the Church, religion in the

all

and stamping out the evangelical

whole German Empire,

tidings of terror

land, anxiety

secret of

one blow, to

— then,

while these

and woe were being spread through the

and sorrow prevailed

also in the city of Stras-

burg.

At the very acting

in

first

outbreak of the war, the magistrates,

concert with

the

preachers

of the word,

had

ordained that every fourth Tuesday should be observed as 'the

great

day of

prayer,'

to

be sanctified

like the

Lord's Day, with solemn confession and exercises of Divine worship.

Since the unhappy close of the war, this addi-

Going Home.

248

was promulgated

tional ordinance

when

ended, a

is

be rung, the which whosoever hears

may

be, forthwith

upon

fall

his

shall,

knees and

^

was

in the year

1548, on Sunday the 6th of January,

the Cathedral-Parsonage of Strasburg, so familiar

that in to us

to

is

wherever he

It

that every morning,

the eight o'clock service {Achferpredigt)

special bell

pray.'

'

;

after

all,

the eight o'clock morning preaching,

all

the inmates of the house, assembled in the parlour, knelt

down

at

silence.

the sound of this bell,

old friends

and prayed together

in

we once more meet with our Master Matthew Zell and his Katherine. They

In

this

devout

circle

have both grown old and grey, especially the excellent

Master Matthew, who, sank

this

day on

his

feeble,

worn

out,

knees with a

and weary of

sigh,

saying,

'

too have a desire to depart, and to be with Christ

beloved helpmeet too *

Kdther (Kate)

rests first

is

life,

Ah

!'

!

I

His

no longer the youthful energetic

of former days.

Grave and anxious, her eye

on the bent form and trembling head of her vener-

able husband, then on the pale face of her son, the child of

her old age, who, owing to his weakness, mental and bodily,

was indeed a child of sorrow

who formed assistant, shall find

to her.

Among

the others

the interesting group, comprising also Zell's

Johannes Angelius, one with

whom

and many Huguenots, we

in particular

we must soon become

intimate, Marcelline the Waldensian.

known

Marcelline, abbreviation, ^

'

in the

Parsonage by the convenient

LinaJ was a native of the

village of

Rohricli, Histojy of the Reformation in Alsace, vol.

ii.

Merindol

pp.

1

82 -3.

Going Home.

249

In the days of Peter Waldo, Waldensians,

in Provence.

from the valleys of Piedmont, had settled on the banks of the Durance, had there cultivated land that was lying fallow,

and had, by dint of perseverance and

industry,

founded

twenty-two flourishing villages with a population of 18,000.

Among

colonies

were Merindol and

these Waldensians

of Provence heard

the chief of these

When

Cabrieres.

which

that the pure gospel, faithfully

from the primitive, apostolic Church downwards, in

the midst of persecutions, was in

now once more proclaimed

Germany, they sent deputies

lands. at Basle

had preserved

their ancestors

They were

to the churches in these

received at Berne by Berchtold Haller,

by CEcolampadius, and

by

at Strasburg

and Capito, with the same brotherly

love,

Zell,

with joy to their native villages, strengthened in the instructed

by the Reformers, and well provided with

ous publications. peasants were

had gone

forth

whom

those concerning

and children were

slain

on account of

their faith.

cast alive into the flames,

cold, or

bloodshed by

this

were driven to seek refuge

So

it

came

father Etienne le Marroul, little

flight

Their

— old men, women

—the men were

massacred, or bound and sent off to the galleys.

of Germany.

the decree

from the King of France, that they should

were surrounded and burnt down,

who escaped

faith, religi-

But even these devout and peaceable

among

be persecuted and villages

Bucer

and returned

Thousands

died of hunger or

in the evangelical States

to pass that Marcelline, with her

who had been

community of Merindol, came

(Stephen) died a few days after their

at the

head of the

to Strasburg. arrival,

Etienne

and Marcelline

Going Home.

250 was, like so

many

welcomed and comforted with

others,

tender love in the Cathedral-Parsonage.

In receiving her, Zell and his wife had entertained, not

indeed an angel unawares, but a pure and noble

one refined

in the furnace of affliction,

She was so

blessing with her.

work, so industrious and

soul,

who brought

and

a rich

skilled in all feminine handi-

thrifty, that in

a short time she

became Dame Katherine's right-hand woman, and

in the

manifold and stirring activities of the large household, her

seemed indispensable.

assistance

with the

German

about the house, a disembodied

soft

spirit

and

Dame

still,

with her sad pale face like

and her large

;

of tears in their deep sion on

Before she grew familiar

language, she was wont silently to glide

fountains,

Zell, that,

eyes, with such a weight

made such an

impres-

not being able to converse with

commended

her to the tender care of the

French pastor, Jean Gamier. ^

In her intercourse with this

her, she specially

faithful servant of his

and peace

for her

Lord, Marcelline found truly comfort

wounded

spirit.

tion from father, mother, brothers

she had seen

fall

The sorrows and

murdered or dying around

home-sickness which

made her

of separa-

sisters, all

of

her,

whom

and the

pine for the mild air and

bright skies of her southern fatherland, gradually

became

transformed into holy longings for her everlasting home.

The

fearful picture,

burning

villages,

ever present before her mind's eye, of

and beloved ones

cruelly slaughtered,

— the

groans and lamentations of the dying, which, in sleeping or ^ Jean Garnier Avas pastor of the church founded by Calvin French refuijees of Strasburg-,

for the

Going Home. seemed

in waking,

to

251

be ever sounding

in her ears, ceased

have that dire hold on a soul shaken by

to

The Lord gave her His own

horrors.

abode of the

had passed out of sure was above, in heaven,

saints, into

her eye on

fix

which her beloved ones

And

their great tribulation.

and her heart

and

peace, and enabled

her with calm resignation and strong faith to that eternal

griefs

as her trea-

too, so her conversation

and with fervent love and

was

rare self-denial she

served her Lord in the service rendered to the homeless exiles with

whom

Strasburg was then crowded.

For the

aged Zell in particular, Marcelline's quiet gentle disposition

and manner were quite a ster of the

and

fear

word was

blessing.

filled,

as

When

the veteran mini-

he too often was, with anxiety

from the danger which threatened his beloved

Church, then

Marcelline, grasping

hand with tender

his

kindness, would say in her broken German, eternity

is

far

longer than this poor

and Emperor cannot

bum

life

on

the faith, cannot

'

Dear

earth, kill

father,

and King

the soul in

heaven.'

On

that Sunday,

when every one saw with dread and with

a heavy heart the approach of the day on which, in Stras-

burg as elsewhere, the Emperor, by his law of

was

to re-establish

the

worship of the

'

Roman

Interim^

1

Catholic

Church, and to drive away the evangelical preachers, the heart of this aged believer,

Matthew

Zell,

did seem well-

^ The such was the title of that imperial edict by IiiUrim which the Emperor strove to put an end to religious disputes in the Empire, and to bring in again the Catholic worship in all his lands. The cause of the gospel was then, by reason of this law, placed in '•

:''

greater peril than ever.

Going Home.

252

nigh broken, in prospect of

Dame

and when

the misery he anticipated

all

Katherine saw him

of prayer, tremblingly and with

with his head

difficulty,

;

from the attitude

rise

bowed

down, and supported by Marcelline, the thought took possession of her,

Soon he

'

'

Father,' she said to him, as

hands,

'

you are not well

weather, suffer

you and go home

will leave

Lord,' and as a two-edged sword

;

to his

pierced her inmost soul.

it

she held his cold shivering

you must

Rabus or Angelius

this once, in this bitter

you in the

to preach for

Cathedral!' '

No, no, dear Kate

still,

not

much

longer shall

for " friend

dear Kate

Death

!

When

"

has knocked at I

I

'

allow

my

me

to

to preach

speak with

my beloved

;

flock,

But cheer up,

door.

should not be able to speak to you,'

his usual pleasant

know how much

;

be able to address

I

Though

added he with

replied Zell

!'

Lord leaves me any voice

so long as the

love you

manner,

'

yet you will ever

all.'

he went to his study to

rest in his easy-chair,

and

to collect his thoughts before delivering his sermon, Marcelline entered

softly after

him, bringing her cordial in the

shape of strong soup, and said timidly,

May

'

I venture to

ask something, dear father?' '

'

so

my

Assuredly,

Here, in

much on

child

this city

spoke with

of yours, people discuss and dispute

the subject of the Lord's Supper

to believe regarding

Hereupon

!'

Zell all

Lord's Supper

is

it

:

what

am

I

V

took her hand with

lively

the animation of youth

:

'

emotion, and

Dear Lina, the

a sacrament of the Lord, wherein, with the

Going Home.

He

visible sign, little

word, "

bestows on us His invisible grace

this

is,''

it

and blood of our Lord, which He faith, so that we are in Him and He through

Him by

Amen.^

Stand

let

and the

;

points us indeed to the bread and wine,

but to the believing heart and mind

do not

253

also points to the

communicates in us,

is

and that we

His holy, blessed, everlasting Hfe

fast,

therefore, dear child,

yourself be led astray

by

on

words which the devil himself has brought from

by

live

in us.

this truth,

the disputes, or

all

body

to us

and

by the

hell,

but

simply believe thou the simple words of Christ which

He

Himself spoke.' Marcelline pondered these words in her heart, deeply

moved, and with soul did she,

rich blessing

and solemn prostration of

on that Sunday morning, receive the holy

communion from

Zell's

He

hands.

of the Lord with the words, eat this passoverwith you'

'

advanced to the table

with desire I have desired to

(Luke

xxii.

15).

In the sermon

he had alluded to his own approaching death, and taken leave of his beloved Hock with the words of

St.

Paul, invok-

'And now,

ing the Divine blessing as he did (Acts xx. 32), brethren, I

which

grace,

inheritance

ber that to

commend you

'

is

to

God, and

(ver. 31)

all

them which

are sanctified.'

'by the space of

congregation

left

thirty years I

the house of

and moved, and the melancholy their

word of His

able to build you up, and to give you an

among

warn every one night and day with

The

to the

dear pastor for the ^

last

'

Remem-

ceased not

tears.'

God

deeply impressed

feeling that they

time added to

ZelFs Catechism.

had beheld this.

Zell,

Going Home.

2 54

however, after the service was over, appeared revived, and attended the afternoon preaching in the Cathedral, and that

evening he insisted on going to

As

Gerbel.

old friend Nicholas

visit his

the weather was cold and stormy, he willingly

yielded to his

careful

and allowed

Katherine's entreaty,

Marcelline to accompany him. '

as

The Lord sends you to comfort me !' exclaimed Gerbel he entered. One after another, our fellow-soldiers are '

being called away, since Father Luther has gone home.

Three days ago our dear

Take

apoplexy.

faithful

this letter

Glaser died suddenly of

and read the account

have

I

just received.'

For a

little

slowly rolled letter,

while Zell stood as

down

if

stunned, and large tears

his venerable face

and having read

it,

he

said, with

manliness to control his feelings,

lament and be sad, graciously taken

then he took the

;

an

Ah

effort

dear Gerbel?

!

away our beloved Glaser

world before the miseries of

this

from

^

Elijah carried

up

this evil

Interim have overtaken us,

and tenderly fetched him home without long

the

of Christian

why should we Has not the Lord

'

in a chariot of fire

Would

%

same favour might be vouchsafed

to

me

might, without struggle, be suffered to lay

sickness, like

God

to

also, that I

down

this

body, as one puts off a worn-out garment before lying to sleep

Two

that

too

weary

down

!

full

hours Zell passed with Gerbel, and these two old

friends, constant in their faith

had stood many a ^

test,

and

in the

mutual love which

comforted and strengthened one

Caspar Glaser, Superintendent

at Zvveibriicken.

Going Home.

255

When

another by lookmg to the blessed hereafter. leaning on

Parsonage, he was repeatedly obliged to stand breath,

and he said

to her,

'

Now, dear

lay

me

still

Lina, I

Look now,

indeed, weary even unto death.

Lord may

Zell,

returned to the Cathedral-

Marcelline's arm,

'

to get

am weary

— perhaps

the

too very soon thus gently to sleep, to

awake up blessedly

in

His everlasting kingdom

!'

During that night and the two following days weaker and weaker

;

he suffered no pain

;

grew

Zell

only his breath-

ing grew shorter and shorter, so that ere long he was unable to

move from

his easy-chair.

During Tuesday night

Katherine and Marcelline watched beside him. helper'

had read by Kate

to consecrate

whereupon

Church, now threatened with so

He

also

begged her

to say to his

called

'

upon

2d

Zell earnestly en-

Christ, and to gather, not

many dangers on

all sides.

deacons and assistants that

to leave the Baptists

of different creeds from their

rose, feeling the

dear

what remained of her energies

cal

now

'

poor and persecuted, and of the Evangeli-

to the service of the

they were

His

his desire the 5th chapter of the

Epistle to the Corinthians, treated his

Dame

own

and

in peace, only to

to scatter.

His sheep.'

all

those

preach

He

then

approach of the angel of death, knelt down

and prayed aloud,

O

his strength raised with the last flickering

me once more to commend They have loved me. Love them, Thou good Lord, and let them not be rudely driven spark of

life

:

*

Lord

!

suffer

unto Thee Thine own people.

asunder,

lest

Thyself be ruined

Here

building which

the !

Be Thou ever

his voice failed, his clasped

I

have founded upon

their

hands

Chief Shepherd fell

apart,

and

!'

his

Going Home.

256 head sank down on

his breast.

Tenderly his own Kate and

MarcelHne Ufted the dying man from the

her friend

and replaced him

looked again with unspeakable affection then

softly,

floor,

in his easy-chair; he opened his eyes, at

Katherine, and

without struggle, according to his prayer, he

fell

asleep in the Lord, on the 6th of January 1548, at 2 a.m.,

aged seventy years, three months and eighteen days. He had been thirty years pastor at Strasburg, and had preached the gospel in the Cathedral for six-and-twenty.

And

they had indeed loved him.

At the news of

his

death the mourning was so deep and universal that it seemed as though in every house there lay one dead and ;

thousands streamed to his

Dame

the precious remains.

time

felt

home

to bid a last farewell to

Katherine Zell at that sad

herself so strengthened

and elevated by her hus-

band's blessed departure, that she was enabled to stand tearless, coffin,

by

and almost with a joyous countenance, beside the

which circumstance was misunderstood by many, and

woman's enemies was so

that noble-minded

misrepresented, that

it

spitefully

was even declared that at his funeral,

standing on the bier, she delivered an address to the people. '

Rather would

gnaws the

I

see our

mother weep much,

heart,' said Marcelline,

for tearless grief

who mourned

with child-

like tenderness the loss of her fatherly benefactor. It

was 'swearing-day^'^ when the earthly tenement of

faithful minister of the

1

laid to rest in

its

this

kindred

Never had Strasburg witnessed such obsequies

dust.

On

to the

word was

:

this day the assembled citizens tendered the oath of allegiance newly elected magistrates.

Going Home. 5000 men followed

and the

257

solemn cortege the simple

in

coffin,

were the only, as they

tears glistening in every eye

were the most beautiful, tribute of honour to him who

He

in Jesus.

was buried

of St. Urban's {Kiirbaii)

but

row

in the last

no tomb-stone marked

;

self the

monument

foundation of a perennial

his grave,

he had laid

in the hearts of his parishioners

slept

churchyard

in the

for

for time

him-

and

Bucer gave the funeral discourse, in which he

eternity.

addressed a consolatory exhortation to the poor Huguenots

who had

hitherto found an asylum

churches

one poetic lament on

in

;

asserted that

He

and a loving welcome

His death was lamented

home.

Zell's

'

God was

in

his

was taking away such men as ZelL' Christian,

Again,

flock.'

light shining

He

^

course, he is

laid

among

had kept the

fight

'

by

;

;

was

Master

his holy

and a pattern

the people

had fought a good

it

therefore

a messenger of

peace, and a valiant champion for the gospel

walk a

Protestant

all

removal,

punishing the people,

Matthew has been an upright

in

for his

he had finished his

For him also doubtless there

faith.

up a crown of righteousness

(2

Tim.

iv.

7, 8).

widow was in every who had been such a

After Zell's decease the position of his

way more circumscribed; and cheerful giver, learn,

as regarded

to walk

The

and so blessed

by

city,

chastised

faith

her care

and not by

exhausted

she,

in her giving,

for

the

sight.

It

had now

to

poor and helpless,

was a trying time.

by the expenses of the war, and

by the Emperor's imposition of a heavy pecuni-

ary fine, was 1

no longer able

as before to provide for the

Evangelical Records, vol.

R

iii.

pp. 153, 154.

Going Home.

258 numerous refugees

had formerly so

and the

;

and

rich lords

liberally aided

Dame

citizens,

who

Zell in her benefi-

cence, were likewise constrained considerably to restrict their

generous contributions. still

Yet the Parsonage was overflowing

with fugitive Huguenots, for

whom now

another refuge

and some means of earning a maintenance must needs be provided, which was by no means an easy matter, nor to be

Then

accomplished in a day. distress,

Dame

heavy the burden of

Zell

was sorely tempted

helped her through,

ance on a great see, but little

—not

scale,

by

truly great

was the need and

care, so that

more than once But the Lord

to despond.

indeed quickly, nor by a deliver-

such as Katherine had been wont to

litde,

slowly and gradually

and not one

;

of her French guests was she obliged to turn out without

an asylum, not one *

to send

hungry

to

bed under her roof

Dear mother,' Marcelline was often heard to say, in a you must be broken of the habit of strain,

comforting

'

always having also with a

And by

her

much

little,

thrifty

to devise sources

to give

away

;

but our Lord can help

as with the five loaves for the thousands.'

ways and ingenious

plans, ever

industrious expert hands, ready to turn every

great account,

prompt

whence help could be obtained, by her

Dame

Zell

little

to such

was often reminded of the Lord's

miraculous providing of food, and thus strengthened

in

her

faith.

Yet heavier there

trials

still

awaited the good Dame,

was a prospect of being forced

to

when

leave her be-

loved Parsonage, in which she had lived so

many happy

years and exerted so blessed an influence, and to occupy

Going Home. a small dwelling beside the After long hesitation and trate

was

at length

to bring in the

Roman

'

Moor

259

Inn, at the Jews' Gate.

fruitless negotiation, the magis-

compelled to consent, even

at Strasburg,

Interim,' to restore the Cathedral to the

Catholic w^orship, and to hand over the Cathedral-

Parsonage to a priest of

Rome

;

the

latter,

however, only in

All this change was painful in the

the course of two years.

extreme to Katherine, a zealous Protestant. ever, leaving the

beloved abode,

it

once more to exercise towards Bucer, on burg, the

wonted

Before,

was granted

how-

to her yet

his arrival at Stras-

hospitality of the Cathedral-Parsonage.

Capito had entered into rest with his Lord in the year 1

He

54 1.

In

was snatched away by a malignant epidemic.

charge he was followed by Fagius

his

of Rheinzabern,

—a

young, pious and

laboured and preached in the same

mated Capito. was about

to

When,

— Paul

Biichlin

learned man,

spirit

who

which had ani-

early in the year 1549, the Interim

be enforced, the ministers of the word de-

clared themselves loudly against

it,

and could by no means

be induced either to adopt a compliant course regarding it,

or even to maintain silence.

Then

that party in

the

Council which had for a long time borne a grudge against

Bucer and Fagius, on account of the more discipline

which these

last

strict

church

sought to introduce, became for

a time triumphant, and Jacob Sturm von Sturmeck was forced, assuredly with a that,

'

heavy heart, to announce to them

by the express demand of the Emperor and the

Bishop, the worshipful the Council had resolved to give to both ministers, Bucer

and Fagius, notice to

leave, dis-

Going Home.

26o

missing them with friendly words and for their

own

benefit,

allowing them aliment and providing a pension for them, until

go

such time as

God

and that

better,

Whereupon Bucer and long foreseen

He

awaited him.

of His grace

may be

it

may

grant that affairs

possible

replied with great suavity, that

so

it

would

recall them.'

to

be,

*

He

and

had well

that

exile

had always preached that which he

believed to be for profit to his people, and in accordance

with God's word.

moderation,

it

If

he had transgressed the bounds of

had occurred only through human

Nowhere would he more

He

than at Strasburg.

perceived,

would not now any longer

however,

tolerate his

would therefore withdraw, ready,

if

men

that

He

preaching.

so be that

God

should

any future time so order matters, to return to minister

at

to this church again.'

Both accepted the

had

Fagius answered in a similar

invitation of

some time past longed

for

VI.,

strain.

Archbishop Cranmer, who to

have them in England,

where, under the government of the youthful King

Edward

The

the Reformation was flourishing so vigorously.

wrench of tearing himself from

his

beloved church, which

he had founded with so much of prayer, labour,

was peculiarly trying

most welcome of

frailty.

gladly have continued to sojourn

Dame

Who

now

conflict

elderly Bucer

to him, as also to Fagius,

Zell, that

journey, pass once

sonage.

to the

;

and

and

was the proposal

they should, before starting on their long

more a

little

time in the Cathedral-Par-

could describe the feelings with which Bucer

must have trod again the home-like rooms of that old house in which, as a young refugee minister, he had been

Hojne. GoiJisr *c> so affectionately

welcomed by

261

and where, beside

Zell,

his

Elizabeth, he had passed the sweetest days of his stormy

and toilsome

had long

life

had

Bucer

period

Capito's widow,

padius,

;

and a few years before a second

contracted

—whose

Mother element

faithful

Zell

first

now found

provided

for,

to

whose orphan children

she had

inn,' as

as to his own.

herself again in her

accustomed

Huguenots had by God's help been

the spacious Parsonage.

people in the

this

marriage with

husband had been QEcolam-

and loving a father

for since the

;

single-hearted EHzabeth

loving,

—Wibrandis Rosenblatt,

he was as

all

The

!

gone home

since

felt

quite desolate

Now

and

solitary in

she had once more

*

much

she was wont to say, and, moreover,

a thousand memories of the dear old times

;

and instead of

being obliged, as in days of yore, to do battle with MeyBabeli's foolish fancies, she to assist

and

how

they

felt

Marcelline beside her,

to render such true-hearted

that repeatedly

vice,

now had

and devoted

maiden she possessed a

that in that dear

treasure, a genuine pearl, a support for her old age.

these quiet days of friendly

and Fagius

in the

Katherine's

life.

ser-

Bucer and Fagius expressed to her real

Truly

communion spent by Bucer

Parsonage were the

last

bright spot in

Nevertheless, there was even in this dear home, inasmuch as

it

was the habitation, not of angels, but of poor human

beings,

many

a harsh note of discord.

had studied under his house,

Zell's

Louis Rabus,

guidance, had lived

and been treated by

Dame

and kindness, so that Marcelline

many

who

years in

Zell with special love

in fact ventured to opine

262

Home,

Goirnc 0>

he had been pampered, never could from the the French

woman.

must confess

we must needs

If

tell

tolerate

first

the truth,

we

that in the depths of her secret soul Marcelline

thoroughly reciprocated this feeling, although she did violence to herself to restrain every expression of repugnance.

*

He

has no heart for our mother, and he loves only himself,' said she one day to Wibrandis,

who had questioned her as to But when Rabus was

the cause of this misunderstanding.

named by

the magistrate as Zell's successor, he then ex-

such self-importance in his bearing towards his

hibited

quondam

nursing-mother, that he could not but

feelings thereby,

Dame

so that

Rabus

left

allotted

to

and give

Zell

and Marcelline

wound her

manner of painful

rise to all

felt it

a true relief

rubs,

when

the house to take possession of the Parsonage

He

him by the Council.

took leave of his

motherly friend without any expression of thankfulness, and so lofty was his bearing that she was core, for tenderly

wounded

had she loved him of old.

to her heart's

Bucer,

always recognised Katherine's merits and done to her Christian benevolence, but

with

others, sarcastically

termed her

and reproached her because was responsible

for his

who had

'

'

who had

full

also, in

justice

common

Doctor Katherine,'

she ruled her husband, and

having abstained from taking any

part in the unfortunate Sacramentarian controversies,

having

left

to

him and Capito the whole

difficult

and

task of

dealing alone with Luther and his Saxon Reformers,' treated

her indeed, since Zell's death, and since he had accepted

her hospitality, with unfeigned esteem and hearty gratitude.

Yet there was also a something in

his

demeanour which Dame

Going Hone.

263

Zell could not well define to herself,

but which gave her a

and

feeling of oppression

On

him.

this

in her tender

constraint in her intercourse with

occasion once more did Marcelline warn her

way

pared to brook



*

this

Dear mother, you have been

when surrounded by

many devout men now you have humility from God himself.'^ ;

At the beginning of

to

be

pre-

homage of

still

and learn

Bucer and Fagius

April,

ill

the

left

their

beloved Strasburg, after living for about four weeks with Dame

and

setting in order their domestic affairs.

Wibrandis

had gone with her children and Fagius's family

to Basle, her

Zell,

former home, from whence she was afterwards to follow the

two

In England the preachers from Strasburg were

exiles.

welcomed

in

a most friendly manner by Cranmer as well as

by the King, and loaded with marks of honour. however, incapable of forgetting their

and well-beloved

city of Strasburg,

in their fatherland ever

Both were,

own oppressed church

and the

flock of Christ

continued to be to them a subject

of tender solicitude, and doubtless of earnest intercession.

Bucer was appointed Professor bridge, with a

A

handsome

in

the University of

Cam-

salary.

few hours after their departure, Marcelline brought to

Dame

Zell a letter

room Bucer had

which she had found on the table inhabited.

It

was a warm expression of

thanks from the two ministers to their dear

Dame

in the

'

church-mother^

had corresponded with Luther, had entertained the Swiss Reformers CEcolampadius and Zwinglius in her home, had travelled with her husband to visit the brothers Blaurer at Constance, and, at a later period, Luther at Wittemberg, and had everywhere been received with love, and treated with distinguished attention. ^

Zell

Got Jig Home.

264 as they called coins,

Dame

Katherine

which they prayed

means, to accept as a

her,

trifling

Zell,

enclosing two golden

well

knowing her limited

mark of

their gratitude.

those days two golden pieces were a large

Katherine,

who had

hitherto always

than to receive, and had herself

felt

now

first

been wont rather

*

!

to give

liberally,

wounded and humbled, and

impulse of the moment, she expressed

openly, and indeed rather keenly, to Marcelline.

and

In

money

of

her power to give

in

extraordinarily

on the

this feeling,

it

sum

This wise

faithful friend, well accjuainted with the character

of her

nursing-mother,' and sure that she would shortly think better

of the matter, said

hold

went

affairs,

little

to the

in reply,

but after ordering

French church

to hear

farewell discourse, for he too had found

it

all

house-

Jean Garnier's impossible to

approve of the law of the Interim, and had therefore,

like

Bucer and Fagius, been obliged to leave Strasburg.

When,

after the

sermon, Marcelline reached the Cathedral

Square, she perceived Rabus under the portico, and heard his loud wrangling voice.

Her first impulse was

instantly to

turn round for the sake of avoiding him, for after what had

passed she dreaded meeting him figure in

shabby garments, but

:

full

but she saw a

tall

female

of queenly dignity, stand-

ing there, holding a small boy by the hand, before the excited preacher, *

I tell you,

and

at this sight she involuntarily

again straightway,' cried *

We

drew

Rabus keenly

to the female stranger.

have enough of foreign rabble thrown upon us

hard times

;

near.

you cannot do better than leave Strasburg

and your

devilish sect has

mischief in our church, that

I shall

in these

wrought so much

as a matter of conscience,

Going Home, call

you before the

therefore, while

you

fall

may be-

!

Are you

'

Go

^''Baptist-lords''^ {Tciufer-Jicrren).

yet time, or something worse

is

it

265

really filling the place

of the devout Master

Matthew?' asked the woman. '

Yes, certainly

'Elijah

left his

he prayed,



;

but what

mantle,

to Elisha

;

— that

woman.

So

is

you

'

%

to say, the spirit for

which

but Master Matthew's successor has

inherited his office only,

who seemed

that to

is

and not

replied the

his spirit,'

back on Rabus,

saying, she proudly turned her

disposed to follow her in a rage, but his eye

meeting Marcelline's penetrating glance, and observing at the same instant

how

sympathizingly she took the stranger

by the hand, he turned quickly round and entered the Cathedral.

In reply to Marcelline's friendly and well-meant queries,

woman

the

related her history as follows

:

— Sabina was a

native of Liege, a relative of the Anabaptist

who had been converted Strasburg,

new

to the

faith

John Storder,

under Calvin

at

and had died there of the plague, and whose

widow, Idelette von Buren, had been married to Calvin. Sabina's husband had been at the head of the Anabaptists

and during a time of persecution there he was

in Liege,

taken prisoner and beheaded. winter

among

coreligionists

in

Sabina had passed the a

country

village,

but

anxious not to be a burden to them any longer, and induced

by a ^

letter

These

'

from Idelette, to Baptist-lords

'

whom

she had applied, and

were appointed by the Council

to

who

watch over

the Anabaptists, and set a check on their unruly proceedings.

Going Home.

266

wrote that she had better go to Geneva, where

it

would be

easy to find a situation for her as lady's-maid or housekeeper in

some

on

great household, she

had

foot with the scanty pittance

needlework

in her village

on her back.

which she had earned by

home, and carrying her

little

Tony

Soon, however, her small savings were ex-

hausted, and after begging her

had

in the early spring started

at length, stripped of

way

few days, she

for the last

almost everything and well-nigh

dead from weariness, reached Strasburg, where she hoped

some help from

receive

from

and

Idelette,

Zell,

met

to his successor,

How

in the portico of the Cathedral.

we have already

her application help

me

!'

seen.

'

'

for I

she

Now may God

can seek no other

accompany her

invited her to

where she could

Dame

money

whom

he responded to

But Marcelline spoke words of tender

the

her further

added the unhappy Sabina, clasping her emaci-

ated hands in despair,

where

for

to

much

In Strasburg she learned the

and turned

Zell's death,

she had heard

be supplied with means

to

journey to Geneva by him.

news of

whom

of

rest

Zell

for

and

!'

recruit herself for a few days,

would assuredly

exclaimed

and

to the Cathedral-Parsonage,

find

her journey to Geneva.

has money too

help.'

comfort,

means

and

to provide

'And our mother

Marcelline joyfully, as the

thought of Bucer's and Fagius's two golden coins suddenly crossed her mind. It

was indeed a hard and troublous

time, of

which we,

in

these our easy-going days of Sybarite Inxwry, can scarcely

form an adequate idea. shed in torrents,

and

The blood

of the persecuted was

thousands wandered,

exiled

and

Going Home.

267

homeless, exposed to hunger and cold, and a prey to the

While Marcelline was

utmost misery.

was

Square to the

listening in the Cathedral

and

in the church, tale of

poor

Sabina, a minister driven from Zabern, on account of the Interim, had presented himself at the Cathedral-Parsonage

Dame

before five

the

young

Zell,

having arrived there with his wife and

means of continuing

he hoped

faith,

Now

to find a situation as preacher or as schoolmaster.

indeed, there was once more, as in days of yore,

Zell's

'

much

and moreover many starving and

destitute.

purse and resources were exhausted.

With a

folk in the inn,'

Dame

for

their journey to Switzerland, where,

cantons attached to the evangelical

in the

and

children, imploring her for hospitality

deep sigh she gave Marcelline one of the gold pieces which she had so nearly resolved to send back to the donors, that she might get

expend

it

But when

it

changed

at the

money-changer's, and then

on procuring provisions

Dame

Zell

for the

unexpected guests.

had thus once more so much

to cause

her anxiety and to claim her ingenuity in devising resources for feeding, clothing,

and comforting the unfortunate, when

again the numerous

little

hunger were

made

stilled,

their uproarious

soul

felt

Her

heart

service.

and

rose

gracious Lord, who, as to lay her

the old Parsonage re-echo with

then indeed the dear kind-hearted

glee,

herself cheered

vigour.

ones, as soon as the cravings of

down to rest, Her guests too

it

refreshed,

in

now

joyful

and

full

of youthful

thanksgiving

to

the

appeared, did not yet wish

to allow her to retire felt their

from active

inmost souls revived, and

the days they passed in the quiet, peaceful house

seemed a

268

Goino;

Home.

time of holiday festival and of sweet repose for body and soul.

Marcelline came

home

with a heavily laden basket.

had brought some confectionary surrounded her, treasures.

'

the

for

children,

of eager curiosity to pry into her

full

You must

not chide me, dear mother,' pleaded

among

Marcelline, as she distributed the spiced cakes

shouting

little

ones.

'

We

are rich, rich folk

Herr Sturm von Sturmeck sends tives

your poor

this for

popped two golden coins

into

Dame

received them from the noble Stettmeister,

fugi-

haste, she

She had

hand.

Zell's

the

See here

!

With these words, and with triumphant

!'

She

who

who had met

her at the money-changer's.

Dame was not '

Zell,

to

who

retained her strong

mind and

be moved from her resolve.

firm will,

She calmly

replied,

Well now, dear Lina, with the gold piece which has been

changed we can clothe our poor for full ten days

;

friends,

and feed them

as to the three other pieces,

one remains

here for the poor of Strasburg, the second shall be expended for the supplies

family,

the

Accordingly,

needed

third

shall

I

after

for

the

Sabina and the poor minister's return

fugitives

to

Bucer and Fagius.'

had departed from the

hospitable Parsonage, their hearts overflowing with thankfulness,

Katherine Zell penned the following epistle ad-

dressed to the two ministers in England '

you

You caused me secretly left for

least,

of

my

:

the utmost grief by that

me

in the letter.

blushing shame,

I

To

money which

get rid, in part at

wished to place your two

pieces of gold in this letter to restore

them

to you, as

Going Home. Joseph did to

269

Just then, however, a preacher,

his brethren.

on account of the Interim, came to

exiled

and

children,

also the wife of a

beheaded before with me.

one piece of gold

not however as on

all these,

with five

She remained ten days

his wife's eyes.

laid out

I

maintain

me

poor Baptist, who had been

my

in provisions to

account, but on

The other coin I return to you herewith, that you may make use of it yourselves, and not again indulge in such liberality, for indeed you will have many necessities, and so yours.

will

your kindred,

commend you from

all

God

to preserve all

you and

Katherine

few weeks later Marcelline received a

with severe

illness,

Little

and

his

Tony had been

assisted

Zell.

Tony was now

by the kind

gifts

for ever

Zell.'

letter

from

seized there

mother had been obliged to

money given her

in the care of her sick child all the

by Dame

I

you

to shield

His and your enemies

!

Sabina from Basle.

spend

they are to join you in England.

harm, and from

and ever

A

to

if

convalescent, and Sabina,

of the charitable, was trying to

earn by needlework a sufficiency to proceed on the journey to Geneva, in

which place, however, according to the

tidings from Idelette,

found

for her.

no

suitable situation

She was meantime

living in a very

way, and feeling oppressed and crushed,

last

had as yet been

all

the

more

poor that

she was conscious of being looked at with a somewhat evil

eye by her landlady and her benefactors, as a Baptist. letter

ended with a thousand prayers

for every blessing,

The and

hearty thanks for that loving welcome in the Parsonage,

Going Home.

2/0

which Sabina could never

forget,

and the memory of which

she must ever treasure in her grateful heart as a foretaste of

heaven.

Little

Mother

Zell

Tony

and

his

also sent his

beloved

warmest salutations to

Marcelline,

and was

daily

asking whether he could not soon go back to them.

About

this

time an efficient helper was sought

the

for, for

superannuated wife of Lucas Hackfurth, the guardian of the poor,

who had

the charge of the poor's-house in the edifice

which had formerly been the Monastery of

Mark, and

St.

to

which new claimants for charitable aid were then flocking daily. The Stettmeister, and also Master Lux' (as Lucas '

Hackfurth was generally Marcelline,

and

had bethought them

called),

applied

respecting

Katherine, however, replied that

it

her to

Dame

was impossible

of

Zell.

for her

to dispense with Marcelline, both on account of her desire to carry on, as far as lay in her power, her

and

ever-increasing burden. celline,

and

On

a

full

charity,

understanding with Mar-

however, she recommended Sabina to

after

fill

the post

Calvin had been written to on the subject, Sabina

was called back

matron

works of

by reason of her sick son, the care of whom was an

also

in

St.

to

Strasburg in the capacity of assistant

Mark's Institution, where she

duties to the entire satisfaction of

Dame

fulfilled

the aged guardian, with strict fidelity and tender love.

and Marcelline and into one heart

Dame

and one

great joy, suffered to live

enough

to

She

Katherine grew more and more

soul,

and

little

Tony

with Mother Zell

be received into the

Wilhelmerstift.

her

Hackfurth, and of

till

was, to his

he was old

foundation known

as the

Going Home.

27

But Louis Rabus, who had inherited Ehjah,' as he

deemed

it,

a keen and bitter

spirit,

garly Anabaptist,

who had

was

'

the mantle of

with a vengeance, in the shape of

flamed up on hearing that the beg-

wounded

so grievously

his pride,

a situation in one of the public institutions of

filling

Strasburg,

In concert with the young minister of Church, Dr. Marbach, a

man

St.

Nicholas'

of as ambitious and intolerant

a spirit as his own, he began to take measures most violently against nians,

sectaries,

all

and above

all

the

'Schwenkfeldians, the Hoflman-

others the Baptists,' and to appeal to

the magistrates to drive them, one and

He

out of the town.

all,

specially urged that Sabina ought to be

removed from

the poor's-house, and a native of Strasburg, of the orthodox faith,

appointed in her stead.

want of

all

Dame

Zell,

indignant at this

regard for his former benefactress, and deeply

grieved at the persecuting

which even

spirit

days was beginning to manifest

itself

in

these early

so strongly in the

Evangelical Church, took up once more that pen which she

had been wont letter, '

who,' as she said,

the

and so

to use so freely

well,

and wrote a

aftenvards printed, to the young and proud zealots,

altar,'

in which,

lowing expressions

'These poor

common

yourselves that

had begun prematurely

among

to minister at

other things, she uses the

fol-

:

Baptists, against

bitter virulence, to

Christ in

'

irritate

whom" you

with ourselves

we by our

seek, with such

the authorities, do yet confess !

doctrine,

Rather take blame to

and by our walk and

conversation, are the cause of their withdrawing from us.

Going Home.

2/2

He who

doeth

evil,

him the powers

against

ordained for vengeance (Rom.

xiii.

3, 4),

that

be are

but they have no

business to force men's belief, as you would have them do.

Faith belongs to the heart and conscience, not to the out-

Read

ward man.

all

and those who have among ourselves, our dear

the ancient doctors,

revived the teaching of the gospel

Luther and Brenzen, and read also that which was written (after the

by

death at the stake at Geneva of poor Servetus)

that devout

men

man

Martin

Bellius, that

you may see how

ought to deal with those erring ones If the magistrates

heretics.

whom you

call

were to follow your counsels,

they would soon set up such a tyrannical government that the city and the villages would be deserted.

Strasburg yet

stands as an example to the whole land of Germany,"^ of charity, tress

;

of sympathy, of hospitality towards those in dis-

and, thank

There

well-doing.

her walls

many

is

!

she has not yet grown weary in

yet to be found within the asylum of

a poor Christian

whom

So would not old Matthew

drive forth.

tegether

God

the sheep

Never did he consent

of the

flock,

you would gladly

Zell.

He gathered

never scattered them.

to such doings

:

on the contrary, on

one occasion, when the learned men were

in like

manner

seeking to instigate the authorities to these courses, he went

pubhcly, with a sad heart indeed, and with deep solemnity, into the pulpit,

and declared

in the preachers' convent,

" I

take God, and heaven and earth to witness this day that I

am

resolved to be guiltless of the cross and exile of these

poor

folk."

1

'

^

Evangelical Records^ vol.

iii.

pp. 165, 166.

Going Home. Fortunately for poor

Sabina,

the

273 burgomaster,

Jacob

Sturm, was her well-wisher and protector; and in conse-

quence of the excellent testimony borne to her

and pious

services to

whom

decided office.'

by

life

'

Master Lux,' the

Master Louis Rabus had preferred

faithful

Tduferhei'i-en

his complaint,

that Sabina might with advantage be retained in

'

Rabus, however, was hereby greatly exasperated,

especially

on the subject of Katherine's

and as he

letter;

bore a grudge of old standing against her, because,

when

he was preparing to publish the biography of her husband,

Dame

Zell

had refused

to

supply him with the requisite

information and manuscripts, his

With

no bounds.

all

wounded

pride

now knew

the violence of his nature, he followe*d

the excellent lady with coarse invective and wicked, malicious slanders,

heart of her

and

relentlessly

vexed and wounded the

who had bestowed on him

much

so

of warm,

motherly love. '

yet

Our Lord had

likewise a Judas

He commanded us,

curse you, do

good

to

"

among His

Love your enemies,

them

that hate you,

v.

is

and

them

that

and pray for them

which despitefully use you and persecute you

be the children of your Father which

disciples,

bless

in

;

that ye

may

heaven" (Matt,

44, 45), said Marcelline, in a soothing tone, endeavouring

comfort her injured friend,

to

broken by

Two

after long delays

the Interim was at last to

By

well-nigh

heart-

years after Zell's death, at Candlemas, the 2d of

February 1550,

1

who was

this ungrateful treatment.

the Interim the three

and

become law

fruitless negotiations,

at Strasburg.i

Abbey Churches S

Great

(the Cathedral, Greater

Going Home.

274

was the popular excitement about the worship thus

Catholic clergy, protect

whom

the Council could with difficulty

against the exasperated

citizens, so

Bishop wrote to the magistrate, tical

'

by no means sure of

city,

as the

that,

they were, in this heretheir

Marcelline

lives.'

Would

could not understand these bold, defiant Germans. that her

own

co-religionists in

France had only had three

churches taken from them, while for the free exercise of their

six others

own

persecuting or casting them out the poor Huguenots had

vio-

Roman

Equally great the terror of the

lently enforced.

were

left

them

worship, no one slaying,

Oh,

!

if

in her fatherland

met with the same

toleration,

how

would they have thanked God and loved and honoured

King

their

When

!

Marcelline thought of the fearful mas-

sacres of her brethren,

of the cruel conflagrations of her

beloved W^aldensian villages conceive the

in

Provence, she could nowise

Dame

deep lamentation of

over the

Zell

Interim. It

had, however, as even

to confess, effected latter

Mother

some good.

The

citizens,

days had been so lukewarm in their

in their attendance at church,

deep penitence

:

was forced

Zell herself

smote

who

faith,

in these

so remiss

their breasts

now

earnestness in religion, true spiritual

in

life,

were revived, the sermons were well attended, and the and Lesser ship.

The

St. Peter's)

were handed over

six other parish

churches

Nicholas's, St. Aurelian's, St. Andrew's,

had managed

to the

and

to the Evangelicals,

St.

Catholic wor-

Thomas's,

St. Stephen's) the

to retain for evangelical worship.

ditions of the religious contract of Passau,

were restored

Roman

(St. Martin's,

St.

Council

According to the con-

the three Abbey- churches

Going Home. house of

God everywhere even

275

overcrowded, so that the

magistrate found himself compelled to allow a service to be

held in the

Church of the Convent of Preaching

'

Friars' (in

known as the New Church), which had previously stood empty. The aged Hedio was placed in it as preacher,

later

days

and there the from his

who,

lips

after

citizens

hstened to the word of the gospel

The

Bishop,

Fagius,

wished

with special love and reverence.

removal

the

and

of Bucer

greatly to win the affections of the Strasburgers,

had offered

the situation of Cathedral preacher to the gentle, peace-

loving Hedio, with the one condition only, that he must

preach in the surplice and must never preach against the Interim.

and in

at

But Hedio replied,

Mayence

'

He

had indeed

often preached in his surplice,

Strasburg also

innocent.



;

he held the thing to be

B^le

at

and formerly

in

itself

quite

But he would certainly not give offence to any

of his parishioners, nor give occasion, by the use of the surplice, to

any to suspect him of having departed from

the evangelical

faith.'

On

the Bishop persisting in his re-

quirement, Hedio had refused the preferment as Cathedral preacher.

But now the dreaded day

arrived,

which

Dame

Zell

had

so long foreseen, on which she must vacate her beloved old

Roman

Parsonage to make way

for a

must take possession of

that small dwelling already

tioned, close to the Jews' gate.

exodus, Katherine Zell saw in tion from those beautiful

thoughts of which

still

it

Catholic priest, and

Above

all

else

menthis

the total and final separa-

and blessed days of

awoke a

in

yore, the

longing, a sort of

home-

Going Home.

2/6

sickness in her mind, which external circumstances only

For

tended to increase.^

was now evening, and one here

it

and another there was being In November

1549,

called to his everlasting

home.

shortly after his arrival in England,

Fagius, whose

constitution could not adapt itself to the

British climate,

and who was consumed by home-sickness,

fell

Bucer

asleep in the Lord.

high places, on hearing

how

too,

he

who was

set in

such

the evil genius of discord and

the domineering spirit of the proud young ministers were

devastating his beloved church in Strasburg, and

one consent

the

all

earnestly wishing afl his

men

of the better sort

him back, was on

dignities in

how

there

with

were

_the point of resigning

England, and returning to his old and

never-forgotten home,

when he

also,

on the 28th of Decem-

ber 155 1, was suddenly called to enter the eternal mansions.

His death, universally lamented in Strasburg, peculiarly heavy blow on

Dame

Zell

Hedio, as they had hoped everything

a

future

of

now withdrew more and more from much conflict, and in his latter days there

infirmities,

the arena of so

was no one he so delighted beloved

for the

as

friend

Hedio, sensible of his

the church from Bucer's return.

growing

fell

and her old

Dame

Zell.

having near him as his

in

She herself

Hedio, when dying, would have

relates,

me

'

Dear Doctor

about him by way of

we find the own hand: 'O Lord Jesus, what hast Thou given us of holy doctrine, holy men and holy books O Lord Christ, make me more Have mercy also on our posterity devout in Thee, that my heart may never fall away from such doc^

In a contemporary MS. of the days of the Interim,

following words written by

Dame

Zell's



!

!

trine

!

Going Home, his

only minister, and

many

277 he entreat

me

abide with him during his

last

a time did

never to leave him.'

She did indeed

and

faithfully

The aged

struggle.

minister of the

blessedly, while she

was

who had

fell

asleep gently

in the act of praying beside

He

him, on the 17th October 1552.

heroes of the faith

word

was the

of those

last

fought so faithfully and valiantly

for the gospel in Strasburg.

One- year

on the 30th of October 1553, the noble Jacob Sturm von Sturmeck, also died, in the

later,

Stettmeister,

sixty-third year of his age, after

being the guardian angel,

the herald of peace and the greatest ornament of his native city.

At

his death,

it

though

in future

home, await her

seemed

though

she must, alone and a stranger in her old last

hour

in

The Lord had granted privilege of witnessing the

God's good time.

Dame

to

When

Zell in her youth the

triumph of

and of taking an active share born church.

to Katherine Zell as

good cause were broken and gone, as

the last prop of the

light over darkness,

work

in Christian

she was old, and

in the

new-

when such manifold

dangers from within and without were threatening the cause of the gospel, she had yet to learn that, as

Hubmor

so

beautifully

said

in

may

immortal, and although she prisoned,

scourged,

crowned,

1524,

third

day,

and reign

be im-

and then

laid in

crucified

in

rise

again victorious

triumph to

Katherine Zell grew more and more felt

is

suffer herself to

her grave, yet will she, nevertheless,

on the

Balthasar

'Divine truth

silent,

and

all

eternity.'

if

she often

very solitary, and thought with melancholy tenderness

Home.

Going-

2/8

of the beloved ones in glory, at these

moments Marcelline

would, as a faithful friend, take her by the hand and say with her soothing gentleness,

mother

He

!

not Himself

The

Not so melancholy,

'

Those who are with the Lord are not said, " All live

We

Has

unto Him"?'

date of the decease of our beloved

recorded by her friends.

dearest

lost".

know

only

Dame

Zell

is

not

that in 1562 she

sent a message to her friend Louis Lavater, at Zurich, to

the effect that for

'

through long

illness she

months she had been unable

soon

after this she

and Saviour.

may have

We, however,

real life in olden times

to use her

before

whom

bliss

now

as though,

;'

probably

these scenes from

have been passing

have learnt to know the battles

it is

pen

entered into the rest of her Lord

in review,

our ancestors had

for the blessed gospel of the grace of

that

was half dead, and

who

to fight

God, may well

feel

from the everlasting mansions of

and peace, they were cr)dng

to our evangelical churches

with a voice of warning, '

Hold

that fast wliich thou hast, that

crown' (Rev.

God

iii.

grant that

11). it

may be even

so

no man take thy

MASTER NICHOLAS. '

to

And

fishers of

as a

little child,

Mark

men.'

Verily I say unto you,

'

God

Come

Jesus said unto them,

become

he

Whosoever

In the year 1642 God had

I will

make you

17.

kingdom of

shall not receive the

shall not enter therein.'

with a plentiful supply of

more

ye after me, and

i.

Mark

x.

15.

richly blessed our dear Alsace

all

the fruits of the earth,

In the

especially with that of the vine.

little

and

town of

Rappoltsweiler (now Ribeauville) at the foot of the beautiful

Vosges,

all

the inhabitants were most diligently

in cleaning out

presses

and

all

their cellars,

that they

the approaching vintage.

and preparing

needed

to

have in readiness for

Old wine-vats were being bound

new hoops, and well burnt out, to and make them as good as new, while

cleanse them inside

with

Nicholas the master-cooper, a to

bestow that rich

glad

the

heart of

gift

occasionally, as with

new one was

of God, the

man' (Psalm

'

civ.

ordered, therein

wine which maketh 15).

On

afternoon, late in September of the said year,

being carried on right shop.

employed

casks, wine-

lustily in the

a sultry

work was

master-cooper's work-

With busy hands and cheerful

zest the apprentices

were hammering on the new hoops, to gird the old barrels, while Master Nicholas, with his leather apron and his snow-

Master Nicholas.

28o

white sleeves, stood on the scaffolding of the huge monster

abbot of Gemar.

tun, destined for the cellar of the lordly

was the masterpiece of

It

by him unaided,

win

to

his oldest apprentice, achieved his

and the aged

mastership,

Nicholas, while he struck a proof-blow of his shining hoop,

its '

up

lifted

Right well hast thou done

help hast

become a

voice in

my

hammer on

friendly tones

I

!

trade to thee with a

and pass the remainder of

:

Frank, and with God's

this,

capital master-cooper

Easter-tide, give over

science,

his

my

can now, at

good con-

days in repose.

Now

only remains for thee to look about for a virtuous and

it

who may keep

honourable spouse,

and piously

as

my Martha

If thou findest such

thy house as faithfully

has done mine.

her with God's blessing

;

my good

findeth a wife findeth a

good

thing,

it

her, take

wishes thou hast before-

God's holy word says (Pro v.

hand.

See well to

an one, or hast already found

xviii.

22),

'Whoso

and obtaineth favour of

the Lord.'

During

this

appeal to him, Frank stood immovable,

as a post, his arms hanging straight

down

master's speech was ended, he respectfully

and

stiff

and when

;

bowed

his

his head,

then, without uttering a syllable, returned to his work.

At

that

moment, Jobely Spener,^ a charming boy of some

seven years old, came running merrily into the workshop, ^

For

reader

further information

may be

referred to

about Philip Jacob Spener, the English Charles Knight's English Cydopcsdia, or



Qh.^vc^tx^ % EncydopcEdia. The German biography, Philipp Jakob Spener und seine Zeit eine kirchliche Darstellung. Von Wilhelm Hossbach, D.D., etc., herausgegeben von Gustav Schweder, Berlin,' contains an interesting history of the great religious revival at and near



'

Master Nicholas. *

281

Father sends you his best salutations, Master Nicholas,'

said he,

'

and says you must

tices to his cellar, to

spoke to you

and ...

;

evening with you, '

rogue

Little

draw

!'

if

you

off

this

have got leave to spend the whole

I

me

have

will

Dame

said

evening send the appren-

and bottle the wine of which he

to stay for supper.'

Martha,

who had

brought the apprentices their evening meal

just then

trow thou

I

'

;

hast got scent of the plum-tart that I baked to-day.' *

Plum-tart

exclaimed Jobely, as he sprang nimbly into

!'

the good, motherly dame's open arms.

Master Nicholas took said to his

men

:



'

hie off to Councillor Spener's cellar

workshop

right

Moreover, a

barrels. us,

and

earthly

it

to-day

for

tidily,

me

quietly, ;

but

to

and afterwards

you cannot is

my

clear out

first

thunder-storm

fierce

goes against

by the hand and

his little favourite

Eat your supper

finish the

hanging over

be thumping away with our

hammers, while the Lord our God

is

speaking to us

by His thunders from heaven.' *

How

tices,

'

now, master,' rejoined one of the younger appren-

let

good Lord

us nevertheless finish the barrels this day. will

although we

may thump

ever so loudly

;

and we can go

to Councillor Spener's cellar early to-morrow *

To-morrow

Our

not be thereby hindered in His thundering,

will

in a serious tone, knitting his Frankfurt-on-the-Maine,

!'

be Sunday, Joseph,' replied the master

brow

known by

his

as he added,

'

" Six days

name and connected with

his

Born, January 13, 1635, ^t Rappoltsweiler, in Upper Alsace, where his father was a councillor of the reigning Count Rap-

instrumentality.

polstein,

he went

to Frankfurt in 1666, thence to

thence to Berlin in 1691, where he died in 1705.

Dresden

in 1686,

and

Master Nicholas.

282

and do

shalt thou labour is

the Sabbath of the

any work,"

for " the

the Sabbath-day

now been

"

work

all tliy

Lord thy God

but the seventh day

;

in

:

thou shalt not do

it

Lord thy God commanded thee

(Deut.

12-15).

v,

keep

to

Joseph, thou hast

^^'^'^y^

nearly two months with me, and hast never set foot

and although thou

in the church,

not of our creed

art

.

.

.'

But, master, but hold,' interrupted Joseph, with a signi-

*

ficant wink,

'

I

am

even as you are

I

:

believe nothing

!'

At these words Master Nicholas, with a stormy frown, struck so violent a blow of his hammer, that the whole workshop re-echoed, and

Dame

sense does the fellow prate '

Ivlartha

and Jobely started

Boiling over with rage, he exclaimed,

in terror.

Yes, master,

truly,'

!

interposed Frank

been the galling point with

'

me

likewise

;

'

when

;

the tip of his tongue to say, "

as

And

!"

you are so well versed

He

like

is

for

V

often has this

there to the convent at Gemar, every rascal has

believes nothing

What non-

what does he take us

I it

go over ready on

you Protestants, he

often I have longed to beg of you,

you would

in the Scriptures, that

mouths of the Catholics on

once

for all stop the

idea,

and show them you know

as

much

as they

this

absurd

and beheve

more.'

But suddenly Master Nicholas had grown quite

now

said gently, with a

humbled tone and mien,

already once more suffered the evil

come added,

thee, old Nicholas V still

even allow

"How

in a

subdued tone

this to

so,

He ' :

be said to us

spirit

then, I

'11

tell

'

still.

He

Hast thou

of rage to over-

turning to Frank,

you what, we

I'

master?' asked Frank, petrified.

will

Master Nicholas.

28

'how does

*Jobely,' continued the master,

that passage

run in the holy book, which thou wast learning to repeat only yesterday

The slowly,

'

Ye

did our Saviour say concerning salt

wherewith shall

instant,

under foot of men' (Matt. 'See then here, Evangelicals

who

it

v.

%

and

continued the

the salt have

if

it is

thenceforth

to

be trodden

master,

— 'we we

possess this precious word of God,

But

we do not keep

if

V

and then said

13).

Frank,'

are to be the salt of the earth.

we

but

:

be salted

be cast out,

for nothing, but to



an

for

reflected

are the salt of the earth

lost its savour,

good

What

?

boy

little

its

live

even as the heathen, without the fear of

God, without

faith,

without honesty, chastity and obedience,

then the

has

sayings,

if

salt

become

worthless,

and we are only

be cast out and trodden under foot of men, that Wherefore, once again

us receive the

let

word

is,

fit

to

despised.

as addressed

to ourselves,

" Let your light so shine before men, that they

may

good works, and

see your

heaven" (Matt.

in

best

way of stopping

Felix,

and the

you what,

may to

their

mouths

Master,' merrily burst in

'

!'

I

And

ass,

may

your Father which

on the

off,

meet the approaching

like

is

is

the

!

Jobely,

'

here comes Father

and Brother Kilian

ride

he shot

glorify

Believe me, Frank, this

16).

v.

!

Now,

I

'11

ass to Baldwin's stable,

tell



an arrow, from the workshop

party.

Father Felix had been sent several years before, by the

Chapter of Murbach, to reform the monastery at Gemar, aged and wrong-headed abbot

which under the

rule of

had

sad state of disorder.

fallen into a

its

With a firm hand

Master Nicholas.

284

he had seized the reins of government, and soon he sucin restoring order in its

ceeded

Not

embarrassed finances.

so smoothly, however, did matters proceed in the restoration

of spiritual discipline, for he met with manifold and tough resistance

among

who

Father Ruffinus,

The

among

The Father

Erfurt of old,

*

man

live

'

in

good

a

and would,

He

pious.'

all

and

soul, to

Father

Luther at

Brother Martin

had, like

taken the matter of the salvation of souls

seriously to heart,'

every

who bore by no means

opposite party, consisting of the well-disposed

the brethren, was devoted, heart

Felix.

opposite

At the head of one stood

had, before the advent of Felix, ruled

the whole monastery, and

name.

Two

the brethren of the order.

were soon formed.

factions

holiness,

like him, gladly

have

*

made

diligently exhorted the brethren to

peace and good disciphne.'

And

although he had never read the writings of Luther, nay, even held him to be the greatest of heretics, yet he life

and work

in the

fulfilled in his

Convent of Gemar those

fine

words of

Luther's which he wrote in 15 16, as the Vicar-General of

the Augustinian order, to one of

then thou hast a firm and living

its

younger brethren

faith, as

thou

have, then bear patiently with erring brethren their sins as thine

art ;

*

:

bound

If to

look upon

own, and upon thy good deeds as theirs.

... If thou art a lily and a rose in the garden of Christ, know thou that thy path must needs lie amongst thorns, and only see well to

it

that thou

do not

thyself,

tience, high-mindedness or secret pride, '

He

Father

through impa-

become a thorn

!'

takes things as seriously about gaining heaven as Felix,'

became a proverb among the peasants of

Master Nicholas. both creeds. period

And

Father Fehx, Hke Luther

in truth

when he had not

285

and

his very earnestness sour

own

consumed,

masses and other labours,

his constitution

He

righteousness.

too martyrized himself with castigations, confessions, fasts, prayers,

one

For he too thought

austere.

himself called to win heaven by his

at

became by

yet found his Saviour,

till

vigils,

his strength

was

gave way, and hectic fever rapidly

brought him to the verge of the grave. When, mounted on his

he arrived at Master Nicholas's workshop, he appeared

ass,

so wasted and so pale that Jobely Spener asked him whether

he had had a severe

to

illness.

Master Nicholas, who with

his

meet the Father, no

shocked with

less

goodwife had also hastened his appearance,

exclaimed, as he respectfully held out his hand to salute

him,

'

Ah, most reverend Father,

I call this

wanton

to undertake so long a ride with your sick body,

black thunder-clouds are threatening

caught '

I

in the

cruelty,

when

these

You might have been

!

storm and have suffered severely enough

had to receive the confession of a

!'

sick person half a

league hence, and so I thought I could easily trot

on

my little

has gilded our ripening grapes, the vintage

few days, and much remains

for

you to do. Master Nicholas,

to enable us safely to preserve God's I

have

manage to The hot sun may begin in a

ass as far as to Rappoltsweiler.

now come

to give

good

gifts

;

wherefore

you sundry commissions.'

'These could have been as Brother Kilian or one of

my

well

through

delivered

apprentices. Father, without

your over-exerting yourself!' '

When

a word passes by

many

tongues then

it

seldom

Master Nicholas.

286 arrives

right

all

;

something

added or taken away.

is

Therefore, Master Nicholas, I hold

it

to

be better to speak

or to hear myself rather than by proxy.'

May

'

the blessing of

God

rest

on you.

look as mild and serene as the evening

my

Jobely,

I

Dame

You,' added he,

his salutation to the mistress.

was

star

Martha,' '

always

And

!

thou,

have not forgotten thee, but unluckily,' con-

tinued the Father, with a look of regret, after having vainly

fumbled through

which

meant

I

all

his pockets,

to bring

to

'

I

thee,

have

left

the

box,

little

my

on

lying

table at

home.' '

A

'

Something

and

box

little

for

me

beautiful, Jobely

which the angler may of their

to

it '

O



it ?'

red, blue, golden

rod,

by means of

Nay, they spring up to

catch them.

own accord and remain hanging

what a pity you forgot

Never

for the

he

Fish

!

in

as

if

glued

!'

sorrow dimming '

and what may there be

and therewith a wondrous

silver,

it

!

fear,

first

'

said the child, a shade of

the glance of his bright eyes.

my

little

fellow,

you

shall

not be the loser,

time Brother Kilian comes to Rappoltsweiler

shall bring the fish

!'

soon consoled, Jobely turned merrily to Brother

Thus Kilian,

!

it

who

lifted

him and placed him on the donkey,

while Father Felix followed his hospitable friends into their parlour.

When

one enters a parlour, one can almost always

with certainty what child she

is,

is

the spirit of the mistress of

it,

tell

whose

whether pious or worldly-minded, thoughtful or

Master Nicholas.

287 Accordingly,

vain, tidy or disorderly, industrious or lazy.

Dame

Martha's serious and devout

her whole housekeeping and

in

spirit

more

manifested

especially

itself

in

her

There, everything was so clean, so neat and taste-

parlour.

fully arranged, that

it

it.

Such

sat

around

did one's heart good to see

was the impression now made on her

guests,

who

the shining, mirror-like, round oaken table, with a sense of

repose and of enjoyment.

deep leather

Master's

Father Felix took his rest in the easy-chair,

in

thorough

comfort.

Beside him the Master sat drinking his glass of wine, while

Jobely and Brother Kilian regaled themselves, on the bench

round the

stove, with that delicious plum-tart in

Dame Martha

mistress gloried.

ing for

all

and watching

lest

Opposite the patriarchal

which the

glided softly about, provid-

any comfort should be lacking. easy-chair hung,

on the oak-

panelled wall, the picture of Dr. Martin Luther, a copper-

engraving

plate

Lucas

after

Somehow

Cranach.

picture appeared to produce a painful impression

Felix

he fixed

;

his eye

on

dark cloud overspread his

At '

this

end

is

drawing near apace. Master Nicholas, and

probably the

To

friendly way.

last

time

'

my good

friend

With

my

all

limited power.'

we may

thus

a dying man, and to one

an affection for you, you eh,

in his

:

My is

with a sombre gaze, and a

pallid, sharply-chiselled features.

he thus gave utterance to the feelings working

last

mind

it

this

on Father

will surely grant

sit

together in a

who a

last

has so true request

V

heart, reverend Father, if

it

lie

within

my

Master Nicholas.

288 Put

*

far

from you that picture and the pernicious heresies

monk, and return

of that schismatical renegade

bosom

Church which

eternal bliss can be gained, the villain, for

the sake of pandering to his

so grievously tore asunder

lust,

to the

of the one Mother Church, within whose pale alone

Hereupon the Master,

that reckless

wanton and carnal

!

angrily knitting his bushy eye-

brows, prepared to thump, as was his wont, violently on the table,

when Jobely quickly caught and held back

raised hand,

and

dear Master

so,

you did before

little

smile,

'

the up-

Nay, not

you must not again thump so violently as

in the

workshop with your hammer,

Dame Martha

will frighten

A

;

an imploring

said, with

and Father Felix

you

for

too.'

Master

interval of silence followed this appeal.

Nicholas fixed his eyes on the ground with a grave look not

unmingled with shame, then, laying curly head, he said feelingly,

kingdom of heaven'" (Matt. *

Never

before,' continued

the burst of temper,

'have

'

last

— " of such

I

I

touched

my

heart.

this chord, heavily

But now,

urgently entreat

it

his Satanic arrogance, arrayed himself against

*

You

this

in

amiss

you to abjure the

heresies, the poisonous doctrines of this apostate,

the saints

the

Father Felix, without noticing

meeting on earth, you must not take

once again

is

xix. 14).

though the matter pressed on our

hand on Jobely's

his

Yes, truly,

if

false

who, in

God and

all

!'

call

by evil and

our great Luther an apostate, a rebel instigated

fleshly lusts

!'

exclaimed the Master with a voice

subdued, yet quivering with inward and suppressed emotion.

Master Nicholas.

289

'But do you know, Reverend Father, what his purposes really were,

Do

*

I

what he

accomplished

really

Show me the faithful serwho does not know What honest

know, Master Nicholas

vant of Mother Church Christian can

fail

!

!

to shed tears of blood over the union of

Christendom rent asunder by him us

wounded and lacerated

all,

devil's tool

on

'

%

He

earth.

— over

Ah

!

!

that

the

Mother of

monk was

the

put to death faith and obedience,

and preached presumption and wanton unbridled

lawless-

ness!'

'You

are a learned gentleman, Father Felix,

only a homely artisan.

and

Nevertheless, even the least

am

I

among

Christians ought to be able to give a reason of the faith that

is

seem

Will you therefore allow

in him.

in a few to

me

to state to

you

words the work of Luther, concerning which you

be under so extraordinary a delusion

words Master Nicholas doffed

his leather

With these

*?

'

cap and cast an

upward glance of deep veneration towards Martin Luther's picture. '

Speak on, dear Master, speak

in your heart

me

:

freely

gladly will I listen.

and say

all

that

is

Only you must grant

leave to reply to your statements, to oppose your prin-

ciples.'

'As

to

my

principles.

Reverend Father,

stand against you on that ground. the word of God, " a shield and

me.

I

could never

Rather would

weapon

I

have

true," to argue for

Jobely, bring us the holy Bible to this table here.

So, youngster.

Now

then,

open

it

at the holy Gospels,

and

Master Nicholas,

290

seek out the second chapter of Mark, the

Read

2 2(3 verse.

slowly and distinctly.'

Jobely read thus

:



is

spilled,

And no man

new wine doth

old bottles, else the the wine

'

and the

putteth

into

burst the bottles, and

bottles will be

wine must be put into new

new wine

marred

but new

;

bottles.'

Father Felix involuntarily smiled. Yes,

'

Reverend

Father,' continued

undoubtedly thinking,

Each

*'

Master cannot get away from although

rate,

it

may

for

it

holy Gospels v. 2,^,

las, I

own

you are

trade,

and the

handicraft."

At any

his

that

my

application

may

lips

of everlasting wisdom.

we have it three times in the Matt, ix, 17, Mark ii. 22, and Luke

in vain that



to wit,

etc'

With

'

own

*

assuredly no hitch in the parable

is

proceeds from the

cannot be

It

his

happen

well

not hold good, there itself,

to

Nicholas,

all

possible respect to your parable, Master Nicho-

cannot see what

'That

I

it

has to do with Martin Luther.'

can easily show you, Reverend Father,

me

a minute's patient hearing.

will

but grant

that

when our Lord God

holy word written,

He

first

gave to Moses

did not cause

Egyptian tongue, or any other spoken

Hebrew,

in the

Saviour's

did they

New

Testament

if

you

not true

at Sinai

His

to be written in the

in those days, Israel,

but in

whose were later,

the

Holy Ghost, wrote

the

—the

glad

of the

tidings

coming and of the forgiveness of

make

it

But when, 1500 years

blessed Apostles, inspired by the

books of the

it

language of His people

the law and the promises?

Is



why Hebrew

sins,

use of the Greek, instead of the

Master Nicholas.

29

tongue, although, with the exception of Luke, they were

Jews?'

all '

'

Without a doubt

Jews, but to

for this reason,' replied

was

that the gospel

to

nations of the world

all

Father Felix,

be proclaimed not alone to the ;

Greek

thus, as the

language was at that time dominant, almost universal '

The new wine

Hebrew

vessels of the

old

tongue, lest

the



should burst and the fine wine be spilled, lost,

to

instead of turning to the salvation of so

whom Hebrew

wine

in the

was a dead

new bottles,

the savour of

unto

life

letter,

to wit the

life' (2

old

that

'

;

many

whom

but to

Greek language,

Cor.

reading except

this

v/as to

I

am

in this

man was

raised

of God, by translating

Most

true,

Jerome,

informed.

holy book

Yes

;

but,

up it

my good

who

in his cell at '

be

of

drift

on him with a

fixed his large eyes

Father,

is little



for

enough,

empire through which the Gospel spread.

St.

new

16).

ii.



my own after the

Greek, the Latin tongue prevailed in the ancient

*

to say

thousands,

but he went on

Moreover, as

devout

.

bottles

is

Father Felix, struck dumb, suddenly divining the his friend's remarks,

deep gaze

.' .

of the gospel was not to be put into the

to

make

a

new

And

Roman

then another

vessel for the

word

into Latin.'

friend

!

It

was that man of God,

in the fourth century

made

that translation

Bethlehem.'

from what

I

have been

told,

it

seems as though

new cask had been unsound in their fastenings, and much of the fine spirit of this new wine had About that same period, there came thus escaped. sundry hoops in this

.

.

r

292

Master Nicholas.

>

know

but you

far better

about

wild,

all this

than

I do,

— something

from the East and from the West,

like a raging water-flood,

numerous hordes overflowing the Western Empire, and

turning everything topsy-turvy, burning cities and villages, slaying the inhabitants,

the

Roman

and

at last settling

themselves in

which they founded the various king-

lands, in

doms which still exist. They were called, if I mistake not let me remember The Goths. These Gothic barbarians nearly all spoke



.'

.

.

*

German, and the violent convulsions, the destruction and revolutionizing of the Western Empire, the irruption of the barbarians

— the

is

usually

known

as

migration of the bar-

baric hordes.' '

Well

what

!

I

was about to say was, that by

irruption or migration, as you. Father, call

existence.

Men

French, in

Germany German.

Spain to talk Spanish, in France

in

At

that time the

the gospel ought to have been again poured into

But

sels.

common yet

it

alas

1

wine of

new

ves-

was not done, and although the

people no longer understood the Latin tongue,

was retained

theless

this

very

this

the ancient

and the modern sprang into

languages became extinct

began

it,

it

in the public

worship of God.

Never-

stands clearly written in the ist Epistle to the

Corinthians, xiv. ii, on the subject of the

proper use of

divers tongues, " Therefore

if I

know not

the voice, I shall be unto

him

that speaketh a barbarian,

and he is it

that speaketh shall

to say, I

be a barbarian unto me."

cannot understand him.

was given

at

first

the meaning of

to preach

to

To

That

the blessed apostles

every

man

in his

own

M<^ster Nicholas. tongue wherein they were born (Acts

ii.

293 During nearly

4-1 2).

a thousand years was this monstrous evil of the Latin tongue tolerated,

and

it

happened even

— " the

new wine doth

spilled,

and the

Felix, if I

it

easily

all

for a

ingly, to the best of their

And

U.

this

the poor

they did accord-

power, and they jumbled up one

kind of Christianity with another, and bound although not a syllable of

is

So the great

— take not amiss, Father give —could too

X

foretold

and the wine

be marred."

thus speak out freely,

ignorant people an

Lord had

burst the bottles,

bottles will

lords of the Church,

as the

all

that

it all

was new

together,

of

in this sort

teaching can be found in God's word.'

Father Felix cast his eyes to the ground, with a serious

and thoughtful look. Master Nicholas, however, waxing keener and keener, thus continued,

— 'Then

indeed

darkness, dimness

15),

and soon

.

.

.

it

"Behold trouble and

and they were driven

The light was put

(Isa. viii. 22).

looked gloomy

matters

enough throughout Christendom. "

to darkness"

under a bushel" (Matt.

might have been extinguished,

if

the

v.

Lord

had not had compassion on His Church and on the people of Germany,

and raised up a worthy master-cooper

His vineyard

in

well-built

Doctor Martin Luther.

for

constructed a

two-measure cask, wherein the ever new wine of

the gospel was contained in the

now once more

all

can,

good German tongue, and

by the grace of God,

water out of the wells of salvation is,"

He

''with joy

" (Isa. xii. 3).

"

And

draw this

says Luther's friend Matthesius, " one of the greatest

of miracles, which our

God

brought to pass by Dr. Martin

Master Nicholas.

294

Luther before the end of the

Germans our

world,

giving to

us

German Bible, to explain to us, in German words, what is His Divine nature

beautiful

good, intelligible

from everlasting and His gracious Father, this

—the

will."

See then. Reverend

what Martin Luther planned and purposed,

is

and moreover what he accomplished by the power of God

and His merciful help

And how has *

least, '

this it

German

Amen.'

!

Bible of which you are so proud,

not been desecrated, and, by the multitude at

misunderstood

!'

Misunderstood, Reverend Father

By your

!

me remind you

of what you

doubt whether

would not have been better

it

when

said

" If a

a to

me your commands through a You answered me by quoting the true proverb,

word passes from one

seldom reaches

taken from tell

you

rather to send

eifort,

messenger.

it

for

making such

spare yourself as an invalid, and, instead of

an

leave, let

expressed

I

all

You

it."

right,

to another

by many tongues,

but something

added, "

I

therefore

is

added

deem

it

to or

better to

or to hear a matter myself rather than by proxy."

And

what you so shrewdly remarked about the words of poor erring

man, how much more does

word of the

living

God

!

it

hold true regarding the

The Lord

of heaven and earth

has Himself spoken to His children of mankind

;

not His children themselves give ear, that

to say,

suffered themselves to read

to say to

them %

arisen because

what

their

is

and

shall

be

Heavenly Father has

No, Father, the misunderstandings have

men would put

and thus they wasted the

the

fine,

new wine

into old vessels,

pure, strong liquor, passing

Master Nicholas.

many

God's holy word down to us by so

meddling and making so much about could ^

tell

It

smile,

sarcastic

it,

tongues,

that at last

what the Lord God actually did say singular,

is

295 and

no one

!'

however,' rejoined Father Felix with a

'that in your

new church

the misunder-

standings should have arisen precisely through the reading

of the

Bible

and that the Lutherans, the Reformed and

;

the Calvinists,

all will

understand and interpret

Have you not heard how

it

each in

his

own way.

in

North Germany, the fatherland of your much praised

in these last times,

and the Reformed have been

Bible-man, the Lutherans

mutually hating and persecuting each other, and what scandals have

been going on concerning the doctrine of the

Sacrament V '

An enemy

hath done

this,

Father

The enemy who

!

here, as elsewhere, ever builds his chapel close beside the living

church of those born again of the word, of water and

of the Spirit (James all

i.

18

;

John

iii.

;Meanwhile, since

5).

main

evangelical Confessions are one on the

are founded on the firm rock of God's word,



point,

all



all

acknow-

ledge Jesus Christ as the only Mediator and Saviour, and

adore

Him

as the true

God

forgiveness of sins through

shedding,

— and

His mercy

;

;

all

believe they can obtain the

Him alone,



that

is,

by His blood-

salvation, everlasting blessedness,

through

therefore I hold that the sad dispute regard-

ing the doctrine of the Lord's Supper

is

assuredly one of

those tares sown by the devil, which the Lord at the time of the har\-est will (Matt. reapers, gather, bind

xiii.

and burn.

30),

by the hands of His

Let no one conclude that

Master Nicholas.

296 the reading of

Holy

Scripture

is

to

blame

for

such

and

evils

misunderstandings.' '

Truly,

Granted.

work

Satan's

my

friend,

it

not God's word but

is

Church asunder.

has torn the

that

It

is

Luther, that bold, impudent monk, puffed up with conceit,

who became minds

the devil's tool,

astray,

Christendom

who by

his heresies led

men's

and lighted the torch of discord and hatred :

and

all

this for

in

the sake of the unbridled

indulgence of his wicked passions.'

Master Nicholas was on the point of starting up

asked, as though

making a sudden

now. Reverend Father, how did

of reforming the monastery at

As

it

but

it

'Tell

digression,

come

me

to pass that you,

your feeble health, undertook the laborious task

in spite of

'

;

himself instantly, and after a moment's pause

restrained

Gemar

was a task imposed on

I belong, in the

name

!

me by

of the Church,

I

the order to which

could not yield to

any personal consideration, but was constrained, however difficult

it

might seem to be, to submit myself unreservedly

to a higher '

will.'

But what would you

fraternity, with a

raise

say, if the hostile

everywhere a cry to the effect that you had only

the Cathedral Chapter of

your

members of

life

at

the

view to blackening your character, were to

Gemar

Murbach

for the sake of

in luxury, revelling

and

all

left

spending

manner of

licentiousness?'

For a while Father Felix gazed fixedly his large piercing eyes

choly

smile,

;

at the

Master with

then he answered with a melan-

'This poor wasted body, sacrificed in the

Master Nicholas.

may

service of the convent,

well serve as the best refuta-

tion of such calumnies, which for

297

will,

moreover, be set at rest

ever before many days have passed over, by

my

early

grave.' '

Yes

—and we,

all

of us

and honoured you both

church and

v/alk,

and your

we

in private,

But

consecrated to the Lord.

life

do how

you know so much better than I " the dead they shall not live, and the deceased they not rise"

who

xxvi.

(Isa.

14,

German

version)

;

all

to your pure

good conscience, bear witness

could, with a

and holy

who have known you and loved

in the

true

that

is

it

shall

and so we

too,

love you so heartily, and assuredly would rise up to

avenge with indignation, but solemnly and emphatically, every malicious slander, for our life "

is

soon cut

Soon Friend Death slanderers '•

Why

may

will

—we

and we

off,

soon have passed away, fly

away"

(Psal. xc. 10).

have shut our mouths, and then the

vilify at their pleasure.'

beat about the bush,

full well Father

shall

Rufhnus and

to endure his calumnies

my good

know

friend, since I

his evil tongue,

more composedly than

and

I

ought

have

I fear I

done V '

You

purest

see

by your own example,

then,

against evil-speaking

— one more

man

of those points of resem-

blance between you and the great Luther, of frankly confess that you,

once reminded '

that even the

walk and conversation cannot guarantee a

me

whom

must

I

Reverend Father, have more than

!'

Against such an idea

I

claimed the Father, shocked,

must solemnly protest if

not incensed.

!

'

ex-

Master Nicholas.

298

A little while hence, when, —up yonder, where " the Lamb

'

(Rev.

vii.

17) shall feed"

His own, "and

unto living fountains of waters tears

all

faith,

from their eyes,"

— you

them

wipe away

shall

meet that champion of the

Martin Luther, give him, as a brother, the right hand

God

of fellowship, and before the throne of with him that chorus of praise of V.

shall lead

and God

;

12),

"Worthy

is

Lamb

the

was

that

sing in unison

redeemed (Rev.

the

all

slain,"

— then

you

will think of old Master Nicholas, and assuredly you will

confess that you and Luther are kindred spirits

But what

'

world can

in all the

common

have in

I

monk?' asked Father

that apostate

!'

with

an involuntary

Felix,

tear nevertheless standing in his eye.

Nearly everything, Reverend Father

'

you everything

before, with

is,

as

!



only, as I said

appears to me, on a

it

smaller scale.' '

set

Look

here, Father

!

in I

You

xvi. 30).

;

good

earnest,

do

be saved?"

traditions

for the Saviour

is

Erfurt, " a terrible Judge, before

you doubtless :

feel as

to

and

which have hid Christ to

you

Luther more than a hundred years ago,

fasting,

repeat, utterly

have, both of you, been brought up

amid men's sayings and from your eyes

described

I

you and Doctor Luther have both

"What must

(Acts

by

is,

about seeking your soul's salvation

have honestly inquired,

to

that

friend,

!'

impossible '

my good

But indeed,

he then

" the more pains

what

in his

He

was

convent

Avhom you tremble

did, I

still

;"

at

and

and which he has himself

took to pacify

watching and praying, the

my conscience

less did

I

experience

Master

NicJiolas.

299

of rest and peace, for the true light was withdrawn from

But the Lord graciously'gave him

eyes."

by causing him,

that

among

in the said convent, to find

and dusty volumes that precious book the Holy if

mistake not,

I

a

Latin

translation.

my

True Light,

From

the

old

Bible, in,

that time

Luther made himself so familiar with the Sacred Scriptures, that he found

no pleasure

a single text lay

imbedded

And

him comfort.

any other study, and sometimes

in

in his

mind a whole day and gave

human

as each

of God, and at the same time a

soul should be a temple

little

church, that

to say,

is

a living stone of the grand invisible church of Christ, which

be manifested

will

— so

this earth,

in her glory only

the Lord,

inner sanctuary, Luther's

when He

by His word,

own

and leading him

reformed His

first

soul, freeing

it

from human

traditions

and

errors,

that " our

own

righteousness cannot stand before

secondly^

" that

Christ, that

is,

and

by the forgiveness of ;"

and grace of God clearly

once as

if

— that

is,

is

ii.

4

'

;

the Bible."

born again, as though

man can be Rom, 17 i.

itself to

my

Ver.,

I

When

relates, " I

seemed

soul."

and

Jesus

proper

all this first

then

felt at

had found a door

That a

'

in

through His blood,

'

man

lives

by

into

faith,'

God only by faith (Hab. The just shall live by faith '),

justified before

— Eng.

the knowledge of this

heaven

faith

y^/'j"/,

;"

the holy gospel of the glory

upon him, he himself

Paradise thrown wide open. that

sins

God

thirdly^ " that the

and

true treasure of the church

dawned

to acknowledge,

we must be saved only by

and by His righteousness

returns to

to

open up holy

'

scripture

and

Dear and honoured Father, your

honest strivings and strugglings for your soul's salvation

Maste?' NicJiolas.

300 form your

first

open heaven to you

will

Do

point of likeness to Luther.

" search the Scriptures

also,

"

(John

" find rest unto your soul " (Matt.

'You can hardly

v.

xi.

and then

39),

and you

also,

then,

30).

contrive, however,

to find

any other ecclesi-

with a forced smile, and a painful effort to conceal

deep inward '

faith

like Luther,

will,

resemblance between Luther and me,' rejoined the astic,

you

Yet,

.

.

agitation.' .

themselves

;

yet.

Reverend Father, the other points follow of

For, you perceive, to

case.

on a smaller

only, as I remarked,

scale in your

you was committed the

httle

reformation in the convent at Gemar, to Luther the greater in the

church in Germany.

and pure morals

As you had

to restore discipline

into subjection to the rules of your order,

intrusted to Luther the task of setting stick of the



so our

doctrine

and the

authority, as held

up anew the candle-

rules

and practised

all

things once

established in the

filed,

the Scripture says that

separate

heavens terday,

"

from sinners,

(Heb.

and

vii.

to-day,

26),

and

He

days of the apostles,

High

Priest of

" holy, harmless, unde-

and made higher than the (Heb.

for ever."

life

as

wearisome and arduous work also Father Luther, as

to the

even " Jesus Christ, the same yes-

own

with true self-denial yielded your

and offered up your

is

more

on the highest

those doctrines and rules established by that

whom

Lord God

Divine Word, which had been long hidden in

the fallen Church, and bringing

pure

once more

in the monaster)^, to bring all

xiii. 8).

will to

You have

a higher

will,

a sacrifice, undertaking the in a spirit of obedience.

he writes

:

"

God

constrains

me

So to

Master Nicholas. go forward

;

30

have yielded myself up and sacrificed myself

I

in the

name

when

called to appear before the Diet of

Lord

of the

;

His

will

be done

And

!"

again,

Worms, and

re-

quired to recant his doctrines, he exclaimed, " Lord God, this is

not

my

affair,

I

interest I

have nothing to do with these

great lords of this world here.

But the cause

Come, Lord,

just and holy one.

my own

For

but Thine.

have nothing to seek, and

am

I

ready

!

Thine, a

is

I will not

Thy

myself be separated everlastingly from Thee and

let

my body on

word, even should

My

soul

eternity.

is

that account be torn to pieces.

Thine, and shall ever remain with Thee to

Amen

!"

But as you, Father,

so Luther in his greater sphere, met

in

your smaller

all

circle,

among opponents

with

not open hostility alone, but calumny and bitter condemnation,

and malicious misrepresentations, which pictured him and been the slave of

vile,

webs of falsehood spreading

like

as having led an unchaste hfe,

carnal lusts, these evil

many even after his grave And this might

poisonous rankling weeds, ensnaring

day has passed, and he easily '

happen

in

There lacks but

must make me, '

rests in his

your case

also,

this to

like Luther,

!

Reverend Father

!'

complete the likeness, that you

marry a runaway nun

!'

Catherine von Bora was an honourable and virtuous

maiden, who, after the abolition of her convent, according to

an order pronounced by Divine as well as human

was united

to

Doctor Martin Luther as

in

and

whom, before God and men, he holy and blessed wedlock. Your Church had,

beloved married lived

right,

his rightful

wife, with

with her law of celibacy, thrown a wicked rope round his

Master Nicholas.

302 neck.

This was one of those traditions and ordinances of

men, against which Dr. Luther only by word but deed.

Timothy, chap,

to

Spirit

the

in

iv.,

As you

faith,

insist,

.

.

with him

whether

How could

!

Gemar,

if I

on the flaming

the Church '

to protest, not

and 3d

ist

I will or not,

me

"The

verses,

I

on comparing me

leave to contrast myself

ever have reformed the monastery

I

had divided where

demolished where oil

bound

written in the ist Epistle

forbidding to marry."

.

with Luther, you must also give

at

felt

it is

speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall

depart from the *

For

I

should have united, and

should have built up, or

fire

And

%

that

if I

had cast

was what Luther did

in

!'

That he did not

do, Father, for

when

in the first out-

burst of their zeal the Evangelical party stormed the images in the Churches,

and began such scandals

restrained them,

and with

"

his

in various ways,

mighty voice he cried

The Word, by which heaven and

he

out,

earth were created, that

must do the work, and not we poor sinners

See then,

!"

Father, not in presumptuous self-confidence, as you imagine (for that

him),

would, as

but right and natural, soon have failed

is

but by firm faith

Jesus Christ

in

our Lord and

Saviour, did Luther accomplish his great work.

He

was

endued with strength from on high, and thus he stood firm before the

Emperor and

hair s-breadth from the

declared

me

!

:

"

Amen

Here !

"

I

the Diet.

word of the

stand

And

the

;

I

He

departed not one

living

God, but boldly

cannot otherwise

;

God

Lord has helped wondrously.

help It

was not the poor despised monk, under the ban of Pope

Master Nicholas.

303

and Emperor, who reformed the Church, but the word of

God and

alone which gained the victory over

traditions

(Acts xvi. 31), " Believe on

It is written

superstitions.

human

the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved." i.

whom we

" In

7),

according to the riches of His

forgiveness of sins,

the

He

grace."

who had

then

drawn out of the

believed,

and by

good works.

*'

Call

no man your

Father, which

Pope's

infallibility,

is

it

with

written (Matt,

upon the

father

for

is

it

"There

10),

iii.

it

earth, for

But, moreover,

it

is

money

xxiii.

one

holiness

also written (Psalm xiv. 3,

none righteous,

is

9),

your

is

There was an end then of

supremacy, ditto as to his so-called

the

and

Rom.

Again,

in heaven."

is

had

faith

His grace, he had the forgive-

fulness of

ness OF SINS, and had no need to purchase or with

(Eph.

have redemption through His blood,

written (i Tim.

ii.

5),

no,

and

not one."

"There

one

is

God, and one Mediator between God and men, the man

Thus then

Christ Jesus."

as guardian angels,

Once more

"Thou

it

is

intercessors, mediators

written

Him

.

.

.

Thou

their altars.

our Lord, in

v.

8),

vi.

it is

God my

written

Saviour."

and Matt.

Then

serve."

And

13,

iv.

10,

Luke

Lord thy God and serve Him.

shalt fear the

only shalt thou

all

such

such-like.

(Exod. xx. 4 and Deut.

saints descended, without being

from

and

make unto thee any graven image, or any Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them,

nor serve them;" and (Deut. iv.

for ever all saints,

shalt not

likeness.

8), "

away

fell

the images of the

stormed by any iconoclasts,

concerning Mary the mother of

(Luke

How

i.

47), "

My spirit

hath rejoiced

did the quiet and modest ser-

Master Nicholas.

304

vant of the Lord, by that one Httle word "

from her

put

far

her

name

for

And

!

wind" (Acts

ii.

ever

in like

Saviour^'

the idolatry carried on in

all

manner, by the " rushing mighty

Holy Ghost, which

the outpouring of the

2),

i7iy

blows from God's word so loud a

blast, all the

other wares

of their trade, purgatory, masses, pilgrimages, penances and castigations, relics

and so

as spray before the

wind

At

and

conversation was interrupted by a violent

this point the

The storm had

peal of thunder.

and wildly did

were shivered and scattered

forth,

!'

it

rage.

over them,

Thunderbolt followed thunderbolt,

poured as

torrents of rain

at length burst

the heavens were coming

if

down.

who had

Brother Kilian,

fallen,

during the controversy,

into a gentle slumber, rose from his bench beside the stove,

and crossed himself been playing

at

in terror

hoop

in the

and awe.

Jobely,

who had

workshop, returned to the par-

lour in hot haste, to take refuge under the motherly wings

of his dear

'

Dame

visibly excited

also

by the

Master- Cooperess^

and moved by the dialogue, and affected

sultry,

thunder-laden

Dame Martha was

air,

quite uneasy.

cabinet and offered to the sick '

man

Let alone your drugs, Martha

know him!'

But Father Felix,

became so unwell

a few refreshing drops. !'

said the Master,

all

we

'

I

will

pray for

present folded their hands.

Master

a better arcanum for our dear guest

Hereupon

that

She gently opened her

:

Nicholas uncovered his head, and he, after a short silent supplication, repeated solemnly the following

the 29th Psalm

:



words from

Master Nicholas, *

305

The God of glory thundereth The Lord is upon many waters. The voice of the Lord is powerful The voice of the Lord is full of majesty. The voice of the Lord breaketh the cedars Yea, the Lord breaketh the cedars of Lebanon. The voice of the Lord divideth the flames of fire. The Lord sitteth upon the flood Yea, the Lord sitteth King for ever. The Lord will give strength unto His people The Lord will bless His people with peace ;

;

;

.

.

.

.

.

;

;

'And now,' he proceeded, Met us

yet further refresh our

dear and honoured invalid with a spiritual song

Dame

accompanied by

!'

the Master sang with his powerful bass the glorious the church of old, '

By

hymn

of

composed by Martin Luther—

Out of the depths

I cry to

Thee.

degrees Brother Kilian chimed in also, and in the last

verse even Father Felix struck in with

tones

Then,

Martha's and Jobely's silvery voices,

almost whispered

soft,

:

*

Out of the depths I cry to Thee, Lord God, O hear my prayer

!

Incline a gracious ear to me.

And If

bid

me

not despair

:

Thou rememberest each misdeed,

If each should have

Lord,

who

its

meed.

rightful

shall stand before

Thy love alone we The pardon of our sin The strictest life is but in vain, Our works can nothing win

'Tis through

Thee

?

gain

;

:

That none should boast himself of aught. But own in fear Thy grace hath wrought

What

in

Him

seemeth righteous.

U

Master Nicholas.

3o6

Wherefore my hope is in the Lord, My works I count but dust, I build not there, but on His word, And in His goodness trust. Up to His care myself I yield,

He is my tower, my rock, my And for His help I tarry.

shield,

And though it linger till the night, And round again to morn,

My

heart shall ne'er mistrust

Nor count

O

Do

thus,

Ye

of the Spirit born indeed.

Wait

for

Thy

might.

itself forlorn.

ye of Israel's seed,

your God's appearing

Though

great our sins and sore our wounds, deep and dark our fall, His helping mercy hath no bounds, His love surpasseth all. Our trusty loving Shepherd He,

And

Who

shall at last set Israel free.

From

The storm was now his return

home.

all their sin

over,

The

and sorrow.' ^

and Father Felix prepared

careful

for

and considerate housewife,

the motherly Martha, opened her chest and drew forth the

Master's fur coat, which she had laid by, well wrapped in

white linen with plenty of pepper and lavender, to preserve it

from the moths.

in a friendly

warm

coat.

grow

chilly.

and

*

Permit me, Reverend Father,' she said

respectful tone, 'to send with

The storm has cooled the air You have a long ride before ;

so easily suffer from any exposure



you

this

the evening will

you, and might

!

^ Luther, 1524. The above translation is extracted from Catherine Winkworth's admirable volume, Lyra Germanica, in which, with its text. Psalm cxxx. i, 3, it is given for the Fifth Sunday in Lent.

Master *

Oh

evening grace

Oh

!

!

'

out here in the fresh air

come quickly

Master Nicholas

!'

quite a festival

it is

bow

the beautiful

to see

G?tadenboge?i) in the sky

(

307

Dame Martha and

Father FeUx,

!

shouted Jobely,

NicJiolas.

of

!

Father Felix looked at hira with astonishment. '

He means

the rainbow,' interposed the Master's wife with

some embarrassment. *

No bow of grace

Have you not

emphatically reiterated

!

!

*

'

"

our gracious God, when

He

Noah

but rather

men

in

And the

truly

it

was a

and

shining

heaven.

to mani-

saying, the httle

out to the

as

Between

above the distant range of the Black

though

it

Flowers and

evening carol

were one of the golden gates of foliage,

;

in

lifting

up

their

Redemption, travaileth,'

radiant for

the heavy

heads as

if in

joyously singing their breathing more freely,

solemn. Sabbath-like

the mild shining of the

groaneth and

bowed down under

The little birds were men and beasts were

Nature lay

sign of that

!

setting sun, over the

was stretched the seven-hued bow of grace,

hills,

thanksgiving.

all

was going

So

Dame Martha

and the

drops during the storm, were

and

thought not of the

evening out there

festival

plain, not far

Forest

He

because

in the clouds to

door near the workshop.

black thunder-clouds

broad

which

our dear Saviour]'

fellow dragged the Father front of the

bow

after the deluge, assuredly

floods of rain, but of the grace fest to all

^^bo7ii ofg7'ace^'

set the

Jobely.

how we

yourself explained to me, mistress,

ought not to say " rainbow

comfort

little

arch,

which

'the earnest

'

stillness,

under

the unchangeable the whole creation

expectation of the

3o8

j\ Taster

Xic/iolas.

God

creature waiting for the manifestation of the sons of

(Rom.

viii.

For a

19-23).

balmy breath of

Httle while all stood in silence, the

evening wafting the fragrance of the

towards them,

fields

while that of their secret prayers arose towards heaven.

Then Master Nicholas once more Spener's head as '

Look

if

hand on Jobely of blessing him, and said

in the act

laid his

:

here now, Reverend Father, this

God's Holy

has

Spirit visibly rests,

to

—these

tents of the

two

Holy

at

Bible.

That

away from God and

so loved the world " (John

is,

by

sin

we have

into everlasting perdition iii.

His bloody atoning death,

through the cross, — and

God's word teaches and

added

to this, or taken

human

invention,

no strength

saved by free grace, might

All that your

testifies.

from

and can

it,

is

mere vain deceit and

afford to the soul

for sanctification

All this

Church has

no comfort

and no peace

perhaps in a few days, a cross

the '

will stand

in

in death.'

Father Felix replied in a low and mournful tone

Oh

but

16) that in Jesus Christ

be reconciled with His everlasting righteousness.

life,

;

all

from His high heaven to us poor sinners,

that we, being saved through that

to say,

is

"

He came down

of Grace in

once picture forth the whole con-

fallen

God

have been

I

explain clearly in a long conversation.

The Cross upon earth and the Bow HEAVEN,

on the

hit the right nail

head, and expressed in a few words what trying in vain

whom

one, on

little

upon

' :

my

Soon, grave.

may then through grace be enabled to enter eternal home by yonder beautiful gate of heaven

into

He

was

that I

'

!

It

is

written over the cross

(Isa.

liii.

5),

"

Master Nicholas. wounded

He

our transgressions,

for

iniquities

309 was bruised

and with His

we

stripes

And by

are healed."

mouth The mountains

and the

hills

10), "

liv.

be removed

but

;

my

this

this

we

will

saith the

hold

fast,

Lord

that hath

Father

;

on

we

;

of

shall not

kindness

my

mercy on thee

this

bow

shall depart,

depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of

be removed,

Him

of the Lord

the everlasting covenant of grace, the

speaks to us (Isa.

for our

upon

the chastisement of our peace was

:

peace

and

will live

By

!"

die

;

then shall our falling asleep be peaceful, and our awakening

up yonder

right blessed

workshop with the

ass

;

carefully spread

before,

saddle

!

now come round

Brother Kilian had

;

all

was ready

Dame Martha

had, a good while fur coat

me

to take

over the

Father Felix lingered.

still

length he began in a somewhat hesitating tone

allow

door of the

her husband's but

;

to the

At

Will you

'

:

me

for

and turned

his

your Bible with me, and lend

it

to

a few days. Master Nicholas V

The Master stood leather cap round to

there, quite astounded,

and round on

his head, as

he was wont

do when he heard anything that struck him

as very un-

expected.

With joy would he have given the good old

Father

his heirlooms

all

what they may, Bible rarer

!

—but

And be

and more

more valued

it



precious things, be they

all his

his Bible

and dearly-loved

his holy

!

remarked, a Bible was in those days far

costly than now, perhaps

than, alas

!

by many

it

now

on that account

is.

But Jobely, who heard Father Felix present his sprang forward with

the

Bible

in

his

hand,

petition,

and gave

3

Master Nicholas.

o

1

to the Master, saying,

it

'

Pray do lend your Bible to the

Reverend Father, dear Master, and lend you mine.

will

the

in

You know which

meantime

mean, the

I

large one, so beautifully bound, with gilt leaves

my

clasp,

christening present

my

from

me

to '

for you, for she

Has not

knows you

that child put

me

to

will give

will take care of

shame again

Master Nicholas, as he put the Bible under arm, adding, with a half-suppressed sigh,

silver

godmother, the

Mother

gracious lady Countess of Rappolstein. it

and

I

fine

'

1'

!'

it

murmured

his old friend's

There

—take

it.

Reverend Father, and may the Lord grant you His blessing !'

with

It

it

was the

first

Sunday

Master Nicholas was

Advent.

in

resting in his easy-chair beside the stove,

from

his

window by

noon-day nap.

newly awakened

Dame Martha was

;

for a surprise to his

heart,

mother on the Christmas

Luther's beautiful Christmas hymn,

festival,

sitting at the

before her stood Jobely Spener, intent on learning

earth I come.'

high, to

But the

little

'

From heaven

fellow, usually so

apt a scholar, was to-day putting the mistress's patience to

a severe place,

test,

and

reiterated

ance.

repeating everything incorrectly and out of

forgetting altogether

what

his

more than twenty times with

Incessantly did his

little

head

kind teacher had unrivalled forbear-

turn, either

towards

the clock, or towards the freshly-baked pastry which the mistress

had promised him

for supper,

and

in

which he

specially delighted.

At

last the

Master began to grow impatient with the too-

Master Nicholas,

He

enduring patience of his wife.

Martha, thou

art careful

but one thing

Thou

ence.

is,

a veritable Mother Eli for that

art

me

Here, Jobely, come to

to boldly dare

no

how does

Jobely,

In manger

'*

'

The

continued Jobely,

go on

it

laid, in

made still

all

Really

!

all, all,

Yes

j

's

quite distracted

Only

sly,

round

think.

Father Felix

and

"

fixing his large

roguish expression.



it is

his

little

in

His

good

jumped up

urchin

neck and said gravely

Master Nicholas,

I

dreamt

let

us hear

!

long enough since he has

apprentices

his being very

me back my *

*

:

well

The

news of

who

but, quick as lightning, the

and coaxingly

of him.

stable-home,

Lord of

into his lap, put his arms

'

then

?'

was on the point of being angry

stern teacher

last night of

Now

!

worlds, upholds them

eyes on the Master with a

;

first

—no supper

!

child you'll find

Who

earnest

Master Nicholas

is

half to win

is

pastry,

!

From heaven high, to earth I come, To bring you news, glad tidings all."

**

!

my name

as sure as

desire

you have said the

Till

!

;

little fellow,

to his heart's

four verses properly you shall have all,

" Martha,

to teach children obedi-

and leading him astray according

Eh

' :

and troubled about many things

needful," that

is

1

gave a loud rap on the

and called out with a warning voice

table,

at

3

ill,

who come from Gemar but

still

bring

he ought to have sent

Bible.'

and he ought

to

have sent

me my

little

fishes.

3

Master Nicholas.

1

But he has not forgotten them

Only think,— in

and

the workshop,

;

last

am

that I

were

was a bow of grace,

autumn,

—and Father Felix

was not standing among us down on the

up

me

the httle rod of which he spoke,

now

Jobely, take

A knock

was heard

said,

" There,

fishes."

Brother Kilian entered,

Master Nicholas's Bible on the table

at

after

which he placed

once

at the door.

and he

;

and the Lord Jesus

the wonderful rod,

and

laid

in the little boy's

on which was inscribed

make

and

His own good time Himself give you the

will in

but

grass-plot,

under the beautiful arch

in the clouds, just

gave

sure of now.

standing in front of

all

in the skies there

than that one

finer

far, far

my dream we

ornamental characters,

in

thee a fisher of men' (Matt.

;

hand a small box, '

I will

iv. 19).

'Brother Kilian, what about Father Felix?' exclaimed the three with one mouth.

all

To-morrow

'

All were silent

ward up

he

at ten o'clock

will

be laid

monk, with suppressed voice and

replied the

to the



window

Dame Martha

petrified.

to

wipe away her

for-

when he saw

the

shed tears too, his own began to flow down his rosy

cheeks, '

;

stepped

Jobely gazed

tears.

into Brother Kilian's face, awe-struck

monk

in his grave,' tearful eyes.

all

unconsciously.

I trust his soul has

found mercy

in Christ

!'

ejaculated

the Master, after a long pause. '

Our Reverend Father

most hearty thanks last

night

sent you his best salutations

for the

made me promise

as possible after his death.'

book you I

lent him,

would restore

and

which he

to you, as

soon

Master Nicholas. ^

Did he

suffer

much towards

his

313

end V asked the tender-

hearted Martha.

Not so far as I know, Dame Martha. He gradually became weaker and more silent. He, who was wont to '

be the

first

his

left

and always liked to

on doing everything himself,

insist

and the

he

in everything,

last

never

latterly

Moreover, he was not able to speak, and

cell.

was forbidden by the doctor

to try.

But he always looked

peaceful and cheerful, so that the sight of his heavenly

patience

made

one's heart well-nigh break

I

!

when lamp

I

went

still

was

in to look after him, there

found him

This morning

almost constantly poring over that big book.

his little night-

burning, and he was sitting, not undressed, his head

sunk down on

his folded hands, over his

For long

book.

I

did not venture to disturb him, believing him to be engaged in prayer.

But when

I

did softly step close up to him,

perceived that death had overtaken him,

Father Felix had passed away from

presumptuous wish

— that our beloved

among

gladly would I have gone with him,

if

From henceforward

!

soon

I

us

!

Ah

that were it

will

!

how

not a

be no easy

nor pleasant thing to dwell in our convent, when Father RufiEinus

more

closed eyes, and

fell

"

They

that

good monk's

slowly into the cup of wine which

Martha had brought '

And once

resumes the reins of government.'

the large tear-drops escaped from the

sow

Dame

to revive him. in tears shall

reap in joy.

He

that

goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless

come

again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with

him'" (Psalm cxxvi.

5,

6),

deep emotion, he held out

said Master Nicholas, as, with

his

hand

to Brother Kilian.

Master Nicholas.

314

My best

*

Mistress

thanks to you, Master

May God

!

reward you,

dare not linger longer with you, for

I

!

I

have

various commissions to execute connected with to-morrow's

and

funeral,

I

Scarcely had the

uncovered

!'

at

now

at length restored,

and value most sacred

interest

hands over the

his venerable head, folded his

precious volume

hearts,

Gemar again before night monk disappeared when the Master

must be

—and

his lips

Jobely however, nature,

had already

shining

little fish

moved

to their

— with

an added

warm and honest

gently in secret prayer.

who,

according to

risen

above

children's

When

into the Mistress's lap.

happy

shook out

his sorrow,

his

she raised

her finger and pointed gravely to her husband engaged in enjoining silence,

prayer, thus

he only looked up

at her

with his bright eyes radiant with joy, each time that a

was hanging

When '

safely

by the

little

fish

rod.

the Master ceased praying, his wife said to him,

Father, the child's

dream must have come from heaven.

The wonder-working rod

signifies the

word of God, and

the promise which Father Felix, with his dying hand, wrote

on the box

for his litde favourite,

is

found

thou must become a minister of the word

;

in

it.

it is

Jobely,

the will of

God!' '

What

child,

is

the meaning of " a fisher of

men " V

inquired the

holding out his box to show the words to Master

Nicholas. '

It

means

to

go

like the blessed apostles to all places,

even unto the ends of the earth, with strong confidence, proclaiming the gospel, that

faith all

and joyous

men may be

N idtolas.

Master drawn

'

And

Him,

1

Him and

and may hang upon

to the dear Saviour,

cleave to

3

as these httle fishes to the magnet.'

did the Lord Jesus send to

me

tell

this last night

by Father Felix?' *

Possibly indeed,' replied Master Nicholas

'

Most assuredly

!'

Thereupon Jobely folded simplicity of a

little

'

;

and

.' .

.

interposed his wife.

child

:



his '

hands and prayed with the

Now

then, dear Saviour, I pro-

a pastor. Only do Thou make me right godly, that I may with the wonder-working rod of Thy word be able to fish many, many souls for

mise Thee

become

I will certainly

Thee!'

*Amen, Jobely, amen! that

may be even

it

he turned towards

so

!'

The Lord

give His blessing

exclaimed the Master.

Martin

Luther's

picture

So saying,

and added

Thou didst speak the truth, venerable Father Thy word they shall let stand." The holy word of God has still preserved its Divine power, and now once more an anxious and distressed soul has found salvation and peace in it Now, at last, good Father Felix, thou true and upright soul, now thou hast solemnly,

'

:

"

!

gone over and

Thou

of thorns,

'

art saying,

The

(i Pet.

i.

Now, up yonder,

even as

grass withereth

but the word

of the

24, 25,

own

!

self-woven crown

precious blood of our Lord and

but by the

Saviour Jesus Christ.

thou

reached the other side before us

safely

hast found grace, not by thine

I

here below in

in thy bright glory,

my

weakness

:

and the flower thereof falleth away

Lord endureth

and Psalm

ciii.

17.)

for

ever.'

Amen

;

!

THE FOREST-HOUSE. *

Unto them were committed the

At a

Rom.

oracles of God,'

2.

iii.

the distance of about a league from the Schauenberg, the Vosges to which pilgrims resort, and at the foot

hill in

of which

lies

the small

town of Ruffach, stands the Forest-

House, where, somewhere about the eighties of lived the Anabaptist

Biedermann, with

his

last century,

two grandchildren

Hans and Vreneli. Whether this Httle farm still exists I know not, but a pleasanter abode than the Forest-House then was could not be found anywhere.

and fragrant

pine-forests encircling

green meadows, cows,



it

to call to

But

far

lofty

open space of

fine,

— the pasture of Biedermann's stately herd of

met the eye with so bright and tempting a mien

mind

the words,

more than

situation,

Surrounded by its

did

the

'

It is

charm of

good

its

for us to

beautiful

be

here.'

and salubrious

every new-comer feel the beneficial

ence exercised by

its

patriarchal custom, old

inhabitants.

According to

Biedermann was

house, and not that alone, but

among

as

influ-

pristine

priest in his

all his

own

brethren and

co-religionists scattered over the surrounding hills.

Regu-

The Forest-House, Sunday they assembled

larly every

where he held Divine

in his simple way.

tion,

when

And

the churches were closed, their bells silent,

day, then the Forest-House

solemnized, week

after

many a

proving to

week,

'

decadis

'

many

many an

on the mountain-top

peaceful, holy Sabbath,

its

scene of consolation and of blessing.

the Jew,

The

—welcomed

whom

he afterwards concealed

in safety across the frontier.

who was

said

In

these

all

ever ready to go hand in hand Avith him.

Simeon dwelt

in his

as a lad of fourteen, he

As an

a pedlar.

own

house, at Sulzmatt.

had begun

to ply his trade as

old man, therefore, throughout the whole

region around, he was well

was scarcely a house

known

pack on

his

There

as Simele the Jew.

in the valley or

on the mountains

which he was not the familiar newsmonger. his

guil-

in the forest

matters his chief help was his old friend Simeon P.,

difficult

Even

innocent victim,

a noble or ecclesiastic,

and conveyed

and

for the

During the Reign of Terror, Biedermann deprived the lotine of

to

in the storms of the Revolu-

the people taught to substitute heathenish

Lord's

1

the Forest-House,

expounding Holy Scripture

service,

them

in

3

in

When, with

shoulders and his measuring-staff in his

hand, he was seen tramping through any town or

village,

then doors and windows flew open at once, for every one

must buy something of him, or give a commission or transact

some business

universally

in the

way

admitted that his were

of exchange. the

ribbons, the best stuffs and handkerchiefs, that he really

most

It

was

beautiful

and moreover

was an honest Jew, never yet known

to

have

deceived or over-reached any one, which was saying a great

3

TJie Forest- House.

1

Simeon had one mark by which

deal.

way

recognised him from a long

which he seemed for

one

to

all

the people

to wit, a hectic cough,

off,

have brought into the world with him,

he had always coughed, and as he passed along a

woman

often cried to another,

Simele the Jew

is

When,

during

Cravalles''

broke

coming;

Do

and

street,

you want anything ?

have heard

Revolution,

the out,

I

'

his cough.'

the

so-called

''^

Jews

in our villages the houses of all

the poor Israelites were unroofed, their doors and windows stove

in,

and

homesteads consigned to the

finally their

flames, then old

Simeon

goods and chattels to

fled with his

the Forest-House, where he was hospitably received, and

mutual friendship between him and

From

apace. '

Simele,' panting

wards

after

his host

his

and weary, wended

soon grew

drew on, poor

that time forward, as evening

his solitary

way home-

long wanderings, and on coming within

sight of the tall pines

round the Forest-House, within hear-

ing of the melodious bells of the

he seemed to

cattle,

feel

almost as though a bracing home-breeze from Zion were wafting refreshment towards him, and his prayer might be that of the 126th Psalm, captivity of Zion,

In the German version 7'edeem the captives of tivity,

O

'When

we were it

like

stands thus

Zion

Lord turned again the

the

them

that '

:

')...' Turn

Lord, as the streams in the south

of the 137th would rush upon his mind

Babylon, there we sat down, yea,

membered

Zion.'

delight, ran to

Often,

dream

When

when

meet him with a

we

:

the

{^N.B.

'

again our cap-

!'

Or

'By the

the words rivers of

wept, v/hen

his little

glass of



Lord shall

we

re-

Leah, his heart's

new

milk,

and he

The Forest-House.

319

clasped her in his arms, his dull eye would suddenly grow bright

and

his

mournful look vanish, as he raised a calm and

thankful glance towards heaven.

But before proceeding

further,

ance with the said Leah, or she was always called

granddaughter,

in

'

little

acquaint-

" {Jiidle),

Jewess

as

She was Simeon's

Sulzmatt.

—the only one of

Lord had spared

we must make

the

all his

children

whom

the

After death had deprived him also

to him.

of Deborah his beloved wife, and Leah remained his sole treasure, she his

very

became more and more

life.

Nevertheless she

his idol, his all-in-all,

still

continued a poor

neglected orphan, for as Simeon was absent

and often several days

at a time,

day long,

all

he had boarded Leah with

a Jewish family, but paid for her eating only, being anxious that she should live at time, to

done.

learn, in the course

which

Israelitish children

education of

growing up

this

like wild

could be admitted, and

poor child was utterly neglected;

hemp, she was fed sparingly enough

by those who were enriching themselves by nothing for

her.

As Leah

her,

but cared

inherited her grandfather's sensi-

dreamy and unpractical

nature,

and was apt

everything by contraries in household

matters, her

tive,

of

Deborah had

his notable

Schools there were none in those days in our

villages to

the

home and

keep house as well as

to

do

home

looked dirty and untidy, and she herself was usually unwashed, her hair uncombed and her dress in solitary bright point existed in Leah's sad

joy of her grandfather's return. waiting for

him

at the wayside,

tatters.

life,



it

One

was the

For hours she would

sit

and only when she heard

The

320 his distant

Fo7'cst-Hoiisc.

cough did she

start up, as if

from an

electric

shock, to run forward quickly and joyously towards him.

And hill

so

it

happened

that one day, having

gone up the

from her town home to meet him, she was thus

on the root of an old House, so deep

in her reveries as neither to see It

mountain was

with fragrance.

farm-servants were

cart.

air

on the

Vreneli and the female

pleasantly busied with raking the cut

grass into heaps, while

laden hay

nor hear any-

was the hay-making and the

thing around her. filled

sitting

tree beside the path, near the Forest-

Hans came

Biedermann was

up, driving a heavily

sitting

on a bench before

the house, quietly enjoying the sight of so

much

stir

and

merriment, when, as he cast his eyes round the whole scene, they rested on the

by the wayside.

silent,

grave and solitary Leah, sitting

'Poor child!' he exclaimed, 'or rather

poor nation, by whose poverty we have become rich

do we always Jews, that

we

forget, again

and

again, that salvation

are indeed your debtors'?'

words with deep

He

said in a friendly tone

little :

'

girl

Come

Why of the

spoke these

then rose, and,

feeling, as if soliloquizing,

going forw^ard, took the

!

is

gently by the

with me,

hand and

Leah, to join

meadows and share our supper.' Now, poor dirty little Leah was an unsightly object indeed

Vreneli in the

but she had singularly

fine, large,

black eyes, which seemed

as though a world of something well worth searching into lay

deep hidden expression,

there.

With these

said large eyes, so full of

she gazed shyly in astonishment at the kind-

hearted Anabaptist, as she answ^ered abruptly, eat

!'

in his

It cost

Biedermann no

little



'

I

dare not

trouble to persuade her,

most winning way, to accompany him

to the

meadows.

The Forest-House.

When

there, Vreneli rather

upon her

this strange,

321

owed him a grudge

uncouth, monosyllabic

for thrusting

little

Jewess, so

resolved not to accept anything from her, and so proud and exclusive as to draw from

Hans

the remark,

Jewish child, with her matted hair and her herself as haughtily as

royal princesses

'

Simeon had once, outlines of

filthy

demeans

she were one of the vile brood of

if

And

!

That

*

tatters,

truly

he was not

far

wrong.

in former times, learned the leading

Old Testament history from a brother of his

Deborah's, a Rabbi of the Grand-Duchy of Posen,

came

He

to visit her.

several Psalms in the

brethren, he

had

German

also

who

committed to memory

version, for, like

most of

his

was ignorant of the Hebrew tongue, and could

not therefore understand the Psalms and Prophets as read in the

synagogue every Sabbath and repeated by him, as

best he could, by

way of a

prayer.

That Polish Rabbi,

happening to spend the season of Purim with

his sister

and

her husband, had, moreover, related to them the history of

Queen

Esther, explaining

how

she and Mordecai the

had established the custom of keeping the

feast of

Jew

Purim, as

a memorial of that marvellous deliverance of the people of Israel,

and had ordained that

in every city

and

in all lands,

from generation to generation, old and young should observe it

for ever.

bath-days,

In the long winter evenings and on the Sab-

Simeon now delighted

little Leah when the Lord had and blessed them above all nations

to recount to his

the history of Israel in the days of old,

made His people on the

great

face of the earth.

He would

expatiate on the glory of

Jerusalem, the wondrous magnificence of

its

ancient temple

;

TJie Forest-House.

322

and, last not least, on what was Leah's favourite subject, which

she had called for hundreds of times, the story of Queen Esther, her wise guardian

of her

own

Never did Leah weary of hearing her

people.

grandfather describe

Mordecai and her deliverance

how King Ahasuerus caused Mordecai,

arrayed in royal robes and with a golden crown on his head, to be set

Susa

on

own

his

by Haman

horse and led round the great city of

the mortal

enemy of

king raised Mordecai to be the

first

these historic threads were soon into a

gay and motley

tastic

dream.

offered her

Not

the Jews,

woven

a fan-

any bribe that could have been

for

would she have tasted food

Christian, because she

many

All

head

in Leah's little

rich material for

tissue,

and how the

subject in the land.

had an idea

in the

house of a

fixed in her

mind

that

her refusal would be rewarded as meritorious obedience, similar to that of the youthful Daniel at the court of Babylon.

And when

she was sitting at

home

or at the wayside

so quiet and motionless, she was generally in imagination

not Leah the despised child, schoolmaster called the

'

little

other than Esther the Queen,

means Simeon be led

whom

the wicked

village

Jewish vagabond,' but none

— and

her grandfather by no

the pedlar but Mordecai the Jew, about to

in triumph, not

by

Haman

but by that same school-

master, through the golden streets of Jerusalem.

When,

however, she was suddenly, as on this occasion in front of the Forest-House, recalled from the magic world of vivid

fancy to that of sober

reality,

and found

herself not

Queen

Esther with the purple apparel, lace veil and pearl orna-

ments seen

in

her dreams, but the poor outcast Jewish

TJie Forest-Honsc.

323

child in her filthy tattered frock, then in truth she looked

Hans

as

father

thoroughly as some hated princess might

said,

have done in

Of

her pride.

all

had no conception

;

all this

the

good old grand-

and who can say how

visions of pride might have led poor Leah,

much

forced

longer to drag on her weary, idle

life, if,

good Lord had not taken compassion on

short, the

orphan child of

On

far these

she had been

if

Israel

in

poor

this

!

evening when the thought of our debt

that very

towards Israel had fastened

itself

on the mind and heart

of the excellent Biedermann, he at once broke the

ice,

and

when Simeon came up the path, weary and exhausted, he called him in a friendly way and offered him refreshment in

the shape of bread and cheese with milk, taking the

opportunity to remonstrate, kindly but urgently, on the evil of which he was guilty in letting

and without education. would

To

in the course of time

Simeon

replied that

'

Leah grow up

in idleness

what

his well-meant question,

become of

the poor child

%

old

she was a dear, good child, and in

a few years, when she had grown older and more reasonable, all

would come

earnestly

do not

As

right of itself

and beseechingly,

all

come

the twig

is

— 'No,

right while

we

Biedermann rejoined

no, Simele

bent, so the tree grows.

These things

!

are asleep, as

you imagine.

Idleness

is

the

beginning of destruction, and the habits learned in youth are practised in old age

old

man

hawking

House

!'

Hereupon he broached

his proposal, that, while his goods,

for the

he was going

Leah should be received

to the

his rounds,

in the Forest-

whole day, and should there be instructed by

The Forest-House.

324 Vrenell in

the duties of a housewife, besides learning to

all

Simeon could hardly beHeve

read, knit

and sew.

for never

had any one

before, even

among

that

his

He

spoken to him with as hearty good-will.

his ears,

own

people,

assuredly

felt

Biedermann was right,— that Leah was growing

wilder,

and

that

to herself.

it

would never do

to leave her

he could not make up

Still,

his child to Christians, for

his

visibly

much

mind

longer

to intrust

he would rather have seen her in

her grave than departing from the faith of her forefathers. Nevertheless when, as has been already mentioned, the persecutions against the Jews broke out in our villages,

and Biedermann offered Simeon a place of refuge in the Forest-House, where he cleared out a little dwelling for him, and prepared

for

him a

'

menage,' such as

Leah could look

after under Vreneli's superintendence, then, in the natural

course of things,

it

did

come At

Vreneli for instruction. heavily, for roe,

to pass that the child first

Leah was already wild and coy

and Vreneli had no

her or breaking her yielded nor flagged

daughter that

:

after

Gradually she began

day did he pray with

to

warm

to be

drawn

rays of the sun. at all

And

is

in

it

was given

and

the closed rosebud

Almost as soon

as she

began

towards her friend and instructress, she

attached herself to her with passionate love.

was clumsy

his grand-

be quite fond of Leah,

soon Leah's heart too was opened, as to the

young

give her a heart to care for this

neglected child of Israel's outcast race. her.

like a

Biedermann, however, neither

in.

day

tc

occupation of taming

taste for the

God would

came

indeed the teaching went

handiwork and slow

And

if

she

in acquiring habits of

TJie Forcst-Hotise. cleanliness

and

325

on the other hand she learned read-

order,

ing so quickly, ^nd committed to

memory

so

much and

so

from the German Psalter which Biedermann had pre-

easily

sented to her, that very soon on the latter point she out-

On

shone her teacher.

the Friday evenings,

when Simeon would

regularly returned to the Forest-House at sunset, she

run joyously to meet him with his glass of milk, straightway, in the small, neat

and where she had

room

in

which

lighted his Sabbath

lamp

his

bed

and

stood,

in the seven-

branched candlestick, she would repeat to him the psalm she had been learning through the week. with so

much devout

and expressive pression

it

and with such a melodious

voice, that Simeon, penetrated

made on

and forwards

feeling

This she did

by the im-

him, would rock his head backwards

after the fashion of his

own

people, and would

often with cheerful confidence repeat the words

God

is

It

good

was

to Israel'

(Psalm

certainly only after

Forest-House that the old

became devout and occasion, with

Ixxiii.

for

him and

with Vreneli, to

Truly

i).

man and

apology, told the Anabaptist that,

home

'

his grandchild really

When

Simeon, on one

polite attempts at circumlocution

gratitude he owed, for

all

deeply as he

felt

and the

the kindness which had

made a

and loaded them with

benefits,

his child

he yet could not but



they went to dwell in the

believing Jews.

many

:

fear that Leah, in her daily intercourse

whom

she was heart and soul devoted,

might insensibly be led to waver in her adherence to her ancestral faith, might in fact be on the highway to perversion,

—Biedermann, looking

fixedly at

him with

his

calm smile,

The Forcst-Honsc.

326

replied good-humouredly

up here

Christians

' :

If

you only knew

we

Simele,

it,

Forest-House are more truly be-

in the

Jews than you are yourselves, more familiar with

lieving

those glorious promises which the Lord has given to His

chosen people *

!

Gladly would

Biedermann,

—but

for

I believe

it

;

it

my

would do

heart good,

you are a pious man and learned

to boot,

.' .

.

that I am certainly not but my God I am acquainted with His holy word, which is " a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path " (Psalm cxix. 105), as He himself so beautifully tells us.' '

Learned

!

Simele,

no,

;

through the grace of

'

Is that really in

*

Really, Simele.

His word, Biedermann?'

That and a great deal besides, about

the power and value of to

Holy

Scripture,

be the consolation of your people

to the heavenly Canaan.

you are carrying

that

which was also given

in exile

Often does

it

and

hidden as

this treasure,

their guide

me

grieve

it

to think

were from

your own eyes, through the wilderness, without knowing

what

it is

worth, or understanding

am

but listen to what

I

now

autumn, and

you

far

to

on

in the

its

Now, do

meaning.

about to propose to you.

go to establish yourselves abroad and raging

it

We

are

would be imprudent of

at Sulzmatt, for the

demon

you were

to

build up your house to-day, to-morrow they would pull

it

of rebellion

down.

is

in the land.

If

Therefore stay and pass the winter with us in the

Forest-House, and in the long evenings

you and the children

in the

I will

read aloud to

books of the Old Testament,

and, with God's help, will explain

it

to

you

as well as in

my

The Forest-House. weakness of us

am

I

Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, who

is

our faith in the

my God

Simeon could not but acquiesce, and and

rejoicing

J

able to do, which will be for the edification

for the strengthening of

all,

'^2

full

and

God

of

Saviour.'

of contentment

was he as the plan was carried out;

for in the

depth of winter, while Jack Frost ruled with his rod of iron in the outer world, the

home

scene in the Forest-House was

was bright and harmonious.

a picture of

all

members of

the pleasant group were at their ease with one

that

All the

another as they gathered by the light of the lamp around the busy table,

merry ing,

his

hiss,

Hans stiff,

—Vreneli

plying her spinning-wheel with

Leah her needle

plaiting straw for bee-hives,

weary limbs

at the

its

that she might improve in sew-

and Simeon warming

bench beside the

devoutly listening to Biedermann,

who was

stove, while

reading regularly

through the historical books of the Old Testament, expounding as he went, and never beginning without having

first

prayed with his household, which was doubtless the secret of the blessing granted to these winter evenings for the hearts of

all.

During that winter many another

fugitive

took refuge in

the Forest-House, and was, after being provided with a false

beard, convoyed by Biedermann and his or, in

Hans

to Breifach,

the character of a Jewish pedlar, by Simeon, across

the frontier.

This united

effort in leading the

persecuted to

a place of safety, and saving the unfortunate, was a bond

which linked these two men, Jew, — more and

more

— the

Anabaptist and the old

closely together, strengthening their

mutual love and confidence.

The

328 For Leah

Forcst-Hoiise.

her growing acquaintance with the

also, with

new

sacred story of her nation, a

appear to

her,

new world sprang

a

hfe,

Wonderful and glorious

existence.

into

— even

more

truly did

it all

beautiful than the history of

Queen Esther Abraham and Sarah

in the

:

land of promise,

Isaac and Rebekah, Jacob and Rachel, and her name-sake

Leah, and above

Joseph revealing himself to

all

brethren in Egypt,



these appeared

all

Then came Moses, whom

mind's eye.

life-like

his guilty

before her

the princess saved

from the waters of the Nile, and educated in Pharaoh's palace, to

whom

Lord spoke

the

Horeb, who, with Aaron

in the

burning bush at

his brother, stood boldly before the

king and called for the ten plagues to descend upon Egypt.

Last not

drowned.

wondrous

the

least,

through the

Red Sea

in

When Biedermann read

children of Israel

:

'

I will sing

triumphed gloriously. song,

tale of the

and he

is

.

.

become

Leah sprang up

as

if

whom He

So that

it

came

my salvation'

inspired, fell

wrought

all

Simeon and Leah

is

my

(Exod.

strength

xv.

first

it

i,

2),

and then

on Vreneli's neck and



'

was

It

these glorious wonders

to pass that truly

were

unto the Lord, for he hath

The Lord

.

his host

the song of praise of the

exclaimed with triumphant joyousness, for

passage of Israel

which Pharaoh and

was

my

people

!

in the Christian's

learned to

know

the

home

Lord God

of their fathers, and to comprehend the foundations of their o^vn faith.

We read in

Isaiah (xxxii. 15), 'Until the Spirit

be poured upon us from on high, and the wilderness be a in

fruitful

field.'

These

Leah's experience.

words seemed

to

be

fulfilled

Those who had seen her before

The

Fo7'est-HoiLse.

would hardly have recognised maiden, neat in her the formerly shy,

in

329

the pretty and pleasing

and well-ordered

attire

awkward and

in all she did,

dirty Httle Jewess.

The snow was falling in thick flakes, and had covered meadows and forest paths to a great depth. Balthasar, the aged farm-servant, had been vainly striving to make house,

a clear path from the Forest-House to the stable and barnScarcely had he proceeded from one door to the

yard.

other

when he had

to begin his

Hans and Simeon had

work again

at the other end,

more and more.

as the drifts were gathering

Biedermann,

gone, each on a difl'erent path, to

convoy refugee nobles and a

priest across the

mountains

towards the Rhine, so that Vreneli and Leah had remained alone together in the Forest-House, under the guardianship

Leah was standing musing at the window

of old Balthasar.

after gazing anxiously at the thick, blinding

out in a sort of despair

deep snow on

all

branches of the

Our

tall

never get safely

home fruit,

wade and

to

will lose

home

decorate

gilded nuts

the approaching

'

But

if

at the

reaches up to the

seem buried

in

it

force a path through

their way,

and surely they

will

the

use of the leisure afternoon at

little

.

fir-tree

and small wax Christmas,

even in the deepest snow right path

it

!'

who was making

Vreneli,

Oh, Vreneli, only look

—see how

pines, so that they

friends will have to

deep snow, they

'

:

the paths,

;

snow, she cried

with

apples,

dried

tapers, in preparation for

replied calmly,

God can

'

Ah, Leah

cause them to find the

!

He

should be angry, Vreneli,

He

would

let

them

The Forest-House.

330 freeze out there

meet them *

Oh, do

!

That would be of no

side they

go out with Balthasar

to

may

He

we do not know on which

avail, for

Only be calm and composed,

return.

gone out on a service of

are on God's highway,

assuredly

me

let

!'

will preserve

— they

love,

and

them and bring them back

gra-

ciously to us here.'

Leah was said gently, that I '

That

may be I really

'

'

Oh

yes

Well

'

you.'

God r much

but not so

—but why

as I ought

is it

" Fear before Him,

all

one then love Him,

and might'

said in the " Thilim^' which I have

The

"The Lord most High

terrible that

answered the transparent

but we will ask grandfather, and

tell

learned (Psalm xxix. 4), " ful ;"

I

Him V

you,'

tell ;

be able to

love !

cannot

What must

so afraid of God.

able to love

honesty

all

will surely

'Do you

am

Vreneli, I

*

Vreneli, in

he

gazed again earnestly and anxiously out

;

window, then, covering her face with both hands, she

at the

do

silent

voice of the Lord

is

(Psalm

terrible"

the earth" (Psalm xcvi. 9). if

He

whosoever sees

so

is

Him

much

must die

to

is

power-

xlvii.

2;)

How can

be feared

— so

?"

Vreneli paused and considered for a moment, then an-

swered joyously

:

'

But, you know,

—the

Him in Christ Who is the '

storm

is

raging

!

we can only

see

infant

—The

Christ

snow

is

?

— But

oh

!

look

how

the

whirling high up in the air

Vreneli, Vreneli, surely our people never can get safety!'

and love

infant Christ of Christmas.'

home

!

in

The

'We

will

voice, read

:

*

Then Leah, with

it'

I will

my

whence cometh

moved

He

:

My

He

earth.

her childlike

from

hills,

help cometh from the Lord, will

not suffer thy foot

that keepeth thee will not slumber.'

Here Leah paused, drew a long in

Take your

her fine expressive

up mine eyes unto the

lift

help.

which made heaven and to be

331

pray the 121st Psalm for them.

and read

Psalter

Forcst-Hoiisc.

way

'

:

breath,

and then asked

Will he certainly not, Vreneli

?

Cer-

tainly?' '

"

Most

He

certainly,

Leah

;

for,

!

only read on

'

He

says

:

that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep."

Assuredly

He

will

know how

to protect

and preser/e our

dear ones.' It

was beginning to grow dark, and Balthasar, who had

also

been watching the storm with uneasiness, now told

Vreneli he was going with a lantern, accompanied by a servant from the neighbouring farm, to meet the three men,

and would take Sultan the watch-dog with him

He

track from afar.

ascent of the Schauenberg on their

Leah wanted

fach.

to insist

girls therefore

House fear

;

;

Leah

in

a state

the lamp, stirred the

When

all

of excitement,

calm and

fire

in

;

The

in the Forest-

trembling with

She lighted

collected.

the stove and prepared the

was ready, she was about to

at her spinning-wheel,

but VreneH

yield that point.

remained alone together

Vreneli, as usual,

supper.

way home from Ruf-

on going too

and Balthasar would by no means two

to scent their

believed they must have begun the

when Leah drew her

seat herself

to the

bench

beside the stove, and kneeling before her, laid her head

The Forest-HoiLse.

332

bosom, and said

in her

do now, I it

as

we

must know so *

it,

coaxing manner,

in a tender,

are alone,

*

Oh

!

me who the infant Christ is. my grandfather would not have

tell

even though

!

He

is

the Saviour, God's only begotten Son,

who came

to this world in the form of man.' '

'

And how did He come ?' Oh wait a moment, for

saying,

Luke

that I

so beautifully told in

all

is

it

!

the Gospel of St.

must read

Vreneli put out her hand

it

cried out in agitation, as

with horror,

*

No, no, Vreneli

tell

me

New

shelf.

But

deprecating such a thing

if

that holy

in

;

not read, nor even hear any of

book

I

dare

read aloud, for I was

it

my grandfather.

forced to promise that to

so

the

down

Testament, which lay beside the Old upon the

Leah

And

to you.'

to take

the story yourself instead, perhaps

pass away or be kept quiet, or they might

But

my

if

you could

anxiety might

come home mean-

time.'

Then

Vreneli began, and in her

the tale of Mary, a devout

own

maiden of

simple words told

Israel, living in the

town of Nazareth, and being the betrothed bride of a penter

named Joseph

and announcing

her,

shadow be

'

her,

and

that

Immanuel,' that

to call

'

Jesus,' that

at first at the angel's

'What manner of

Holy Ghost would overshe should bear a son, who should that

'

is, is,

car-

of the angel Gabriel appearing to

;

'

the

God

with

Saviour

;'

us,'

of

and

respectful salutation,

salutation

is

this?'

whom

Mary being

she was troubled

and thinking,

then afterwards bow-

ing her head meekly, and saying to the angel,

*

Behold the

The handmaid of

the

Lord

Forest-Hotise.

be

;

it

unto

333

me

according to thy

word.' *

And

'

my

people

Yes indeed,

exclaimed Leah, her eyes

!'

for she

Mary and Joseph going

ancestors, to be inscribed

Roman

flashing.

and Joseph too were of the seed of

David,' replied Vreneli, reassuring her

of

was a Jewess, a

this devout, highly-favoured virgin

daughter of

Emperor's decree

by continuing

to Bethlehem, the

on the

home

according to the

roll there,

of both being poor, so that they

;

could find a resting-place only in the stable, where

brought forth her Divine Son, wrapped clothes,

how,

and

laid

Him

in a

memorable

in that

to tell

of their

manger.

Him

Mary

in swaddling

She proceeded to

night, the

tell

heaven opened above

Bethlehem's plains, and an angel appeared to the shepherds

announce the

in the fields, to

Messiah praised

;

birth of the long-promised

and then the multitude of the heavenly host

God

'Glory to

in that song,

God

and on earth peace, good-will toward men *

Oh, Vreneli

!'

exclaimed Leah,

the words as they

in

and lovely story that never .

.

.

fell is

from her I

!

must

will believe at all that the

But hark

!

Sultan

is

!'

up and hastened There,

Wrapped

And

lips,

tell it

'

eagerly drunk

what a wondrous

to grandfather,

Messiah

is

Oh,

who

already come.

actually, our

with these words both

at the

people are

girls

jumped

to the door, Vreneli carrying the lamp.

however, in

who had

whining and scratching

door, and I hear Hans's voice.

coming home

in the highest,

!'

Leah's

joyous cry was

soon

silent.

Biedermann's woollen mantle, laid on pine

branches carefully fastened together, and tenderly borne

^/^^ Forest-House.

334

by Balthasar and Hans,

lay poor old Simeon, whether

they could not at

or fainting

and exhaustion, he had sunk forth to search

went his

in

dangerous

its

companion arrived

first

at the very

deep snow, when Sultan drifts,

and Balthasar with

moment when

their help

Simeon had thus been drawn out and

was needed.

and now

to the Forest-House,

with snow, and to lay him in

it

seriously

and,

when

many

for

able to

carried

remained to rub him well

his

well-warmed bed, where,

after a long waiting, his consciousness returned. ill

dead

with cold

Stiff

tell.

He

lay

weeks, suffering from a violent cough,

he

rise,

which he was never again

still

had a strange hoarseness of

quit.

Nevertheless, in spite of her old grandfather's illness, the

Christmas

festivities

were such to poor Leah as to mark

that blessed day as the brightest ever yet less

life.

On

known

in her joy-

Christmas Day, when, in the evening, old and

young from the surrounding farms assembled at the ForestHouse, and Biedermann conducted their worship in his

way

simple time),

(the

and they

little

all

Jewess being present

sang Arndt's beautiful Christmas

He's come,

*

for

the

Holy

the

first

hymn

Christ!

God's well-beloved Son 'Mid hosts around the Highest !

The

joyful tidings run.

Ye sons of men, rejoice Add all your praise to theirs Praise,

But

then

it

seemed

;

— not alone with voice,

heart's

deep love and prayers

as though

poured out on Leah.

!

the Spirit from on high were

She could hardly herself give an

TJie Forest-House.

how

account of

came

it

335

to pass, but so

was, that

it

when

the Christmas tree was Hghted up, and Biedermann stepped

forward in front of

Lord Jesus

to the

and pronounced the words,

it

Christ,'

uttered the response,

After this the

then she also

and

for ever

'

gifts

little

bowed

company, and out of a

like all the rest of the

'

Praise

reverently, full

heart

Amen.'

ever.

were freely dispensed, and the

children indulged in glee and merriment over their golden nuts,

and regaled themselves with apples and sweetmeats.

And Leah

too had not been

beautiful

and

Simeon.

It

Bible,

was reserved

was neither more nor

bound

in

black morocco, with

less

than a

gilt leaves,

philanthropist, Pfeffel of Colmar,

good blind

the old Anabaptist for his Jewish friend.

dermann

But the most

forgotten.

really costly present

in very high esteem.

for old

German

which the

had given

to

Pfeffel held Bie-

For many years he had been

supplied with butter from the Forest-House, and regularly

every

summer he and was

as Pfeffel

also interested in active efforts to save

victims of persecution, he directed fugitive to

With our good

general,

the

more than one such

betake themselves to the Forest-House, and thus

was frequently brought

reality.

And

his pupils paid a visit there.

He

into contact with Simele the Jew.

loved

Lord Jesus

the

and old Simeon

by means of

in particular,

proof of his hearty good-will.

they which

testify of

'

;

living,

therefore

heart

Israel

in

were dear to him, and

he was desirous of giving Simele a

this Bible

his secretary to write,

was a

Christianity

Pfeffel

On

the fly-leaf he had caused

Search the Scriptures,

me

'

(John

v. 39).

On

.

.

.

they are

the other side

The Forest-House.

33^

was inscribed Simeon's name and the

and

date, in letters

That so distinguished, so learned and

figures of gold.

pious a gentleman as Pfeffel should have presented any

handsome and valuable

so

was indeed the greatest joy and honour with in his whole

he received

it

life,

on

that

and he was moved

his sick-bed.

Simeon had met by

to tears

ing to

Leah

He

Bible.

felt

against ever reading

his illness,

New

for

;

as

it

constrained to renew his warnit.

As, however, the read-

ing aloud in the family circle was interrupted

quence of

it

Only the books of the

Testament were to him a source of some anxiety

was a whole

gift

to a poor Jewish pedlar, that

conse-

in

he listened with pleasure to the long

passages in the Prophets or the Psalms which his

little

granddaughter read to him privately, and never failed to

remark what a great honour good Herr ferred

on him, and what

true joy he

One day when Leah had Isaiah

a sign

and

(vii. ;

14),

had con-

had given him.

read the words in the prophet

— Therefore the Lord Himself *

shall give

you

Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son,

shall call his

up and cried out

name Immanuel,'

in joyful

must be the Infant that

Pfeffel

was born and

on the

field

with a

full

recited to

amazement

Christ, the holy

laid in the

she suddenly '

:

Grandfather

!

that

Babe of Bethlehem,

manger, when the shepherds

heard the angels' song of

She then,

praise.'

heart and ardent enthusiasm, as

him the

jumped

if

inspired,

story of the Saviour's birth, as related to

her by Vreneli, and as Biedermann had read and explained it

on Christmas evening from the Gospel of St Luke.

Simeon grew

pale, said not a word, but

from that moment

"

The Forest-House. he seemed transformed

became

reserved,

stiff,

who

friends

and

altered

mien merely

hosts,

no longer open and

hearty,

and suspicious towards

his

;

at

who

for

When,

some time past had been

bounding about the house

bright,

a pet squirrel, grew

all

at

he

kind

regarded his gloomy and

first

as a result of his physical state.

however, Leah too,

merry and

337

in glee like

once melancholy, and took to

creeping about with bent head and downcast eyes, and

when

Vreneli,

on finding her

weeping in the comer,

at last

and asking with tender sympathy what was the matter, was answered by Leah throwing

and whispering, crush



my heart,'

I

'

it

you about

tell

on her neck it,

but

it

does

then Biedermann began to notice the state of

things with anxiety.

out of

herself, sobbing,

dare not

All at once he went to his chest, took

a leather girdle, and went to Simeon's sick-room.

Now, by this leather girdle there hung a tale. On that night when the old pedlar was carried back to the Forest-House stiff when those around were forced to undress rubbing him all over with snow, Bieder-

and

insensible,

him

for the sake of

mann found shirt all

a leather girdle, which he always wore under his

next to his skin, and perceiving as he unfastened

it

that

the worldly goods of his poor Jewish friend were secured

there,

he took

it

and locked

it

up

in his chest.

It

was

heavy, and had actually worn the poor waist into a sore

and when Biedermann opened that

it

it

contained a considerable sum.

him pain stricken

;

for as

This discovery gave

Simeon had always appeared so poverty-

and niggardly, so unable

education of his

;

he found to his surprise

little

girl,

to

do anything

for the

he was driven to conclude that

Y

The Forest-House.

33S

avarice must have been at the bottom of to himself with a sigh,

has got possession of thee

when

the opportunity,

ously a word of his to wait

till

it,

Poor old Simele

'

He

!'

was

!

so that he said

mammon

vile

fully resolved to take

restoring the girdle, to give

mind on

the subject

him

seri-

only he wished

;

the invalid was convalescent, and as mutual

regard and hearty confidence had prevailed, as seen, in the litde circle,

he never deemed

it.

we have

necessary to

say to Simeon that he had taken charge of the precious believing that to be an understood thing between

girdle,

When, however, Simeon became

them.

estranged, and even the innocent

and

sad,

little

so

morose and

Leah

so disturbed

Biedermann naturally attributed

to anxiety con-

it

cerning the fate of the girdle, and hastened to give

window, basking first

it

up.

the sick man's room, he was sitting at the

As he entered

in the rays of the bright sun,

time after a long winter was shining,

which

for the

warm and

clear,

in an azure sky.

Biedermann laid the girdle on Simeon's lap, and what abruptly,

'

There, Simele,

I

said,

some-

bring you back your

mam-

mon, about which you have been having such

You may rest in peace As one wakening out

not one farthing

;

and then said with

voice, often interrupted with coughing,

Easter, I

till

Leah '

\.o

To

'

beg of you,

Jerusalem

!

!'

his hoarse

My money

hands with you, Biedermann

JeriishaletJi

wanting

of a dream, Simeon gazed with utter

indifference at the girdle,

kept, in safe

is

misgivings.

!

for after the feast I

f Are you mad, Simele V

is

well

Only keep

it

must go with

TJic Forest-House. '

No, no, Biedermann

339

From my youth up my warmest

!

desire has been to die in Jerusalem, and to be buried with

my fathers money

I

sparing

in the Valley of

it

laid by, for

not longer delay, else with

me

my good

Jehoshaphat.

many a from my victuals. Now,

have

wife

feast of the

will

it

the bones of

my

year, it is

be too

late

Deborah,

Look

here

little

by



high time,

I

promised that to after the

must be on our way

Biedermann could hardly believe posed to think the sick

his ears.

man might be

by

must

I

Also, I will take

!

for I

upon her deathbed, and immediately

Passover Leah and

This

!

little,

He

!'

was

dis-

talking in the delirium

of fever, and he grasped his hand to feel his pulse.

Soon,

however, he was obliged to come to the conclusion that

Simeon had that

it

firmly resolved to carry his plan into execution

was one which, with

his innate

;

and peculiar perse-

verance, he had been long thinking over and working out in his

own mind.

He

as far as Marseilles,

had determined

and there

hawk

to

his

wares

to take ship for the land of

promise, intending to wander on after landing as a pilgrim,

with Leah and with Deborah's bones, to Jerusalem.

In vain

did his kind host try to represent to him the unreasonableness of his proposal, urging that he was far too sickly to stand

such a journey

;



that,

as he

weak and was quite

ignorant of the French language, he would be in danger,

long before he could reach Marseilles, of falling into the

hands of the furious Jacobins, by

whom

he might,

if

suspected of being a spy, be hurried off at once to the

He

his conscience to consider

how

miserable and desolate he would then leave his poor

little

guillotine.

laid

it

on

The Forest-House.

340

But to each remonstrance

Leah, deserted in a foreign land.

Simeon had a ready answer: certainly prove beneficial to

no

— 'The southern climate would

him

;

had

as to the Jacobins, he

and was indeed more

fear of them,

himself than they

sly

he had already helped many a person across the

;

and

frontier,

assuredly he was likely to be able to get safely across him-

and then he could not doubt that God would keep him

self,

from '

and bring him to Jerusalem,' and so

all evil

Well now, Simele,

suppose a case

I shall

forth.

Taking

:

for

it

granted that you were to reach Jerusalem alive and well (which,

you

set

nevertheless,

I

think most doubtful), what would

about under the Turkish Government in Palestine,

where the Jews are yet more miserable and oppressed than they are here in our land?' '

Set about

Why,

!

would weep with

I

my exiled brethren,

because we are strangers in the land of our fathers

To

!

weep and pray on the holy mount where once our glorious temple stood, and where now the Turk has built a place for would be what

his false worship, that

And when

I

had wept out

my

full,

would

I

set

about

Biedermann, then

would die and be buried with Deborah's bones

I

in

the

very sake of Leah that I must be

off,

Valley of Jehoshaphat

!

*And Leahr '

It is for the

Rather would

Biedermann.

I

see

wretched among our own people, than '

Become a

now, Simele forth

:

the .

.

child .'

Christian in the Forest-House it is

this fear,

and

poor and

!

Confess

this alone, that drives

it

you

from among us to seek the distant land of promise.'

The Forest-House. Well, yes

'

The not

child

is

resist

You have guessed

!

You

it.

are right enough.

She can-

too happy here in the Forest-House.

has

It

!

341

come

to pass as I at

first

You

feared.

are an honourable man, Biedermann, a devout man, and surely

you

will

agree with

me

religion of one's forefathers,

that

one ought not to quit the

and

that every

man

ought to

continue in that in which he was bom.'

Hem

'

!

.

.

then,

.

if I

were replying to any Christian

who might have propounded such ought

all

to

be heathens,

to you, a Jew, I

called to

and

go out from

'

become

from his

the founder of a

Yes indeed, but then there Granted, Simele.

But

was not Abraham father's

house

he was to forsake the

is

faith

new religion ?'

a vast difference between

a bhnd heathen and a son of Israel '

even cannibals.

inquiry,

his fatherland,

just because

of his fathers and to

we

idolaters, or

would put the

all his friends,

a view, I might say,

!'

But do you know what

is

the differ-

ence between a Jew and a Christian?'

For the '

first

I shall try,'

pause,

'

to

time Simeon was at a loss for an answer.

continued his friend, after an embarrassing

make

it

clear to

you as best

I can.

Did not the

Tabernacle in the wilderness, of which the Lord our himself showed Moses the pattern in the

Mount

and afterwards the Temple of Jehovah, which Solomon on Mount Moriah, both '

Yes, yes, certainly.

plained

all

that to me.

court, the holy place, '

And

God

at Sinai,

built

consist of three separate divisions

My

brother-in-law the

There was

in

and the holy of

Rabbi

f

ex-

them both the outer holies.'

the people were only permitted to worship in the

The Forest-House.

342

outer court, the priests in the holy place, and the high priest

alone was ever to enter the most holy place, and that only

on the great day of atonement, when he was

make

with prayer and to

to confess sin

expiation with blood.'

What a pious and learned man you ally know all that far better than I do *

— why, you actu-

are

!

'

Now,

— observe,

Simele

would reach everlasting

We

!

bliss,

Christians must,

worship and

with you in the outer court.

That

is

offer

to say,

if

we

thanksgiving

we must take

your holy books, the writings of the Old Testament, as the foundation of our

In one word,

faith.

what every devout Jew

we must

with you as brethren in the court, and so

him the holy place

within the veil

thus heaven

continued,

'

open, and the holy of holies

is

This

opened.

Simeon looked down,

mann

you and we

wherein stands the mercy-seat, and

also,

itself is

far

But the Christian may go beyond,

are thoroughly alike. for to

believe

and therefore we stand

believes,

The

silent

is

the difference

and perplexed

;

!

so Bieder-

sanctuary of old was evidently a t}^e

of the Christian Church, into which one cannot enter save

through the outer court

;

for salvation

is

of the Jews,

comes to us from them, from your people, to committed His to

His promise

be blessed

'

revelation, to

(Gen.

and through whom, according

Abraham, xii. 3).

'

all

And

likewise the daily burnt-offering

the altar in the court,



it

whom God

families of the earth shall

as the paschal lamb,

and the other

t}TDified Christ's

— and

sacrifices

on

bloody offering and

atoning death, so did the shewbread on the golden table in the holy place foreshadow as a sign our salvation by Christ's

The Forest-House. body broken and His blood shed

And

343

for us, our life in

Him.

the seven-branched candlestick represents to us light

and wisdom which Christ has brought

The

holy

oil

the

is

our souls, and keeps

Holy it

The incense on

in us.

Spirit,

shining,

from heaven.

to us

who kindles the light in who creates the new life

the altar of incense

prayer,

is

ascends to heaven from a humble and thankful

which

heart,

a

sweet savour, acceptable unto the Lord.'

A violent

fit

moment

of coughing, and at the same

the

entrance of Vreneli bearing her glass of new milk, interrupted the conversation, so that

When

ing.

free breath

Simeon was prevented from

paroxysm was

reply-

over, however, with his first

he eagerly informed Leah that she was now to

Vreneli that

tell

on

the

'

in future

their friends, as they

they would no longer be a burden

were about to set

off after Easter

for Jerushalein .'

Leah

burst into tears, and sobbed out in an under-tone,

clinging tenderly to her friend

:

'

Oh, Vreneli

you and from the Forest-House, where

happy '



For

fear

more

bitter than

death to

yourselves, dear children,

said

spirit!' '

it is

Calm

Biedermann

me

I

different journey

rather I

mean

for a

that evening to the

—but

will in the spring set out

from that which he

that I

to part from

!'

and seek

do not know —I may be mistaken

poor old Simele

!

have been so

I

is

contented

two

girls.

I greatly

on a very

contemplating

hope he may go not

;

or

to the earthly

but the heavenly Jerusalem.'

Biedermann, well versed herbs,

in the healing

powers of various

and understanding a good deal of medicine,

ac-

Forest-House.

^-^^^

344 customed moreover

to receive

many

patients from

become convinced

the surromiding poor, had

monary consumption from which Simeon had his youth

had now reached an advanced

among

that the pul-

suffered since

stage, that his

days must be numbered, and that he never could leave the

Forest-House except in his

He

coffin.

therefore never

thwarted nor contradicted him, as he watched his eager

and

approaching

feverish impatience in preparing for his

He

journey to Jerusalem.

among

sleep in the stable

ordered him, nevertheless, to

and

the cows,

to take

warm new

milk as his chief nourishment.

But when spring came the aged invalid appeared to

Once more he strapped up

revive.

began

again to ply in

Moreover, he discovered

trade as a pedlar.

Jewish family, with

pack

his

and

as of old,

the immediate neighbourhood

whom

his

Ruffach a

in

he could keep the passover, Leah

of course also joining the party, and afterwards he and she

would settled,

start for Marseilles.

and the day

fixed

Everything was ordered and

on which they were to bid

well to the Forest-House for ever.

nounced

his verdict, 'This

Still

improvement is only the brightened

light of a flickering flame just before

He

shook his

head

sadly,

little

Leah.

must certainly happen,

the road, what could

to

become of her

stormy days, without a word of French In

this

it

is

extinguished

and could not conceal

anxiety as to the fate of poor as he foresaw

fare-

Biedermann pro-

If

his

Simeon were,

fall ill

in these

and

die

on

bloody and

?

emergency the pious Anabaptist betook him

help and comfort to his worthy friend

!'

deep

Pfefifel.

for

But he too

The

Forcst-HoiLsc.

Simeon remained stubborn

could only preach to deaf ears.

and immovable,

345

stoutly persisting that

'

on such or such a

day he would leave the Forest-House, go keep the passover, and then

set out with

So nothing now remained

salem.'

to

Ruffach to

Leah

for Jeru-

for his Christian friends

but to pray for him and commit the whole matter to God.

The season '

Matza-cakes

thing was

'

now drawing

of Lent was

houses of the Israelites

all

to a close.

In the

was washed and scrubbed,

(unleavened bread) were baked, and every-

in readiness for eating the

supper of the passover.

In so-called Christendom, however, and not the least in our

own dear

Alsace, things at that time looked sad and dreary

enough.

The churches

were, as

we have already mentioned,

No public worship was held

closed; the church-bells silent.

new Calendar Easter was not named. Thus there were full many who did not commemorate the death or resurrection of our Saviour, who heard not the sound Around the Forest-House, on the conof Easter rejoicing. anywhere, and in the

trary, the

vegetation

mild breezes of spring, quickening the germs of into

a sort of resurrection-verdure,

speak of the Lord's salutation, grave and mournful as all

all

'

seemed

Peace be unto you

!'

to

and

things seemed, yet here, amid

these changes, there was a suppressed tone of festive

joy.

It

was Palm Sunday.

Leah was

sitting

with a heavy

heart before the house, her hand clasped in Vreneli's, gaz-

ing with tearful eyes at the setting sun.

evening they were to pass there.

Simeon's pack of goods, barn.

all

Their

It little

was the

last

property and

stood ready for departure in the

That morning her grandfather had gone

to Sulzmatt

The Forest-House.

34^

and the

to fetch Deborah's bones

already purchased,

ass,

which he was to take as beast of burden with them as

far

as Marseilles. *

Oh, Vreneli

Jerusalem

!

why can

Why

?

do

I

I

not rejoice at the thoughts of

so dread leaving you, and shrink

from going forth into the wide world alone with

my

sick

old grandfather?' said Leah, as she laid her head, weeping

on Vreneli's shoulder.

bitterly, '

Poor Leah

forted *

!

I

Surely the

!

too tremble for you.

Lord

will

Is that the " Metatron" as

who led

to

—be

my

Yes, Leah.

It is

com%'

grandfather calls him,

the children of Israel in the pillar of cloud

through the wilderness and the '

Only,

send His angel before you

and

fire

Red Sea V

the very same,

— our Lord Jesus

whom be all praise for ever and ever He will not go before us, Vreneli !'

*

Christ,

!

answered Leah

sor-

rowfully.

'Why *

Leah?'

not,

Because they crucified Him, when

after

He

was

bom

—read that story

I did,

in this world,

Grandfather did

as the infant Christ.

indeed forbid me, but nevertheless it,

He was



I

could not help

your holy book which Herr

in

Pfefi'el

know why my people are exiled and gave him. I have read how He wept over under the ban of Heaven. Jerusalem, and how they cried, " His blood be on us and

And now

on our children

me

!

I

am

!"

I

Oh, Vreneli

only a poor

little

!

He

cannot care about

Jewess, the daughter of His

enemies?' '

But those were also Jewish children

whom He

took up

The

Forest-Hotise.

347

His arms, to draw them one by one close to His heart

in

when He Mary and

And His

blessed them.

Lazarus, were

solatory tone.

who

believe in

melancholy as she whispered

:

'

heard His name pronounced, or as I have if I

done

Oh

!

I

!

could but have done

cross at the wayside, *

now you do

But

my

Him

and

I

I

can

are pecuharly

an

air

so.'

of deep

They never spat when they when they passed a cross,

have hated it,

'

grandfather say

steadfastly at her friend with

Leah looked

Martha and.

Leah,' added she,

it,

have always heard

I

disciples,

Jews,' replied Vreneli in a con-

Only believe

'

assure you those Jews

dear to Him.

all

Him and

all

of you

would have torn down every

set fire to every Christian

church

!'

V Leah impressed a

not hate us any longer

Instead of answering this question,

tender kiss on Vreneli's cheek. '

the '

And are you name of our Grieved

!

Yes,

remembrance of forgive

grieved

now

Saviour,

it

—with

!

to think of having

and spat

my

at

blasphemed

His cross f

whole heart

I

But do you think that

mourn

He

at the

can ever

me f

Of such as you He did They know not what they do." It was because He loved you that He died for you upon the cross, that you '

He

once

has already forgiven you.

say, "

might be with

Oh Him '

!'

rising,

!

Him

in Paradise.'

knew He loved me, how I should love exclaimed Leah enthusiastically. Then hurriedly if I

she went briskly forward, as her custom was, to meet

her grandfather.

She had been gone about an hour when

she saw, from a distance, the ass with the box containing

TJic Forest-House,

348

Deborah's bones, suddenly turning round and going slow pace

can

my

down

the road back towards Sulzmatt.

grandfather have been

With winged

steps she rushed

left

'

the steep

Just as he had ascended the

expense of his

hill,

and, lying

towards

and

Most

home.

Hans happened

to

its

freedom, hastened back

restore

him

come up on

same road, when the

that

to raise the old

man

She greeted them as

consciousness.

to

Biedermann and

fortunately

Leah was vainly endeavouring

terrified

acchvity at the

unconscious to the ground,

fell

the ass, rejoicing in old

its

difficult

in his

remaining strength, he was suddenly

little

attacked by haemorrhage and

upon which

a

V she anxiously inquired.

down

on the roadside, she found poor old Simeon weltering blood.

at

Where

guardian angels, and soon they raised Simeon and once more carried

him back

placed

among

to the Forest-House, where, after

and Vreneli, he soon opened

then took his hand and said,

held thee

the road to it

to

as

fast,

Damascus

!

He

Simele, Simele

to cry out like Saul

do

?"

And

Poor old Simele

:

He

!

thou

has cast thee

once did Saul of Tarsus on

hard to kick against the pricks

now

*

away from the Lord, and

didst wish to run

down and

and looked around

his eyes

With deep and solemn emotion Bieder-

with astonishment.

mann

he was

the cows under the tender care of Biedermann

" Lord,

as Saul then arose

!

thou too wilt find

Therefore

!

what

I entreat

wilt thou

thee

have

up as Paul, so thou

me too,

Simeon, finding mercy with the Lord, shalt be able before thy death to say

'' :

part in peace, for

found

my

Saviour

Lord,

now

lettest

thou thy servant de-

mine eyes have seen thy salvation !'"

!

I

have

The we

But, as deceitful

are told

above

all

Forest-Hoiisc.

by Jeremiah

things,

349

(xvii.

'The heart

9),

and desperately wicked

:

is

who can

know it %' Who indeed % Assuredly we ourselves least of all. The only fitting answer is (ver. 10), 'I, the Lord, search the heart.' And so it proved in Simeon's case. With the yearning after the promised land which lingers in every Israelitish heart, as lost Paradise,

it

were a dim shadowy memory of the

he had sought thoroughly, and as he believed

honestly, to persuade himself that he wished to go to Jerusa-

lem to die there and

to

be buried

phat, while, in truth, at the secret

longer, suggested

Jehosha-

schemes lay a

his

that the climate of the

beneficial for

pulmonary

Now,

thither.

as

life

by the circumstance of

brother-in-law, the Rabbi, having,

go

all

hope of recovery and of being able to enjoy

good while

him

in the valley of

bottom of

many

a

his

years before, told

promised land was peculiarly

patients,

and advised him

to try to

he lay there prostrate, unable to

rally

or to gather up the last sparks of strength, feeling himself

touched by the icy hand of death {Freimd Hein), and hearing as Simele,

it

were the summons sounding

it is

thy turn.

in his ear

Thine hour has come

a deadly anguish seized his very soul.

!'

Now,

'

:

— now indeed

At

first

he was

stunned, and the petrified gaze of his large sad eyes betrayed this as

he lay speechless.

But soon he burst forth

in

loud

lamentations, called for Biedermann, and conjured him, on his conscience, to tell

recovery.

When

his

him

if

there was

friend gravely

now no hope

shook

his

left

of

head, the

old invalid wept bitterly and clasped his hands in agony, exclaiming,

'

Oh, Death

!

thou dread enemy

!'

Forest-House.

TJic

350

After a long and painful pause, Biedermann resumed the

conversation by apparently giving

mar

yesterday," said he,

hearty greeting

when tary,

young Herr

bed, wishing I

must sing

it

ver)-

ill

calm the struggles of your

Without waiting

for

all

commonly

thy ways'

('

me

sends you

God

mind

and

softly

glad hour

Sa\-iour, calls

Welcome, thou

Thy

I

Since I

silent,

two

lines at a time,

'

Leave God

come

is

me home

!

I

peaceful grave, I

death has sweeten'd mine.

— Lord God my Life — am Thine I

!

Lord, I would spring to Thy As mountain roe as joyous bride



Not Death's dark gate can me detain, FreeM by the Paschal Lamb once slain. Thy death has sweeten'd mine, Jesus I

I— Lord God my

Oh Thou whose

Life

I

—am Thine.

blood was shed for me, To Thee from sin

Cleansing from guilt



!

to order

Idsst walte?i')^ :

dear side,

Since

and

sweetly, the well-known

Refuge from every stormy wave Jesus

it

may be

Simeon's answer, he called the two

The

I

my

it

view of death.

Wer nur den lieben Gott hymn as follows

Hosaima

verses of

Perhaps

into your tried spirit,

in

linked with the words,

Jesus,

his secre-

hymn which

the

Some

at his funeral.

thus gave forth Pfeffel's '

in Col-

for his o\\ti death-

stable, and, repeating

from the cows'

he struck up with them, tune

was

I

Pfeffel

you with the children.

blessed to bring the peace of

girls

'

you were, he desired

had composed

friend,

be sung

to

to

Hen

and good

R,, to vsTite out for

good

he, our dear

a turn.

it

he made particular inquiry about you, and

;

him how

I told

'

and

TJie Forcst-Housc.

35

I cling, in worship bow. Redeemer, Kinsman, Judge art Thou. Jesus Thy death has sweeten' d mine, am Thine Since I Lord God my Life

In love

!





!

!

Thy rod, know whom I 've believed Thy staff, Thy voice I know, my God

I

!

!

That voice which this vile dust shall hear, And, glorious raised, with Thee appear. My dying look in faith meets Thine With Christ my Life, ev'n Death is mine !

!

During the singing, the melody of which was so lovely

and soul-elevating

as to

be

Christian triumph which

come he

fell

his

expressed, the invalid had be-

manifestly soothed and peaceful, and as

Leah,

into a sweet sleep.

him

bed, looked at

down

unison with the sentiments of

in

it

her cheeks.

'

pered Biedermann,

Pray *

in

who was and

silence,

for

it

died away

standing beside

large tears rolled

your grandfather,'

softly whis-

God would

grant thee

and ask

that

yet to be permitted to read to

him from the Gospels the

story of our Saviour's passion.'

Leah nodded

when her

to their work, she

and

;

remained long on her knees beside the

sick-bed, imploring with clasped

God had

assent

old friend and his young granddaughter had gone

hands the blessing which

taught her so fervently to desire.

During Passion

Week Biedermann had

and, as the weather was

warm and

his fellow-worshippers in the

open

a daily service,

bright, air,

window beside which Simeon's bed was

he assembled

close to the

placed.

little

Under

the

pretext of wishing to admit the precious sunshine, Vreneli,

morning

after

morning, opened

this

window, so that Simeon

The

352 could

distinctly

Forcst-Hoicse.

hear the whole

The

service.

striking

hymns sung '

Ah, wounded Head must Thou Endure such shame and scorn !

!

or '

Oh

world

*

Go

thou,

see here thy Life

!

!

or

and other

similar ones,

my

soul, to

seemed

Golgotha

!'

daily to exercise a whole-

some, calming influence on the mind of the patient.

He

devout attention to the reading, from

also listened with

the four EvangeHsts in

succession, of the history of our

Lord's sufferings and death, to which Biedermann added the 2 2d Psalm and the 53d of Isaiah, with a few simple and forcible

words of comment.

asked him

Herr

' :

.Pfeffel's

When

in the

evening Leah

Grandfather, shall I read to you from good

holy book another Psalm, and then the story

of the crucifixion

he did not refuse

?'

he seemed daily to

like

it

better,

and

;

on the contrary,

to listen with

appearance of being really edified and moved. as to Leah, the

more him,

and death of our Lord and Saviour

life

Jesus Christ had at entirely new,

To

first

all

the freshness of something

and the gospel of the grace of God came as

a thing unheard of before.

And when

the

young

girl,

deeply impressed by the realizing of that love and compassion which went forward willingly even unto the death for us,

was

silent for

a while, held in her breath with solemn

recoUectedness, and then exclaimed joyously, it is

to

'How glorious

belong to that nation through which salvation came

The Forest-House. into the world

and

like

!'

353

then the old grandfather shared her ardour,

her wept tears of gratitude and loye.

But who can trace or describe the work of grace in Simeon's soul, or said,

to

tell

Let there be

'

know

the

word of God

was

;

Old Testament, and now^

in the

with death in view, was learning to Christ

who conquered

sense of the word, truly to seek

Him

is

is

step, when God there how he had first learned

how, step by

light,' light

death. to love

to find

know

the Saviour Jesus

To know Him, in the true Him as in the same way ;

Him.

Simeon now,

to adopt

Biedermann's significant language, advanced from the outer court into the sanctuary Priest

who

itself,

High

there to find the Great

had, even for him too, rent the veil of separation

from the holy of

and through His precious blood

holies,

procured the forgiveness of sins and the seal and earnest of everlasting redemption.

Leah had entered with such

intense feeling into all the

passion and death of our Lord, that she had fought through

On

'

was

still

her

it

really

and

silent, as

in the

Lord

is

it

was touching to

'

Much

;

about

women of observe how

'

she saluted

To-day the

Biedermann was much moved, and de-

had never seen such soul-absorbing,

he thought,

Friday, she

how

house with the jubilant greeting,

risen!'

clared he

Good

joy seemed to illuminate her coun-

tenance and transform her whole being all

as if

must have been the holy

Easter morning,

heart-felt, childlike

seemed

and triumphed with Him.

the Great Sabbath,' the day after

On

old.

all

it

the

same

state

as

little

living faith.

Leah's

must,'

'have been that of Mary Magdalene, when

354

Forcst-Hoiise.

-^/^^

the

before her

Saviour stood

risen

and

her by

called

name.'

He

In Simeon's soul too there was peace.

had not

in-

deed many words, but he was calm, and yet more calm, and

became

perfectly resigned to the will of

weeks yet

several all

full

the books of the trust

New

our outward

man

day by day'

(2

peaceful.

Testament, and to experience the

'

apostle

was

richly fulfilled

man

perish, yet the inward

Cor.

16).

iv.

my

Leah,

of death fluttering

in

unto thee. lips

O

thee,

To

he

child,' said he, as

its

the

wings above him,

words of Luke

To-day

shalt

xxiii.

thou be with

'

43,

me

feebly uttered the words,

Lord!'

He

smiled

carried

renewed

is

felt

by the angels

and into

the angel

what were the

'

When Leah Verily,

I

say

in paradise,' his

To-day

'

a blessed,

folded his hands, closed his eyes,

away and was

Though

*

:

His death was gentle and

Saviour's words to the thief on the cross?'

dying

lived

and comfort with which they refreshed him.

him the word of the

replied

He

God.

long enough to become acquainted with

;

.

.

.

with

heavenly smile, his

spirit

passed

Abraham's bosom.

They dug his grave under an old oak close to the ForestHans honoured it by placing over it a simple

House.

wooden

cross,

strewed every

which Leah, so long as she lived up yonder,

summer with

Concerning Leah we

shall at present say only

She devoted her whole

more.

Lord

wild flowers of the forest.

;

life

one word

to the service of her

she bore Israel on her heart before Him, and prayed

for her people's salvation

even to her dying breath.

died with the firm conviction that the

She

Lord had heard her

The Forest-House. and would

prayer,

in his

own good time

355 yet lead her be-

loved Israel into the holy sanctuary. '

Fear not, thou

worm

Jacob, and ye

men

of Israel

:

I

will help thee, saith the

Lord, and thy Redeemer, the Holy

One

14).

'

of Israel' (Isa.

For

make,

as the

shall

xli.

new heavens, and

the

new

earth,

which

remain before me, saith the Lord, so

seed and your

name remain'

(Isa. Ixvi. 22).

shall

Amen.

I will

your

THE FUR COAT. '

Be ye transfomied by the renewing of your mind.'

'

Blessed are the merciful.'

'

Matt. v. 7. Let your moderation be known unto all men. —Phil. iv. 5.

— RoM.

The Lord

xii.

is

2.

at hand.

Brumath, on the Sunday after St. NicJwlas's Day, the ()th of December 1525, by vie, Georgiiis Wickenhaner, Minister of the Word, and formerly Pastor in the village of Honau.

JVrittcn at

It was on the holy

festival of St.

Andrew's Day that

I

returned from the magistrate's office with a heavy heart, the magistrate having informed

me

and cutting words

in stern

that our gracious lord, the Bishop,

had decided

of Ultimate Appeal that within three days

1

church and parsonage, and make way for a priest, leaving

Yes

my

!

this

Honau and my beloved

was indeed a severe sentence.

?

nodded assent

I

Catholic

Without stood

:

'Is

it

They true,

at

your

Must you forsake us and depart from Honau V in silence

speak was impossible, since then

Roman

poor parishioners, anxiously expecting me.

Reverence

Court

flock for ever.

once surrounded me, asking eagerly

I

in the

must vacate the

hastened home.

and pressed

my

their hands, for to

tears well-nigh

Christina, with our

choked

little

me

;

son in her

The Fur arms,

357

came towards me pale and trembling.

my

dear, faithful, loving soul to

said she understood

heart,

I

clasped the

and without a word

all.

'

We

*

Yes, in three days.'

must go, Jerg?'

'And '

Coat.

whither?'

That

know

I

not

;

but be of good cheer, the Lord

will

provide '

Oh

!'

she exclaimed with bitter

and homeless this fierce

to

'

go

forth

poor

into the wide world, with the tender infant, in

wintry weather

saying, she slipped out of I offered

grief,

up a

.

.

.

Jerg, that

silent prayer, after

shedding a flood of

hard

is

my embrace and

And

!'

so

wept passionately.

which

I

wept with

her,

tears.

Yes, truly, on that eventful day I did stand in need of

on High,

strength from

for I

brace up for exertion, not

men

my

was called

my

and

to

poor Christina alone, but

all

to comfort

who crowded

into the parsonage,

there to pour forth their lamentations.

These dear people

those

of

flock

could not understand nor imagine

how

it

could

come

to

pass that the word of God, so precious to them, should be

withdrawn, and for a

I,

their pastor, obliged to forsake them,

warm mutual attachment had

long existed between

us.

However, neither lamentations nor complaints could be of any

avail,

and

the words of

had cried out

in

'What mean ye

to

after I, well-nigh in despair,

St.

Paul (Acts

xxi. 13, 14),

weep, and to break mine heart?' we

all

knelt together,

clasped each other's hands, and then were enabled in

humihty to

say,

'

The

will

of the Lord be done

!

all

The Fur

JD'

The

us, for the

whither should

we be

peace and the elders of the church

justice of the

remained with

we

sake of solving the great problem,

and how

go,

to which

not, in the

we could

in this severe frost should

For we were

able to proceed.

and had

Coat.

in

extreme penur)',

whole wide world, any place of refuge

turn.

Most gladly would

the justice have

entertained us hospitably in his house through the winter,

but that was magistrate.

my

strictly *

and

wife

child

While we were

and

by the Bishop and the

prohibited

Within three days ;'

I

must leave Honau with

such was the express command.

in consultation, turning over this expedient

that without

having

hit

on anything

My

messenger arrived from Lampertheim. in the ministry,

Dean

Hans

Seitz,

practicable,

who had been

as preacher of the gospel at

a

beloved brother placed by the

Lampertheim,

at the

same time at which I was instituted in my parish at Honau, wrote to me in substance as follows. He had also been, by order of the Bishop, deprived of his charge and banished

from Lampertheim their child

;

he was about to conduct his wife with

to her father's

home

at

Brumath, who was As, how-

wealthy and thoroughly evangelical in his views. ever,

my

relatives

Christina was an orphan and cast out by her

on account of her

faith,

he invited

me

to

own

go with

her and the infant to Brumath, where Christina would be sure to find an asylum for the winter under his father-in-

Then,

law's roof. little

ones,

petitions

after

having provided for the

we two men could go

of our parishioners (who were

their claims to

women and

to Strasburg to present the

earnestly urging

have a gospel ministry restored among them),

The Fur and

Coat.

359

honourable Council, with

to entreat the

all

due defer-

ence, to place us both in other spheres in the Lord's vine-

This was a ray of light in the darkness, and the old

yard. saying,

God

Man's extremity

'

Himself,

(2 Cor.

'

xii. 9),

My

is

God's opportunity,' the words of

strength

were

is

fulfilled in

made

perfect in weakness

the experience of us, His

poorest and weakest children.

My

extremity was, however, to be yet greater, and aggra-

vated indeed in a quarter from which

expected

least

how

came

this

tina's

father,

battue^

once

— to

by Christina

wit,

to pass, I

must make a

who had been a slain

which valiant

it

could have been

To

herself.

little

sturdy forester,

the magistrate

young 'man of noble

Chris-

had, on a

a grizzly bear, to recompense

exploit,

explain

digression.

him

of Wasselnheim,

family, Squire {Junker)

for

a

Fabian von

Eschenau, had caused a splendid fur coat to be made for

him of the

This coat was treasured up as a

bear's skin.

family heir-loom, and looked upon as almost equivalent to

a patent of nobility. left to

my

It

was, moreover, the only inheritance

Christina after the death of her parents, the only

fortune which she brought to as

proud of

lon.

I

it

as

me on

must confess the

fur coat

had a

appearance, well worthy of a prelate

some But

;

it

She was

his great

rich

Baby-

and imposing

might have graced

lordly abbot, mitred bishop, or illustrious nobleman.

for

me, the least among the servants of our gracious

Lord (who, man),

our marriage.

Nebuchadnezzar of old of

it

for our sakes,

came

into this world as a poor

was indeed very much too grand.

My

dear

parishioners might easily have been scandalized and offended

The Fiw

360 at the sight of

standing

all

had

it,

Coat.

I displayed

it

on

which Christina had not

during the whole winter, to appear in

and

it

my

person, notwith-

me

urge

failed to

on Sundays

at least

gala-days.

During the

had much moths.

first

summer of our married keep

to

''ado

Christina

life,

precious treasure from the

this

In the course of the winter, however, immediately

following, she almost forgot

was she with our

little

existence,

its

—so

new-born Sigismund.

me

she quite ceased to plague

engrossed

Assuredly

about wearing

it.

the said winter, at a time of most piercing cold, friend, the

came

venerable pastor of Sank-Pilt

He

to visit us.

Sank-Pilt,

and

old

Hippolyte's)

(St.

had preached the word of God

in

re-established Divine service in a primitive

Duke Anthony

form, as in the apostolic age.

incensed at

During

my

this,

extermination by

had threatened the

To ward

and sword.

fire

of Lorraine,

heretical

town with

off so dire a

calamity and to justify his doctrine. Pastor Schuch jour-

neyed to Nanzig (Nancy) tribulation awaited his

way

him

thither, to see

in the faith.

;

but foreseeing that bonds and

there,

me

he came from Strasburg, on

once again, and to strengthen

The beloved man

and exhausted, so poorly clad

of

too,

God looked

and the winter was so

extremely severe, that our hearts misgave just

to

been confined

my it

I

therefore, as she

us.

Christina

had

was

laid up,

gave

dear friend, on parting from him, the precious fur

coat to protect

send

;

me

so sickly

back

to

him from

me

frost

and snow, enjoining him ta

from Nancy.

Hardly, however, had he

reached that city when he was cast into prison, tortured

TJic several times,

Fur

Coat.

361

and on the 20th June

he

thereafter, 1525,

went, with courage and even holy joy, to the stake, repeating loudly the words of the 51st Psalm

O

me,

:

^

Have mercy upon

God, according to Thy loving-kindness

unto the multitude of

Thy

gressions,' until his voice

and the angels carried

according

;

my trans-

tender mercies blot out

was

stifled

by smoke and flames,

his soul to heaven. ^

The

fur coat

had, of course, disappeared without leaving a trace behind.

Never, as I supposed, could I hear anything of

For me, personally, great gain

for

;

this

was indeed no

when news came

loss,

it

again.

but rather a

of our dear brother Schuch

having been twice put to the rack, with intent to force him

deny

to

his faith,

and having, by God's grace, stood

by the gospel and boldly confessed the Lord was a sweet consolation his

to feel that

fast

Jesus, then

it

he might have wrapped

poor suffering body, sore with the wounds of martyr-

dom,

in the soft,

warm

fur coat,

and

that, in the cold

dungeon, he might have been thinking of

With

Christina, however,

it

my

was otherwise.

damp

love for him.

She was

still,

in bhssful ignorance, cherishing the belief that her idol lay

untouched

in the

wooden box,

at

which she had so often

looked with such a glance of satisfaction as did the rich

man

in the gospel at his well-filled barns.

fated ^

fur

coat

did

bring great

Wolfgang Schuch. — This

faithful

trouble martyr

Alas

!

this

upon me

for Christ

!

ill-

In

was pastor in which

the small town of St. Hippolyte, then belonging to Lorraine, in

Leo

Jiid'd,

had before that time Further particulars about the martyr Schuch

the friend and colleague of Zwinglius,

preached the gospel.

may be found iisnie

in the Bulletin de la Sociefe de

Fmn^ais, tome

ii.

p. 632.

V Histoire

die

Protestan-

The Fur

362 bestowing

upon

it

that

man

of God, brother Schuch, I did

In lacking courage to

well.

Coat,

Christina about

tell

dread of her reproaches and her

tears, herein

unpardonable weakness, and for

this I

penalty,

—we are about

to see

how

For when the time had come to gather our

we had

alls,

now had

severe

to

pay the

!

packing up, and we had

for

enough

little

from

it,

manifested

I

to collect, being

obliged to leave the beds and most of the household furni-

and

ture

When

perty.

behind us

utensils it

came

in the

parsonage as church pro-

to pass that Christina, having vainly

sought for the fur coat, had to be informed what had become of

then she broke out into such a lamentation that even

it,

the

remembrance of

it still

overpowers me.

In truth, she

that not a

word

of love could find entrance into her embittered mind.

She

behaved so unreasonably on the occasion reproached

me

with being a thoughtless spendthrift, an old

father raven, bearing within

my

my bosom no

only child, willing to rob the poor

costly fur coat, which,

No

all

;

for, after

the true fashion of

she returned to the point, and firmly and first

from freeze

all

assertion

'

that the fur coat

necessity,

and

perish.'

beloved

good might a

would

And

thus

my

Honau

word

reiterated

it,

we must needs

poor Christina, by her

my

into a sort of hell.

single friendly

stiffly

women,

would have saved us

and now, without

murmurings and upbraidings, turned

my

us,

three from cold

argument, no diversion from the subject

could be of any avail

her

one of the

little

on the journey now before

have sufficed so capitally to protect us

and storms.

heart to feel for

last three

Oh

!

days in

how much

or loving look have

done

The Fur

my

to

bleeding heart

Coat.

363

whom God had

But the woman

!

when

given to be an help-meet for me, had at this time,

was called

my

and reproaches.

tears

that

to bear

Often

mother Eve had

if

me

so heavy cross, nothing for I

was constrained

as evil a tongue,

I

but

to reflect

and was as

easily

moved to complaints and tears, I could conceive indeed how Adam was tempted to take a bite of the forbidden may God forgive me this apple for, I was well.

;

.

!

.



my

nigh led to regret having lent the fur coat to

now I

sainted friend Schuch,

had

to get

and

to feel

I

beloved,

would give

all

back, and thereby to restore our domestic

it

But I know I was wrong in this. now destroyed The Monday after St. Andrew's Day, the 3d of December,

peace,

!

was the sad day of our departure.

Before day-break the

cart belonging to the local magistrate, with

two sturdy oxen

yoked

to

It

fast.

To

it,

stood at the parsonage-door.

was snowing

protect us as far as possible from the inclement

weather, our driver, worthy Martin, had stretched an old

sail-

cloth over the cart as a sort of canopy, under which he

had

prepared a straw couch for Christina and

And now two

I

years,

was

to bid farewell to the

by the grace of God,

I

little

Sigismund.

church in which during

had, though in

much weak-

ness yet faithfully, preached the everlasting gospel. to part from

my

gift

for

was

dear flock, who, with loud crying and tears,

were surrounding our parting

I

cart.

Each person was bringing us a

— warm

our journey

articles

of clothing,

victuals, a jug of beer, or a bottle of milk for the infant.

Yes, indeed, '-parting

is

pain

'

('

Scheide?i

words of a familiar German song), and

ihutweh^

my

grief



the

first

would nave

Fur

TJie

364 been

Coat.

even without the sting which Christina, on

sufficient

my

account of the lost fur coat, was pressing into

She suffered be

statue, to

mute

herself, lifted

and pale as a marble

as a fish

by the magistrate

had placed her on the straw

litter,

round her

began

and

feet

Sigismund on her

laid little

to

lap, she

threw

in her arms,

and

weep and sob spasmodically.

But now Martin jogged guide you, Master Jerg!'

May He

bless

we drove on

in

certain future.

you

At the

ferry

all

!'

a heavy

But

slumber nor sleep

'

his

oxen to

start.

'

May God

sounded forth from every

replied fall

And

deeply moved.

I,

lip.

so

of snow, into a dark and un-

He who

keepeth

us

'

'

shall neither

!

on the Rhine, we had

to wait long before

could be carried safely to the other

side,



we

the cart

first

The wind blew icy flakes. The baby was

which we were, afterwards the oxen.

cold

;

the

snow was

falling in thick

crying and could not be hushed.

my

thin,

I

was myself shivering

worn-out coat, when Christina again struck up,

the old tune I

I

wrapped a woollen cover-

back the warm covering, took the child

in

When

into the cart.

(which the magistrate's kind-hearted wife had given me)

let

*

heart.

—the dire old story of the

took her in

my arms,

drew the

fur coat.

coverlet,

ungraciously cast aside, tightly round us

out of a

and

full

heart,

'

Look

revives.

!

the

to that

man

since I did

As

to

to

this

and

said

and love warms

Lord has sent us

coverlet instead of the fur coat.



which she had so

all three,

Christina, hatred kills

here

Upon

in

my

this

warm

having given

it

of God, Schuch, for that you must forgive me, it

unto the Lord.

Therefore be,

I entreat

you,

The Fur good and kind again and loving

patient

help

j

365

my

to bear

misfortunes in a

and do not increase them by your

spirit,

wrath and grumbling

sinful

me

Coat.

But anger and the demon of

!'

pride had formed a very thick crust over this formerly tender

With a

heart.

her

longest.

Then

and

evil

an

in

to cry

and sob

one were trying which could do

little

my

em-

as if she

and

sort of defiance she slipped out of

and began once more

brace,

my

at last

temper

it

loudest and

stock of patience was exhausted,

out of the cart, resolved rather

I leapt

wade through deep snow beside Martin than

to

my

beside *

Master Jerg !

sulks

grumbling

self-willed, !

I believe

to stay

wife.

your better-half

is

in a

of the

fit

exclaimed Martin, half as an interrogation to me,

'

half as a response to the deep sigh with which I took

place

beside

him.

continued he

Pastor,'

most admirably that *

;

How

so,

!'

'

cross,

how

to deal with

womankind

.

.

.

*

?'

he repHed

;

Svhen women pout and grow unruly

to

have

storm by which the Lord

have always managed I

Reverend

!

then one ought never to meet them with

and gentleness, but

howls

impudence.

my

you expounded the word of God

to us, but

Martin

my

Excuse

you nowise understand

*Bah and

'

my

at

them

God on

high purifies the

Barbara so

scold her right lustily,

fair

words

at once, like a thunder-

;

and then she creeps

I

air.

when she pouts to

or the

foot of the cross.'

But Martin spoke scolding

;

in

vain.

At Honau

had preached most earnestly

;

I too

had

tried

had made every

experiment in the way of severity and solemnity; but, alas

!

The Fur

366 I *

had

and too often when

failed to purify the air,

Peace, peace,'

Coat. I

had

said

had afterwards found there was no peace.

I

we

In the forest of Brumath

halted to give fodder to the

fire. The wood protected us from the cold wind, and when we had warmed ourselves at the fire, dried our wet clothes, and enjoyed our warm broth with thanksThe infant giving, I began to feel somewhat comfortable.

oxen and make our broth.

snow had ceased

too

fell

by a good

into a quiet sleep, after being refreshed

drink of milk

brow alone

and by getting well warmed. and cloudy,

yet remained dark

sky overhead.

*why do we seemed

Martin lighted a great

the thick

;

'

Ah

!'

and we must learn

like the wintry

ejaculated I inwardly with a sigh,

so embitter

to answer

life

from above, to bear

to '

A

one another?'

Because we are

voice

sinners,

all

one another's burdens,

who bore our burden

to follow that Saviour

Christina's

if

we

are

of sin on the

cross

We were advancing but slowly, for in the

newly-fallen

the oxen had to break open a path for themselves,

and laborious

affair.

As

twilight gathered

more and more weird and

dismal,

all

the

round

with her baby on the not, for since I

she uttered.

litter,

had sued

But soon

it

us,

more

time to time we heard the wolf's horrid howl.

it

became

grew

that from

Christina lay

—whether awake or asleep

for peace, not

snow

—a slow

I

knew

one word more had

so dark that Martin was

obliged to halt, being unable to find out our way.

He

un-

yoked the oxen, and with the firewood he had collected at noon in the forest, he soon again lighted a fire. 'Now, your Reverence,' said he, 'as

it

is

impossible for us to go

Fur

TJie

we must

forward,

the cart that

wait

till

367

You remain

the day breaks.

go to gather as much wood as

I shall

;

Coat.

we may keep up

our

fire all

I

can

with find,

through the night, to scare

the wolves and to keep ourselves from being frozen.'

While

was

I

alone by the lurid glare of the

sitting thus

not one sound of love to be heard from the

baying and roar of wild beasts on

awe and dread crept over me. aloud as it is

I

written

:

Call

Suddenly, in the dark

Jerg, are

in

shalt glorify

forest, I

human

a loving, cheering,

you there?'

voice called out

Hans

jump

moment new

you and baby close '

'

:

expected to die

emotion,

Ha

He

men and

on

Oh

— to

!

'

to

I

misery was forgotten.

litter in

fell

life,

flood of tears

woman

and

hallo

!

!

and immedihad come a torch, to

That was a joyful meeting indeed

at least all

from her

tina sprang

with a

15).

1.

light,

and by God's gracious guidance had actually found

us out at once. the

'

:

up,

Seitz's arms.

from Brumath with two horses, several us,

Me' (Psalm

saw a glimmering

Joyfully did I

ately I found myself in

meet

sides, a sensation of

prayed to the Lord, and cried

:

and thou

deliver thee,

all

fire,

but the

my life. But in God's holy word upon Me in the day of trouble I will

had never done '

I

cart,

my

Jerg

!

be torn

Chris-

the cart, as though inspired

was a dreadful time

that

in pieces

!

I

by the wolves with

pressed the poor, dear, trembling,

my

little

beating heart, and said with deep

cart, into

Christina and Seitz.

with the torch.

For

!

neck, and exclaimed, with a

Lord, I thank Thee

harnessed to the

Even

which

! '

The

horses were

I forthwith

now

mounted with

The Brumath men went

before us

Martin, who, on our calling him, had

The Fur

368

Coat.

soon returned, drove the weary oxen behind the

now we went and

with cold, but with

stiff

warm and

thankful hearts, at

but

same time with manifest embarrassment, and at the sour face of the mistress of the house,

and glanced round

the

at

wretched straw couch I

in

lumber-room, with

chilly

how the wind was blowing. now wonder at nor blame my poor

renewed complainings about the costly

and about tations,

all

our hard

Truly

I

Christina

lost fur coat,

Piteous indeed were her lamen-

fate.

and a thoroughly

a

allotted to us as our abode,

it,

perceived at once

could not for her

Seitz

father received us indeed wdth hearty sympathy,

looked

I

Dame

joy was to be of short duration.

the

at

when

.

my

and her

and

arrived, exhausted

Brumath.

But

cart,

and soon

for^vard briskly,

had with

sleepless night I

her, to

say nothing of our restlessness, being aggravated by uninvited guests in the shape of mice

Now

and

Brumath being the home of

Cordula Hecker, a

morning to see

rich, childless

us, saluted

me

rats.

Christina's aunt.

Dame

widow, she came the next

in the coldest, stiffest

manner,

but loaded Christina with demonstrations of love and sympathy, and pressed her to go with the infant to her house. I could not refuse

my

consent to

impossibility of keeping the poor '

not

fit

for a dog,' as

Dame

had, moreover, never asked

me

in a dry way, that she

had found a

suitable

this, for I clearly little

one

Cordula remarked.

my

was

home.

saw the

in that

room,

Christina

permission, but merely told to stay at her aunt's until I

When

she had accordingly

departed with the infant, Seitz said to me,

'

You

should not

The Ftir

Coat,

369

have yielded on that point, seeing that old Cordula

and bigoted Papist feather,

my

God

same game with your

*

Alas

alas

!

exclaimed

!

'

;

but,

Now

they

Christina.'

and thereupon

I,

a sly

in concert all they pos-

poor Margaret to apostatize

she has stood firm to the gospel.

!

will try the

is

stepmother ar^ birds of a

and both have attempted

sibly could to induce

thank

my

she and

;

proceeded

I

to recount the story of the unfortunate dispute about the fur

not

coat,

by

omitting

distress,

had

to

how

tell

my

on

fallen

overpowered

Christina,

neck

had nevertheless treated me ever

in

the

and

forest,

since with cutting cold-

ness.

The word away from

of

God warns

us' (Eph.

iv.

'beareth

all things,

31).

believeth

might otherwise easily storms of

Cordula

was

my

own

all

my friend

hot, that

is

me

be put

hasten to

Love, which

things' (i

Cor.

xiii.

7),

shipwreck for ever amid the

suffer

I shall only

troubled heart.

did, as

peration against

her

let all bitterness

'

I shall accordingly

over that dreary week at Brumath.

pass

iron

us to

Seitz

had

add

that

Aunt

foreseen, strike while the

to say, avail herself of Christina's exasto

confessor.

work upon her mind,

Father Boniface,

in concert with

— depicting

to her in

flaming colours the torments of hell which must be the lot of

one

guilty of a prohibited marriage with a perjured,

priest,

so that she sent to

me, the day before yesterday,

tell

by the above-named Father, return to the

bosom

whose pale alone

that

salvation

'

she had determined to

Holy Mother Church, within

of the

could therefore no longer

renegade

is

live

to

with

2

A

be found

me

in

;

and

that she

our sinful wedlock,

TJie Ftir Coat.

3/0

on which Heaven's curse weighed '

She added that

heavily.'

need not trouble myself further about

I

Cordula was prepared to adopt her and

(whom

own

as her

Fully had I anticipated this

seem

it

avoid

all

fessor,

and rather

did

to

to speak with

but intimated that

in to see Christina, as

my wife Dame

from

suffering, she said,

herself

she wished not to see

fever,

infant too, having caught cold

I there-

;

Cordula received

was impossible

it

which indeed was the best thing

was

the blow

was resolved to

I

needless exchange of words with the father-con-

politely,

me

now when

yet

;

annihilate me.

fore hurried to her aunt's house.

take

child ")

children.'

came,

me

Sigismund

little

dub her " bastard

the Father took care to

Aunt

her, since

for us both.

for her to

me

again,

Christina

and much exhausted

;

on the journey, had been

the ill,

but had become convalescent ever since his mother had

come

to the resolution of giving

up our

and thus saving her own soul and her

To

ing perdition.'

dispute with

been quite a work only insisting on

my

all

and

I

After his

was

in vain.

was obliged

my

way

visit,

right of seeing

my

wife and child.

Cordula was inexorable

in her refusal,

my point.

and he succeeded

in forcing

Seitz also called,

into Christina's room,

that Father

I said little in reply,

to depart without having gained

her baby in her arms. all

connexion,

from everlast-

Aunt Cordula would have

of supererogation.

But

sinful

child's

She

Boniface

where she lay

in bed, with

reiterated, with a flood of tears,

had

said,

adding that

'

I

must

indeed leave her alone, for she neither would nor could see

me

again.'

Brother Seitz, however, could not manage to

The Ftir

Coat.

371

have any private conversation, as Aunt Cordula

sat beside

the bed the whole time. '

And now,

my

grasped

Jerg,' said Seitz,

icy

when he returned

hand with kind sympathy,

" cast thy burden upon the Lord, thee

he

:

(Psalm

Iv.

and he

22).

Pray

for

your poor deluded Christina

may be

I

we might both be more crated to the Lord's service

into the right way.

and more

free if

;

Paul, "

St.

know

know not whether

my

that

stroyed

!

Psalms

I (vi.,

I

feel

:

I

I

herm. marriage") "

'

(i

Cor.

my

life's

vii.



happiness

38).

only

I

de-

is

read over and over again the seven penitential xxxviii., H.,

xxxii.,

they do indeed afford

ashamed of

cii.,

by Luther

me

cxxx.,

into

and

cxliii.)

our noble

so

German

the best consolation,

calling myself a minister of the

and being so ignorant of the holy language of the text.

and

So then he

have done better

heart bleeds and

beautifully rendered

tongue

;

but he that marrieth not (English version,

"giveth her not in marriage") doeth better I

do

I

entirely conse-

without wife or child

that marrieth (English version, "giveth

doeth well

the

;

mistaken, but I think possibly

could almost take up the words of

!

man,

sustain

shall

never suffer the righteous to be moved"

know whether

Alas

me and

shall

Lord can turn her heart again not

to

act as a

'

and

word

original

If I reach Strasburg I shall endeavour, as far as pos-

sible, to

make up

to assist

me

lost

ground, by entreating Zell and Bucer

in studying

both Greek and Hebrew.

and working form the best antidote

for

my

Praying

grief.

Yesterday Martin arrived from Honau, and brought

me

the petition from the parishioners praying for an evangeli-

The Fur

I']

which petition

cal minister,

I

to the worshipful the Council.

had passed, and

his hearty

how

Gracious Lord,

good.

Coat.

was

to present, at Strasburg,

Martin had learned

^

all

that

sympathy did

me

rich in love I

was formerly

the greatest at

my beloved Honau, — how happy in my quiet parsonage, at my homely fireside And now how poor, how solitary Do Thou, dear Lord, abide with me and forsaken Grant me Thy peace Give me submission to Thy will If I did sin in entering into the in my great tribulation



!

!

!

!

!

holy state of matrimony. for I did believe I

commandments. from

my

Thou

wilt yet surely forgive

was acting according to Thy word and

I

cannot tear Christina and the baby

heart, for I

do love them

but

Thou

hands, almighty and pierced for us

This day, Sunday, was a day of

if

he

rest for

in writing these pages,

why he was

is

body and

which

spared to grow up, that he

I shall

earth.

you both pilgrim's

1

To-morrow

!

staff

He

!

and go is

ii.

pp.

1

8,

19.

is

ill-will.

and

I

to

son

Sigis-

also written for

I

May God

are to take

bless

up our

Lord may me no more to

forth whithersoever the

me

grace to enable

This touching and earnest petition

Bucer's letters, and vol.

giving

Seitz

my

soul.

commit

never seeing thee again on

bid thee farewell without

I

lead us

my

Thy

may know how and

They are

deprived of his father.

thee, Christina, in case of

to

and

!

the care of Brother Seitz for the benefit of

mund,

dost also

faithful

commend them

tender heart, blessed Saviour, and

it

;

them both on Thy

love them, and so I lay

have spent

me,

is

to

be found preserved among

also contained in Rohrich's Evangelical Records,

The Fur

look back, but rather forwards.

away

all

St.

Mark, on

Himself wipe this

!

the First

Sunday

Epiphany, in the year ofgrace 1526.

wondrous are God's ways

How

our hot

shall rest after

He will May God grant

Written at Strashcrg, in the Convent of after

to that place

Upwards,

where the crown shines, where we and where fight and hard struggle, tears from our eyes.

373

Coat.

!

How much

has hap-

history of the pened in the four weeks since I wrote the through sorrows all the hardships and

and of

fur coat,

which I passed.

Now,

I

must

finish this history to the praise of

for the instruction "and

edification of

my

God, and

son Sigismund,

may know how the Lord can bless and comfort our God who, even in tribulation,—how He is the Lord known of old by from everlasting the same, made Himself

that he

name, 'The Lord, the Lord God, mercifiil and and gracious, long-suffering and plenteous in mercy

that beautiful

truth' (Exod. xxxiv. 6). It clear,

was a

fine winter

when

I

hastened beside

took

my

morning, the

my

departure

air

was pure, the sky

from Brumath, and

friend, with a light step but a

heavy

frozen snow that lay heart, to cross the expanse of hard like Jacob when he us, of We had, both before me. our Jordan, only the stafi" in the hand as

crossed over

and while Seitz occupied himself with our where we should future prospects, and wondered how and

worldly

all,

The Fur Coat,

374

any post assigned us again

find

trembling heart was

happiness in tina

this

I

life.

was called

itself

to bid adieu to all

seemed

It

my

my

though with Chris-

as

my little one the better half of my being had been from me with one dire wrench I felt so weary, so

and

torn

;

unstrung that to

of the past, ever presenting

full

so vividly before me.

in the Lord's vineyard,

my

would

I

have died and gone home

willingly

Lord.

marked, ness

!'

how

I

whom

to

Seitz,

'

That

He

is

laid

communicated

I

not the genuine

me open

to

state of

mind,

view, showing

was longing to go straightway to heaven,

he was

re-

Christian home-sick-

my own

sake only of shirking the battle of

And

my

life

me

for the

appointed for me.

my true and faithful friend. I had so my gaze upwards, and yet here I was, looking back Oh how like a wavering

right,

firmly resolved to fix like Lot's

wife,

!

blown about by each breath of wind, are we even

reed,

our best resolves

When,

in

!

in passing

through the

forest,

we had reached

the

spot where Seitz had found us before, where I had beheld

the bright to

my

while

light,

heart, I ;

I

and

begged

my

friend to suffer

had prayed so

with such a gracious answer.

overpowered by

face in

me

poor wife

to rest there a

sank down on the mossy stone on which

eight days before, where I

but,

my

for the last time pressed

grief,

I I

I

fervently

had

wished to pray there again;

could not

resist

burying

both hands and bursting into a flood of

Seitz wisely let

me weep my

Martin had gathered, and

sat

and met

full,

my

tears.

and with the wood which

much

of which was

still

lying

The Fur strewn near the ashes of our

Coat.

375

he kindled a bright flame,

fire,

which soon blazed and cracked merrily might have been

I

burdened heart somewhat the

—the when

fire

air.

began to warn

down

me

that

want of

for

we ought

me

it

feeble cry of an infant,

and immediately afterwards

seemed

to

distinctly caught hurried steps crackling

sank breathless Jerg

!

forgive

my own mund

me



whom, with

Christina, lost but found,

and folded her

my

in

life lasts

was a blessed, but an overpowering time

words can ever describe

—such

as I

exclaiming again and again,



you

When

will forgive

the agitation

related

how

Dame

Seitz

scribed

me

my

grief,

we

to her,

when Margaret

my

eyes,

left

me,

and inwardly

!

all felt

me

you

it



!

I

Lord

!

as

no

forget.

a

tree,

me

with

like ivy to

will take

you noti'

will

had calmed down, she Cordula was

spoke

home

'

feet

—such

Dame

and told her of

intending never to return. *

Oh

in spite of all

yesterday, while

came

'

O

was

it

the

if

can never, never

Christina clung closely and tenderly to

you

Jerg,

little Sigis-

my

arms, never,

to part with her again so long as

It

*

was indeed no dream,

it

ear

senses she

feet with the exclamation,

Yes

!'

my

crisp snow.

my

clasped in her arms, I beheld lying at

raised her will,

on the

Before I could collect

my

at

that I heard the

darting towards us

Presently I descried a female figure

an arrow.

fuel,

to start.

At the same moment

swift as

—my

easier for the relief of tears,

already beginning to go

friend Seitz

in the pure

about half-an-hour,

sitting there

my

having

Then,' added

was as though

as though hot coals

at church,

to her heart, deleft

my

Brumath,

poor

scales

fell

wife,

from

were burning in

TJie

3/6

my

Fur

Coat.

That conscience which

heart.

now spoke

I

had sought

loudly and solemnly, setting

me how

before me, reminding

all

my

had plagued

I

to

stifle

sins in array

my

thee,

husband, on account of the fur coat, and made thee, in our miser}^, yet more miserable in departing from God's

word

and showing

still,

all

me how

had been on the point of

I

being guilty of the sin against the

Holy Ghost, which can

never be forgiven in

that

for I

this life or in

which

about the

come,

to

and from dread of Aunt Cordula and

fur coat,

And now

Father Boniface.

must be up and go

me no rest I Jerg, whom I had

conscience

to thee,

my

left

poor

:

tormented so unpardonably, notwithstanding

promised

at

and comfort

God's

altar that I

to thee

me be

for never, that

out of her sight, and

let

tell

her that I had

and wished

would

become

return to

to

when Cordula went

live to

sensible

my

to bed, I

whole afternoon, did

how wrong

I

to

had been,

Yesterday evening,

duty.

wanted to

slip

out of the

It

occurred to

that Margaret's mother, were she to see me,

might easily hinder our reunion. night, confessing

to exhort

having

had not the courage

I

house, but found the house-door locked.

me moreover

my

be a blessing

But Aunt Cordula must have noticed

!

something about me, she

me

my

to do,

And

so I lay

and praying

to

the ground-floor, with a

day began

to

coverlet given us

dawn,

Him

Avas

the lawn.

wrapped the child up

by the magistrate's kind

all

His gracious

for

My room

window opening upon I

awake

you always used

sins to the Lord, as

pardon, and for deliverance and strength.

fore

is

had apostatized not from conviction but from anger

wife,

in the

on Be-

warm

and stepped

The Fttr

Coat.

2>77

over the window-sill and garden-fence.

mass of snow around gave a

It

ring the bell for matins.

He

old man.

warm

broth,

meet you,

your

if

me

we had not

to

heart to the good

baby

for the

and clasping her hands will take

me

the articles

all

Aunt

leave at

And

here.

in a

'

and

Poor

—oh

rich as at this

we brought from and she

hold in ^

my

Bene,

love and pity,

you can

am

Dame

my

wife

in

you are converted repentance begins

!



and child

Wickenhauer,'

striking in suddenly at this

When

my

life

is

was

Brother Seitz,

'

comes which worketh

of

With Christina and the tender

infant our journey

course proceeded far more slowly, and our cares and culties

were greater than when Seitz and

together.

I so

I again

now I do believe broken down then true

that godly sorrow

repentance not to be repented

!'

!

said

moment,

pride

!

a great sin-

moment, when by the mercy of God

arms both

bejie,

now

Alas

!

was obliged to

I

Jerg, I

!

Never

!

'

nardly likely to be ever

is

Oh

no, Christina

hoped

attitude,

have made you so poor and so unhappy

I !

me if Honau

back, and forgive

Cordula's,

I

his

and

forest,

now,' added she,

my

meek, imploring

persuaded to give them up. ner,

and then

perceived the smoke from

with every endearing epithet to appeal to

you

;

Vendenheim, where

first

and then found you

fire,

the road

to the church to

behind the village into the

would have accompanied to

the

;

home, gave me a bowl of

to his

and a drink of milk

me round

son led

my

opened

I

me

took

On

white, clear light.

met the precentor of the choir going

I

was not dark

As we had no money

to

I

pay our way

of

diffi-

were alone at the inn.

The Fur

378

we

Coat.

we

did not wish to arrive at Strasburg at nightfall, and

therefore passed the night in an old acquaintance's

Vendenheim.

Yes, truly,

did feel so happy, so rejoiced

me

we were poor and

full

and complaining

as I

I pitied her,

Instead of murmuring

be

I

now

;

am

to hear her

she

is

may have happened

'

Oh

so thankful that I

you once more.'

to stay beside

right

had been wont

she answered gently,

nothing better, and

now

What

of joyous confidence.

do of

good-tempered, kind and quiet, and

she continued

when

at

helpless, yet I

most was the equanimity with which Christina

bore the hardships of the way.

old,

bam

!

deserved

I

am

permitted

Seitz assuredly

must

a converted woman, and whatever

about

it,

the fur coat will have been a

blessing to us for ever

On turn,

our arrival at Strasburg

nor

warm

we knew not

heart or a hospitable door.

fore to

go

to

what quarter the Lord might open

in

to

Master Matthew

We

Zell,

whom

to

for us

"a

determined there-

to pour out to

him

our tale of sorrow, and to ask him for counsel and help.

On

reaching the Cathedral-Parsonage, Christina remained

standing outside, shy and lacking the courage to go

She said nothing, strained her tears,

a deep sigh,

We

'

Ah

!

but I

and heard her whisper it is

in.

saw with what difficulty she re-

a hard thing to beg

to herself, with !'

were met on the threshold by a handsome young

woman, with

brilliant eyes full of a

such as I never saw equalled.

It

deep look of thought,

was Katherine

Zell.

She held out her hand with a friendly greeting, and we introduced ourselves to her by name.

She immediately

TJie

exclaimed in a

manner,

lively

You

have heard of you.

I

Fur

Coat.

You

'

379

are heartily

welcome

;

have been driven forth from

your homes for Christ's sake, and have therefore a sacred

under our roof and

right to dwell

added she with a for the inn

Her

is

too

was

sympathizing

*

I

now

know not what he

turned bearing

little

was replying

I

Dame

to his

Zell about Chris-

but with the exclamation,

down

the steps, and soon re-

Oh good

by the hand. the

hearty,

for that

eternity it

May

!

little,

Sigismund in her arms, and leading

the weeping Christina

beloved Zells

While

said,

she flew

'

Only,'

!

joined us, whose reception of us

truly fatherly.

!

at our table

sit

you must be contented with

queries, Seitz told

Oh, poor soul

good

*

!'

full

dear husband

as fugitives

tina.

smile,

Lord reward you welcome

loving

did to us poor homeless ones

!

in

and

well-

time and

How much

!

You were

never

forsaken, and yet so cordially did you gather in to you the I

could write volumes con-

saw and learned

in that blessed Cathedral-

unfortunate and the forsaken

cerning

all

Parsonage,

that I

more

!

especially

regarding the

spirit

of true

Christian love with which hospitality was exercised there.

At dinner on thirty,

almost

that all

first

Zell

is

love,

LIVING

all

these people.

FAITH,

fruitful

in

which knows well how

small means.

I

shall

treasure

fugitives,

My

their faith.

must be very wealthy

and entertain it

down not

sat

the party being

away on account of that

day we

to

But

first

fewer than

those driven

impression was

be able to receive I

soon found that

good works,

to accomplish

up

active

much

this lesson,

in

with

and may

380

Fur

TJic

God

me

grant

poverty

Coat.

my

grace to exercise compassion even in

!

As no prospect appeared of our soon being appointed any

to

really a

posts,

and yet Brother

crowded

inn, Seitz

had

Zell in his parsonage

was

meantime placed as

in the

deacon with Doctor Hedio, and an abode was assigned us in

what was formerly the convent of

Luke Hackfurth inhabited being engaged

in

poor's-house.

Man

Dame

inhabited

requires but

;

the

to

me

We

of these good Hack-

empty

great

which

into

library,

chairs, to

be

but on the table lay the dear Gospel and the

writings of Luther which always

up

Master

be happy.

to

little

home

had caused a bed, a table and two

Zell

put for us

Mark.

arranging the large building as a general

ate the poor man's meals at the furths,

St.

wuth his excellent wife, both

it

more and more opened

a clear understanding of God's word.

was deeply absorbed

While

Bucer's guidance was also improving myself in Hebrew,

dear new-born

Christina,

with me, sat at

my

now

dry basket, slept our

warm little

my

so thoroughly reconciled

side sewing industriously, while

the magistrate's wife's

I

study of these, and under

the

in

under

tucked into a laun-

coverlet,

Sigismund as luxuriously as

a prince in his splendid cradle.

Oh

!

these were lovely

days of repose which we passed within that old convent's massive, silent walls, for

we enjoyed peace

and the firm assurance by the

young ravens

that cry,

faith, that

who

clothes the

would likewise provide as a Father

had

in the very early

in

the Lord lilies

for our future.

days of our Strasburg

life,

our hearts,

who

feeds

of the

field,

Christina as she her-

The Fur self expressed

Coat.

381

Dame

'confessed her sins' to

it,

Zell, re-

She had

counting to her the whole story of the fur coat.

depicted herself certainly in the blackest hue, and over me,

on the other hand, she had one treated

me

cast so bright a halo that every

with a degree of respect of which

was very

I

far from being worthy.

But we now most unexpectedly were honoured with a visit,

that

namely of the former patron of

father,

that

squire of

distinguished Christina's

made

the bear-skin to be still

most

noble

pedigree

von Eschenau, the same who had caused

{Junker)^ Fabian

into the fur coat,

He

magistrate at Wasselnheim.

had

and who was

visited

Master

Matthew and his honoured spouse, and had heard from them of our being driven from our home. He now came to ask me whether I had sufficient courage to go to Rumolzweiler^ as evangelist, to preach the word of God to the peasants there. assent.

He

Whereto

I naturally

did not, however,

responded with a glad

conceal from me, that

I

should there find no easy task, for although the majority

an evangelical

of the inhabitants urgently implored that

preacher might be sent to them, the

was strongly supported by not to pay the

stipend

Roman

the gentry,

of an evangelist,

would not perform the mass, whereas the law

set

Catholic party

who were

saints.'

Now

I

resolved

because he

tithes

apart for the maintaining of the

the altars of the

*

were by

mass and

for

was, he said, to go to

Wasselnheim before Christmas, and there Junker Fabian was

to

be of

great ^

assistance

Now

to

me

Romansweiler.

in

dealing with

382

TJie

I

Coat.

von Bock, with

of Rumolzweiler, Eucharius

the patron

whom

Fur

must make a contract, according

me

to insure

to

which he was

Dean

half of the stipend, because the

Cathedral had established the principle that

of the

the revenues

'

of the Church were destined for the benefit, not of the less altar or

life-

the stone building, but of the souls of the

parishioners, for the purpose of providing for their spiritual necessities, to

attached,'^

whatsoever religious belief they might be

—and because Von Bock perceived

that

he could

not possibly longer deprive the evangelical inhabitants of

Rumolzweiler of the word of God,

Half of the stipend

!

It

is

without the tithes and rates. pittance

miserable already,

for

and deprived of

claimed

I

with

a

deep

us, all

it

affection,

thee,

That would indeed be a

who

poverty-stricken

so

are

our goods and chattels!' exas

sigh,

Christina, then at the baby.

pressed

small enough at any rate *

But

gazed sadly

I

my

wife took

first

my

at

hand,

to her lips with a look of reverence, as well as

and then gently answered

and may

He

Go where God

' :

be with thee, dear Jerg

calls

This very

!

"Your Father knoweth what things ye have need of" (Matt. vi. 8). He will know what to give us at Rumolzweiler also!' Oh! how did morning we read

in

the Gospel,

my

these words comfort and strengthen

Junker Fabian had not been

there, I

heart

!

If only

must have embraced

the dear soul instantly.

And he was

the Squire himself was not silent, '

and then he passed

'R.o\ix\(:\ii!s

his

unmoved. hand over

Ei'angelical Records^ vol.

ii.

For a while his eyes,

pp. 23, 24.

and

The Fur Coat said, in a

warm and

friendly

manner

precious than gold and jewels



good

^

and treated

you have, of course, carefully preserved,

with

it

all

honour, as

Christina blushed crimson,

turned pale with

on

The

fear.

said, with, as

sure visible

seemed

it

brow

his

' :

I



Hereupon

I

deserves V

it

and

I, if

I

am

not mistaken,

squire looked at us inquiringly,

me, a

to

slight

cloud of displea-

should be vexed

had been sold and had passed

summoned courage

if I

hands of

into the at

had given the

fur coat to the

his death failed to learn

he laid

most kindly tone Master Jerg, and

:

it

what had become of

'

on

You

I shall

my

all

man in

embittered

who can

spirits

his

Ah

!

left all

in

my

how

my

I

it.

my power

still

own

God's

after

his

a

in

heart,

to secure your is

the need

act as a herald of peace, soften the

and unite them

in the

When he had gone, Christina burst about

how

hand across

Great indeed

being called to Rumolzweiler. there of one

tale of

shoulder and said,

are a

do

it

martyr Schuch, and had since

Once more Junker Fabian passed eyes, then

thought

strangers.'

once, and related,

though not without embarrassment, the whole

*

more

is

something of

Is there not

!

wife

King Solomon, Master Jerg ? your costly treasure, your he added with a smile

father's fur coat,

and

A

' :

the Proverbs of

this sort in

But,'

383

bonds of love

into tears

gladly would I have told

!'

and said

Junker Fabian

:

all

being to blame for our extreme necessity, since I

our goods at Aunt Cordula's, but somehow throat and I could not get

have told him, Jerg, how grievously of the fur coat, and

how much

out.

it

I

it

stuck

But you should

sinned in that matter

heart-sorrow I caused you

!

Fur

TJic

384 'Yes,

truly,

—then

Coat.

had fondled and spoiled you, and acted a very you, as

were more to



I

me

Eli towards

than the salvation of your immortal

and hereupon

my

caught her in

after this, a

arms to

my

We

heart's desire.

me

The

strong, bold character of

to shame,

The

and be

I

was reminded of

How

the

Lord's words,

this

dear soul, in so short a time, outstripped

flight

heavenward

Lord

to

'

shall

last

Joyously did we at

!

go to Rumolzweiler, although

first.'

me

had

in the

last resolve in the

fully foreseeing that

there cares about daily bread, the lack of

many

comforts,

and even hatred and renewed persecutions, awaited

us.

few days later a colleague of Master Matthew gave a

great dinner, to which the Burgomaster, the Dean,

invited.

that learned

I

wished not to go.

and

homeliness, and

What could

needy, threadbare apparel?

Master

must, and even appear in

was

position

desirable,

and the trjdng

be made patent to Still

my

that

go

I

poverty-stricken clothing, for

tme

necessities of the evangelists should

all.

make up her mind

and master going

tinguished society.

it

nay, even necessar)', that the

Christina could not

to her lord

do in

I

ignorant

Matthew, however, and Bucer too, stood to

it

and

my

assemblage, with

brilliant

my

all

and myself,

sundry evangelical ministers, and even Seitz

that

had,

long talk regarding the pros and cons of the

Christina's faith put

were

soul,'

— the Squire being no longer present

position at Rumolzweiler.

A

I

the sweet smile and bright glance of your eyes

if

I replied,

how

should have told him also

I

*

The

in

coat

to consent

such a plight into is

this dis-

almost transparent, and,

The Fur with

all

my

industry,

respectably any longer,'

she

385

my

beyond

is

it

Coat.

point she held a serious consultation with

her about

I twitted

man

the old

in her

this,

It

was not

me

to

— and

Dame

on

it

this

Hackfurth.

;

slily

and

stealthily to

However, she answered,

!

honour that made her wish

pride, but a feeling of

be properly clad

darn

to

saying she had need to take care

was contemplating

climb back to resume his throne '

power

said piteously

seemly and respectable a minister

of the word ought always to be, both as being right and laAvful

here below, and above

Upon

she liked.

She had made me, with her notable sewing, a

fine shirt with the linen stuff,

by the good Dames

carefully

brought to Kraft,

my

me

devised the plan of fetching

I

am

so happens that Master tall

and

this shirt she I

webs of

had

also

was to dress

for

poor coat seemed more miserable than

ever beside the new, snow-white

it

us, with other

and

But when

washed and ironed.

the banquet,

But

God's sake.'

all for

the whole I was content to yield, and let her do as

stout,

shirt.

Dame

Hackfurth

her husband's Sunday coat.

Lux

short

is

and

spare,

wherefore in the borrowed coat,

and

my

long arms, projecting beyond the short sleeves, had so droll

an

effect that

we

all

three

was glad to take back

fell

my

to laughing heartily,

old

and

faithful

and

I

servant the

threadbare coat

At

that

moment

a knock was heard at the door.

the post-runner, Simon, to

tell

us he had

It

was

come from Wasseln-

heim, and was charged by Junker Fabian von Eschenau to give us

many

to us this

friendly salutations from him,

little

box.

Christina and 2 B

Dame

and

to deliver

Hackfurth pro-

The Fur

386

ceeded forthwith to open

— we found within

.

and how great was our

it,

surprise

!

more nor less than the Fur

neither

.

.

Coat.

Coat! Agreeably surprised

nay rather

!

tion of astonishment, Christina

Dame

transfixed.

fur coat, cried out,

and put an end '

Yes,

Jerg

yes,'

Christina

Ah

'

!

to all our

on

my

pered beseechingly,

furth's

stood speechless and

I

this

has come at the right moment,

dilemma '

?'

a fine piece of

neck weeping

over me, and

it

sent

you must put it

.

Master

winter

!'

and whis-

Dame Hack-

exclaimed, smiling

becomes you so

It

'

on, Jerg, for doubtless the Squire has

it

on purpose

!'

forgiven me, Jerg,

She then took the coat out of

hands, threw

fur.

like a child,

through her tears with childlike joy, well,

warm

in this severe

You have indeed

'

do splendidly

It will

!

render you good service

fell

have you not

in a sort of consterna-

Hackfurth, however, as she unfolded the

added Simon,

It will

!

and

.

.

but

.

.

.

what

is

that

she asked

?'

with a shudder, pointing with her finger to large stains of

blood which shone

like rubies

on the lustrous

silver-grey

lining of the bear's skin.

'This

is

Brother Schuch's farewell greeting!'

I

answered

with deep emotion, and an involuntary shudder ran through

me. Just then Seitz

news of our

came

to share our joy.

he.

It will

you

take

delightful surprise

come '

to

'

me

to the

had reached him, and he had

You must

put

it

on, Jerg,' said

be such a joy to Master Matthew

in this fur coat to all his brethren

shoulders, stretched

it

The

dinner.

!'

on the bed, and

I

took

to present it

from

said gravely,

'

my

Look

The Fur

Coat.

387

here at these spots of blood, Seitz, and then

put

on

it

?'

He

a good while

we stood

dumb

gazing at these precious xi. 4).

faith, '

bequeathed to

us,'

up prayer aloud.

silence,

in

'

hand clasped

said Seitz at length solemnly,

Follow him

A

(Heb.

'

!"

Having

'

thoughtful

'

and the

so said, he offered

indeed a deep solem-

spirit,

all.

No

But now we were obliged to hasten to the dinner. one thought more of

On

my

threadbare coat

our way Seitz related to

the exertions of our dear kind

Lambert of Avignon was

Dame

As

Zell

and the Reformers' writings

had caused investigations

The

sending

'

had put away the

fur coat,

prisoner had repeatedly constrained

back

hitherto

the

after it

his

death

had not been

jailer,

to

the

in his

'

Bible-

Holy

in his native land,

be made

to

jailer, to

was made, informed them that

tion he

self,

all.

the French Doctor

in the habit of

through one of these men.

it

of

or colporteurs into France, to disseminate the

Scriptures

tion

:

I least

me how we were indebted to friend. Dame Katherine Zell,

for the recovery of the fur coat.

men'

can

hand,

in

he being dead yet speaketh

seemed spread over us

nity,

if I

a glorious testimony which Schuch has

is

calls to us, "

Lord

me

witnesses, seals of our dear brother's

by which

That

tell

too seemed struck and solemnized, and for

whom

in

Nancy,

an applica-

after Schuch's execu-

because the deceased

him

to promise to send

pastor at

power

Honau, which

to do, since

he him-

having been deeply impressed after witness-

ing Schuch's patience at the rack, meekness towards his

persecutors and joy in death, had thereby fallen under suspicion of heresy, and he had not dared to have deahngs

The Fur

388

Coat.

with an evangelical minister, from dread of losing his situa-

He

tion.'

coat,

declared himself ready to deliver up the

an indemnification was given to him, and

if

on the subject maintained

silence

whom Dame

Eschenau, to

at

clerical banquet, the coat so

Fabian von

had mentioned the matter,

Zell

When, on

gave the needful money.

Nancy.

fur

strict

the very evening of the

unexpectedly appeared,

Dame

by a post-runner

to St.

Katherine instantly despatched

it

Mark's, without noticing the stains of blood, as she had

never

lifted

We

out of the box.

it

had made ourselves

was assembled when we truly princely.

was

I

display of silver plate

never had

and the whole company

late,

The entertainment was

arrived.

specially struck with the splendid

on the side-board, and thought

I

seen anytliing so costly, even in the Episcopal

Palace at Zabern.

Seitz

and

I

both

felt

ourselves out of

our element in the magnificent assembly, and endeavoured to

retire

into

the

background.

But Master Matthew

stepped forward to receive us in a most friendly manner,

and and

I

me why I had not put on the fur coat. my reason, he silently pressed my hand,

once asked

at

When

I told

saw a

was, during

him

large tear glistening in his eye. all

that evening, unusually silent

Altogether he

and

serious,

taking no part in the lively discussions on the vexed question of the doctrine of the sacrament, into which Bucer,

Capito,

Hedio and

the others

all

plunged deeply.

Yet

I

should have been most thankful to hear his views in particular on the subject.

At

table I

was forced

to

sit

beside Master Matthew,

who

TJie

Fur

Coat,

389

asked the master of the house as a favour that

and

so,

consequence

in

was placed

I

the greatest embarrassment.

The

and undressing and dressing

again,

of

my unhappy

might be

it

in circumstances of

my

result of all

was that the

dressing

right sleeve

old coat was worn quite out, so that at the

elbow Christina's new

shirt

peeped through.

Now

Master

Matthew had of course a place of honour, and thus the whole table could, each time

my

hole in

sleeve.

barrassment

I

I

I sat as if

moved

in the least, see the

on red-hot coals

;

in

my em-

grew more and more shy and awkward.

The

learned and distinguished guests, however, appeared never to perceive this,

and treated

me

with great

especially that gracious dignitary the Dean,

affability,

who

When

head and repeatedly addressed me.

more

sat at the

was

dessert

served, the master of the house took a magnificent silver

cup from the side-board, said

:

*

filled

it

with Rhenish wine and

The Emperor Maximilian presented

Doctor Geiler of blessed memory,

after

cup

whose death

to it

Doctor Wickgram, who, on leav-

passed to his nephew,

ing Strasburg and withdrawing to Ensisheim, cious cup to

this

left

the pre-

myself as a keepsake and memorial of his

gratitude for faithful service

and marks of

friendship.'

With

these words he passed the cup round the circle, every one

sipped a drop, admired

it

and praised the costly wine.

Master Matthew did not admire

it,

Only

and would, moreover,

not taste the wine.

Meantime

Zell's serious

been caught by

all

mood seemed

involuntarily to have

the rest of the party, and

when the

splendid cup stood in the centre of the table, like a

Roman

The Fur

390 Emperor

*

sudden awful silence reigned,

in his glory, a

Master Matthew broke

Coat.

it

by saying

Dear and honoured brethren

beautiful legend of

St.

George,

till

:

in Christ,

you

know

all

who once rode

of a hard winter over the drawbridge of his

the

depth

in the

and

castle,

seeing a naked beggar lying before the gate, took off his

mantle, with

his

sword cut

and gave one half

to the

You remember how

ness.

right

it

poor

man

through the middle,

peared unto him in person, and said graciously, thee, George,

George was a

thou hast done rich knight, who

than one cloak.

it

unto me

'

me

beside

and modest

assuredly possessed

Moreover he gave away only one

here another beloved George,

that he

ashamed because of

is

thank

I

Now

!'

St.

more

half of

But there

the cut mantle, reserving the other for himself. sits

naked-

to cover his

during that night the Lord ap-

— so

humble

his torn sleeve,

over which the angels in heaven are certainly rejoicing,

who gave

his

only and valuable fur coat to our blessed

martyr Schuch, before his imprisonment, keeping for his

own

use only that shabby, worn-out coat in which, four

weeks ago,

for the gospel's sake,

he was with his wife and

child driven out from Honau.'

And

here Master !Matthew, to

my

great horror, related

the whole story of the fur coat, softening greatly

and

all

that told against

accurately.

seemed black before stone grinding in

matters worse,

I

my saw

my

poor

so oppressed with

I felt

my

eyes,

and

down indeed

Christina, but yet fully

I felt as

shame it

head, when, lo and behold all

that all

were a !

to

mill-

make

these distinguished gentlemen in

TJie

succession

coming up

hands with one and

Fur

Coat.

391

and was obliged

to me,

But the best was yet to come.

After

all

was quiet again,

our dear friend Zell spoke most beautifully,

power

to the heart than I

Adam

could possess,

in the

marks of the

to

His crown of thorns, with the

nails in

His blessed hands, and His pierced

to ask us, "

oh

dear brethren, should

down

cast our eyes

What

are you doing for me?" we not blush with shame, and

to the

ground by reason of

splendour surrounding us here, so

and compassion

moment He were

us, in

and were

when

more

child of

midst of

side, !

infinite love

If at this

'

—with

had thought any poor

— of the

of the Saviour, adding,

appear

shake

to

all.

many

—now,

in these

all

the

hard times,

faithful confessors of Christ are struggling

with want and tribulation, pining in prison, or being per-

secuted and slain stuff," said

%

" There

is

much

too

of the accursed

the blessed Geiler, in one of his discourses,

when

inveighing against luxury, which he designated as "hellish

grandeur." there

is

too

Beloved brother, even here,

much

of needless silver

feed the hungry therewith

homeless.

Thus you

;

!

in this thy house,

Give

it

to the

Lord

clothe the naked and house the

will lay

up treasure

in

heaven

!'

Again a deep silence reigned round the sumptuous and glittering board.

Then

out his hand to Zell, '

the master of the feast rose, held

and

said,

with manifest

Brother, thou hast opened mine eyes

I will

do even

I

offered

up prayer, and we

sang, *

emotion,

thank thee, and

as thou hast said.'

Thereupon Capito and Bucer all

!

May God

be merciful to us and bless

;

TJic

392

which we broke up

after

Fur

Coat.

and solemnized

in a recollected

frame of mind.

On

the following day I was obliged to go to Wasseln-

heim, to settle with Squire Eucharius von Bock concerning

severe

my

;

inwardly I

bloody this,

was torn

coat

felt

Dame

by some

stains

which appeared

ever, I

came

;

to

acid.

me

to a better

cold was

so I was obliged,

although

on the

the thing go against me, to put

Christina and

coat.

the

The

post of evangelist at Rumolzweiler.

the

fur

Hackfurth had removed the

At

was annoyed

I

first

Soon, how-

a sort of sacrilege.

mind regarding

it,

at

perceiving that

same feehng which now animated me, had gradually first to the veneration and afterwards

the Church led

in

to

the adoration of relics.

The

fur coat

travel over ice

myself, I friend

warm my poor

did

Under

through.

shelter

its

and snow

;

limbs through and

was wonderfully easy to

it

and while

feeling so comfortable

thought with love and tenderness of the beloved

now wearing

the crown promised to

'

him

that over-

cometh.'

At Wasselnheim Fabian and

I

concluded, in presence of good Junker

an agreement with Eucha-

the local magistrate,

rius

von Bock, by which he pledged himself

me

half of the annual revenues belonging to the incum-

bency of the church of Rumolzweiler, and enter

upon

every

way

aid, !

I

promised to

duties at the close of this present

May God

Januar}'.

His holy

its

to secure to

grant

faithfully

Amen.

and

me

grace

to

to the best

I shall find

fulfil

of

my

month of

them with ability in

a difiicult task before

me

The Fur at

Rumolzweiler

way of

and

;

me

At the same

that the thirst for the

and

parishioners,

is

to

be expected

in the

And

Rumolzweiler.

plainly to understand at Wasseln-

time, I also equally plainly perceived

word of God

is

great

among

the dear

was manifestly shown when Eucharius

it

von Bock introduced

I shall

indeed

little

393

good-will from the landed gentry in particular, as

the feudal lord gave

heim.

Coat.

me so,

to the elders of the church at

the

Lord

my God

being with me,

my

take heart and go forward boldly to

work.

bare walls of the parsonage did indeed alarm me, as

had not any tracing in

my

my

furniture wherewith to

steps to

Strasburg, I

fill

and the

But while

it.

would not be

it

infant in St. Mark's,

winter should be over, and to go alone to rather than expose

must await us

them

there.

my new

to enduring all the hardships that

already loaded us with blessings beyond what

had been constrained

my

we could

unbelieving fears

to promise that I

!

would be

Strasburg again on Christmas Eve, and had therefore all

possible haste to be able to keep

arrived at St. Mark's, Christina

my

seemed

also

begin at once

unheeded.

all

gladsome and report

me

elated.

progress, but

They could not

hurriedly drag

found

to

listen to

I

to

I

meet me,

Dame Hackwas about

my

anything

tale

was

to all

— could only

into the old convent library.

brightly illuminated,

at

made

When

word.

came forward

radiant with joy as though transfigured, and furth

till

home,

But oh, how had our gracious God

ask or think, putting to shame I

re-

turned the matter over

mind, and asked myself whether

better to leave Christina

The we

There

and the whole room

full

I

of

The Fur

394 Christmas boxes

[erne

Coat.

ganze Besc/iee7'ung)

;

—beds,

house-

hold furniture, garments, Hnen, victuals, every necessary of life,

even including our own goods and chattels which we

had carried with us from Honau order.

tiful

array of things, and at the

was

on

breath,

Dame

arranged in beau-

and

moment

first

Cliristina

at

splendid

this

almost thought I

laughed and cried in the

in her gladness fell first

on

my

neck, then

Hackfurth's, then lifted baby Sigismund high up

He

in the air.

tude of feet,

But

a dream.

in

same

all

;

gazed with amazement

I

little

was

of glee at the sight of the multi-

full

lighted tapers,

and was stamping with

clapping his hands and hurrahing with

But who had prepared

whom was

our

warm

and unexpected help

this

all

his little

his might.

glad surprise for us

?

To

gratitude due for this most seasonable ?

The Lord had

which Master Matthew Zell had said

blessed those words

The

at the banquet.

master of the feast had given his 'needless

silver'

to the

Lord, and a part of the proceeds he had expended on relieving our great necessities.

From whom our

dearly-beloved

Katherine Zell had received the money to redeem our own

goods and chattels from Aunt Cordula (who doubtless sufiiciently

we never could

ascertain.

known

thrice

'

a

But the Lord, who had counted

our tears and watched our joy, our

set

high price upon them), that was a point which

or

unknown

He

will assuredly

not leave

benefactors unrequited, for blessed,

blessed, are the merciful.'

Thus then we

God and man,

are ready, with heart-felt gratitude towards to take

up our abode

where Christina longs to be a minister's

at

Rumolzweiler,

wife, a

mother of

TJic FiLT Coat.

own

the flock after God's

beloved Katherine so

And

' !

grant that

now, Jerg, only look

this store of

meal

may be even

it

exclaimed she

! '

How much

!

example of the

heart, after the

God

Zell.

395

bread

I shall

' ;

look at

be able to

when we go to our new home, to feed many a hungry fellow-creature and make meal-broth for many a

bake with

this

poor sick person the fur coat

me

remind

me

me, but rather be

my '

old evil tricks

To

which soul

?

both

Is

to

for

it

with thee, but

and keep close healeth

come, Jesus !

will

And you

too,

never again spoil again into any of

.

not.

not even so with

who

fall

warm, and

!

.' .

all

perfect in weakness,

for ever

should

strict if I ;

good thou knowest

trust in

delightfully

You must

in this.

will is present is

iniquities,

made

keep you so

must watch and pray

that I

must help

Jerg,

But you, dear husband, you must wear

!

It will

Christ, the

to

how

Is

it

me too Him who %

to

perform that

not true, dearest

Therefore " forgiveth

us

let all

our

our diseases," whose strength

— to Him who

is

and was and

is is

same yesterday and to-day and

Amen.'

EDINBURGH

:

T.

CONSTABLE,

PRINTER TO THE QUEEN, AND TO THE UNIVERSITY.

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