The good man regarded himself as very fortunate in being permitted to live here in quiet with his family, and became the teacher of his children. The happiest hours that he had were those in which he told them about the Saviour; for he was convinced that religion was the only thing in this world that is permanently valuable. His wife was a devoted Christian woman, and as often as she talked to her children about the love of Christ, tears would flow from her eyes at such compassion toward sinful beings. Notwithstanding the great danger prevailing in the country, this was indeed a happy family. The Duke was a good musician, and he made it an object to teach his children to play on the piano; and though they were quite young, both of them knew a number of very beautiful tunes. On one stormy evening, near the end of winter, all four of them sat together near their splendid piano. The Duke composed a little song for his two children. It was such a pleasant, lively melody, that they learned it very easily, and each of them could play it. Their mother, however, did not know it, and the children thought it a great thing for them to have the privilege of teaching it to her. "Carl," said the Duke," you play and we will sing." And they sang this song: "Take courage, bird, Our father says, You have no barns, You sow no wheat, But God will give you bread to eat." While they were singing, they heard some one knock at the door. They heard the bell ring, and when the door was opened five soldiers, clad in uniform, demanded Duke Erlan to be delivered up. They walked straight up to him, took hold of him, and told him that he must go immediately to prison. His wife cast herself at their feet and begged them to let him live in peace. "We cannot help it," said they; "we have our orders and must obey them." Not five minutes elapsed before that good man was taken from the midst of his happy family, and hurried to prison. She and her son and daughter were overwhelmed with sorrow. They did not sleep any that night, and the next morning, as they looked out of the window and saw how the storm had prevailed in the vineyards and on the fields, they felt that the storm in their own hearts had been far more destructive. The unhappy Duchess now determined to use every means to rescue her beloved husband. She went to the judges and assured them of her husband's innocence; but they did not seem to have any more feeling than so many marble statues. She received, in reply to her entreaties, this answer: "In a few days your husband will be beheaded." She returned to the castle after three days, and found that it was occupied by soldiers. The furniture had all been taken away, and the treasures were missing. She was not permitted even to enter it, and was informed that her children, for whom she was weeping in great sorrow, were gone, nobody could tell where. It was late at night, and she did not know where she would sleep. Going out into the castle-yard, she was met by Richard, an old and faithful servant, who said, "Good mistress, you are in danger every moment of being arrested. There is no safety for you unless you flee as quickly as possible. I cannot conceal you; for that would be dangerous for you. I cannot save your husband, and if you stay here it will be certain death. Your children are at my house. Come with me. My brother, the old fisherman, who keeps the ferry at the Rhine, is already informed of the matter. I will go with you this very night, and he will take you and your children safely over the river. Run-let us run for life!" and lay She did The Duchess came to the house of good Richard, where she found her children. But Lillie was quite sick, upon Richard's cot, suffering from a high fever. not even know her mother. How could that good woman leave her sick child? She did not wish to do it, but the peasant told her that she could be of no assistance, and that he would see that she was well provided for. 66 'Run," said he, “for your life is in danger! It was a sad moment when Lillie's mother was compelled to leave her child lying upon that sick bed; but the good woman, before giving her a parting kiss, kneeled at her side and said: 66 O Lord! I commit this dear child to Thee for safe keeping. I believe Thou wilt one day restore her to me!" The Duchess was then silent for a few moments, calmly arose, kissed her child, took Carl by the hand, and hastened through the door toward the distant river. She finally came to the old ferryman's house, and he gave them a great deal of welcome, having provided some warm soup and bread to strengthen them. They were taken over the river, and the two brothers, Solomon and Richard, returned in the boat. It was a desolate condition in which the Duchess and her child were placed, and we must follow her in her wanderings. The farther she went from the river, the safer it would be for her and Carl. She followed the direction which Richard had given her, until she came to Switzerland. But her delay there came near costing her her life; for she learned that a detective officer was in search of her. With all the haste possible, she got across the Swiss boundary into the Tyrol, which was Austrian territory. There she was safe. They passed over high mountains and through deep valleys, seeking a place where they could spend their time. At last they came to a certain valley, which, in quiet beauty, surpassed anything that they had seen. "This reminds me more of home," she said, "than any country through which we bave passed. I have got several hundred dollars which good Richard saved when our house was plundered, and we can afford to rent a little cottage." The old Tyrolese peasant told her that there was no house for sale in all the valley. "But," said he, "you could board in my cottage if you choose." The price was agreed upon, and the Duchess and her son became inmates of the family. The little room which was to be their home was very plainly furnished; but simple as it was, the first thing that she did on entering it was to kneel there with her child and thank God for a shelter. She arranged her affairs, as well as she could, for a permanent residence with the Tyrolese peasant, and she began to look upon it as home. One day she told the peasant that she wished to send her little boy Carl to school, if there was a good schoolmaster in the neighbourhood. "The pastor in a neighbouring village," said the peasant, "will be here to-day to catechise my child. He teaches school, and I think you can make an arrangement with him." That day the gray-haired old pastor came, and an arrangement was made with him for Carl to go to school to him. Books were provided for him, and he went to school with the greatest pleasure. He was a rapid student, and repeated his lessons every evening to his mother. In the Tyrol a great many canary birds are trained, and are sold to dealers all through the country. The old Tyrolese peasant with whom the Duchess and Carl were boarding had a young and beautiful bird, which sung very sweetly. Carl asked his mother to buy this bird, saying,-" Mother, this bird is very much like the one that our dear sweet Lillie used to have. Buy it for me, so that it may learn how to sing." The Duchess bought the bird, and soon became very much attached to it. Carl took the greatest pleasure in it. And in due time, little Tim-for that was its namewould come to him and peck at his fingers, and rub his little head on Carl's hand. Carl was a natural musician, just as his father was, and would sometimes play on a flute which the old Tyrolese had. Little Tim would imitate his tunes, and sometimes the concert was well worth hearing. The old pastor provided the Duchess with news. One day he gave her a paper containing news from friends, and in the first column which she read there was a long list of the names of noblemen who had been beheaded. Among them she read the name of her husband, Henry Erlan! The newspaper fell from her hands, and she swooned away. A severe illness came on, and it was a long time doubtful whether she would recover. The old Tyrolese despaired of her life, and said,— "The coming autumn may find her no more with us; but who knows what the good Lord will bring out of all this sorrow? 5. A King of Judah, 6. A King of Israel, 7. The name of a Prophet, 8. The name of a Bird, 9. The name of a King of Israel, 10. The name of a Prophet. The initials will give the name of a King of Assyria. Plymouth, THOMAS HEATH, JUNE. |