Thy virtues rare, and kindly heart, which were
A comfort on life's way.

Fearless thy earnest, noble soul did stand,
Not mid the lofty masters of the land,
But with thy brothers, 'mong their lowly huts,
A member of their band.

O! chosen one, for whom we proudly weep.
Of whom thy friends a loved remembrance keep,
How patiently thy weary lot was borne
Till peaceful thou did'st sleep!

Rejoice we at thy absence; gone before
Thy pleasures and thy pains on earth are o'er;
Rest thou, while on through strife and woe
We heavenward soar.

The last solemn notes died away, but there was still no movement among
the group who stood with bowed heads beside the open grave. When after
a pause they raised their eyes they perceived that the clergyman had
disappeared. The old sexton, unable to understand the strange scene,
had also retired leaving his spade behind him. While Edwin, standing
between Mohr and Marquard, gazed into the grave as tearlessly as a
departed spirit, it was rapidly filled, each person stepping forward in
turn to cast in a spadeful of earth.

Franzelius approached Edwin, and they clasped each other's hands in
silence. The mourner's soul was still benumbed with grief, and the same
dull stupor rested upon him as the party returned home. He took leave
of his friends at the door of the house and went up to his desolate
cell alone.

He found everything in the neatest order, nothing was left to recall
the sorrowful events which, during the last few days, had occurred in
the quiet room. A bright fire was burning in the stove, the breakfast
stood on the table as usual, and the turning lathe was once more in its
place beside the window, with the tools arranged upon it as before.

But on Balder's chair lay the little chisel with which Franzelius had
screwed down the coffin lid. At this sight, the spell which had bound
Edwin was suddenly broken; he threw himself into the chair and gave
free course to the bitterest tears.

CHAPTER V.

When Marquard visited Edwin the following morning, he found him at his
desk, holding his pen in his right hand and resting his head on the
left. A sheet of paper lay before him.

"Good morning, Fritz," said he. "You've come just at the right ti