out of isinglass, in the side of the
manger in which the infant Savior lay, for the purpose of indicating
the celestial mission of the heavenly messenger by its transparent
brilliancy. He gave yet another satisfied look at the well executed
work, and then approached Katharine, who had, meanwhile, spread out an
infinite variety of useful and agreeable presents, articles of dress,
pieces of coin, books, toys, &c. She was now distributing to each one
his portion of cakes, sweet biscuits, sugar animals, gingerbread,
apples and nuts, with just impartiality. In deep thought, the
book-keeper took from the table two figures formed of Schweidnitz
gingerbread. They represented two of Dr. Martin Luther's enemies,
Tetzel and Eck, in their official robes, disfigured with the heads of
animals. The names inscribed on them left no doubt whom they were
intended to represent. Dorn examined the caricatures with an ominous
shake of the head. 'Do not give these ill-shaped things to the
children,' said he. 'Believe me, it is not well for them to be so early
taught to make war upon opinions which they do not understand. Mockery
and derision are bad aids to the holy cause, and the hand, which grasps
filth to throw at an adversary, is itself the first soiled. The
bitterness, with which the struggle for truth and spiritual freedom has
been carried on, has already spread enough of suffering and misery over
Europe. Let not the demon of sectarian zeal intrude itself into the
nursery.'

'You take every thing in the same earnest and serious way,' jestingly
answered the friendly Katharine, laying the caricature figures aside.
'Who that heard you would suppose you had bravely drawn your sword for
the new faith yourself? The red scar upon your forehead contradicts
your words.'

'You are right,' cried Dorn with emotion. 'I have wielded the sword for
the new faith. A bold captain of daring robbers, I have achieved many a
deed of arms under this pretext; but daily do I pray to God to pardon
me for it!'

He hastened away. The reverend Johannes Beer, who had entered the room
unnoticed at the commencement of this conversation, looked after him
with astonishment, and then asked the hostess: 'that young man talks
very strangely--may he not be a papist in disguise, sent into this
house as a spy for our destruction?'

'By no means!' cried Katharine with zeal. 'You know, my worthy sir,
that he was wounded fighting for the Augsburg confession, and during
the