of a belief, which is capable of
sustaining her in the hour of sorrow and trial, and give her nothing in
return but cheerless and disconsolate doubt; which would be an exchange
unworthy of the magnanimity of a man.'

'In this case you are for once wholly right, my worthy friend,' said
Dorn: 'and I promise you _with this handgrip_, by God and my honor, to
do as you require. Now let a lasting peace be concluded between us.
When we hereafter meet above, as I firmly believe we shall, when the
scales shall fall from our eyes, when we shall clearly see what we
perceive but dimly here below, then shall we as surely be one in
knowledge as we now are in feeling, and side by side before the throne
of the father of all men shall we unite with full hearts in the song of
praise to the one true God.'

'So may it be!' cried the parson, pressing the youth's hand and leaving
the room with visible emotion.

CHAPTER VI.

In the forenoon of the 20th January, 1629, a joyful bustle prevailed in
Fessel's house. The floors and steps were carefully swept, strewed with
a beautiful yellow sand, and adorned with evergreens. A large fire was
crackling in the kitchen, before which the spit was turning, and pots
and stew-pans were steaming. The diligent housewife, notwithstanding
the ready assistance of her mother, had her hands full of business; her
two daughters, who insisted on being employed, hindered more than they
aided her; and the sons who, with their cousin Engelmann, had just
returned from school, raced about the house like wild animals,
practically illustrating the '_Dulce est desipere in loco_,' which they
had that day construed in their class. In short, it was the betrothing
day of the beauteous Faith and Fessel's new partner in business, master
Dorn.

The interesting pair had just returned from the church, where, in
pursuance of a good old custom, they had made their mutual engagements
in the presence of their God, and commended themselves to his
protection by pious prayer. In the house-door they encountered their
brother-in-law, who was returning from the city council-room, where his
attendance had a short time before been required. He was, however,
unusually pale, returned but brief thanks for the joyous greeting of
the lovers, and silently mounted the stairs with a slow and dull
motion, as if he had been troubled with asthma.

'In God's name, my brother, what has happened to you?' cried D