f religious faith to
keep her from altogether sinking under the pains, sorrows and toils,
which she had for so many weeks to bear all alone, with the help only
of a hired maid. The news of such misery threw Schiller into the
deepest grief. He saw only one way of sending comfort and help to his
poor Mother, and immediately adopted it; writing to his eldest Sister
in Meiningen, as follows:

"Thou too wilt have heard, dearest Sister, that Luise has
fallen seriously ill; and that our poor dear Mother is
thereby robbed of all consolation. If Luise's case were to
grow worse, or our Father's even, our poor Mother would be
left entirely forsaken. Such misery would be unspeakable.
Canst thou make it possible, think'st thou, that thy
strength could accomplish such a thing? If so, at once make
the journey thither. What it costs I will pay with joy.
Reinwald might accompany thee; or, if he did not like that,
come over to me here, where I would brother-like take care
of him.

"Consider, my dear Sister, that Parents, in such extremity
of need, have the justest claim upon their children for
help. O God, why am not I myself in such health as in my
journey thither three years ago! Nothing should have
hindered me from hastening to them; but that I have scarcely
gone over the threshold for a year past makes me so weak
that I either could not stand the journey, or should fall
down into sickness myself in that afflicted house. Alas, I
can do nothing for them but help with money; and, God knows,
I do that with joy. Consider that our dear Mother, who has
held up hitherto with an admirable courage, must at last
break down under so many sorrows. I know thy childlike
loving heart, I know the perfect fairness and equitable
probity of my Brother-in-law. Both these facts will teach
you better than I under the circumstances. Salute him
cordially.--Thy faithful Brother,

"SCHILLER."

Christophine failed not to go, as we saw above. 'From the time of her
arrival there, no week passed without Schiller's writing home; and his
Letters much contributed to strengthen and support the heavy-laden
Mother. The assurance of being tenderly loved by such a Son was
infinitely grateful to her; she considered him as a tried faithful
friend, to whom one, without reluctance, yields his part in one's own
sorrows. Schiller th