y wanderer with brown bread and
bonnyclabber. I am quite in harmony with, your secret wishes, my dear
Seraphin! At the same time, I am of opinion that a step promising so
much happiness ought not to be longer deferred. I think, then, you
should ask the father for his daughter without delay, so that I may
soon have the pleasure of giving you my blessing."

From my father's arms, into which. I had thrown myself in thankfulness,
I hastened away to the "green farm," where Mechtild with maidenly
blushes, and Holt in speechless astonishment, heard and granted my
petition.

I am now four months married. I am the blest husband of a wife whose
lovely qualities are daily showing themselves to greater advantage.
Mechtild presides over Chateau Hallberg like an angel of peace. Towards
my father and mother she conducts herself with filial reverence and
never-ceasing delicate attentions. Mother loves her unspeakably, and no
access of ill humor in father can withstand her charming smile and
prudent mirth. Concerning the banking-house of Greifmann, I have only
sad things to tell. Carl's father had entered into very considerable
speculations which failed and drove him into bankruptcy. Carl saw the
blow coming, and saved himself in a disgraceful manner. There was a
savings institution connected with the bank in which poor people and
servants deposited the savings of their hard labor. Carl appropriated
this fund and made off a short time before the failure of the house.
Thousands of poor persons were robbed of the little sums which they
were saving for old age, by denying themselves many even of the
necessaries of life.

The maledictions and curses of these unfortunate people followed across
the ocean the thief whose modern culture and progressive humanity did
not hinder him from committing a crime which no Christian can be guilty
of without losing his claim to the title. Carl, however, still
continues to pass for a man of culture and humanity notwithstanding his
deed. And why should he not, since without faith in the Deity moral
obligations do not exist, and consequently every species of crime is
allowable? The old gentleman Greifmann died shortly after his ruin;
Louise lost her mind.

My father felt the misfortune of the Greifmanns deeply, without,
however, regretting in the smallest degree the wise determination which
their godless principles and actions had driven him to. Formerly he
could never find time to take part in the elect