elected the dear old man's successor. Rudolph studied agriculture and,
when he had mastered his subject, returned to Rexow, where he was
intrusted with the management of the farm, and married Mina. No finer
wedding had ever been celebrated in the neighborhood. All the rich
relatives of Joseph Nuessler were present, in addition to the more
intimate friends. There was also a horde of young people whom uncle
Braesig had been permitted to invite from Rahnstaedt, where he had been
living since his retirement on a pension.

Mina looked for all the world like a rosy apple lying on a silver plate
surrounded by its green leaves as she stood there in her white satin
gown and myrtle wreaths. Uncle Braesig was groomsman, and blew his nose
energetically as he said: "My little Mina! My little godchild! How happy
she looks!" and every time one of the fat old Nuessler's gave Mina a
kiss, he bent down and kissed Mrs. Behrens, as much as to imply that he
thought this would prevent any contamination of his goddaughter by the
foolish old Nuesslers with their wretched worldly notions. But finally,
when Braesig was about to salute her again, she said: "You ought to be
ashamed of yourself, Braesig." Then Braesig drew back rather crestfallen
and said: "Don't take it ill of me, Mrs. Behrens, my feelings ran away
with me."

Those kindly feelings often ran away with him and enabled him to bring
happiness to his friends where more cautious people would have been
helpless. It was he who unraveled the mystery which had cast a shadow
over the good name of Hawermann, and who at the proper moment called
Frank von Rambow home from Paris. When Hawermann had received the news
that he was cleared, and Mrs. Behrens wished to go to him at once, uncle
Braesig drew her gently back to the sofa and said: "Not quite yet, Mrs.
Behrens. You see, I think that Hawermann wants to have a little quiet
time to tell God all about it, and that Louisa is helping him. It's
enough for her to be there, for as you know our God is a jealous God,
and doesn't suffer people to meddle, when he is speaking to a soul that
is filled with gratitude to Him." Little Mrs. Behrens gazed at him in
speechless amazement. At last she murmured: "Oh, Braesig, I've always
looked upon you as a heathen, and now I see that you're a Christian." "I
know nothing about that, Mrs. Behrens. I'm sure of this, however, that
what little I've been able to do in this matter has been done as an
assessor and n