Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1858-04-02
THE WEAVER OF NAUMBuRG
the Triunlphs Of Meekness.
CHAPTER III.


1t was az Wolf had feared When Fra
Ursula learnt what her husband had agree
to undertake, she uttered loud lamcnta
ton, accusing him Of want of love for he
and bis numerous children Of needlessl
risking their lives and his own for th
sake Of those who had no claim upon him
"What are the plague-stricken to you?
she said, id,passionately; your place is at you
loom, aud in the midst of your family no
in the chamber of death Look at you
children ; see how healthy, how rosy, how
wellgrown they are; and would you aftel
all the years Of care, toll, privation, anG
anxiety which they have cost US, expose
them TO the danger of being carried off il
a few days? Tell me, how much are they
to give you for the lives of your children:
How large is the bribe for which you are
to yield up yourself and US to the black
death In all our poverty, were we not
happy-happicr than the burgher- master,
our governor Children Erwin, Bea-
trice, all of you, up. beseech your father
not to sell your lives not to make or
phans Of you; entreat him to keep the
black death far from u.s."
Wolf was at once surrounded by his
children, who seized his hands, s,roked his
checks, embraced his knees, and assaulted
him with caresses and earnest petitions /;
his wife meanwhile, weeping SO bitterly
that it might have melted boar. of otoue
to see hor But meek and mild and gen.
tie as Wolf was, his resolution remained
Gushaken.
"Wifc! Ursula :" said he, striving to free
himself from the children, "when you see
one whom you love, sinking under heavy
weight, will you add a fresh load to it, or
will you help him to bear it? A heavy
burden is laid upon me, which, on your
account, almost crushes me; but the COM
mand Of my Savior, the will of my burgher.
master, and my duty as a citizen, have
imposed it upon me, and l may not shake
1t off again. Christ our Lord has said, we
must even lay down our lives for tho brc-
thren; and whosoever will save his life
shall lose it, but whosoever shall lose his
life for his sake, shall find life eternal If
1t be Gods will, the black death will find
US out Witnvus 0ui 6V,"o ---- - -----
houses; but if it please him to prolong our
lives, he can preserve US as wonderfully as
he did the three holy men in Nebuchadne-
zar's fiery furnace"
As Wolf was not to be moved from his
purpose, his family ceased by degrees their
entreaties and lamentations. With q
cheerful heart and firm trust in God Wolf
entered upon his dangerous Office. He
became the adviser, preserver, and comtor-
ter of the sick and their relatives. His
activity and vigilance saved many lives.
BY his consultations he preserved many
from despair by his attention and care be
rescued yet more in the infected houses
from tie pangs of hunger. The conscious
ness of doing so much good, filled him
with indescribable satisfaction, and set him
above all fear of danger, which perhaps
was the cause that he escaped the infec-
ton. VOLTS example had also great in
huence with bis family and, as they be-
came accustomed to the danger, their anx-
ious fears gradually subsided. 1t is, of
course, to be understood, that whilst Wolf
was occupied in the management of his
important trust, which put complete
stop to his linen weaving, be and his fam
lily were literally supplied with all that
they required from the town revenues.
In the course of two months the pesti-
lence, which had carried off 80 many vic
tins, and placed SO many families in
mourning, disappeared from the town Of
Naumburg. Men are more commonly
moved to repentance and thankfulness by
the chastiscments than by the bounties Of
God. The inhabitants of Naumburg, ac-
cordingly, celebrated their deliverance
from the plague by appointing day OF
general thanksgiving. One of the most
deeply affected by the day was Wolf, the
linen-weaver and with good reason ; for
had not the Lord done great things for
him and his j? Not one Of his beloved
ones was taken from him, and he looked
with greatful heart upon his wife and
eight children, who we're on their knees
beside him, uniting with him in prayer
and praise. Had not the black death
passed over his house, even as the destroy
ing angel passed over the houses Of the
Israelites, in the night when all the first
born of the Egyptians we're slain?
Others, however, celebrated the day in a
different way. Out of the black straw by
which the infected houses had been dis
tinguished, figure was made 10 represent
the black death, and fastened to the top
of pole. The bearers Of it we're preceded
by Stein with his drum: whilst the noisy