Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1867-10-16
POWER OF A HYMN.
Translated from the SWedisl1

Translated from the Swedish :
Anders Svensson is the name Of pris-
oner for life in the Castle of Christian
stadt. He was born in the parish of
Blekaig, is in prison for stealing for the
fourth time, and is about forty years Of
age.
About six weeks ago he seized an OPP
portunity to escape, swan across the broad
Hegla river, and escaped his pursuers in
thick fog. He seized horse in a field,
after having stolen bride, and rode
back to Christianstadt, where he let the
horse 60, and hid the bride in a sack of
straw. His plan was to steal from mer-
chant in tie town, whc was supposed to
have much money.
At the pest house station there, he
spent his last piece in buying food. This
was on Monday, October 18th, 1856.
While waiting for midnight, he wandered
IN the evening in the neighborhood of
the inn, and stopped at cottage where
he thought he heard the sound Of sing
ing. Curiosity drew him nearer to the
window, where he heard a man and wo-
man singing the following hymn, which
is we'll known to many Of the children of
God in Skania: .......
Chow blessed, all our mourning past, II.
To land on Canaan's quiet shore
The Fathers bosom reached at last
A home where tears shall fall no mere.
tHow sweet even now to taste the bliss =
Ny Savior gives me here below!
But oh to see him as he is
The gIories now unknown to know
ITO taste and see how good Goo is.
Oh glory more than earth can show;
How sweet even to taste that bliss.
While yet a stranger here belowr' r"
The simple words pierced the heart of
the poor criminal. Suddenly he thought
he heard some one coming. Hastily
springing over wall, large stone tum-
: bled off and crushed bis foot. But he
could not help again Immediately going
back to hear more of the words which
had so taken hold upon him. When the
voices ceased and the light was put out,
and be again stood alone with his
thoughts, he felt that it was impossible
for. him to steal any longer. All his
plans were given up. Conscience was
awakened. .
He fed into the forest and lay there
all Tuesday and Wednesday. He knew
not what to do. He began. to freeze with
cold, for he had NO stockings on his feet:
Hunger pressed him still more, for his
provisions were exhausted. When the
joyful birds flew aud sang among the
trees, and wanted nothing, he thought
how much better they deserved it than
he Yet he felt it impossible for him to.
go far away from the village where he had
heard those woodworking words of the
hymn. At last his condition became al
together .intolerable About ten @ clock
on Wednesday nigh he again saw a light
in the cottage. The people were busy
with their household work Firmly re-
solving; he goes to the door and enters.
He asks: SIS the master Of the house
here? I am an escaped prisoner from
Christianstadt. You may seize me. I
will do you noevil. Give me lodging f
the night. am prisoner for life. [
hare hsard your song, and I can seal no
more.
at his request, the same hymn was
sung again which had SO deeply affected
him. He now had explained to him, in
simple way, the joyful tidings of saliva
ton. With great gIadness, he said that
he now began to understand something of
Gods way for man to be saved. May
every one who reads this, and has been
taught by the spirit Of God to pray, pray
for the poor prisoner - Ch57Rs Paper,