Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1870-11-16
Il Have Got it under my Feet. :,

Dr. Ludwig Helm Of Berlin, a very cclc
braied physician, and also a privy councillor
was scarcely more valued for his high attain
nents in the healing art than he was es
teemcd for the generosity of his nature. Hi
bcneyolence toward the poor was evidence,
not only professionally, by giving adyie
gratutously, but by his almsgying, whicl
was believed to be much more than proper
tionate TO his large income But at one tim,
OF his life DR.. Helm sustained heavy pecun
larry loss. \ banking house in which he de
posted a very considerable sum, becoming
bankrupt be lost the savings Of many labo
rious years, in fact the whole of his capital
DR.. Huielaud tthe author of a well-knowr
treatise entitled How to Attain TO Ole
Age, } who both loved and honored his gifted
colleague, meeting him few weeks after
expressed his deep regret for the loss he haC
sustained
You would have pleased me more" re
piled Helm, " had you not recalled the oc
cuuonce 70 my memory. Thank God, |
have got it under my feet
And pray how have you contrived that p
asked Huieland
90, just in the way am used 10 take
when ! get into any difficulty from which ]
cannot extrioate myself aud that was plainly
the case here At FIRST could not Danish
the annoying affair from my mind-it haunt
ed me by day and by night Such large
sum, and hardly earned, too Safely placed
as thought, to be blown away like an air
bubble. Ah ! even my poor patients had to
suffer for it. | was pre-occupied abroad, and
at home could enjoy nothing Nay, my wife,
who you know, is naturally so cheerful,
caught the infection, and the very children
forgot their irolicsomeness and glanced at me
with looks Of shy wonder Then saw, |
felt, that things could not, ought not to con-
tinue thus. The money was irreyocably
gone--that was bad enough-but far worse
that our best earthly comfort, contentment.
had gone with it. What was to be done ?
Nothing but this conscious Of my inability
to rescue myself out of this sore strait, be-
took myself to the Almighty for help, hasten
ed TO my closet bolted the door, fell On my
knees, and prayed most earnestly that the
Lord would give me back the strength cour-
age and contentmeut of former years. And
the Lord answered me in my secret soul,
bringing by his Spirit thoughts of humlia-
ton and gratitude and faith, which | could
almost hear expressed in words, as if he said,
" Thou vast the son Of a poor clergyman, and
in thine outset in life hadst nothing thou
couldst call thine own. blessed thee in thy
calling and in thy family and made thee a
man.
Through a long course Of years have al
lowed thee to sport with these, my lent rich
es, part Of which have now suffered thee
to be deprived Of Now come, Helm, have
done with those sour looks and play the child
no longer, else must deal with thee in quite
another fashion, and strip thee of other lent
possessions, which lie still nearer the heart
than worldly pelf Besides hast thou forgot
ten that the treasures of the world are mine,
eau repair all thy losses if see tits for thy
good Cheer up, then, and follow thy law
iul calling, with a firm and trusting heart
So spoke the Lord to my soul, continued the
pious doctor "and | promised obedience ;
and behold, my gloom had vanished, my wife
and children looked bright and happy again
and [ forgot the whole matter
Therefore | said have got it under my
feet | am raised above it, and can rejoice
again in my God and Savior, who is better to
me than thousands of gold and silver, There
fore, too, said | would rather not have been
reminded of it, but | well know you did so in
kindness, so feel impelled to tell you what
great things prayer can effect when it is ear
nest. And now let us talk Of something
else"