Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1880-02-13
How Martin T,utl,er Was Cured.

AAon AsAGA LII AuIAoI Vd9 NuIcus
Ordinarily the great reformer Luther
was less liable to doubts and gloom of
spirit than his friend Melancthon. But
he was man of terrible impetuosity ;
and when he did fall into fit of dark,
ness he drove all before him.
At one time, when danger threatened,
and nothing seemed to prosper in the
mighty work he was doing, he became
so Respondent that his friends were
alarmed. He did not sit and NOPE as
other men do when they are melan-
choly, for Luther was not one of the
silent kind. ...,
It was this fact that made his mood
dreadful. He was like strong steed
running with a broken rein. His
strange actions and bitter words led
some to fear that his great labors and
burdens had shaken his reason.
His fellow-reformers and his best
friends (some of them rich and power
full ones) shook their heads and said,
q We must get Doctor Martin out of
the way. He needs rest. Who knows
but he'll say or do something to wreck
the whole cause2"
This time, however, they were puz-
zled to know how to manage it. Once
they had shut him up year in Wart-
burg Castle to save his own life. It
seemed absurd enough to think of shut
ting up Luther to save the reforma-
ton. But they must do something.
It was hardly safe now, as Unusually had
been, to let him alone till his grand
faith worked itself out of its eclipse.
Finally they concluded to try a
method common among the old proph
cts, who often taught and rebuked
great men by enigmas and parallels.
Luther's wife, the good and gentle
Catherine Bora, was taken into conf
dence, and her love and sohcitude for
him. made her, no doubt, the best per-
son who could have been chosen to ad-
minister medicine to the gloomy mans
mind.
The next time Luther went to his
house, he found it silent. To miss his
welcome at the door was a, surprise to
him, and changed the current of his
thoughts a little. Men in sour humors
will say there is nothing bright, but
they never like to be taken at their
word.
He went through the rooms seeing
no one, till he reached the parlor, and
there his wife sat dressed in deep
mourning, and weeping as if her heart
would break.
"Why, Kate, what is the matter?"
asked Luther, now thoroughly startle l.
No answer but sobs and tears.
us the baby dead;" thinking of his
youngest child, who had been aiing.
"No-worse than that-a great deal
worse-I thought you knew" and then
fresh burst of tears.
Kate-wife! what in the world cam
you mean? Tell me quickI" exclaimed
the astonished reformez.
20 husband, hasn't the awful news
reached you? Haven't you heard that
our heavenly Father is dead, and His
cause in the world has all gone to
ruin?"
The Mortified expression on Luthers
face changed at once. He stood mo-
ment looking at his wife, and then he
began to shake with laughter. He
laughed as loud, and as long, and as
heartily, as he. had ever laughed in his
ife-and that is saying much, for nat
urally Martin was very merry-hearted
man.
"Ah, Kate, Kate, my good wife," he
said presently, II read your riddle.
God is; not dead, but I have acted as
though He were. You have taught me
q good lesson"
And Martin Luther never forgot the
lesson his wife taught him, when she
showed him his black fancies in their
own absurd funeral dress.