Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1880-11-10
Dame Ursula andfYoung Luther.

"There is nothing Aeeter on earth than
the heart of woman in which piety dwells."
This beautiful utterance is Luther's. II
was born Of touching experience of his
childhood. John Luther, his father. miner
and smelter of ores, conceived strong de-
sire TO educate his son. Too poor to pay for
young Martins education, he yet ventured
to send him TO a celebrated school at Es-
enach, trusting for his support TO the oc-
casional help of friends and the charity
which, according to the custom of those
times, was bestowed more or less freely upon
poor students. Driven forth by hunger,
Martin would Join his school-fellows in sing
ing from door to door, hoping thus to gain
food. Instead of "bread I" he not rarely re-
ceived "a stone - harsh and insulting
words. Often he left the streets hungry
and weeping. One evening, when high
wind was abroad and snow filled the air, he
found himself, after three successive re-
pulses, before the door of Conrad Gotta, on
St. George Square. He was on his way to
his lodgings, to spend the bitter night fast
ing. Who shall doubt what hand it was
that held him there little space, and
touched his heart to sing one song more ?
These are the words he sang:
Foxes to their holes have gone,
Every bird unto its nest;
But | wander here alone,
And for me there is no rest.
Inside the house Conrad Gotta played his
flute, while Ursula, his wife, prepared the
evening meal Perhaps the strains of the
hute-Luther's favorite instrument-had
arrested his footsteps and awakened his
song. The flute was silent within while the
sweet child-voice filled the winter air with
4 ~.
rad "pity it should be spoiled by use in
such ill weather." "a child's voice, too ,
said Ursula, whose heart was tender by the
recent loss of her own beloved child. The
door was thrown open. The light streamed
| forth upon the snow and revealed the young
singer. "Charity, for Christs sake, char
| ity !" said the youth. He was hidden to en-
ter. The sudden change to the warm room
-" the pious Shunamite," as the Eisenacf
people used to call her-revived him. Kint
words fed his heart, while good fooc
nourished his body. He was put away ir
bed, and as the good people looked upon hi.
sleeping face they were won by it, and il
the morning offered the boy home. Ii
that home the scholars mind awoke, grew
blossomed forth like winter verdure unde
the touch of spring. Then again, as so of
ten, "man's extremity" was Gods oppor
tunity." The eagle wings were spread be
meath the hedgling. God provided for hi
child. God opened the door to that wa,
over which, in after years, Luther was Il
walk leading with him host of Gods elect
God ?-let the weary, the discouraged, tn
doubling, the sore afflicted, be comforted il
the thought that God is, and that he is tn
everlasting Fatherl The following is tn
whole of the song which Luther sung OIL
that memorable night as preserved in m
scrap book. | do not know who is tn
translator:
Lord of Heaven lone and sad,
| would lift my heart to thee;
Pilgrim in a foreign land
Gracious Father, look on me;
shall neither faint nor die
While walk beneath thine eye.
will stay my faith ON thee,
| And will never fear to tread
| Where the Savior Master leads
He will give me daily bread.
Christ was hungry, Christ was poor
| He will feed me from his store.
Foxes to their holes have gone,
Every bird unto its nest
| But wander here alone
| And for Inc there Is no rest.
| Yet neither faint nor fear,
For the Savior Christ is here.
II / live, he'll be with me;
II die, To him go;
| He'll not leave me, will trust him,
And my heart no fear shall know
Sin and sorrow | defy,
For on Jesus rely. Selected.