Year: 1875

and yet with dignity. The king said
"The children have sung beautifully
and thank you for the welcome, but
the hymn and melody are unknown tt
me perhaps you have copy at hand =


The schoOlmaster bowed, felt in his
breast pocket and produced the copy
and gave it to the king. He opened
the paper, read it once carefully
through, and a scarcely perceptible but
not unremarked smile passed over his
benevolent face, and he asked:


"Have you been here lOngF


NEARLY thirteen years, sir" was the
answer.


as the situation a good one p said
the king. The schoOlmaster named his
whole income conscientiOusly. Then
said William "Is that all, and you man.
age to live upon it n


"With my wife and eight children,
was the answer, somewhat sadly made
A shadow crossed the face of the
schOOlmaster, thanked him once more
and the carriage flew on to make up fol
lost time.


Frederick William sank silently back
in the corner. He read the hymn once
more. 1t was a successful attempt, and
showed the talent of the composer
But with it the king nnfOlded another
paper-it was the shOemaker's bill,
which had got accidentally slipped into
the copy of the hymn, and had thus got
into the kings hands without the
schOOlmaster having the slightest sus-
picion of it. The noble prince at once
guessed the connection, and resolved
what he should do. At the very next
station the adjutant on duty was Or
dered to deliver over a sum, together
with the bill, to the burgOmaster of the
town, with directions to pay the debt at
once. and forward the receipted bill to
the schoolmaster.


On the evening of the following day
their parlOr. The children were all
gone to rest. The moon shone clear
and bright through the window, and
the careful wife, who was glad to save
candles and oil, was knitting by the
clear rays of the friendly luminary.
The hearto of her husband was depressed
after the excitement of the previous
day. He was considering how he
should tell his wife of his promise to
the shoemaker, and how he should pre-
pare her for the selling of the COW.
There was knock ut the door.


"Who can that be 7" SAID the woman.
"NO neighbOr comes so late"


'lt is l. answered the voice of the
deacon, who was in the habit of deliv-
ering official papers when they were
addressed to members of his congrega-
ton. The schOolmaster opened the
door, and the deacon gave him letter
with the words ''FrOm the burgomasteT
of "" and went away.


"a letter from the burgOmaster
What can he want with me ~ said the
schOOlmaster as he stepped back into
the room. His wife went out and
fetched a candle, lit it, and placed it on
the table while he broke the seal and
read the letter hastily.


"Can it be possible" was his excla-
nation rs he finished IT,


His wife sprang in astonishment and
fear to his side. Their eyes fell on the
shOemaker's bill, under which stood
these words: "Paid, with thanks.
Tobias Werner.


What could this mean? She could
not comprehend the matter; but her
husband clasped his hands, and looked,
prayerfully and deeply moved, toward
heaven. Then he related all to his
faithful wife-what had passed between
him and the shoemaker; then the prom
Use which he had given to sell the COW
in order to pay the bill. He told her
further how he had put the bill in his
pocket, and afterward placed the copy
of the hymn there also. The bill had
probably slipped into the strong, stiff
paper, SO he had given them together
TO the king without knowing it. The
beloved king had caused the bill to he
paid, and sent the receipt through the
burgOmaster.


Goods richest blessing on our noble
kingm cried the happy woman, joy
fully.


Her husband could not so readily
Join; for he asked, sOrrOwfully. "What
the king must have thought of him ~


'DO not trouble yourself about it,"
said his wife. 80 great a man Is Tar
cleverer than any of us; that | saw at
once, and composed myself. He has
guessed how the case lies-that is WHY
heartily thank our God. Do not worry
yourself, but rejoice over the blessing
sent to u.s."


These words settled the matter and
filled her husbands heart with deep and
tHdlhiul Joy. Dut solnttuiHS DttltI
was yet to come. The noble king, who
so gladly helped and did good when he
could, made inquiries about the school
master, and had received the best testi-
mony about his industry and fidelity.
The authorities also confirmed what he
had said about his income. lnthe same
year he received one of the best ap-
pOintments in the district, which had
just been vacated, besides further
grant from the queen of fifty thalers,
and this was to be paid to him till his
Youngest child should be confirmed.


All this Gods wisdom and will worked
out of the shOemaker's bill. Never had
more thankful hearts blessed the gen.
erOus king, nor faithful hearts besought
the goodness of God to rest upon him.
Their trust in God was thereby enriched
and strengthened, and ever since, in
every affiictiOn, they clung more firmly
to their favorite verse:


"God liveth ever,


Wherefore soul. despair thou neveri


Our God is good In every place


His love l. known His help j. found;


His mighty arm and tender grace


D. q IL H..