Year: 1877

We had been talking with our loveiy
German neiChbor about a strange event
which had Just taken place at her
house,


Yes y she said, ''it is very strange.
There are many strange things IN our
world. apd very many Of them have
come in Inv own life, and this last the
strangest Of all. "


We asked her to tell us the story OF
her youth. and of her coming to Amer
lea


She folded her hands on her breast,
cast a Glance upward and said, "Ah
me- Life is a strange road, but God IS
a true Guide. If Won will bear my poor
ENGLISH. which should be better for so
many wears here, l will tell YOU all the
wav that,mv life has been sad.
When / was young, l was fair and
well educated, and host OF friends show
me great love. Ny father, who was Il
Lutheran minister, died and leave me
alone in my dark old home, covered
with ivy. beside the church and the
gravevafd I have my old nurse, Lena,
and NV servant, Chlotilde, with me:
but no family, as my mother been very
long dead.


Somk minister friends of nv dear
father say I must not live there and
grieve NV life away. So they find me a
home with a fine lady of noble name,
who had come to educate her son at
Heidelbrrg. She have a sweet daugh-
ter. IA years old, and my work was to
be teaching, and making her happy by
NV company and my music. That prove
10 me a dear home. GCd seem very
near and very good, and l wished much
to live near to Him, and TO bring all
people to love and worship Him


" So Vent on my life for three years,
when my ladv's son bring home very
often q Friend from the University
tall, prfnce-like man, with fair hair and
blue ewes, and such a smile as drew all
hearts to love and admire him,


First, he gain the heart Of my lady,
and she call him my son, my love,
and all dear names: and she said to me


"'1Iv dear child, happy will be the
maiden that shall be the wife Of Carl
Olendorf. fl have a daughter Of right
age, I would put her hand in his, and
say, "God bless you, my childrenl'
All, if God would but fix his heart on
you, my beloved Cara!'


"Mv heart was turned towards the
Young man, and from his tender way to
me, I hoped much that he loved me in
his heart Very soon he tell ms
that, and that my lady viii sane
ton him, and make US as her own chill
dren before Gods altar.


" All, what a clad and happy heart |
carrY.-n my breast for three short
mont6gi


"Then come some trouble, and great
rebellion in the University-and much
Of the students break the laws, and
make uproar by professions at night,
with lights, and music, and much wine,
and evil words. ! know not all the
trouble, but | was one day heart-crushed
by the word that he and 30 more stu
dents were in prison for bad, riotous
conduct.


Then my lady grew very angry with
poor foolish Carl, and say hard things
of him, and that he deceive her and
come, q bad man, into her family.


But I not feel that condemn him
till I know his sin. wrote him, but no
answer came. I next heard that he had
been released with many more students,
but with no time to write or speak with
friends, for they must take ship that
hour for America, or be again arrested.


$50 l 90 to my dear lady, the
Countess, and say, Before God, with
your blessing, I gave my heart to Carl
He is in trouble in a strange land, and
I, too, must 90 and share his fate. If
he starve, | must starve too; but maybe
I I may save him and make us both
happy


She say, All, poor, crazed child,
Never shall YOU 90 from me to him!
He is not worthy yeur heart, and YOU
shall never bear the name Of one who
iilN~l ltt HIS NtdI 1dllltl llllN dN dD tFl
man


81 knew little Of the world then. !
think few words in the newspapers
would bring him to me in a week in
America. Ny dear lady clasp me in her
arms, and promise she viii be my
mother while she live; and Lady Gus
tave, her daughter, beg me, with tears,
not to 90 but one day, when they were
away, sought the dstantS sea coast, and
took steamer for New York, alone and
poor, for [ dared not even ask the money
due me for my services.


"A kind lady on ship took me to her
heart, and when we landed, welcomed
me to the home her good husband had
made ready for her in New York. All
what friends has God still raised up for
met These kind people say I must stay
with them and teach their children, and