Year: 1871

In that beautiful part of Germany


which borders on the Rhine, there /
a noble castle which, as YOU travel OF


the western bank Of the river, yOI


may see lifting its ancient towers OF
the opposite side, above the grove o
I trees which are about as old as itself
/ About forty years ago there lived ii
that castle noble gentleman whom
we shall call the Baron. The BarOT
had an only son, who was not only g
comfort to his father, but blessing tC
all who lived on his fathers land.
/ It happened on certain occasion,
this young man being from home,
there came a French gentleman to
see the Baron. AS soon as this gen.
tleman came into the castle, he began
to talk in terms Of his Heavenly Faith
er that chilled theold mans blood, on
which the Baron reproved him, say
ing: care you not afraid Of offend
/ ing God, who reigns above, by speak
I ing in such q manner ?n
The gentleman said he knew moth
/ ing about God, for he had never seen
him.


The Baron did not notice at the
time what the gentleman said, but
/ the next morning took occasion, first,
to show a beautiful picture which
hung on the wall.


"My son drew that picture" said
the Baron.


"Then your son is a very clever
man." replied the gentleman.
Then the Baron went with the Wis
itOr into the garden and showed him
many beautiful flowers and plants.


"WhS has the ordering of the gar
den ?n said the gentleman.
"My son. said the Baron; che
knows every plant, I may say, from
the cedar Of Lebanon, to the hyssOp
on the wall"


''Indeed," said the gentle man; 81
shall think very highly of him sOOn.' >


The Baron took him into the viii
lage and showed him q small, neat
cottage where his son had established
a school, and where he caused all poor
children who had lost their parents to
be received and nOurished at his own
expense.


The children in this house looked so
happy and innocent that the French
gentleman was very much pleased,
and when he returned 70 the castle he
said to the Baron:


"What a happy man you are to
have such q good SON."


"HOw do you know that I have
such a good SOM"


because I have seen his work and
know that he must be clever and good
if he has done all you have shown
me.n


"But you have never seen him"


IN. kr.k I D Z L..
cause 1 judge him by his works"


"YOu do; and please draw near to
this window, and tell me what you
observe from thence"


"Why, / see the sun travelling
through the sky, and shedding its giO-
ries over one Of the grandest eOun-
tries in the world; and behold a
mighty river at my feet, and a vast
range OF woods, and ] see pasture
grounds and vineyards, and cattle
and sheep feeding in green fields, and
many thatched cottages here and
there"


"And do you see nothing pleasant
or lovely or cheerful in all that is
spread before yOu?"


ado you think that want common
sense, or that I have lost the use of
my eyes, my friend ~ said the gen.
tleman, somewhat angrily, "that I
should not be able 10 relish the beau
ties Of such n scene as this ,"


"Well, them" said the Baron, 'iif
you are able to judge Of my sons good
character by seeing his good works,
how does 1t happen that you form no
Judgment Of the goodness Of God, by
witnessing such wonders Of his handi-
work as are now before you? Let me
never hear you, my good friend, again
say that you know not God, unless
you would have me suppose that you
have not the use Of your senses" D."