In an instant Erick continued: 

     “’My heart be overflowing
     In constant love and praise,
     In service will be growing,
     Will Thy dear name then grace.’”

“Erick, you must never forget these words.  If you bring all your deeds before the dear God and look to it before Him, whether you ’Will grace His dear name’ as well as you know, then you will become a genuinely honorable man.  Will you think on it?”

“Yes, I will,” Erick promised gladly, as now he looked up again to the pastor freely and openly.

“Then,” the latter said after a while, “there is still something else, Erick.  Have you known your father?”

“No.”

“Do you know if he is still alive, where he is?”

“Mother told me father had gone to America, to make a large fortune for himself and for us; but he has not yet returned.”

“Do you know other relatives, sisters or brothers of your mother, or some close friends?”

“No.”

“Don’t you know of anyone to whom one could turn, who would look after you?”

“No, no,” said Erick, quite anxiously.

But the pastor put his hand very kindly on Erick’s head and said:  “You must not be afraid, my boy, all will come out all right.  You may go now.”

Erick rose; he hesitated for a moment, then he asked somewhat falteringly:  “Must I go now directly to be auctioned?  I am afraid Marianne has gone by now.”

“No, no,” the pastor answered quickly, “you will not go there at all, not at all.  Now you go down to Mamma, she will keep you for the present.”

Erick’s eyes shone for joy.  He had thought up till now that he would be sent to the auction, away from the happy life in the parsonage, but now this threatening bugbear was done away with forever.  When Erick entered the sitting-room he found old Marianne sitting there.  They had sent word, the evening before, that Erick would not come back for the night, but Marianne could not have gone away without taking leave of him.  With many tears she bade him good-bye, and Erick too felt sorry that good old Marianne was going away; but since he might stay in the parsonage, it was indeed a different thing for him than if he had had to remain behind alone.

The weeping Marianne had hardly left the door, when the stately Mayor came in and went with firm steps toward the pastor’s study.  Early in the morning, when he was going into the vineyard, he had met the Justice of Peace, and heard from him all the happenings of yesterday, how Erick had spoiled the game for the grape-thieves, and how they, the would-be thieves, had run far beyond the next two villages before they even became aware that it was only their allies who were chasing them.  Kaetheli had learned all that, and had reported it to her father.  The Mayor was quite satisfied with the outcome of the affair, and since he looked on Erick as the saver of his grapes, he now came to the pastor to talk over what could be done for the poor orphan.