In the midst of these trying circumstances, as her husband was one day sitting in his study, absorbed in meditation, the postman brought three letters from different towns where the boys were at school, each declaring that unless the dues were promptly settled, the lads would be dismissed.  The father read the letters with growing excitement, and spreading them out upon the table before his wife as she entered the room, exclaimed:  “There, look at them, and pay our debt with your faith!  I have no money, nor can I tell where to go for any.”

“Seizing the papers, she rapidly glanced through them, with a very grave face, but then answered firmly, ’It is all right; the business shall be settled.  For He who says, “The gold and silver is mine,” will find it an easy thing to provide these sums.’  Saying which she hastily left the room.

“Our father readily supposed she intended making her way to a certain rich friend who had helped us before.  He was mistaken, for this time her steps turned in a different direction.  We had in the parsonage an upper loft, shut off by a trap-door from the lower one, and over this door it was that she now knelt down, and began to deal with Him in whose strength she had undertaken the work of her children’s education.  She spread before Him those letters from the study table, and told Him of her husband’s half scoffing taunt.  She also reminded Him how her life had been redeemed from the very gates of death, for the children’s sake, and then declared that she could not believe that He meant to forsake her at this juncture; she was willing to be the second whom He might forsake, but she was determined not to be the first.

“In the meanwhile, her husband waited down stairs, and night came on; but she did not appear.  Supper was ready, and yet she stayed in the loft.  Then the eldest girl, her namesake Beate, ran up to call her; but the answer was, ’Take your supper without me, it is not time for me to eat.’  Late in the evening, the little messenger was again dispatched, but returned with the reply:  ’Go to bed; the time has not come for me to rest.’  A third time, at breakfast next morning, the girl called her mother.  ‘Leave me alone,’ she said; ’I do not need breakfast; when I am ready I shall come.’  Thus the hours sped on, and down stairs her husband and the children began to feel frightened, not daring, however, to disturb her any more.  At last the door opened, and she entered, her face beaming with a wonderful light.  The little daughter thought that something extraordinary must have happened; and running to her mother with open arms, asked eagerly:  ’What is it?  Did an angel from heaven bring the money?’ ‘No, my child,’ was the smiling answer, ’but now I am sure that it will come.’  She had hardly spoken, when a maid in peasant costume entered, saying:  ’The master of the Linden Inn sends to ask whether the Frau Pastorin can spare time to see him?’ ’Ah, I know what he wants,’