“Mother, some one’s knocking outside!”

“Quiet, Fritzy; that’s the loose board on the gable being shaken by the wind.”

“No; mother, it’s at the door.”

“It does not lock; the latch is broken.  Heavens, go to sleep!  Don’t deprive me of my bit of rest at night!”

“But what if father should come now!”

His mother turned angrily in her bed.  “The devil holds him tight enough!”

“Where is the devil, mother?

“Wait, you restless boy!  He’s standing at the door, ready to get you if you don’t keep quiet!”

Frederick became quiet.  A little while longer he listened, and then fell asleep.  A few hours later he awoke.  The wind had changed, and hissed like a snake through the cracks in the window near his ear.  His shoulder was stiff; he crept clear under his quilt and lay still and trembling with fear.  After a while he noticed that his mother was not asleep either.  He heard her weep and moan between sobs:  “Hail, Mary!” and “Pray for us poor sinners!” The beads of the rosary slid by his face.  An involuntary sigh escaped him.  “Frederick, are you awake?

“Yes, mother.”

“Child, pray a little—­you know half of the Paternoster already, don’t you?-that God protect us from flood and fire.”

Frederick thought of the devil, and wondered how he looked, anyway.  The confused noise and rumbling in the house seemed strange to him.  He thought there must be something alive within and without.  “Listen, mother!  I am sure I hear people knocking.”

“Oh, no, child; but there’s not an old board in the house that isn’t rattling.”

“Hark!  Don’t you hear?  Someone’s calling!  Listen!”

His mother sat up; the raging of the storm subsided a moment.  Knocking on the shutters, was distinctly audible, and several voices called:  “Margaret!.  Mistress Margaret!  Hey there!  Open the door!” Margaret ejaculated violently, “There, they’re again bringing the swine home to me!”

The rosary flew clattering down on the wooden chair; hastily she snatched her clothes; she rushed to the hearth, and soon Frederick heard her walk across the hall with defiant steps.  Margaret did not return; but in the kitchen there was a loud murmuring of strange voices.  Twice a strange man came into the bedroom and seemed to be nervously searching for something.  Suddenly a lamp was brought in; two men were supporting his mother.  She was white as chalk and her eyes were closed; Frederick thought she was dead.  He emitted a fearful scream, whereupon some one boxed his ear.  That silenced him; and now he gradually gleaned from the remarks of the bystanders that his father had been found dead in the woods by his Uncle Franz Semmler and by Huelsmeyer, and was now lying in the kitchen.