“None of us know,” replied Dr. Wichern, solemnly, “what we may be left to do in the hour of temptation; but the danger is, nevertheless, not so great as you think.  Our children are fed and clothed like other peasant children; they are not encouraged to hope for distinction, or an elevated position in society; they are taught that poverty is not in itself an evil, but, if borne in the right spirit, may be a blessing.  Our instruction is adapted to the same end; we do not instruct them in studies above their rank in life; reading, writing, the elementary principles of arithmetic, geography, some of the natural sciences, and music, comprise the course of study.  In the calling they select, we do what we can to make them intelligent and competent.  Our boys are much sought for as apprentices by the farmers and artisans of the vicinity.”

“Many of them, I suppose,” said I, “had been guilty of petty thefts before coming here; do you not find trouble from that propensity?”

“Very seldom; the perfect freedom from suspicion, and the confidence in each other, which we have always maintained, make theft so mean a vice, that no boy who has a spark of honor left will be guilty of it.  In the few instances which do occur, the moral sense of the family is so strong, that the offender is entirely subdued by it.  An incident, illustrative of this, occurs to me.  Early in our history, a number of our boys undertook to erect a hut for some purpose.  It was more than half completed, and they were delighted with the idea of being able soon to occupy it, when it was discovered that a single piece of timber, contributed by one of the boys, had been obtained without leave.  As soon as this was known, one of the boys seized an axe, and demolished the building, in the presence of the offender, the rest looking on and approving; nor could they afterward be induced to go on with it.  At one time, several years since, there were two or three petty thefts committed, (and a good deal of prevarication naturally followed,) mainly by new pupils, of whom a considerable number had been admitted at once.  Finding ordinary reproof unavailing, I announced that family worship would be suspended till the delinquents gave evidence of penitence.  The effect of this measure was far beyond my expectation.  Many of the boys would meet in little groups, in the huts, for prayers among themselves; and ere long the offenders came humbly suing for pardon and the resumption of worship.”

During this conversation, we had left the Rough House and visited the new Lodge, erected in 1853, for a family of boys and a circle of Brothers, and the “Beehive,” (Bienenkorb,) erected in 1841, in the northeast corner of the grounds, the home of another family.  Turning westward, we came to the chapel, and a group of buildings connected with it, including the school-rooms, the preparatory department for girls, the library, dwellings for two families of girls, the kitchen,