When the pastor stepped forward from behind the baptismal fount, when Uli had taken Freneli by the hand, and they had stepped forward to the bench, both sank to their knees, far anticipating the ceremony, held their hands in fervent clasp, and with all their soul and all their heart and all their strength they prayed and promised what the words bid them—­yes, and much more that gushed forth from their true hearts.  And when they arose, they felt exceedingly firm and cheerful; both felt that they had won a great treasure for their whole life, which must make them happy, which none could take from them by force or guile, and with which they must remain united to all eternity.

When outside, Uli begged his bride to go with him to the pastor, to get the certificate.  Abashed, Freneli tried to decline, under the pretext that she did not know him, that it was unnecessary, and so on.  But she went none the less, and no longer timorous, like a thief in the night, but as well becomes a happy woman at the side of an honest man.  Freneli knew how to take herself in hand.

With kindness they were received by the pastor, a venerable, tall, lean gentleman.  There were not many who, like him, knew how to mingle seriousness and graciousness, so that hearts opened before him as if touched with a magic wand.

When he had looked at Freneli, he asked, “What do you think, Uli?  Was it due to luck or God’s guidance that you got this little wife?”

“Your Reverence,” said Uli, “you are right; I think her a gift of God.”

“And you, little wife, of what mind are you?”

“I too have no other thought but that the dear God brought us together,” said Freneli.

“I think so too,” said the pastor; “God willed it; never forget that.  But why did He bring you two together?  That one should make the other happy, not only here, but also yonder—­don’t forget that either.  Marriage is God’s sanctuary on earth, in which men are to consecrate and purify themselves for Heaven.  You are good people; be pious and upright; but you both have faults.  In you, Uli, I know one which steadily gains power over you; it is avarice.  You, Freneli, must have some too, but I do not know them.  These faults will appear little by little, and when a fault becomes visible in you, Uli, your wife will be the first to see it, and you can tell that by her face; and, on the other hand, you can see what comes out in Freneli, and she can read it in your expression.  One almost becomes the other’s mirror.  In this mirror, Uli, you should recognize your faults, and try to put them from you out of love for your wife, because she suffers most from them; and you, wife, should assist him in all gentleness, but should recognize your own faults too and try to conquer them for Uli’s sake, and he will help you too.  If this labor becomes too heavy for love, then God gives us child after child, and each is an angel come to sanctify us; each brings us new lessons of how to appear rightly