Joseph, “it’s all according to circumstances!” “You ought to be ashamed of yourself, young Joseph,” said Braesig, “for allowing such a Hophnei to remain in the house.”  “Nay, Braesig,” said Mrs. Nuessler, “let Joseph alone, he did his best to make matters comfortable again.  When Godfrey talked about the devil till we all felt quite eerie, Joseph believed in his existence; and when Rudolph laughed at, and ridiculed all belief in him, Joseph laughed as heartily as anyone.  When the dispute ran highest, my little Mina took all Godfrey’s books to Rudolph’s room, and all Rudolph’s to Godfrey’s, and when the young men looked rather cross, she said quickly, that they’d better both study the subject thoroughly, and then perhaps they might agree better about it than at present.”  “Mina’s a clever little woman,” cried Braesig.  “Well,” continued Mrs. Nuessler,” they didn’t like it at all at first; but whatever Godfrey’s faults may be, he’s a good-natured lad, so he began to study Rudolph’s books.  And the other at last set to work at Godfrey’s, for you see it was wintry weather and it gave him something to do.  You should have seen them a short time afterward!  They had changed as much as their books.  Godfrey made poor jokes about the devil, and Rudolph sighed and groaned, and spoke of the devil as if he knew him intimately, and as if he were accustomed to sit down to dinner with us every day and to eat his potatoes like any other honest man.  Then my little girls turned right round.  Mina took Godfrey’s part; and Lina took Rudolph’s, for Rudolph said that Godfrey didn’t speak from a Christian standpoint.”  “Ugh!” said Braesig, “he oughtn’t to have said that.  But wait a bit!  Is he really that sort of fellow, and can’t he ever catch a good-sized perch?” “And then,” cried Mrs. Nuessler indignantly, “they were all at sixes and sevens again, because of that horrible perch fishing, for as soon as spring returned and the perch began to bite, Rudolph cared no more about the Christian standpoint.  He took his fishing-rod, and went out after you all day long.  The other went back to his old opinion about the existence of the devil, you see he was preparing for his examination and couldn’t get through it properly without that.  My two girls didn’t know which of their cousins to trust to.”  “They’re a couple of rascals,” cried Braesig, “but it’s all the Methodist’s fault, what business had he to bother the other about the devil and the Christian standpoint?” “No, no, Braesig, I’ve nothing to say against him for that.  He has learnt something, has passed his examination, and may be ordained any day.  But Rudolph does nothing at all, he only makes mischief in the house.”  “Why, what has he been after now?  Has he been fishing for whitings?” asked Braesig raising his eyebrows.  “Whitings!” said Mrs. Nuessler scornfully.  “He has been fishing for a sermon.  You must know that Mrs. Baldrian wanted to hear her son preach, so she asked the clergyman at Rahnstaedt to let him preach