an to her dumb
mother, who was sitting by the stove, winding yarn, exclaiming:
'Mother, he'll get well again. I have prayed for him every day.' The Jew
bent over my child and pressed his lips upon the boy's brow--and I, I--I
no longer clenched my fist, and was so overwhelmed with emotion, that I
could not help weeping, as if I were still a child myself, and since
then, Pater Benedictus, since. . . ." He paused; the monk rose, laid his
hand on the smith's shoulder, and said:

"It has grown late, Adam. Show me to my couch. Another day will come
early to-morrow morning, and we should sleep over important matters. But
one thing is settled, and must remain so-under all circumstances: the boy
is no longer to be taught by the Jew. He must help you shoe the horses
to-morrow. You will be reasonable!"

The smith made no reply, but lighted the monk to the room where he and
his son usually slept. His own couch was covered with fresh linen for the
guest--Ulrich already lay in his bed, apparently asleep.

"We have no other room to give you," said Adam, pointing to the boy; but
the monk was content with his sleeping companions, and after his host had
left him, gazed earnestly at Ulrich's fresh, handsome face.

The smith's story had moved him, and he did not go to rest at once, but
paced thoughtfully up and down the room, stepping lightly, that he might
not disturb the child's slumber.

Adam had reason to be grateful to the man, and why should there not be
good Jews?

He thought of the patriarchs, Moses, Solomon, and the prophets, and had
not the Saviour himself, and John and Paul, whom he loved above all the
apostles, been the children of Jewish mothers, and grown up among Jews?
And Adam! the poor fellow had had more than his share of trouble, and he
who believes himself deserted by God, easily turns to the devil. He was
warned now, and the mischief to his son must be stopped once for all.
What might not the child hear from the Jew, in these times, when heresy
wandered about like a roaring lion, and sat by all the roads like a
siren. Only by a miracle had this secluded valley been spared the evil
teachings, but the peasants had already shown that they grudged the
nobles the power, the cities the rich gains, and the priesthood the
authority and earthly possessions, bestowed on them by God. He was
disposed to let mildness rule, and spare the Jew this time--but only on
one condition.

When he took off his cowl, he looked for a ho