d do her good; but in a few days she began to
complain of sudden chills and heats, which were accompanied by
headach and diarrhoea. We began now to use the remedy that we
employ at home--the antispasmodic powder. We wished that we had
brought the black, but had it not, and could not get it here,
where even its name, _pulvis epilepticus_, is unknown. But as she
got worse continually, spoke with difficulty, and so far lost her
hearing, that it was necessary to call out in speaking to her,
Baron Grimm sent us his physician. She is still very weak, and is
also feverish and delirious. They want to give me hope; but I have
not much. I have been long already--for days and nights
together--between hope and fear; but I have now entirely resigned
myself to the will of God, and I hope that you and my dear sister
will do the like. What are the means then to give us calm and
peace, in a degree, if not absolutely? I am resigned, let the end
be what it may, because I know that God, who, however mysteriously
he may proceed to human eyes, ordains every thing for the best, so
wills it; and I am not easily persuaded out of the belief, that
neither physician nor any other man, neither misfortune nor
accident, can either take or give life, but God alone, though
these are the means which he mostly employs; but even these not
always. We see people constantly sinking and dying around us; but
I do not say, on that account, that my mother must and will die,
or that we have lost all hope. She may recover, if it be the will
of God. I, however, find consolation in these reflections, after
praying to God as earnestly as I am able for my dear mother's
health and life; they strengthen, encourage, and console me, and
you must needs think I require them. Let us now change the
subject, and quit these melancholy thoughts. Let us hope, if not
much, and put our trust in God, consoling ourselves with the
reflection, that every thing is well ordered which the Almighty
orders, and that he best knows what is essential to our temporal
happiness and our eternal salvation."

The elder Mozart had, in the mean time, without knowing of her
illness, begun a letter to his wife, designed to reach her on her
name-day; but, before its conclusion, he had received his son's
letter, and seen the Abbe, and had thus learned not only her danger
but it