races on the paper, this is
what we read:

"Grace and peace in Christ. My dear little son, I am glad to hear
that thou learnest well and prayest diligently. Do this, my son,
and continue it; when I return home I will bring thee a fine
fairing.

"I know a beautiful cheerful garden, in which many children walk
about. They have golden coats on, and gather beautiful apples
under the trees, and pears and cherries and plums; they sing, and
jump about, and are merry; they have also fine little horses with
golden bridles and silver saddles. And I asked the man, 'Whose
children are they?' He replied, 'These are the children who like
to pray and learn and are pious.' Then I said, 'My good man, I
have a son; his name is John Luther, may he not also come to this
garden to eat such nice apples and pears, and ride such fine
little horses and play with these children?' And the man said, 'If
he likes to pray and learn and is pious, he shall come to this
garden with Philip and James; and when they all come together they
shall have pipes and cymbals, lutes and other musical instruments,
and dance, and shoot with little cross-bows.'

"And he showed me a fine meadow in the garden prepared for
dancing, there being nothing but golden pipes, cymbals, and
beautiful silver cross-bows. But it was yet early and the children
had not dined. Therefore I could not wait for the dancing, and
said to the man, 'My good master, I will go quickly and write all
this to my dear little son John, that he may pray diligently,
learn well, and be pious, that he also may be admitted into this
garden; but he hath an Aunt Lena whom he must bring with him.' The
man answered, 'So be it; go and write this to him.'

"Therefore, my dear little son John, learn and pray with all
confidence; and tell this to Philip and James, that they also may
learn and pray; and ye will all meet in this beautiful garden.
Herewith I commend thee to Almighty God. Give greetings to Aunt
Lena, and also a kiss from me. Thy father who loves thee.

"19th June, 1530.
"MARTIN LUTHER."

A cheery, bright, helpful, storylike letter to a boy, is it not? And
written from that old German castle in a time of danger and of
controversy. And the writer is neither soldier, prince, nor priest, but
greater than soldier, prince, or priest, th