I joined hands with you, before
God's altar, in the holy bands of matrimony. If now you wish the
captaincy, or a seat in the royal council, then have you deceived me,
even at the moment of marriage, and that would be very wrong in a
bridegroom.'

'God be praised!' joyfully exclaimed Alf, pressing her to his bosom.
'That is precisely what I desired to hear from you, my dear Clara. I
only wished to ascertain whether you agreed with me upon a most
important question; and behold, our wishes and opinions are as similar
as if we had been made for each other.'

'Ah, that was always clear to me from the first moment I saw you,'
stammered Clara, blushing; 'and it used to render me truly miserable to
see that you had eyes only for my unfortunate sister.'

'Peace to her ashes!' said Alf with emotion; 'but I now perceive quite
clearly that she would have been no wife for me. What God brings to
pass is intended for our good.'

At that moment began under the windows, arranged by the wedding guests,
an excellent morning serenade; and the vocalists, falling in, sang to
the bridal pair, in Martin Luther's words:[3]

'Oh happy man, whose soul is fill'd
With zeal and reverend awe!
His lips to God their honors yield,
His life adorns the law.

'A careful Providence shall stand
And ever guard thy head,
Shall on the labors of thy hand,
Its kindly blessings shed.'

'Shall on the labors of thy hand,'--said the young couple joyfully to
each other at the same moment, and Alf smilingly remarked; 'now we
shall be sure to live together at least a year, my Clara, since we both
had the same thought at the same time.'

Again sang the choir:

'Thy wife shall be a fruitful vine;
Thy children round thy board,
Each like an olive-plant shall shine,
And learn to fear the Lord.

'The Lord shall thy best hopes fulfil
For months and years to come;
The Lord who dwells on Zion's hill,
Shall send thee blessings home.'

Reminded of the pleasures of paternity, Alf pressed his beloved wife
yet closer, while she hid her blushing face in his bosom. They listened
with delighted attention to the remainder of the hymn, and when the
last verse came they joined in with a pious ecstasy, and in thankful
remembrance of all that God had done for them: