of a
little money. Give the child to me. He shall have a liberal education,
and will be a great man."

"I shall not," said the tradesman, "stand in the way of his interests
or your commands. I cannot tell what to say to your kindness,
Burgomaster. GOD willing, I hope he will be a credit to the town."

"GOD willing, he will be a credit to his country," said the
Burgomaster.

The words rang in Friedrich's ears over and over again, like the
changes of bells. They danced before his eyes as if he saw them in a
book. They were written in his heart as if "graven with an iron pen
and lead in the rock for ever."

"GOD _willing, I hope he will be a credit to the town._"

"GOD _willing, he will be a credit to his country._"

"_He shall have a liberal education, and will be a_ GREAT
MAN."

Friedrich tried to stand on his feet and thank the Burgomaster; who,
on any other occasion, might have been tempted to suppose him an
idiot, so white and distorted was the child's face, struggling through
tears and smiles. He could not utter a word; a mist began to come
before his eyes, through which the Burgomaster's head seemed to bob up
and down, and then his father's, and his mother's, and Marie's, with a
look of pity on her face. He tried to tell _her_ that he was now a
great man and felt quite happy; but, unfortunately, was only able to
burst into tears, and then to burst out laughing, and then a sharp
pain shot through his head, and he remembered no more.

* * * * *

Friedrich had a dim consciousness of coming round after this, and
being put to bed; then he fell asleep, and slept heavily. When he woke
Marie was sitting by his side, and it was dark. The mother had gone
downstairs, she said, and she had taken her place. Friedrich lay
silent for a bit; at last he said,

"I am very happy, Marie."

"I am very glad, dearest."

"Dost thou think father will let the Burgomaster give me a good
education, Marie?"

"Yes, dear, I am sure he will."

"It is very kind," said Friedrich, thoughtfully; "for I know he wants
me for the business. But I will help him some day. And, Marie, I will
be a good man, and when I am very rich I will give great alms to the
poor."

"Thou wilt be a good man before thou art a rich one, I trust," said
his dogmatic sister. "We are accepted in that we have, and not in that
we have not. Thou hast great talent, and wilt give it to the Lord,
whether He make thee rich or no. Wil