cried, and sprang up; "and what
do I see? in the old cap and jacket! Are you not going out again?"

"Not to-day, nor to-morrow, nor afterward," answered he, smiling. "With
the old dress, I have found again my old heart. The skin is nearer than
the fleece, my Margaret, my good, dear wife!"

"Oh, goodness!" she exclaimed, "what do you say? what do I hear? am I not
in a dream?"

"If you are dreaming that the old contentment has come back again,"
replied Baptist, "then is your dream a true one. I have grown wise at
last, Margaret."

"Thank God!" stammered the Frau; "and instead of handling the pen, you
will now work with the plane--will you?"

"Yes, Margaret, stick to that which I know, and leave it to others to
bungle at politics. In short, I have given up my post--I am no longer
town-councilor. I am now only what I was before--Tischlermeister Baptist
Heinzelmann! Am I welcome to you as such?"

With a shriek of delight, Frau Margaret fell into her husband's open arms.
Long and close was their embrace, and the sense of newly-quickened joy
brought sweet tears from the wife's heart. The children understood not
what was going on; but they saw that their father was glad and contented,
and they were glad and contented too. Until late at night, they sat
together in the garden, rejoicing in their new-found happiness.

Baptist became truly the Tischlermeister of former days, and suffered
himself to be no more drawn into temptation. A burnt child shuns the fire;
and he knew now the difference between family joys and worldly joys. His
late friends and companions came entreating him to take part once more in
their proceedings, but Baptist put them off with a laugh, and answered,
"Not so, dear friends--the skin is nearer than the fleece! In-doors there,
at the work-bench, is my post. Other people understand politics and
government better than I--I leave the task to them."

The friends and companions tried again two or three times--Heinzelmann,
however, remained firm; they gave up and came no more. But the old
customers returned, and the old journeymen also, who had thought better of
their strike--and above all, the old joy of tranquil, domestic life.

Baptist would not change with any one. And Frau Margaret?--only go by the
house some day toward evening, when she is playing with the children, or
sitting with them and her husband in the garden; then, when you hear her
clear, silvery laugh, then, I can believe, you will no more