to fall and crush him--the ground beneath his feet trembled and
shook with an earthquake movement--a terrible cry rang through his ears.
What could it mean? There!--there again he heard it! Oh, what a pang of
heart-rending anguish was that! "Huelf! huelf! huelf!" were the words. The
infant was struggling in the current--her little hand grasped the weeds,
while at every instant they gave way--the water foamed and eddied round
her--deeper and deeper she sank: her hair now floated in the stream, and
her hands, uplifted, besought, for the last time, aid. "Huelf uns! Maria!
huelf uns!" She sank. With a cry of wildest accent, Fritz sprang into the
stream, and seized the yellow hair as it was disappearing beneath the
flood: the struggle was severe, for the strong stream inclined towards
the middle of the river, and Fritz could not swim. Twice had the waves
closed over him, and twice he emerged with his little burden pressed to
his heart; were it not for aid, however, his efforts would have been
vain. The cry for help had brought many to the spot, and he was
rescued--saved from death: saved from that worse than death--the
terrible union of life and death.

He lay upon the bank, wearied and exhausted--but oh, how happy! How
doubly bright the sky!--how inexpressibly soft and soothing the air upon
his brow!--how sweet the human voice, that not only sounded to the ear
but echoed in the heart!

In all his bright dreams of life he had fancied nothing like the bliss
of that moment. Friends were on every side of him--kind friends, who
never in a life-long could tell all their gratitude; and now, with words
of affection, and looks of mildest, fondest meaning, they bent over that
poor boy, and called him their own preserver.

Amid all these sights and sounds of gladness--so full of hope and
joy--there came one shrill cry, which, piercing the air, seemed to
penetrate to the very inmost chamber of Fritz's heart, telling at once
the whole history of his life, and revealing the secret of his suffering
and his victory. It was Star himself; who, in a cage beneath the
spreading branches of a chestnut-tree, was glad to mingle his wild notes
with the concourse of voices about him, and still continued at intervals
to scream out, "Maria, huelf! huelf uns, Maria!"

"Yes, child," said a venerable old man, as he kissed Fritz's forehead,
"you see the fruits of your obedience and your trust. I am glad you have
not forgotten my teaching,--'A good word