as missing
from the farm! The first moment of uncertainty touching his destinies
was a trying one, but it was also brief. A few days brought a letter
from Munich, in which the absconded son implored his father's
forgiveness, forbearance, and patience, during some ensuing months.
Time, he wrote, might alone explain the motives of duty which had caused
his apparent error.

Patience is a difficult virtue to the sick and the unhappy. The blind
man, pining for his absent Karl, had need of all his trust in the
excellence of his favourite child: at times, misdoubtings naturally
arose; for the few months lengthened into seven, eight--eleven--a whole
year, and the wanderer came not again.

At length, one autumn evening, a general shriek from the little
household apprized Philipp Stroer of some unwonted occurrence, and
straightway a voice demanded his blessing, and warm tears were wept upon
his hand, and he knew that his son was at his feet! The story of Karl's
absence was briefly and feelingly explained. Moved by his father's
obstinate aversion to place himself in the hands of a strange
practitioner, he had resolved to qualify himself for so precious a
charge; and having interested an eminent surgeon of Munich by the detail
of his affecting anxieties sufficiently to insure his instructions in
the single branch of surgery requisite for his purpose, Karl had passed
his days in infirmaries and hospitals, denying himself the common
sustenance of nature, in order to maintain the respectability of garb
necessary for his admittance to the lectures of his scientific
preceptor. At length, his ardent endeavours were rewarded by a
certificate of expertness; and a patent of nobility would have afforded
him a far less gratifying excitement. Nor did Heaven withhold its
blessing from a cause thus hallowed by filial devotion; the operation,
which quickly followed his arrival at the farm, was attended with
perfect success. For some days, indeed, the old man still maintained his
resistance; but when he was assured that Karl had preceded his departure
for Munich by a pilgrimage to Altenoetting, and that the especial favour
of the Black Lady had sanctified his undertaking, he became more
passive--the result was a perfect restoration to sight.

"And where," I exclaimed, "is this excellent, this worthy Karl of yours
at present?"

"By your side," replied a chorus of voices; and following their
indication, I turned towards a young man of sturdy ap