BEREAVED, AND COMFORTED.
At a short distance from Wittenberg, near the Elster-gate, a well is
shown to this day, called Luther's Well, it having been discovered
and opened by Luther in the year 1520. The miner's son had a sure
instinct for all minerals and treasures hidden in the earth.
Near this well, among the trees, and within hearing of the rushing
waters of the Elbe, Luther in the year 1526 built himself a
summer-house, which Katharine's skillful hand beautified and
furnished most conveniently. It was a pleasant spot and Mistress
Luther was rewarded for her pains by frequent visits from her
friends. In this peaceful retreat Luther loved to gather around him
his friends, Melanchthon, Cruciger and Auerhahr, and with them work
at the translation of the New Testament. Here the fourth chapter
according to St. John, telling of Jacob's Well, was completed.
It was a warm, sunny May-day in the year 1528. The Spring sunshine
had caused the tender leaves to burst their buds; the garden flowers
vied with the wild flowers in furnishing sweet food to the bees and
butterflies; even the farmers' plough horses neighed with delight.
In the summer house near the Elster-gate, sat Dr. Martin with his
lute. The Spring-time had seized upon his heart, for when all nature
is singing for joy, Dr. Martin cannot keep silence. Beside him sat
Mistress Katharine, with her baby in her arms, lost in happy
dreams,--now listening to the notes of the lute, now resting her eyes
upon the lovely landscape. When the Doctor, changing from his free,
fresh improvisation, played the air which he had composed especially
for his little son Hans, Katharine hummed the tune, while Hans, who
was playing on the floor with a wooden horse, looked up attentively,
for he knew well that it was his song.
The child was now two years old, a blooming, vigorous boy, and
already sufficiently master of his mother tongue, to make his wants
known. The wooden horse, a product of Wolfgang's lathe, was his
favorite toy, his childish imagination investing it with all the
qualities of the living animal. It was lodged in a stall, built in a
corner of the room, was each night provided with hay and straw, and
in times of sickness neither medicine nor care were wanting.
With heartfelt pleasure the parents' eyes rested upon their
first-born, and Katharine said to her husband: "If God gives grace,
Hans will be the joy and comfort of our old age." Glancing at the
child in her arms, she continued, with a troubled face:--"But when I
look at our sweet little Elizabeth, I am mindful of the Apostle's
admonition,--to have as though we had not. She is the child of my
fears, born amid fears, and nurtured in fear to this present time.
See, how pale is the little face, and how deep the shadows under her
eyes."
Luther leaned over and stroked the little hand: "Dear wife, the
Apostle's word applies not only to a feeble child,--we should possess
all our children, as though we possessed them not. The Lord has but
lent them to us, and claims them again, when it pleases Him."
A look of deep sorrow clouded Katharine's face: "Doubtless you are
right, dearest Doctor; yet it is better to see them come than go, and
if we were forced to yield up one of them, I believe my heart would
break. Ah my little Elizabeth, my darling child--" She pressed her
lips to her pale, little face, and hot tears gushed from her eyes.
The Doctor felt his own growing moist, and was glad to see his
friends, Melanchthon, with Master Reichenbach and his wife, coming
towards their house.
"We thought," cried Mistress Elsa, "that we must seek you here, as we
failed to find you at home. How lovely is this Spring day."
Frau Elsa sat down beside Katharine, and the men with Dr. Martin.
"You have a fine scent, my friends," he began, "that has betrayed to
you, what his grace the Elector, has sent me. I, for my part, can
boast of a true prophetic instinct, which told me that some of my
friends would seek me out to-day. Therefore I have caused the gift
to be brought out here." He pointed to a corner, where lay a small
cask: beside it stood a large earthen jug. "It is said to be choice
Spanish wine, for Dr. Martin's refreshment."
"He is a kindly gentleman, our Elector," returned Reichenbach. "But
you, dear Doctor, must follow his advice, and yourself drink the
wine, that was sent for your refreshment."
Luther was already filling the jug from the cask. "What would you
have, dear Reichenbach? Would the wine refresh me, if I drank it
alone? Just as divided joy is double joy, so, to me, divided wine is
double wine."
He brought the jug to the syndic. When the latter still refused,
Melanchthon said, with a significant glance: "Take it, Reichenbach;
the Doctor is now forty-five years old. We cannot change his nature
in these matters."
The wine was passed around, and in the intercourse with his beloved
friends, Luther's inborn happy humor burst forth with irresistible
charm, as though he had never in his life been sad or heavy-hearted.
Towards evening other citizens of Wittenberg came out to enjoy the
balmy air. Luther made them all welcome. They talked together of
many things,--of the affairs of the city of Wittenberg, and of those
of the kingdom of God, until it grew late, and Wolfgang came limping
out from town, with warm wraps for Mistress Luther and the children,
and well-meant advice to the Doctor, not to linger in the night-air.
Luther readily yielded, and all returned to town together.
The roses in Luther's garden were blooming gloriously, delighting not
only the Doctor, but all those whom he invited into his garden, to
view the wonderful works of God, and those into whose houses he sent
generous nosegays of the fragrant flowers. But greater was his joy,
when he saw the roses slowly appearing in little Elizabeth's cheeks.
The physician, Augustin Schurf, smiled sadly when he saw the father's
fond delusion,--he knew that under the roses death was at work. Soon
the little face grew pale again, and with hearts doubly saddened by
disappointed hope, the parents stood beside their dying child, and
tasted the bitterness of death. They prayed for its life, but God
said: "Give me the child."
As the last struggle was drawing near, Luther, with a supreme effort
of renunciation, exclaimed: "Lord, Thy will be done!" Katharine
cried aloud: "O dear Father, let this cup pass from us. It is so
bitter, methinks I cannot drink it."
When Luther saw his wife's grief, tears burst from the strong man's
eyes and he wept like a child. This roused Katharine from her
sorrow, and seeing her husband's pain, she strove to comfort him.
And Luther, having received, was again able to give. He walked
behind the little coffin, as it was carried to the grave, accompanied
by weeping friends, and there spoke words of comfort to all present.
Here he again experienced, more fully than ever, how great a treasure
is the precious Word of God, which is most powerful and life-giving,
when the soul is passing through darkness and sorrow.
Wolfgang made a little cross of wood, which he set upon the grave,
and Luther wrote upon it: "_Hic dormit Elisabeth, filiola Martini
Lutheri, Anno 1528._" "Here sleeps Elizabeth, Martin Luther's little
daughter."
* * * * * * * * * *
It was long, before Katharine's loving heart could cast aside its
sorrow. Yet she was made acquainted with one of the blessings of
affliction, namely, the hearty sympathy and affection of the members
of her household. Her servants, as well as the boarders, were eager
to serve her, as though each one, as far as in him lay, desired to
comfort the bereaved mother, and Katharine was deeply grateful for
their loving service.
Better than they, the Lord supplied her loss. When the lilies of the
valley bloomed on little Elizabeth's grave, the happy mother's
thanksgiving rose heavenward: "The Lord hath taken away, the Lord
hath given. Blessed be the name of the Lord." In his study Luther
sat and wrote in great haste:
"Grace and Peace in Christ, my dear Amsdorf! The gracious God has
regarded our sorrow, and has sent us in place of our little dead
maiden, a living one. I pray you, therefore, make haste, that it may
not longer remain a heathen, but speedily, by means of the blessed
Sacrament, be enrolled in Heaven as an heir of eternal life."
When the sacred act had been performed, Luther took his daughter upon
his arm and said: "My dear little Lena, thou art doubly welcome,--for
thine own sake, and for the sake of thy departed sister, who lives
again in thee; for when I look at thee, methinks I again behold my
little Elizabeth."
Then, turning to his wife, he bent down over the pale face, and said:
"You dearest wife, how can I thank you for this precious gift! What
were Dr. Martin, without his Kate! Since I have you, I am no longer
poor, but a rich man indeed! If Thou lovest me, O Lord my God, do
Thou preserve and bless this dear life."