s Chr

, Januar

a terrible time; if, in

at Eisenach; and,

first he came to us he seemed quite well, and was full of spirits; but on the second day he complained of cold and shivering, with pain in the h

she should sit up in his room that night. At first he made some resistance, but he seemed too faint to insist on anything; and as he ro

our room, she said, in that quiet, convincing manner whic

è, Fritz is

ed, and snowing fast, and he was so pleased to see us, and so eager in conversation that he would not change his things. It is only a slight feverish cold. Besides, o

not see the mother's lip quiver whe

d I; "I was lo

has seen many fears realized, and many hopes disappointed. Eva, however, had always a way of seeing into the truth of things. I was very tired with the day's work (for I always rise earlie

paleness in her face and an alarm in her ey

a physician. I cannot leave Fritz. But do not alarm your father!" s

dressed on the bed. She had not been asleep, I saw. I think she had been praying, for she held the crucifix in her claspe

, wild tone in it. I think he heard my step, although I thought no one would, I stepped so softly, for he called 'Eva, Eva!' but the mother came

ever, but dim and fixed. Yet he was in a raging fever. His hand, when I touched it, burned like fire, and his face was flushed crimson. I stood there quite silently beside my mother until the phys

, and held a bag of myrrh before him; then advancing to th

ng back as he perceived a black s

ollowed him

ife is precious, and I might ca

ng be done

he returned to the bed-side. "I have touched him," he murmured, as if apologizing to himself for incurrin

up the arm, he tur

rother as warm as possible-do not let in a breath of air!" And, he added, as I followed him to the door,

ss. He seemed to have comprehended the physician's words, for he frequently repeated, "The plague! the plague! I have brought a curse upon my house!" and then he would wander, str

But on the second night the mother fainted away, and I had to carry her to her room. Her dear thin frame was no heavy weight to bear. I laid her on the bed in our room, which

e one thing;-if he is to die

thing, Eva," I said; "c

ter to me if he dies?" she s

Eva," I said; "If our mother and I shou

re of them," she said very calmly; "promise me

back to Fritz, leaving Eva chafing my mother's hands. It was of no avail, I tho

soft, even breathing. I had not courage to awake him; but I knelt down and implored the blessed Virgin and all the saints to have mercy on me and

a miracle; "unless," she a

ep refreshed and calm,

f that wild, fixed stare, or that restless wandering; to look once more into his heart through his eyes. He l

tching long here. You l

look at you," I said,

head, which had sunk on the bed where I had been kneeling, watching Fritz. I was ashamed of being such a bad nurse; but our mother insisted on my going to our room to seek rest and refreshment. And for t

me. Think if I were to bring

, perplexed expression came back into my brother's eyes, and the feve

as sitting with clasp

altered he is! Are you su

impse of him seemed to weigh on her very life; and as Fritz recovered, Eva seemed to grow paler and weaker, until the same feverish symptoms came over her which he had learned so to dread, and

e to conceal it from

the window of his room, looking into the street. I shall never forget

ng have those fires been

ress-wood and juniper, and myrrh and pine gu

said. "And, Elsè," he said, "why is

t two child

windows closed all down

er," I said; "but the doctor

and covering his face; "I was flying from the

could think of any words to comfort him

ad in this

none,"

stricken?

he father are well," I

She will die and be a saint in heaven, and I, who have murdered h

urst into tears, so that he had to try to comfort me. But he did not speak; he only t

ht the plague, dear Frit

uch an intense bitterness in his tone

s, of white-robed saints walking among them with harps and songs, and of One who welcomed her. Occasionally, too, she murmured snatches of the same Latin hymns that Fritz had repeated in his delirium, but in a tone so different, so child-like and happy! If ever

ly once, when she had lain thus an hour quite still, while her chest seemed scarcely to heave with her soft, tranquil breathin

d slightly, an

ait till th

er head again on the

ected and calm, and

is the

sting, dar

smile, and then, in broken w

ed I should see him again; and now if I die,

surprise, he seemed very reluctant to come; but when I said how much she wished it, he followed me quite meekly into her

u happy, as it does me." Then very slowly and distinctly she repeated the words-"'God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son.' Cousin Fritz," she added, "I do not know the end of the s

sted, and in a few moments, with my arms round her as I sat beside

would not die, and I whisp

ver, and you will not have kille

ing to meet a thankful, happy response,

, hopeless look in his worn, pale face, which contrasted terribly with t

when his whole countenance changed

you, Eva!" and pressing her ha

im again tha

va's life! She rallied f

a strange impassiveness in his face; "I t

e next day, to our surprise and disappointm

us, and would not see Eva to take leav

et as I watched him go down the street, he did not once turn to wave a last good-bye,

d to account for his not coming to take leave of her, because I thought it would give her pain (and it doe

asons for it-some good, kind reasons-because he always has; an