The Woodcutter of Gutech | Page 9

Herr Gellet's school," answered Meta, "and a good man
who came by this way, sold us the book at a small price. It is worth ten
times the sum we gave, I am sure of that."
"And where do you live?" asked the gentleman.
Meta told him.
"And is your grandfather sick, that he is not with you?" he inquired.
"Alas! he has been cast into prison for listening to a preacher of God's
word," said Meta, "and we know not what they are going to do with
him, whether they will burn him, as they have done others, or keep him
shut up."
The nobleman, for such by his appearance they supposed him to be,
continued looking with great interest at Meta, while she was speaking.

Having made further inquiries about the old woodcutter, he joined
several of his companions who had been standing all the time at a little
distance, scarcely perceived till now by Meta and Karl. One of them
had been holding his horse, which he mounted, and rode away,
conversing with him through the forest.
Karl having made up his fagots, proceeded homewards, talking with
Meta as they went, about the interview with the nobleman, and
wondering who he could be. "I wonder whether he is the Count
Furstenburg, whose castle is, I know, some short distance off, though I
have never been up to it. I have several times seen the tops of the
towers over the trees. Yet whenever I have heard his name mentioned
he has been spoken of as a fierce, cruel lord, tyrannical both to his
dependants and even to those of his own family. I know I have heard of
all sorts of bad things about him, but grandfather never likes to speak of
him."
"Then I am sure that noble cannot be the Count Furstenburg," said
Meta: "he spoke so gently and looked so kindly at us."
Scarcely had they entered their cottage than they heard horses' hoofs
approaching it. Karl ran out to see who it was, while Meta was
preparing the supper.
"Oh, Meta!" exclaimed Karl, running back, "it is that dreadful man,
Johann Herder, our grandfather's great enemy! His coming bodes us no
good."
They consulted whether they should bolt the door, but Meta advised
that they should show no alarm; and as Herder could easily break open
the door, it would be useless to try and keep him out.
In another minute Herder entered the cottage. He cast a frowning
glance around him. "Where is your grandfather?" he asked.
"I am afraid, sir, he is in prison," answered Meta.
"Why is he there?" he asked again.

"Karl says, because he was listening to a preacher of the gospel,"
answered Meta.
"He was assisting in creating a disturbance rather," observed Herder.
"I am sure grandfather is not the man to do that," exclaimed Karl. "I
was with him, and he was as quiet as any man could be."
"Then you ought to have been taken prisoner too," exclaimed the
farmer. "I must see to that. And what book is that you have by your
side, maiden?" he asked, glancing at Meta's Bible, which she was
prepared to read.
"God's word, sir," said Meta, firmly. "We always read it before sitting
down to meals. It is by reading it that we learn of salvation. This book
says, `Faith cometh by hearing,' or reading God's word, and by faith we
are saved."
"Those are strange doctrines you are speaking," said the rough man, yet
feeling, perhaps, more than he was willing to acknowledge, the force of
her words, and greatly struck by her calmness and bravery.
"They cannot be new, sir," answered Meta, "for they were written by
the apostles themselves, nor are they strange, for the same reason."
"I came not to discuss such matters," said Herder, turning away. "My
reason for coming here was to tell your grandfather that he must move
out of this cottage, as I have bought it. As he is not here, I give you the
notice, and let me tell you that the opinions you utter are very
dangerous. They are not such as to please the priests or bishop; take
care, therefore, what you are about." Without further words, Herder
turned round, unwilling it seemed to look any longer on the young girl
and her brother who had so boldly confronted him. Leaving the cottage,
he mounted his horse and rode off.
The young people could not help being alarmed. It would be a sad thing
to have to leave their old home, and for their grandfather, when he got
out of prison, to be obliged to seek for a new one. His other threats also

boded them no good. They had, however, strength the rough man knew
nothing of. As soon