# The Lutheran Pioneer_St. Louis_1911_S4 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) 4 The Lutheran Pioneer. God’s Protecting Care. On December 30, 1855, says an old Russian officer, I was traveling in a sleigh with my wife some miles to the home of my father-in-law. Next day was my father-in-law’s birthday. Our two little ones, only six months’ old, were left at home in the We passed the birth- care of a trustworthy nurse. At Jesus’ Feet. (Luxe 10, 38—42.) Oh that I could forever sit With Mary at the Master’s fect! Be this my happy choice! My only care, delight, and bliss, My joy, my heaven on earth be this, To hear my Savior’s voice. 'day very enjoyably. But towards evening my wife _ was seized with a longing to see our twin children. As I also had this desire for our babes, and besides began to fear we might not be able to reach home with the sleigh, in particular, that we would not be able to cross the river Vistula, we set out toward evening for home. The road was splendid, the horses sped along, and toward nine o'clock we reached the woods, near Ostrometzko. The air be- came clearer and a few stars began to appear. Then the horses began to get uneasy; they reared as if they would go no farther, and then began to rush forward in frantic haste. Ata dis- iance we heard the hoarse barking of two dogs, but no other sound. Old Franzek, our driver, did all he could to quiet the horses; but in vain,—on they madly rushed. As the barking came nearer, I looked around and saw two old, lean dogs fol- lowing our sleigh. “Let them come nearer and cut them with the whip,” I ordered the driver, not yet suspecting any danger. “Ah,” he groaned, “they are wolves!” Ie was old, born in that neigh- borhood, and knew them from earlier days. At the time of which I speak, wolves were seldom seen, and were only driven from their hiding-places that year by the snow which began to fall early and continued long. Hunger made them ravenous. I lashed the horses to drive them at their utmost speed; they flew along with the sleigh, our pursuers pant- ing as they-chased us. My wife sat " speechless, pale as death, and I thought T already felt the hot breath of the beasts behind me. When they were quite near the sleigh, Franzek threw down his fur- coat. We heard them falling upon it in a fury, struggling for the prey, and we gained on them a little. But soon the barking and panting came nearer again, and our fear increased. Only a little way yet! The farm lay before us. If now the gate were closed, as we were not expected home before the following day, what then would become of us? ‘The wolves had almost reached us when we found the gate open. With thanks to God we entered our home. We first went to the children’s room. We opened the door.