The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1891, Page 39

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The Lutheran Pioneer. 39

Luther and Lady Cotta. and threw it into the fire. He then returned
to his daughter, and shaking her violently said,
The picture in this number of the PionEER| ‘Let me tell you that if I ever find anything
represents a scene from Luther's school days at| of the kind with you again, you are done for.””
Eisenach. After having attended school at} Victoria thus lost the Bible, but the evan-

Mansfeld and Magdeburg, Luther was sent to/gelical faith was already deeply seated in her

So she went home and spoke to her father as
she had been advised todo. As soon as he had
heard what she had to say, he again led her to
the barn. There he tied her to a wagon with
an iron chain and with ropes. When she was
tied, he said to her scornfully, ‘“Now you may

MA

~~

the Latin school in the city of Eisenach, where| heart. Although she was only 14 years old,
some of his mother’s relatives were living. His|she was resolved to keep the truth she had

parents hoped that he would there get some
But he received
very little help, and, with other poor scholars,
he had to go about singing from house to house
for some food, and often he had togoto bed with-
out having had anything toeat. God, however,
took care of him. On one cold evening he,
with the other boys, went out singing, and al

support from those relatives.

ready they had sung at several houses
without getting anything, when at last
they came to the house of Cotta, an
honorable and well-to-do citizen. They
sang their hymn, and soon the door
opened, and out came the lady of the
house. She had recognized the clear,
sweet voice of Luther, at which she had
often been delighted in church. She
took little Martin by the hand, led him
into the house, and gave him some food.

Luther there found a home and hospit-
able shelter, so that he could now de-
vote all his time to his studies. He

never forgot this kindness of the dear

woman. After many years, when he

was a professor, and Lady Cotta’s son

studied at the University, he took that
son to his table, and in his writings he
reared her a beautiful and lasting mon-
ument.

>». oo 2

(For the ‘‘Lutheran Pioneer.’?)

A Girl-Martyr in the 19th Century.

About 60 years ago there lived in the
southern part of Germany a girl by the
name of Victoria. Her parents and rel-
atives were all strict Roman Catholics

learned, no matter what it might cost. She
went to the Lutheran church near by as often
jas she possibly could. There she strengthened
and comforted herself in. the company of the
faithful. But her father heard of this from
friends. One Sunday when she returned from

| the Lutheran church, she was met at the door
“‘Come, my child,’ he said

by her father.

Luther and Lady Cotta.

and so she was also brought up in
that faith. She was, however, a bright, in-
telligent girl, and exceedingly fond of reading.
Now there happened to be some Lutherans
among her neighbors of whom she borrowed
a Bible, which she secretly read. She com-
pared the word of God with what her priests
taught, and found a great difference between
the two; she saw that what she had so far be-
lieved was against the word of truth. Her
spirit became disturbed and she was often sad
because she was obliged to go to the Roman
Catholic church, against which she felt 9 grow-
Ing aversion. One day her father surprised
er as she was about to hide her Bible in a
closet. «What have you there?’’ he asked,
and immediately snatched the book from her
ands. He turned to the first page and read.
Pe oking at his daughter maliciously, he asked,
Where did you get that heretical book? You

Will not tell me? All right, then.’’” He went
the k

eae
itchen, tore up the book leaf by leaf, honestly remain in

kindly, ‘‘I have something to tell you.’’ He
led her to the barn and locked the door. Then
he threw her down and taking up a thick stick,
he cried, ‘‘ You devil of a child, I'll make a
Lutheran of you.’’ With that he began beat-
ing her until she was senseless. When she
regained consciousness, she was alone. She
raised herself up, and lifting her hands to
heaven said: ‘‘Lord, strengthen me, that I
may remain faithful.” Then she went to the
well, washed the blood from her hands and
face, and hastened to her chamber. There she
again fainted until her mother came and helped
her to bed. For several days she could not
move on account of great eee he she a
evained her health, she at once wen

ae on pastor, told him what she ma
suffered, and at length asked, ‘‘ What Cee

do?’? The pastor advised her to speak open. y

her father and to tell him that she could no
Hae he Roman Catholic church.

stay there, until your cursed soul leaves your

body. Iam anxious to see if your Lutheran

God will help you.”” Then he beat her till he

was tired out, and went away. For three days

she remained there bound, and nobody brought

her food or drink. But every morning her

father came and asked her, if she still intended

to remain a Lutheran, and when she said,

“Yes,’’ he beat her till the blood came, and

then went away. The Lutheran pastor in the

mean time waited from one day to the

other for Victoria to tell him how things
were going on. As she did not come

to him, he began to grow anxious, be-
cause he knew her violent father from

what she had told him. So, on the fourth
day, he went to see the man. But %e-
fore he could enter the house, the father
called to him, ‘Do you want to seduce
me too? If you come in, I will set the
dog on you.’’ The pastor turned and
went on. Returning home, he took an-
other road and walked by a path at the
back of the village. - As he passed the
barn of Victoria’s father, he heard a low
moaning. He approached the barn and
asked, ‘‘Is it you, Victoria?’ She an-
swered in a weak voice, “Yes, they
want to starve me here. I have had
nothing to eat for three days.’? He
consoled her: ‘‘Remain steadfast, my
daughter; things will be changed by
to-morrow.’’ As soon as he got home,
he reported what he had heard to the
magistrate, who immediately looked into
the matter. The young martyr was set
free the same day. She was so weak
and sick, that she had to be nursed
carefully for some time, before she
entirely recovered. Her father was
punished. When he was discharged from
prison, he cursed his daughter; he would not
see her again. Victoria then went into service
in a Lutheran family, and without being dis-
turbed again, attended the church she had
learned to love. When she became of age, she
was received into full communion of the church
in which she had found salvation. © —p—

——s oo oe -

A Pillow for Jesus.

A little boy read from his Testament the
words: “The Son of man hath not where to
lay His head.’” Hesobbed aloud. His mother
asked him what was the matter. At last, as
well as his sobs would let him, he said:

“Tf T had been there, I would have given
Him ny pillow.”

Every little boy and girl has a chance to /
give a pillow for Jesus—if he gives one to the /
least of His disciples. :