The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1911, Page 4

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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. <A thick vapor came

into our faces; the nurse lay in bed, breathing
heavily; the children were quiet and pale in the
cradle. We hurriedly carried them to our bed-

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