The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1912, Page 91

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The Lutheran Pioneer.

91

message of love and grace to a sin-ruined world,

and the Gospel message in all our mission fields-

will prove itself a power of God unto salvation to
every one that believeth. Our labor is not in vain
in the Lord.

Let us rest our hearts on the faithful saying,
and firmly cling to it with a trusting faith. It
will then be well with us in life and death. For
“this is a faithful saying, and worthy of all accep-
tation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to
save sinners.”

the wonderful sight. On Luther’s shoulder, her
hand in his, leans Catharine, TLuther’s loving wife,
the devoted mother of his children. The oldest boy,
under the direction of Melanchthon, Luther’s co-
laborer and a dear friend of the family, is aiming
with a cross-bow at an apple on the tree. At the
table cousin Lena is showing a book of pictures
to the second boy. The third boy clasps his father’s
knee with one hand, in which, however, he manages
to hold a string also, by which he has been drawing
along a knight in full armor on horseback, while

CHRISTMAS IN LUTHER'S HOME.

Christmas in Luther’s Home.

Luther’s home in Wittenberg was a happy Chris-
tian home. Especially at Christmas time there was
joy in the home of the great Reformer through
whom God, in His loving-kindness and mercy, re-
stored to the Church the pure Gospel of the Savior
born at Bethlehem.

In our picture you see Luther in the family
circle on Christmas Eve. “The Christmas-tree
blazes in all its glory in the center. On Luther's
lap kneels his youngest child, clasping him around
the neck. Its little nightcap, and slip, and bare
fect show that it has been kept from its bed to see

with the other hand he holds’ up a hobby-horse.
Magdalene, the oldest daughter, is clasping in her
hand the little angel, whilst the doll at her side is
forgotten. ‘The full light of the tree is on her
happy, yet thoughtful face.

Oh, happy Christmas! thou mayest be the pre-
lude of wailing. ‘The little coffin may follow the
Christmas-tree within our door. The candles of
the Christmas-tree of 1542 were not mirrored in the
eyes of the beautiful and darling Magdalene. ‘Those ©
gentle eyes had been closed by her father’s hands
three months before. And when the Christmas of
1546 came, Luther himself stood by the Redcemer’s
side in glory. :