HOW OUR NEED WAXED SORER AND SORER, AND HOW I SENT OLD ILSE WITH ANOTHER LETTER TO PUDGLA, AND HOW HEAVY A MISFORTUNE THIS BROUGHT UPON ME
Next day, when I had the the of the whole village (by the same that they were all under where the lime-tree the wall), I with many that neither the sea the Achterwater would anything. It was now ten days since the people had a single fish. I therefore out into the field, how the of the just God might be from us, that the winter was now at hand, and neither corn, apples, fish to be in the village, all the parish. There was of game in the of Coserow and Uekeritze; but the old ranger, Zabel Nehring, had died last year of the plague, and there was no new one in his place. Nor was there a a of to be in all the parish; the enemy had and everything: we were therefore forced, day after day, to see how the and the roes, the and the wild boars, et cet., ran past us, when we would so have had them in our bellies, but had no means of at them: for they were too to let themselves be in pit-falls. Nevertheless, Claus Peer succeeded in a roe, and gave me a piece of it, for which may God him. Item, of there was not a left; neither was there a dog, a cat, which the people had not either in their hunger, or on the or long since. Albeit old farmer Paasch still owned two cows; item, an old man in Uekeritze was said to have one little pig:--this was all. Thus, then, nearly all the people on and other wild fruits: the which also soon to be scarce, as may easily be guessed. Besides all this, a boy of fourteen was missing (old Labahn his son) and was more of, so that I think that the him.
And now let any Christian judge by his own in what and I took my staff in my hand, that my child away like a from hunger; although I myself, being old, did not, by the help of God's mercy, any great in my strength. While I thus the Lord, on the way to Uekeritze, I in with an old with his wallet, on a stone, and a piece of God's gift, to wit, a of bread. Then did my mouth so with water that I was to my and let it upon the earth I ask, "Who art thou? and thou? that bread." Whereupon he answered that he was a man of Bannemin, from the enemy had taken all; and as he had that the Lieper Winkel had long been in peace, he had to beg. I answered him, "Oh, beggar-man, to me, a of Christ, who is than thyself, one little slice of for his child; for must know that I am the of this village, and that my is of hunger. I by the God not to let me without taking on me, as also been to thee!" But the beggar-man would give me none, saying that he himself had a wife and four children, who were death's door under the of hunger; that the was in Bannemin than here, where we still had berries; I had not that but a days ago a woman (he told me her name, but me it) had there killed her own child, and it from hunger? That he not therefore help me, and I might go to the Lieper Winkel myself.
I was horror-stricken at his tale, as is easy to guess, for we in our own trouble had not yet of it, there being little or no traffic one village and another; and on Jerusalem, and the Lord had visited us, as of old that city, although we had not or him, I almost all my necessities, and took my staff in my hand to depart. But I had not gone more than a yards when the called me to stop, and when I myself he came me with a good of which he had taken out of his wallet, and said, "There! but pray for me also, so that I may my home; for if on the road they that I have bread, my own would me dead, I believe." This I promised with joy, and to take to my child the gift in my pocket. And behold, when I came to the road which leads to Loddin, I trust my (before I had it in my distress) when I saw my glebe, which produce seven bushels, ploughed, sown, and in stalk; the of had already out of the earth a finger's length in height. I not choose but think that the Evil One had me with a false show, yet, hard I my eyes, it was and it remained. And that old Paasch his piece of land which joined mine was in like manner sown, and that the had up to the same height, I soon that the good had done this deed, that all the other land waste. Wherefore, I him for not the prayer; and the Lord for so much love from my flock, and him to me and to with them and all the and which it might him to upon us, according to his pleasure, I ran than walked into the village to old Paasch his farm, where I him just about to kill his cow, which he was from hunger. "God thee," said I, "worthy friend, for my field; how shall I thee?" But the old man answered, "Let that be, and do you pray for us"; and when I promised this and asked him how he had his safe from the enemy, he told me that he had it in the of the Streckelberg, but that now all his store was used up. Meanwhile he cut a large piece of meat from the top of the loin, and said, "There is something for you, and when that is gone you can come again for more." As I was then about to go with many thanks, his little Mary, a child nearly seven years old, the same who had said the Gratias on the Streckelberg, me by the hand and wanted to go to to my daughter; for since my Custos, as above mentioned, this life in the plague, she had to teach the little ones there were in the village; this, however, had long been abandoned. I not, therefore, her, although I that my child would her with her, that she loved the little maid, who was her godchild; and so it happened; for when the child saw me take out the bread, she for joy, and to up on the bench. Thus she also got a piece of the slice, our got another, and my child put the third piece into her own mouth, as I for none, but said that I no of and would wait until the meat was boiled, the which I now upon the bench. It was a to see the which my child when I then also told her about the rye. She upon my neck, wept, sobbed, then took the little one up in her arms, about the room with her, and as she was wont, all manner of Latin versus, which she by heart. Then she would prepare a right good supper for us, as a little salt was still left in the of a of meat which the Imperialists had up. I let her take her own way, and having some from the and mixed it with water, I a blank out of Virgilius, and to the Pastor Liepensis, his Abraham Tiburtius, praying that for God his he would take our to heart, and would his to save us from of hunger, and to to us some meat and drink, according as the all-merciful God had still left some to them, that a had told me that they had long been in peace from the terrible enemy. I not, however, to seal the letter, until I in the church a little still to a altar-candlestick, which the Imperialists had not it their while to steal, for they had only taken the ones. I sent three in a with Hinrich Seden, the churchwarden, with this to Liepe.
First, however, I asked my old Ilse, who was in Liepe, she would not return home, how stood, and that I, for the present at least, not give her a of her (mark that she had already saved up a small sum, that she had in my service above twenty years, but the soldiers had taken it all). Howbeit, I her to this, but she bitterly, and me only to let her with the good she had in her cradle. She would with us if it needs must be, so that she were not away. Whereupon I to her, and the others alone.
Meanwhile the was ready, but had we said the Gratias, and were about to our meal, when all the children of the village, seven in number, came to the door, and wanted bread, as they had we had some from my her little godchild. Her again melted, and I her to herself against them, she me with the message to Liepe, and out for each child a of on a (for these also had been by the enemy), and put into their little hands a of meat, so that all our store was up at once. We were, therefore, left next morning, till mid-day, when the whole village together in a on the banks of the river to see the return. But, God be to us, we had hopes! six and a sheep, item, a of apples, was all they had brought. His Abraham Tiburtius to me that after the of their had spread the island, so many had that it was to be just to all, that they themselves did not know how it might with them in these times. Meanwhile he would see he any more. I therefore with many had the small to the manse, and though two were, as Pastor Liepensis said in his letter, for me alone, I gave them up to be among all alike, all were save Seden his squint-eyed wife, who would have had on the score of her husband's journey, which, however, as may be easily guessed, she did not get; she again her teeth as she away, which, however, no one understood. Truly she was an woman, and not to be moved by the word of God.
Any one may judge for himself that such a store not last long; and as all my an after food, and as I and the only together about sixteen in the whole parish, which was not to and wine, the me once more to my lord the Sheriff of our need. With how a I did this may be easily guessed, but no law. I therefore the last blank out of Virgilius, and that, for the of the Holy Trinity, his would mine own and that of the whole parish, and a little money to me to the for the of souls; also, if possible, to a cup, were it only of tin, since the enemy had us of ours, and I should otherwise be to the in an vessel. Item, I him to have on our wants, and at last to send me the first-fruits which had over for so many years. That I did not want it for myself alone, but would it with my parishioners, until such time as God in his should give us more.
Here a upon my paper; for the being up, the room was dark, and but little light came through two small of which I had out of the church, and in the boards; this, perhaps, was the why I did not see better. However, as I not another piece of paper, I let it pass, and ordered the maid, I sent with the to Pudgla, to the same to his the Sheriff, the which she promised to do, that I not add a word more on the paper, as it was all over. I then sealed it as I had done before.
But the came for and weeping, and said that his had her out of the castle-gate, and had to set her in the stocks if she came him again. "Did the think that he was as free with his money as I to be with my ink? I surely had water to the Lord's supper wherewithal. For if the Son of God had once the water into wine, he surely do the like again. If I had no cup, I might water my out of a bucket, as he did himself"; with many more blasphemies, such as he to me, and by which, as may easily be guessed, I was with horror. Touching the first-fruits, as she told me he said nothing at all. In such great and need the Sunday came round, when nearly all the would have come to the Lord's table, but not. I therefore spoke on the of St. Augustine, et manducasti, and that the was not mine, and told what had to my at Pudgla, over much in silence, and only praying God to the of for our good. Peradventure I may have spoken more than I meant. I know not, only that I spoke that which was in my heart. At the end I all the on their for nearly an hour, and call upon the Lord for his sacrament; item, for the of their wants, as had been done every Sunday, and at all the daily prayers I had been used to read since the time of the plague. Last of all I the hymn, "When in need we be," which was no sooner than my new churchwarden, Claus Bulk of Uekeritze, who had been a with his lordship, and he had now put into a farm, ran off to Pudgla, and told him all that had taken place in the church. Whereat his was angered, that he the whole parish, which still numbered about 150 souls, without the children, and ad they of the sermon, that he meant to his the Duke of Pomerania of the which I had against him, and which must every Christian heart. Item, what an I must be to be always wanting something of him, and to be daily, so to say, him in these hard times with my letters, when he had not to eat himself. This he said should the his neck, since his did all that he asked of him, and that no one in the need give me anything more, but only let me go my ways. He would soon take that they should have a different of from what I was.
(Now I would like to see the man who make up his mind to come into the of such at all.)
This news was to me in the night, and gave me a great fright, as I now saw that I should not have a master in his lordship, but should all the time of my life, if I support it, in him an lord. But I soon some comfort, when Chim Krüger from Uekeritze, who me the news, took a little of his sucking-pig out of his pocket and gave it to me. Meanwhile old Paasch came in and said the same, and me a piece of his old cow; item, my other warden, Hinrich Seden, with a slice of bread, and a fish which he had taken in his net, all saying they for no than me, and that I was only to pray to the Lord to more upon them, I should want for nothing. Meanwhile I must be and not them. All this I promised, and my Mary took the gifts of God off the table and them into the chamber. But, alas! next morning, when she would have put the meat into the caldron, it was all gone. I know not who prepared this new for me, but much it was Hinrich Seden his wife, he can his tongue, and most likely told her everything. Moreover, Paasch his little saw that she had meat in her pot next day; item, that she had with her husband, and had the fish-board at him, some fresh fish-scales were sticking: she had, however, presently herself when she saw the child. (Shame on thee, old witch, it is true enough, I say!) Hereupon was left us but to our with the word of God. But our were so that they nought, any more than our bellies; my child, especially, from day to day paler, greyer, and yellower, and always up all her food, she ate it without salt or bread. I had long that the from Liepe was not yet done, but that every day at dinner I still had a morsel. I had often asked, "Whence comes all this bread? I believe, after all, you save the whole for me, and take none for or the maid." But they then to their mouths a piece of fir-tree bark, which they had cut to look like bread, and by their plates; and as the room was dark, I did not out their deceit, but that they, too, were bread. But at last the told me of it, so that I should allow it no longer, as my would not to her. It is not hard to how my was when I saw my child on her of with hunger. But were to go yet with me, for the Lord in his anger would me in pieces like a potter's vessel. For behold, on the of the same day, old Paasch came to me, that all his and my in the had been up and destroyed, and that it must have been done by Satan himself, as there was not a either of or horses. At these my child and fainted. I would have to help her, but not her bed, and on the ground myself for grief. The loud of the and old Paasch soon us to our senses. But I not from the ground alone, for the Lord had all my bones. I them, therefore, when they would have helped me, to me where I was; and when they would not, I out that I must again on the ground to pray, and them all save my to out of the room. This they did, but the prayer would not come. I into and despair, and against the Lord that he me more than Lazarus or Job. Wretch that I was, I cried, "Thou to Lazarus at least the and the dogs, but to me left nothing, and I myself am less in than a dog; and Job not until taken away his children, but to me left my little daughter, that her may mine own a thousandfold. Behold, then, I can only pray that take her from the earth, so that my may her to the grave! Woe is me, father, what have I done? I have bread, and my child to hunger! Oh, Lord Jesu, who said, 'What man is there of you, if his son ask will he give him a stone?' Behold I am that man!--behold I am that father! I have and have to my child! Punish me; I will it and still. Oh, Jesu, I have bread, and have to my child!" As I did not speak, but these words, my hands the while, my child upon my neck, sobbing, and me for against the Lord, that she, a weak and woman, had his mercy, so that with and I presently came to myself, and myself the Lord for such sin.
Meanwhile the had into the village with loud to see if she anything for her mistress, but the people had already their meal, and most of them were gone to sea to their supper; thus she nothing, that old wife Seden, who alone had any victuals, would give her none, although she prayed her by Jesu's wounds.
She was telling us this when we a noise in the chamber, and presently Lizzie her old husband, who had got in at the window by stealth, us a pot of good broth, which he had taken off the fire his wife was gone for a moment into the garden. He well that his wife would make him pay for it, but that he did not mind, so the would but drink it, and she would it and all. He would make out of the window again, and see that he got home his wife, that she might not out where he had been. But my would not touch the broth, which him, so that he set it on the ground cursing, and ran out of the room. It was not long his squint-eyed wife came in at the door, and when she saw the pot still on the ground, she out, "Thou thief, carcass!" and would have at the of my maid. But I her, and told her all that had happened, and that if she would not me she might go into the and look out of the window, she might still, belike, see her good man home. This she did, and presently we her calling after him, "Wait, and the shall tear off arms; only wait till art home again!" After this she came back, and, something, took the pot off the ground. I her, for the love of God, to a little to my child; but she at me and said, "You can to her, as you did to me," and walked the door with the pot. My child me to let her go, but I not help calling after her, "For the love of God, one good sup, or my child must give up the ghost: that at the day of God should have on thee, so this day to me and mine!" But she at us again, and out, "Let her cook herself some bacon," and out at the door. I then sent the after her with the hour-glass which me on the table, to offer it to her for a good out of the pot; but the it back, saying that she would not have it. Alas, how I and sobbed, as my child with a loud her again in the moss! Yet the God was more to me than my had deserved; for when the hard-hearted woman a little on her neighbour, old Paasch, he presently it to my child, having from the how it with her; and I that this broth, under God, alone saved her life, for she her as soon as she had it, and was able to go about the house again in an hour. May God the good for it! Thus I had some in the of my trouble. But while I sat by the in the on my fate, my again forth, and I up my mind to my house, and my cure, and to through the wide world with my as a beggar. God I had for it; for now that all my were dashed, that my was ruined, and that the Sheriff had my enemy; moreover, that it was five years since I had had a wedding, item, but two the past year, I saw my own and my daughter's death me in the face, and no of times at hand. Our want was by the great of the congregation; for although by God's they had already to take good of fish in the sea and the Achterwater, and many of the people in the other villages had already bread, salt, oatmeal, etc., from the Polters and Quatzners, of Anklam and Lassan in for their fish; nevertheless, they me nothing, it might be told at Pudgla, and make his to them. I therefore my to me, and told her what was in my thoughts, saying that God in his any day on me another if I was in his of such a favour, that these terrible days of and had called away many of the of his word, and that I had not like a from his flock, but on the contrary, till and death with it. Whether she were able to walk five or ten miles a day; for that then we would our way to Hamburg, to my wife her step-brother, Martin Behring, who is a great merchant in that city.
This at to her, that she had very been out of our parish, and that her mother and her little in our churchyard. She asked, "Who was to make up their and plant flowers on them? Item, as the Lord had her a face, what I should do if in these wild and times she were on the by soldiers or other villains, that I was a weak old man and unable to her; item, should we ourselves from the frost, as the winter was setting in and the enemy had us of our clothes, so that we had left to our nakedness?" All this I had not considered, and was to own that she was right; so after much we to it this night to the Lord, and to do he should put into our next morning. At any rate, we saw that we in keep the old any longer; I therefore called her out of the kitchen, and told her she had go early next to Liepe, as there still was food there, here she must starve, that we ourselves might the and the country to-morrow. I thanked her for the love and she had us, and her at last, the loud of my daughter, to privately, and not to make our still by leave-taking; that old Paasch was going a-fishing to-night on the Achterwater, as he had told me, and no would set her on at Grüssow, where she had friends, and eat her to-day. She not say a word for weeping, but when she saw that I was in she out of the room. Not long after we the house-door to, my moaned, "She is gone already," and ran to the window to look after her. "Yes," she, as she saw her through the little panes, "she is gone"; and she her hands and would not be comforted. At last, however, she was when I spoke of the Hagar, Abraham had off, but on the Lord had in the wilderness; and we ourselves to the Lord, and ourselves on our of moss.
