LUTHER, thoroughly enjoyed himself in his family; he had in all six children.
When worn out with his work lie would take his flute, and sing one of the hymns he had composed for use in the church; or calling his wife and children round him, they would all sing together. “There is nothing sweeter,” he used to say, “nothing more beautiful than a happy marriage, where the husband and wife live tether in peace and concord. It is the best gift of heaven next to the knowledge of God and of His word.”
He was also fond of his garden, and when his brain was overwrought, or he felt harassed by Satan, he would seek relief with the spade.
But here his thoughts were busy. Bending over a violet he would say, “Poor violet, what a perfume you exhale; but how much sweeter it would have been if Adam had not sinned! How I admire your tints, O rose! but which would have been more brilliant but for the fault of the first man. Nature does not show its ingratitude like man; for the murmur of the streams, the perfumes of the gardens, the breath of the winds, the rustling of the leaves, are so many hymns chanted to the Creator; whilst man, made after the image of God, forgets him entirely since his sin!”
Luther was stern in his discipline with the children. On one occasion he would not allow his son John to see him for three days. His Wife,’ was distressed, and interceded for the boy, and some of his friends did the same; but without effect. “I would rather my son were dead,” said Luther, “than badly brought up. I will not forgive the boy until he has written me a letter, humbling himself and asking for pardon.”
On the other hand he could fully enter into the thoughts and pursuits of his children. On one occasion fie discovered that his servant had put up a net to catch the birds, so Luther wrote a complaint of the birds thus:—
“To our very Dear Lord Martin Luther: —
“We, the thrushes, chaffinches, linnets, goldfinches, and other honorable birds, who will have to pass by Wittenberg this autumn, take the liberty to inform you that one Wolfgang, your servant, has had the audacity, out of dislike to us, to set up a net in order to deprive us Of the liberty of flying in the air, and of picking up from the ground the little seeds that God has given us. Moreover, he Seeks in this way to take our lives, we having never done him any harm. For this reason we pray you to restrain your servant from such acts.
“Given in our aerial abode under the trees, with our ordinary seal.
“Behold the fowls of the air: they sow not, neither do they reap, yet your heavenly Father feedeth them.”
Luther was poor, but he did not speak of it except to laugh at it among his friends. But it grieved him when he could not relieve cases of need as be would have wished. One day a student came to him with a tale of poverty and distress. He called to his wife, and told her to give to the poor man some money.
“I have got none,” said she, “not a farthing.” Luther at once seized a gold cup and gave it to the student, bidding him sell it and relieve his wants.
“A pewter mug will serve me,” said Luther.
[The above extract is from “The Life of Luther,” an interesting and instructive book for the young, which we have great pleasure in recommending to parents and superintendents of schools, with its companion volume, “Lights and Shadows of the Reformation” (2S. 6d. each), as excellent books for presents or rewards. London: G. Morrish, 24, Warwick Lane, E.C.]