We pass over a number of years, during which William and his family lived happily and in quietness in the little cabin. It is a beautiful warm Sunday afternoon. We see William, who has meanwhile become forty years of age, sitting in front of the door of his cabin; near him sits on a low stool his youngest daughter, reading a book; two boys are running around on the lawn, and the mother, holding in her arms the baby boy, is leisurely walking up and down in the warm sunshine. It is a lovely scene. The house itself looks so pretty and inviting with the bright windows and the fresh vines creeping up on its sides, that one would feel tempted to enter and stay a little. All is breathing rest and peace.
The book the little girl has on her lap is grandmother’s old Bible. She is just reading a chapter to father, who is listening in quietness, rejoicing over the blessed words which the young girl is reading with a clear and pleasant voice. A little noise just now is drawing William’s attention, and turning to the side he sees, to his astonishment, five poorly-dressed men come out of the forest in slow and tired steps approaching his cabin. They wore neither shoes nor stockings, and their ragged clothes would hardly cover their body. It was indeed a very sad sight. The men were not young any more; two of them had white hair, and the youngest seemed to be at least fifty years of age. Gradually they came nearer; upon reaching the garden gate, one of the old ones uncovered his head and asked humbly for a piece of bread. William rose to meet them.
“We are poor people,” said the old man, “and for several days have had no food but berries and roots, which we found in the forest. At night we slept on the bare ground. We are in misery and homeless.”
“I feel sorry for you,” replied William, “for I know from my own experience what it is to spend a day and night in the forest, to be without food and drink, and without a home. When I was a little boy, I too was a day and a night lost in the forest, and doubtless would have been torn to pieces by wolves, had not my faithful dog saved me.”
When William said this, the men looked at each other. He noticed this, but did not know what it meant, and continued: “You must be very hungry and thirsty if you have been so long a time in the forest. Come in and lie down on the grass; I will bring you something to eat.”
So saying, he turned toward the house; but his wife, who had listened to the conversation, had gone in before him. Moved by pity, she had gone to get bread and butter ready. Her husband went down to the cellar to get a large bowl of milk, and the two boys brought the things to the men.
They had followed William’s invitation and were resting on the lawn. When the boys came out, they fell greedily over the edibles and milk. One could see they had not had such a relish for a long time. When they were almost through with the meal, the oldest one stood up and thanked William for his kindness, asking him at the same time if he would not allow them to sleep in the stable.
“We have,” he said, “for several days slept outside and have not had decent sleep; in our young days we did not mind where we would spend the night, but now we are old and weak, and to sleep outside is hard for us.”
“There is hardly room enough for all of you in the stable,” replied William, “but I have a small barn, in which I keep the hay for my goats. There is room enough in it; you can sleep in the soft hay, and I will give you some blankets to cover yourselves with. Just sit down and eat till you are satisfied.”