"He Brave Old Mother."

In the small town of Husum, situated in Sleswick, in South Denmark, resided an old woman who for many years was commonly spoken of, not by her proper name, but by the title of "Die liebe alte Mutter," "the dear old mother," being regarded as a kind of dear old mother to the whole of the inhabitants.

But it came to pass that the "liebe alte Mutter" earned for herself a change of title to that of "brave alte Mutter," and became so known by it that the former one ceased to be used. Thus it came about:—

It was winter, and the ice was thick. The inhabitants of Husum determined to make a great holiday. They raised tents on the ice, and old and young were collected together out of doors. Some skated, some drove in sledges. In the tents there were music and dancing, and the old people sat at tables and drank and smoked. Thus passed the whole day; and the moon rose, but they had no idea of returning homewards; on the contrary, the festivities seemed but renewed.

One old woman alone remained in the small town, even our "liebe alte Mutter." She was bedridden and crippled; but as her house lay high upon a rising ground, she could look out from her window upon the ice, and see all that was going on.

Towards evening, she perceived risind on the horizon, over the sea in the west, a small white cloud. Immediately she felt alarmed. In her younger days she had been to sea with her husband, and understood many of the signs of wind and weather. From the appearance of the sky she reckoned that in one short hour there would be a deluge of rain and a breaking up of the ice, —"And all will be lost," she cried. Then she began to call out as loud as she could, but no one was with her in the house—no neighbour near; all were gone out on the ice, and she was not heard. Ever greater and blacker grew the cloud. Shortly, she knew, the storm must break and the flood of waters descend.

At length, nerved to exertion by the intense excitement she felt at seeing so many human beings in such imminent peril, she collected all the little strength of which she was possessed, and, seemingly to herself, almost by a supernatural effort, crawled out of her bed upon her hands and feet to the oven. With joy she seized a burning stick from the fire, and, returning to her bed, shoved it into the straw mattress of which it was composed, and then hastily crawled out of her cottage to a place of safety.

The house was in a few minutes in flames; and as the brilliant light was seen by the people on the ice, they all rushed to the shore, fearing that the whole town might soon be on fire. Almost immediately the wind rose, and blew the loose snow before them. The heavens grew dark, the ice began almost instantly to crack and to break, the wind increased into a storm; and as the last person placed his foot upon the strand, the ice heaved, and the tide of waters broke upon the shore.

Thus did this truly "brave old woman" save the whole town, and give up all she possessed for their safety.

With a like feeling of pity and love for perishing sinners, Jesus Christ page 86 freely gave himself up to the cursed death of the Cross that we might be delivered from that eternal wrath and curse of God which we deserve to endure. Whosoever, therefore, believeth on Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.