the tables,
Went about pounding and stamping, and hardly could keep me from weeping. 
All was observed by the calm-tempered man; but at last when my folly
Came to be carried too far, by the arm he quietly took me,
Led me away to the window, and spoke in this serious language: 
’Seest thou yonder the carpenter’s shop that is closed for the Sunday? 
He will re-open to-morrow, when plane and saw will be started,
And will keep on through the hours of labor from morning till evening. 
But consider you this,—­a day will be presently coming
When that man shall himself be astir and all of his workmen,
Making a coffin for thee to be quickly and skilfully finished. 
Then that house of boards they will busily bring over hither,
Which must at last receive alike the impatient and patient,
And which is destined soon with close-pressing roof to be covered.’ 
Straightway I saw the whole thing in my mind as if it were doing;
Saw the boards fitting together, and saw the black color preparing,
Sat me down patiently then, and in quiet awaited the carriage. 
Now when others I see, in seasons of anxious expectance,
Running distracted about, I cannot but think of the coffin.”

Smiling, the pastor replied:  “The affecting picture of death stands
Not as a dread to the wise, and not as an end to the pious. 
Those it presses again into life, and teaches to use it;
These by affliction it strengthens in hope to future salvation. 
Death becomes life unto both.  Thy father was greatly mistaken
When to a sensitive boy he death in death thus depicted. 
Let us the value of nobly ripe age, point out to the young man,
And to the aged the youth, that in the eternal progression
Both may rejoice, and life may in life thus find its completion.”

But the door was now opened, and showed the majestical couple. 
Filled with amaze were the friends, and amazed the affectionate parents,
Seeing the form of the maid so well matched with that of her lover. 
Yea, the door seemed too low to allow the tall figures to enter,
As they together now appeared coming over the threshold.

Hermann, with hurried words, presented her thus to his parents: 
“Here is a maiden,” he said; “such a one as ye wish in the household. 
Kindly receive her, dear father:  she merits it well; and thou, mother,
Question her straightway on all that belongs to a house-keeper’s duty,
That ye may see how well she deserves to ye both to be nearer.”

Quickly he then drew aside the excellent clergyman, saying: 
“Help me, O worthy sir, and speedily out of this trouble;
Loosen, I pray thee, this knot, at whose untying I tremble. 
Know that ’tis not as a lover that I have brought hither the maiden;
But she believes that as servant she comes to the house, and I tremble
Lest in displeasure she fly as soon as there’s mention of marriage. 
But be it straightway decided; for she no longer in error
Thus shall be left, and I this suspense no longer can suffer. 
Hasten and show us in this a proof of the wisdom we honor.”