The Conservative Reformation and Its Theology - Saint Mary ...

find a living anywhere, provided they know how to work. But it is different
with girls; they, poor things, must search for employment, staff in hand. A
boy can enter the schools, and attain eminence, but a girl cannot do much
to advance herself; and is easily led away by bad example, and is lost.
Therefore, without regret, I give up this dear one to our Lord. Children die
without anguish; they know not the bitter pains of death; it is as if they fell
asleep."
This affliction struck Luther to the heart. He looked upon it as an
admonition of Heaven: it was another thunderbolt. The first had taken from
him the friend of his youth, Alexis: the second snatched from him an
idolized child, the joy of his old age. From this period, all his letters are
tinged with melancholy: the raven wing of death was ever fluttering in his
ear. On receiving a letter from the Elector, who wished him many years of
long life, he shook his head mournfully, and in reply to his friend wrote:
'The pitcher has gone too often to the well; it will break at last.' One day,
while preaching, he drew tears from his audience, by announcing to them
his approaching death. "The world is tired of me," said he, "and I am tired
of the world; soon shall we be divorced--the traveller will soon quit his
lodging."
Soon after her death, he wrote to a friend: "Report has, no doubt,
informed you of the transplanting of my daughter to the kingdom of Christ;
and although my wife and I ought only to think of offering up joyful
thanks to the Almighty for her happy end, by which she has been
delivered from all the snares of the world, nevertheless, the force of natural
affection is so great, that I cannot forbear indulging in tears, sighs, and
groans; say rather my heart dies within me. I feel, engraven on my inmost
soul, her features, words, and actions; all that. she was to me, in life and
health, and on her sick-bed--my dear, my dutiful child. The death of Christ
himself (and oh! what are all deaths in comparison?) cannot tear her away
from my thoughts, as it should. She was, as you know, so sweet, so
amiable, so full of tenderness."
When the coffin had been covered with earth, a small tombstone was
placed over it, on which was the name of the child,