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Now my father was again as happy as if he were in Heaven, and what pleased him even more, was that his former creditors were almost more contented than himself, so much so that from the first not one of them so much as turned a sour look upon him. We had a very good year, and besides our farm work we were able to spare a considerable part of our time for saltpetre-boiling, which trade I was beginning to learn, when my father fell ill with pains in his leg, and because of these became actually bedridden. The pains increased daily with such violence that one evening he spoke a last farewell to us. But in the end Dr Müller from Schomatten succeeded in curing him, and moreover did so not only without payment but gave us some money besides. Heaven will richly repay him. Meanwhile a purchaser for Dreyschlatt came forward. We were all heartily glad to leave that wilderness, but none more so than I, for I hoped there would be an end of heavy work. How greatly I was mistaken, my narrative shall soon show.

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