Oberlin perceived the emergency of the case; his benevolent mind strongly felt the importance of such a field of labor; it was a sufficient inducement for him to undertake its duties that others disdained them, and the very misery and moral degradation which had to be remedied, rendered it in his eyes the more interesting; he therefore left a spot in which the brilliance of his mental powers might have attracted universal homage; and led, as he conceived, by the hand of Providence, became the successor of M. Stouber in this retired and desolate scene of exertion.

CHAPTER II.

Oberlin's birth and childhood-Instances of his early benevolence-His act of self-dedication-Influence over others-Arrival in the Ban de la Roche.

His

JOHN FREDERIC OBERLIN was born at Strasbourg, on the 31st of August, 1740. father, a man of considerable attainments and respectability, though not in affluent circumstances, held an office in the Gymnasium of that city, and devoted his hours of leisure to the instruction of his nine children, to all of whom he was most tenderly attached. They in return looked up to him with devoted fondness, and acquiesced in his wishes rather from motives of sincere affection than filial duty, ever anticipating his desires, and anxiously promoting his happiness by every means in their

power.

Notwithstanding the scantiness of his income, he was in the habit of giving each of

his children a present of two pfenninge* every Saturday to spend as pocket-money in fruit or cakes; and the following pleasing anecdote, in allusion to this circumstance, is related as an early trait of the little Frederic's character:when the tailor's or shoemaker's bills were brought home on a Saturday night, as he knew that his father, who was a man of remarkable integrity and punctuality, always liked to discharge them immediately to their full amount, without deducting, as the tradesmen frequently wished him to do, and as is the usual practice, the odd pence, he used to watch his countenance, and, if he imagined from its downcast expression that he was in want of money, to run to his savings'-box and return in triumph to empty all his little store of weekly pfenninge into the hands of his beloved parent.

But this was only one among the thousand instances of generosity and benevolence for which he was, even from his earliest infancy, so peculiarly distinguished. Self-denial ever seemed his ruling principle; and he was never so happy as when an opportunity of relieving the oppressed, or the distressed, presented itself to his notice. I shall mention some more anecdotes of a similar description, because it is interesting to trace the germ of those disposi tions, which, when ripened into maturity, brought forth such remarkable fruits.

As he was one day crossing the marketplace, when his little box of savings was nearly

*The smallest copper coin in the country, and not equal in value to an English farthing.

C

full, he saw some rude boys knock down a basket of eggs which a country-woman was carrying upon her head. The woman was in great trouble, when Frederic not only rebuked the boys with much spirit, but ran home, fetched his box, and presented her with all its contents. Another day he was passing in Stras. bourg market, by the stall of an old clothes vender. A poor infirm woman was endeavor. ing, without success, to procure an abatement in the price of some article she appeared to be particularly desirous of purchasing. She want. ed two sous to complete the sum demanded, and was on the point of leaving the stall from her inability to give them. Frederic, pretending to be engaged with something else, only waited for her retiring, when he slipped the two sous into the dealer's hand, and whispered him to call back the poor woman and let her have the gown; and then, without stopping for her thanks, instantly ran away.

He at another time saw a parish officer ill. using an invalid beggar in the street; and fol. lowing the impulse of the moment, totally regardless of consequences, he placed himself in a spirited manner between what he thought the oppressor and the oppressed, reproving the former in strong terms for his inhumanity. The officer, indignant at such an interruption, wished to arrest the little fellow; but the neighbors, who knew and loved the boy, came running out of their shops to his assistance, and compelled the man to desist. A few days afterwards he happened to be walking in a narrow lane, when he saw the same person at a distance. "Shall

is with me.

I run away?" thought he to himself. "No: God I relieved the poor man, and why should I fear?" With these reflections he proceeded on his way; and the officer, smiling at him, allowed him to pass unmolested.

This early horror of injustice and oppression was implanted by his parents, whose wise instructions and virtuous example were, in his case, crowned with the most gratifying success. To his pious and highly accomplished mother he often acknowledged himself indebted for his love of "things that are excellent," and for the desire that he subsequently felt of dedicating his talents and his powers to the good of others. She was indeed a truly admirable woman, and conscientiously endeavored to bring up her children "in the nurture and admonition of the Lord." She was in the habit of assembling them together every evening, and of reading aloud some instructive book, whilst they sat around the table, copying pictures which their father had drawn for them; and scarcely a night passed but, when on the point of separating, there was a general request for " ono beautiful hymn from dear mamma," with which she always complied. The hymn was followed by a prayer; and thus their infant steps were conducted to Him, who has said, "Suffer little children to come unto me."

About this time, by way of relaxation, their father used to take them every Thursday evening at least during the summer months, to his family estate at Schiltigheim; and on arriving there, he would fasten an old drum to his waist, place his seven blooming boys in a line, and

precede them in the capacity of a drummer, making them face to right and left, and go through all the military evolutions. The extreme delight which little Frederic took in this exercise probably induced his early partiality for the military profession, for, whilst quite a lad, he would mingle with the soldiers and march with them; and, having attracted the attention of the officers by the display of his knowledge respecting sieges and battles, he obtained permission to join them in their exercises. His father, however, having destined him to a learned profession, at length interfered, telling the young soldier it was time to renounce this child's-play for study and serious labor. Frederic was of an ardent and lively temperament; but he readily coincided in his father's views, and devoted himself with the same enthusiasm to his literary pursuits, resolving to tread in the steps of his elder brother, the celebrated scholar of the same name, who was at this period pursuing his philological studies in the academy at Strasbourg. By industry and application he soon regained the time he had lost; though indeed, his military exercises, having had the happy effect of strengthening and hardening his bodily frame, formed an important part of his preparation for the fatigues of the service which awaited him in the

*

*Jeremiah James Oberlin, a learned antiquary and laborious philologist. He wrote "Un Essai sur le Patois Lorrain des Environs du Compte du Ban de la Roche, 1776, petit in 8vo.," which contains some very curious notes upon ancient French, and in which he endeavors to prove that the patois is a corruption of the Latin language.