thee," said Rosalie, "are in the hands of the preacher. Last year,
the day after thy departure, he gave them to the preacher; thy
father's last letter I know is amongst them."

"My father!" said Otto, and glanced toward the ground. "Yes,"
continued he, "there is truth in the words of Scripture,--the sins
of the fathers are visited upon the children unto the third and
fourth generation!"

"Otto!" said Rosalie, with a beseeching and reproachful look, "thy
grandfather was a severe man. Thou last known him, hast seen his
darkest moments, and yet then age and cares had softened him: his
love to thee calmed every outbreak. Had he only loved thy father as
he loved thee, things would, perhaps, have ended better: but we may
not judge!"

"And what have I done?" said Otto. "Thou, Rosalie, knowest the
history of my life. Is it not as if a curse rested upon me? I was a
high-spirited boy, I often occasioned thee tears; yet didst thou
always place thyself between me and punishment. It was my evil
blood, the blood of my birth in which the curse lay, that drove me
on!"

"But thou didst become good and full of love, as thou art now!"
said Rosalie.

"Only when I became acquainted with myself and my destiny. In the
thoughtlessness of childhood, unacquainted with myself and the
world, did I myself have that sign of my misery, which now presses
down my soul, cut into my flesh. Yes, Rosalie! I remember this very