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ception, assured me of her protection, and from that time until her end, conferred numberless favours upon me, for which may the Lord abundantly and eternally reward her in his glorious kingdom.

I soon stood in need of her powerful protection, and it was of great benefit to me when, shortly after, my former master, Lieutenant-colonel Burget, accidentally came to Stuttgard, and, I know not by what means, ascertained that I was residing there. The same night he sent one of his servants, whom I knew very well, to Madam Commerell's house, and endeavoured to terrify me to return, by the threats he held out. Unfortunately, no

one was at home but myself and the Doctor's son, who was at that time a graduate, and I was therefore exceedingly alarmed.

On my mother's return, I told her of the circumstance, and she immediately saw what was requisite to be done. She sent early the next morning to Madam von Wachenheim, to inform her of the event. The latter went directly to the Dutchess, and entreated her to take the necessary steps for protecting me against the claims of the Col

onel. The Dutchess took up the subject without delay, and sent one of her chamberlains to him, to confer with him respecting my ransom. She also invited him to her table, and treated him with so much distinction and condescension, that he became more compliant, and resigned me over to the Dutchess for a few pitchers of wine. His lady was also obliged at length to consent to it, although very unwillingly, for she would have much preferred wreaking her vengeance upon me.

I should have been very glad never to have seen her again; but this I could not prevent. At the command of the Dutchess, I was obliged to accept an invitation from her to dinner, at the inn where they lodged, and went thither with fear and trembling; but since I had now become the property of the Dutchess, she did not venture to speak otherwise than kindly to me. Nothing was said about the manner of my escape, and thus I was spared the pain of being compelled to betray the landlord of the Eagle, who had so generously taken my part. I was merely asked how I liked Stuttgard,

what occupation I had, whether I had already been at the palace, &c. On taking leave of them, I thanked them for all the kindness which they, and especially he, had shown me from the commencement. In this I was in earnest. He might have sold me to another place, or have treated me worse, since I was in his power. But it was the Lord, who invisibly guarded my breath, directed my steps, and extended his hand over me, so that no evil should come nigh The sufferings I experienced were certainly needful and beneficial for me, because I thus learnt to value my deliverance the more, and to thank him for it.

me.

After I had left the inn, I felt as happy as the prophet Jonah, when the whale vomited him out again upon dry land. I hurried home with the greatest rapidity, and on entering the house, I threw myself into the arms of my faithful foster-mother, and exclaimed, "No one shall ever tear me away from here again!" "No, they shall not," rejoined Madam Commerell. "God himself has liberated you in a wonderful manner: do not forget to thank him for it."

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CHAPTER VI.

SETMA BECOMES A CHRISTIAN.

I NOW lived in fellowship and intercourse with true Christians; but I myself was no Christian-I was still a Mahometan. I was not at liberty, however, to continue so, since I believed in the Bible, in the living God, whom it reveals, and in his Son, Jesus Christ, with my whole heart, and knew from manifold experience how powerful and consolatory the word of God is. I therefore expressed the wish to my foster-parent, to be received into the Christian church by baptism. She had expected this, and cheerfully aided me in the matter. Her son, who was at that time an undergraduate in Stuttgard, and died afterwards as superintendent in Urach, consented to give me every day regular instruction in the Christian

religion. The blessing I derived from these instructions, which were always begun and ended with prayer, I shall never forget, and, I hope, never lose. The word of God became by this means so clear and plain to me, that I had much more satisfaction in reading it than before; and it always grieved me when I was interrupted in my study of the Scriptures by domestic employments, which, however, ought not to be neglected. He possessed not only the gift of perspicuity, but also conducted his method of instruction with great minuteness. I will here insert something of what I still remember of it.

When he spoke of Scripture history, and of the counsels of God with reference to mankind, he was chiefly solicitous to show how God had everywhere revealed, and still reveals himself, in all his attributes. This he generally proved by instances, which at first sight apparently show the contrary. The flood, which swept away the sinful contemporaries of Noah, and the fire which consumed the wicked inhabitants of Sodom and Gommorrha, were to him not mere proofs

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