Free Buried in the Snow by Franz Hoffman

spring opens and you return to the valley. Your father will then provide a coffin, and lay me in the pleasant churchyard of our village, where my father and grandfather rest in the soft slumber of death.
    “After the fulfillment of all these sorrowful duties, you will, without doubt, feel very lonely in the little chalet. You will shed many a tear; you will call, but I will not hear your voice. But, Jacques, my child, be not overcome with grief; rouse yourself from depression; struggle against it. Turn your thoughts to God—the omnipresent God. Put your trust and confidence in Him; He will be your refuge, your defense, and strength. The Lord will be thy shepherd. ‘If thou look to thyself, thou shalt be able of thyself to accomplish nothing: but if thou trust in the Lord, strength shall be given thee from heaven. Drink of the Lord’s cup with submission.’ Promise me, my son, that you will do this.’”
    The poor boy tearfully listened to these words, but the pressure of his hand assured his grandfather that he would strive to follow his instructions.
    Some days passed away in the alternations of hope and fear. The darkness appeared to oppress the old man, although he would not suffer the lamp to be burned during the day. Jacques contrived, however, a mode of economizing the oil. He made a night-light by pouring a little oil upon water, and placing upon its surface a piece of cork, through which a small wick was inserted. This substitute furnished for them a light, and at the same time consumed but little oil. It cheered his grandfather, and was a source of comfort to the boy.
    Upon the 9th of January, that which the boy had long dreaded came upon him. His grandfather, the dear companion of his trials, was, by God’s will, taken from him.
    How he bore this sorrow, as the thought of his utter loneliness pressed upon him, we can best see from extracts copied from his diary.
    “ January 10th. —My God, it is thy will. I am alone with Thee; far away from all the rest of the world! Yesterday it happened….It is impossible for me to write down yet the full account of his death. My heart bleeds with anguish, and my paper is wet with my tears.
    “ January 12th. —Yes, this is the 12th. Two days have elapsed since I wrote the preceding lines. My reason has returned, and God of his mercy grant that it may not again give way. Oh! if I knew not that the Lord was with me, around and about me, I would die of grief and terror.
    “ January 15th. —On the evening of the 8th I was full of hope, for my grandfather seemed better than usual, but scarcely had I lain down beside him when I heard him sigh heavily. I sprang up, and, without delay, dressed myself, and lighted the lamp, asking him if he felt worse.
    “‘I feel faint,’ he replied; ‘as I did some days ago; or it may be…’ Here he paused.
    “‘Will you take a little milk, dear grandfather,’ I asked.
    “‘No, my child,’ he answered. ‘Get the “Imitation of Christ,” and find the passage I marked with reference to this hour.’
    “I obeyed; and, I threw myself down upon my knees, and read, with trembling voice, ‘Thine, O Lord, are all things that are in heaven and that are in earth. I offer up unto Thee all whatsoever is good in me, although it be very small and imperfect, that Thou mayest amend and sanctify it. Make it grateful and acceptable unto Thee, and bring me also, who am a slothful and unprofitable creature, to a good and blessed end….’
    “Interrupting me, he took my hands in his and prayed: ‘O Lord, my God, forgive me that I think not in this awful moment alone upon myself, but also upon this poor boy. Thou callest me to Thyself, and he will be alone. I tremble at the thought of his bitter sorrow and trial. I tremble lest his confidence in Thee should give way. O Lord, strengthen and comfort him; enable him to resign himself calmly to Thy will, and, whatever comes upon him, to endure it, for the glory of Jesus Christ: for after winter