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A Letter to Saint Joseph
- By Anne Van Tilburg
- Published 01/7/2008
- General Short Stories
- Unrated
Toward the close of the 17th century, there lived in the then poor suburb, Laimgrube, of Vienna, the celebrated musician Paul Merten and his 16-year-old daughter Josephine, who was adept in the art of embroidery. At that time Austria was greatly impoverished by reason of the wars which it had sustained against the Turks, and poor Paul Merten and his daughter often retired for the night's rest, cold and hungry.
One day, when their misery had reached its climax, Josephine, no longer able to bear the pitiable sight of her father, said to him: "Father, permit me to go and seek employment; I shall then be able to help you by my weekly wages." To which the father replied: "What, my daughter, do you also wish to abandon me? Who will assist me? No, I shall never permit such a thing."
"But dear father," replied Josephine, "There is no other way of assisting you. Some time ago I wrote to my Godmother's husband, but as yet no reply has come." "No wonder at that." answered the father in angry tone; "writing to him is like writing to the devil." The unfortunate man was beside himself; grief and privation prevented him from realizing what he was saying.
"Dear father," exclaimed the young girl, with tears in her eyes. "See what wicked thoughts misery has put into your head. I shall address myself to my dear patron St. Joseph, that I may obtain help and work from Him." "Do you really believe." returned her father, bitterly, "that that poor carpenter has such power in heaven? If you do, very well, sit down and write what you want and we shall wait and see what good things he will send you."
"Father, St. Joseph is very powerful in heaven," responded the girl meekly, "I shall write to him, and my little white turtle-dove, to which I cannot give even a tiny piece of bread today, shall carry my letter to the holy Patriarch." Saying this, the pious girl seated herself at her father's desk and wrote:
"Hail, O st. Joseph!
Have pity on us in our great affliction. We have no work, nor any means of sustenance; pray our dear Lord that He will help me find work, for my father is suffering from hunger.
Thy faithful child, Josephine Merten, seamstress, daughter of the musician of Laimgrube."
One day, when their misery had reached its climax, Josephine, no longer able to bear the pitiable sight of her father, said to him: "Father, permit me to go and seek employment; I shall then be able to help you by my weekly wages." To which the father replied: "What, my daughter, do you also wish to abandon me? Who will assist me? No, I shall never permit such a thing."
"But dear father," replied Josephine, "There is no other way of assisting you. Some time ago I wrote to my Godmother's husband, but as yet no reply has come." "No wonder at that." answered the father in angry tone; "writing to him is like writing to the devil." The unfortunate man was beside himself; grief and privation prevented him from realizing what he was saying.
"Dear father," exclaimed the young girl, with tears in her eyes. "See what wicked thoughts misery has put into your head. I shall address myself to my dear patron St. Joseph, that I may obtain help and work from Him." "Do you really believe." returned her father, bitterly, "that that poor carpenter has such power in heaven? If you do, very well, sit down and write what you want and we shall wait and see what good things he will send you."
"Father, St. Joseph is very powerful in heaven," responded the girl meekly, "I shall write to him, and my little white turtle-dove, to which I cannot give even a tiny piece of bread today, shall carry my letter to the holy Patriarch." Saying this, the pious girl seated herself at her father's desk and wrote:
"Hail, O st. Joseph!
Have pity on us in our great affliction. We have no work, nor any means of sustenance; pray our dear Lord that He will help me find work, for my father is suffering from hunger.
Thy faithful child, Josephine Merten, seamstress, daughter of the musician of Laimgrube."