Page:The Life and Mission of Emanuel Swedenborg.djvu/40

 with such good courage." He rejoiced that his little pocket Bible was saved, his companion for forty-four years; and he took comfort on finding unharmed in the ashes a copy of his exercises in the Catechism, and a copper-plate engraving of himself, from which he inferred the Divine favor.

Over the gateway of Brunsbo rebuilt, Swedberg placed the words of King David:

But the poor man had yet another fire to pass through, for his purification. In 1730 Magister Unge wrote to his brotherin-law Emanuel,—

"Most honored and dear brother,—You are probably aware that Brunsbo was again reduced to ashes by a vehement conflagration between the 18th and 19th of August, and the Bishop came very near being burned himself. The large wooden building together with the stone house is destroyed, and everything it contained. The silver in the chest, as much as was in it, was saved, but everything out of it, for ordinary use, was lost. All our dear father's printed works, the newly reprinted Catechism, all his manuscripts, with the exception of one copy of the book of sermons and one of the biography, and his entire remaining library are lying in ashes."

This last shock was too much for his seventy-seven years, and, though he lived and labored five years longer, his firmness and vigor were failing him. His desire to be still writing and printing remained, stimulated by his printer; but his family thought he was wasting his strength and money.