The hour devoted to his singing lesson every morningwas an hour of true delight for master and pupil;everylittle song was sung with freshness，expression，and sim-plicity;most charmingly did he sing the Schubert series ofTravel Songs.Both the melodies and the words wereheard to their full advantage;they blended together;theyexalted and illumined one another，as is fitting.Peer wasundeniably a dramatic singer.His ability showed progresseacn month，each week，day by day.
Our young friend grew in a wholesome，happy way，knowing no want or sorrow.His was a rich and wonderfullife，with a future full of blessings before him.His trustin mankind was never deceived;he had a child's souland a man's endurance，and everywhere he was receivedwith gentle eyes and a kind welcome.Day by day the re-lations between him and the singing master grew moreheartfelt and confidential;the two were like an elder anda younger brother，and the younger had all the fervor andwarmth of a young heart，which was understood andreturned in full measure by the elder.
The singing master's personality was characterizedby a southern ardor，and one saw at once that this mancould hate vehemently or love passionately，and，fortu-nately，this last governed in him.He was，moreover，sosituated by a fortune his father had left him that he didnot need to work，unless it interested and pleased himto do so.Secretly he did a great deal of good in a sensi-ble way，but didn't want people to thank him or to talkabout it.
"If I have done anything，"he said，"it was becauseI could and should have done it.It was my duty."
His old servant，"our warden，"as be called him injest，talked only with half a voice when he gave expres-sion to his opinion about the master of the house."I knowwhat he has given away and done during years and days，and yet I don't know the half!The king ought to givehim a star to wear on his breast.But he would not wearit;he would be furious，if I know him，should he behonored for his kind deeds.He is happy，more so thanthe rest of us，in whatever faith he has.He is just like aman out of the Bible."
And to that the old fellow gave additional emphasis，as if Peer could have some doubt.
He felt and understood well that the singing masterwas a true Christian in good deeds，an example for every-one;yet the man never went to church，and when Peerone day mentioned that the following Sunday he was goingwith his mother and his grandmother to our"Lord's table"and asked if the singing master ever did the same，theanswer was，"No!"It seemed as if he wanted to saysomething more，as if，indeed，he had something to con-fide to Peer，but nothing was said.
One evening he read aloud from the newspaper aboutthe beneficence of a couple of men，and that led him tospeak of good deeds and their reward.
"When one does not think of it，it is sure to come.The reward for good deeds is like dates that are spoken ofin the Talmud;they ripen late and then are sweet."
"Talmud?"asked Peer."What sort of book isthat?"
"A book，"was the answer，"from which more thanone seed of thought has been implanted in Christianity."
"Who wrote that book?"
"Wise men in the earliest times，wise men in vari-ous nations and religions.Here wisdom is preserved in afew words，as in Solomon's Proverbs.What kernels oftruth!One reads here that men round about the wholeearth，in all the centuries，have always been the same.'Your friend has a friend，and your friend's friend has afriend;be discreet in what you say!'is found here.It isa piece of wisdom for all times.'No one can jump overhis own shadow!'is here，too，and，'Wear shoes whenyou walk over thorns!'You ought to read this book.Youwill find in it the proof of culture more clearly than youwill find it in the layers of the earth.For me，as a Jew，it is，moreover，an inheritance from my fathers."
"Jew?"said Peer."Are you a Jew?"
"Did you not know that?How strange that we twoshould not have spoken of it before today!"
Mother and Grandmother knew nothing about it，ei-ther;they had never thought anything about it，but alwayshad known that the singing master was an honorable，wonderful man.It was through God's guidance that Peerhad met him on his way;next to our Lord he owed him allhis good fortune.
And now the mother divulged a secret that she hadcarried faithfully a few days only and that，under thepledge of secrecy，had been told her by the merchant'swife.The singing master must never know that this wasrevealed;it was he who had paid for Peer's support andeducation at Herr Gabriel's.From the evening when，atthe merchant's house，he had heard Peer sing the balletSamson，he alone had been his real friend and benefac-tor，but in secret.