In a village in Germany there lived a tailor, whose name was Hermann. For twenty years this good man supported his family by working at his trade. During all that time they were well provided for, never suffering from poverty.

Hermann took great care of all the needs of his children - most especially the spiritual ones. For, by his good example and watchful care, he taught his children to serve God in this world, that they might be happy with Him forever in the next.

But in the year 1770 a great famine broke out over the country, and the good Hermann often passed three or four days without any work. Very soon he had to sell even the furniture of the house to buy bread for his little ones. Eventually, even this failed him.

One morning he rose from his bed without knowing where he was to find a morsel of food for his starving children. He was surrounded by them crying out to him for bread, and holding out their little hands to him.

"O father, we are so hungry," they cried, "give us something to eat!"

These words pierced his very heart. To console them he said:

"I have nothing just now to give you, my dear children. But try and have a little patience till midday, and then we shall have enough to eat."

"But where will it come from?" they all cried out.

He pointed with his finger towards Heaven. Then he stood and left the room, so they would not see his tears.
He went into the next room, and falling down on his knees, prayed to God in these words:

"O my God, shall I have the grief to see my little ones die of hunger before my eyes? Can You, Who gives food to the birds of the air, allow these Your children to perish from hunger? No, for You are so good, and Your mercy is above all Your works. Oh, then, come and help us, for now is the time."

As he was ending this prayer, one of the children came running to tell him that there was someone at the door who wanted to speak to him. It was a lady. She asked the good tailor to make some clothing for her three children, who were to assist at a marriage in a few days. This didn’t give him much time to make the new clothes. But the lady had brought a present for the tailor, to induce him to work quickly.

She remarked that this present would probably be acceptable in these hard times.

Saying these words, she opened a basket she was carrying in her hand. The entire family looked on as she pulled out a loaf of bread, some meat, a little bag of flour, and other kinds of food!

When the children saw all these good things they became wild with joy! They ran around the house, and clapped their hands in excitement.

As to their father, he was silent. He raised his eyes to Heaven, and from his inmost soul thanked his Heavenly Father for this speedy answer to his prayer.

Meanwhile, the lady looked on in astonishment at the sudden outburst.

Hermann then told her of the sad state to which they had been reduced by the famine, and how he had that very hour promised his children food, without knowing whence it was to come.

The lady was moved to tears at his story, and his pious confidence in God. Before going away she told him that as long as the famine lasted, she herself would provide for him and his family.