The fame of the hermit spread abroad. From far and near, even from Milan and Pavia, people flocked to hear from his lips the wonderful works of God. But amongst those who came, came also an unbeliever, who scoffed and blasphemed at the prophet and his message. Then Sebald prayed to God that a sign might be given to prove his doctrine true, and immediately, in the sight of all, the earth opened and the scoffer sank up to his neck. Then the hermit prayed with a loud voice and interceded for him, so that he was delivered, and he and many of the unbelievers embraced the true faith. (Ill. 10.) Sebald now left Italy and came at last to Nuremberg. He settled there in the forest in the heart of the Franconian people, teaching them the word of God and working miracles. On one occasion we are told he sought shelter in the hut of a poor and churlish waggoner. It was winter: the snow lay on the ground and the wind howled over the frozen marshes of the Pegnitz. But the signs of charity did not shine brightly in the host. Sebald called upon the man’s wife to bring more wood for the fire so that he might warm his body, for he was chilled to the bone. But though he repeated his request the niggard host forbade his wife to obey. At length the saint cried out to her to bring the cluster of icicles which hung from the roof and to put them on the fire if she could not or would not bring the faggots. The woman, pitying him, obeyed, and, in answer to the prayer of Sebald, a flame shot up from the ice as from a firebrand and the whole bundle was quickly ablaze. [Illustration: STEIN PHOTO.] [RELIEF FROM THE SEBALDUSGRAB, ST. SEBALD’S CHURCH, NÜRNBERG 10. ST. SEBALD PUNISHES AN UNBELIEVER] When he saw this miracle the chilly host gave the hermit a warmer welcome, and, to make amends for his former lack of hospitality, he sallied forth to buy some fish in the market, contrary to the regulations of the authorities. Being caught he was blinded, but the holy hermit quickly restored to him the light of his eyes. (Ill. 11.) So potent was the saint on whose shrine Peter Vischer was now at work—that shrine to which, says Eobanus Hessus in his poem on Nuremberg, no words can do justice and with which not even the greatest artists of antiquity could have found fault; “Musa nec ulla queat tanto satis esse labori Nec verbis æquare opus immortale futurum; Quod neque Praxiteles, nec Myron nec Polycletus, Nemo Cares, nemo Scopas reprehendere posset.” [Illustration: STEIN PHOTO.] [RELIEF FROM SEBALDUSGRAB, ST. SEBALD’S CHURCH, NÜRNBERG 11. ST. SEBALD HEALING THE BLIND MAN]