Kiessling had heard of a servant in a mill, who was a mocker and blasphemer, sunk in sin and vice. It went to his heart, and he felt himself constrained to go to this lad and to beseech him to give up his wicked life and his blasphemous words, and to turn to the love of God in Christ Jesus.

The miller's boy at first looked astonished at the man, who spoke to him like the old pastor, whom in his childhood he had heard so often ; and when he found out that Kiessling's object was his conversion, he laughed at him and turned his back. Kiessling did not mind this rude behaviour. Again and again he enters the mill, and speaks affectionately and earnestly to the lad. The lad laughed, mocked, whistled, and sang wicked songs. The other lads join him in his merriment, and think it great fun when their companion sometimes pretends to be quite serious and melted, and then suddenly breaks forth into some coarse joke. One day when Kiessling appeared in a dark suit of clothes, they powdered him with flour from head to foot. But he quietly shakes it off, and next day he came again, kind and affectionate as ever.

Meanwhile the lad began to feel that he had been guilty of mean, cowardly behaviour. "He is an honest fellow," he said to himself; "and it was a shame to treat him in this manner. Of course, I won't see him again. I hope he won't accuse me to my master." Kiessling came, and, behold, the lad felt deeply ashamed. He listened to the good words of this noble man; his heart was softened, and strange to say, he thanked Kiessling for his advice.

From that day the lad began a new life. He went and sought the patient friend, and asked him to explain to him more fully the Word of Truth; and, by God's blessing, he became truly converted, and his life and conduct for many years proved that the patience and long-suffering of Kiessling had brought forth fruit which shall last for ever.