Their happy and simple life is disrupted when Mary is accused and convicted of theft. At her trial, Mary tells the truth, maintaining her innocence in spite of great pressure. Convicted as thief and accomplice, Mary and her father begin their sentence for the crime. Continuing his lessons from nature about the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, James encourages Mary through this trial and prepares her for the next, greater blow. Writer of children's stories and educator,
Christoph von Schmid was a pioneer in writing books for children which taught Christian values. His first work was a bible history for children (1801). Christoph von Schmid continued with his calling as a writer of children's books throughout his long life, one of his most noted stories being Die Ostereier (Easter Eggs, 1816) due to its popularity and also that he started signing himself as "author of Easter Eggs."