Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1858-04-16

| gentlemen, SAID Wolf, rousing himself
from deep reverie. "a last means has
just occurred to me, by which we may
possibly ye. soften the hard heart Of our
enemy's leader. If this do not succeed,
there still remains to us to perish by the
swords Of our enemies
"What may this last means be ?'asked
Adler, iucrcdulously. "Speak your mind
quickly; time is precious; aud We have
not moment to lose"
awe have in our town." replied Wolf,
"a sort of petitioners whom we al find it
most difficult to resist, aud who can not be
unknown to the hearts of our foes"
as it possible that you mean our wives
and daughters p exclaimed the burgher.
master, with a deep frown upon his brow
"Do you think to send Mens as petitioners
into the enemy's camp? o,Wolf, rather
death than that ~
"You mistake me, sir" answered Wolf;
81 meant not our wives, but o1r children
( What father amongst us can resist the
( pleadDgs of his child ? Which of Us
could refuse his earnest petition, and if he
asked for bread give him stone ?"
"That is true ~ cried Scbelle. "Wolf
has hit the right nail on the head"
81 quite agree with you," said the
schoolmaster "any thing that my poor
Johanna asks Of me, would grant, were
it at the greatest sacrifice
"My proposal" continued Wolf, "is
this : that we send all the children who
can walk as far as the enemy's camp, say
from five years old to fourteen. dressed in
white and barefoot, as if in their shrouis;
and let them fold their hands and kneel
down, and with one voice beg for mercy
for Naumburg. If Prokop resist these
innocent suppliauts, then We will await
the enemy with courage and resignation,
and sell our lives as dearly as we may"
"You have forgotten, Wolf" said Herr
Lindau, "that Prckop threatened to put
any fresh petitioners who might venture
into the camp, TO cruel death"
81 did not forget il" answered Wolf;
"but | thought that if death is inevitable
TO US all, it amounts to the same thing
whether our children are murdered here
before our eyes or a. distance from us
We should indeed be spared a dreadful
trial; whilst every father and every mo
ther would be reused to desperation,if if they
saw the blood of their children upon the
TUG n5"v, T".~ .A~.. --'----'
head, Gappears 10 me the most unnatural
in the world Who would willingly throw
his precious children into the jaws of the
blood. thirsty tiger? l Iconfess that have
not the resolution to do it. OF what use
would victory be at such price? Death
is preferable to life without cur children
awe quite agree with you, Herr LIZ
dau," said the other councillors, unanl-
mOusly.
"Nevertheless, said the burghermastcr,
"Wolfs suggestion is not to be at once
thrown aside. 1t sh"w. - intimate ac-
quaintance with the deepest recesses of the
human heart and if there is 4 way to touch
the hearts Of our enemies, it is that recon-
mended BY Wolf
"Ycu have no children, Herr Bursher
MASTER" exclaimed Lindau, vehemently,
"or you would not speak thus
81 will be back in a moment, said Wolf,
hastily leaving the room. He soon return
cd, bringing with him all his children,
who had, with their mother, been waiting
for him below.
"There are my children" he sail, with
glistening eyes. "Do you ask if love
them1 if any earthly good, my life itself,
is more precious to me ? Children, would
you venture out to the enemy, if told
you to do SO, and plead there for all our
lives -
ayes, yes, that We would Oh, yes"
cried all the children except Winfred who
said, sorrowfully, "AIay | not go too
"Who would forbid you, my boy?' ask
ed Wolf in surprise.
"Because when lately threw stone at
schoolmaster's cat said Winfred, penI-
teutly, "mother said | must stay at home
next time they took a walk.
"Took walk - repeated Wolf, sadly
"Ycs, my son, you may 60 With the rest
in this walk
81 may GO. may CO. cried the de-
lighted Winfrcd to his brothers anI Sis
ters. His father turned to the council,
aud said with quivering lips, "Iou have
heard that my children are really and w'l
ling to 90 this walk, and | also to send
/ them"
"My only son shall go with them, said
Liudau, warmly.
"And my four children" said another
councillor.
"And mine, and mine, was heard from
every fathers lips. Schclle also j'ined
with the rest. Muller alone was silent,
! and at leuctL said with q sigh, "Oh that