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

wv mere are you gong SAID Wolf, III
suppressed voice. "What are you about:
Are you thinking of running away? Tha,
is quite impossible, ard will only cause
you and US to be put to DEATH
"Let me alone" answered Schelle 81
am not going far; only to Prokop's tent
in corner Of which Ziska's magic drum
is standing. If succeed in making holes
in it, Naumburg is saved. Something tell:
me that this is our only means of deliver.
ance."
"You are out of your senses, exclaimed
Wolf, in astonishment. "Help me, Herr
Muller, to hold this crazy fellow back. II
you do not this moment give up your
foolish intention, Schelle, l will call
the soldiers to my assistance. What q
mad notion, that making holes in a drum
could disable so many thousand warriors
at is that silly STEMS doing" said
Muller "Done but little children believe
such ridiculous stories. Schelle, no hole
in drum, nothing but the providence Of
God, in whose hand are the hearts of men,
can help and deliver US"
The barber yielded to necessity, and
abandoned his absurd design.
At length the grey dawn appeared, and
was soon succeeded by the brilliant hues
of glorious sunrise, and the birds sang a
chorus Of welcome to the coming day.
The commotion of the camp formed q
strange contrast to the peaceful landscape
around. Through the busy groups of SOL
diers, the three Naumburgers were once
more led to Prokop's tent
'keturn to your town. he said, "and
announce its destruction. Say that we
give you until midday to prepare for death.
Whoever shall venture in our camp again.
to beg for mercy, must expect cruel
death. Such is our reply to those who
sent you"
ooh, SIR answered Wolf, earnestly,
''look upon the rising sun; how brightly
it shines on the dewy grass Would you
really wish that it should set tonight on
the blood of your fellow creatures, and
with its last rays light up the smoking
ruins of a happy town. Have mercy, Sir,
that our heavenly Father may have mercy
upon you"
"Mercy! pardon mercy!' cried Null.
lcr and Schelle.
"BegOne, you generation of vipers; be-
gone, you plead in vain" replied Prokop;
spair, they took their way back to Naum-
burg. OF what dreadful intelligence they
we're the bearers to their anxiously expect
ing fellow citizens! As on the day before,
when they were approaching the camp, their
steps grew shorter and slower as they pro-
ceeded. Through binding tears they
looked upon Naumburg's towers, walls,
and gates, as it lay before them in tho
morning light. They were received, it is
true, as they passed across the quickly
lowered draw bridge, with shouts of delight,
and surrounded, embraced and welcomed
by their wives and children, who had
watched for them at the gate until late the
night before, and again from the earliest
morning dawn. But so much the greater
was their sorrow at the thought that all
this joy would so soon be changed into
grief and despair and the dreadful news
could not be delayed, as tho burghers
pressed arou1h them, burning with impa-
tiencc to learn the result Of their mission.
What lamentation and wailing succeeded
the mournful recital The women tore
their hair and beat their breasts, wishing
like Job that they had never been born.
The children cried bitterly, scarcely know
ing why, and pressed close to their mo-
thers for protection, as if the dreaded dan
ger was already close at hand. Some Of
the men sank into deep silence, whilst
others stamped in furious rage, wishing
that their enemies were within their reach,
that they might fight them with all the
energy of despair. During this tumuit,
the deputation stood before the members
of the council, and gave an exact account
of what had passed in the enemys camp.
"You have done," said Herr Adler,
when they concluded their narration, 'all
that brave men could do. We thank you
heartily for the difficult and dangerous
task you have SO faithfully performed.
May your names and your patriotic deed
find an honorable place in the history OF
Germany. Nothing now remains for US
but to await the enemy, sword in hand,
praying God for speedy death for our
selves and our families. To Him We COM
init our fate. Hasten, my dear fellow
councillors, each to the post already marked
out for him Line the walls, and man the
towers and gates with the boldest burghers
amongst US. We will dispute every foot
of ground with the enemy. Every piece
Of the wall, every single house will VIC
turn into fortress, and bury ourselves at
R,,t laf fha old Dp0-