The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1859-04-20

| Try parson, the schoolmaster, the country
Judge, and half dozen more of the dig.
nitaries of the village, were with her. The
little room was quite full when all these dis
tingushed visitors had entered it. Charles
sat in the old.arm chair, quite motionless,
his face covered with both his hands.
The honest villagers had made up their
minds at once what 10 do with the deserter;
they looked upon his crime as an ignominy,
by which he had not only disgraced himself,
but also their community at large, and they
were not the men TO put up with such an af-
front. The schoolmaster, who was a poll
tician, and subscribed to newspaper, hav-
ing informed them that the headquarters
of the commandment chief OF the army were
but about two days march from the village,
they had resolved at once to escort him
thither. The Judge proclaimed the young
man a prisoner in the name of his majesty
the king, and called upon him to follow him
to place of security for the night, as on the
following morning they would in body con-
vey him 10 his Excellency the field. marshal,
General Blucher. He rose, and followed
them without opposition. When they were
all gone, the old woman took up the Holy
Scriptures once more but it was in vain
that she strove 10 read her eyes grew dim
and the letters were all swimming contus-
edly before them, so she put it down and
wept bitterly.
Early OH the following morning, strange
procession was seen emerging from the lit.
tie village OF Burnheim-four old peasants
escorting one young soldier. The country
judge, with grave air marched head ofthem,
whilst the schoolmaster, who had obstinate.
ly insisted upon accompanying the expedi-
tion brought up the rear. The prisoner,
with downcast eyes and fallen coun,enance,
was walking between the two other patriots;
and as he had pledged his word not TO make
any attempt at flight, they had consented TO
leave his hands united. When the expedi-
tion, after days march, put up for the
night in small hamlet, they were told that
all the villages around were crammed with
Frenchmen, so they were obliged TO take a
long roundabout way and it was not be-
fore the morning of the fifth day after their
departure, that they reached head quarters.
"Where is the residence of the comman-
der-in.chief?" 2" asked they of one of the or
dinance officers, who were galloping through
the streets in every direction.
"Why, in tho chateau, TO be sure, where
the two huzzars were mounting guard, on
horseback
When they had entered the yard, they
were not in the least discouraged at the
sight of whole scores of adju;ants, and or
dery-officers of every rank and arm, all o.
whom seemed 10 have some urgent business
with The commander-in-chief for no soone,
had any of them been dispatched, than he
/ was seen mounting again and tearing ava,
with his horses belly TO the ground. 1t neveI
! entered their heads for one moment that the
/ general might consider their own busine "a
10 be of somewhat smaller importance, al,
though the schoolmaster argued from what he
saw that tsomething consequence wasgoine
onjust now. The worthy man was right Sc
/ far the commander-in chief was about tt
give battle on the following day. Wher
they had been waiting patiently for couple
| of hours, and began 10 feel somewhat hun
cry, the country judge, conscious of the i'm
I portance OF his mission, ventured at last tc
! accost ore of the officers of the general.
staff, who was passing by with a packet O
sealed letters in his hand but that hast,
tunctionary did not even stop TO give ear tc
the address of the head man of the rura
depnta:ion, but merely grumbled somethin:
about the propriety of their going to Jerico-
! or further.
Our worthy inhabitants of Burnheim how
ever, were not the men 10 give way so soon
and renewed the charge accordingly. Th
time it was middle-aged man, with be
nevoent countenance, whom they made ac
quainted with their request, 10 see the field
marshal on most urgent business.
"Why, they had chosen their time rathe
badly, indeed the general was exuemel,
busy. Couldn't one OF the secretaries do a.
well ?n
"By no means they must see the genera
! himself"
"Was il an information concerning tn,
enemy which they wanted TO deliver 2"
80 no something much more importan
FROM Burnheim," added the schoolmaster
The midde-aged officer with the benevo
lent countenance, laughed, and said h
would try. After the lapse of about half al
hour, he came back, and beckoned them &c
follow. They were ushered into an ante
room, and directed to wait for his Excellen
cy.
The door opened after another half hour
waiting, and an old man, with gray hairs
iron cut features, and bright eyes, entere,
the room; it was the commander, Old Faith
er Blucher, as the soldiers called him.
The country Judge stepped forward, AM
bowing very low, delive red the speech a
bout which he had been pondering eve
since they had lett their native place, an
which, of course, he thought TO be- very ell
oquent He stated all that has been told al
ready in the course of this narrative how
The deserter's own mother had given infor
nation of her sons crime how they ha
! roe0lvad nj onoa In hripr him hoolr - L..