Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1859-08-05
VOL. XIII.
THE DESERTER,
Or B1ucher's Judgment.

visited the continent OF Europe, was ragln
through the land, and the country could spar
none of its defenders. Also, the king ba
/ called his people to arms by means of that Fl
nous proclamation which will be considere
for evermore as one of the noblest document
in Germany history. They were true to th
call-old and young they left their homes
/ rushed to the enlors. took up arms, and neye
laid them down till they had driven the enem
under the very walls of Paris.
/ The inhabitants of Silesia, well known 70
their loyalty and patriotism, had not stood be
hind amid the general enthusiasm. There wa
not family in the province that had not con
tributed its contingent to the national affair
and many heart was throbbing painful,
whenever new intelligence was spread of an
| other of those dreadful battles which, by rid
ding the country of an odious enemy, threv
sorrow and affection upon many quiet anC
peaceable home.
| On sultry summer evening, in the year be
| fore mentioned, woman was sitting before he
humble cottage in the little Silesian village o
Burnheim. She had put the distaff aside ant
was reading the Bible, which lay opened Oh
her knees. Whilst she was repeating the hol,
words in an under-tone to herself her ear
caught the sound of quick footsteps, and long
shadow emerged from behind the cottage. Tht
woman trembled violently the moment after
wards her uplifted eyes fell upon the figure o
a handsome and well-made lad, in a militar,
attire.
How are you, mother?"
| She rose and threw her trembling arm
around his neck. "God be thanked, my boy
that see thee again! But how pale and bag
gard thou lookest." She went on after {
pause "To be sure, thou must be very tired
and very hungry too!"
She led him in the room to the old arm
chair, and urged him to sit down and repos
himself little, while she herself would pre-
pare him some supper.
"What did he like best Should she maxi
him an omelet, or roast chieken2 Oh, i
was no trouble at all Dear me, how coult
he talk of trouble she was but too glad to d.
anything for her own dear boy. Yes, sh
would go and get him a chicken"
The woman all hustle and activity, left tn,
room.
The youth did not betray so much pleasur
at this hearty reception from his aged paren
as might have been expected. He was rest
less and i'll at ease; it seemed as if somethin,
was weighing heavily upon his heart; ant
when his wandering eye fell upon the portrai
of his deceased father, which was hanging
right over the chimney piece, presenting tha
worthy gentleman in the stiff uniform wor
by the kings garde de corps half centur.
ago, he felt as if the old sergeant was looking
at him with a grim frown upon his homes
countenance just as if he experienced heart
inclination to step out of his worm-eaten, rost
: wood frame, to seize the old knotted haze
stick in the corner, with the brass knob a
top, and to apply it to the back of his offsprin
for half an hour or so, as, in fact he had bee
in the habit of doing many day in his ifi
f time, some eight or ten years ago. His res
less son became so much overcome by this la
, ter reflection that when the woman came bus
ling in again, after the lapse of some minutes
with the chicken under her apron, she foun
her own dear boy with his head in his hand
leaning listlessly upon the table.
H. sat up when she came in, but did NJ
look at her. The woman became attentive
In the Joy of her heart, she had never thougl
yet of asking him any questions except tho
; concerning his appetite. Now it began
strike her that the present period was rather
f strange time for soldier to be on leave of a
sence.
: Charles"
No answer. The old woman trembled vi
} lently She dropped her burden, and Wake
straight up to him. Her honest, wrinkle
eounteuance was full of anxiety and apprehe
sion. Looking him full in the face, and ella
e ping her hands together, she cried out in a
: ony:
i " Charles, you are deserterl"
b al couldn't stand it any longer, mother
uttered her wretched son, in broken voice,
way of apology,
= You couldn't stand It'll - said the won
exasperated beyond all measure you couldl
+ stand it. and hundreds of thousands of yo
d brethren do! Fie, for shame!" and, with b
IS old, honest, trembling hand, she gave him
= smack on the face.
h /" Motherl" exclaimed the young man stal
ing up, with the blood rushing to his face.
y Fie, for shame! - she went on, witho
= needing him in the least, I" to bring such d
a grace upon the whole village! What wou
is he say ?"-she PORTED to where the old W;
e rior was hanging over the chimney piece, whe
y y stern countenance, illuminated by the rays
ID the evening sun, seemed indeed to assume
n unusual expression Of solemn intFignati6-ss
AZ az " Sit down, sit down, say! you-deserte
in It shall not be said that your dead fathe
r house, in the village of Burnheim, is pls
III of refuge for runaways, while the whole cor
E try is dp in arms Don't you stir, sir!
50 be back in minute )" and with this, I
D. brave woman left the ROOM locking the dc
after her.
She was not alone when she came back
about half an hour afterwards; the coun
IT parson. the schoolmaster, the country jud
We and halfa-dozen more of the dignitaries of
~ village were with her. The little room
quite full when all these distinguished visit
nb had entered it Charles sat in the old al
ed both his hands.
er, The honest villagers had made up IL
th- minds at once what to do with the desert
cal cal they looked upon his crime as an ignominy,
* which he had not only disgraced himself
nat also their community at large, and they VI
m not the men to put up with such an af1r'
'ne The schoolmaster, who was politician,
te subscribed for newspaper, having inforl
them that the headquarters of the comm
N. der-in-chief of the army were but about
;s days march from the village, they had resol
fol. at once to escort him thither. The judge
vri- claimed the young man prisoner in the ii
ldi- of his majesty, the king, and called upon
leiI M to follow him to place of security for
nd night, as ON the following morning they w
at in body convey him to his excelency
hey field marshall, General Butcher. He rose
'me followed them without opposition. When
du- io--o -. H. -, .ooI. a., I
orm Were aii Soii0 O Woman ~ P ~
heir Scripture once more put II was IN vain
rest she strove to read her eyes grew dim,
he, tho lattevu wore all swimming confIsedly
hill ei' =. - - - - -, ii ,