Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-06-04
e0lOtttstet 4aiIg Spp
BIucher's Judgment.

considered for eyermore as one of the noblest
documents IN German history. They wer,
true to the call-old and young; they lef
thelr MONIES, rushed to the colors, took u,
arms, and never laid them down until the1
mad driven the enemy under the very wall
of Paris
The inhabitants of Silesia, well known fo
their loyalty and patriotism, had not stood be
hlnd amidst the general enthusiasm. Their
was not family in the province that had no
contributed its contingent to the national af
talr, and many heart was throbbing painful
ly whenever new intelligence was spread O
another of those dreadful battles, which, b,
Kidding the country from an odious enemy
threw sorrow and affiiction upon many quie
and peaceable home.
One sultry summer evening, in the veal
before mentioned, an old woman was sttin
before her humble cottage in the little Silesiar
village of Burnheim. She had put the distaA
aside and was reading the Bible, which Law
open on her knees. While she was reading
the holy words in an under tone to herself,
her ears caught the sound of quick footsteps,
and long shadow emerged from behind the
cottage. The old woman trembled violently :
moment atterward her uplifted eyes fell up
on the figure of a handsome and wel-made
lad, in military attire.
''How are you, mother?"
She rose and threw her trembling arms a.
round his neck. "God be thanked, my boy,
that see thee again! But how pale and bag
gard thou lookest." She went on after a
pause; "To be sure thou must be very tired
and hungry"
She led him in the room to the old arm
chair, and urged him to sit down and repose
himself little, whilst she herself would pre-
pare him some supper.
''What did he like best? Should she make
him an omelet, or roast chicken? Oh, it was
no trouble at all. Dear me how could he
talk OF trouble. She was but too glad to do
anything for her own dear boy. Yes, she
would go and get him a chicken
The old woman, all hustle and activity, left
the room.
The youth did not betray so much pleasure
at this hearty reception from his aged mother,
as might have been expected. He was rest
less and ill at ease; it seemed as if something
was heavily weighing upon his heart; and
when his wandering eye fell upon the portrait
of his deceased father, which was hanging
over the chimney piece, presenting that wor-
thy gentleman in the stiff uniform worn by the
kings garde de corps half century ago, he
felt as if the old sergeant was looking at him
with grim frown upon his honest counten-
ance; just as if he experienced hearty in
cllnation to step out Of his worm-eaten rose
wood frame, to seize the old Bnotted halle
stick in the corner, with the brass knob at top
and to apply it to the back of his offspring for
half an hour or so; as, in fact, he had been in
tina habit Of doing many day in his lifetime,
some eight or ten years ago. His restless son
felt so much overcome by this latter reflection
that, when the old woman came bustling in
again, after the lapse Of some minutes, with
the chicken under her apron, she found her
own dear boy with his head in his hands lean
ing listlessly upon the table.
He sat up when she came in but did not
look at her The old woman became atten-
tive. In the joy of her heart, she had never
thought yet of asking him any questions ex-
cept concerning his appetite. Now, it began
to strike her that epresent periodwas rather
strange time for soldier to be on leave of
absence
''Charlesn' No answer.
The old woman trembled violently, drop
ped her burden, and walked straight up to
him. Her honest, wrinkled countenance was
full of anxiety and apprehension. Looking
him full in the face, and clasping her hands
together, she cried out in an agony =
$50 help me God, Charles, you are a de-
serter!;
Il couldn't stand it any longer, mother, ;"
uttered her wretched son, in broken voice,
by way of apology.
''You couldn't stand it ~ said the old wo-
man, eXasperated beyond all measure; ''you
couldn't stand it; and hundreds Of thousands
of your brethren do! Fy for shame!' and
with her old honest, trembling hand she gave
him smack on the face.
''Mother!" exclaimed the young man, start
. ing up, with the blood rushing to his face.
''Fy, for shame" she went on, without
needing him in the least, ''to bring such a
disgrace upon the whole village What
would he say? She pointed to where the
old warrior was hanging over the chimney
piece, whose stern countenance, illuminated
by the rays of the evening sun, seemed indeed
to assume an unusual expression Of solemn
indignation. 'Sit down, sit down, l say !!
you-deserter 1t shall not be said that your
dead fathers house, in the village of Burn
helm, is place of refuge for runaways, while
the whole country is up in arms! Don't you
stir, sir! I'll be back in minute" and with
this the brave old woman left the room, lock-
ing the door after her.
She was not alone when she came back
about half an hour afterwards; the country
parson, the schoolmaster, the country Judge,
and a half a dozen more of the dignitaries of
the village were with her. The little room
was quite full when all these distinguished
visitors had entered. Charles satin the old
armchair, quite motonless, his face covered
with both his hands.
The honest villagers had made up their
minds at once what to do with the deserter
they looked upon his crime as an ignominy, by
which he not only disgraced himself but also
their community at large, and they were not
the men to put up with such an affront. The
schoolmaster, who was politician, and sub
scribed to a newspaper, having informed them
that the headquarters of the communicating
chief or the army were but about TWO days
march from the village they hada once TO escort
him thther. The judge proclaimed the young
man prisoner in the name OF ms majesty
the king, and called upon him to follow nm
to a place of security for the night, as on inc
following morning they would IN abody convey
him to his excelency, the fed-marshal Blu
cher. 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 to
read; her eyes grew dim, and the letters were
all swimming confusedly beforekthem, so she
put it down and wept bitterly
Early on the following morning, strange
procession was seen emerging from the niue
village of Burnheim-four old peasants es-
corting one young soldier The country
Judge, with grave air, marched ahead OF them
whilst the schoolmaster, who had obstlnately
insisted upon accompanying the expedition
brought up the rear. The prisoner, with
downcast eyes, and fallen countenance, was
walking between the two other patriots; ano
as he had pledged his word not to make any
attempt at flight they consented to leave MS
hands united. When the expedition after Z
4. .u.l