The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1874-09-11

'front.' teeth so that they could not bite off
the cartridges, but the military commits
sion looked upon this as intentional mutt
lation, while that of Hansgeorge, on ac-
count of the danger incurred, was regard
ed as an accident. The poor toothless
boys were appointed to the commissary
department and must still march off to the
| wars. With their teeth gone they would
have to manage the hard morsels of a SOL
dler's fare and finally indeed bite the grass,
where they would no longer need any
| teeth.
I In the first days of October the French
general Moreau made his famous return
march through the Black Forest. One de-
tachment of the corps came through Nord-
staten. A rumor of its approach reached
us several days beforehand. Great distress
and fright were manifest throughout the
village, where no one could either advise
another, nor help himself There was shov-
cling and burying in every cellar, and every
thing OF gold or costliness was therein laid
away. The maidens brought their strings
OF garnet with silver coins attached by little
rings; they drew the silver rings from off
their fingers and laid them in the earth
All went about without ornament as in
seasons of a great sorrow. The COWS were
driven near Egelsthral and hidden in an
untrequented ravine. The youths and maid
ems looked upon each other with troubled
AIR, and If any one spoke ofthe approach.
ing enemy many young man grasped the
hilt of his knife which appeared from the
side pocket of his pants.
But the Jews were at the worst If a
| peasant be robbed of every thing about
him, still they cannot take away his acres,
and scarcely his pillow, but the Jews have
all their possessions in money and wares,
in movable goods; they trembled therefore
twice and thrice. The Jewish church ward
en-, n discreet and versatile man, hit upon
cunning cXpedient. He placed before his
house a huge Cask Of rcd wine strongly al
coholized with brandy, and set out upon
table full dccanters to entertain the unbid-
den guests. The device succeeded, because
the French, only for that, would have found
time to search farther
The day of the march through came
and went over much better than anv one
had hoped. The people gathered in groups
here and there in the village and watched
the passing soldiers. First came the cayal-
ry, then prodigious mass of infantry.
Hansgeorge, with his friends Fideli and
Zaver, had gone over to the brickmaker's
cottage. He would, for all chances, be there
that nothing might happen to Katherlie
He had gone with his comrades into the
garden before the house, and was leaning
over the fence comfortably smoking his
pipe. Katherlie was looking from the
window and said, eff thou wilt stop smok-
ing, Hansgeorge, thou mayest come here
with they friends"
1--WE find ourselves very comfortable as
we are" retorted Hansgeorge, putting out
three whitfs-quickly one after the other,
and holding faster to his pipe.
Now came the cavalry. They rode alono
apparently without order, and appeared to
be scarcely ofone body. Every one rode here
and there at his pleasure, and yet one
could observe that they preserved tolera-
bly, compact mass.
Several, laughing and winking, kissed
their hands to Katherlie at the window
his side. Katherlie Shut to the wiihfdow
and looked out cautiously from behind the
panes. After the cavalry, came the forage.
wagons, and the wagons with the wounded
soldiers That was pitiful sight. One
of the wounded stuck out his hand, on
which there were only three fingers; that
went through Hansgeorge, bone and mar
row. 1t was to him at once as if he him
self lay up there. The wounded man had
nothing but a handkerchief bound around
his head and he seemed to be cold. Hans
george sprang quickly over the fence, took
his fur cap from his own head and put it
upon that of the poor man, and gave to him
all his money, together with his leathern
purse. The wounded man made many
signs with his mouth, and indicated also
with his hand that he would like to smoke
He looked at Hansgeorge, beckoping and
begging, and always pointed to his pipe,
but Hansgeorge shook his head. Katherle
also brought bread and clothing and placed
it in the wagon Of the wounded man. The
sick warriors looked with pleasure upon the
bl looming girl; some of them made the
military salute and nodded to one another.
Then they went on, ever reckoning back
in the most friendly manner. No one ques-
toned whether they were friends or foes;
one must help them.
A numerous troop of riders closed the
array. Katherie was again back by the
window.
Hansgeorge and his companions were at
the marauders."
W. IuSBCo 10 III null "
out saddle or stirrups, came riding on. A
little space before they were up to Hans
george they checked their speed and spoke
a few words with one another, and one OF
them was heard to laugh. They then rode
on slowly very near the fence; quick as a
flash one of them tore the pipe out of Hans
georges mouth and then galloped on. The
maraudcr put the still lighted pipe to his
| "a ,,l u,;t oil I, ,,,,b
defiance.
Hansgeorgc put his hand to his mouth
it seemed to him that all his teeth were
torn from his jaws. Kathcrlie laughed
aloud and called out Now get back thy
pipe"
Eyes, will get it, said Hansgeorge, and
tore picket from the fence in anger. "ComC
Fideli, Zaver, let us get our horses and
ride after them, and if we go to ground, tht
rascals shall not have my pipe"
His two companions started, took theil
horses quickly from the stable, but Rather
lie came springing out and called Hans
george into the passage. He went unwil
lingly in, for he was angry that she hac
laughed at him, but Katherlie trembling
seized his hand, and said For goodness
sake, Hansgeorge, let the pipe go, come
Wouiu uo us liucu ioi lilce w pclsuuuct
by me now. Wilt thou expose thyself tt
danger Tor SO worthless thingf l beg o
thee, remain here"
81 cannot sit would be best for me if som'
one would shoot bullet through my head
What should l do here Z Thou wilt onl,
tease and worry me-"
mo, no, "said Katherlie, and fell upon hi
neck, II will not let thee go; thou must re
main here"
This shook Hansgeorges resolution won
derfully, but he said quickly, wilt tho'
then be my WIFE"