The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1874-09-24

and loved the shop; bat could not stay
there with the empty places. There ser'
90 many voices there that did not speak
That Was it; but what shall do nov
C"nrad's question was answered for him
by the great emperor Of France and by thu
king; for Napoleon had determined in bis
old age that he rnust fight the Germans
and 20 = great many quiet people had tf
march away from their homes to he sho'
al, without the wisest nan in the village
bein, able to give reason.
It was a sad thing for many, bu. Conrad
Midburg-r fell, as il he was ain ost glad tf
90. lie was sure he loved his 'vaterland
in every Rene OF his body. and, If the king
called for him he was ready. Still az they
marched away from the sleepy old village,
Conrad said to himself:
"There is the old house, and the shor,
and the church -steeple. and the trees, and
the graves in the church yard. l did not
know my heart was % big, for I'm sure
love about every thing can see"
He could not see anything very clearly
just then, however, for his eyes were
strangely dim. No doubt the sun was in
them, and the CLINT and glitter Of the bayo-
nets, but if anyone bad looked in the
yorae mans face, he nigh. have said:
cit il a very Thoughtful free, and there
are lines Of strength beginning to show in
| it."
Ard then there followed swift marching
comfortless camping, all kiads of severe
/ and trying soldier work. and good deal Of
very hard fighting. Whatever the news
/ papers and reports might say about it
/ Conrad Midburger and his comrades learn
ed that the Frenchnen were brave fellows,
and that the glory Of beating them was
never very cheeply won.
Being big. and strong, and brave, and
every day growing more and more .ntc1i,
gent, Conrad himself won glory-tlis, is
three or -four slight wounds, medal, pro
motion from the ranks. the compliments Of
his commaad aiding officer, and the envy of
Of his comrades.
Being man of property, ~ respectable
parentage, Of fair education, Conrad might
have looked forward to almost anything
attainable in the German army by a man
Of les, than noble blood, if the war had
not been so very brief, ard if tie corps to
which he belonged had not been among
he first to be ordered home. Befo-e a
great while he found himself almost his
own master again. though still within the
scope and control Of army regulations, for
no German Of Conrad age 10 ever beyond
them, and he said to himself: well, ]
loved the army; almost loved Sighting.
knew could love glory with all my heart. l
know | am ten times as much soldier As
that little white .moustacbed age of baron
that commanded my Company. That is it.
thiuk | could love country where there
were no barons. Let me see think nv
heart must have teen growing good deal
during this wnr. There is more room III
it than l knew of, and yet it is always
full | think there are some things in il
that uever saw there in he old times. |
| will z" and take look at the villege first,
and the house, and the shop, and | will
E-ten asaiu to see /, | can he ar Christine
call her father home 10 diner. Then, if
| don't hear her, what then! Will. ]
tlink | viii ju.t AK my heart abou, it,.
Nov, all this time old Franz ll0frrlahI
and iIis daughter Lad known very LITTLE Of
What had taken PLACE in the village they
iau lett behind them. They h ii found
thrir pilgrimage long and weary enough,
aud thry had reached II resting place nj
last, and they had v; ittcn hume To their
old u ishhors, a. AL erB,an. do, bat very
little information had came back 20 them.
hey khc~ that old Goitheb M,db"rg,r
Was dead, and that Conrad bad gwen up
the homs and the shop, and that lie had
gong 10 the great war wnn I'll. French, anu
that WAS nearly all.
Franz uole-dahl had not landed on the
shores IT the New World paaper in any
| thing but y.uth and strength, AID he found
friend, readily enough to take the place of
| tue old cues as far ~ might he, and, after
he had got over his i-st daze aud be wilder.
ment, aud became sumo what accustomed
ami ways OF lite, he T. led u settle down rs
man of property and substance, and be
happy.
"it only Gottlieb Midburger we're with
me- he .a!d to Christine, :" thiuk !
could do it. | would give u good deal just
to see tie old fellow lay down his pipe and
lood INTO dirty ~a:ch.'
i Christine said sery little, but her bright
American home became drcary enough at
times, when she shut her eyes aud le. her
+ thoughts 20 back 10 the old, sleepy German
village. She read all the accounts nf the
great war, too, wondering if any Of her old
! ueishbors had bee2 in this battle or that,
and she listened 'sry silently when her
father said:
| IF CouraG Midburger was in any of
that fighting, I'll be huuud be behaved
himself well. There's good blood iu the
M,dburgeis, and Conrad is fine boy
o. lie must be . n,an by this time, said
Christine.
Aud then she thought xhat very tall,
6ne looking man he must be. ard bow well
be would appear IN his uuiform.,'
| But when, after while there was news
of peace, and they heard that the army
was going home TO be dishanded, old Frsrz
lloierdahi grew less thoughtful, aud Chris
.iue tried IN yam 10 arouse him, Or amuse
him, until one autumn morning be said to
her:
IAN tee other old soldiers are g5ing
home. ] think it is pretty near time for
me to g home too
ITO Germany father - exclaimed
Christine, with sudden light in her eyes;
"Oh, father"
mo, CHRISTINE" solemnly replied th.
old .f,ormanv - nj h. opiv