New Ulm weekly review., 1886-03-24

Il
feasts when our little ones were bap-
tized, and, in spite OF our real happii-
ness, good many tears fell on the
Little heads. But at last there was a
a change! Suddenly it was as if a
fresh wind had begun to blow No
one knew whence it had come, but it
was there, and we all felt invigorated
by it. Lore and I, too, soon noticed
that there was q great deal going on
behind the scenes, which gave us
plenty of food for wonder and con-
lecture. Wagoners, who did not look
at all like wagoners, were constantly
bringing heavy loads OF merchandise
to Karl, and my Fritz, who was
q lawyer, and nothing naturally
| to do with such matters, was al
ways present at the unloading, and
helped to carry the goods into the eel
lar as soon as it was dusk. It was
/ quite clear that there was some secret
which our husbands were keeping from
us, and after bearing it patiently for
a little while we determined to put ali
end to such an unnatural state Of
things.
SWell, we found it all out, and
learned that Karl and Fritz were
members Of a secret league which had
branches everywhere throughout Ger
many, and WAS formed to deliver the
Fatherland from her foreign masters.
The 'swagoners" were members and
the goods they bought were arms,
which they stored in the cellar; and
there, in what had been Lorchen s
[ prison, the confederates held their
meetings. On these occasions, now
that we knew what was going on, we
used to do our part by lighting up the
chandeliers in the drawing room,
cllnking glasses together and carrying
wine bottles and dishes to and fro, to
divert the attention from what was
going on down below, and to throw
dust in peoples eyes.
GAS soon as ever our good king is
sued his appeal TO my people, wesaw
the result of all these secret prepara-
tlons. The enthusiasm was tremen-
dous,a and every German heart was all
aglow. Oh, child, it was grand time
and shall never forget the day when
the pastor read out the kings procla-
nation IN the market-place-and there
WAS not room for the crowd in the
church-and called on all the men to
come forward and take part in a holy
war to eSpel the enemy. There never
was such excitement before or since
Friends and acquaintance embraced
one another, and the most bitter enc
mics shook hands The first to vol
unteer to fight for wife and child, and
home, were Karl Dernau and my Fritz;
and numbers and numbers followed
their example. Then came the leave
takings, and those were sad enough. L
tainted away, but Lorchen behaved
like little heroine.
| "We two kept together through all
that time OF terrible waiting and fight
ing, and misery. But at last-at last
came the news OF victory, and all the
hills blazed with bonfires. The Father
land was free, and cur loved ones were
safe and coming home crowned with
laurels! We had suffered a great deal,
but we thought ourselves fortunate in
having been allowed to look on while
such great events were doing.
"But where have got to with my
chattering? | was only going to tell
you"
"oh, Granny" interrupted. "you
have not told me a bit too much; l
could listen all day
4 "Well, said she with a smile, 'you
deserve something for giving up going
to the chapel to sith with an old wom-
an. When l began I only meant to
tell you how Aunt Dernau was impris-
oned in the cellar, that you might see
what a dangerous gift beauty isl"
''H-m, Granny, [ don't like your
morale l answered. 'The French
are far enough off now, and for my
part l shouldn't mind running the
risk of beng tolerably nice-looking. /"
| Granny was going to scold, but the
corners of her mouth twitched, and
before she could recover herself, ]
had jumped up exclaimlng:
'Listen, the bells have been ringing
this long time; the wedding is over,
and they will be here directlyr
| went once more hastily through
the rooms to see that everything was
in order, and then | strewed flowers
all down the stairs to the front door,
and then Granny and l waited at the
window.
| Soon the head of the procession
made its appearance such long,
long procession! First came the old
people, several couples, and then the
young ones, and lastly the grand
children all decked with flowers, but
the bridal pair, who were that day
celebrating their golden wedding, were
the most beautiful sight OF all.
Aunt Dernau looked lovely in her
blue 1owered damask and three corn.
cred lace handkerchief, with the gold.
en- sprays of myrtle in her hair; and
Uncle Dernau, with his snow-white
curly hair, and tall, upright figure
looked most dignifed, and quite
grand, too; for besides thegolden sprie
in his button-hole, he wore the orders
and decorations which he had won
during the war. How tender and
careful he was of his little wife, too.
just as tender and affectionate as
he had been to the young beauty
when he married her in the sunny
May-time fifty years before!