The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1888-12-12
The Hessians.
CHAPTER |.

Groups of villagers were gathering
on the banks of the river that flowed
past their quiet little town, which was
one of the pleasantest in Hesse Cassel.
Children were romping on its banks,
lads and lasses strolling along by its
side, the older people chatting as they
watched the children play.
Life in that little town rolled on in
almost unbroken monotony, simple,
quiet, peaceful, like the flowing of that
placid river to the sea. But just then
the usually drowsy village had aroused
itself to do honor to its good Elector
Friedrich of Hesse Cassel. 1t was the
anniversary of his birthday aud the vii
lage had taken a holiday. Numbers
had gone away early in the morning in
their clumsy farm wagons to spend the
day in merry-making in the woods, but
still enough remained to celebrate the
occasion with all the usual accompani-
ments of a German holiday. The ma
jority had resorted to the river, on
whose banks they carried on their
merry sports.
Many houses were built along the
river side, and on the wooden stoop of
seated. Suddenly one of them started
and turned to her companion.
what ails Herr Schmidt and Fred
Muller?" she asked.
The other looked in the direction in
dicated but paused in dismay as the
two men came striding down the vii
lage street. On they came, never
needing the salutations of their neigh
bors, till they reached the town hall,
which they entered. Fred Muller's
honest face was flushed with anger,
his hands tightly clenched in an agony
of pain, while Herr Schmidt, the
worthy burgomaster of the village,
was not less disturbed They had
gone away early in the morning in
good spirits to attend to some impor-
tant business and now they had re-
turned, but the news they had to tell
had struck terror to the hearts of all.
Soon the sports were resumed, but
with not the same zest as before. And
now those who had gone to the woods
began to return, till soon all had ar.
rived. They did not dispense to theil
homes, but hearing the news, stood
with the others about the steps of the
town hall, discussing the affair. A
feeling of dread had come over all, and
they felt that some terrible calamity
was approaching Suddenly the door
of the town hall opened and there
stood the burgomaster and Fred Muller
All grew still as death. Then the
voice of the burgomaster broke the
solemn silence.
& Elantor Eria1rioh hoe ,,,o1o -, al
lance with the English, and is to send
them two thousand soldiers, who viii
be taken across the ocean thousands OF
miles away to fight for England in
foreign land. We, my friends, mus
send one hundred soldiers, one-fourtf
of our able-bodied men. The conscrip
ton will take place tomorrow"
Then the burgomaster, leaning or
Muller's strong arm, turned and wen
into the hall. For moment all were
stupefied with amazement. Then cries
of anguish broke from all. Some wept
others cursed the Elector. Womer
tainted, others gave utterance t,
shrieks of despair. Soon Muller cam,
out. Strong, sturdy, self-reliant, tn,
people turned to him for counsel.
"My friends, be calm" he said
dispense quietly to your homes, TO
hard as it is, we can do nothing"
They obeyed him, and soon the place
was deserted, except by the burgomas
ter, who was on his knees, prayin,
fervently to God. The next day tn
villagers assembled in body in from
of the town hall. Soon the burgomaste
came out, holding in his hand a bo,
that contained three hundred greer
ribbons and one hundred red ones. 4
small opening had been made in tn
cover. Each man without looking a
the box was to put in his hand an,
draw out ribbon. If it were green h
was saved; if red, doomed.
Absolute silence reigned as the frs
man stepped forward. He plunged hi
hand into the box. A moments he's
tation, then drew out a ribbon. A
and he uttered fervent ethan
heaven" as his name was struck fror
the list. The next stepped forward
hopeful, smiling. He drew. 1t wa
redl A shrek was heard, and a woma
was carried away insensible. 1t wa
his wife. How simple the statemer
sounds, yet what a world of sorrow
expresses, and so the drawing went OF
After a while the Burgomaster spoke
"There are one red and one gree
left in the box. The man that draw
the red will be the last to CO."
Fred Muller was one of the remain
ing two. On his arm leaned his b.
trothed wife, the burgomsster's daugf
ter. He disengaged his arm and calml