The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1889-01-17
THE HEssIANs.
CHAPTER l.

CHAPTER l,
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. Child
rem were romping on its banks. lads and
lassies strolling along by its side, and
older people chatting as they watched
the children play.
Life in that little town rolled on in
almost unbrokcn 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 and the viii
large 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 a German holiday. The majority
had resorted to the river, on whose
banks they carried on their merry
sports.
Many houses we're built along the riv-
er side, and on the wooden stoop of one
of these two village gossips were seated.
Suddenly one of them started and turn
ed to her companion.
"What ails Herr Schmidt and Fred
Muller p she asked.
The other looked in the direction in
dicated but paused in dismay as the two
men came striding down the village
street. On they came, never needing the
salutations of their neighbors, till they
reached the Town hall, which they en-
tered. Fred Muler'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 net less disturbed. They
had gone away early in the morning in
good spirits to attend to some important
bus ness and now they had returned but
the news they had to tell had struck ter
ror 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 arrived. They
did not disperse to their homes, but hear
ing the news, stood with the others
about the steps of the Town hall discuss
ing the affair. A feeling of dread had
come over all, and they felt that some
terrible calamity was approa hing
Suddenly the door Of the Town hal
opened and there stood the burgomastel
and Fred Mailer. All grew still at
death. Then the voice of the burgomas
ter broke the solemn silence.
"Elactor friedrich has made an ALI
ance with the English, and is to sene
them two thousand soldiers, who vii
be taken across the ocean thousands o
miles away to fight for England in
foreign land. We, my friends, mus
send one hundred soldiers, one-fourth o.
our able bodied men. The conscriptior
will take place tomorrow"
Then the burgomastr, leaning OF
Muller's strong arm, turned and wen
into the hall. For moment all wer'
stupitied with am" cement. Then cTie'
of anguish broke from all. Some wept
others cursed the Elector. Womer
tainted, others gave utterance to shriek
of dispair. Soon Muller came out
Strong, sturdy, self-reliant, the peOpl'
turned to him for counsel.
MY friends, be calm" he said; dis
perse quietly to your homes, for hard a
it is, we can do noh:ng."
They obeyed him, and soon the plac
deser ed, except by the burgomaster
who was on his knees, praying fervenI
ly to God. The next day the villager
assembl d in body in front of tn
Town hall. Soon the burgomsster cam
out, holding in his hand box that cor
trained three hundred green ribbons an
one hundred req ones. A small openin
had been made in the cover. Each ma
| -. l., tho hrv IN
in his hand and draw out ribbon.
it were green he was saved; II rec
doomed.
Absolute silence reigned IS the fir'
man stepped forward. He plunged h
hand IniU the box. A moments hesit'
tion, then drew out a ribbon. All pres
ed forward to see It 1t was green, an
he u tered fervent "Thank htaven,' {
his name was struck from the list TT
). next stepped forward, hopeful, smiling
Il He drew. 1t was red A shrek WI
{ heard, and woman was carried ava
l insensihle. 1t was his wife. ii Nv stu
6 pie the statement sounds, yet what
u world of sorrow it expresses, and 80 II
!, drawing went on. After while Il
~ Burgomaster spoke
There are one red and one green >
10 the box The man that draws Il
red will be the last TO 60"
Fred Muller was one of the remaiDil
two. On his arm leaned his betrUth'
wife, the buIgomaster's daughter. I
= disengaged his arm and calmly resign'
o her to her fathers care. God help yo
g Fred was all the burgomaster cou
E. say. Then he went to the box, put b
e hand in and drew. It was the fatal re
!, with groan he turned to his betrothe
II But she, too, had fallen to the grouT
r and was lying there motionless.
e A week later Fred Muller was marcl
\ ing far away with his comrades. but
- carried with him in his heart the imaI
8. of her he loved.
~ CHAPTER IL