Year: 1859

with grave airs, marched ahead of them, whils
the schoolmaster, who had obstinately insisted


upon accompanying the expedition, brough
up the rear. The prisoner, with downcas
eyes and fallen countenance, was walking be


tween the two other patriots and as he haC
pledged bis word not to make any attempt al


flight, they had consented to leave his hands


united. When the expedition after days


march, put up for the night in a small hamlet
they were told that all the villages around


were crammed full with Frenchrnen, so they
were obliged to make long roundabout way
and it was not before the morning of the fifth
day after their departure that they reached
headquarters.


Where is the residence ef the commander
in-chief ?" asked they of one of the ordinance
officers who we're galloping through the streets
in every direction.


Why, in the chateau, to be sure, where the
two hussars are mounting guard on horseback


When they had entered the yard they were
not in the least discouraged at the sight Of
whole scores of adiutants and orderly officers
of every rank and arm, all of whom seemed to
have some urgent business with the comman-
der-in-chief; for no sooner had any of them
|
again and tearing away. 1t never entered
their heads for one moment that the general
might consider their own business to be of a
somewhat similar Importance, although the
schoolmaster argued from what he saw that
something of consequence was going on just
now. The worthy man was right so far the
commander-in-chief was about to give battle
on the following day. When they had been
waiting patiently for couple of hours, and
began to feel somewhat tired and hungry, the
country judge, conscious of the importance of
his mission, ventured at last to accost one of
the officers of the generals staff who was pas
hand but that hasty functionary did not even
stop to give ear to tie address of the head
man of the rural deputation, but merely grum-
bled something about the propriety of their
going to Jerico-or further.


| Our worthy inhabitants of Burnheim, how
ever, were not the men to give way so soon,
and renewed the charge accordingly. This
| time it was middle-aged man with benevo-
lent countenance, whom they made acquainted
with their request to see the feld-marshal on
most urgent business.


! "Why, they had chosen their time rather
badly, indeed the general was extremely busy.
Wouldn't one of the secretaries do as well?"


"By no means; they must see the general
himself. p"


"Was it any information concerning the
enemy which they wanted to deliver?"


"Oh, no; something much more important
from Burnheim," added the school-master


The midde-aged officer with the benevolent
countenance laughed, and said he would try
After the lapse of about an hour he came back
and beckoned to them to follow. They were
ushered into an ante-room, and directed to wait
for his excellency.


| The door opened after another half hours
waiting and an old man with gray hair, iron


cut features, and bright eyes, entered the room
1t was the commander-in-chief, "Old Father
Blueber," as the soldiers called him. The coun


try Judge stepped forward, and bowling very


low, delivered the speech about which he hac


been pondering ever since they had left theil


native place, and which, of course he thought


to be very eloquent. He stated all that hat


been told already in the course of this nara


tive; how the deserter's own mother had give1


information of her sons crime how they haC


resolved at once to bring him back to head
quarters; and concluded his address with
hope that his excellency would not be inducet
to think worse of their village because of on
that had rendered himselfunworthy of the nam
} of Prussian. The tears came trickling dow
/ his honest cheeks.


The general looked very grave indeed


Those large bright eyes of his roamed for Al


instant over his rural audience with strang
: expression. He knew at a glance what sort G
men they were he had to deal with; then hi
| looks rested for while on the best figure c
: the young man. who, with downcast eyes an
: care-wofn face, appeared the very image q
misery and detection. He knew his case to b


hopeless one deserted colors in time of wa


is criminal crime, and Father Blucher, wit
i" his iron will, was the last man to be trife
y with.


On sudden the features of the old hero as
} stmed an expression of harshness. Tufnin
t round toward the speaker of this singular deI
r utation, he said in rough voice and in yer
F abrupt manner:


a Mr. Judge, You are an ass"


The villagers started as if they had bee
: stung. After all the anxiety and trouble the


had undergone for the cause which they col
t sidered to be a just one, they had expected
: somewhat more cordial reception.
d But your excellency demonstrated th
: amazed dignitary.


e Hold your tongue, say you are an as
If I know better-in Burnheim there are no rtt,
n apuays. And you my son, he went on, wit
= his iron features relenting little, and wit
!! that same strange expression in his large brigt
s eyes, o. you will show them to-morroH on ii
e battlefield what Burnheim can do. Wi
J. you not?"


Ii The young man dropped down on his knee
le and was stammering d few broken word
,r which the general did not hear, however, f


when he rose again with high flushed chez
in and sparkling eyes-a far different man
" Blucher hsd already left the room:
e, The worthy peasants, whose peteeFtiFe ia
ne ulties were by no means equal to their homes
as began at last to get glimpse of the general
rs real meaning: The coantry judge was the fir
~ to throw his cap high into the air, and to gi
th three hearty cheers for Father Blucher; WI


with one single word, had extinguish.d nh
,ir they considered stain upon their beloved v
r j: lage, comforted the broken heart Of motht
bv and preserved pair of arms for the defense
ut the country-arms that could not fail to
re their duty now.


ut. When they had given vent to their enthu
nd asm after their hearts contentj and tax
ed leave of the young man, who was carried aw
In by an aid-de-camp of the generals staff, til
wo made up their minds to buy some provisic
ed in the place, and to return again to the villa
ro- They had, however, scarcely reached the ys
me when they were overtaken by the same midd
i'm aged officer who had announced them to
the commandments and asked them what u
aid were going to do now.


the "Why going back again to be sure.
md Burnheim, you know !" elucidated the schc
,a, master