Year: 1861

This time it was middle-aged man with a
benevolent countenance, whom they made
acquainted with their request to see the
field marshal on most urgent business.


"Why, they had chosen their time rather
badly, indeed; the general was extremely
busy. Couldn't one Of the secretaries do
as well ?" . 81 s-dH d aeS
"By no means they must see the general
Himself" ag i3


"Was it an information concerning the
enemy which they wanted to deliver?" tef
10 no something much more impartant
from Burnheim," added the schoolmastcr.
The middleaged officer with the benevo-
lent countenancc laughed, and said he would
try After the lapse of about half an hour
he came back, and beckoned to them to fol-
low. They were ushered into an ante-room,
and directed to wait for his excellency.


The door opsned after another halfhour's
waiting, and an old man with gray hair, iron.
cut features, and bright eyes, entered the
room /; il was the commander in chief, old
Father Blucher, as the soldiers called him.
The county judge stepped forward, and
bowed very low, delivered the speech about
which he had been pondering ever since
thev had eft their native place, and which,
Of course. he thought to be very eloquent.
He stated all that las been told already in
the course Of this narrative how the desert
er's own mother had gwen information of
her sons crime how they had resolved at
once to bring him back to headquarters !;
and concluded his address with hope that
his excellency would not b induced to think
worse of their village because ofone that had
rendered himself unworthy Of the name Of a
Prussian. The tears came trickling down
his honest cheeks. ..1


The general looked very grave indeed =
Those !.rre brig eyes OF his roamcd for an
instant over hsrural audience with strange
expression. He knew at a glance what sort
of men they were he had to deal with; then
his looks rested for while on the hent fig,
ure of the young man, who, with down-cast
eyes and care.worn face, appeared the very
image of misery and detection He knew
his case to be a hopeless one; deserting col
ors in time Of war is u capital crime, and
Father Butcher, with his iron will, was the
last man in the world to be trihed with.


On sudden, the features Of the old hero
assumed an expression ofharshuess. Turn
ing round toward the speaker of this singu-
lar deputation, he said in a rough voice and
in very abrupt manner: "Mr. Judge, you
are an ass" s..


The villagers started as fthey had been
stung. After all the anxiety and trouble
they had undergone for the cause which
they considered to be a just one, they had
expected somewhat more cordial reception:


"But your exceilency" demonstrated
the amazed dignitary.


| "Hold your tongue, I say you are an ass.
know better in Burnheim there are no
ruaaways. And you, my son" he went on
with his iron features relenting little, and
with that same strange expression in his
large bright eyes, ''you will show them to-
morrow, on the battlefield, what Burnheim
man can do will you not ~


| The young man dropped down on his
knees, and was stammering a few broken
words, which the general did not hear, how
ever for when the lad rose again with high
flushed cheeks and sparkling eyes--a far
different man Blueher had already left the
room.


The worthy peasants, whose perceptive
faculties were by no means equal to their
honesty, began at last to get a glimpse of,he
general S real meaning. The county judge
was the first to throw his cap high into the
air, and to give three hearty cheers for Father
Blucher; who, with one single word, had ex-
tinguished what they considered stain
from their beloved village, comforted the
broken heart of a mother, and preserved a
pair of arms for the defense of the country
arms that could not fail to do their duty now
| When they had given vent to their en-.
| thusiasm after their hearts content, and
taken leave of the young man, who was car
ried away by an aid-de-camp ofthe generals
staff, they made up their minds to buy some
provisions IN the place, and to return again
to the village They had, however, scarcely
reached the yard, when they were overtaker
I


by the same middle-aged officer who had an
nounce them to the commandment chief, and
4 asked item what in Heavens name they
were go ng to do now. a
| "Why. going back again, to be sure. II
i Burnheim, you know r. elucidated th'
1 schoolmaster. &


And did they think that his excellenc,


would allow any one to leave headquartei.


without having had a dinner first lie hat
already given orders to that effect, and the,


hal but to follow this non commissioned of


fcer here, who will show them the way.
i They needed not to be told twice, we ma,


be sure and when they were shown into
kitchen, where dim er was served up 70
them, with bottle of wine standing befor
each cover, they felt very grateful to his ex
cellency, and very proud at the same time


because of the honor shown to the represen
tatiyes Of their village. But when each Q
them found a double Frederick dor unde
! his plate, their enthusiasm burst out afrcsf
! and many were the healths drank to tn
welfare Of Old Father Bluchcr.