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ible blessing。 Patience； then； patience！ A day will come when I will take vengeance on this haughty enemy of the Church。 On that day the colors of the apostolic majesty of Austria shall be planted on the fortress of Magdeburg！〃
CHAPTER X。
THE FIVE COURIERS。
It was the morning of the thirteenth of August。 The streets of Berlin were quiet and empty。 Here and there might be seen a workman with his axe upon his shoulder； or a tradesman stepping slowly to his comptoir。 The upper circle of Berlin still slumbered and refreshed itself after the emotions and excitements of yesterday。
Yesterday had been a day of rejoicing； it had brought the news of the great and glorious victory which the crown prince； Ferdinand of Brunswick； had gained at Minden； over the French army under Broglie and Contades。
The crown prince had ever remembered that great moment in the beginning of the war； when his mother took leave of him in the presence of the Brunswick regiments。 Embracing him for the last time； she said： 〃I forbid you to appear before me till you have performed deeds of valor worthy of your birth and your allies！〃 ＇Footnote： Bodman。＇
Her son； the worthy nephew of Frederick the Great had now bought the right to appear before his mother。
By the victories of Gotsfeld and Minden he had now wiped out the defeat at Bergen； and the laurels which Brissac had won there were now withered and dead。
Berlin had just received this joyful news。 After so much sorrow； so much humiliation and disappointment； she might now indulge herself in a day of festal joy； and； by public declarations and testimonials； make known to the world how dear to her heart was this victory of her king and his generals； and how deep and warm was the sympathy she felt。
All work was set aside in honor of this great celebrationthe people were spread abroad in the meadows and woods； shouting and rejoicing； playing and dancing； the rich and the distinguished joined them without ceremony； to prove to the world that in such great moments； all differences of rank were forgottenthat they were all members of one bodyunited in joy and in sorrow by an electric chain。
So they slumbered on； the streets were still empty； the windows still closed。
But see！ There comes a horseman through the Frankfort gate； dusty and breathless； his glowing face was radiant with joy！ As he dashed through the streets he waved a white handkerchief high in the air； and with a loud and powerful voice； cried out； 〃Victory！ victory！〃
This one word had a magic influence。 The windows flew up； the doors were dashed open； and shouting and screaming crowds of men rushed after the horseman。 At a corner they surrounded his horse and compelled him to stop。 〃Who is victorious？〃 cried they tumultuously。
〃The kingthe great Frederick！ He has whipped the Russians at Kunersdorf！〃
A cry of rapture burst from every lip。 〃The king is victorious！ he has defeated the Russians！〃
Onward flew the courier to the palace； after him streamed the mad people。 〃The days of mourning are overthe blood of our sons has not been shed in vain； they are the honored deadtheir death brought victory to the fatherland； they have drenched the soil with the blood of our barbarous enemies。 We whipped the French at Minden； the Russians at Kunersdorf； and now we have defeated the Austrians and won back the trophies of their victory at Hochkirch！〃
The people surrounded the castle shouting and triumphing。 The courier had entered to give to the queen the joyful news。 Soon the royal messengers were flying into every corner of the city to summon the ministers and officers of state to the castle。 On foot； on horseback； in carriages； they hastened on； and the people received them with joyful shouts。 〃The king is victorious； the Russians are defeated！〃
And now a door opened on a balcony； and Minister Herzberg stepped out。 He waved his hat joyfully high in the air。 The people returned this greeting with a roar like an exulting lion。 He waved his hand； and the lion ceased to roarthere was death…like silence。 He then told them that the king had offered battle to the Russians； yesterday； not far from Frankfort。 The Russian army was greatly superior in numbers； they received the Prussians with a fearful； deadly fire！ Unrestrainable； regardless of cannon…balls； or of death； the Prussians rushed on； stormed all the strongholds； and drove the Russian militia with fearful slaughter back to the graveyard of Kunersdorf。 At five o'clock the king sent off the courier and the victory was assured。
〃The victory was assured！〃 reechoed the mighty voice of the people。 With warm and kindly eyes they looked upon each other。 Proud； glad； happy； men who did not know each other； who had never met； now felt that they were brothers； the sons of one fatherland； and they clasped hands； and shouted their congratulations。
Suddenly； at the end of the street； another horseman appeared。 He drew nearer and nearer。 It is a second courier； a second message of our king to his family and his Berliners。
The people looked at him distrustfully； anxiously。 What means this second courier？ What news does he bring？
His countenance gay； his brow clear； with a flashing smile he greets the people。 He brings news of victorycomplete； assured victory。
Like the first courier； he dashed on to the castle； to give his dispatches to the queen and the ministers。 The people were drunk with joy。 The equipages of the nobles rolled by。 Every one whose rank gave him the privilege wished to offer his personal congratulations to the queen。
And now in the Konigstrasse was seen a venerable procession。 The magistrates of Berlinin front the burgomasters with their long periwigs and golden chains； behind them the worthy city councilall hastened to the castle to offer congratulations in the name of the city。
The crowd drew back respectfully before the worthy city fathers； and opened a path for them； then fixed their eyes again upon the balcony where Minister Her/。berg again appeared； and called for silence。
He will give us the news of the second courier。 The victory is absolute。 The Russians completely defeated。 They had retreated to Kunersdorf。 In this village they proposed to defend themselves。 But the Prussians were unceasingly pressing upon them。 Seven redoubts； Kirchhof； Spitzberg； and one hundred and eighty…six cannon had been taken。 The enemy had suffered a monstrous loss； and was in the greatest confusion。 The fate of the day seemed conclusive。 This was owing to the heroic courage of the army； whom neither the blazing heat of the sun nor the unexampled slaughter could for a moment restrain。 At six o'clock； when the king sent off this second courier； the enemy had retreated behind his last intrenchments； and taken refuge at Gudenberg。 ＇Footnote： Frederick the Great。 Thiebault＇
A loud hurrah broke from the people as Herzberg finished and left the balcony。 Now there was no room for doubt。 The enemy was overwhelmed and had fled to his last intrenchment。 Would the king leave him unmolested； and would he not still drive the hated enemy further？
While groups of men were assembled here and there； discussing these weighty questions； and others； intoxicated； drunk with joy at this great victory over their hereditary enemy； were making eloquent addresses to the people； a third courier appeared in sight。
Breathless with expectation and anxiety； they would not give him time to reach the castle。 They mustthey would know the news he brings。 There should be no delay； no temporizing； no mysteries。 The people were one great family。 They awaited the message of their father。 They demanded news of their distant sons and brothers。
The third courier brings renewed assurances。 The Russians are routed。 The king will give them no rest。 He will drive them from their last stronghold。 With his whole army； with cavalry and militia； with all his cannon； he was in the act of storming Gudenberg。 This is the message of the third courier。
The people are proud and happy。 No one thinks of going home。 In fact； they have no home but the streets。 Every house would be too small for this great family which feels a thirst to express its joy and its rapture to each other。 And then it was po