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their sons； brothers； and lovers。 The twelve boys who had returned were under the linden in their handsomest Sunday attire。 But why did they stand alone？ Why was such a wide space left between them and the other villagers？ Why did the men avoid looking at them？ Why did the maidens step timidly back and remain silent when they approached and tried to speak with them？ Why were they all whispering together； pointing at the boys and turning their backs upon them when they drew near？
〃Leave them alone；〃 whispered one of the boys to the others； 〃they will be more friendly this afternoon when the music is playing and the wine and cake is handed。〃
〃There is my father； and I must go and meet him；〃 said Charles Henry； as he hastened toward the old man who was approaching the square。
All drew back from Charles Henry； and as he stood opposite his father； like actors upon the stage they found themselves alone amongst the spectators； who were gazing at them with breathless expectation。
〃Good…morning； father；〃 said Charles Henry； with forced gayety； as he offered his hand to his father。 〃You slept so late to…day； and went to bed so early yesterday； that I have not been able to speak to you since our first greeting。 So I bid you good…morrow now。〃
The old man looked quietly at him； but he did not take the proffered hand； and tried to pass him。
〃Father；〃 continued Charles Henry； 〃you must be tired； our hut lies at the other end of the village； and that is a long walk for your old legs。 Rest yourself on me； father； and allow your son to lead you to church。〃 He stretched forth his hand to take the old man's arm； but Buschman pushed it back； and passed him； without looking； without even speaking to him。
Charles Henry sprang after him。 〃Father；〃 he cried； 〃do you not hear me？ Can you〃
The old man did not really appear to hear him； for he walked toward the village justice with a quiet； unmoved face； as the latter advanced to meet him。
〃Friend；〃 said Buschman； in a loud； firm voice； 〃I am fatigued with my walk； will you lend me your arm？〃
He leaned heavily upon the offered arm； and walked quickly onward。 All heard these words； but only the justice saw the tears which rolled down his pale； sunken cheeks。
〃You were very harsh； father；〃 murmured the justice； as they walked on。
〃Were you more forgiving？〃 said the old man； with a trembling voice。 〃Was not your son amongst the twelve； and did you speak to him； or look at him？〃
〃He did not pass the night in my house； I drove him away！〃 said the justice gloomily。
〃Oh； oh！〃 sighed the old man； 〃how bitter is our grief！ We love our children most when they give us most sorrow； but it must be so； friend； we cannot act otherwise。 Let us enter the church； and pray God to give us strength to do what is right。〃
Supported by the justice； he entered the churchyard； while from the other side the minister； followed by the sacristan and the choirboys； was just appearing。
〃See；〃 murmured the justice； 〃our good old minister has not come to… day to preach to us； but has sent his assistant。 There is certainly some disagreeable order of the archbishop to read to us； and our pastor is not willing to read it； he is a good Prussian； and loves the great king。〃
The young minister advanced smilingly to meet the two old men。
〃Well；〃 said he； with sanctimonious friendliness； as he offered both of them a hand； 〃allow me to congratulate you。〃
〃For what？〃 asked both of them； astonished。
〃For the happiness of yesterday。 Can there be a greater joy for fathers than to receive their sons safe and sound from the tumult of battle？ Your sons have returned home； faithfully fulfilling their duty to their new master； his Catholic majesty of France。 They abandoned the flag of the heretic king； laid aside his uniform； and are again simple peasants； ready to assist their fathers in the field。 Come； my young friends； that I may give you the blessing of the Church； for so resolutely fulfilling your duty。〃
He held out his hand to the young men； who were just entering the churchyard。 They obeyed his call the more readily； as it was the first welcome they had receivedthe first kind word they had heard since their return。 As they approached the minister； the other men drew back； and entered the church hastily； followed by their wives and children。
〃You will see； father；〃 murmured the justice； as they seated themselves together in the pew； 〃that there is an order to…day。 Whenever the assistant is so delighted and friendly； there is something wrong。 They are certainly meditating some villanous trick against Frederick； and therefore our good pastor is not here。〃
The justice had prophesied aright。 When the services were over； and the congregation about to leave the church； the assistant again mounted the pulpit； and desired them to remain for a while； and hear what he had to communicate； in the name of the archbishop； Sir Clement Augustus of Bavaria。
〃His eminence； the most honorable archbishop； sends his dear and faithful children the holy blessing and salutation of the Church。 These are his words： 'We； Clement Augustus； archbishop of Bavaria； entreat and command our children in Christ to be faithful to their new government and their new king； Louis XV。 of France； whose apostolic majesty has taken the sword of the Lord into his blessed hand； to fight the enemies of the Church； and to chastise and punish the rebellious heretic prince who has arbitrarily named himself King of Prussia。 God's anger is against him； and He will crush and destroy the presumptuous mockers of the Lord。 Woe unto them who will not listen to God's voice； who in their mad blindness cling to this heretic！ Woe unto you if； in the delusion of your hearts； you still offer him love and faith！ You are released from all duty to him as subjects； and you now have the blessing of the Church。 I； as your shepherd； made so by the holy Pope of Rome； command you； therefore； to be faithful to your new masterpray that God may bless his arms； and grant him victory over his ungodly enemy。 My anger and dire punishment shall reach any one who refuses to obey this command。 He who dares to stand by the heretic king； is himself a heretic； and a rebellious subject of the Church。 Be on your guard； heavy punishment shall meet those who dare to rejoice over the fame of the so…called great Frederick。 Such rejoicing will be regarded as blasphemy against the holy Mother Church。 To conclude； we remain your loving father； and send our dear children in Christ our most gracious love and greeting。'〃
The men listened to the message of the fanatic archbishop with gloomy faces and downcast eyes； but the twelve boys； who at first stood alone in the aisle； not daring to seat themselves with the others； now gazed boldly and triumphantly around； seeming to ask if the villagers did not now acknowledge that they had acted wisely in returning。
With renewed courage； and somewhat proudly； they were the first to leave the church； and placed themselves in two rows at the door。 While the congregation was passing by they invited their dear friends and relations to meet them that afternoon under the great linden； where they would hold a little festival to celebrate their safe return。
〃We shall come；〃 said the men； with earnest； solemn voices。 〃We will be there；〃 said the mothers； gazing with tearful eyes at the triumphant faces of their sons。 The young maidens whom the boys invited to dance； passed them in silence。
Old Buschman； alone； did not answer his son's invitation； nor did he follow the rest to the village； but turned to the side of the churchyard where his wife was buried。 He seated himself upon her grave； and murmured a few words with trembling lips； raising his face toward heaven。 A sob escaped him every now and then； and the tears rolled slowly from his eyes。 From time to time he wrung his hands； as if bewailing his sorrow to God and beseeching His mercy； then brushed away his tearsangry with himself for being so moved。
He sat there a long； long time； struggling with his griefalone with God and his shame。 Approaching steps aroused him； he looked up。 The village justice stood before him； and gazed at him with a melancholy smile。
〃I knew I would fin