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request； she was startled； and turned her glance slowly down from heaven upon the joyful crowd that surrounded her。
〃What do you wish； father？〃 she asked。
The old shepherd arose； and； taking his cap from his gray head； said solemnly； 〃You have read us of the victory； Anna Sophia； now read us of those who gave their lives for it。 Tell us of the dead。〃
〃Yes； read us a list of the dead！〃 cried the others； uncovering their heads respectfully。
Anna sought for the list； and read slowly the names of the fallen。 Their faces brightened more and more； none belonging to them were dead。 Suddenly Anna paused； and uttered a low cry； then looked at Father Buschman with a terrified expression。 Perhaps the old man understood her； for he trembled a little； and his head fell upon his breast； but he raised it proudly again。 Looking almost commandingly at Anna； he said；
〃Read on； my daughter。〃
But Anna could not read。 The paper trembled in her hand； and her face was pale as death。
〃Read on；〃 repeated the old man〃read on； I； your father； command you to read！〃
Anna sighed deeply。 〃I will obey；〃 she said； and casting a glance of inexpressible sorrow at the old man； two new names fell from her lips and tears to consecrate them。 〃Anton Buschman； Frederick Buschman；〃 and then taking advantage of the breathless stillness； she added； 〃The two brothers were the first to attack the enemy they died the death of heroes！〃 She ceased。 The paper dropped from her trembling hands and fell at the old man's feet。
The weeping eyes of the crowd were turned upon old Buschman。 As if crushed by the storm； he had staggered to the bench； he bowed his head upon his breast that no one might see the expression of his face； his trembling hands clasped on his knees； made a touching picture of silent sorrow。
His son Henry； who had been standing with the others； stepped softly to him； and kneeling down； put his arms around the old man's neck and spoke to him tenderly。
The old man started up with terrorhis glance turned from his son to the crowd； and met everywhere sympathizing and troubled faces。 〃Well；〃 he asked； in a hard； rough voice； 〃why do you weep？ Did you not hear that my sons died the death of heroes？ Have they not fallen for their country and their king？ It would become us to weep if they were cowards and fled in battle。 But Anna Sophia told us they died the death of heroes。 Therefore； let us think of them with love and pride。 'Blessed are the dead； for they see God！'〃
He sank upon his knees and murmured low prayers for the repose of the dead； and now he wept for the first time。 At his side knelt his son and Anna Sophia； and the crowd； overcome by emotion and sympathy； followed their example； and with bended knees murmured the pious prayers of the Church for the dead。
The solemn stillness was broken by the beating of drums and the tramping of horses。 A company of infantry； headed by the drummer and fifer； marched up the street and approached the villagers； who； rising from their knees； gazed anxiously at the troops。
〃They are Prussians；〃 said the mayor； who was amongst the crowd。
〃They are Prussians；〃 repeated the crowd； with brightening faces。
Headed by the mayor； they went forward to meet and conduct them to the middle of the square； where they halted。 The mayor then approached the officer and asked him what he desired。
The officer； after making the drummer a sign； who beat the roll powerfully； drew out a roll of paper and unfolded it。 The villagers pushed forward and waited with breathless attention。 Close to the officer stood the old shepherd； next to him his son and Anna Sophia； who was staring； pale and trembling； at the officer； who now began to read。
This paper commanded the unmarried men of the village to place themselves under the king's flag； and to take their places in the ranks of those who fought for their country。 Harvest was at an end； and the king could now demand the fighting men of villages and cities to join him and share with him his dangers and his victories。 The officer then commanded the mayor to give him early the next morning a list of the unmarried men in the village； that he might call them out and conduct them to Cleve for further orders。
A hollow murmur ran through the crowd when the officer had finished。 The joyful and inspired emotion they had just felt gave way to discontent and gloom。 All had been ready to celebrate the victory； but found it far from desirable to enter the ranks。
The old shepherd looked angrily at the despairing crowd； and an expression of pious peace spread over his venerable countenance。 Turning to the officer； he said； in a loud voice；
〃I had six sons in the army； two fell in the battle of Losovitz； and my poor old heart still weeps for the dead； but it is also content that the king calls for another sacrifice。 I have one other son； he is unmarried； has no one to take care of； neither wife nor child nor his old father； for； thank God； I still have strength to support myself。 Go； then； my son Charles Henry； the king calls you； and if it must be so； lie down like your brothers in a heroic grave。〃
He ceased and laid his hand； as if with a blessing； upon his son's head； but Henry did not partake of his father's enthusiasm。 His face was pale as death； and his powerful frame trembled as if with fever。
Anna Sophia saw it； her beaming face paled； and her eye sank down with shame。
The officer； who had noticed the dejection of the people； wished to give them time to recover。
〃Leave every thing alone until tomorrow；〃 he said。 〃Tomorrow； sir mayor； you will hand me the list； and I am sure that the unmarried boys will obey their king's call with joy。 Now； sir mayor； I beg you to conduct me to the courthouse； where I will pass the night； and see that my soldiers find good quarters there； and in the village。〃
He nodded kindly to the people； and accompanied by the mayor； moved onward。 The crowd followed them silently； and the gay village boys danced gleefully around the fine procession。
CHAPTER III。
THE CERTIFICATE OF ENLISTMENT。
Anna Sophia returned to her solitary home in deep meditation； and not even in the stillness of her room could she regain her accustomed serenity and cheerfulness。 Her thoughts were far away； for the first time her room appeared to her gloomy and deserted。 The memories of the past did not now speak to her； and when she threw herself upon her bed； it was without having bid her parents goodnight。
But even then she could find no rest。 Strange visions were wafted before her waking eyes； wonderful dreams took hold of her senses。 She saw her victorious king standing before her； his sparkling eyes beckoning her to follow him。 Then she saw herself in the front of an army； the fluttering banner in her hand； the glittering shield on her breast； followed by many brave warriors； who were all gazing proudly upon her。 And again she saw herself。 But now she was all alonealone by the side of an open grave； with a gaping wound in her breast； raising her weary eyes upward and murmuring with pale lips； 〃How sweet to die for one's country！〃 Then the brothers of her betrothed raised themselves slowly from among the dead； and signed to her to follow them。 She seemed to hear them saying； 〃Revenge our death； our brother is faint…hearted！〃
At this thought； she raised herself upon her couch。
〃He is a coward；〃 murmured she。 〃I saw him turn pale and tremble； and I felt as if a sword had entered my heart and destroyed all my love for him。 Yes； he is a coward； and instead of rejoicing at the thought of a battle； he trembles。〃
She covered her face with her hands； as if to hide from the night the burning blush of shame that mounted to her brow。 Thus she sat for hours motionless； as if listening to the voices whispering to her from within； until the first gleam of morning； the first ray of sun entered the open window to arouse her from her waking dreams。
She sprang from her bed； and dressed herself with trembling eagerness。 The sun had arisen； and Charles Henry was no doubt already in the woods； at the place she had appointed to meet him yesterday morning。 When bidding him good…by； she had whispered to him to meet her there in the morning a