frederick the great and his family-第40章
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l around her was as in former days； except these empty chairs。 But Anna had only to close her eyes to see the beloved forms of her departed parents； to feel the pressure of their hands； and to hear them addressing her； in tones which love alone could have uttered； love alone understood。 Then saying aloud； 〃Good…morning； mother！ Good…morning； father！〃 she rose； with closed eyes； from her seat； and hastened from the arbor with the pleasant thought that she was followed by the loving gaze of her parents。 She did not turn once； for then she would have seen that the arbor was empty； and she wished to preserve the sweet delusion to be the brighter and happier at her day's work。 When； during the day； she saw the burgher's wife surrounded by her blooming daughters； she would say to herself； 〃I also have a father and mother at home； and they await me！〃 Then； when her day's work was finished； she hastened with a flying step to her home； whose solemn stillness resounded for her with the dear…loved voices of the past。 Opening the bedroom of her parents； she cried； 〃Good…night； mother！ Good…night； father！〃 Then she climbed up to her little attic； which had been her father's favorite room； and which； when she was with him； he had called a little spot of Eden。 There stood his writing…table； and above it the bookcase； which held her most precious treasures； her father's library。 From the window the Rhine could be seen meandering along the smooth green meadows； finally loosing itself between the distant hills。
Her father had left her this blessed little spot； and hither she fled when her heavy day's work was over。 There of an evening she stood； gazing thoughtfully out into the darkening twilight； and there daily she greeted the rising sun； repeating aloud her morning prayer。 Then with eager hands she took from the book…case one of the large folios。 From these books Anna Sophia drew all her knowledge。 And when； during the long winter evenings； the village girls were busy spinning； she would tell them the stories she had read； no hand was idle； no eye drooping。 She was looked upon as the guardian angel of the village； she knew some remedy； some alleviation for every illness； every pain。 In a sick…room； she was all that a nurse should be； kind； loving； patient； and gentle。 She was beloved by all； and all the village boys sought to gain her hand。 For a long time she would listen to none of them； and flew in terror from those who broached the subject。
How the youngest son of the old shepherd Buschman had finally won her heart； she did not herself know。 It is true； he was the handsomest； best…made boy in the village； but it was not for this that she loved him； for she had known him long ago； and had been perfectly indifferent to him； until within the last few weeks。 Why was it？ Because he loved her so dearly； and had told her he would die if she did not listen to him。 Many others had done and said the same thing； but it had never moved her sensibilities； nor had their threats terrified her。 What； then； had won her cold； proud heart？
The old shepherd had been the occasion of their frequently meeting each other。 For some weeks she had been in the habit； when her day's work was over； of reading to him the daily paper； which the good… hearted burgher always sent to the old man； who had six sons in the king's army； he had given his country six soldiers。
Keeling by his side upon the meadow； Anna Sophia would first read to him； and then talk over the events of the war； and prophesy many a glorious victory。 And then； Charles Henry； who worked on the same farm with Anna； joined them； speaking enthusiastically of the great； heroic king。 In their inspired love for their great sovereign； their hearts had first met； he seemed to her a hero； because he had six brothers in Frederick's army； she saw laurels upon his brow； won by his brothers upon the battle…field。 She loved him for his brothers' sake； and she was proud of being the bride of him of whom it was said； when he passed； 〃It is the old man's dearest childGod preserve him to his father； whose only prop he is！〃 The old shepherd was thinking of all this； as he sat in the midst of his flock upon the green meadow； gazing toward the corn…field in which Anna Sophia and his son were at work。
〃God be praised！〃 murmured the old man。 〃That is the last sheaf； Anna will soon be with me。〃
At last； the happy moment had come。 The old shepherd folded his hands； and a silent prayer arose from his heart for his absent sons。 He then rose from his lowly seat； and whistled to his faithful Phylax to follow。 The flock arrived at the village； and were driven by the dog into the sheep…pen； from which was heard the tremulous bleating of the lambs； who were rejoicing over their dams' arrival。 Father Buschman waited impatiently until the last sheep had entered； and then hastened toward the large farm house to the left of the pen。
Anna Sophia was just leaving the house； paper in hand； and advanced； with a cheerful smile； to meet him。
〃Father；〃 said she； 〃I have the paper； and we are the first to read it。 The good burgher and his wife are in the country； and the overseer allowed me to take it。 But； hear； father； he says he glanced over it hastily； and saw something about a Prussian victory。〃
The old shepherd's face sparkled with joy； and he sought to draw Anna away with him。 〃Come； come； my child；〃 said he； 〃to my house； where it is still and quiet； there we will read of our king's victories。〃
But Anna shook her beautiful head。
〃No； father；〃 said she； 〃it would not be right to read the paper alone today。 The king's victories belong to his people； to each one of his subjects； and every heart will beat more proudly when it hears of them； and thank God that He has blessed the weapons of their king。 It is not for us to keep this joy from our men and women。 Charles Henry； with the overseer's permission； had already assembled the villagers upon the open space under the beech…trees。 See！ all are hastening with their work。 Come； father； we must read to our neighbors and friends our king's victories。 A victory belongs to the whole village； but should there ever be news of a lost battle； then； father； we will read it to ourselves。〃
〃God forbid that this should come to pass！〃 said the old man； following Anna to the place of general meeting。
CHAPTER II。
NEWS OF BATTLE。
The inhabitants of the village had already assembled on the square； under the great linden； and as old Buschman now approached； supported by Anna Sophia's arm； they were joyfully greeted。
Anna waved the paper like a white flag in the air； and； hastening the old man forward impatiently； she exclaimed；
〃Our king has won a battle！〃
Shouts of triumph were the result。
〃Did he whip the French； or the Austrians？〃 asked one of the peasants； as he drew close to Anna； and tried to seize the paper。
Anna drew it back hastily。
〃The steward sent it to me； to read to the community； and I shall do so。〃
〃Tell us； Anna；〃 said another； 〃has he beaten the Russians or the cunning Saxons？ I wish he could trample them all under foot。〃
〃He will； if he has not yet done so；〃 cried old Buschman。
〃Children； our king will conquer all his enemies； he is a hero； and has only brave fellows to fight for him。 Just think of the thirty noble boys that our village alone gave him！〃
〃Read； Anna； read！〃 cried the curious crowd。 And Anna； ready to please them； walked under the linden； and stepped upon the wooden beach that surrounded the tree。
Father Buschman placed himself at her feet； and several old men and women followed his example。 The young people gathered around in groups； and gazed respectfully at the youthful girl； whose bright； beautiful face glowed as if lighted by the evening sun。 The little boys； who had followed their parents from curiosity； were amusing themselves in turning somersets。
Anna now raised her voice and began to read in a bright tone。 It was a brilliant and inspiring account of the battle of Losovitz； and Anna read it in breathless haste and burning cheeks。 As she read how the Prussians were at first defeated by the powerful army of the Austrians under General Brown； whose terrific artillery sent death and ruin into the Prussian ranks； the women sobbed softly； and the men could hardly suppress their sighs。 They breathed more freely when they heard that the king； adopting a new expedient； advanced a part of his cavalry into the centre of his weakened infantry； and thus turned the tide of battle。 Their courage failed on hearing that this advantage was soon lost； the enemy still advanced in unbroken columns； and almost forced the Prussians to retreat。 The left wing of infantry； commanded by the Duke of Severn； which had fired unceasingly； had exhausted their ammunition； while the Austrian General Wied； who defended the post of Losovitz； kept up a brisk cannonading。 The Prussian warriors pleaded loudly for powder and shot。
Anna stopped reading； her heart beat loudly； she leaned her head against the tree and closed her eyes in terror。 The old people sitting at her feet prayed and wept aloud； and from the crowd there arose sounds of grief and despair。 In their terror they had forgotten that it was of a victory and not a defeat they were to hear； and that the battle must at last have ended to their advantage。
〃Read on； Anna；〃 said the old shepherd； after a long pause。 〃Are we such cowards as not to be able even to hear an account of this murderous battle in which our sons were brave enough to fight？〃
〃Read on； read on！〃 was heard here and there。
Anna unclosed her eyes and raised the paper。 Breathless stillness reigned anew。 Anna read；
〃In this fearful moment the Duke of Bevern felt that a decisive step must be taken； and springing in front of his troops with drawn sword； he cried； 'Boys； you have no more ammunition！ Do not be discouraged！ Fight with your bayonets！' These words； spoken by a brave and beloved leader； gave heart to all。 They closed their ranks； and inspired by the example of their officer； attacked the enemy boldly。 In vain Baron Stahremberg hastened forward with his six battalionsuselessly Baron Wied tried to defend the house of Losovitz in which his grenadiers had taken refuge。 Nothing could withstand the Prussians。 Like a raging hurricane they fell upon the enemy； who were forced to give way to them。 A part of the Austrian force sprang into the Elbe； and tried to save their lives by swimming。 Losovitz was tired； and all its defenders fled。 The Prussians had gained a complete victory。〃 ＇Footnote： 〃Characteristics of the Seven Years' War；〃 vol。 i。； p。 63＇
Anna Sophia could read no further。 The delight of all was intense wives embraced their husbands with tears of joyold men thanked God aloudand the boys； who had ceased their play and been listening attentively； made bolder and higher somersets and shouted more lustily。 Anna Sophia alone said nothing。 Her tall； slender； but full form was leaning against the treean inspired smile was on her lip； and her eyes； raised to heaven； beamed with holy fire。 She stood as if in a dream； and at first did not hear old Buschman ask her to read on。 When he repeated his request； she was startled； and turned her glance slowly down from heaven upon the joyful crowd that
