frederick the great and his family-第88章

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But　Buschman　placed　his　hand　so　heavily　upon　his　son's　arm　that　he　was　compelled　to　remain。　〃Say　it　is　a　jest；　Charles；〃　he　cried；　in　an　excited　voice。　〃It　is　not　possible　for　my　son；　the　brother　of　my　six　hero…boys；　to　speak　thus！　It　is　merely　a　jest；　Charles。　You　wished　to　joke　with　your　old　father。　It　is　not　true　that　you　have　deserted　the　flag　of　our　king；　put　an　end　to　this　cruel　jest；　Charles　Henry；　and　show　me　your　leave　of　absence　which　every　honest　soldier　obtains　before　leaving　his　regiment。　Do　you　hear；　Charles　Henry？　Show　it　to　me　quickly。〃　He　extended　his　trembling　hand　toward　his　son；　while　with　the　other　he　still　held　his　arm　in　a　powerful　grasp。

〃Father；〃　said　Charles　Henry；　fiercely；　〃I　have　no　such　paper。　It　is　as　I　told　you；　we　have　left　the　Prussian　army　because　we　are　no　longer　the　subjects　of　the　King　of　Prussia；　and　it　is　not　necessary　for　us　to　remain　in　the　service。　We　wish　to　become　peasants　once　more。〃

〃You　lie！　you　lie！〃　cried　his　father。　〃You　are　no　deserterit　is　impossible　that　my　son　should　be　a　deserter。〃

〃No；　father；　I　am　no　deserter；〃　returned　his　son；　defiantly；　as　he　freed　his　arm　from　the　old　man's　grasp。　〃I　am　no　deserterI　have　only　done　my　duty　as　a　subject　of　the　French　king。　I　have　left　the　flag　of　the　enemy；　and　I　am　here　ready　and　willing　to　obey　my　new　master　as　a　true　subject。　That　is　all　I　have　to　say；　father；　and　I　believe　when　you　consider；　you　will　see　that　I　was　right；　and　that　you　will　be　pleased　for　me　to　take　off　the　Prussian　uniform　and　remain　with　you。〃　He　did　not　wait　for　his　father's　answer；　but　left　the　room　hastily；　as　if　he　feared　to　be　again　detained。

The　old　man　arose　to　follow　him；　but　his　feet　refused　their　accustomed　office；　with　a　deep　groan；　he　sank　upon　his　chair；　and　as　the　scalding　tears　streamed　from　his　eyes；　he　murmured：　〃Oh；　my　God！　my　son　is　a　deserter！　Why　did　you　permit　me　to　live　to　see　this　shame？　Why　did　you　not　close　my　eyes　that　they　might　not　meet　this　disgrace？〃




CHAPTER　V。

THE　BRAVE　FATHERS　AND　THE　COWARDLY　SONS。


The　clear　bell　of　the　village　church　was　sounding　for　mass；　calling　the　pious　inhabitants　of　Brunen　to　worship　in　the　temple　of　God。　All　the　hut…doors　were　opening；　and　men　and　women　in　Sunday　attire　wending　their　way　in　solemn　stillness　to　church。　They　were　followed　by　their　childrenthe　maidens　with　downcast；　modest　eyes；　the　boys　with　bright　and　joyous　faces；　proud　of　the　thought　that　they　were　old　enough　to　go　to　church。

From　the　distant　farm　came　the　servants；　two　and　two；　up　the　broad　chestnut　alley；　greeting　here　and　there　the　church…goers；　and　walking　on　with　them；　chatting　softly。　They　all　remained　standing　a　short　time　under　the　great　linden；　waiting　until　the　bell　ceased；　until　the　church…door　was　opened　and　the　minister　appeared　with　the　sacristan　and　the　four　choir…boys。　Not　until　then　were　they　allowed　to　enter　the　church。

A　bright…looking　crowd　was　assembled　under　the　linden；　it　seemed　as　if　all　the　inhabitants　of　the　village　were　there。　All　felt　the　necessity　of　visiting　God's　house　to…day　to　thank　Him　for　the　safe　return　of　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