frederick the great and his family-第120章
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ered forth into the worldthe world which is so much greater and more beautiful than I ever dreamed。 But your dear old eyes were before me； I heard your loved voice； which called to me； and I returned to you。〃
〃God be praised！〃 said his father； folding his hands； and raising his eyes gratefully toward heaven。 〃Oh how kind and merciful is God； to give me back my last； my only son； the support of my old age； the delight of my eyes！ You will not leave me again。 This is not merely a leave of absence； you have obtained your release； the war is ended； the king has declared peace。〃
The eyes of the old man were dimmed with tears； he did not perceive how Charles Henry trembled； and that a deep flush mounted to his brow。
〃No； father；〃 he said； with downcast eyes； 〃I will never leave you again。 We have all returned home。 It will be bright and gay once more in the village； and the work will go forward； for there is a great difference between a dozen old men and as many young ones。 It was most needful for us to return。 The corn is ripe； and should have been already gathered。 We must go to work。 To…morrow shall be a happy day for the village； the whole neighborhood shall perceive that the twelve young men of Brunen have returned。 We met a violinist on the way； and we engaged him for to…morrow。 He must play for us under the linden tree； and our fathers and mothers； and sisters and sweethearts must join us； and we will dance and sing and make merry。〃
〃What a coincidence！〃 said the old shepherd； with a bright smile。 〃We had already decided that we would meet together tomorrow under the linden。 We wished to sit there and mourn together over our lost sons。 To sing and dance is much better； and perhaps the old grayheads will join you。〃
〃You must dance with me； father；〃 said Charles Henry； laughing。 〃I will take no refusal。〃
〃I will； my son； I will； joy has made me young again； and if Phylax； the old graybeard； does not mind； and will allow me； I will dance with you； but you know he is always jealous of you。 I am sure the whole village will envy you your gay young partner。 But now； my son；〃 he continued gravely； 〃tell me of our king； and how is it that he has declared peace so suddenly； and whether he has been victorious or the reverse。〃
〃I know nothing of the king〃 said Charles Henry； 〃I was not near him； but in the division of the Duke of Brunswick。〃
〃I know that； my son； but the duke would not proclaim peace without the knowledge and consent of the king。〃
〃Oh； father； they will compel the king to make peace；〃 cried Charles Henry。 〃And as for the Duke of Brunswick； he has given up the attack against Wesel and has withdrawn to Westphalia； and the French are in possession of the entire lowlands； which； it is to be hoped； they will retain。〃
〃You hope that？〃 asked his father； with astonishment。
〃Well； yes； father。 The French king is now； and perhaps will always be； the lord of Cleve； and； as his subjects； we must wish him success； and hope that he will always conquer the King of Prussia。〃
〃What do you say； my son？〃 asked the old man； with a bewildered expression。 〃I fear you are right。 The French are our masters now； and； as our king has declared peace with France； we have the unhappiness of being French subjects。 May God protect us from such a fate！ It would be fearful if we dared not call the great heroking our king； and； if we should live to see the day when our sons should be compelled； as French soldiers； to go to battle against their king。 Only think； Charles Henry； you would not be allowed to wear your fine Prussian uniform on Sundays； and it is so becoming to you； and is as good as new。 But how is it； my son； that they have left you the uniform？ They are usually taken from the released soldiers and put amongst the army stores。〃
〃We all came home in our Prussian uniforms；〃 said Charles Henry； 〃but of course we will lay them aside to…day。〃
〃Why to…day？〃
〃Because we are French subjects； and therefore it is not proper for us to wear the uniform of the enemy； the King of Prussia。 That is also the reason why we have returned home。 When we learned that Cleve had fallen into the possession of the French； we knew that we were no longer the subjects of the King of Prussia； and we dared not fight under his flag against the French； whose subjects we had become。 We considered that； and we thought how much it would injure you all here in Brunen if it were known that your sons were in the army of the Prussian king。 Principally on that account we determined to return home； and we left our regiment yesterday morning； which was on the point of marching off to Minden； and we walked the entire day and half the night。 We slept a few hours in a forest； and at the break of day we recommenced our journey。 And now； father； that I have seen you； and you know every thing； I will go to my room and take off this uniform； and become a peasant once more。〃 He sought to leave the room hastily； for the amazed； horror…struck expression of his father was most disagreeable to him。
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 h
