按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
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 find you here； Father Buschman； and I came for you。 The time is come； we are all assembled on the square awaiting you。〃
〃I come！〃 said the old man； as he stood up resolutely； giving a last loving farewell glance at his wife's grave。
The old man no longer needed his friend's arm to support him； his steps were firm； his form manly and erect； his venerable countenance glowed with energy。
By the side of the village justice he walked to the square； under the great linden。 There every thing looked bright and gay。 The boys had taken advantage of the dinner hour to make worthy preparations for their festival。 They had brought fresh evergreens from the woods； and had made wreaths and festooned them from tree to tree around the square。 The ground was covered prettily with flowers and leaves； and the bench under the tree was decorated with a wreath of field…flowers。
On one side of the square stood several tables covered with bottles of wine and beer and cake and bread； not far from the tables was a throne adorned with flowers； where sat the fiddler； gazing proudly around him； like a king who knows he is the crowning point of the feast。
It certainly had been a long time since the merry sound of the fiddle had been heard in the village of Brunen。 The throne was surrounded by little boys and girls listening with wondering delight at the gay music。 But the grown girls stood afar off and did not look even once at the enticing fiddler； but hid themselves timidly behind the mothers； who were standing with stern faces gazing at the groups of men waiting anxiously on the other side of the square。
The stillness and universal silence began at last to make the boys uneasy。 They had tried in vain to engage the men in conversation。 They received no answer to their questions； and when they turned to the women and the maidens； they also remained dumb。 The returned soldiers then went to the other side of the square to talk to the fiddler and the children； but when they began to fondle and play with the little ones； they were called by their fathers and mothers and bade to remain at their side。
The boys gazed questioningly at one another。
〃I am curious to know what this means； are we to remain standing here all night？〃 muttered one of them。
〃It appears to me that they are waiting for some one；〃 murmured another。
〃They are expecting my father；〃 said Charles Henry； 〃and see； there he comes from the churchyard。 The justice went for him。〃
When the old man arrived at the square the men advanced to meet him； conducted him gravely to the bench under the great linden； and assisted him to stand upon it。 There he towered above them； and his pale； venerable face； his silver hairs were visible to all。 Every eye was directed to him； and breathless silence ensued。 The old man raised his arm and pointed toward the side where the twelve boys stood。
〃Come to me； Charles Henry Buschman；〃 he said； solemnly； and as his son advanced rapidly to him； he continued： 〃I ask you in the name of God； if what you told me yesterday is true？ Have you secretly left the flag of your king； our sovereignthe great King Frederick of Prussia？ Is it true that you have forsaken your regiment and the flag to which you swore to be faithful？〃
〃It is true；〃 said Charles Henry； with assumed daring； 〃but we were not only justified in doing soour duty compelled us。 We are no longer Prussian subjects； but subjects of the King of France。 You all heard to…day what the minister read to us in churchhow the archbishop commanded us to be faithful to our new sovereign。 We could no longer wear the Prussian uniform or be Prussian soldiers； therefore we returned to our village。〃
〃You returned as dishonored； faithless soldiers！〃 cried the old man； looking angrily at his son〃 you returned covered with shame miserable desertersto the disgrace of your fathers； mothers； your brothers； sisters； sweethearts； and your friends。 You have deserted the flag of your rightful king； to whom you swore the oath of allegiancean oath which God received； and which no man can annul。 Men of Brunen！ shall we stand this shame that our sons bring upon us？ Shall the world point their fingers at us and say： 'These are the fathers of soldiers who deserted their regiment； and were false to their king？'〃
〃No！〃 cried they all； as with one voice〃no； we will not stand thiswe will have no deserters as sons！〃
The old man bowed his head in silence； then turned slowly to the side where the women stood。
〃Women and maidens of Brunen！ Will you allow your sons and brothers who are covered with shame； to stay amongst you？ Will you receive the deserters in your houses and at your tables？ Will you open your arms to them and call them sons and brothers？〃
〃No； no！〃 cried the women and maidens； simultaneously； 〃we will not receive them in our houses； or at our tables。 We will have no deserters for sons or brothers！〃
The old man stood erect； and； as if inspired with a mighty enthusiasm； raised his arm toward heaven； and his countenance beamed with holy light。
〃They must return to their flag；〃 he cried；