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almost angry face。 Deafening cheers greeted him； and the dense crowd
assembled in the street shouted： 〃Long live Andreas Hofer； the
commander…in…chief！ Long live Andreas Hofer； the liberator！〃
〃My brave son； Joseph Speckbacher；〃 said the Capuchin； filling his
glass； 〃you see every one gets his due in the end。 Day before
yesterday； while we were fighting in the sweat of our brows on Mount
Isel； my dear brother Andreas Hofer sat up at his friend Etschmann's
tavern。 A bottle of wine stood before him； and his rosary lay on the
table； and while we were fighting； he prayed and drank； and sent us
from time to time his orders； which sounded like oracles； which no
one understood； and which every one interpreted as he deemed
prudent。 Now he must toil in his turn and fight with his tongue；
while we are sitting here snugly and drinking our wine。 There is
another flourish outside！ Trara！ trara！〃
And the Capuchin waved his glass and emptied it at one draught。
Suddenly the crowd in the street became silent； a student came
forward and advanced several steps toward the balcony。
〃Andreas Hofer； beloved commander…in…chief of the Tyrol；〃 he said；
in a loud； solemn voice； 〃our hearts are full of love for you and
praise of your heroic deeds； and our lips； too； would like to
overflow。 Permit us； therefore； noble； hero； beloved liberator； to
sing before you a song glorifying your exploits； a song praising
your struggles and victories； a song which will henceforth be sung
by every man； woman； and child； throughout the Tyrol。 We students
wrote the song； for your heroic deeds filled our hearts with
enthusiasm； and our attachment to you taught us the finest music for
it； Permit us； therefore； to sing before you the song of the
victorious hero Andreas Hofer。〃
〃No； no； my dear friends； do not sing；〃 exclaimed Hofer； gravely and
almost angrily。 〃Do not sing； and do not play any longer on your
fifes and violins。 We did not take the field to sing and dance； and
I did not leave my wife and children at home with a light heart； but
with tears and anxiety。 But I did it because it was the Lord's will；
and as He accompanied me into battle we succeeded in defeating the
enemy。 But it was a hard and mournful task； many brave and excellent
men lost their limbs or even their lives； and many wounded patriots
are yet imploring God to relieve them of their terrible agony。 And
while they are groaning and wailing； can you wish to sing？ While so
many fathers and mothers are lamenting their fallen sons； can you
wish to exult here and make music？ No； my dear friends； that would
not be becoming for a Christian and charitable people。 You had
better lay your violins aside and take up your rosaries。 Do not
sing； but pray。 Pray aloud and fervently for our beloved emperor；
and； if you like； you may add a low prayer for poor Andreas Hofer。
But you shall not sing any songs in his honor； for God alone
accomplished it all； and homage should be rendered to none but Him。
Therefore； do not sing； but pray。 Pray in my name； too； for I have
not much time now； and cannot pray as much as I should like to do。
Say to the good God that we toiled honestly and bravely； say to Him
that we suffered privations； watched； fought； and conquered； for the
fatherland； and pray to Him for the brave men who accompanied us to
the holy struggle； and who will never return； but have succumbed to
their mortal wounds。 Do not sing； but pray for their poor souls。
Play your merry melodies no longer； but go home quietly and pray God
to protect us henceforth as He has heretofore。 That is what I wish
to tell you； my dear friends。 And now God bless you； and accept my
heart…felt thanks for your love and attachment。〃 ＇Footnote： 〃Gallery
of Heroes： Andreas Hofer；〃 p。 130。＇
The students； seized with profound emotion； and deeply impressed by
the simple yet soul…stirring words of Andreas Hofer； complied
quietly and willingly with his request。 Their fifes； violins； and
bugles became silent； and the crowd dispersed noiselessly； without
uttering any more cheers and acclamations。
〃They are fine； dear lads；〃 said Andreas Hofer； looking after them
with beaming eyes； 〃strong and hearty lads； full of spirits and
impetuosity； but on the other hand so gentle and submissive！Well；
now；〃 he exclaimed joyfully； stepping back into the room； 〃I hope we
shall have some rest； and shall be able to finish our dinner in
peace。〃
This hope； however； was not to be fulfilled。 The dinner was not yet
over by any means； when cheers and loud noise resounded once more in
the street； and another solemn procession approached the tavern。
This time； however； the members of the procession did not remain in
the street； but entered the house； and the landlord； who had just
gone down stairs to fetch some more bottles of wine from the cellar；
hastened back to the balcony…room and announced that all the
commanders of the Landsturm； and the municipal officers had arrived
to pay their respects to the commander…in…chief of the Tyrol and
communicate a request to him。
〃Well； then；〃 sighed Hofer； rising； 〃let them come in here。 I see
that our dinner is spoiled anyhow。 Let them come in here；
Niederkircher。〃
〃God forbid！ there are so many of them that they would not have room
here； besides； it would not be becoming for you to receive all these
gentlemen here where there is a dinner…table。 I have conducted them
all to the large ballroom； they await you there； Andreas Hofer。〃
〃I would I knew what they want of me；〃 sighed Hofer； stroking his
long beard。
〃 I know what they want； Father Andy；〃 said Speckbacher； smiling。 〃I
myself suggested to the commanders of the Landsturm the plan of
asking of you what they are going to communicate to you now。 And you
must not refuse to comply with their request； Father Andy； for the
good of the country demands that you should yield； and the emperor
himself will thank you for so doing。〃
〃I know likewise what these gentlemen want of you； brother Andy；〃
exclaimed the Capuchin； filling his glass。 〃I was yesterday already
in Innspruck； where I conferred with the mayor and the members of
the city council； and they will tell you now what we resolved then。
You must not resist； brother； you must； on the contrary； comply with
their request； for it is God's will that you should； and therefore
you must。 Now go to the ballroom； dear Andy。〃
〃I shall not； unless you two accompany me thither；〃 answered Andreas
Hofer； emphatically。 〃They will finally believe I wish to monopolize
all honors； and will charge me with forgetting that Haspinger and
Speckbacher； day before yesterday； did a great deal more than myself
at the battle of Mount Isel； and that we should never have gained a
victory there without them。 Therefore； you must walk side by side
with me； one on my right； the other on my left hand； and we will
enter the ballroom just as we fought in battle。〃
On entering the ballroom； where the commanders of the Landsturm in
their uniforms and the officers of the municipality had ranged
themselves along the walls； the three heroes were received with
three deafening cheers； and this time Andreas Hofer was not bold
enough to tell th