frederick the great and his family-第52节

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before　I　can　marry　him。〃

〃You　mean；〃　said　he；　with　trembling　lips〃you　mean　I　must　be　a　soldier？〃

〃As　you　have　said；　they　will　not　let　you　off。　You　are　a　strong；　healthy　youthyou　are　unmarried；　and　have　no　one　to　support；　for　your　father　can　take　care　of　himself。　Why；　then；　as　the　king　is　in　need　of　soldiers；　should　they　pass　you　by？〃

〃It　is　too　true。〃　murmured　Charles　Henry；　despondently。　After　a　slight　pause；　he　said：　〃But　I　will　not　be　a　soldierI　cannot！　For　it　is　true　I　am　a　cowardI　have　not　a　particle　of　courage！　That　is　born　with　one；　it　cannot　be　acquired；　I　have　it　not；　and　cannot　therefore　be　a　soldier。〃

〃Nor　shall　you　become　one；〃　said　Anna；　with　determination。

〃What　can　you　do？〃

〃I　will　join　the　army　in　your　stead！〃

Charles　Henry　stared　at　her。　He　was　on　the　point　of　laughing；　but　the　sight　of　her　inspired；　earnest　countenance；　in　which　a　world　of　determination　was　expressed；　sobered　him　completely。

〃I　will　do　as　I　said；　for　I　have　great　courage；　and　when　I　think　of　a　battle　my　heart　beats　loudly；　not　with　fear　but　with　rapturous　joy。　To　me；　nothing　would　be　more　glorious　than　to　die；　banner　in　hand；　surrounded　by　the　thunder　of　cannon；　and　to　cry　out　exultingly；　as　the　blood　flows　from　my　wounds；　'Vive　le　roi！　vive　la　patrie！'〃　Her　form　was　raised　majestically；　her　countenance　beamed　with　inspiration；　a　daring　fire　sparkled　in　her　eyesshe　was　so　changed　in　form　and　expression；　that　Charles　Henry　drew　back　from　her　in　terror。

〃I　am　afraid　of　you；　Anna　Sophia；〃　said　he；　shuddering。　〃You　are　changedyou　are　not　like　yourself。〃

〃No；〃　said　she；　〃nor　am　I　the　same。　Yesterday　I　was　Anna　Sophia　Detzlofffrom　to…day　I　am　Charles　Henry　Buschman。　Do　not　interrupt　meit　must　be！　You　shall　not　break　your　father's　heartyou　shall　not　bring　disgrace　upon　the　village。　The　king　has　called　youyou　must　obey　the　call。　But　I　will　go　in　your　place；　you　shall　remain　quietly　at　home；　thrashing　your　corn；　cutting　your　hay；　and　taking　care　of　your　kind　old　father；　while　I　shall　be　upon　the　battle…　field；　fighting　in　your　place。〃

〃Do　you　then　love　me　well　enough　to　give　your　life　for　me？〃　cried　Charles　Henry；　with　streaming　eyes。

She　shook　her　head　slowly；　thoughtfully。　〃I　do　not　know　if　it　be　love；〃　said　she。　〃I　only　feel　that　it　must　be　donethere　is　no　other　outlet　but　this　to　help　us　all。　Let　us　speak　no　more　about　it…　…only　tell　me　that　you　accept　it。〃

〃It　is　impossible；　Anna　Sophia。〃

〃Only　accept　it；　and　all　will　be　right。〃

〃I　cannot。　It　would　be　an　everlasting　shame　to　me。〃

She　pressed　her　teeth　tightly　togetherher　eyes　gleamed　with　anger。　〃Hear　me　out；〃　said　she。　〃Go；　or　staywhichever　you　doI　do　not　remain　here！　I　must　away　and　seek　my　fortune。　I　have　never　been　happy；　as　yetupon　the　battle…field　I　may　be。　I　have　nothing　to　lose；　and　can　therefore　win　all。　Well；　say！　Am　I　to　be　a　soldier　in　your　stead？〃

〃If　you　really　wish　it；　I　must　yield；〃　said　he；　sadly。　〃You　say　you　have　nothing　to　lose；　but　I；　I　have　you；　and　I　cannot；　will　not　lose　you。　And　as　you　would　be　angry　with　and　leave　me　if　I　said　'No；'　I　prefer　saying　'Yes。'〃

Anna　Sophia　gave　a　cry　of　delight；　and；　for　the　first　time；　gave　Charles　Henry　a　willing　kiss。　〃Many；　many　thanks；　Charles　Henry；〃　said　she。　〃Now　we　will　all　be　happy。〃

Charles　Henry　sighed。　He　could　not　bring　himself　to　trust　in　Anna's　prophecy。

〃And　now；〃　said　she；　eagerly；　〃how　shall　we　go　about　it？〃




CHAPTER　IV。

FAREWELL　TO　THE　VILLAGE。


In　the　course　of　the　day；　Charles　Henry　accompanied　the　other　boys　to　the　village；　where　an　officer　was　to　call　out　the　names　of　those　who　were　drafted。　As　his　name　was　called　out；　he　did　not　change　countenancehe　remained　as　gay　and　cheerful　as　before；　while　the　other　boys　were　gazing　sadly；　thoughtfully　before　them。　Then　the　officer　handed　each　of　them　a　ticket　upon　which　their　names　were　printed；　and　ordered　them　to　go　immediately　to　the　nearest　city；　Cleve；　and　receive　their　uniforms。　Charles　Henry　requested　a　day's　leave；　as　he　had　various　preparations　to　make　for　his　father；　to　whom　he　wished　to　will　the　little　property　he　had　inherited　from　his　mother。　The　officer　granted　him　one　day。　Charles　Henry　left　the　house　gayly；　but　instead　of　turning　his　steps　toward　the　little　hut　inhabited　by　his　father；　he　took　the　path　leading　to　the　old　school…　house；　where　his　bride　lived。

She　stood　at　her　door　waiting　for　him。　〃Well；〃　said　she；　hastily；　〃is　all　right？〃

〃Yes；〃　said　he；　sadly；　〃I　am　drafted。〃

She　grasped　the　printed　ticket　from　his　hand　and　hid　it　in　her　bosom。　〃Now；〃　said　she；　〃you　have　but　to　bring　me　a　decent　suit　of　clothes。〃

〃My　Sunday　suit；　Anna；〃　said　he；　smiling。　〃It　is　new；　I　intended　to　be　married　in　it。〃

〃I　shall　not　hurt　it；〃　said　she。　〃There　is　a　merchant　at　Cleve；　whom　I　know　to　be　good　and　honestI　will　leave　the　clothes　with　him；　and　next　Sunday　you　can　walk　to　the　city　for　them。〃

〃You　will　not　even　keep　them　to　remember　me　by？〃

〃It　is　impossible　for　me　ever　to　forget　you；　Charles　Henry；　for　I　shall　bear　your　name。〃

〃From　now　on；　throughout　your　whole　life；　you　shall　bear　it；　Anna。　For　when　you　return；　you　will　remember　your　promise；　and　marry　me。　You　will　not　forget　me　when　far　away？〃

〃How　do　I　know　I　shall　return？〃　said　she。　〃A　soldier's　life　is　in　constant　danger。　There　can　be　no　talk　of　marriage　until　this　war　is　over。　But　it　is　now　time　we　were　asleep；　Charles　Henry。　You　and　I　have　many　things　to　do　to…morrow；　we　must　arrange　our　household　affairsyou　for　the　sake　of　appearances；　and　I　in　good　earnest。　Good…night；　then；　Charles　Henry。〃

〃Will　you　not　kiss　me　on　this　our　last　night；　Anna　Sophia？〃　said　he；　sadly。

〃A　soldier　kisses　no　man；〃　said　she；　with　a　weary　smile。　〃He　might　embrace　a　friend；　as　his　life　ebbed　out　upon　the　battle…field；　but　none　other；　Charles　Henry。　Good…night。〃

She　entered　and　bolted　the　door　after　her；　then　lighting　a　candle　she　hastened　to　her　attic…room。　Seating　herself　at　her　father's　table；　she　spread　a　large　sheet　of　foolscap　before　her　and　commenced　writing。　She　was　making　her　will　with　a　firm；　unshaken　hand。　She　began　by　taking　leave　of　the　villagers；　and　implored　them　to　forgive　her　for　causing　them　sorrow；　but　that　life　in　the　old　hut；　without　her　parents；　had　become　burdensome　to　her；　and　as　her　betrothed　was　now　going　away；　she　could　endure　it　no　longer。　She　then　divided　her　few　possessions；　leaving　to　every　friend　some　slight　remembrance；　such　as　ribbons；　a　prayer…book；　or　a　handkerchief。　Her　clothes　she　divided　among　the　village　wives。　But　her　house；　with　all　its　contents；　she　left　to　Father　Buschman；　with　the　request　that　he　would　live　in　it；　at　least　in　summer。

When　she　had　finished；　she　threw　herself　upon　her　bed　to　rest　from　the　many　fatigues　and　heart…aches　of　the　day。　In　her　dreams　her　parents　appeared　to　herthey　beckoned；　kissed；　and　blessed　her。　Strengthened　by　this　dream；　she　sprang　joyfully　at　daybreak　from　her　couch。　She　felt　now　assured　that　what　she　was　about　to　do　was　right；　for　otherwise　her　parents　would　not　have　appeared　to　her。　She　now　continued　the　preparations　for　her　journey　cheerfully。　She　packed　all　her　linen　clothes　into　a　small　bundle；　and　then　scoured　and　dusted　her　little　house　carefully。　Dressing　herself　with　more　than　her　usual　care；　and　putting　her　testament　in　her　pocket；　she　left　the　house。

Anna　took　the　road　leading　to　the　parsonage；　she　wished　to　go　to　confession　to　her　old　pastor　for　the　last　time。　He　had　known　her　during　the　whole　of　her　short　life；　had　baptized　her；　and　with　him　she　had　taken　her　first　communion。　She　had　confessed　to　him　her　most　secret　thoughts；　and　with　loving　smile；　he　absolved　what　she　deemed　her　sins。　He　would　not　break　the　seal　of　confession；　and　she　therefore　opened　her　heart　to　him　without　fear。

The　old　pastor　was　deeply　moved；　and　laying　his　hand　upon　her　head　he　wept。　When　she　had　bid　him　a　long　and　loving　adieu；　and　had　wiped　the　tears　from　her　eyes；　she　left　the　parsonage　and　hastened　to　the　woods；　where　Father　Buschman　was　tending　his　sheep。　As　soon　as　the　old　shepherd　saw　her；　he　beckoned　to　her　his　welcome。

〃I　did　not　see　you　throughout　the　whole　of　yesterday；　Anna　Sophia；〃　said　he；　〃and　my　heart　was　heavy　within　me；　there　was　something　wanting　to　my　happiness。〃

〃I　will　remain　with　you　to…day　to　make　up　for　yesterday's　absence；〃　said　she；　seating　herself　beside　him　and　kissing　him　tenderly。　〃I　could　not　work　to…day；　for　my　heart　aches；　I　will　rest　myself　with　you。〃

〃Your　heart　aches　because　Charles　Henry　must　leave　us；〃　said　the　old　shepherd。　〃You　would　prefer　his　remaining　at　home；　and　not　being　a　soldier？〃

〃No；　I　would　not　prefer　this；　father；〃　said　she；　earnestly；　〃would　you？〃

The　old　man　looked　thoughtful　for　some　time；　then　said：

〃It　will　be　a　great　sorrow　to　me；　Anna　Sophia；　for　he　is　the　last　remaining　light　of　my　youth；　and　when　he　goes　all　will　be　dark　and　gloomy　for　me。　It　does　me　good　to　see　his　bright；　handsome　face；　to　hear　his　gay　morning　and　evening　song；　and　when　you　two　are　sitting　beside　me　hand　in　hand　upon　the　old　bench　at　the　front　of　our　little　hut；　my　youth　comes　back　to　me。　I　see　myself　sitting　on　the　same　bench　with　my　dear　old　womanit　was　our　favorite　seat　when　we　were　young。　When　Charles　Henry　leaves　me；　I　no