haven't swallowed all the wisdom in the world, either."

The squire looked daggers at him.

When Aloys walked up to the wheel, his manner was bold almost to
provocation. Several papers met his fingers as he thrust his hand in.
He closed his eyes, as if determined not to see what he should draw,
and brought out a ticket. He handed it to the clerk, trembling with
fear of its being a high number. But, when "Number 17" was called, he
shouted so lustily that they had to call him to order.

The boys now bought themselves artificial flowers tied with red
ribbons, and, after another hearty drink, betook themselves homeward.
Aloys sang and shouted louder than all the others.

At the stile at the upper end of the village the mothers and many
of the sweethearts of the boys were waiting: Mary Ann was among them
also. Aloys, a little fuddled,--rather by the noise than by the
wine,--walked, not quite steadily, arm-in-arm with the others. This
familiarity had not occurred before; but on the present occasion they
were all brothers. When Aloys' mother saw No. 17 on his cap, she cried,
again and again, "O Lord a' mercy! Lord a' mercy!" Mary Ann took Aloys
aside, and asked, "What has become of my creutzer?" "I have lost it,"
said Aloys; and the falsehood smote him, half unconscious as he was.

The boys now walked down the village, singing, and the mothers and
sweethearts of those who had probably been "drawn" followed them,
weeping, and wiping their eyes with their aprons.

The "visitation," which was to decide every thing, was still six weeks
off. His mother took a large lump of butter and a basket full of eggs,
and went to the doctor's. The butter was found to spread very well,
notwithstanding the cold weather, and elicited the assurance that Aloys
would not be made a recruit of; "for," said the conscientious
physician, "Aloys is incapable of military service, at any rate: he
cannot see well at a distance, and that is what makes him so awkward
sometimes."

Aloys gave himself no trouble about all these matters: he was quite
altered, and swaggered and whistled whenever he went out.

On the day of the visitation, the boys went to town a little more
soberly and quietly than when the lots were drawn.

When Aloys was called into the visitation-room and ordered to undress,
he said, saucily, "Spy me out all you can: you will find nothing wrong
about me. I have no blemish: I can be a soldier." His measure being
taken and found to be f