ure of his sons with the stony silence of one
whose faculties for wishes or for hopes were gone.

Philip and Caspar were probably buried in the Russian snows: at all
events, they have never been heard of. General Huegel used to tell a
story of a soldier whom he had seen on the retreat from Moscow leaving
the ranks and shedding copious tears over his many distresses. The
general rode up to him and asked, kindly, "Where are you from?"

"I'm the manor-house farmer's boy from the Black Forest over there,"
answered the soldier, pointing sideways, as if his father's house were
within gunshot around the corner. The general was so much amused by the
soldier's answer that the tears ran down his cheeks also and turned to
icicles in his mustache.

This is all that was ever known of the life and death of the
manor-house farmer's two sons.

Meantime, pleasure and pain were mingled at home. When a misfortune
lasts long, people manage to live in it as if it were a house, and make
themselves comfortable. While in health, man cannot cultivate sorrow
beyond a given length of time, the fountain of life always lifts the
gladness of life like the sunbeams upon its waters. Harvest-homes and
weddings were once more held at home, while far away in the distant
steppe hundreds of sons, brothers, and sweethearts were laid on the
cold bed of death.

Agatha, the oldest daughter, was engaged to be married to the innkeeper
of Entingen: the manor-house farmer, at war with the whole village, had
to see his children travel out of his sight and easy reach. At the
wedding-day, Vefela, the bride's-maid, looked beautiful. She was
dressed just like the bride, with a crown or tiara of glittering
silver-foil around her head, and her hair, which hung down her back in
two long wefts, tied in red silk ribbons a handbreadth wide. This
is a decoration which none but virgins are permitted to wear: those
who cannot claim the title are compelled to wear white linen ribbons
or tape. Around her neck was the chain of garnets worn by every
peasant-girl, the dark color of which displayed the brilliant fairness
of her tints to great advantage. The collar of white lace was partially
covered by a nosegay which was set in the bosom of her scarlet bodice
with its silver chains and clasps. The wide blue skirt reached down to
the knees and was half covered with, a white apron; at the shoulders,
and at the ends of her short linen sleeves, red ribbons fluttered
gayly. The hig