ll been
defeated and their resources exhausted, that hostilities will not be
again resumed. All parties are sick of fighting by this time!"

"So I should think," exclaimed Lorischen warmly. "It has been a bloody,
murdering work, that of the last six months!"

"Yes, but good for Germany," put in the little man in his bland way.

"Humph! much good, with widows left without their husbands and children
fatherless, and the stalwart sons that should have been the help of
their mothers made food for French powder and the chassepot! Besides, I
don't think the German states, Meinherr," added the old nurse more
politely than she usually addressed the Burgher, "will get much of the
plunder. Mark my words if Prussia does not take the lion's share!"

"You have reason, dearest maiden," answered the other, agreeing with his
old opponent for once. "I've no doubt that, like the poor Bavarians who
had to do the heaviest part of the fighting, we shall get only the kicks
and Prussia the halfpence!"

"That's more than likely," said Lorischen, much pleased at the
similarity of their sentiments; "and I suppose we can expect Herr Fritz
home soon now, eh?"

"Probably as soon as peace is regularly established; for then, our
troops will commence to evacuate France and march back to the Rhine,"
replied Burgher Jans,--"that Rhine whose banks they have so valiantly
defended."

"Ah, we'd better begin at once to prepare to receive our soldier lad,"
said the old nurse with much cheerfulness, as if she wished to set to
without a moment's delay at making things ready for Fritz; seeing which,
Burgher Jans took his departure, the widow and Lorischen both expressing
their thanks for the good news he had brought, and the old nurse
actually escorting him to the door in a most unusual fit of civility!

The definite treaty of peace between France and Germany was completed on
the 28th February, 1871, when it was ratified by the constituent
assembly sitting at Bordeaux, the conquered country surrendering two of
her richest provinces, Alsace and Lorraine, together with the fortresses
of Metz and Belfort--the strongest on the frontier--besides paying an
indemnity of no less a sum than five milliards of francs, some two
hundred millions of pounds in English money, to the victors!

It was a terrible price to pay for the war; for, in addition to these
sacrifices must be reckoned:-- 2,400 captured field guns; 120 eagles,
flags, and standards; 4,000 fortr