red the officer.

The young man rose from his knees. "Give me another minute," he cried;
"let me sing my death-hymn!"

The officer nodded assent. Staps, stretching his arms upward, sang in a
joyous voice:

"Tod du suesser fuer das Vaterland,
Suesser als der Brautgruss, als das Lallen
Auf dem Mutterschooss des ersten Kindes,
Sei mir willkommen!
Was das Lied nicht loeset, loest---"

"Fire!" said the commanding officer, and twelve soldiers discharged
their muskets.

Frederick Staps immediately fell dead, and the blood streaming from his
breast reddened his native soil. While Napoleon's cannon was proclaiming
the conclusion of peace, this youthful martyr breathed his last sigh!

BOOK VII.

CHAPTER LIII.

HOMEWARD BOUND.

The 15th of December, 1809, was dawning. Queen Louisa had long looked
for this day with a throbbing heart, and now that it had come, she felt
embarrassed and anxious. It was the day when the royal family were to
leave Koenigsberg and return to Berlin, where the court was again to
reside. Since the 3rd of October the French troops and authorities had
left the capital, and Berlin was once more a Prussian city, yearning for
the return of its king and queen.

The carriages were at the door; the princesses, wrapped in fur robes,
were in the anteroom and awaited the queen, whose toilet had long since
been finished. But Louisa had not yet left her sitting-room. The king
made his appearance, ready to set out, and was somewhat surprised at not
finding her with her daughters.

"The queen does not know, perhaps, that the carriages are at the door,"
said the king. "I will inform her that it is time for us to start." He
walked rapidly through the adjoining rooms and noiselessly opened the
door of the queen's sitting-room.

Louisa, wrapped in her travelling-robe, sat on the sofa, her hands
folded, her face bathed in tears, and her eyes uplifted with an
imploring expression. She did not immediately notice the king, who, as
if in profound reverence, stood at the door. The queen was praying--how
could he dare to disturb her!

At last she lowered her eyes, and suddenly saw that her husband was
present. "Oh, my friend," she exclaimed, rising hastily, "my thoughts
were with you, and on taking leave of these rooms where, owing to your
love, I have enjoyed, these last years, so much calm and sacred
happiness, I prayed that God cause it to accompany us to our future
residence.