was still with them, and she was
the most energetic of all the seekers.

Only after many comforting words from the mother, and after she had
prayed with her whole heart with the child to the dear God, that He
would protect the lost Erick and bring him home again, could Sally at
last be quieted. She fell then into a deep sleep, and slept so soundly
that she did not wake until late the next morning, and the mother was
glad to know that her daughter was sleeping, as her grief would be
awakened again, when she woke up.

Sunday morning passed quietly and sadly in the parsonage. Father and
Mother came out of church, before which the people of Upper Wood and
Lower Wood, from Middle Lot, and the whole neighborhood round about, had
assembled to talk over the calamity.

So far Ritz and Edi had kept very quiet, each busy with his own
occupation. Edi, a large book on his knees, was reading. Ritz was very
busy with breaking off the guns from all his tin soldiers, as now,
having peace in the land, they did not need them.

"So," Edi, who had looked now and then over his book, said quite
seriously: "if war breaks out again, then the whole company can stay at
home, for they have no more guns; with what are they supposed to fight?"

Ritz had not thought of that. Quickly he threw all the gunless soldiers
into the box and said: "I do not care to play any more today," no doubt
with the unexpressed hope that the guns, by the time he should open the
box again, might be somehow mended. But now he became restless and asked
to go out, and Edi, who had seen the large gathering by the church, also
decided to go out doors, for he too wanted to hear what was going on.

The aunt opposed their going out for some time, but finally gave her
consent for half an hour, to which the mother, who had just come in,
agreed. Now Sally appeared and rushed at once to her mother, to hear
about Erick, whether he had come home and how, where and when, or
whether news had come. But before the mother had time to tell her child
gently that no news had come from Erick, but that more people had gone
out, early in the morning, to seek him, the two brothers came rushing in
with unusual bluster and shouted in confusion:

"There comes a large, large"--"A very tall gentleman"--"A gentleman who
walks very straight out of a coach with two horses."

"I believe it is a general," Edi brought out finally and very
importantly.

"No doubt," laughed the aunt. "Next you will