Goes advanced
to the latter and clasped her hand. 'You have lost much through us,' he
sorrowfully said, 'can you forgive?'

'Should I else deserve to be called a christian?' answered the matron.

'May God reward your kindness!' said the colonel, leading her into the
house, in the largest room of which several protestant officers of the
imperial army were assembled. Oswald then entered with Faith, in all
her youthful beauty, which was much heightened by her rich dress.

'Ha, what a charming maiden!' exclaimed Goes. 'Yes, my son, her
appearance would excuse thy choice, if indeed it needed an excuse.'

'I cannot share any part of the satisfaction which seems to be so
general,' said Oswald with forced gaiety, 'as it is impossible for me
to feel comfortable in a dress which is unsuited to my station and
calling.'

'It is exactly suited to your station,' said the colonel with
solemnity, handing a folded paper to him. It was a major's commission
in the Danish service.

'This is wholly contrary to my wish,' exclaimed Oswald with surprise,
as he perceived the nature of the document. 'I have laid down the sword
forever!'

'That cannot be done with safety at present in any part of Europe, my
dear Oswald,' said Goes. 'In these rough times a man must bear the
sword, if he would not be compelled to bow his neck under it; nor is
there any prospect that it will soon be otherwise. You have repeatedly
shown, that you will never be able to reconcile yourself to the humble
and submissive condition of a burgher. Whenever occasion has offered,
you have unhesitatingly drawn that sword with which you have
professedly wished to have nothing more to do. I most heartily rejoice
at it, because of the evidence it affords that my blood flows in your
veins; but at the same time it proves your unfitness for the counter
and yard-stick. You must again serve,--it is required both for your
honor and mine. To serve the emperor would be against your conscience.
I have therefore sought out a service which, as matters now stand,
cannot be objectionable to either of us. A permanent peace has been
concluded between the emperor and the king of Denmark. Your new
situation will lead you from Silesia to the land where your own faith,
which is persecuted here, is openly and triumphantly professed. You
will be spared the grief of being compelled to witness innumerable
evils which you can have no power to remedy. All these considerations
were well weighed by