eted the new year.

'A happy new year! a happy new year!' shouted the children, springing
from their seats; and the impetuous Hedwig proposed to open the notes
directly, as the new year had already commenced; but Fessel interposed
his decided negative and commanded them to defer it until the actual
rising of the new year sun.

Amid the noise and confusion of the thousand new year congratulations,
Dorn once more approached the lovely Faith.

'Must I enter upon the new year without one kind wish from you?' he
pensively asked. She looked at him with embarrassment and irresolution.
At that moment she was called by her mother who was already standing in
the door. The startling call helped her to come to a decision, and,
suddenly drawing the packet from her bosom and smilingly placing it in
Dorn's hand, she hastened after her mother.

Long did the youth hold the much coveted packet pressed to his lips.
'How much earthly happiness,' said he to himself with deep emotion,
'have I destroyed in my military career. Do I indeed deserve that love
should crown me with its freshest wreaths in a land I have helped to
lay waste?'

Dorn, who had retired late and awoke betimes with the interesting
little packet under his pillow, found himself at an early hour leaning
against a window in the family parlor, and engaged in examining a
delicate little note. While thus occupied, Faith, impelled by a similar
restlessness, entered the room. As she perceived him whose image had
embellished her dreams, an enchanting blush overspread her delicate
face, and her beautiful blue eyes beamed with love and joy; but when
Dorn, enraptured at the encounter, affectionately tendered her the
congratulations appropriate to the new year's morning, changing her
mood she turned away from him with feigned displeasure and exclaimed:
'Pshaw, captain! I am angry with you. You have wished me two horrible
suitors.'

'Before I undertake to exculpate myself,' said Dorn, 'only tell me
which you drew from the packet.'

'The duke of Friedland,' stammered the embarrassed maiden with downcast
eyes.

'Look me directly in the eye!' cried Dorn, seizing the hand of the
unpractised dissembler. 'Did you really draw no other name?'

'Ah, let me go,' she murmured, her confusion and maidenly timidity
rendering her still more charming.

'You do not once ask what wish I have drawn!' said Dorn, holding up his
note.

'Who knows whether you would tell me the truth,' answered F