s, your brothers,
sisters, sweethearts, and your friends. You have deserted the flag of
your rightful king, to whom you swore the oath of allegiance--an oath
which God received, and which no man can annul. Men of Brunen! shall
we stand this shame that our sons bring upon us? Shall the world point
their fingers at us and say: 'These are the fathers of soldiers who
deserted their regiment, and were false to their king?'"

"No!" cried they all, as with one voice--"no, we will not stand this--we
will have no deserters as sons!"

The old man bowed his head in silence; then turned slowly to the side
where the women stood.

"Women and maidens of Brunen! Will you allow your sons and brothers
who are covered with shame, to stay amongst you? Will you receive the
deserters in your houses and at your tables? Will you open your arms to
them and call them sons and brothers?"

"No, no!" cried the women and maidens, simultaneously; "we will not
receive them in our houses, or at our tables. We will have no deserters
for sons or brothers!"

The old man stood erect, and, as if inspired with a mighty enthusiasm,
raised his arm toward heaven, and his countenance beamed with holy
light.

"They must return to their flag," he cried, in a commanding voice "With
your blood you must wash the shame from your brows, and from ours. If
God preserves your lives, and you redeem your honor as brave soldiers of
the King of Prussia, then and then only we will receive you as our sons
and welcome you to our arms."

"So shall it be!" cried the men and the women, and the maidens murmured
their acquiescence.

The old man stepped from the bench and walked forward slowly to the
other side of the square where the twelve young men were standing gazing
at him with terrified faces.

"Return!" cried the old man, stretching his arm toward them--"return to
the flag of your king; we want no deserters amongst us; away with you!"

"Away with you!" cried the men--"away from our village!"

The children, influenced by their parents, cried out with shrill voices:
"Away from our village--away!"

The youths were at first stunned, and gazed with staring eyes at the
crowd of angry faces and flashing eyes which menaced them, then seized
with terror, they fled.

"Away with you! away with the deserters!" was thundered after them.
"Away with you!" cried their mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, and
friends.

This fearful cry sounded to them like the peal of the la