g. In their inspired love for their great sovereign, their hearts
had first met, he seemed to her a hero, because he had six brothers in
Frederick's army, she saw laurels upon his brow, won by his brothers
upon the battle-field. She loved him for his brothers' sake, and she was
proud of being the bride of him of whom it was said, when he passed, "It
is the old man's dearest child--God preserve him to his father, whose
only prop he is!" The old shepherd was thinking of all this, as he
sat in the midst of his flock upon the green meadow, gazing toward the
corn-field in which Anna Sophia and his son were at work.

"God be praised!" murmured the old man. "That is the last sheaf, Anna
will soon be with me."

At last, the happy moment had come. The old shepherd folded his hands,
and a silent prayer arose from his heart for his absent sons. He then
rose from his lowly seat, and whistled to his faithful Phylax to follow.
The flock arrived at the village, and were driven by the dog into the
sheep-pen, from which was heard the tremulous bleating of the lambs,
who were rejoicing over their dams' arrival. Father Buschman waited
impatiently until the last sheep had entered, and then hastened toward
the large farm house to the left of the pen.

Anna Sophia was just leaving the house, paper in hand, and advanced,
with a cheerful smile, to meet him.

"Father," said she, "I have the paper, and we are the first to read
it. The good burgher and his wife are in the country, and the overseer
allowed me to take it. But, hear, father, he says he glanced over it
hastily, and saw something about a Prussian victory."

The old shepherd's face sparkled with joy, and he sought to draw Anna
away with him. "Come, come, my child," said he, "to my house, where it
is still and quiet, there we will read of our king's victories."

But Anna shook her beautiful head.

"No, father," said she, "it would not be right to read the paper alone
today. The king's victories belong to his people, to each one of his
subjects, and every heart will beat more proudly when it hears of them,
and thank God that He has blessed the weapons of their king. It is not
for us to keep this joy from our men and women. Charles Henry, with the
overseer's permission, had already assembled the villagers upon the open
space under the beech-trees. See! all are hastening with their work.
Come, father, we must read to our neighbors and friends our king's
victories. A victory belongs