ayers which He alone must hear, we will assemble together
under the linden-tree in the square and talk of the old times and those
who have left us. Do you not remember that it was under the linden-tree
we heard of the first victory that our king gained in this fearful
war? It was there that Anna Sophia Detzloff read the news to us, and we
rejoiced over the battle of Losovitz, And I also rejoiced and thanked
God, although the victory had cost me the lives of two of my sons. But
they perished as heroes. I could glory in such a death; and Anna Sophia
read their praises from the paper. Ah, if Anna lived, I would at least
have a daughter."

He could speak no more, emotion arrested the words on his lips; he bowed
to his friends and passed on to his lonely hut. His little table was
spread, and the young girl who served him, and who slept in his hut at
night, was just placing a dish of steaming potatoes before his plate.
The old man sat down to his solitary meal; he ate only to sustain his
body; his thoughts were far away; he took no pleasure in his food. In
the middle of his meal he started up; a shadow had fallen across the
window, and two loving, well-known eyes had seemed to look in on him.
Buschman, as if paralyzed with delight, let fall his spoon and looked
toward the door. Yes, the bolt moved, the door opened, and there stood
the tall figure of a Prussian soldier.

The old man uttered a cry and extended his arms. "Oh, my son, my beloved
son, do I indeed see you once more?"

"Yes, father, I am here; and God willing, we will never again be
parted." And Charles Henry hastened to the outstretched arms of his
father, and kissing him tenderly, pressed him to his heart.

"The thought of you, dear father, has led me here," he said; "but for
you I would not have returned to Brunen; I should have wandered forth
into the world--the world which is so much greater and more beautiful
than I ever dreamed. But your dear old eyes were before me; I heard your
loved voice, which called to me, and I returned to you."

"God be praised!" said his father, folding his hands, and raising his
eyes gratefully toward heaven. "Oh how kind and merciful is God, to give
me back my last, my only son, the support of my old age, the delight
of my eyes! You will not leave me again. This is not merely a leave of
absence; you have obtained your release, the war is ended, the king has
declared peace."

The eyes of the old man were dimmed with tears; he