ay.
The right way and the wrong, cross each other everywhere in life, and
we must ever be striving more and more to distinguish between them."

"May your heart never mislead you, child!" answered the old man with
emotion. "One who has lived as long as I have, who has fallen and
endeavored to make atonement, learns to mistrust the human heart."

"Listen, father; are not those shots?" exclaimed Carmen, excitedly, as
from a distance were heard, at this moment, several dull reports of
cannon. Closer and closer they came, mingled with the cracking of
rifles; while from the borders of the forest, on the south, clouds of
smoke ascended and curled in wreaths among the sombre pines, Mauer and
his daughter went out and took up their station on the lawn, under an
old linden-tree, from whence they could survey the scene at leisure.
In the west the sky had become overcast; black clouds were gathering in
threatening masses, and there was every indication of an approaching
storm. Low rumblings of thunder reached the ear from time to time,
together with the dull booming of artillery.

"What a number of shots! There must be something extraordinary going
on!" exclaimed Carmen.

"There are troops practising over yonder in the forest," said one of
the workmen, who had come out to satisfy his curiosity. "I hear they
are quartered in the village on the other side of the woods."

Troops! What a startling circumstance! The other workmen, heretofore
so quiet and diligent, stopped their labors, and gazed with surprise
and curiosity towards the place from whence the smoke came. It was an
almost unheard-of event for soldiers to be in this neighborhood. The
Brothers, being conscienciously opposed to the use of fire-arms, had
been exempted by the government from military duty; and many a one who
left the settlement to go abroad had never seen a soldier.

Suddenly a flash was seen among the trees, followed by a roar, this
time louder than before. Through the openings in the woods could be
seen the gay colored uniforms, at first singly, then in groups; and
finally in whole companies. Bayonets glittered in the sunlight; flags
and standards waved, and bugles sounded from the distance.

"Oh, there they are!--the soldiers! How their weapons glitter!" cried
Carmen, in delight. "How the cavalrymen gallop to and fro, and how
their sabres shine! Just look, dear father, how splendid it is!"

"Yes, when no blood is being shed, one can look