t Eynhofen, he
replied that he didn't care a straw.

Everything was fruitless. The Bridge Farmer had to withdraw with his
business undone, and with the old, gnawing worm in his heart.
Nevertheless, he did not give up hope, but got after old Fottner and
promised him the nicest things for his Matt.

For a long time it was in vain, but after about two years Heaven itself
interposed and brought about a favorable turn of affairs.

The captain of the second company of His Majesty's Grenadiers was made
a major. Into his position came a venomous gentleman who fairly
pestered both troops and petty officers, and thus became an instrument
of Holy Church.

For when Matthew Fottner was punished with solitary confinement for the
second time, he resolved to serve no longer in the army and to give up
altogether his purpose of reenlisting. Just at this time he received a
letter from his father, which read as follows:

"DEER MATTY:

After waitin fur a long time I'll finely rite you the brijfarmer wuz
heer agen Yestiddy an sez you cud becum a sanet an woodn haf to lern
enythin ixcep that yood go to roam, deer matty think it over ef youd
bee prest mung the hindeens but the furst mas sellabrayshun wood bee in
the tavrn an by the way the brijfarmer sez hel pay you threthowzen marx
too boot when yor dun. deer matty think it over wel and how mutch it
wood pleez yor father. I didn rite this letter. Sensi rote it. I mus
stop my ritin cuz the lite didn burn eny mor. With meni regards I
reemane yor luving father. Good nite. Slepe wel and swete dreems. O
revor mayx ushapy. Rite mee at wuns fur I cant wate fur yor ansur.

The letter had its effect. Corporal Fottner reflected that it woudn't
be a bad life among the clerical gentlemen in Rome, better at any
rate than in barracks under a captain who was so generous with the
guard-house.

So he agreed, and when his time was up at the close of the summer
maneuvres, he went to Eynhofen and got in writing the Bridge Farmer's
promise relative to the three thousand marks.

When this matter had been arranged, and he had received a handsome sum
for traveling expenses into the bargain, he set off for Rome.

For seven years he was not seen again; for seven years he dwelt as
Fottnerus Eynhofenensis in the German College among the gentle Jesuits,
who filed and polished at this four-square block for dear life. A high
polish he did not get, but the worthy fathers thought it would suffice
for the savages