help?" asked he, dreamingly, still occupied with
his own sorrows, scarcely conscious of the reality. But suddenly he
started, and from his eyes beamed life and courage. "Ah!" cried he
aloud, "mankind is suffering, and I am thinking of my own griefs. I
know these voices. The wives and children of my workmen, the poor
and oppressed of the city are calling me. The people need me. Up,
Gotzkowsky! give them your heart, your life. Endeavor to be a father
to the unfortunate, and you will not be poor in children!"
Without the wailing and cries for help continued to resound, and the
voices of weeping and trembling women and plaintive children cried
aloud, "Gotzkowsky, help us! have pity on us, Father Gotzkowsky!"
"Father!" cried he, raising his head, his countenance beaming with
delight. "They call me father, and yet I complain. Up! to my children
who love me, and who need my help!"
* * * * *
BOOK II.
CHAPTER I.
THE TWO EDITORS.
On the morning succeeding the night of horrors and confusion in which
Berlin had surrendered to the conqueror, the vanguard of the Russians
marched into the town through the Koenig's Gate. But the commanding
general, Tottleben, wished to make his triumphal entry with his staff
and the main body of his army through the Kottbuss Gate, and had
ordered the magistracy of the town to meet him there, and to
bring with them a deputation of the merchants, to determine what
contribution should be laid upon them. But before the Russian general
could make his entry, the vanguard of De Lacy's army corps had
penetrated into the Frederick Street suburb, and were committing the
most atrocious acts of cruelty in the New Street. With wild yells they
entered the houses to rob and plunder, ill-treating those who refused
to give up their valuables, and by violent threats of incendiarism,
raising forced levies from the frightened inhabitants.
But it was not alone this lust of plunder in the soldiers which spread
terror and dismay in each house and in every family. Count De Lacy
possessed a list of those persons who, by word, deed, or writing, had
declared against Austria or Russia, and he gave it to his officers,
with the order that they should not hesitate at any measures, any
threats or acts of violence, to obtain possession of these people.
Besides which, he promised a considerable reward for each "traitor"
brought to him; and it was therefore no wonder that th
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