86 minated by the torches already burning low; his slumber became more uneasy, his breast was working heavily, and his eyes, half open, stared as if gazing into the empire of obscure futurity. Then he began to talk in his sleep; courage, my countrymen," stammered he, "heed not whether the multitude of the enemy threaten to crush you! You are fighting for the word of God and the liberty of conscience; behold on your banner the white heavenly harbinger spreading its shining wings; see how it flies over your battle array !-it forebodes you victory. Now the cannons roar-ah blood-much blood! How? my Saxons fly? But no-there still whole bands are standing firmly, a proud bulwark defying the hostile waves. The brave Swedes furiously charge, and slowly the old miscreant gives way gnashing his teeth. The arm of revenge heavily weighs upon him; the bloody child of Magdeburgh's ruins is threatening him-he yields-he flies the day is ours! triumph! triumph! the good cause has conquered!" Then the dreamer started from his sleep, and slowly collected himself, while Agatha, pale and trembling, observed him with constellation has lost its influence. Be of good cheer and return with me to the castle. That dreadful vision has taught me much, and you will find great alterations at home. From poor Grotta you have nothing more to apprehend in this life. But let us hasten that the day-light may not surprize us.” He led the lady out of the mill before which the four men who had escorted them thither, were still waiting. Under their safeguard they reached the castle without any accident, but to their astonishment missed the sentry of the Tiefenbachers at the gate, and wondered still more when they perceived the knightly hall brightly illuminated. "Thanks be to God, that you have come! you stayed very long," run on her maid, who had been waiting for her. "Two hours ago orders suddenly arrived from head-quarters. The poor Tiefenbachers had to march instantly, and the colonel, too, is to leave at daybreak; so they meant to marry you in all haste, this very night; but as neither you nor the magister were to be found anywhere, Baron Grotta appeared inclined to be sulky, and your father, too, pretended to be angry; when all at once some horsemen rode into the yard-they were Saxons. Colonel Starschedel and his son, the major, with their carbineers. Now the tables were turned; the baron had to consider himself happy that the gentlemen, out of regard for the laws of hospitality, did not take him prisoner; and your father was too much afraid of his cousin, to speak any more of the intended marriage. Now they all are sitting together, cutting the oddest figures you can wish to see. Only come, the handsome major has already twice inquired for his sweet cousin." The lady now, with heart at ease, entered the hall where the gentlemen were sitting at their goblets. The colonel, with the Saxons, quickly rose, and the major flew to meet her; but was not a little surprised to find the gaiety which used to adorn her features entirely vanished, and that she now avoided the embrace which formerly she had always permitted to a relative. It did not, however, prevent him from paying her the greatest attention; while Colonel Starschedel, in a deep powerful voice, entertained their listening host with the perfect understanding between the Elector and the Swedish King, and the generosity with which the latter had declined every guarantee that the Saxons had offered. This was too much for the imperial lieutenantcolonel; he rose, and, with cool politeness, took his leave in a few abrupt words. Nobody asked him to stay; and his last angry look fell upon poor Talander, who just then entered, and, with a strange compassion, gazed after the parting officer. He then leaned on the chair of the lady, who was rather uneasy at the addresses of her cousin, whom she loved like a brother. gloomy earnestness the eyes of the seer dwelt now upon the noble countenance of the veteran colonel, then upon the blooming heroic form of his son. Soon the sound of horses' hoofs was heard from the yard, and casting a glance through the window, the magister seriously said With "The colonel is riding away; him, too, we shall never see again, like many another who at this hour still blooms in the strength and fulness of life." "What do you mean?" asked the lord of the castle; but immediately stopped, awestruck; for the mien of his old friend told him that the words were prophetic. A general shudder run through the party. The conversation, a few minutes before so lively, became embarrassed, and the notes of a lark, that saluted the rising morn, gave a welcome pretext for their breaking up, as the Saxons were that day to join the army of their Elector. The carbineers already had filed up in the yard the colonel was still enjoying himself with his old cousin; and the grief of parting prompted the major, even on the threshold, to wring from poor Agatha the confession of her attachment, and the promise of her hand. But Talander stepped between the lady and her innocent tormentor, and said, with fatherly warning: "You ride now to meet a great day, my young hero. This is no time to conclude a worldly union as a Christian you ought rather to think of your end; it is, perhaps, nearer at hand than you may believe. Is this lady, if you should fall, to mourn for you like a widow? That would be a vain and selfish feeling, not love. Do not too hastily stretch out your hand for the myrtle garland; its green may be died with blood, and angel may, perhaps soon, twine it into a martyr's crown." The major, affected, gazed at the prophet, whose countenance seemed to brighten: he mutely shook his hand, pressed the kiss of a brother on Agatha's fair forehead, and soon the old castle was still and desolate, deserted by all its guests. The The baron, in silent gloom, was sitting near the flickering blaze, and Agatha was reading to him Martin Luther's translation of the Bible. The old man was not in a very comfortable situation. The country, indeed, was at present not occupied by troops, but all his stores had been partly consumed, partly destroyed by the war. parish was expecting aid from him, and in Magdeburgh, where he had invested his ready money, fifty thousand dollars of his property had been destroyed by the conflagration. Moreover, there were fearful rumours afloat about a battle, in which the Saxons had been defeated. Thus he had, in the anxiety of his heart, taken refuge in the word of God. They had opened at Ecclesiasticus, and with gentle and sweet voice his daughter read: "Did ever any trust in the Lord, and was confounded? or did any abide in his fear and was forsaken? or whom did he ever despise that called upon him ?" With a doubtful shaking of his head, the old man looked up to heaven, and Agatha read on : "For the Lord is full of compassion and mercy, long suffering and very pitiful, and forgiveth sins and saveth in time of affliction." "The Lord, indeed, saveth in time of affliction,” cried Talander, who, with the fire of youth, rushed into the apartment, holding an open letter in his hand. The Swedes and Saxons have, near Leipzig, fought a battle against the terrible Tilly, and defeated him totally. Thus the word of God is once more free in the land of the Saxons. Here is the confirmation of my words, as I have received it from my old friend at Halle." And in a voice trembling with joy he read : "On the seventh of September, "Colonel Starschedel fell at the head of his carbineers, with whom he bravely opposed the shock of Tilly. On this occasion the Saxon standard, on which the white pigeon had alighted before the battle, fell into the hands of the enemy. To leave this symbol of victory to the adversaries was intolerable to Major Starschedel, and a young staff-officer of an old Swedish family. They vowed to each other to retake it; and, sword in hand, rushed into the hostile ranks. While the Saxon died the death of a hero, the Swede was successful. The latter, a Count Gueldenleowe, an account of his almost superhuman bravery, and because, after its colonel had been taken prisoner, he led the regiment Courville three times against the enemy, has, on the field of battle, been appointed by the king to the colonelcy, and also obtained his majesty's leave to add a standard, with a white pigeon, to his coat of arms.” anni currentis, more than seventy-five the well-deserved garlands; and the thousand men stood hostilely opposed magister, who had followed them with on the extensive plains near Leipzig. the letter in his hand, fluctuating It was to be considered a favourable between grief and joy, read on: omen that, shortly before the commencement of the battle, a snow-white pigeon lighted upon a Saxon standard, and thence took its flight over the whole evangelical battle-array. About noon the cannonading began. The Swedes attacked, and at first were successful; but Tilly, with his whole force, threw himself upon the Saxous-drove them back, and turned the guns he took from them against the Swedes. Some few Saxon regiments, however, bravely maintained their ground until the Swedes came to their assistance. Then, at last, old Tilly was forced to retreat; and in his flight was nearly killed by a captain of the Rhinegraves with the butt-end of a pistol. He has arrived here in a shocking plight, and of the imperial forces 7600 corpses have been counted on the field of battle. The allies took twenty-six pieces of ordnance, a hundred standards, and many treasures. This glorious victory was followed by the conquest of Leipzig-it cost both armies dear. On the imperial side, the Duke of Holstein has died of his wounds, after having been made a prisoner; and besides him there have fallen, Generals Shoenburg and Erwitte; Colonels Plankhart and Baumgarter, and Lieutenant-Colonel Grotta." "What is that?" cried Starschedel; and listening, walked to the window. "That is Swedish field-music, if my ears do not deceive me," said Talander. The Swedes are marching into the village," cried the domestics, rejoicing ; and Agatha, with beating heart, flew to the gate-tower, to view the heroes that went past. Nearer and nearer sounded the music; and behind the trumpeters of the advancing regiment of dragoons rode the colonel, apparently a young man, in bright armour. An attendant, whose broad scarf was adorned with a golden lion in a blue field, carried before him the preserved Saxon standard, which received on its point the laurel garland dropped down upon it from Agatha's hands. "That, surely, must be Colonel Gueldenleowe," said Talander, panting, who with the old baron had hurried after her to the tower. 66 Good heaven! that is Axel!" cried Agatha, as the colonel looked up; and fainting, sunk back into the arms of her tutor. She awoke in other arms, and raising her eyes, perceived her beloved Axel, who held her tenderly embraced. girl," cried the youth in transport. "I had inwardly vowed to lead home, as my wife, only one who would love in me the man not the count-whose love would be strong enough to subdue the lighter feelings of the sex. Thou hast stood the trial, but mine only begins; to prove during my whole life, that I deserve thy heart." The beauteous listener, like a blushing rose, sank on the warrior's mailed breast, and with tears of joy in his eyes, old Starschedel embraced his faithful friend, while below the trumpeters blew the solemn air-“ Now let us praise the Lord! SONG TO THE OWL. Oh the owl so sedate-and such mirth in his pate, Who thinks less of his books, for as grave as he looks, The owl, the owl, the merry merry owl, The merry merry owl for me, Who laughs as he tells the churchyard bells As they chime their one, two, three, To whoo! THE PILGRIM. FROM THE GERMAN OF SCHILLER. In the reckless time of my boyhood's prime And all my heritage, gold and land, I flung to the winds, and I joyously smiled As I took my pilgrim-staff in my hand, And wended my way with the faith of a child. For there bounded and lightened a mighty hope in And speed, ever speed to the glorious East: Till thou reachest a range of golden portals. So, all the long day, and the long, long night And headlong torrents descended in wrath, In the end I came to a rushing river, Whose green waves rolled to the shores of the East; And, strong in the faith of a fervent believer, I cast myself far on his heaving breast. But woe is me! the billows but bore me To the barren and wreck-strewn region I tread: Dark skies are o'er me, wild wastes are before me, And my goal is lost, and my soul is dead. For man is vanity! Danger and pain Encompass his paths from year to year; CLARENCE. |