The　old　shepherd　had　been　the　occasion　of　their　frequently　meeting　each　other。　For　some　weeks　she　had　been　in　the　habit；　when　her　day's　work　was　over；　of　reading　to　him　the　daily　paper；　which　the　good…　hearted　burgher　always　sent　to　the　old　man；　who　had　six　sons　in　the　king's　army；　he　had　given　his　country　six　soldiers。
  Keeling　by　his　side　upon　the　meadow；　Anna　Sophia　would　first　read　to　him；　and　then　talk　over　the　events　of　the　war；　and　prophesy　many　a　glorious　victory。　And　then；　Charles　Henry；　who　worked　on　the　same　farm　with　Anna；　joined　them；　speaking　enthusiastically　of　the　great；　heroic　king。　In　their　inspired　love　for　their　great　sovereign；　their　hearts　had　first　met；　he　seemed　to　her　a　hero；　because　he　had　six　brothers　in　Frederick's　army；　she　saw　laurels　upon　his　brow；　won　by　his　brothers　upon　the　battle…field。　She　loved　him　for　his　brothers'　sake；　and　she　was　proud　of　being　the　bride　of　him　of　whom　it　was　said；　when　he　passed；　〃It　is　the　old　man's　dearest　childGod　preserve　him　to　his　father；　whose　only　prop　he　is！〃　The　old　shepherd　was　thinking　of　all　this；　as　he　sat　in　the　midst　of　his　flock　upon　the　green　meadow；　gazing　toward　the　corn…field　in　which　Anna　Sophia　and　his　son　were　at　work。
  〃God　be　praised！〃　murmured　the　old　man。　〃That　is　the　last　sheaf；　Anna　will　soon　be　with　me。〃
  At　last；　the　happy　moment　had　come。　The　old　shepherd　folded　his　hands；　and　a　silent　prayer　arose　from　his　heart　for　his　absent　sons。　He　then　rose　from　his　lowly　seat；　and　whistled　to　his　faithful　Phylax　to　follow。　The　flock　arrived　at　the　village；　and　were　driven　by　the　dog　into　the　sheep…pen；　from　which　was　heard　the　tremulous　bleating　of　the　lambs；　who　were　rejoicing　over　their　dams'　arrival。　Father　Buschman　waited　impatiently　until　the　last　sheep　had　entered；　and　then　hastened　toward　the　large　farm　house　to　the　left　of　the　pen。
  Anna　Sophia　was　just　leaving　the　house；　paper　in　hand；　and　advanced；　with　a　cheerful　smile；　to　meet　him。
  〃Father；〃　said　she；　〃I　have　the　paper；　and　we　are　the　first　to　read　it。　The　good　burgher　and　his　wife　are　in　the　country；　and　the　overseer　allowed　me　to　take　it。　But；　hear；　father；　he　says　he　glanced　over　it　hastily；　and　saw　something　about　a　Prussian　victory。〃
  The　old　shepherd's　face　sparkled　with　joy；　and　he　sought　to　draw　Anna　away　with　him。　〃Come；　come；　my　child；〃　said　he；　〃to　my　house；　where　it　is　still　and　quiet；　there　we　will　read　of　our　king's　victories。〃
  But　Anna　shook　her　beautiful　head。
  〃No；　father；〃　said　she；　〃it　would　not　be　right　to　read　the　paper　alone　today。　The　king's　victories　belong　to　his　people；　to　each　one　of　his　subjects；　and　every　heart　will　beat　more　proudly　when　it　hears　of　them；　and　thank　God　that　He　has　blessed　the　weapons　of　their　king。　It　is　not　for　us　to　keep　this　joy　from　our　men　and　women。　Charles　Henry；　with　the　overseer's　permission；　had　already　assembled　the　villagers　upon　the　open　space　under　the　beech…trees。　See！　all　are　hastening　with　their　work。　Come；　father；　we　must　read　to　our　neighbors　and　friends　our　king's　victories。　A　victory　belongs　to　the　whole　village；　but　should　there　ever　be　news　of　a　lost　battle；　then；　father；　we　will　read　it　to　ourselves。〃
  〃God　forbid　that　this　should　come　to　pass！〃　said　the　old　man；　following　Anna　to　the　place　of　general　meeting。
  CHAPTER　II。
  NEWS　OF　BATTLE。
  The　inhabitants　of　the　village　had　already　assembled　on　the　square；　under　the　great　linden；　and　as　old　Buschman　now　approached；　supported　by　Anna　Sophia's　arm；　they　were　joyfully　greeted。
  Anna　waved　the　paper　like　a　white　flag　in　the　air；　and；　hastening　the　old　man　forward　impatiently；　she　exclaimed；
  〃Our　king　has　won　a　battle！〃
  Shouts　of　triumph　were　the　result。
  〃Did　he　whip　the　French；　or　the　Austrians？〃　asked　one　of　the　peasants；　as　he　drew　close　to　Anna；　and　tried　to　seize　the　paper。
  Anna　drew　it　back　hastily。
  〃The　steward　sent　it　to　me；　to　read　to　the　community；　and　I　shall　do　so。〃
  〃Tell　us；　Anna；〃　said　another；　〃has　he　beaten　the　Russians　or　the　cunning　Saxons？　I　wish　he　could　trample　them　all　under　foot。〃
  〃He　will；　if　he　has　not　yet　done　so；〃　cried　old　Buschman。
  〃Children；　our　king　will　conquer　all　his　enemies；　he　is　a　hero；　and　has　only　brave　fellows　to　fight　for　him。　Just　think　of　the　thirty　noble　boys　that　our　village　alone　gave　him！〃
  〃Read；　Anna；　read！〃　cried　the　curious　crowd。　And　Anna；　ready　to　please　them；　walked　under　the　linden；　and　stepped　upon　the　wooden　beach　that　surrounded　the　tree。
  Father　Buschman　placed　himself　at　her　feet；　and　several　old　men　and　women　followed　his　example。　The　young　people　gathered　around　in　groups；　and　gazed　respectfully　at　the　youthful　girl；　whose　bright；　beautiful　face　glowed　as　if　lighted　by　the　evening　sun。　The　little　boys；　who　had　followed　their　parents　from　curiosity；　were　amusing　themselves　in　turning　somersets。
  Anna　now　raised　her　voice　and　began　to　read　in　a　bright　tone。　It　was　a　brilliant　and　inspiring　account　of　the　battle　of　Losovitz；　and　Anna　read　it　in　breathless　haste　and　burning　cheeks。　As　she　read　how　the　Prussians　were　at　first　defeated　by　the　powerful　army　of　the　Austrians　under　General　Brown；　whose　terrific　artillery　sent　death　and　ruin　into　the　Prussian　ranks；　the　women　sobbed　softly；　and　the　men　could　hardly　suppress　their　sighs。　They　breathed　more　freely　when　they　heard　that　the　king；　adopting　a　new　expedient；　advanced　a　part　of　his　cavalry　into　the　centre　of　his　weakened　infantry；　and　thus　turned　the　tide　of　battle。　Their　courage　failed　on　hearing　that　this　advantage　was　soon　lost；　the　enemy　still　advanced　in　unbroken　columns；　and　almost　forced　the　Prussians　to　retreat。　The　left　wing　of　infantry；　commanded　by　the　Duke　of　Severn；　which　had　fired　unceasingly；　had　exhausted　their　ammunition；　while　the　Austrian　General　Wied；　who　defended　the　post　of　Losovitz；　kept　up　a　brisk　cannonading。　The　Prussian　warriors　pleaded　loudly　for　powder　and　shot。
  Anna　stopped　reading；　her　heart　beat　loudly；　she　leaned　her　head　against　the　tree　and　closed　her　eyes　in　terror。　The　old　people　sitting　at　her　feet　prayed　and　wept　aloud；　and　from　the　crowd　there　arose　sounds　of　grief　and　despair。　In　their　terror　they　had　forgotten　that　it　was　of　a　victory　and　not　a　defeat　they　were　to　hear；　and　that　the　battle　must　at　last　have　ended　to　their　advantage。
  〃Read　on；　Anna；〃　said　the　old　shepherd；　after　a　long　pause。　〃Are　we　such　cowards　as　not　to　be　able　even　to　hear　an　account　of　this　murderous　battle　in　which　our　sons　were　brave　enough　to　fight？〃
  〃Read　on；　read　on！〃　was　heard　here　and　there。
  Anna　unclosed　her　eyes　and　raised　the　paper。　Breathless　stillness　reigned　anew。　Anna　read；
  〃In　this　fearful　moment　the　Duke　of　Bevern　felt　that　a　decisive　step　must　be　taken；　and　springing　in　front　of　his　troops　with　drawn　sword；　he　cried；　'Boys；　you　have　no　more　ammunition！　Do　not　be　discouraged！　Fight　with　your　bayonets！'　These　words；　spoken　by　a　brave　and　beloved　leader；　gave　heart　to　all。　They　closed　their　ranks；　and　inspired　by　the　example　of　their　officer；　attacked　the　enemy　boldly。　In　vain　Baron　Stahremberg　hastened　forward　with　his　six　battalionsuselessly　Baron　Wied　tried　to　defend　the　house　of　Losovitz　in　which　his　grenadiers　had　taken　refuge。　Nothing　could　withstand　the　Prussians。　Like　a　raging　hurricane　they　fell　upon　the　enemy；　who　were　forced　to　give　way　to　them。　A　part　of　the　Austrian　force　sprang　into　the　Elbe；　and　tried　to　save　their　lives　by　swimming。　Losovitz　was　tired；　and　all　its　defenders　fled。　The　Prussians　had　gained　a　complete　victory。〃　＇Footnote：　〃Characteristics　of　the　Seven　Years'　War；〃　vol。　i。；　p。　63＇
  Anna　Sophia　could　read　no　further。　The　delight　of　all　was　intense　wives　embraced　their　husbands　with　tears　of　joyold　men　thanked　God　aloudand　the　boys；　who　had　ceased　their　play　and　been　listening　attentively；　made　bolder　and　higher　somersets　and　shouted　more　lustily。　Anna　Sophia　alone　said　nothing。　Her　tall；　slender；　but　full　form　was　leaning　against　the　treean　inspired　smile　was　on　her　lip；　and　her　eyes；　raised　to　heaven；　beamed　with　holy　fire。　She　stood　as　if　in　a　dream；　and　at　first　did　not　hear　old　Buschman　ask　her　to　read　on。　When　he　repeated　his　request；　she　was　startled；　and　turned　her　glance　slowly　down　from　heaven　upon　the　joyful　crowd　that　surrounded　her。
  〃What　do　you　wish；　father？〃　she　asked。
  The　old　shepherd　arose；　and；　taking　his　cap　from　his　gray　head；　said　solemnly；　〃You　have　read　us　of　the　victory；　Anna　Sophia；　now　read　us　of　those　who　gave　their　lives　for　it。　Tell　us　of　the　dead。〃
  〃Yes；　read　us　a　list　of　the　dead！〃　cried　the　others；　uncovering　their　heads　respectfully。
  Anna　sought　for　the　list；　and　read　slowly　the　names　of　the　fallen。　Their　faces　brightened　more　and　more；　none　belonging　to　them　were　dead。　Suddenly　Anna　paused；　and　uttered　a　low　cry；　then　looked　at　Father　Buschman　with　a　terrified　expression。　Perhaps　the　old　man　understood　her；　for　he　trembled　a　little；　and　his　head　fell　upon　his　breast；　but　he　raised　it　proudly　again。　Looking　almost　commandingly　at　Anna；　he　said；
  〃Read　on；　my　daughter。〃
  But　Anna　could　not　read。　The　paper　trembled　in　her　hand；　and　her　face　was　pale　as　death。
  〃Read　on；〃　repeated　the　old　man〃read　on；　I；　your　father；　command　you　to　read！〃
  Anna　sighed　deeply。　〃I　will　obey；〃　she　said；　a