r　been　allowed　to　take　you　in　my　arms　and　kiss　you　tenderly；　as　the　others　boys　do　their　sweethearts；　and　never；　no　never；　have　you　given　me　a　kiss　unasked；　and；　after　all　my　entreaties；　you　kissed　me　only　in　the　presence　of　my　old　father　and　his　dog。〃
  〃It　is　not　in　my　nature　to　be　very　tender；〃　said　Anna；　shrugging　her　shoulders。　〃I　read　in　one　of　my　books　lately　a　fairy　tale；　in　which　there　was　a　young　girl；　of　whom　it　was　said　that　a　bad　fairy　had　bound　her　heart　in　iron；　to　prevent　its　full　play；　the　girl　was　constantly　bewailing　this　fatality；　saying；　'I　can　only　like；　but　never　love。'　Perhaps　it　is　thus　with　me；　but　I　do　not　weep　over　it；　like　the　foolish　girl　in　the　book。〃
  〃And　was　this　what　you　had　to　tell　me？〃　asked　Charles　Henry；　mockingly。
  She　gave　him　a　look　that　sent　the　jeering　smile　from　his　lip。
  〃No；　Charles　Henry；〃　said　she；　〃this　is　not　what　I　have　to　tell　you。〃
  〃Well；　what　is　it　then；　Anna；　for　this　wounds　me？〃　said　he　impatiently。
  〃Perhaps　the　other　will　do　so　also；〃　said　she；　sadly。　〃But　it　must　come　out；　I　cannot　suppress　it。　Hear；　Charles　Henry；　what　I　have　to　say；　and　if　it　is　not　true；　forgive　me。　I　fear　you　do　not　go　willingly　into　the　army；　and　that　your　heart　does　not　beat　with　joy　at　the　thought　of　becoming　a　soldier。〃
  〃You　are　right；〃　said　Charles　Henry；　laughing；　〃I　do　not　go　willingly；　and　how　should　it　be　otherwise？　it　is　a　wild；　disorderly　life；　and　it　strikes　me　it　cannot　be　right　for　men　who；　our　pastor　says；　should　love　each　other　like　brothers；　to　vie　in　cutting　off　each　other's　limbs；　and　to　fire　upon　each　other　without　mercy　or　pity；　as　if　one　were　the　butcher；　the　other　the　poor　ox；　who　only　resists　because　he　does　not　wish　to　give　up　his　life；　and　in　this　case　all　would　be　the　butchers；　and　none　the　oxen；　therefore　each　one　gives　his　stroke　bravely　to　preserve　his　own　life。〃
  〃It　would　be　sad　if　it　were　as　you　say；〃　said　Anna；　shaking　her　head；　〃but　it　is　not　so。　The　true　soldier　does　not　think　of　his　life；　he　thinks　of　his　country；　for　which　he　will　gladly　shed　his　bloodof　his　king；　to　whom　he　has　sworn　to　be　trueand　of　the　glory　which　he　will　gain　for　himself！〃
  Charles　Henry　looked　in　amazement　upon　Anna　Sophia's　agitated　countenance。
  〃How　do　you　know　all　this？〃　said　he。　〃Who　has　told　you　that　these　are　soldiers'　thoughts？〃
  〃I　have　read　of　it　in　my　books；　Charles　Henry；　in　one　of　them　there　is　the　history　of　a　man　whose　name　was　Leonidas。　He　defended；　with　three　hundred　of　his　soldiers；　against　many　thousands　of　his　enemy；　a　narrow　passway。　He　well　knew　that　he　could　not　conquer；　his　soldiers　also　knew　it；　but　they　preferred　death　rather　than　the　humiliation　of　laying　down　their　weapons　and　praying　for　mercy。　And　every　man　of　them　died　joyfully；　giving　up　his　life　for　his　country。〃
  〃Well；　I　must　say　they　were　fools！〃　cried　Charles　Henry；　excitedly；〃　if　I　had　been　there；　I　would　not　have　done　soI　would　have　sued　for　pardon。〃
  〃Yes；〃　said　Anna　Sophia　thoughtfully〃yes；　I　think　you　would　have　done　as　you　say；　and　I　have　been　wondering　all　through　the　past　night　whether　you　would　willingly　and　joyfully　go　to　battle？〃
  〃I？　God　forefend；　I　will　not　go　joyfullyI　will　not　go　at　all！　This　morning　I　intend　going　to　our　pastor　to　receive　from　him　a　certificate；　showing　that　I　cannot　join　the　army；　as　I　have　a　decrepit　old　father　to　support；　who　would　die　without　me。〃
  〃Charles　Henry；　your　father　is　not　decrepit；　nor　very　old；　nor　would　he　starve　if　you　were　not　here；　for　he　can　support　himself。〃
  〃But　he　may；　at　any　moment；　become　unable　to　help　himself；　and　then　he　would　need　me；　I　would　have　no　rest　day　or　night　when　far　away；　but　would　be　thinking　if　my　poor　old　father；　lying　sick　and　helpless　in　his　hut；　with　no　one　near　to　give　him　a　piece　of　bread　or　a　cup　of　water。〃
  〃Let　not　this　trouble　you；　Charles　Henry；〃　said　Anna；　solemnly。　〃I　swear　to　you　that　I　will　love　him　and　care　for　him　as　a　daughter。　He　shall　want　for　nothing；　and　when　he　can　work　no　longer；　I　am　strong　and　healthy　enough　to　work　for　both　of　us。　Go　with　a　peaceful　mind；　I　will　be　here　in　your　place。〃
  〃No；　no！〃　cried　Charles　Henry；　turning　pale；　〃I　will　not　join　the　army。　I　cannot；　I　will　not　be　separated　from　you；　Anna。　You　have　sworn　to　be　my　wife；　and　I　will　beseech　the　pastor　to　join　us　to…　day；　then　they　cannot　take　me　away　from　here；　for　I　will　have　a　father　and　a　wife　to　take　care　of。〃
  〃Not　for　me；　Charles　Henry；　for　I　will　not　marry　yet。　Have　we　saved　enough　to　commence　housekeeping？　Is　this　a　time　to　marry　and　build　a　nest；　when　war；　misery；　and　ruin　are　raging　throughout　the　country？　No；　no！　Charles　Henry；　we　cannot　marry　now。〃
  〃Because　you　do　not　wish　it；　Anna。　But　it　shall　be；　for　I　have　your　promise；　and　you　must　keep　it。　Ah；　Anna　Sophia；　you　do　not　know　what　a　longing　I　have　to　call　you　my　wife！〃
  〃But　I　have　no　such　longing；〃　said　she；　drily；　〃no　desire　whatever　to　marry；　and　I　will　tell　you；　that　though　you　wish　to　marry　to…day；　it　is　not　out　of　love　for　me；　but　to　save　yourself。〃
  His　eyes　sunk　before　the　large；　searching　ones　fixed　upon　him。
  〃To　save　myself；　and　from　what；　Anna　Sophia？〃
  〃From　being　a　soldier；　Charles　Henry！　For　last　evening；　I　read　upon　your　countenance　that　you　were　devoid　of　courage。〃
  〃You　read　that？〃
  〃Yes；　Charles　Henry；　fear　was　stamped　upon　your　brow。〃
  〃Well；　then；〃　said　he；　after　a　pause；　〃you　have　read　aright。　I　have　no　courage；　I　fear　for　myself。　I　am　not　accustomed　to　stand　still；　while　some　one　is　pointing　his　gun　at　me；　and　to　cry；　'Long　live　the　king！'　when　the　cannon…balls　are　flying　around　me；　to　attack　men　who　have　done　me　no　harm；　and　to　whom　I　wish　to　do　none。　When　I　think　upon　the　possibility　of　my　being　compelled　to　do　this。　I　tremble；　and　my　heart　ceases　to　beat。　Do　not　require　it　of　me；　Anna；　for　if　I　have　to　go；　I　will　fly　at　the　first　fight；　and　come　back　here。　They　may　then　shoot　me　as　a　deserter；　if　they　choose；　I　prefer　to　die　rather　than　to　kill　any　one　else。〃
  Anna　Sophia　sprang　from　her　seat　with　a　cry　of　horror。
  〃I　thought　so；〃　said　she；　in　a　low　voice；　and；　crossing　her　arms　upon　her　breast；　she　walked　to　and　fro；　thoughtfully。
  Charles　Henry　looked　at　her　in　amazement；　but　had　not　the　courage　to　speak　to　her；　for　she　was　so　completely　changed；　that　he　was　almost　afraid　of　her。　There　was　something　so　cold　and　proud　about　her　to…　day；　something　aristocratic　in　her　beauty。　He　thought　to　himself；　〃It　is　thus　that　a　queen　would　look　when　dressed　as　a　peasant。〃　Anna　Sophia　stood　still　before　him　at　last；　and　gave　him　a　tender；　almost　pitiful　glance。
  〃Charles　Henry；〃　said　she；　〃you　shall　not　join　the　army；　I　will　not　suffer　it。〃
  He　sprang　from　his　seat　with　a　cry　of　joy。
  〃You　will　then　marry　me；　Anna　Sophia？〃　said　he；　exultingly。　〃You　will　become　my　wife；　so　as　to　keep　me　here？　You　love　me　too　much　to　let　me　go！〃　He　tried　to　embrace　her；　but　she　waved　him　off。
  〃No；〃　said　she；　〃I　will　not　marry　you；　but；　still；　you　must　not　join　the　army；　for　if　you　became　a　deserter；　it　would　break　your　father's　heart；　and　it　would　be　a　disgrace；　not　only　for　me；　but　for　the　whole　village。　Think　well　over　what　you　have　said。　Perhaps　you　are　mistaken　in　yourself；　and　only　dislike　joining　the　army　on　your　poor　father's　account。　Question　your　conscience　and　your　heart；　and　remember；　Charles　Henry；　that　God　will　hear　your　answer。　Do　you　truly　believe　that　you　are　wanting　in　couragethat　you　would　fly　from　the　battle…field？〃
  〃As　truly　as　there　is　a　God　above　us；　I　believe　it；　Anna　Sophia。　It　is　not　belief；　it　is　certainty。　It　is　not　in　my　nature　to　be　brave；　I　was　not　brought　up　to　it；　and　am　therefore　without　it。　I　am　an　apt　farmer；　but　would　be　a　bad　soldier。〃
  Anna　Sophia　sighed　deeply；　and　covered　her　face　with　her　hands。　Thus　she　stood　for　some　time　in　front　of　her　betrothed；　and　he　saw　the　large　tears；　stealing　through　her　fingers；　fall　upon　the　grass；　to　be　transformed　there　by　the　sun　into　sparkling　jewels。
  〃Why　do　you　weep；　Anna　Sophia？〃　asked　he；　gently。　〃What　has　so　suddenly　made　you　sad？〃
  Her　hands　fell　slowly　and　wearily　from　her　face。　〃I　am　not　weeping　now；〃　said　she；　〃it　is　pastI　have　shed　my　last　tear。　Now　we　must　settle　upon　what　is　to　be　done；　for　you　cannot　be　a　soldier。〃
  〃But　they　will　force　me；〃　said　he；　〃for　I　am　tall；　strong；　and　healthyjust　the　build　for　a　soldier。〃
  Anna　Sophia　raised　herself　proudly　and　stood　beside　him。　〃I　am　as　tall　as　you；〃　said　she。
  〃It　is　true；〃　replied　Charles　Henry；　laughing；　〃we　are　of　the　same　height。　We　can　scarcely　fail　to　have　tall；　good…looking　children　some　of　these　days！〃
  She　shrugged　her　shoulders　slightly；　and　looked　at　him　in　a　strange　manner。　〃I　am　as　strong　and　as　healthy　as　you；〃　said　she；　〃my　sight　is　as　sharp；　my　hand　as　sure。　Were　I　Charles　Henry　Buschman；　I　would　be　a　good　soldier；　for　I　have　courageI　would　lot　tremble　at　the　cannon…balls。〃
  〃But；　fortunately；　you　are　not　a　man；〃　said　Charles　Henry；　laughing。　〃You　are　the　beautiful　Anna　Sophia；　who　is　this　day　to　become　my　wife　to　save　me　from　being　a　soldier。〃
  〃No；　Charles　Henry；　the　war　must　be　at　an　end；　and　Charles　Henry　Buschman　must　have　returned　a　brave　soldier；　before　I　can　marry　him。〃
  〃You　mean；〃　said　he；　with　trembling　lips〃you　mean　I　must　be　a　soldier？〃