"
"Oh, I know," whispered the mother, who was scarcely able to
restrain her tears, "I know that you are an excellent girl, and a
good daughter, and that you will never do any thing of which your
old parents would have to be ashamed. You have always been my pride
and joy, and never would I consent to part with you unless every one
had now to make the greatest sacrifices for the king and the
fatherland. But still it is very painful, and--"
"Wife," interposed the old sergeant, "no tears now! When we are
alone we shall have time enough for weeping. As long as Leonora is
here, let us gaze at and rejoice in her.--I have to give you a
commission yet. Go to my general, old Blucher, and tell him he ought
not to be angry with me--that he must not believe me a lazy coward
because I do not go to the war. Tell him that my leg had to be
amputated some time after the battle, and that he ought to excuse my
absence when the roll is called."
"I will assuredly repeat your words to the general, father."
"Why!" asked Mrs. Prohaska, wonderingly, "is General Blucher now at
Berlin?"
"No," said her husband, carelessly, "he is at Breslau, whither all
the volunteers are marching."
"But how is Leonora, then, to repeat your words to him?" asked his
wife, in amazement.
"Father means that I shall tell General Blucher when he comes to
Berlin?" said Leonora, quickly.
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