THE PEOPLE'S WAR
Bettina's head was shaven like a boy's, and she held out to Marianne her
golden hair, long, heavy and in thick waves.
As for Marianne, herself, she was laying on a table in the room in which
the two stood, all her books, her beloved Goethe, Schiller, all of them,
her laces and the jewels which had been given her since her childhood.
"How nice it is, dear Bettina," she said, "to have you again with us,
now that after all these dreadful years, we are again in Berlin."
Bettina's face glowed.
"Yes, dear Mademoiselle----"
Marianne lifted her hand.
"No French, Bettina, German."
"Ja, ja, dear Fraeulein Marianne, please excuse me. I was so happy when I
heard that the Herr Professor was to come to the new University here in
Berlin and that the Gracious Frau Mother would need me again."
Marianne smiled, and then, lifting her hand to stop conversation, for
she heard someone, she called out:
"Ilse, Elsa, here, come, bring your offerings here!"
In came the twins, tall like Bettina, and quite young ladies, but as
much alike as ever.
In their hands were trinkets, books, needlework and laces.
"Here," they said, and placed them on the table. Then catching sight of
Bettina, they cried: "Your hair, oh, Bettina! Your lovely, lovely hair!"
"It was all I had," said Bettina blushing. "They tell me it will sell
and for much money."
Carl came out next, a tall young fellow now with a faint moustache to
foretell his manhood.
"This is all I have, dear sister," and he added to the pile a little
purse, some books, and a pair of pistols, once his grandfather's.
Madame von Stork followed, her hair gray now, her face lined with
sorrow. In her arms was a pile of fine embroideries, linen and
lace-trimmed table covers. In one hand was a box of jewels, in the other
the amethyst necklace her sister Erna had worn to the marriage of
Princess Frederika.
Behind her came the Herr Professor, Franz and Otto, bearing books, old
weapons and each a purse of gold.
"Now, the maids," cried Marianne. "Here, Gretchen, oh, that is fine!"
for the rosy-cheeked girl laid on the pile her peasant necklace of old
coins.
Elise, the other, gave the gold pins with which she fastened her
headdress.
"And the Gracious Frau," they said, glancing at Madame von Stork, "can
give half our wages."
While they talked, in came Ludwig and Pauline. With them was a tiny
child, bearing in her dimpled, chubby hands an earthen pot or bank in
which people save money. Ludwig led her to the table.
"For the dear Fatherland," she lisped, and she laid her little offering
with the rest.
Ludwig and Pauline added theirs, the one, gold, the other, linen, silver
and ornaments.
For a moment there was silence, then the Herr Professor stepped to the
table. His eye glanced from Bettina's shaven head to the bank of the
tiny Ernchen. Then he held his hands above the gifts.
"Dear Father in Heaven," he said, "bless the offerings of great and
small, rich and poor, to the use of the dear Fatherland, and let truth
and rightousness prosper."
"Amen," said all the "Stork's Nest."
Then he drew forward Carl, Otto and Franz.
"Our sons, also," he said, and looked at his wife.
"Ja, ja, Richard," she said, the tears falling. "I, too, am willing
now."
Marianne held out her hand to Bettina and drew her to the table.
"We go as nurses, father. You have promised."
It was the "People's War," the great German rising against Napoleon. All
over the land, men, women, and children were giving their all. Russia
and Austria joined with them and the great battle was fought at Leipsic
in Saxony. The Crown Prince fought with his father, and when the victors
marched into the city Carl, Franz and Otto were with them.
The battle itself lasted three days. On the last of these the Emperor
Francis, the Czar, and Frederick William were standing on a hill
watching the battle.
Up dashed an officer. Springing from his horse, he approached the three
rulers.
"We have conquered!" he cried. "The enemy flies!"
The three monarchs alighted with solemn joy from their horses, knelt on
the field and thanked God for the victory.
The entrance into Leipsic was magnificent. The allied armies formed in a
great square about the market place, their sovereigns in the centre. The
Prussians in their blue coats, red and white striped waistcoats, white
trousers, high boots and bearskin caps, held their eagle aloft before
the old Rathaus. The Russians, in blue coats and red collars, their
trousers strapped over their boots, bore their flags of white and
yellow, while the Austrians, in white and red, completed the huge square
of soldiers.
Bells were rung, flags were waved, and, when the war was declared ended,
Napoleon was banished to the Island of Elba in the Mediterranean Sea.
"Now we are rid of the monster," said Madame von Stork. "We can all be
happy. Thank the good God, I again have my children."
But the world was not yet through with the foe of Queen Louisa.
"Napoleon has escaped! Marshall Ney has joined him! Our foe is loose
again!" was the cry which, not many months later, rang through Europe.
It was all to be done over again. But this time England joined Prussia.
Off marched Franz, Otto and Carl, and Marianne and Bettina again became
nurses.
"Ach Himmel!" wept Madame von Stork, "will the world never be rid of
this monster?"
Ludwig nodded.
"This is the last," he said. "We now have England to help us."