HOME.
Anna Hofer was kneeling before the crucifix in the corner of her
kitchen, praying as fervently as if she had been privileged to own
a purer faith; and, with every bead that ran through her fingers,
letting fall a tear far more precious than a pearl of great price. What
opportunity had she had of living under a better dispensation? Romanism
was the only form of Christianity the Tyrolese were acquainted with;
and while, among their invaders, infidelity was rampant, the simplicity
and fervour of their piety made them, as far as in them lay, champions
of the Christian faith.
Anna, then, knelt before the crucifix, wrestling in prayer, with groans
and sighings that could not be uttered. Judge of her revulsion of
feeling, when a beloved voice close to her said, "Anna!"
"Oh, my good man, is't thou?" And she cast herself into his arms.
"What, then! is the war over, husband?"
"Dearest woman, no! But we have a little breathing space; for a little
while our enemies are scattered, and the men of Tyrol too. As soon as
they make head again, we shall swarm about them like bees. Meanwhile,
we must plough, and we must sow."
"I _have_ sown our field, Anderl. It was ploughed already."
"Dear wife--" and he kissed her. "How hast thou sown it?"
"That which was buckwheat, with barley and rye; and that which was
barley and rye, with buckwheat."
"Right. Where's Theresa?"
"Looking after the horse. The children are keeping the cows, goats, and
sheep. Here comes Theresa."
Theresa flew up to her father, and embraced him; then overwhelmed him
with a thousand questions.
"One at a time will last the longer," said he; and drawing her to his
knee, with his wife close beside him, he rehearsed to them in detail
what has here been recounted more briefly; interjecting warm praise of
Chastelar, Hormayr, and Martin Teimer.
"See here," continued he, pulling forth a paper, "what a beautiful
letter our dear Emperor has written us:--
"'My dear and faithful Tyrolese!'--"
--"No! does our Franzel really say so?" interrupted Anna, eagerly
leaning over his shoulder, to satisfy herself. "How beautifully
expressed! A petty commandant, look you, would hardly be so affable!"--
"'My dear and faithful Tyrolese! Since the sacrifices which the
unfortunate year 1805 compelled me to make, when I was obliged to
separate from you, my heart has been constantly with you, my honest,
affectionate children!'"--
"_That_'s warm from the heart, anyhow!" muttered Anna.
"'As a last proof of my affection, I stipulated for the preservation
of your Constitution; and it gave me the greatest pain to see
this--this'"--
"Institution," suggested Theresa.
"No, nonsense--'This stipulation disregarded, which I had made for your
advantage; but, alas! at that time I was unable to assist you, and
could only lament your fate in private.'"--
"Poor dear man! doubtless it cost him many a secret tear," interjected
Anna.
"'When a new cause again obliged me to draw my sword, my first thought
was to become again your father. An army was put in motion to effect
your deliverance; but before it could meet our common enemy, you had by
your gallantry struck a decisive blow, and proved to the whole world,
as well as myself, what you are ready to do to become again a part of
that kingdom under which for centuries past you have lived contented
and happy--'"
"Beautiful, beautiful!" ejaculated Anna. "What golden words!"
"There's some more, mother," said Theresa.
"'Your efforts have touched my heart--I know your courage; I am ready
to meet all your wishes, and to count you amongst the best and most
faithful subjects in the Austrian dominions. It will be my earnest
endeavour to prevent our being again separated: millions, who were
long your brothers, will be eager to draw their swords in the cause!
I trust, therefore, in you; and you may rely on me. So, by God's
assistance, Austria and the Tyrol will be again united as they were in
former years.
"'FRANCIS.
"'SCHARDING, _April 18, 1809_.'"
"Dear, dear, dear, only think of an emperor like him to write in that
way to a poor man like thee, Anderl," said Anna.
"Not to me in particular," said Hofer; "to all my weapon-brothers as
well."
"At any rate, he could not speak more fair, nor more handsome--dear
Franzel! Do let me look close at his letter with my very own eyes. Why,
now, the dear Emperor spells Tyrol with two l's, as you do, Anderl,
sometimes; but he writes a deal better," nudging him with her elbow.
"As an emperor is likely to do," said Hofer, his good white teeth
gleaming right merrily through his black beard. "Why, now, I copied
that letter myself, and it's my own handwriting: so a precious one you
are to have a cut at me!"
"You? Why, you told me it was the Emperor's!"
"Aye, his words, but not his penmanship. Why, think you there was a man
of us all that would not get a copy of it, if he could?"
"Oh well, I thought his hand wondrous like thine, man. Don't you
believe you took me in! Why, didn't I find out the two l's?"
"Aye, but you thought them the emperor's!"
"Never mind! the sense is the thing. This letter deserves to be framed
and glazed; aye, framed in gold: and since we can't afford that, I'll
paste it against the wall."
"Well, that's not a bad notion. Is dinner ready?"
"Yes, father," said Theresa, slipping from his knee, and hastening to
spread the table. "You've dined with a many strange people, I suppose,
since you went away."
"That have I, girl,--with General Chastelar and Baron Hormayr; but
great folks eat so fast and talk so fast, there's no taking one's
comfort. They snatch away your plate before 'tis empty, bob a dish
under your nose, and whisk it off if you look at it twice before you
help yourself."
"A good way of having a dinner for next day," said Anna, laughing.
"Aye, aye; and when I and the men of Passeyr got to Botzen, where
Baron Hormayr and all his staff came out to receive us with honour, he
uncovering his head and letting his hair blow about in the wind,--I
warrant you, General Marschall refused to sit down to table with a
humble man like me; just as if a guest wasn't good enough for him that
was good enough for Hormayr!"
"Well! to think of that!" cried Anna indignantly. "I hope the Baron
told him a piece of his mind."
"No, no; he had too much temper and sense," said Hofer. "He just made
a little grimace to me behind his back, and I took no umbrage; only it
showed the nature of the man."
"What a good thing Baron Hormayr is not of his sort," said Theresa.
"Oh, the general has his merits, after all," said Hofer, stroking his
beard. "He is a good fighting man, but his pride is so great, that not
even his own soldiers like him. See, dear women, how evil a thing pride
is."
"And what is being done now, Anderl?"
"Much. The regular troops are assisting the Tyrolese to hem in the
enemy in the Lower Tyrol. The _landsturm_ from Meran and the Vintsghaw
are advancing on the right side of the Etsch; and those of Etsch and
Fleims are keeping the passes of Rochetta and Bucco di Vela. Baron
Hormayr and Martin Teimer want General Chastelar to attack the enemy in
the Lower Tyrol at once; but he's too slow, too slow. By not coming up
in time, he let us take Innsbruck without him: and Martin Teimer won
all the glory of making Bisson and Wrede lay down their arms."
"Martin Teimer is no favourite of mine," said Anna, pouring out the
porridge.
"Ah, he has done good service, nevertheless. General Chastelar finds
fault with our training, calls us round-shouldered, and who knows
what?--and wants to drill us a little. He won't be able to turn a
wild lark into a piping bulfinch, though, it's my opinion. As long
as we beat the enemy, what does it signify how we do it? He is doing
real good service, however, by giving muskets to those who have no
fire-arms, but only spears and such like of their own manufacture. Now,
then, where are the children?"
Theresa went to the door to give a jödel, which would answer the
purpose of a dinner-bell; but, changing her purpose, returned, saying,
"Father, here is a young, olive-coloured man, who looks something like
a soldier, coming up to the house; in quest, apparently, of you."
Almost at the same instant, the young man stepped in, taking off his
cap and saluting Hofer in a foreign accent as Signor Andrea.
"_Come sta?_" returned Hofer, who rather piqued himself on a smattering
of Italian. "_Sedete voi. Andiamo pranzare--Fate lo stesso._"
"_Mille grazie_," returned the youth, who, however, preferred his own
German to Hofer's Italian. "The Signor Barone has sent me, Giuseppe
Eisenstecken, with the desire you will accept me as adjutant."
"What want have I of an adjutant?" inquired the Sandwirth. "What are
you to do?"
"_Che vi piace_," returned Giuseppe, spreading out his hands; "I am
quite at your service."
"But, my good lad, I don't want your services; so where's the good?"
Giuseppe raised his eyebrows; then replied, "A little training, the
Signor Barone thought, would be desirable for your men, and some small
knowledge of tactics for their chief."
"Ah, my dear youth, you mean to flatten our backs, I suppose, and turn
out our toes; but when you have lived as long in a mountainous country
as I have, you will find it more convenient, clambering about among the
crags, to round your shoulders and turn your toes in. Meanwhile, do as
we do--_nulla ceremonia!_--dine first, and talk afterwards. One thing
at a time will last the longer."
The young adjutant looked at first as if he hardly knew how to take
this; but at the same instant, three rosy children ran in and flew
into their father's arms. While Hofer was embracing and kissing them,
Giuseppe looked on with some sympathy; then, drawing a stool towards
the table, he prepared to accept the Sandwirth's invitation.
"So Baron Hormayr sent you to me?" said Hofer presently. "Well, I
wonder he said nothing about you when I saw him."
"He has written," said Giuseppe, taking a note out of his cap.
"Why didn't you tell me that before?" said Hofer. "Were you keeping it
for dessert?"
"You said one thing at a time would last the longer."
Hofer smiled, as he opened the note. "Well," said he, when he had read
it; "it seems I had hardly need to come home. Here am I wanted again at
head-quarters, to receive orders for immediate action. We must put off
our drilling, my good friend, till another time. Why is this recall?"
"Since you left, we have received news of the Archduke John's having
won a brilliant victory at Sacile."
"Aha! Our beloved _Hannes_! Heaven be praised, I am ready to return
immediately to the camp."
"Immediately?" said his wife, a little startled.
"Not till I have dined and had an hour's sleep."
"One thing at a time will last the longer, Signor Andrea."
"Just so, Signor Giuseppe. But come, tell me about our Hannes' victory."
"He defeated Eugene Beauharnois on the 15th, and compelled him to
retire to Caldiero. That is all I know."
"Hum! Not even how many men were slain?"
"No. The news had but just arrived."
"Humph!"
"You seem to have a good many targets."
"Ah, those are my coats of arms," said the Sandwirth, supping his
porridge.
"They seem to have been hit in the bull's eye pretty often."
"Pretty often."
"By you?"
"By me."
"At how many paces?"
"Three hundred."
"You must be a pretty good marksman."
"Goodish; there are plenty as good or better in the Tyrol. Did you hear
that verse one of our men made the other day? General Marschall had
observed that we only beat the enemy by chance. On which, our youngster
observed--
"''Tis but by chance,' doth Marschall say,
'The Tyrolese have won the day.'
What then? I'd rather win by chance
Than, with much skill, be beat by France!
For where's the good of tactics, you know, master Giuseppe, if they
that have them are beat by the unlearned?"
Giuseppe seemed engrossed in the merits of his dinner. "I should like
to see you fire at a mark, Signor Andrea," said he at length.
"Pooh, pooh! we have other things in hand, brother. The way is long and
steep. Are we going to be sent into the south, think you?"
"To Trent, I conclude, but I only conjecture."
Hofer asked a few more questions, but he was not a great talker at
meal-times, though he ate with great moderation. As soon as dinner was
ended, he took his hour's sleep, woke up fresh and strong, and told his
new adjutant he was ready for the journey.
At every house or village they passed, he found messengers to despatch
to the men in the fields and call them back from their husbandry to
resume their rifles. These came running along after him, some swinging
their coats on as they ran, others tightening their belts, others with
their weapons not slung but in their hands; all cheerfully obeying the
summons without murmuring at being disappointed of their rest.
On Hofer's arrival at the camp, General Chastelar instantly appointed
him to the command of the right wing, consisting of the men of Passeyr
and of Etschthal. Almost at the same moment, expresses arrived to
announce the disorderly retreat of the French and Bavarians on the news
of the Archduke's victory, and of their destroying the bridges of Lavis
and Lorenzen.
"What are we to do, Hofer, without these bridges?" said the General.
"I must think," said Hofer.
He thought so long, that Hormayr impatiently whispered to Chastelar,
"He is falling asleep--what a dunderhead he is!"
But the good man was thinking to the purpose; and, knowing the ground
and the men who were on it, he sat down and wrote two or three short
notes, and gave them to the General, saying:
"If you will send them, these will do."
"Had you not better go yourself?" put in Baron Hormayr.
"Why?" said the Sandwirth. "I cannot be in two places at once. If I
were at Lavis, I could not be at Lorenzen. These will do."
"Perhaps they will," muttered the General to the Baron, who shrugged
his shoulders. "See the notes sent off."
"He knows when he's in good quarters, I believe," said Hormayr aside,
as he passed the notes to his inferior officer.
But others, of less note than a Roman centurion, may have moral force
enough to be able to say to one man go, and he goeth; to another come,
and he cometh; to another, do this, and he doeth it.
Chastelar showed a vague sense of this when he replied in an equally
low tone to Hormayr, "It matters little--his _name_ will be enough."
How was it that that name came to be enough? The name of another poor,
honest man would not have done as well.
On the following day, the 22d of April, the enemy evacuated Trent
without firing a shot; and Hormayr took possession of the town the same
evening.
The ancient city of Trent! Few need to be reminded of the famous
Council of purple cardinals, princely bishops, mitred abbots, sandalled
monks, and learned doctors, assembled there by Charles the Fifth, and
prolonging their sitting for eighteen long years.
"What a market," exclaims a writer, warming with his subject, "the city
must then have had!--what cooks!--what convoys of sleek mules laden
with luxuries!--and how, in their distant and regretted residences, all
the old housekeepers of those perplexed and provoked absentees must
have busied themselves in the preparation of savouries, and potted
meats, dried fruits, and delicate conserves, and in the regular and
never-failing despatch of supplies from the well-stored cellars."
Trent is now said to be as dissolute a little capital as any in Europe.
The simplicity of ancient manners, if it ever did exist there, is no
longer to be found. Even the characteristic honesty of the Tyrolese has
disappeared, and extortion and cheatery are of common occurrence.
This was not the locality Hofer would willingly choose for his
_landsturm_. Fortunately, they were not long exposed to its influence.
On the 24th, General Chastelar advanced towards Trent, while Hofer took
possession of the ground between Trent and Roveredo. On the same day,
Chastelar, after his fatiguing march, was drawn into action by Baraguay
d'Hilliers, who, with a superior force, was victorious, but reaped
no advantage from it. He had already abandoned Trent, and he now,
immediately after the battle, forsook Roveredo, and quitted the country
entirely.
Chastelar had scarcely taken up his quarters in Roveredo, when he heard
of the Austrians' reverses in Germany and Italy. The north of the Tyrol
was now left deserted, at the mercy of the enemy; and he resolved
immediately to return to it; invited thereto by a note written by the
Archduke John in pencil on his knee, from the battle-field.
"Do not let our misfortunes make you uneasy. We have done our duty, and
will defend the Tyrol to the last drop of our blood.
"JOHN.
"30th April."
Thus ended this eventful month.
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