It was eight o'clock. There was a great commotion in the city. We
heard the drum beat, and proclamations read; it seemed as if the enemy
were already there.
One thing which I remember especially, for we had opened a window to
hear, was that the governor ordered the inhabitants to empty
immediately their barns and granaries; and that, while we were
listening, a large Alsatian wagon with two horses, with Baruch sitting
on the pole, and Zeffen behind on some straw--her infant in her arms,
and her other child at her side--turned suddenly into the street.
They were coming to us for safety!
The sight of them upset me, and raising my hands, I exclaimed:
"Lord, take from me all weakness! Thou seest that I need to live for
the sake of these little ones. Therefore be thou my strength, and let
me not be cast down!"
And I went down at once to receive them, Sorle and Safel following me.
I took my daughter in my arms, and helped her to the ground, while
Sorle took the children, and Baruch exclaimed:
"We came at the last minute! The gate was closed as soon as we had
come in. There were many others from Quatre-Vents and Saverne who had
to stay outside."
"God be praised, Baruch!" I replied. "You are all welcome, my dear
children! I have not much, I am not rich; but what I have, you
have--it is all yours. Come in!"
And we went upstairs; Zeffen, Sorle, and I carrying the children, while
Baruch stayed to take their things out of the wagon, and then he came
up.
The street was now full of straw and hay, thrown out from the lofts;
there was no wind, and the snow had stopped falling. In a little while
the shouts and proclamations ceased.
Sorle hastened to serve up the remains of our breakfast, with a bottle
of wine; and Baruch, while he was eating, told us that there was a
panic in Alsace, that the Austrians had turned Basle, and were
advancing by forced marches upon Schlestadt, Neuf Brisach, and
Strasburg, after having surrounded Huninguen.
"Everybody is escaping," said he. "They are fleeing to the mountain,
taking their valuables on their carts, and driving their cattle into
the woods. There is a rumor already that bands of Cossacks have been
seen at Mutzig, but that is hardly possible, as the army of Marshal
Victor is on the Upper Rhine, and dragoons are passing every day to
join him. How could they pass his lines without giving battle?"
We were listening very attentively to these things when the sergeant
came in. He was just off duty, and stood outside of the door, looking
at us with astonishment.
I took Zeffen by the hand, and said: "Sergeant, this is my daughter,
this is my son-in-law, and these are my grandchildren, about whom I
have told you. They know you, for I have told them in my letters how
much we think of you."
The sergeant looked at Zeffen.--"Father Moses," said he, "you have a
handsome daughter, and your son-in-law looks like a worthy man."
Then he took little Esdras from Zeffen's arms, and lifted him up, and
made a face at him, at which the child laughed, and everybody was
pleased. The other little one opened his eyes wide and looked on.
"My children have come to stay with me," I said to the sergeant; "you
will excuse them if they make a little noise in the house?"
"How! Father Moses," he exclaimed. "I will excuse everything! Do not
be concerned; are we not old friends?"
And at once, in spite of all we could say, he chose another room
looking upon the court.
"All the nestful ought to be together," said he. "I am the friend of
the family, the old sergeant, who will not trouble anybody, provided
they are willing to see him here."