"
"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
blood--of his king, to whom he has sworn to be true--and 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 so--I 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 joyfully--I 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.
Pages:
372
373
374
375
376
377
378
379
380
381
382
383
384
385
386
387
388
389
390
391
392
393
394
395
396