It does me good to see his bright, handsome face; to
hear his gay morning and evening song; and when you two are sitting
beside me hand in hand upon the old bench at the front of our little
hut, my youth comes back to me. I see myself sitting on the same
bench with my dear old woman--it was our favorite seat when we were
young. When Charles Henry leaves me, I not only lose him, but my
whole past life seems to vanish away."
"You would, therefore, prefer he should remain at home?" said Anna,
anxiously.
"If it were possible," said he, "but it is not. His king has called
him, he must obey."
"But he may, perhaps, be allowed to stay, father, if you will
declare that you are too old, too weak to support yourself, and wish
the only prop of your old age to remain with you, the authorities at
Cleve may, perhaps, grant your request."
The old shepherd shook his head slowly and thoughtfully, and said:
"No, we will not make the attempt; it would be deception, and could
bring us no honor. I am not too weak to earn my own living, and it
would be a disgrace to Charles Henry if I bought him off from his
duty. The world might then think he was a coward, and had not
courage enough to fight.
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