own; its green will turn to blood
and silver; an angel will perhaps soon entwine from it a martyr's crown
for you." Much struck, the major looked upon the seer, whose face
beamed with a supernatural light, then offered him silently his hand,
pressed a brotherly kiss on Tugendreich's forehead, and soon the old
castle stood mourning in silence, all the guests having quitted it.

* * * * *

The baron sat silently and gloomily before the blazing fire, and
Tugendreich was reading to him from Luther's Bible.

He had experienced much to depress his spirits. The neighbourhood was
indeed now free from troops, but all his stores were either consumed by
the war or destroyed, his tenants expected support from him, and in
Madgeburg, where his capital was invested, he had lost fifty thousand
thalers. Frightful reports were moreover circulated about a battle in
which the Saxons had been defeated. In this state of anguish he had
had recourse to the word of God, and his daughter was reading to him in
a mild and harmonious voice this passage from Sirach:

"Who is ever daunted that abideth in the fear of God, or who that hath
called him, is despised of him."

The old baron shaking his head looked up to heaven, and Tugendreich
read on:

"For the Lord is gracious and merciful, forgiving sins and helping in
the time of need."

"Indeed the Lord helpeth in trouble," cried Talander, who rushed into
the room with youthful impetuosity, holding an open letter in his hand.
"The Swedes and Saxons have fought with the formidable Tilly near
Leipsic, and have defeated him, and the word of God is again free in
our dear Saxony. Here is the confirmation of it which an old friend
has sent me from Halle." He read with a joyful trembling voice, "On
the 7th September _anni currentis_, there stood on the great plain of
Leipsic more than 75,000 men opposed to each other as enemies, and it
was to be looked upon as a happy omen, that shortly before the
engagement a snow white dove perched upon a Saxon standard and
afterward hovered over the whole line of battle of the protestants. At
noon the cannonading commenced, the Swedes attacked and were at first
victorious, but now Tilly threw himself with all his forces upon the
Saxons, drove them back, and directed the guns taken from them against
the Swedes. Some Saxon regiments, however, held out bravely until the
Swedes came to their assistance. Then old Tilly was compelled a