y
had been killed.

But, he had better news to tell--that, at least, is what he wrote, only
the mother doubted whether any intelligence could be more important to
her than the fact of his safety!

What would she think of hearing that he had been promoted to be an
officer "for gallantry in the field of battle," as the general order
read out to the whole army worded it? Would she not be proud of her
Fritz after that?

Aye, would she not, would not Lorischen?

And did not the entire gossiping community of Lubeck know all about it
by and through the means of the old nurse before the close of the self-
same day, eh?

Certainly; still, would it be believed that the very first person whom
Lorischen told the news to was her special antipathy, Burgher Jans? She
actually went up to and accosted him of her own free-will on the Market
Platz for the very purpose of telling him of Fritz's promotion! Yes,
such was the case; and she not only was friendly to the little fat man
on this occasion, but she actually patted his dog at the same time!

Still, Eric, the lost sailor laddie, was not forgotten in his brother's
success. The mother's grief was only chastened; and almost the very
first thought she had on receiving the news from Fritz, and afterwards
when she read it in official print, was "how pleased poor Eric would
have been at this!"

Bye-and-bye, Fritz wrote again, telling that their task had become very
monotonous. The Tenth Army Corps was detained along with several others
to besiege Metz, so hemming in Bazaine and the remainder of the army
that had endeavoured so gallantly at Gravelotte to pierce the German
lines, that they were powerless to assist the rest of their countrymen
in driving the Teuton invader from their soil. The besieging army,
which was formed of the united forces of the different corps under
Prince Frederick Charles and Steinmetz, had nothing to do, said Fritz,
save to stand to their guns and perform sentry duty; for the French,
since the fearful battle of the 18th of August, had not once attempted
to push their way out beyond range of the guns of the fortress, under
whose shelter they were cantoned in an extended entrenched camp, and
were apparently being daily drilled and disciplined for some great
effort.

On the 31st of the month, however, Fritz told his mother later on,
Bazaine made a desperate effort to break the German cordon around Metz;
and this being repulsed with heavy loss, the Mars