feelings.

The next day, December 31, in spite of the snow and the heavy fire of
the garrison, the Swedes opened their entrenchments before the Peter
Gate, and planted three mortars there, which threw great stones,
shells, and hundred-and-fifty pound shot into the town.

Thus closed the old year 1642, and the new year was not destined to
open upon brighter or more joyful prospects.

CHAPTER V.

THE SOWER OF TARES.

The 1st of January, 1643, had hardly dawned, when the town servant
Juechziger presented himself before the new acting-Burgomaster, Herr
Jonas Schoenleben.

'Respected Herr Burgomaster,' he began humbly, 'permit the most
unworthy of all your servants to be first in wishing you a happy new
year, and congratulating you on the honour you have now attained. The
new year promises to be a very hard one, and your new office will be
harder still. I thank God that in these difficult times we are so
happy as to have your worship for our Burgomaster.'

'I am obliged to you, Juechziger,' replied Schoenleben feelingly. 'I am
obliged to you for all your kind wishes. Yes, these are indeed hard
times in which I undertake the management of public business. The care
of more than sixty thousand souls is laid on me at a time when even a
Solomon would have had need of all his wisdom. This thought has been
much in my mind, and last night I followed the wise king's example,--I
commended myself earnestly to God, praying Him to teach me the right,
and then to give me strength and courage to do it.'

'To maintain the right with strength and courage against all comers,
against friends as well as foes,' said Juechziger. 'For, alas! how many
are there who would be only too glad to interfere with your worship's
rights as Burgomaster, and put all your wise intentions aside to carry
out their own selfish schemes,--men who would be only too glad, in a
word, to leave you the mere name of acting-Burgomaster, and nothing
more. I am quite sure it is your worship's kindly heart that has made
you give ear to them until misfortune is hanging over the town, and the
citizens and the rest are all bemoaning themselves, while your
worship's false friends raise their heads like snakes, as they are, to
sting you the moment your worship's back is turned.'

Schoenleben stood silent, gazing thoughtfully on the ground.

'Did either your worship or any of our other worthy magistrates give
orders for every armed journeyman to receive a