Hence, almost
all localities have their peculiar characters, whose idiosyncrasies
are well known, and who are frequently the subject of raillery, and
often of persecution.

To the gay and simple villagers of Hagen, Henry Schulte was an object
of great interest, and to most of them the story of his past was well
known. Many of the old men who sat around the broad fire-place in the
village inn, could remember when he was as gay a lad as any in the
village, and had joined in their sports with all the zest and
enthusiasm of a wild and unrestrained disposition; and when he
marched away to join his regiment, no step was firmer, and no form
more erect than his.

When he had waved adieu to the friends who had accompanied him to the
limits of the town, and had bidden farewell to the tearful Emerence,
his betrothed, who had come with the others; many were the prayers
and good wishes that followed him upon his journey. He was a great
favorite with both the young and old people of Hagen, and no
merry-making was considered complete without the company of young
Henry Schulte and his violin.

It was at one of the May-day festivals that Henry had met the
beautiful Emerence, the daughter of old Herr Bauer, the brewer, and
as their regard proved to be mutual, and the father of the young lady
being propitious, nothing occurred to mar the pleasure of the young
people, and the course of their true love flowed on as smoothly as
the gentle river until Henry was required to do service for his king
and to enter the ranks as a soldier.

It is needless to follow the young man through the various episodes
of his soldier life, in which he distinguished himself for his
uniform good nature, cheerful obedience of orders and strict
attention to duty; it is enough to know that at the expiration of his
term of service he returned home, and was welcomed by the many
friends who had known and loved him from his youthful days.

It was at this time that the catastrophe occurred which changed the
whole tenor of his life, and made him the reserved, hard man that we
find him at the commencement of our story.

In the village there lived a wild, reckless young man by the name of
Nat Toner, who had just returned to his native place after an absence
of several years, and who since his return had spent his time at the
village tavern amid scenes of dissipation and rioting, in which he
was joined by the idle fellows of the village, who hailed with
delight the