ut said
smilingly, that it was like the question of driving the birds away from
her garden: she must either forego their singing, or good berries and
lettuce, as it was impossible to have both.

Manna learned from Frau Weidmann many particulars of Pranken's life; of
his bearing during his short stay at Mattenheim, as well as the facts
generally known at the capital.

It had been painful to Manna to be obliged to deal so harshly with
Pranken; for he had shown himself kind and good, both to her father and
herself: but she was now relieved from this trouble also.

The ladies of Villa Eden were not a little surprised, however, to hear
at Mattenheim of the great commotion in the New World; for papers and
despatches had come with Lilian's letter from America, and Weidmann
could not withhold from them his conviction that the new year would
bring the great crisis of the century, perhaps of all modern history.
Were it possible to break up the Union, and to elevate slavery, which
had been tolerated hitherto as a species of smuggling, into a prominent
article of state-policy, the cause of freedom and humanity, for which
they were all laboring, would be so fearfully injured and impeded, that
the petty efforts of individuals would seem of no account.

Relief from this dark apprehension was experienced by all the company,
as Weidmann read aloud a passage from his nephew's letter.

Doctor Fritz wrote,--

"Surpassing all others in the greatness and majesty of his bearing,
bright as the brightest example of classic times, we have the noble
Seward: and Germans ought especially to honor him, for he has publicly
declared, that, wherever the Germans go, it is their task to clear the
way for liberty, and that the true Germanic spirit is the spirit of
freedom and toleration. This man, who had been named as a Presidential
candidate along with Lincoln, and even before, when he saw that
Lincoln's chances were better than his own, resolved that there should
be no split in the Republican vote, and became a most zealous agitator
in Lincoln's behalf."

Weidmann paused, adding the remark that Prince Valerian, who was now
leaving for his native land, would there find a similar state of
transition.

The last remark was lost upon Manna, who said to Eric in an
undertone,--

"Oh, our father! Do you not think that he will take part in this
struggle?"

"I do; and that, too, we must bear."

The Prince departed. At the last moment, Lina and Eri