with lords and
generals, will certainly have other good fortune coming to him, till he
can keep his wife and daughters like princesses. Just wait a bit and
you shall see!" and he turned hastily away, for his heart came up in his
throat so that he could not speak.

All the rest of that day he sat in the door, brushing and darning and
polishing his stained uniform. It had lain abandoned on the shelf for
many a year, but before night every button was shining like gold, the
scarlet cloth was almost fresh once more, and the old soldier, wrapped
in his faithful cloak, was making his way joyfully across the heathery
moors to the castle quite at the other side.

But when he had fairly reached it, and the servant had shown him
into the drawing-room, his heart almost failed him for a moment. Such
splendor he had never seen before--a thousandth part would have bought
health and happiness for the dear ones he had left with only his brave
goodbye and a fresh rose-bud to comfort them!

However, what with the beautiful ladies of the castle gathering
round him to ask questions about the battle, and with a seat near his
lordship's right hand at dinner, he soon plucked up again, and began to
realize how delightful everything was. But that was the very thing that
almost spoiled the whole again, for when he saw his plate covered with
luxuries and delicacies more than he could possibly eat, the thought of
the black bread he had left at the cottage brought the tears rushing to
his eyes.

But, "Tut!" he said to himself in great dismay, "what an ungrateful
poltroon his lordship will think he has brought here!" and he managed to
brush them off while no one was looking.

It was delicious, though, in spite of everything, and after a while the
wine began to flow--that warmed his very heart--and then he heard his
lordship calling to a servant to bring him something from his private
desk, saying:

"Gentlemen, I am about to show you the proudest treasure I possess. This
diamond snuff-box was presented to me by the stout old Blucher himself,
in remembrance of service I was able to perform at Waterloo. Not that
I was a whit worthier of it than the brave fellows under my
command--understand that!"

How the diamonds glistened and gleamed as the box was passed from hand
to hand! As if the thickest cluster of stars you ever saw, could shine
out in the midst of a yellow sunset sky, and the colors of the rainbow
could twinkle through them at the sa