Archenholz: "History of the Seven Years' War," p. 194.]

* * * * *

CHAPTER VI.

JOHN GOTZKOWSKY.

A sad and anxious period had the unfortunate city of Berlin yet to
pass through. With fear and trembling did the inhabitants await the
approach of each morning, and in spiritless despondency they seemed to
have lost all capacity for helping themselves.

There was but one man who, unterrified and unwavering, with the
cheerful courage of a noble soul, exposed himself to danger, to
suffering and grief, who proposed to himself but one object--to help
others as far as lay in his power, and to avert fresh misfortune,
additional care and anxiety from the too heavily laden inhabitants of
Berlin.

This one man was John Gotzkowsky, the Merchant of Berlin. In this
day of their trouble the inhabitants looked up to him as to a helping
angel; the poor prayed to him, the rich fled to him with their
treasures; with him the persecuted found refuge, the hungry shelter
and food.

For Gotzkowsky there was no rest or leisure, nor did he feel care or
sorrow. The tears he had shed about Elise he had buried in his heart,
overcoming a father's grief by the power of his will. At this time he
only remembered that he was called to the sacred duty of succoring
his fellow-men, his suffering brothers--to be a father to the needy, a
deliverer to the oppressed.

The doors of his house were open to all who sought refuge with him.
The wives and children and aged parents of his workmen rushed there
with screams and loud lamentations, and he received them all, and
gave them beds in his splendid halls, and his gilt and silken ottomans
served for refreshing places to hungry and freezing poverty.

But not the poor alone, the wealthy also found refuge in his house.
They knew that Gotzkowsky's word had much influence, not only with
General Bachmann, but also with General von Tottleben, and that this
latter had ordered that Gotzkowsky should always have free admission
to him. In their anxiety and need they put aside the proud bearing
of their rank and dignity, and hastened to him to plead for help and
rest, to hide their treasures and place their lives and fortunes under
his guardianship.

But while hundreds sought refuge and safety there, Gotzkowsky himself
was like a stranger in his own house. Day and night was he seen on
the streets; where-ever danger and alarm prevailed, he appeared like a
rescuing angel; he