"Unto me the greatest and ever-much rapture doth it with added satisfaction bring, to tell you of the glorious success of the German arms over our greatly-overbearing and hopeful-of-victory foe." "Dear me!" exclaimed the widow, "you are rather late with your news; I heard from Fritz just now." "And is the dear, well-brought-up, and worthy youth in good health ?" "He is," said Madame Dort; "and tells us to expect him home soon." Burgher Jans looked startled at this announcement, losing a trifle of his beaming smile.

"He is not wounded, I trust ?" asked he tremblingly.
"Oh dear no, thank the good God who has watched over him," answered the other cheerfully.

"Why, he has not been in battle yet! He tells us that the French are retreating, and that the war will be over almost before another blow has been struck, the enemy having to surrender before our irresistible battalions." "Have you not heard of the battles of Woerth and Forbach, then ?" "No; what--when were they ?" "Where did your son Fritz write to you from, then ?" "From Coblentz.

His letter is dated the day he arrived there, but I only got it this morning." "Ah then, most worthy lady, two terrible battles have occurred since that time.

We have beaten the French and forced them back into their own country; but, alas! thousands of German lives have been lost.