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ers Guards us； indeed； but； ah； what now are rivers and mountains 'Gainst that terrible people that onward bears like a tempest！ For they summon their youths from every quarter together； Call up their old men too； and press with violence forward。 Death cannot frighten the crowd： one multitude follows another。 And shall a German dare to linger behind in his homestead？ Hopes he perhaps to escape the everywhere threatening evil？ Nay； dear mother； I tell thee； to…day has made me regretful That I was lately exempt； when out of our townsmen were chosen Those who should serve in the army。 An only son I am truly； Also our business is great； and the charge of our household is weighty。 Yet were it better； I deem； in the front to offer resistance There on the border； than here to await disaster and bondage。 So has my spirit declared； and deep in my innermost bosom Courage and longing have now been aroused to live for my country； Yea； and to die； presenting to others a worthy example。 If but the strength of Germany's youth were banded together There on the frontier； resolved that it never would yield to the stranger； Ah； he should not on our glorious soil be setting his foot…steps； Neither consuming before our eyes the fruit of our labor； Ruling our men； and making his prey of our wives and our daughters。 Hark to me； mother： for I in the depths of my heart am determined Quickly to do； and at once； what appears to me right and in reason； For he chooses not always the best who longest considers。 Hearken； I shall not again return to the house； but directly Go from this spot to the city； and there present to the soldiers This right arm and this heart； to be spent in the fatherland's service。 Then let my father say if there be no feeling of honor Dwelling within my breast； nor a wish to raise myself higher。〃 Then with significant words spoke the good and intelligent mother； While from her eyes the quick…starting tears were silently falling： 〃Son； what change has come o'er thee to…day； and over thy temper； That thou speakest no more； as thou yesterday didst； and hast always； Open and free； to thy mother； and tellest exactly thy wishes？ Any one else； had he heard thee thus speak； would in sooth have commended； And this decision of thine would have highly approved as most noble； Being misled by thy tone and by thy significant language。 Yet have I nothing but censure to speak； for better I know thee。 Thou concealest thy heart； and thy thoughts are not such as thou tellest。 Well do I know that it is not the drum； not the trumpet that calls thee： Neither in uniform wouldst thou figure in sight of the maidens； Since； for all thou art honest and brave； it is thy vocation Here in quiet to care for the farm and provide for the household。 Tell me honestly； therefore； what goads thee to such a decision？〃
Earnestly answered the son： 〃Nay； thou art mistaken； dear mother： One day is not like another。 The youth matures into manhood： Better in stillness oft ripening to deeds than when in the tumult Wildering and wild of existence； that many a youth has corrupted。 And； for as still as I am and was always； there yet in my bosom Has such a heart been shaped as abhors all wrong and injustice； And I have learned aright between worldly things to distinguish。 Arm and foot； besides； have been mightily strengthened by labor。 All this； I feel； is true： I dare with bo1dness maintain it。 Yet dost thou blame me with reason； O mother！ for thou hast surprised me Using a language half truthful and half that of dissimulation。 For； let me honestly own；it is not the near danger that calls me Forth from my father's house； nor is it the lofty ambition Helpful to be to my country； and terrible unto the foeman。 They were but words that I spoke： they only were meant for concealing Those emotions from thee with which my heart is distracted； And so leave me； O mother！ for； since the wishes are fruitless Which in my bosom I cherish； my life must go fruitlessly overover。 For； as I know； he injures himself who is singly devoted； When for the common cause the whole are not working together。〃
〃Hesitate not；〃 replied thereupon the intelligent mother； 〃Every thing to relate me； the smallest as well as the greatest。 Men will always be hasty； their thoughts to extremes ever running： Easily out of their course the hasty are turned by a hindrance。 Whereas a woman is clever in thinking of means； and will venture E'en on a roundabout way； adroitly to compass her object。 Let me know every thin； then； say wherefore so greatly excited 'As I ne'er saw thee before； why thy blood is coursing so hotly； Wherefore； against thy will； tears are filling thine eyes to o'erflowing。〃
Then he abandoned himself； the poor boy； to his sorrow； and weeping； Weeping aloud on his kind mother's breast； he brokenly answered： 〃Truly my father's words to…day have wounded me sorely； Words which I have not deserved； not to…day； nor at any time have I： For it was early my greatest delight to honor my parents。 No one knew more； so I deemed； or was wiser than those who begot me； And had with strictness ruled throughout the dark season of childhood。 Many the things； in truth； I with patience endured from my playmates； When the good…will that I bore them they often requited with malice。 Often I suffered their flings and their blows to pass unresented； But if they ventured to ridicule father； when he of a Sunday Home from Church would come； with his solemn and dignified bearing； If they made fun of his cap…string； or laughed at the flowers of the wrapper He with such stateliness wore； which was given away but this morning； Threateningly doubled my fist in an instant； with furious passion Fell I upon them； and struck out and hit； assailing them blindly； Seeing not where。 They howled as the blood gushed out from their noses： Scarcely they made their escape from my passionate kicking and beating。 Then； as I older grew； I had much to endure from my father； Violent words he oft vented on me； instead of on others； When； at the board's last session； the council had roused his displeasure； And I was made to atone for the quarrels and wiles of his colleagues。 Thou has pitied me often thyself； for much did I suffer； Ever remembering with cordial respect the kindness of parents； Solely intent on increasing for us their goods and possessions； Much denying themselves in order to save for their children。 But； alas！ saving alone； for the sake of a tardy enjoyment； That is not happiness： pile upon pile； and acre on acre； Make us not happy； no matter how fair our estates may be rounded。 For the father grows old； and with him will grow old the children； Losing the joy of the day； and bearing the care of tomorrow。 Look thou below； and see how before us in glory are lying； Fair and abundant； the corn…fields； beneath them； the vineyard and garden； Yonder the stables and barns； our beautiful line of possessions。 But when I look at the dwelling behind； where up in the gable We can distinguish the window that marks my room in the attic； When I look back； and remember how many a night from that window I for the moon have watched； for the sun； how many a morning！ When the healthful sleep of a few short hours sufficed me； Ah； so lonely they seem to me then； the chamber and courtyard； Garden and glorious field； away o'er the hill that is stretching； All so desert before me lie： 'tis the wife that is wanting。〃
Thereupon spoke the good mother； and thus with intelligence answered： 〃Son； not greater thy wish to bring thee a bride to thy chamber； That thou mayst find thy nights a beautiful part of existence； And that the work of the day may gain independence and freedom； Than is thy father's wish too； and thy mother's。 We always have counselled； Yea； we have even insisted；that thou shouldst select thee a maiden。 But I was ever aware； and now my heart gives me assurance； That till the hour appointed is come； and the maiden appointed Shall with the hour appear； the choice will be left for the future； While more strong than all else will be fear of grasping the wrong one。 If I may say it； my son； I believe thou already hast chosen； For thy heart has been touched； and been made more than wontedly tender。 Speak it out honestly； then； for my soul has told me beforehand： That same maiden it is； the exile； whom thou hast elected。〃
〃Thou has said； mother！〃 the son thereupon with eagerness answered。 〃Yes； it is she； and if I to…day as my bride do not bring her Home to our dwelling； she from me will go； perhaps vanish for ever； Lost in the war's confusion and sad movings hither and thither。 Mother； for ever in vain would then our abundant possessions Prosper before me； and seasons to come be in vain to me fruitful。 Yea； I should hold in aversion the wonted house and the garden： Even my mother's love； alas！ would not comfort my sorrow。 Every tie； so I feel in my heart； by love is unloosened Soon as she fastens her own； and not the maid is it only Leaves behind father and mother； to follow the man she has chosen。 He too； the youth； no longer knows aught of mother and father； When he the maiden； his only beloved； sees vanishing from him。 Suffer me； then； to go hence wherever despair shall impel me： Since by my father himself the decisive words have been spoken； Since his hous