"He will, if he has not yet done so," cried old Buschman.

"Children, our king will conquer all his enemies; he is a hero, and
has only brave fellows to fight for him. Just think of the thirty
noble boys that our village alone gave him!"

"Read, Anna, read!" cried the curious crowd. And Anna, ready to
please them, walked under the linden, and stepped upon the wooden
beach that surrounded the tree.

Father Buschman placed himself at her feet, and several old men and
women followed his example. The young people gathered around in
groups, and gazed respectfully at the youthful girl, whose bright,
beautiful face glowed as if lighted by the evening sun. The little
boys, who had followed their parents from curiosity, were amusing
themselves in turning somersets.

Anna now raised her voice and began to read in a bright tone. It was
a brilliant and inspiring account of the battle of Losovitz, and
Anna read it in breathless haste and burning cheeks. As she read how
the Prussians were at first defeated by the powerful army of the
Austrians under General Brown, whose terrific artillery sent death
and ruin into the Prussian ranks, the women sobbed softly, and the
men could hardly suppress their sighs. They breathed more freely
when they heard that the king, adopting a new expedient, advanced a
part of his cavalry into the centre of his weakened infantry, and
thus turned the tide of battle. Their courage failed on hearing that
this advantage was soon lost, the enemy still advanced in unbroken
columns, and almost forced the Prussians to retreat. The left wing
of infantry, commanded by the Duke of Severn, which had fired