The officer, after making the drummer a sign, who beat the roll
powerfully, drew out a roll of paper and unfolded it. The villagers
pushed forward and waited with breathless attention. Close to the
officer stood the old shepherd, next to him his son and Anna Sophia,
who was staring, pale and trembling, at the officer, who now began
to read.

This paper commanded the unmarried men of the village to place
themselves under the king's flag, and to take their places in the
ranks of those who fought for their country. Harvest was at an end,
and the king could now demand the fighting men of villages and
cities to join him and share with him his dangers and his victories.
The officer then commanded the mayor to give him early the next
morning a list of the unmarried men in the village, that he might
call them out and conduct them to Cleve for further orders.

A hollow murmur ran through the crowd when the officer had finished.
The joyful and inspired emotion they had just felt gave way to
discontent and gloom. All had been ready to celebrate the victory,
but found it far from desirable to enter the ranks.

The old shepherd looked angrily at the despairing crowd, and an
expression of pious peace spread over his venerable countenance.
Turning to the officer, he said, in a loud voice,

"I had six sons in the army; two fell in the battle of Losovitz, and
my poor old heart still weeps for the dead, but it is also content
that the king calls for another sacrifice. I have one other son; he
is unmarried, has no one to take care of, neither wife nor child nor