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Frederick the Great and His Family by L. (Luise) Mühlbach
page 342 of 1003 (34%)
shepherd. "You would prefer his remaining at home, and not being a
soldier?"

"No, I would not prefer this, father," said she, earnestly; "would
you?"

The old man looked thoughtful for some time, then said:

"It will be a great sorrow to me, Anna Sophia, for he is the last
remaining light of my youth, and when he goes all will be dark and
gloomy for me. It does me good to see his bright, handsome face; to
hear his gay morning and evening song; and when you two are sitting
beside me hand in hand upon the old bench at the front of our little
hut, my youth comes back to me. I see myself sitting on the same
bench with my dear old woman--it was our favorite seat when we were
young. When Charles Henry leaves me, I not only lose him, but my
whole past life seems to vanish away."

"You would, therefore, prefer he should remain at home?" said Anna,
anxiously.

"If it were possible," said he, "but it is not. His king has called
him, he must obey."

"But he may, perhaps, be allowed to stay, father, if you will
declare that you are too old, too weak to support yourself, and wish
the only prop of your old age to remain with you, the authorities at
Cleve may, perhaps, grant your request."

The old shepherd shook his head slowly and thoughtfully, and said:
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