even venture to pray to the Holy Virgin and to God, for, as both
gave up their divine Son, so an honest woman must give up her
husband for the sake of the fatherland."

Andreas laid his hand on his wife's head as if to bless her. "It is
as you say, Gertrude," he said, solemnly. "For the sake of the
fatherland and the emperor you must give up your husband and your
children their father; and we are not allowed to shut our ears in
order not to hear that the dear Tyrol and the good Emperor Francis
have called me. I have heard the call, and must obey it. I shall do
so joyously and readily, and yet my heart grieves, and there is in
my breast here something telling me that our happiness is at an end,
that our sun has set, and--Gertrude, I am not ashamed of it--I
weep!"

He leaned his head against his wife's shoulder, and, folding her to
his heart, sobbed aloud. But this lasted only a short time; then be
raised himself again, and drew his hand quickly across his eyes.

"There," he said, "it is all over now. I wept as a good Christian is
surely allowed to do when he takes leave of his wife and his
children, and gives them up for the sake of his country. Did not
Abraham weep too, and beg God for mercy, when he was to sacrifice
his son to the Almighty? But he nevertheless was ready to make the
sacrifice. And, like Abraham, I have wept and lamented now, but I
shall make the sacrifice. Here I am, my God," he added, lifting his
eyes and hands to Heaven; "here I am, for Thou hast called me. Do
with me as thou deemest best. I am nothing but Thy faithful servant;
but if Thou wishest to use me for Thy great purposes, do so! I offer
Thee my arms, my body, and my life! Take them!"