The prisoners, however, were an evidence of a battle unfavorable to the allies.  My father, whose party feelings made him quite certain that these would come off victorious, had the violent temerity to go forth to meet the expected victors, without thinking that the beaten party must pass over him in their flight.  He first repaired to his garden before the Friedberg gate, where he found every thing lonely and quiet; then ventured to the Bornheim heath, where he soon descried various stragglers of the army, who were scattered, and amused themselves by shooting at the boundary-stones, so that the rebounding lead whizzed round the head of the inquisitive wanderer.  He therefore considered it more prudent to go back, and learned on inquiry what the report of the firing might have before informed him, that all stood well for the French, and that there was no thought of retreating.  Reaching home in an ill humor, the sight of his wounded and captured countrymen brought him altogether out of his usual self-command.  He also caused various donations to be given to the passers-by; but only the Germans were to have them, which was not always possible, as fate had packed together both friend and foe.

My mother and we children, who had already relied on the count’s word, and had therefore passed a tolerably quiet day, were highly rejoiced; and my mother doubly consoled the next day, when, having consulted the oracle of her treasure-box, by the prick of a needle, she received a very comfortable answer, both for present and future.  We wished our father similar faith and feelings; we flattered him as much as we could; we entreated him to take some food, from which he had abstained all day; but he repulsed our caresses and every enjoyment, and betook himself to his chamber.  Our joy, however, was not interrupted; the affair was decided:  the king’s lieutenant, who, against his habit, had been on horseback that day, at last returned home, where his presence was more necessary than ever.  We sprang to meet him, kissed his hands, and testified our delight.  This seemed much to please him.  “Well,” said he more kindly than usual, “I am glad also for your sakes, my dear children.”  He immediately ordered that sweetmeats, sweet wine, and the best of every thing should be given us, and went to his room, already surrounded by a crowd of the urging, demanding, supplicating.

We had now a fine collation, pitied our poor father who would not partake of it, and pressed our mother to call him in; but she, more prudent than we, well knew how distasteful such gifts would be to him.  In the mean time she had prepared some supper, and would readily have sent a portion up to his room; but he never tolerated such an irregularity, even in the most extreme cases:  and, after the sweet things were removed, we endeavored to persuade him to come down into the ordinary dining-room.  At last he allowed himself to be persuaded unwillingly, and we had no notion of the mischief which we were