[Footnote: The song is translated as follows:
Spin, spin, my little daughter, dear!
A pretty pair of shoes for thee!—
Alas, my mother! let me hear
What use are pretty shoes to me!
I cannot dance—I cannot spin:
And why these promised shoes to win!
O mother mine. I will not take
Thy kindly gift. My fingers ache!
Spin, spin, my little daughter dear!
And a bright silver-piece is thine!—
Alas, my mother's loving care
Makes not this shining money mine!
I cannot dance—I cannot spin;
What use such wages thus to win?
O mother dear! I cannot take
This silver, for my fingers ache.
Spin, spin, my little daughter dear!
For thee a handsome husband waits.—
Oh, then, my mother, have no fear;
My heart this work no longer hates.
Now can I dance, and also spin,
A handsome husband thus to win.
Thy best reward I gladly take!
No more—no more, my ringers ache.]
"A very pretty song," said Blucher, kindly. "And I believe I heard the girls sing it when I was a boy. Thank you, Christian, you have sung it very well. But, tell me now, old Hennemann, what is to become of Christian? You yourself shall remain here at Kunzendorf, and I will see to it that you are well provided for. But what about Christian?"
"He is anxious to enlist, general," said Hennemann, timidly, "and that is the reason why I brought him to your excellency. I wanted to request you to take charge of him, and make out of him as good a soldier as you are yourself."
Blucher smiled. "I have been successful," he said, "but those were good days for soldiers. Now, however, the times are very unfavorable; the Prussian soldier has nothing to do, and must quietly look on while the French are playing the mischief in Prussia."
"No, general," said Hennemann, "it seems to me the Prussian soldier has a great deal to do."
"Well, what do you think he has to do?" asked Blucher.
"To expel the French from Prussia, that is what he has to do," said the old man, raising his voice.