THE LITTLE CAP.
[CHAPTER I.]
THE CALL TO BATTLE.
IN the year 1552, Charles the Fifth, Emperor of Germany, the celebrated son of Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain, laid siege to the town of Metz, famous then as now for its fortifications, and for its cathedral, which is one of the finest in Europe. It had lately been taken possession of by the French, and the Emperor vainly endeavoured to regain it. It was at the time above-named defended by Francis Duke of Guise, one of the most illustrious warriors of France, who, by his military career, as well as his high personal advantages, added not a little to the lustre of the House of Lorraine. His defence of Metz was amongst his most distinguished military exploits.
Amongst the German troops—who, not less brave than those of Spain and Italy, far surpassed them in discipline and humanity—was serving, at the time our story commences, a soldier of the name of Gaspard Stettele, a native of Munderkingen, a town of Suabia, seated on the Danube. Gaspard was not only remarkable for his courage and the diligence with which he discharged his military duties, but also for his honesty and kindness of heart, which, together with other good qualities, had secured for him the approbation and esteem of his superiors, as well as the goodwill and respect of his fellow-soldiers. A sincere piety, somewhat rare amongst men of his calling, regulated his life and conversation. Gaspard never went into action without on his knees imploring protection from One whom he well knew could preserve him in every danger.
Before the war of which we are speaking, Gaspard had married a young village girl, Katherine Stiess, and the union had been a happy one for both. Katherine was industrious, frugal, and devoted to her husband; and by the economy and order with which she managed her little family, she had kept them free from want. This was not always easy, as her husband would not, like other soldiers, enrich himself by pillage, and would no more have robbed a fallen and helpless enemy than he would a countryman or a friend.
Then, as now, soldiers scrupled not to appropriate all that the chances of war threw in their way;—not so Gaspard. He, on the contrary, grieved at the rapacity and unfeeling cruelty with which his comrades too often despoiled those who could offer no resistance, and daily returned from the scene of strife with only the approbation of his own conscience, whilst many of his comrades were loaded with booty, but too frequently cruelly obtained.
If Katherine was sometimes tempted to regret that she was not as well off as those who were thus enriched, she quickly checked the feeling, and recollected with thankfulness that no act of cruelty or dishonesty could be laid to her husband's charge, and that their fare, however poor, was honestly obtained. Three children had been born to gladden the little home. The two eldest, in health and strength, were all their parents could desire; the third, too tender to stand the life its parents were obliged to lead, was early taken from them, and they had deeply sorrowed at its loss—the only event that had clouded their happiness during the eight years of their married life. At the same time, both Gaspard and his good wife knew too well from whom the trial came to murmur under it, and perhaps there were even moments when they might think with thankfulness that their darling was safe from the various trials and troubles from which they could not have shielded it, had it been spared to them.
It had been the custom of Gaspard and his wife to observe their respective birthdays as days of pleasure and rejoicing, and to offer such little tokens of affection as it was in their power to bestow. Gaspard especially, according to the custom of all foreign countries, had never omitted presenting his wife with some small gift, varying with the means he had at his command. Katherine's birthday, or rather fête-day, was now approaching, and Gaspard feared lest he should for the first time be obliged to forgo this pleasure. The soldiers had been three weeks without their pay, in consequence of which Gaspard and Katherine had found it difficult to provide for their daily wants, and had been forced to take what little they had saved by strict economy to enable them to get on. Gaspard felt sad, as the day drew near, to think he should be unable to offer his beloved Katherine his customary gift.
Meantime, he found that his regiment had received orders to join a part of the Spanish army, for the purpose of endeavouring to take by assault a post of some importance about two leagues from Metz, occupied by the French. As soon as Gaspard was informed of this, he hastened back to the hut occupied by his family. In those days the huts, or cabins, in which soldiers were obliged to live during a campaign were miserable enough. Four strong stakes or poles served to support a thin roofing of planks, which was roughly covered over with moss or straw, the sides being formed of branches of trees, interlaced with each other, and plastered over with clay, through which the rain and light equally penetrated. Gaspard's little dwelling in no respect differed from those of his comrades, save in the neatness and cleanliness of its interior.