DEAREST MOTHER:—God be praised, it is peace once more. Bonfires have been lighted in the square. Fireworks have been exhibited in the public places. The bells of all the churches have been ringing. I have been watching the crowds that throng the streets welcoming the soldiers on their return from the war. How many happy meetings there have been already. Husbands with their wives, fathers with their children, brothers with their sisters. Oh, how that last sentence makes my heart leap up with joy! For only think, yesterday, George came here quite unexpectedly. I cannot express to you how delighted I was. At first I was not a little terrified when a tall stately soldier, with a moustache and a frightful sabre at his side, strode into the room, and hastened up to me. I screamed for terror. But at this, he only laughed, and threw his arms about me, saying, "Margaret, don't you know me?" Then it was I found out that it was George, and I was actually wild with joy—my heart beat quicker from joy now, than it had done from terror before. You can readily imagine how affectionately George inquired for you, how he sent a thousand, thousand loves, and desired me to say that the first time he could, he would come himself to see you. My mistress was very kind to George, and having cake brought out, made him sit down, and tell us his adventures: one part of them was very interesting. He rescued his gallant captain from the hands of the enemy and from certain death. The poor gentleman was wounded, and his fine black horse was shot under him; he had sunk upon his knees. One of the hussars had raised his sabre to cleave his skull. George came up at the moment and warded off the blow, while he struck down the fierce hussar. Several of the enemy came up, but George's comrades hastened to his assistance at the cry "To the rescue." The enemy was put to flight. The captain recovered from his wounds which are now perfectly healed. The captain is now staying with his aunt, Madame Von Holme. He requested to see me, and as I entered, said, "I am delighted to know the sister of the man who has saved my life. I have a deep debt of gratitude to discharge both to him and to you. To your mother also I am deeply indebted; for how much do I owe to the careful education which she has bestowed upon her children." Early on the following morning, the captain set out again, as he was anxious to see his father and mother. George accompanied him, and left for you all sorts of kind messages. To-day Madame Von Holme said to me, "I have just been giving thanks to God for permitting me to see my dear Charles again.—What a world of blessing we owe to those kreuzers! Had you not forwarded them to your mother, your brother would not have been Charles's servant, and perhaps Charles would now be among the number of those for whom many a bitter tear is shed." "I should much like to know," said the maid who accompanied her mistress, "how it was those copper coins turned into gold."