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{{HPB-SB-header | {{HPB-SB-header | ||
| volume = 3 | | volume = 3 | ||
| page =84 | | page = 84 | ||
| image = SB-03-084.jpg | | image = SB-03-084.jpg | ||
| notes = | | notes = | ||
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{{Style P-HPB SB. Title continued |A Woman's Dream|3-83}} | {{Style P-HPB SB. Title continued |A Woman's Dream|3-83}} | ||
... | {{Style P-No indent|are silent! my sisters, hate you forgotten the lore and tenderness of our childhood, and our games of which these silent walls have been the witnesses?’}} | ||
“At these last words my sisters appeared moved, they spoke to one another in a low voice, they rose up and signed tome to approach; one of them then knelt down before my mother and hid her face in her lap, as if she wished to play at a game called Hot-kok-kiry (a childish game where one cords his eyes and guesses who strikes him with the flat hand). Surprised at this strange freak at such a solemn time, I nevertheless touched my sister’s hand with the whip that I still grasped: a mysterious force seem to impel me to do so. Then came my turn to kneel down before my mother and to tuck my face in her lap. Oh, horror, I felt through her silk dress, a cold and angular form. I heard a sound of rattling bones, and when a hand was struck in my hand the hand remained there,—and was the hand of a skeleton. | |||
“I arose with a cry of terror: all had disappeared, and there only remained to me of this dreadful vision the human remains which I grasped convulsively. Almost beside myself I ran from the place, crossed the yard, jumped on my horse, and galloped wildly through the forest. At day break my horse sank beneath me and expired. I fell insensible at the root of a tree, and was found there by my attendants, with my skull fractured. I almost died, and it was only after three weeks of fever and delirium, I regained my senses and gradually recovered. | |||
“It was then I learned that all my family had perished in the pitiless war that had desolated Mecklenburg, and that the castle of Gross Rensow had been several times pillaged and sacked. Scarcely convalescent I''' '''hastened to the castle to render the last rites to the mortal remains of my parents; but the most scrupulous search could not discover a trace, save one hand only. One female hand, surrounded by a golden bracelet, lay on the floor of the room in which the fatal vision had appeared to me. I took the golden chain which I now hold, and deposited the human bones in the oratory chapel. | |||
“Many years have rolled by, and it was two months ago, while lying in this arm-chair, a slight noise awoke me. Sly father, my mother, and my sisters stood before me, come as they had appeared to me at the castle. My sisters began to play at the same game, and signed to me to advance. ‘Never, never!’ I exclaimed; then the phantoms, joining hands, passed slowly round my chair. ‘Justice,’ said my father, as he passed before me; ‘Penitence,’ said my mother, leaning towards me; ‘Prayer,’ said my youngest sister; The sword,’ sighed another; ‘The 11th of August;’ ‘The 12th of August at midnight,’ whispered the fourth. Again they moved slowly round me, three times, then with one sad voice they all exclaimed, ‘Au revoir I''' '''Au revoir! To our next meeting.’ | |||
“I felt that it was a warning of my approaching death, and that I had only to look to my God to receive my soul, and bid farewell to your Majesty and my friends.” | |||
“My dear Marshal,” said the king, “what you have related to me is very strange. Still do you not think the vision may have been caused by delirium? Take courage. Strive against these hallucinations, and you will rally and yet live a long time. Will you not try and believe me? Give me your hand.” | |||
The Marshal not answering, the king took his hand; it was icy cold, and midnight struck by the old clock. | |||
The spirit of Field Marshal Blucher had passed away. | |||