Frederick the Great and His Fam

oked anxiously forward to the conclusion of this unhappy war in which Austria and Prussia were so fiercely opposed. So long as they were active enemies, Trenck must remain a prisoner

n of seeing him released through others. For nine years Trenck had languished in prison-for nine years Amelia's only thought, only desire, was to enable him to escape. Her life was consecrated to this one object. She thought not of the gold she had sacrificed-she had offered up not only her entire private fortune, but had made debts which her income was utterly inadequate to meet. Money had no value except as it was consecrated to her one great aim. She felt now that her heart had been crushed and broken in her useless efforts-that her hope

one. Her soul within her was desolate, and the outward world should take the same dark hue. She lived like a prisoner secluded in her own apartments; and when some great court festival compelled her to ap

e; only two pages waited in the anteroom, which was separated by two chambers from the boudoir. Amelia had the happy consciousness of being alone in her grief, and, fearing no disturbance, she could sigh and lament aloud. She dared gi

for having dared to disturb the princess, he informed her tha

er office nor dignity to bestow, and, at present, I have

e to him that you should look at his collection of gems; and if you will have the goodness to

ve no desire to see his jewels! Dismiss him, and do not dare dis

our highness knew him at Magdeburg, and that the governor, the Landgrav

she arose from the sofa; she was endowed with new energy and vitality; s

!" said she, "I wil

breathlessly, and with a loudly-beating heart. It s

e door, and bowed profoundly to the princess. Amelia looked at him steadily, a

e of Hesse sent you to

s as soon as I arrived in Berlin, and show you my collection, in ord

ly and fiercely upon the stranger,

, show me

nd threw back the lid. In the different compartments, splendid jewels of wondrous beaut

lia, contemptuously;

gn," said the strange jeweller. "Will not your hi

aid Amelia: "if you have nothing else to show m

, by Cellini, some ivory carving of the middle ages, and a few rare an

d costly articles, he laid them upon the table, explained the workmanship and desi

this must be something particularly costly. It was carefully wrapped in silk paper, while every thing else lay confusedly together, and yet this seemed the only treasure which the jeweller did not seem disposed t

at paper cont

the goodness to examine this seal? It represents the holy Saint Michael, treading the dragon

r hand toward the mysterious packet, and giving a sea

!" she exclaimed,

give it some value. The carving is indeed beautiful and most wonderful, when you know that it was do

almost fell from her hand. The stranger did

e cannot take impressions from this tin cup; they would make charming pictures. The sketches are not only well executed, but they are thoughtfully and pathetically conceived and illustr

to the window, and turning her back to

contained an enchanting and finely-executed picture. No chisel could have drawn the lines more correctly or artistically, or produced a finer effect

r of earlier days. A youthful, vigorous soul lay in the glan

an imprisoned bird;

t pas un

ans cet

de ces

tent dan

amis d

fers et

s dans vo

ront pou

"This is no

n this

e of tho

ng in

iend of

ron and

gs in y

y back t

the branch of a tree under which the cage was placed, perched anothe

l chante, vo

t pris pour ch

au qui fait ta

vie sans cra

un por

ntre l

fripons du desa

htingale sings, and

aken to sing

arrow, who doe

ife without

this po

hows th

rogues, and the mi

l upon the cup, as if to kiss the letters which had recalled so many touching and sad remembrances. But she had no time for te

the fate which befell it. One of them was engraved for the Landgrave of Hesse, and in this way fell into the hands of the Emperor Joseph the Second, who kept it in his art cabinet. Another, which had been once in possession of the wife of Frederick the Great, Trenck afterward recovered in Paris. Some of these cups are still to be seen in art collections in Germany, and some are in the museum in Berlin.] "Oh fearful! most fearful!" sobbed Amelia; and, completely overcome, her head sank upo

sed; perhaps this man, sent to her by the landgrave, had something still to say to her. She half turned her head to

me who engra

gdeburg every child knows it, and speaks it with wonder and admiration! No one has seen him, but every one knows of his daring, his heroism, his unfaltering courage, and endurance, his herculean strength, and his many and marvellous attempts to

countenance. She listened with suppressed breath to the jeweller's wo

er desires to have a cup engraved by him, as a souvenir. Every lady in Magdeburg longs for one, and prefers it to the most costly jewel. These cups are now the mode-indeed, they have become an important article in trade. If one of the officers can be induced to sell his cup, it will cost twenty louis d'or. Trenck gets no money for his work, but he has gained far greater advantages. These cups give him the opportunity of making known to the world the cruel tortures to which he is subject; they have given him speech, and replaced the writing materials of which they have d

erly to her lips; the stranger did not reg

r admiration and affection for Trenck; they know they would be severely punished if the higher authorities discove

I do not wish to be behind the ladies of Magdeburg, and as it is the mod

silent for a mo

or rather I implore your highness not to desire it. If po

done?" said Ame

cup. I am told he is a noble gentleman and a distant relation of Trenck; he cannot fail to sympathize with his unfortunate cousin. When he hears of his cruel sufferings he will certainly strive to deliver him. General Riedt is exactly the man to effect

significant expression; their glances met and were steadily fixed for one moment, then a scarcely perceptible sm

ing more to sa

ou will pardon me for not selling you th

is unhappy relative. If I succeed, the cup is mine, and you will not wish to sell it to General Riedt Do you agree to this? Go, then, and

unctually obey your highness's commands.

left the room. The princess gaz

an be trusted," she murmured. "I will write at o