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Her

Louisa's turn. She timidly glanced at me. I whispered, "Take courage." She stepped forward, and presented the standard. lips trembled when she pronounced the first word; but her enthusiastic interest in the subject soon mastered her diffidence. Her voice grew more powerful, her cheeks glowed, and bright tears escaped her eyes: Companions and brethren in joy and woe," she concluded, "may this standard, consecrated by the minister of God, bring glad success to your arms! May it shield and remind you that Eternal Justice is with us. Fervent prayers follow your standard. May Heaven bless you and grant victory to you, the generous guests of our country, who have come to assist in our struggle for freedom!" Loud hurrahs resounded. Visocki, the deservedly celebrated general, then commander of the Polish battalion, thanked her in its name with accents of deep emotion. Heartily cheered by the multitude, Louisa at last got to the carriage and accompanied by the officers on horseback, we reached our home. It was the only instance in which I had seen Mrs. Ruttkay conquer her natural timidity. I expressed my astonishment. She smilingly acknowledged that she herself had almost doubted her identity; that she had felt as if she had not spoken herself, but as if an internal voice had lent her its accents.

The most perfect happiness was afforded to this angelic mind, when it could exert itself for the welfare of others; her place was wherever she could soothe pain or alleviate misery. More than one

matter of anxiety was communicated to Kossuth by her with winning entreaties; but never beyond the sphere of support for the destitute and helpless.

The union of persons so different, and individually so remarkable, would have rendered this family interesting under any circumstances; how much more was this the case with Kossuth at its head; Kossuth, the first man of our nation, the man of the people, whom he loved with the power of his faith and his genius.

I think those who were fortunate enough to be initiated into his intimate life, will consider the period of his activity at Debreczen as peculiarly interesting. Everything was there in a smaller compass than in the capital, and he could be contemplated more closely. În a few short months Kossuth could there be watched while completing a whole course,-from the severest danger up to the zenith of fortune. His calm dignity and equanimity never forsook him for a single moment. If he had been of princely origin, this natural power, no doubt, would have been attributed to an inherited gift of his race. With him it acted resistlessly. Attentive observers ascribed to this the spell with which Kossuth bound even the most unruly dispositions. The example he gave of indefatigable activity effectually influenced all branches of the public service. Glowing energy like his could alone call forth the miracles by which all Europe was astonished. Far surpassing the ancient Greek myth, an army of 150,000 men issued from Kossuth's head. And this happened at the time when our enemies and public opinion, throughout Europe, deemed the Hungarian nation effaced from the book of history.

Long before dawn, Kossuth sat at his desk. He often worked for hours alone. Regardlessly strict himself, he was ever mindful of others, and did not exact from them his own sacrifices. After he had worked six or seven hours, and had sent his orders

in every direction, no respite from toil yet arrived. His horse was saddled and he went to review some newly organized battalion. The well-disciplined cheers usual at prepared festivities cannot convey the faintest notion of the untrained outbreaks of enthusiasm which the appearance of Kossuth created. At his sight the soldiers could hardly be restrained in the ranks, and to preserve order he was often obliged to ride close up to them. The expression of his physiognomy in such moments clearly manifested what he felt when the vigorous sons of Hungary looked up to him with radiant glances and half familiar smiles. He understood how to satisfy every one; he addressed them, and had always something to say which stimulated the pride of the men, and remained favourite topics with them. They never grew tired of relating how it was when they spoke with Kossuth. On one such an occasion he met a father, who stood in the same ranks with his two sons. Kossuth turned to his aide-decamp and said, "Colonel Bikkessy, take care to have the old man soon made sergeant; the youngsters might forget the due respect for their father, if he remained long their comrade." Before Kossuth left the review, he generally used to address the troops with a short and energetic speech; he never repeated the hackneyed phrases usual to most persons officially called upon to speak. His words were impressed with thoughts of power and feeling, and electrified the ranks he approached. Summoned by him, the Honvéds readily met every danger. These brave men, naturally fearless, unequalled horsemen from their very childhood, with bitter dislike for their oppressors, and intense love for their country, saw in Kossuth the personification of their patriotism. What would such troops not encounter? No victory seemed unattainable; nothing but a treacherous and cowardly blow could deliver them up to the enemy.

When the governor turned homeward, his way was thronged with people. Touching, and often amusing, scenes chanced to take place. Peasants came from fifty and a hundred miles to Debreczen for the sole purpose of seeing him, or to address to him some question, as, whether the war was likely to be soon concluded; -whether it was wiser to keep or to sell their corn. Once a young

woman, with a child in her arms, stopped him and handed over a letter, which she requested him to get forwarded to her husband, who was a private soldier in the Transylvanian army. Another time, when there was a general deficiency of small coin, he was personally applied to for change.

Such genuine proofs of childlike confidence were always warmly accepted by Kossuth, who not seldom devoted moments of his precious time to these trifling subjects.

Coming home tired and chilled by the wintry cold, he found the large hall adjoining his cabinet crowded with people of all descriptions, who wished to speak to him. Kossuth, anxious to do justice to every application, and every proposal, had to listen to many an idle talk.

Though, as usual in Hungary, his dinner hour was two o'clock, the clock often struck four, and his audiences had not yet come to a close. His anxious wife knocked vainly at the door of the study, or ventured softly to open it and peep in, to attract his attention. Kossuth, who in the real sense of the word was the servant of his

people, ever attended to all claims before he allowed himself the refreshment of an undisturbed meal.

At Debreczen he was often compelled to see guests at dinner. A more refined cook was therefore added to his house; yet Kossuth himself disliked the spiced and artificially prepared dishes. "Let me have to-morrow our nice millet-pap," said he to his wife, "just as we always used to have it; my Hungarian stomach cannot solve the riddles of French cookery." Theresa objected, that the cook would not know how to dress this rural dish. "I will prepare it for you to-morrow," said Louisa, "and you shall see that I am still as good a cook as I used to be in our mother's house, when, during your school vacations, you came to the kitchen very hungry.” Kossuth seized his sister's head and thankfully kissed her brow. She never lost an opportunity for affectionate attention.

Presently the two boys came running in, attired in little uniforms, which they just had got from Mr. Auffenberg, afterwards so unfortunate. The children were mad with joy, especially little Lajos, who inquired a hundred times from his father if he would allow him to become a real soldier as soon as he was a grown-up man.

The father had hardly leisure to enjoy the healthful look and spirits of his little ones. Six o'clock approached, when the ministerial council assembled in his study. This conference lasted till nine, often still longer. At eight we used to meet at Theresa's. I came with Mrs. Meszlényi; and if the weather was favourable, old Mrs. Kossuth accompanied us. Countess Augusta Batthyáni, the wife of Count Casimir Batthyáni, then commander in Eszegg, afterwards minister of foreign affairs, often joined our small circle. Brilliant and gay, once the centre of fashion, she little thought what hardships were in store for her. But this lady, accustomed to the most refined luxuries of aristocratic life, bore with uncomplaining heroism the hardships of travel under circumstances which disheartened many a man. At the side of her gallant husband, the aristocratic and self-sacrificing champion of free institutions, shrank from no danger or terror. She crossed on horseback the difficult road over the Balkan, without servants, without any of those comforts which have become necessities to persons brought up in luxury. Several of the refugees who witnessed her journey, testified with admiration to her courage, and ever undisturbed temper. They saw her without the least shade of selfishness, attentively careful to her husband, and anxious to make up to him for his unusual privations.

But to return to our quiet evenings;-quiet, indeed, they were forced to be, as Kossuth's study adjoined the room where we sat, and noisy conversations were forbidden. When, in spite of this, an interesting topic hurried us on, forgetful of our needle and knitting, and induced us to give free vent to our thoughts, the door would slightly open, and display the ugly, but intellectual, face of Duschek, the minister of finance. "Do we, perhaps, disturb you, ladies?" he would say with good-humoured irony; "pray tell me ; we shall take better care.” After such a rebuke we kept order, and patiently waited until the gentlemen separated. If it was not

Colonel Auffenberg had formed two battalions of chasseurs. After the sur. render at Vilagos, he was arrested, and hanged by the Austrians at Arad.