Section 137 Do Not Be Ashamed of Your Origin. — II
The good man told him that he was (App. § 28) the eldest son of a miller, and that he had two brothers in1 a mercantile line and a sister. “But,” said the general, “had you2 not another brother besides the two whom you have mentioned?” The miller told him he had another3 brother, but4 he went to the wars very young, and as5 they had never heard of him, they supposed he was dead. The6 general, reading (S. 16, N. 4) in the eyes of the officers that they were surprised at his entertaining himself so long with questioning the poor man, turned to them and said: “Gentlemen, you have always been curious to know from what family I sprung7; I now tell8 you that I am not ashamed of my origin; that I am the brother of this honest miller; he has given you the history9 of my family.” The general, after spending10 (S. 55, N. 1) the day with his relations, in11 the festivity of which his officers heartily joined, took measures to better their fortune12.—Anecdotes.
Notes
1 in — line, im Kaufmannsstande.
2 Translate ‘you’ by Ihr in this address, and use the verb in the 2nd pers. pl., which at that time was the common address for people of the lower rank of society. Say ‘had you (Ihr) besides (außer) the two already mentioned brothers not yet another’?
3 noch einen.
4 aber er sei sehr jung in den Krieg gezogen.
5 da; read S. 27, N. 8.
6 Say ‘The general who read in the eyes of the officers their surprise (insert darüber), that he occupied himself so long with the questioning (Ausfragen, n.) of the poor man’.
7 stammen.
8 tell = say.
9 family-history, S. 76, N. 22, A.
10 To spend a day with one’s relations, einen Tag in Gesellschaft seiner Verwandten verleben.
11 bei welcher Festlichkeit sich die Offiziere herzlich beteiligten.
12 fortune = position.