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Updated: June 13, 2025
Yet all the time the tears ran down his weather-beaten furrowed cheeks and his snow-white beard, and as he tried to draw up his bent shoulders the medals clinked together on his breast. Wegstetten had but little comfort for the poor old man.
But a younger man cannot be promoted over his head." He took the second document and handed it to Wegstetten. "And here, at the same time, is the other promotion. I have followed your advice. Sergeant Heimert is to-day appointed deputy sergeant-major and relieved of his present duty. He will report himself to you to-morrow. "Thank you, sir," replied the captain.
Yes, the battery was all right, and he, Wegstetten, would see to it that it remained so. On every speech-making occasion when the chief held it up as an example, he had rejoiced to see the envious faces with which the commanders of the other batteries congratulated him. Undoubtedly on this account he was given extra hard nuts to crack such as this case of Frielinghausen.
Some days later Wegstetten asked him: "How is the one-year volunteer Trautvetter behaving? I have been quite pleased with him on duty these last few days." And Heppner answered: "He has been much more steady, sir; there has been no fault to find with him." The commander of the battery nodded, well pleased. "You see, sergeant," he said, "my plan has been a success.
They also seemed in no way changed. Major Lischke and Captain von Wegstetten were still at loggerheads, Lischke blustering away in his loud voice, and Wegstetten assuming his most ironical expression. Captain Stuckardt was listening in a half-hearted way; he had quite recently been put on the list for promotion to the staff, and consequently wore a rather preoccupied look.
At Michaelmas two more non-commissioned officers would obtain their discharge; Heppner was dead; Heimert was in a mad-house; there were strange faces everywhere, instead of the old tried experienced men. And even so there were not enough of them. In this embarrassment Wegstetten bethought himself of Vogt. He was an honest steady lad, on whom one could depend.
When Wiegandt had gone, the officer turned to the sergeant-major and said with a sigh, "Damned nuisances they are! Now we've got two of these fellows, Wolf and Weise, we must see they don't get together. How is Wolf doing?" "No fault to find with him, sir." Wegstetten walked to the window and looked out silently.
Then, turning to Wegstetten: "If the man is as capable as I hear," he continued, "you might manage to make things a bit easier for him." "Yes, sir," the captain hastened to reply. "I had been thinking of employing him in the autumn as assistant clerk." This was not true.
Upon which he turned pleasantly to Wegstetten and asked: "Did you ride over and see that target, my dear Wegstetten? I mean the one that was hit full?" "Yes, sir; the shrapnel must have exploded almost inside the gun." "I thought so. Capital thing, the very first shot of the year being such a good one. No one like you for that, Wegstetten!"
Wegstetten asked, "Well, is there anything you want to ask me?" The tall youth choked a bit over his reply, but finally he got it out: "Pardon me, sir I don't know whether my request is in order but, sir, if you would have the goodness to write to my mother and tell her that you are satisfied with me?" Wegstetten was silent with astonishment.
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