My hope in writing the story of Andreas Hofer has been, that the example of loyalty and manly Christianity might prove beneficial and not without interest to English boys.

The authorities I have chiefly consulted are, 'André Hofer et l'Insurrection du Tyrol en 1809,' by M. Clair (to whom, indeed, I am indebted for the most interesting and characteristic anecdotes relating to Hofer); Alison's 'History of Europe;' Menzel's 'Geschichte der Deutschen; and Baroness Tautphoeus' 'At Odds,' etc.

January, 1883.

YAM.

THE

STORY OF ANDREAS HOFER,

THE SANDWIRTH.*

CHAPTER I.

'LAND TYROL.'

It is a noble story-the story of a man who lived and fought and suffered, true to his warcry, 'For God, the Emperor, and our Fatherland! I should like to tell it you, just in my own fashion, partly as I have read it in other histories, and partly as it has been told me in Andreas Hofer's own 'land Tyrol,' by those whose fathers and grandfathers knew and loved the Sandwirth ; and you must have patience with me if, as I write, scenes and

* ' Sandwirth ' means 'Host of the Sand_Inn.'

places which I have seen rise up so vividly before me, that I must ramble on a little about them and the brave people I have learnt to know and love.

One scene especially comes to my mind. when I think of Tyrol and the Tyrolese, and it will make as good a starting-point as another for my story, and perhaps be more interesting than a beginning of history and dates. It was at Meran, in the very heart of the beautiful land, and a town of which you will hear much as we go on; a lovely place, just where the Passeyr valley emerges from its great mountain walls, and opens into the valley of the Adige or Etsch (let me ask you to keep that name 'Passeyr' well in mind), and round it on every side rise high mountains tipped here and there with snow, while the slopes about are one huge vineyard. On a Sunday in September I stood by the Bridge of Meran, near an old archway, through which a quaint, narrow street led upwards towards