6 FAMILY. 



army consisting of two men. arid accompanied by his 

 vassals - - my grandfather and his sons, all on horse- 

 back. 



As old Fritz with his mounted escort approached 

 the boundary, the imperial baron rode a few paces 

 to meet him. and in due form bade him welcome "in 

 his territory". The king, in whose memory perhaps 

 the existence of this neighbouring realm had grown 



O o o 



somewhat dim, appeared surprised at the greeting, 

 returned however the compliment in proper form, and 

 remarked turning to his retinue: "Messieurs, voila deux 

 souverains qui se rencontrentP This caricature of old 

 imperial glory has always remained in my memory, 

 and very early kindled in us children the longing for 

 \ future national unity and greatness. 



There was another event of even greater impor- 

 tance for the miniature state of Grote than the fore- 

 going. My father had four sisters one of whom. 

 Sabina. was very amiable and beautiful: excellencies 

 which the young baron of the Empire was not slow to 

 perceive, who accordingly offered her his heart and 

 hand. It is unknown to me what attitude the old 

 Freiherr assumed at this crisis; but from my grand- 

 father the young gentleman met with a decided rebuff. 

 The latter was unwilling that his daughter should enter 

 a family where she would not be treated as an equal, 

 holding tenaciously to the opinion of his time, that 

 bliss and blessing can only spring from a union of 

 like and like. He forbade his daughter all further 



o 



intercourse with the vouno* nobleman, and resolved 



