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 throne has been our father, our providence, as he should have been? If you will find one among them, I shall not say another word.”

Such deep silence followed the young man’s words that the underground moisture was heard trickling down the walls. All were pondering the truth of the sad statement, but no one arose to reproach him for his words.

“You are all silent, and I see that with me you are recalling how the Přemysls called the Germans into our country, and gave them privileges which they did not give their own children; how they were always more desirous of the German crown than for the prosperity of their own nation. Are you recalling how the Luxemburgs lavishly squandered our national property? Both John and Sigmund attempted to divide and barter away the Bohemian country. Charles IV., whom we call the father of our country, gave three times as many privileges to the foreigners in Prague as he did to the Bohemians. Are you recalling how King George, a pure-blooded Bohemian, persecuted the Brethren? You are