The Purpose by Hermann Sudermann — Read

It was a blazing afternoon, late in July. The Cheruskan fraternity / entered Ellerntal in celebration of their mid-summer festivity. They / had let the great wagon stand at the outskirts of the village and now / marched up its street in well-formed procession, proud and vain as a / company of _Schuetzen_ before whom all the world bows down once a year.

First came the regimental band of the nearest garrison, dressed in / civilian's clothes -- then, under the vigilance of two brightly attired / freshmen, the blue, white and golden banner of the fraternity, next / the officers accompanied by other freshmen, and finally the active / members in whom the dignity, decency and fighting strength of the / fraternity were embodied. A gay little crowd of elderly gentlemen, / ladies and guests followed in less rigid order. Last came, as always / and everywhere, the barefoot children of the village. The procession / came to a halt in front of the _Prussian Eagle_, a long-drawn single / story structure of frame. The newly added dance hall with its three / great windows protruded loftily above the house.