At this crisis, there comes down the hill by the inn as jauntily as a man may who has a wooden leg, a person whom no one recognizes as the one-time fine recruiting officer. His uniform is worn and ragged, his face is scarred and weather-beaten, his leg is gone at the knee, but the Cross of the Legion of Honor gleams brightly upon his breast. " Yes, children, thus it is that the Grand Army returns to France," he says gaily, but nevertheless he wipes a furtive tear from his eye. He talks jokingly with Colas and his wife and asks for Christina. It is he who has the golden cross and he reminds her of her promise. Her heart sinks but she resolves to keep her word and places her hand in his.
Then Bombardon hears Gontran's familiar but discon solate voice and fairly falls upon him in his joy. In fact, he is a great deal happier to find an old friend than to win a bride. The matter is cleared to Christina's satisfaction and Bombardon gaily takes the couple, one on each arm, and followed by the rest sings joyously : Rataplan! Tarara! Now peace reigns in the land.
Capitulate the Grand Armee In hymen's sacred band.
" The Golden Cross " which is very popular in Ger many and is an excellent example of the German comic opera, or singspiel, has among its most interesting numbers Christina's romanza, " Die Eltern starben frithe " (" My parents died long years ago ") ; a duet for Theresa and Christina, " Man soil's nicht verschworen " (" One never should declare ") ; a duet for Bombardon and Gontran, " Halt, Front, Gewehr bei Fuss " (" Halt! Front! Atten tion give! ") ; Gontran's song, " Jugendgluck, Jugendtraum " (" Joy of youth, Dream of Youth ") ; the delightfully stirring rataplan song of Bombardon; the duet of Theresa and Nicholas , " Schau, schau, mein Mannchen " (" See, see, my hubby ") ; Gontran's romanza, " Nein, nein ich will ihr Herz nicht zwingen " (" No, no, not force can make her love me ") ; the supper-table quartet; the love duet for Chris tina 'and Gontran, " Darf ich's glauben " (" Dare I think then ") and Bombardon's song, " Wie anders war es " (" How different then "),