Liberty advocate. [volume] (Liberty, Miss.) 1835-1866, 1840-05-14
THE MILLER,S MAID.

or FEMALE HERolSM REWARDED.
There is lonely mill close beside the ittl
hamlet Of Urdorf, near the Rhine shore, be
tween the little villages of HerseI and Ursel
on the left bank below Bonn This mill il
said to have been the scene of the following
story.
1t was on Sunday morning, long ages ago.
that the miller of this mill, and his whole fami
~, went forth to hear the holy mass at the
nearest church in the villages of Herself The
mill which was also his residence was left in
charge ola servant girl named Hannchen, OF
Jenny, stout hearted lass, who had long liy.
ed with him 10 that capacity An infant child
OF an age unfit for church was left in her charge
likewise
The girl was busiy employed in preparing
dinner Tor the return OF her master and his fam
lily, when who should enter ola sudden, but an
old sweetheart Of hers named Heinrich Bottel
er. He was an idle graceess fellow, whom
the miller had forbidden his house, but whom
jenny, with the amiabe peryersity peculiar to
her sex, only liked perhaps all the better be-
cause others gave him no countenance. She
was glad TO see him, and she told him SO too;
and although in The midst Of her work, she not
only got him something to eat at once, but also
found time TO sit down with him and have
gossip, while he despatched the food she set
before him As he ale, however, he let fall his
knife.
"Pick that up, my lass" said he, in Joking
way, to the good natured girl.
"Nay, Heinrich," she replied, 'your back
should be more supple than mine, for YOU have
less work to make it stiff, labor all day
long, and you do nothing. But never mipd.
'twould go hard with me am | refused 10 dol
more than that for youbad though you be-"
This was spoken half sportively and half
in good earnest; for, kind hearted as the GIRL
was, and much as she liked the scapegrace, She
was TOO honest and Industrious herself 10 an.
prove Of idleness, and a suspicious course OIL
lille in any one else, however dear 10 her.
She stopped down accordingly, to pick up the
knife. AS she was in the act ofrsing, howey-
er, the treacherous villain drew dagger from
under his coat, and caught her by the name
OF the neck, gripping her throat firmly with
his fingers, to prevent her screaming the
while.
Snow lass" he said, swearing out bad oath
at the same time, "where is your masters mo-
ney2 III have that or'your life, so take your
choice.''
The terrified girl would fain have parleyed
with the rufian, but he would hear nothing she
would say.
''Your masters money or your life, lass,
was all the reply he youchsaled to her entrea
ties and adIuraions. "Choose at once" was
the alternative he offered her; 'the grave or
the gold"
She saw there was no hope Of mercy at his
hands; and as she saw it, her native resolution
awoke in her bosom. Like the generality Of
her gentle sex, she was timida trihes a scratch
was subject of fear to her; a drop Of blood
caused her 10 faint; an unwonted sound filled
her soul with fear in the night. But when her
energies were aroused by any adequate cause,
she proved, as her sex have ever done. that in
courage, in endurance, in presence of mind
and in resources in cases Of emergency, she
lar surpassedthe bravest and coolest men.
"WeIl, well, Heinrich" said she resiqnedlv
"what is to be, will be. But you take the mo-
ney, shall 60 along with you. This will be
10 home for me any more But cease your