Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1845-07-17
THE MILLER'S MAID.

- THERE is q lonely mill close beside tn,
little hamlet Of UdorE near the Rhin'
shore, between tho villages Of Ursel an,
Hersel, on the left bank below Boon
This mill issaid to.have been the seem
Of the following true story:
y @ II was on Sunday morning, ''age
long ago. that the miller Of this mill
and his whole family, went forth TO heal
the holy mass at the nearest church. ii
the village Of Hcrssl. The mill was left
in charge Of a ssrvant-girl named Ham.
chen, or Jenny, stout-hearted lass,
who had long lived with him in that ca
pacity. An infant child, of an age unfi'
for church. was also left in her charge
The girl was busily employed in pre-
pairing dinner for; the return of her mas
Ter and his family, when who should en-,
Ger but an old sweet heart others, nam
ed Heinrich Bottelor. He was an idle,
graceiess fellow, whom the miller had
forbidden his house, but whom Jenny,
with amiable peryersity. only liked per-
haps all the better. because others gave
him no count enauce. She was glad to
see him, and she told him 30, too; and
although in the midst Of her work, she
not only got him something to eat. but
also found time to cit down with him
and have gossip, while he despatched
the food set before him. As no ate,
however. he let fall his knife.
ssPick that up, my lass. said he, in a
Joking way. to the good natured girl.
sNay. Heinrich. !" she replied, ''your
back should be moro supple than mine,
for you have less work to make il stiff.
labor all day long. and you do nothing.
But never mind; 'twould 60 hard with
me # refused to do more than that for
you. bad though you be.
Hhis was spoken half sportively, and
half in good earnest: for, klnd-hearted
as the girl was, and much as she liked
the scape-gFace, she was too honest and
industrious to encourage and approve Of
idleness, and suspicious course Of life
in any one else, however dear to her.
She stopped down accordingly to pick up
the knife. AS she was in the act of ris-
ing, however, the treachefous villain
drew dagger from under bic cost and
caught her BY the maps Of ihs mock,
gripping her throat kfnly with his fingers,
20 prevent her screAning.
Z "Now, lass,'' he said, swearing an
oath at the same time. .swherc is Your
masters money? III have that OF your
life. so take your choice. ~
The terrified gisl would fain have par,
leyed with the sufkan. but he would hear
nothing she could say.
Masters money Or your lifep' va,
all the ansgef De made 10 her sDIreaties
s.Choose ut ohcs,0 z go the only alter
native he offered. s'lhs grave or ths
roldtss sssT Is4 d
she saw that there was no hope o.
mercy 1t his hands; and her native res.
olutioa awoks 10 her bosom. She was
liInid at triGcs; o scratch was a subiec,
Of fear to her; drop Of blood caused
her to faint. an unwoated souad in the
night filled her soul with fear. But
when her energies were aroused by on
adequate cause, she proved az her sex
have ever done; that ia courage, endur-.
sice, presence Of mind, and in resources
of emergency, she far surpassed the
coolest and bravest Of men. K
sWell, we'll, Heinrich!D she said, re-
signedly, sswhat II TO Be, must be-. But
II ycu tsketie money. I shall even 40
along with ". This win be no home ior
me any more. BDt ease your grippe of
ny neck alittls-don't 'tsqueeze 80 hard;
!! cant move, you hug me 90 highland
y ! cant stir, you cannot get the money,
tnafs cIeafs yon know. Besrdes time
presses, and 4 !, be done al all, it must
pe done quickly, as the family will
shortly be back from Hersel.o a
he iinsrelaxed his gripe, and final
" Ist 90 his hold. Her reasons were ali
eogsnt with bis cppidity.