Wisconsin tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1847-1854, 1847-10-22
The FREELY.
FRCM THE GERMAN.


the open window of her little chamber,
and gazed uTon the neat orchard which
surrounded her cottage The grass had
been mown in the morning, but the heat
OF the sun soon tried it. She had already
gathered it into heaps, and the sweet
smell of the hav now blew into the cham
Der as if to refresh and strengthen her
hitter her labor. The glow Of sunset was
already fading upon the border of the
clear and cloudIess sky, and the moon
shone clear and bright into the little
chamber shadowing the square panes of
the half open window, together with the
grape vine which adorned it, upon the
nicely sanded floor Little Ferdinand,
boy OF six years of age, stood leaning a
galnst the window frame his blooming
face and yellow locks, with portion of
his white clean shit sleeves and scarlet
vest, were distinctly visible in The moon
light.
The poor woman was sitting thus TO
rest herself, perhaps. But oppressive as
had been the labor of the sultry dav, vet
heavier burthen weighed upon her bo
som, and rendered her forgetful OF he
WEAKNESS She had eaten but spoonful
or two OF their supper, which consisted
of bread and milk. Little Ferdinand was
also greatly disturbed, bat did not speak,
because he saw that his mother was sor-
rewful; having observed that instaed of
eating she wept bitterly he had laid aside
his spoon. and the earthen dish stood uDop
the table almost rs fall as when served
up.
Maria was left a widow in The early
part OF the previous spring Her deceased
husband, one of the worthiest men IN the
village, had by industry and economy
saved u sum of money sufficient 10 pun
chase the little cottage with It's neat
meadow. though not entirely free from in.
cumbrance. The industrious man had
planted the green and cheerful field with
young trees, which had already borne the
finest fruit. He had chosen Maria fog his
wife, although she was a poor orphan. and
her parents had been able to give her no
thing more than a good education he
had chosen her becau Sc she was known
as the most plous. Industrious and we'll
behaved maiden In the village They had
lived happy together. But the tvphus fever
broke out IN tie village. and her husband
died. Having nursed him with the great.
est tenderness, she herself was attacked
with it, after his death, and barely es-
capped with life.
Her husbands sickness and her own
had thrown them much behind hand but
now she must even part with her little
cottage. Her deceased husband had lone
labored tor the richest peasant in the
country a man by the name of Never
The peasant, who highly esteemed him
on account of his industry and fidelity
had lent him three hundred crowns to pur-
chase this cottage, with the ground be.
longing TO IT, upon the condition that he
would pay off fifty crowns a year. twenty
i've IN money and twenty-fiv in labor.
Until the year that her husband was taken
sick, he had faithfully performed his a.
greement, and the debt now amounted to
but fifty crowns. Maria knew all this
very we'll
Meyer now died of the same disease
The heirs, son and daughter-in-law,
found the note for three hundred crowns
among the papers of the deceased. They
ord Lot know anything about the affair.
as the old man had never spoken of it to
them. The terrified woman assured them.
calling Heaven to witness, that her de.
ceased husband had paid of. the whole ex-
cept fifty crowns. But all this was of no
avail. The young peasant called her a
shameless liar, and summoned her before
court OF law. As she could not prove
THAI anything had been paid, il was deci-
ded that the whole claim against her wa,
valid. The heirs insisted upon payment.
and as poor Maria had nothing bat her
cottage and grounds, this little property
must now be sold. She had fallen upon
her knees before the heirs. and PRAYED
them not TO turn her out of doors little
Ferdinand wept with her - both went.
but all m vain, The following morning
was appointed for NE sale. She heard Of
this an hour before, just as she had FIN
lShcd her days work. \ ncighbor had
called over the hedge and told tito her.