New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1852-09-22
THE MILLER's MAID.


THE MILLER's MAID.
There is lonely mill close beside the little hamlet of
Udorf the Rhine shore between the villages of Her.
and Urse the left bank below Bonn. This mill ia
said 10 have been the of the following story:
1t Sunday morning, ages long ago., that the
miller of this mill and his whole family, went forth to
hear the holy at the nearest church in the village of
HeTsel The mill which also his residence, left
in charge Of servant girl named Hannehen OF Jenny
capacity An infant child of age unfit for church.
sas lift in her charge likewise
Tie girl busy employed in preparing dinner for
t of her master and his family when who should
er III Of sudden but an old sweetheart Of hers named
Heinrich Bottelor He was idle graceless fellow.
,vhcm the miller had forbidden his house. but whom
Jcnnt with the amiable perversty peculiar to her sex,
only ke perhaps all the better because others gave
him conntenance. She glad to him, and she
told him too and although in the midst of her work
only got him something to eat at once, but also
found time sit down with him and have gossip while
dispatched the food she set before him. As he ate,
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
supple than mine for you have less work to make it
stiff labor all day long, and you do nothing. But.
never mind 'twoud go hard with me- had refused to
do more than that for you bad though you be.n
This spoken half sportiyely and half in good ear
nest for kind hearted as the girl and much she
liked the scapegrace too honest and industrious her
self encourage approve of ideness and suspicious
Of life in any else however dear to her She
stopped down accordingly to pick the As she
was in the act of rising however the reaeherous villain
drew dagger from under his coat and cagt her by the
nape of the neck, gripping her throat firmly with his
fingers to prevent her screaming the while.
Now lass he said swearing out bad cath at the
time, where smasters money! I'll 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 could say.
Masters money your life lass ~ was all the
he vouchsaed to her entreaties and auraons Choose
at once was the only alternative he offered her; the
grave the gold "
She that there hope of mercy at his hands
and, she saw it. her native resolution awoke in her
bosom Like the generality of her gentle sex, she was
timd at triles scratch object Of fear to hera
drop of blood caused her to faintan unwonted sound
filled her soul with fear in the night. But when her
eges aroused by any adequate cause she proved
as her have DONE that in courage in endurance
in presence of mind and in for every eergen
cy, she far surpassed the bravest and coolest
''Wel we'll Heinrich she said, resgnedly. what is
go along with ye This will be home for any
But your gripe of my neck littledont squeeze
mar bard cant anti mosf @ you you mug me 50 tight oA And cant
Besides time presses and if it be done at all must be
done quickly the household will shortly be back from
Herself e,
The ruan relaxed his grippe and finally let his hold
Her reasons were all cogent with his ,eupidty.
Come" she said, quick. quick! no delay The
money is in masters bedroom
She trpped up stairs gaily as lark he followed
closely her heels She led the way her masters
bedrooms and pointed out the Golfer in which his money
secured.
''Here. she said reaching him an axe which lay in
of the this will wrench it open at
and while you are tying it up shall just step up stairs
to my apartment and get few things ready for
flight well my little savings for the last five
years.
The rufiian thrown off his guard by her openness
aud apparent anxiety to accompany him. Like all
egotists, he deceived himself when sefdecei most
certain to be his destruction.
Co. lass all he said, a but be not long. This job
will be done in a twnkling.i
She disappeared at the words He Immediately broke
open the chest and engaged in rummaging its
contents.
lie thus employed however absorbed in the con-
temptation of his prey and eagerly occupied in securing
it on his person. the braye-hearted girl stole down the
stairs tptoe Creeping softly along the passages she
speedily gained the door OF the chamber unseen by him
and likewise unheard 1t was but the work of moment
for her to the key in the wards and lock him in
This she rushed forth to the outer door of the mil
Fly! fy!'' she shrieked to the child, her masters
little boy infant five years DID, the only being within
sight sound of her, Fly fly to father. fly, you
life Tell him we shall all be murdered if he haste no
back! Fly fly p
The child, who was at play before the door, at ono
obeyed the energetic command the brave girl and spe
fast his tiny legs could carry him the road b
which he knew his parents would return from church
IIannchen cheered him onward and inspired his lttl
heart as he
Bless thee, boy bless thee =, she exclaimed, in tn
gadness of her heart master arrives in time, vii
offer up taper the altar of our blessed Lady of thu
kreutzberg, by Bonn.'
She sat down on the stone bench by the mill door
her over-excited spirit and she wept she sat-
| the thoughts of her happy deliverance
| sThank God .n she CIRCULATED, thank God for th
escape. Oh. the deadly villain and so fond of him
| too"
shril whistle from the grated window of the ehambe,
in which she bud shut up the rufan Heinrich caught hel
ear and made her start az once TO her @ 1eet eel. a..
child and hither, am fast. Come hither. Bring
| the hoy here and kill the girl J"
She glanced hastily up the easement from which the
imprisoned villains hand beckoned to some one in the
and then looked anxiously after her infant ennis
| sary The little messenger held his way unharmed
h,yryer and she thought to herself that the arm was
n f one raised excite her fear and overcome her
| souli5f Just, however, the child reached hollow
sT; in tile next feld-the channel of natural drain
tbei, lry with the heats of summer-she another
ruq, ssat up from the bed of the drain and catching
hin IN his arms hasten towards the MILL in accordance
| with the directions of his accomplice
| In n moment she perceived her danger and in mo
mont more formed her future plan of proceeding Re
treating into the mill she doubelocked and boted th
doorhe only apparent entrance to the edifce ever.
other OF obvious access to the interior being barred
by means strong iron gratngs fixed against all the win
dows and then took her post at the upper easement de
termined await patiently either her masters return
her consequent delivery from that dangerous position
| her own death, if it We're inevitable
Neyer'' said she to herself, shall leave m,
masters house prey such villains, permit his prop
erty be carried off before my eyes by them while hay
life and strength to defend it,
She had hardly time to herself within when tn
ruffan from without, holding the hapless child in
hand and long sharp knife in the other assailed til
door with kicks and curses and mprecations of the mo
dreadful character,
thets of which the freespeaking Teutonc languages
copious open the door, OR III break it in We ~
"Ifyou can, you may, was all that the noble girl n
piled "God is greater than you, and in Him put M
trust.
aCut the brat's throat y roared the imprisoned ruia
above :" that will bring her to reason
/ Stout hearted as poor Hannchen was she quailed q
this cruel suggestion. For momeut her resolu ito
wayered but it only for moment She saw that ~
own death certain If she admitted the assaiapt an
she knew that her master would be robbed She had
l toh hO,pt hat ever he