The weekly Placer herald., 1855-09-08
Love, Carriers, and Sausages.

About hundred years ago. a young lady.
of Rotterdam; named Wilhelmina Terschel-
ling. was riding on horseback through the vii
lage of BoXmeer. when her horse became
frightened and ran away with her. The young
man who accompanied her, and to whom she
was betrothed, cried out that he would give a
hundred ducats to any one that would stop
the horse.
The young villagers, who were playing ball
upon the green near by seeing woman in
danger, threw themselves before the furious
animal. One of them was thrown down and
wounded; two others received cOntusions; the
horse fell, and the beautiful Wilhelmina rolled
in the dust. A young man who was passing
threw Immediately his cloak over the lady,
before any one had time to perceive finely
turned leg and pretty garter.
MademOiselle Terscheling. on being carried
home, had time to reflect, and the result of
her reflections was, that there must never be
two men in the world who had seen her gar
ter. She sent for her betrothed, and said,
"Will you kill the man who threw his cloak
over me?'
"Who, II What an enormity."
81 thought you would refuse Then shall
marry him. When my life was in danger you
offered one hundred ducats to save me. This
is the price you set upon my hand. Here are
twenty-five hundred. You have made good
bargain"
She then sent for the stranger. ''Monsieur,'
said she, II am rich and young, and (she
blushing prodgously while adding one OF
those hypocritcal paraphrases by which wo
men speak of their beauty l am not consid
cred repulsive. wish to marry Immediately
see that you are surprised. l will be frank
with you. | have sent for you because you
have seen my garter. You have rendered me
great service. Monsieur. Without you all the
young men of BoXmeer would have seen it,
and as | could not have married them all. |
should have killed myself But if you are
not free, or l am not so happy as to please
you, shall give my hand and fortune to a
man who will kill you. Do you accept yes
or no?'
"Yes, thousand times yes hundred thou
sand times yes"
The marriage took place, and was like all
other marriages probably; we have no partic
ulars on the subject. All the young men OF
BOXmeer were invited to the nuptials and
sumptuously feasted.
At her death, which took place in the course
of time. the following codicil was found to
her will:
My farm situated on the borders of the
Meuse will remain forever. whoever may be
the proprietor of it, subject to the following
conditions, every year, under penalty of for
feture. On the thirteenth of May. tables
shall be prepared, and tun Of strong beer
and twenty ellis of the best sausages in Rot
terdam shall be served to the young men OF
BoXmeer, as token of gratitude that they
saved my life, and of rejoicing that they did
not see my garter the 18th May, 1855"
Until the present time. that is, during a
hundred years. the wishes Of the testatrix
have been punctually executed. But the pres
ent heir, on the 18th of last May. attempted
to elude them. Under pretext Of conforming
to the decimal system, he gave twenty metres
Of sausages instead of twenty ellis, which made
a difference of four meters to the detriment
of the youth of Boxmeer.
Not to lose the fete. they devoured the
twenty metres "under protest" but this year
they have brought suit against the heir. and
demand that the case shall be decided before
the 18th Of May next.