Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1859-10-28
NISC E i L A Y Y E.
THE WHITE APRON.
FROM ONCE A WEEK.

- r " ht T. Al 'NoN-
FROM ONCE A WEEK.
r might be curious question, worth
.gio- ani aScerttininr. Of persons whose
=. are famous in history or prominent
,a, the heroic traditions of war. how
T., +, the proportion composed Of those
have greatness thrust upon them, com
L. ta individuals who. bv the virtues Of
4 r.urara. pcrs 'verance, holiness and sl-
.-. have achieved it for themselves.
all events one that rises II the
- far hearing the story Of johanna
r.. fortunate milkmaid Of Luneberg.
brn1 particular effort Of her own, save
afr,ai compliance. rose 10 fame. ultimate
elefa-iln in rank and extreme prosperity.
Ia 1873 the French, greatly - the dis
a. If the conquered, still occupied Lime
b.. 4 time however was at hand when
fhe o ,wer that deemed self all hut omnipo-
tnt was TO totter, and presently fall down
srnid the well-e .rned Cxecrations Of all Eu-
rpe-
Rq, il is the story of the the fortunate n k
n aid which is the object Of this paper, not
d rr,rress an termination Of the first Ma
u 'a1ns wars.
On the outskirts of Luneburg there stood
n and possibly still remain . a little set
sln4nt Of milch farm houses. The inhahit-
ar Of this vllaga, which Is called Grimm,
r-ri,d on "A brisk trade bv supplying the
hc.aal aaid in rye quantities t. Luneburs.
VI ich city depended mainly On these farms
Il, hat important article of diet. o r he
MI. ,Jaanua. was employed in one OF
hese rural dairies and was. in short, Just
nHkmaid and nothing more Truth com
l. a. +har W
ijttle enough of the picturesque in our Jo-
hnna's personal appearance, and that she
baI even more than the usual buc1lic attri-
bats Of robust health and forii bloom.
charms accompanied moreover by locks
wi Dse redness was fact above all cJntrddic-
tipn
But fate, the mighty. can overcome all,
an. for anything we know. could make even
ar empress, of a short, stout, red-halred
dairvw0man.
little indeed. Joanna dreamed when-her
MIL pais slung from her square shoulders
d. issued forth on a certain morning, the
s,act date of which the present biographer
kirlv owns to have been unable to ascertain;
littl5 did she dream or think-Supplsing she
vas ever in the habit Of dreaming or thinking,
hwIich practice, luckily for their health
II.
f-tone was waiting silly in n far-of nook,
Il invest her with all that the heart of woman
ID nsid-mind. only sdid-tO love best, VIZ
nnk. homage, wealth and fame.
Bv Joarna's side, on that memorable
morning. came forth at the same time. simi-
hrly laden. a being gentler and fairer, though
ip all likelihood no better nurtured or culu-
uta5 than her companion. This young per
A. nd IN
narrative with the courteous reader leave,
shall be called " Caroline"
These girls were bound on their usual er-
rnd. taking to Luneberg supplies OF rich
creamv fluid They chatted and sang and
hughed on their road from Grimm to Lune-
b.. a distance, problaly, of not more than
Emile and half. Suddenly, as they were
pelring the city, Joanna halted.
" What dost thou stare at? says Caroline.
d her cultural German. - see nothing"
[oi SHE nichis.)
50 C4nst hear neither, perhaps, answered
johanna. raising her hand and pointing.
And now indeed Caroline heard sharp and
bud reports which gave her an idea expressed
curtv enough.
Fighting, eh?' quoth Caroline.
d" Come on" answered Johanna; " the
nllk must go to Luneberg, if B 'ney himself
b there! We're late enough now, tell you"
H. Caroline sho we'd symptoms OF turning
hcz towards Grimm. 4 tendency towards
cowardism which plainly proves her to have
had no pretensions to b'a heroine. and whicI
mt to reconcile US To her ultimate fate.
Some on, tell you, fool! they won hurt
n
No; but the bullets may Hark there
d. Pop! pop Johanna, never mind
d mlk-let the people want their break
f,,s for once -
Bat, arguing thus, they still walked on.
Al. as il proved. marched right into the
Ems mouth. When it was too late, even
g. women as they were, to retreat, they
T. nd themselves right in the midst of Prus-
tln and Russian soliiers. VINO mp to that
nent. had been pouring their fire against
Iuneberg There was. h wevar, Just then.
an,menta-v iorceI cessation OF hostiliUies
d the side Of the assaulting party, and, IN
b.. the French were rapidly gaining the
svlntage. An accident had occurred
Cos. before Johana and Caroline. cart
kien with cartridges had been overturned,
ad its contents were strewed on the ground.
g. one was near 10 save dead trooper or
two. and one who was Just expiring. Caro-
b the wretch. and held a draught Of milk to
bis dying lips, but Johanna clasped her
bands, crying out
"Rouleaux! rouleaux Come quick, and
help me, Caroline :"
She took the cartridges for rouieaux OF
ton, which they somewhat resemble. DO
hama and her companion both wore large
white aprons with big pockets. not like
those Of grisettes on the stage, but good sub
s,sntial ones. fit to hold half quartern Loaf.
y hama filed these as quickly as she could
r;K her spoil up, quite oblivious OF the bull
lets from Lun berg. which hailed round her
-as Oblivious of them, in her thirst Tor get
Etlng quickly rich. as was Caroline from a
#batter. holier motive In after-tlmes
think the look of gratitude which beamed
from the dying soldiers eyes, the broken
words of blessing which dropped from his
white lips. must have been a dearer, moro
blessed emory to the heart of her, who.
naturally timid, forgot that tlmidlty under
The influence OF woman's honest prompting;
of tenderness and mercy. than the subsequent
homage, the brilliant fortune showered on
the being who, with eager ewes and avari-
cous grasp. was busly employed in cram
ming her pockets with that which indeed
F.. ltilldltlN fTpNtu ilpIC t'NfaiNo ~
aggnndisement, than the gold for which she
took the packages strewed around.
But Johanna's career of greedy acquire
mentS is speedily stopped. Prussian coll
onel rides hastily up. lie has no idea OF the
girls salfdeception He hastily dubs her in
ms miud--a mind heated by the excitement
IF action-ss an ardent heroine aspiring Il
AID hi, troops "a their temporary distress
NY brave girl those pockets Will not
bold enough I'll your apron. Quick, here
y'urg woman 80 10 Caroline, who still
snat by tie dying.) ''do the same -as one
goes. the other can come back y"
IGere was no mumer Of disohedience pos
SIDE. Here was the terrible Prusslan htm-
ng with loud voic.. stern in command, ln-
1i-- utable in authority. johanna WAS quit.
1ncoosci lus ot the admiration with waieh
the great man, whom s1@ took for "a general
al least. viewed her. F. alone made th,
girl obey. ana. indeed. as her retreat was by