St. Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (St. Charles City [Charles City], Iowa) 1857-1861, 1859-09-22
Rommtit Skettb.
THE WHITE APRON.
AN HISTORICAL SKETCH,

AN HISTORICAL SKETCH.
1t might be a curious question
worth asking and ascertaining, Of per.
sons whose names are famous in his
tory or prominent among the heroic
traditions Of war, how large is the pro.
portion composed Of those who have
greatness thrust upon them, compared
to individuals who, by the virtues OF
true courage, perseverance, boldness,
and sagacity, have achieved it for
themselves 7
1t is at all events one that rises to
the mind after hearing the story 'oi
Johanna Stegen, q fortunate milkmaid
of Luneberg, who, by no particular ef:
fort of her own, save forced com.
pliance, rose to fame, ultimate eleva.
tion in rank, and extreme prosperity.
In 1918 the French, greatly to the
disgust of the conquered still occu.
pied Luneberg. A time however was
at hand when the power that deemed
itself all but omnipotent, was to tot.
ter, and presently to fall down amidst
the well-earned execrations of all Eu-
rope.
But it is the story of the fortunate
milkmaid which is the object of this
paper, not the progress and termina.
tion of the first Napoleon's wars.
On the outskirts of Luneberg, there
stood then, and very possibly still re-
mains, little settlement of milch
farm houses. The inhabitants of this
village, which is called Grimm, car
ried on brisk trade by supplying the
lacteal fluid in large quantities to
Luneberg, which city depended main
ly on these farms for that important
article of diet. Our heroine, johanna
was employed in one of these rural
daries, and was, in short, just milk
maid and nothing more Truth COM
pcls her biographer to state that there
was little enough of the picturesque
III our Johanna's personal appearance,
and that she had even more than the
usual hucolic attributes of robust
health and ilorid bloom. charms ac-
companied moreover by locks whose
redncss was fact above all contra
diction
But Fate, the mighty, can overcome
all and, for anything we know, could
even make an empress of short, stout,
rcd-headcd dairy-woman.
Little indeed Johanna dreamed when
her milk-pails slung from her square
shouiders-she issued forth on a GER
tain morning, the exact date Of which
the present biographer fairly owns to
have been unable to ascertain little
did she dream or think-supposing
she was even in the habit of thinking,
to which practice, luckily for their
health and vigor, milk maids arc not
prone--that fortune was waiting sly
ly, in no far-of nook, to invest hel
with all that the heart of woman is
said-mind, only said-to love best
viz, rank, homage, wealth and fame.
By Johanna's side, on that memora-
ble morning, came forth at the same
time, similarly laden, being geniler
and fairer, though in all likelihood no
better nurtured or cultivated than her
companion. This young person was
an assistant dairymaid, and in this
narrative, with the courteous readers
leave, shall be called Caroline"
These girls were bound on their
usual errand, taking to Luneberg sup
plies of rich creamy fluid. They chat
ted. and sang, and laughed on theil
road from Grimm to Luneberg, dis
tance of probably not more than a
mile and a half. Suddenly, as they
were nearing the city, johanna halted
"What dost thou stare att" says
Caroline, in her cultural German. 81
sec nothing"
"Canst hear neither, perhaps" an
swered Johanna, raising her hand and
pointing.
And now indeed Caroline hearG
sharp and loud reports, which gave
her an idea, expressed curtly enough
Fighting, eh "quoth Caroline.
"Come on" answered johanna ; tn,
milk must go to Luneberg, if Boney
himself be there We'Ie late enough
now, tell YOU
For Caroline showed symptoms o
turning back towards Grimm, ten
dency to cowardism which plainl,
proves her to have had no pretension
to be a heroine, and which ought t
reconcile us to her ultimate fate.
Come on, l tell you, fool /! the.
won't hurt us f"
"No, but the bullets may. Hark
there they go-pop . pop! Johanna
never mind the milh-let the peopl
want their breakfasts for once"
But, arguing thus, they walked on
and as it proved, marched right int
the lions mouth. When it was to-
, late, even for women as they We're, t
retreat, they found themselves righ
, in the midst of Prussian and Russia
soldiers, who, up to that moment, ha
been pouring their fire against Lunt
} berg. There was, however, just ther
a momentary forced cessation of hos
tilities on the side of the assaultin
party, and, in fact, the French wer
rapidly gaining the advantage. A
accident had occurred. Close befor
t Johanna and Caroline, cart lade
, with cartridges had been overturned
and it's contents were strewed on th
ground. No one was near it save
dead trooper or two, aud one who wa
just expiring. Caroline, tender an
thoughtful woman, ran up to thi
= wretch, and held draught Of milk I
: his dying lips, but Johanna claps he
, hands, crying out
"Rouleaux !rouleaux! Come quicl
and help me, Caroline +"
She took the cartridges for rouleau
, of coin, which they somewhat resen
BILE. Johanna and her companion bot
Wore large white aprons with bi
I pockets, not like those of grisettes q
the stage, but good substantial one
fit to hold a hali-quartern loaf Johal
: ma filled these as quickly as she coul
pick her spoil up, quite oblivious (