The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1859-10-01
} From Onoo a week.
THE WHITE APRON.

~-..--. THE WHITE APRON 49,
It might be curious question, worth ask
ing and ascertaining, of persons whose
names are famous in history. or promi-
nent among tho heroic traditions OF war,
how large 10 the proportion of those who
have greatness thrust upon them, compared
to individuals who, by the virtue of true
courage, perseverance,, boldness and sagac'
iiy, have achieved it for themselves. 81, "
1t is, Mt all events, ono that rises to the
mind after hearing the story of Johanna Ste-
gin. fortunate milkmaid of Luneberg, who
bv no particular effort of her own, save
forced compliance, rose to fame, ultimate
elevation in rank, and extreme prosperity.
In 1919. the French, greatly to the disgust
of the CONQUERED, still occupied Luneberg.
4 time. however, was at hand when power
that deemed itself all but onnipotent, was
to to.ter and fall down amid the well-earned
excavations of oil Europe. =,
But it is the story Of the fortunate milk
maid that's the object of this paper, not the
proeress and termination Of the first Napo.
Icons wars.
On the outskirts of Lunsberl there stood
then, and very possibly still remains, little
settlement Of mich farm-houses. The IN.
habitants of this village, which is called
Grimm, carried on brisk trade by supply
ing the lacteral fluid, in large quantities to
Luneberg, which city depended mainly on
these farms for that important article OF
diet. Our heroine, Johanna, was employed
in one Of these rural diaries, and was, 10
short. lust a milk maid and nothing more.
Truth compels her biographer to state that
there was little enough Of the picturesque
in our Johanna's personal appearance, ana
that she had even more than the usual bu-
collie attributes of robust health and horid
bloom, charms accompanied, moreover, by
locks whose redness was fact above ali
contradiction.
But fate, the mighty, can overcome all
and for anything we know, could make even
an empress, of short, stout, red-h headed
dairy woman.
Little indeed Johanna dreamed when-her
milk pals slung from her square shoulders
she issued forth on certain morning, the
exact date of which the present biographer
fairly owns to have been unable to ascertain;
little did she dream or think-supposlnss she
was ever in the habit of thinking, to which
practice, luckily for their health and vigor,
milk maids are not prone-that fortune was
waiting silly, in no far of nook, to invest
her 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 memorable
morning, came forth at the same time, SINH
larly laden, being, gentler and fairer,
though in all likelihood, no better nurtured
or cultivated than her companion. This
Young person was an assistant dairy maid,
and in this narrative, with the courteous
readers leave, shall be called "Caroline."
These girls were bound on their usual err
rand, taking to Luneberg supplies Of rich
creamy fluid. They chatted, sang and laugh
cd on their road from Grimm to Luneberg,
IL distance Of probably not more than mile
and half. Suddenly, as they were nearing
the city johanna halted.
eWhat dost thou stare att" says Caroline,
in her putteral German. 81 see nothing"
(Ich seie nicht.)
"Caust hear neither, perhaps" answ cred
Johanna, raising her hand and pointing.
Aud now indeed Caroline heard sharp and
loud reports, which gave her an idea ex
pressed CURLY enough.
"Fighting, eh 20 quoth Caroline.
"Como on " answered Johanna the milk
must 90 to Luneberg, if Boney himself be
there We're tate enough now, tell YOU"
backs towards Grimm, q tendency towards
cowardism which plainly proves her to have
had no professions to be heroine, and
which ought to reconcile US to her ultimate
fate. "Come on, tell you, fool! they won't
hurt usn'
.:No; bu: the bullets may. Hank there
they go-pop pop! johanna, never mind
the milk-let the people want their break
fasts for once"
But, arguing thus, they still walked on;
and, as it proved, marched right into the
lions mouth. When it was too late, even
for women as they were, to retreat, they
found themselves right in the midst Of Prus'
sian and Russian soldiers, who, up to that
moment, had been pouring their fire against
Luneberg. There was, however, just then,
momentary forced cessation Of hostllities
on the side of the assaulting party, and, in
fact, the French We're rapidly gaining the
advantage. An accident had occurred
Close before Johanna and Caroline, cart
laden with cartridges had been overturned,
and its contents were strswed on the ground.
No one was near it save n dead trooper or
two, and one who was just expiring. Caro-
line, tender and thoughtful woman, ran up
to the wretch, and held draught of milk
to his dying lips, but johanna clasps her
hands, crying out
"Rouleax rouleaux Come quick, and
help me, Caroline !"
She took the cartridges for rouleaux of
coin, which they somewhat resemble. Jo-
hanna and her companion both wore large
white aprons with big pockets, not like those
Of grisettes on the stage, but good substan-
tial ones, fit to hold half -quartern loaf
Johanna filed these as quickly as she could
pick her spoil up, quite oblivlous Of the bull
lets from Luneberg, which hailed round her
AS oblvious to them, in her thirst for get
ing quickly rich, as was Caroline from bet
ter, holier motive. In after-times | think
the look of gratitude which bcamed from
the dying soldiers eyes, the broken words
of blessing which dropped from his white
lips, must have been dearer, more blessed
memory to the heart of her, who naturally
timid, forgot that tmidity under the intlu-