Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1859-10-14


who, as yet, knew not that she might place
tho adjective fortunate before her name
went at once to the house Of her mother,
who IA poor widow gained hard bread and
little enough salt by charing and washing.
She feared perhaps TO return to Grimm,
where heroism was likely to kick the beam
when weighed against the loss Of sundry
pals Of milk, wasted or seized by thirsty
fellows as lawful spoil, and for which she
bad not the means ofpaying. She claimed
the shelter Of the maternal roof and rela-
ted her adventure to her mother, not with
out many reproaches on the part Of that
virtuous matron, for interfering among a
parcel of rapscallion soldiers, who ate,
drank and devoured that night at the ex-
pense of Luueberg.
But Johanna's trump rose next day with
the sun, The King of Prussia took pos
session of the city, and the first act Of roy
atty was TO make proclamation for the
owner of the White Apron, who was by no
means backward in creeping forth from her
obscurity.
That night a grand banquet was held at
the Schoss Luneburg, and Johanna sat at
the monarch's right hand Robust and
florid as she was, no belle attracted such
universal notice or admiration as this fortu-
nate mlkmaid. Her glowing hair was
called golden, her ruddy cheeks blooming,
and her form was admired for its strength,
if it was not exactly extolled for its grace.
Success is your true beautiicr-thc elixir
which bestows youth and beauty, and which
fails in its effect only when the sun Of For
tune sets. The girdle of Good Luck once
thrown round the thickest waist, it becomes
to every beholder as slender as Venus own,
and those whom the blind Goddess has
mystfied by the bandage of her own eyes,
are, at any time ready to swear black is
white, or, as in Johanna's case red is yellow.
And amidst all this, Carolne's name was
not heard.
One heart at least was captivated by this
heroine in spite of herself. The big Prus-
sian colonel must have his fancy cnptivated
by this close approximation to the heroic
maid Of his heated brain. Among the
toasts drank to Johanna Stegen, his re-
sponso was the loudest, bis praise the most
broadly expressed.
But-every medal has its reverse side
what pity!
In the midst of all these rejoiciugs, and
Just as great things were in contemplation
for Johanna, who seems to have been re-
garded as a second Joan of Arc, just when
one might suppose the Prussian colonel
was beginning to find leisure TO prosecute
his romantic suit-Lo! the French returned
and retook Luneberg. Dire event. which
the poor Luuebcrgers deplored, and which
was positive ruin TO our heroine, whose tenn
porary elevation had served to point her
out as mark for the vengeance Of the in.
furiated French soldiery. Johanna, thrown
down from her lofty pedestal, was, met
aphorically speaking, obliged to grove
in the mud, and literally, might have beer
tramped to death except for hiding hersel
which she did for many days, in a dark
dismal cellar, indebted for sustenance sole
y to the good offices of neighbors, and to
Caroline, who brought her in milk from
Grimm, and who unnotced and unreward-
ed, was no doubt much happier than the
heroine covering in her dismal cellar, ex-
expecting hourly death-or worse.
But this terrible coalition, which lasted
many bitter days, was terminated at length
by the report Of a largo body of Prussians
advancing on Lunebcrg; and now, as the
French at last evacuated Luneberg, our
heroine once more emerged from her obscu
rity, and threw herself at the Kings feet
Her sorrows ended there. Her merit,
were at once recognized she was patronized
by sumo Of tho female connections OF hei
Prussian admirer. Following the army
subsequently into Prussia; she was at once
placed on the full pay of colonel, anC
sent to pension to be educated for her fu
ture rank in ife-a Prussian uobleman'
spouse. Henceforth the life Of Johann,
Stegen became one of uninterrupted pros
perity. AT the close of the war she mar
ried the man whose peremptory orders were
in reality, the cause of her being famous
History tells us no more of her. Did cdu
cation refine hcrl Did she ever think o
Caroline Burger in the latter's obscurity, o
aid the comrade who shared her peril, bu
not her good fortunel 1t is believed not
She whom we have called Caroline liveC
and died, obscure and humble, perhaps no
less happy; even her real name was no
known by the old inhabitant of the Schlos
Luneberg, from whose lips this little nara
tive was gathered years ago, and whocoulC
boast of having both seen and spoken t,
the famous heroine of Lunebcrg, Johanni
Stegen, by no means the first, nor in al
likelihood the last, to whom Fortune ha
called in a fit of caprice, and loaded wit
unmerited favors. II. j.
The Wisconsin Rear Fight.
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