Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1859-09-23


equally-even more generously-oblivious Of
danger, is permitted, unnoticed, unthanked, TO
make her way back as best she can to Grimm
there to amaze the pastoral inhabitants with
The recital of that adventurous and blood
stained morning. t - .ss
Our Johanna was not too much overpowered
by bashfulness to remain on the field, waiting
for applause and thanks. She had wit enough
to see that she was appreciated beyond what
she had merited. However, Just then, every
one was too busy with rejoicing and hopes Of
Plunder to notice her, whom they considered
the yictress of the day
As, weary and disappointed, she was about
to return to Grimm, the same colonel who ha1
directed the milk-girl's efforts, rode up to her
bot, and ready to drop off his horse with IA.
tlsue = My girl-quick-your apron-giye il
to Inc. Not a word-off with it-that's right
now, your name-Johanna-Joh what
Johanna Stegen-SO. Now, my lads, onward
Stragglers fall back ~
And thereupon, one tf the stragglers. who
could not comprehend what that grand, terri
Bile, fierce soldier could want with her apron
now half dirty, stained with blood and the
moisture OF her weary brow, fell back at tn,
word OF command, and presently, changing
ner mind about Grimm. she slowly followed in
the rear OF the army. who acknowledged hei
as ITS preserver, and who by this time had
hOisted her apron in front Of the troops. as ar
ensign and emblem Of how great victory bad
been won.
Arrived at Luneberg, our milkmaid, who a.
yet, knew not that she might place the adiec.
1--WE fortunate before hor name-went at once
TO the house OF her mother. who "a poor widow
gained hard bread and little enough salt b,
charing and washing. She feared, perhaps, Il
return to Grimm, where herOism was likely tC
kick the beam when weighed against the los,
OF sundry pals OF milk, wasted or seized by
the thirsty fellows as lawful spoil. and fol
which she had not the means of paving. She
claimed the shelter of the maternal roof. and
related her adventure to her mother not with
out many reproaehes on the part of that virtu
Gus matron, Tor interfering amongst a parcel o.
rapSeailIon soldiers, who ate, drank, and de
vOured that night at the expense of Luneberp
But Johanna's triumph rose next day with
the sun. The King Of Prussia took possession
OF the city, and the first act Of royalty was tC
make proclamation for the owner of the
White Apron, wis was by no means backwar
in creeping forth from her obscurity
That night grand banquet was held at tht
Schloss Luneberg, and Johanna sat at the mon.
archs right hand Robust and forid "a sb,
was. no belle attracted such universal notice o,
admiration as this fortunate milkmaid He,
glowing hair was called golden, her ruddy
cheeks blooming, and her form was admired f,;,
its strength, if it was not exactly extolled 70,
grace. Success is your true beautifer-the
elixir which bestows youth and beauty. and
which fails In its effect only when the sun OF
fortune sets. The girdle Of good luck once
thrown around the thickest waist il becomes to
every behOlder as slender as Venus's own. and
those whom the blind goddess has mystified by
the bandage Of her own eyes, are, at any time
ready to swear black is white, or, rs in Johan,
mas ease, red is yellow.
And amidst all this, Caroline's name was
not heard.
One heart was at least eaptiyated bv this
heroine, in spite of herself The big Prussian
colonel must have his fancy captivated by this
close approximation to the heroic maid of hi,
heated brain. Among the toasts drank t, 10.
hanna Stegen. lis response was the loudest. hi,
praise the most broadly expressed
But-every medal has its reverse side-what
pity,
In the midst of all these reioieings. and ms,
as great things were in contemplation for Jo.
hanna, who seems to have been regarded as q
second Joan OF Arc, just when one NAV suppose
the Prussian colonel was beginning to find
leisure TO prosecute his romantic suit-Io, the
French returned and retook Lunebere Dire
event. which the poor Lunobergcrs deplored
and which was positive ruin to our heroine
whose temporary elevation had served 10 point
her out as n mark for the vengeance of the infu.
rated French soldiery. Johanna, thrown dow =
from her lofty pedestal, was. metaphoricall,
speaking, obliged to grovel in the mud and
literally, might have been trampIed to death
except for hiding herself, which she did fo,
many days, in dark, dismal cellar, indebted
for sustenance solely to the good offices o.
hbOrs, and To Caroline, who brought her in
milk from Grimm, and who, unnOticed and un
rewarded, was no doubt much happier than th,
heroine covering in her dismal cellar, expect
ing hourly death-or worse
But this terrible condition. which lasted
many bitter days, was terminated at Iepgth by
the report of large body of Prussians sdyapc
ing on Luneberg; and now, as the French N
last evacuated Luneberg, our heroine once
more emerged from her Obscurity. and threw
herself at the kings feet.
Her sorrow ended there Her merits were a.
On,e recognized; she was patFonIzed by some
Of the female connections of her Prussian ad
mirer. Following the army subsequently, into
Prussia, she was at once placed on the full pay
OF colonel, and sent a pension to he edu
Gated for her future rank in life-a Prussiar
nObleman's spouse. Henceforth the life OF
johanna Stegen became one of unipterrupted
prosperity. At the close Of the war she married
the man whose peremptory orders were in
reality the cause Of her being famous History
tells US no more of her. Did education refine
her Did she ever think of Caroline Burger
In the latters Obscurity, or aid the comrade
who shared her peril, but not her good fortune!
Ii is believed not. She whom We have called
Caroline lived and died obscure and humble
perhaps not less happy; even her real name
was not known by the old inhabitant of the
SchlOss Luneberg, from whose lips this little
narrative was gathered years ago, and who
could boast Of having both seen and spoken 10
the famous heroine of Luneberg, Johanns
Stegen, by no means the first, nor in all likeli.
hood the last, to whom fortune has called in q
n of aDrice and loadad with nnp, al r,,o.,