The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1864-07-27
a DANISH WAR LEGEND.
The story of NicIs Ebbc-en.

An enthusiastic Dane, writing from Copenha-
gen to the London Athcngun, states that Den
mark, always a small kingdom, has been so
frequently attacked, that its preservation "would
lead to the belief in a higher will and necessity
protecting our national existence. Like our beau.
tiful green islands floating on the waves We
have been threatened for centuries by hostile
elements and in great storms we have been
overrun; but the opposing foe has never been
able to do more than leave his froth on our
shores" He then proceeds TO give this instance
of an invasion as far back as l3iO:-
"The weak, wretched Government of Christie
pher the Second had brought the country not
only 10 the brink, but TO the very depth of the
abyss. German princes, among whom figured
especially the Holstein Count, Ghcrt the Bald
had divided the whole country among them
selves, so as to leave TO the King only the small
town of Skandenborg, in Jutland, and the
island of Lolland. Wherever the Danes rose TO
recover their independence, they were merci-
leSsly tTampled down. OF three royal Princes,
one was killed in the battle of Lohede,
another was made prisoner at Tap-Hedc, and
a third b ,Came an exile. All hopes of future
recovery seemed eXtinguished, when a Danish
knight the Jutlander Niels Ebbeseu, meeting
with Count ebert, upbraided kim with his injus-
tice and cruelty. The naughty Count threatened
NielS EbbeSen that he would have him hanged
on the highest tree; the Danish knight then,
loudly prOclaiming deadly feud between himself
and the Count, made his escape. According to
the rules Of chivalry, they were now at each
others mercy wherever they should meet.
Count Ghert made his advance into Jutland-
saCkirg, burning aud numbering on all sides. lie
took the towG Of Randers, and was lying there
with four thousand men, when Nels Ebbesen,
accompanied by only sixty followers, resolved to
attack him. AS his little band, approaching in
the dead of the night, came to a small river,
young Svend, Nels EbheSen's page, refused 10
pass the bridge and, without word of COM
plant, the knight left him there. Entering Ran
dcrs by surprise, he stormed the house where
the Count had taken up his abode, and the
Count, seized in his bed, was eheided, his
bedstead serving as a block. Meanwhile, the
alarm sounded in the town, and Nels
Ebhesen was forced to retire before the
overwhelming numbers of the enemy. On
again reaching the other side of the river,
he found young Svend, his page, who, having
taken out the nails from the bridge, now threw
it down, and thereby put stop to the pursuit,
and saved his master. Once during the period Of
! the feud, it il said that Nels Ebbesen met IN n
wood COke-burner's widow, who had but two
| small loaves left for herself and her children /;
/ but on recognizing Niels Ebbescn the bsne of
| the Bald Count, she gladly offered to share the
| bread with him, and she blessed him as the
savior of the country. But the knight declined
to accept her Offer and, promising her better
/ days for the women and children OfDenmark, he
I rode on to meet his fate--death on the battle
/ feldw