Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1870-10-19
Danish Popular Legends.

rnE oaNERous soLpIrn.

TIE GENEROUS SOLDIER
Ii happened one evening in days Of yore.
when the enemy were pillaging the Danish
country, that battle had been fought and
won by the Danes and many killed and
wounded lay on the field Of battle. One ofI
these, an enemy had lost both his legs by
shot. A Danish soldier, standing near by,
bad just taken out bottle filed with beer.
and was about to put it to his mouth, when
the badly wounded man asked him for drink. |
As he stopped to hand him the bottle, the
enemy discharged his pistol at him, but the
shot missed. The soldier drew his bottle
back again, drank half of it, and gave the re-
naming half TO his enemy, only saying, !
" You rascal, now you will only get half Of
it,"
The King, aiterward hearing of this, granted
the soldier aud his descendants an armorial
bearing Of nobility, on which was painted
hal!-llled bottle, in memory of his deed.
TIE AFEEcTIoNATE son.
There is beautiful tradition worth telling
about the church bell Of Farum. The parsou.
age stood close by the church. II was dark
night late in the fall, and the minister was
sitting up at a late hour preparing his sab
bath sermon, when he heard a slight strange
sound from the church-be. No wind was
blowing, and the sound was inexplicable to
him he got up, took the keys, and went into
the church. As he entered the church the
sound stopped suddenly, but he heard a faint
sigh from above Who is there, disturbing
the peace Of the church :" he asked, in a
loud voice. Footsteps were heard from the
tower, and he saw in the passage way little
boy advancing toward him.
" Be not angry said the child. 81
slipped in here when the Vesper Service was
ruug my mother is very sick and now
the little boy could not say more for the tears
that choked him. The minister patted him
on the check, and encouraged him to be frank,
and to tell him all about it.
" They say that my mother--my sweet,
good mother--is going to die but | know
that when one is sick unto death he may re-
cover again aud live, if in the middle of the
night one dares enter the church, and scrape
off little rust from the large church bell |
that is a safeguard against death. Therefore
| came here and hid myself until heard the /
clock strike twelve. | was 80 afraid
thought Of all the dead ones, and Of their
coming into the church l dared not look
out l read my Lords Prayer, and scraped
the rust off the bell"
Come, my good child, said the minister
our Lord will forsake neither thy mother
nor thee So they went together to the poor
cottage, where the sick woman was lying
She Slept quietly aud soundly. Our Lord
granted her life, and his blessings shone over
her aud her sou.
THE KIND YOUNG LADY.
There is a legend about a poor young fel-
low, Paul Vendelbo, who became a great and
houored man. lie was born in Jutland and
had striyen and studied so well that he got
through the examination Us a student, but felt
IA still greater desire to become a soldier and
stroll about in foreign countries. Ono day
he walked with two young comrades, who
were well off, along the ramparts of Copenha-
gen, and talked to them Of his desire, He
stopped suddenly, and looked up at the win
/ dows Of the Professors house, where a young
/ girl was seated, whose beauty had astonished
/ him and the two others. Perceiying how he
! blushed, they said in a joke, Go in to her,
| Paul and if you can get a voluntary kisA
/ from her at the window, so that we can see it,
we will give you the money for travelling,
that you may 20 abroad and see if fortune is
more favorable for you there than at home. "
Paul Vandelbo entered into the house, and
knocked at the parlor door.
My father is not at home,' said the
young girl.
DO not be angry with me !" he answer
ed, and the blood rushed up into his cheeks;
l"it is not your father | want !" And now
he told her frankly and heartily his wish to
try the world and acquire an honorable name
he told her of his two friends who were
standing in the street, and promised him mon
ey for travelling on the condition that she
should voluntarily give him kiss at the open
window and he looked at her with such an
open, honest, and frank face, that her anger
} disappeared.
at is not right for you to speak such
words to ohaste maid" said she but
YOU look so honest, | will not hinder your
fortune !" And she led him to the window
and gave him kiss, His friends kept their
promise, and furnished him with money. He
went into the service Of the Gar, fought in
the battle of Pultowa, and acquired name
and honor. Aflerward, when Denmark need
ed him. he returned home, and became a
/. mighty man of the army and Of the kings
council. One day he entered the Professors
plain room, and it was not the Professor he
wished TO see this time either; it was again
his daughter, Iugeborg Winding, who gave
: him the kias,-the inauguration Of his for
tune. A fortnight after, Paul Yendelby
Leoyendcrn I4iou-eaglel celebrated his we'd
ding
TUE GOOD PROMISE,
- The enemy made once great attack on
the Danish isand of Bunen. One village on
ly' was spared but this was also soon to be
! sacked and burnt, Two poor people lived IN
- low-studded house in the outskirts OF the
town. 1t was dark winter evening" the
enemy was expected and in their anxiety
they took the Book of Psalms and opened it
!; to see if the psalm which they first met With
i could render them any aid or comfort They
opened the book, and turned to the psalm,
"a mighty fortress is our God. Full Of
r confidence they sang it and, strengthened IL