The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1873-10-24

And think that we folks that live down here,
And don't try TO get SO high,
Are happier far, for were never afraid
OF falling by-and-by! -ChTsstidn Union.
Danish Popular Legends.
Denmark is rich in old legends of his
torical persons, churches and manors,
of hills, of fields and bottomless moors !;
sayings from the days of the great
plague, from the time of war and peace.
The sayings live in books and on the
tongues of the people; they fly far
about like flock of birds, but still are
as different from one another as the
thrush is from the owl, as the wood
pigeon from the gull. Listen to me
and will tell you some of them.
THE GENEROUS SOLDIER
It 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 of these, an enemy,
had lost both legs by a shot. A Danish
soldier, standing near by, had just
taken out bottle filled with beer, and
was about to put it to his mouth, when
the badly wounded man asked him for a
drink. AS he stopped to hand him the
bottle, the enemy discharged his pistol
at him, but the shot missed. The sol
der drew his bottle back again, drank
half of it, and gave the remaining half
to his enemy, only saying " You rascal,
now you will only get half of it.
The King afterward hearing of this,
granted the soldier and his descendants
an armorial bearing of nobility, on
which was painted a half-filled bottle III
memory OF his deed.
THE AFFECTIoNATE son.
There is beautiful tradition, worth
telling, about church bell at Farum
The parsonage stood close by the church
1t was dark night late in the fall, and
the minister was sitting up at late
hour, preparing his Sabbath sermon,
when he heard slight, strange sound
from the large church bell. No wind
was blowing, and the sound was mex
plicable to him. He got up, took the
key, and went into the church. AS he
entered the church the sound stopped
suddenly, but he heard faint sigh
from above. "Who is there disturbing
the peace of the church," he asked in
lOud voice. Footsteps were heard
from the tower, and he saw in the pas
sage way littlesboy advancing toward
him. BE not angry" said the child.
1 sGpped in here when the vesper SER
vice rang my mother is very sick y
and now the little boy could not say
more, for the tears that choked him.
The minister patted him on the cheek
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 recover again and 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 safe
guard against death. Therefore came
there and hid myself until heard the
clock strike, [ was SO afraid 1 thought
of all the dead ones, and of their coming
into the church. [ dared not look out
1 read the Lords prayer, and scrapet
the rust off the bell.
''Come, my good child" said til,
minister. "our Lord will forsake neither
thy mother nor thee" SO they Wen
together to the poor cottage where the
sick woman was lying. She slept quietly
and soundly. Our Lord granted he
life, and his blessing shone over her son
THE KIND YOUNG LADY.
There is legend about poor young
fellow, named Paul Vendelbo, who be
came great and honored man. II,
was born in Jutland, and had striyel
and studied SO well that he got through
the examination as student, but felt .
still greater desire to become a soldie
and stroll about in foreign countries
One day he walked with two young com
rades, who were well of, along the ram
parts of Copenhagen, and talked Il
them of his desire. He stopped sud
denly, and looked up at the window o
the Professor house, where youn.
girl was seated, whose beauty ha(
astonished him and the two others
Perceiving how he blushed, they said il
Joke, SEQ in to her, Paul, and if yol
get q voluntary kiss from her at tn,
window, so that we can see it, we vii
give you money for travelling, that yo,
may go abroad and sec if fortune is mor
favorable for you there than Mt home.
Paul Vendelbo entered into the hous
and knocked at the parlor door.
"My father is not at home, said TIL
young girl.
"Do not be angry with me p he an
swered, and the blood rushed up int,
his cheeks. at is not your father
want?" And now he told her frank,
and heartily his wish to try the worlc
and acquire an honorable name; he tol,
of his two friends who were standing il
the street, and promised him money TO
travelling on the condition that sh
should voluntarily give him kiss ct tin
open window; and he looked at her will
such an open, honest and frank face
that her anger disappeared.
at is not right for You to speak sucl
words to chaste maid" said she, "bu