The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1879-08-21
The Little Old Woman and Her
Cows.
A STORY FROM OVER THE SEAS.

A STORY FROM OVER THE SEAS.
Oudenarde is a town in the Neither
lands; perhaps the guide books spell it
Audenarde, but long ago, when she lived
there, the country was known rs Flan-
ders, and the name of the town began
with o. They were times of trouble
then on account of the wars. The men
were nearly ali off for soldiers whether
they wanted to 20 OF not: and the towns,
which all had high walls round them
for defence, fell first into the hands of
one army and then of the other, and
| fighting was tlre chief business.
I This woman, whose name was Petro-
killa, lived just off the road between
Dudcnarde and Ghent, which were
Twelve miles apart; but she belonged to
Ihe former place, though she lived a
good way outside, and never went there
Know: for not only did she feel too old
for the walk. but the town had a garri
son of soldiers in it. and was in danger
OF being attacked any day, and she had
sc.n trouble enough without going to
seek it.
She was more than seventy years old,
and lived alone except for her cat. And
she was so poor that she had almost
nothing but two COWS, and those she
would not have had long if the soldiers
had thought them worth driving off
but as they were not much more than
skin and bone, she was left in peaceful
possession Of them.
Being n pious woman, when she said
her prayers ut night she never forgot tc
say that the cows were great deal to be
thankful for. On the few pints OF milk
they gave, and little barley bread, she
managed to live, and also to keep hel
cat in good condition.
The cat-his name was Solomon-had
belonged to her son Peter. So had the
cows, which he had raised from calves
when they had nice farmstead of their
own, and all was prosperous with them
Now the farm was gone, the horses
and the cattle, all but the cows. She
had only them and the cat.
Her husband was dead; and Peter was
lost. He had been forced into the wars
and now for eleven years no tidings o.
him had ever reached her.
But she always prayed for him as il
he was alive, and never gave over the
hope that he might come back-a mother
never does.
That was why she still lived neal
Oudenarde; because if she went away
and he should come back, how could ht
ever find herP Could he anyway, fol
her old neigh ors were all gone, and
the war had ch ,nged everythingp
She had found shelter in q little, olG
hut with !hatched roof. The walls
looked ready to fall down, and the
thatch had rotted so that it let in the
rain; but she kept it sweet and airy.
In fair weather the door always stood
wide open, showing the clean, clay floor
a small fireplace with the dinner-pot
which had nothing in it, hanging on the
crane, two wooden benches, II table and
bed, q brass lamp, some pewter anc
wooden dishes, and n crucifiX ar6
picture of the Virgin. There was g
square window with lutticed bars acros:
it in checkers, and on the ledge was
always a mug of flowers, and beside it ir
sunny days usually sat the cat, which
was salmon colored and immensely
large.
This was how the house looked one
September afternoon at sunset. Petro
nilla had just milked the cows, anC
both of them were safe for the night il
a little yard at the end of the house
She stood in the door looking first at tn,
small quantity of milk in the wocder
dipper she held in her hand, and then a
the COWS, and saw that they were leanel
than ever. linen Sic SdLcu Oh upon Jll'
dusty, dried-up fields, on whose out
skirts they had picked up their scant!
living, while she sat by watching then
with knitting work in her hands; ther
was almost nothing left for them; wha
should she do?
Then she thought of the great meadow
along the river toward Oudenarde
broad and green she could see them ia
away this side the town. There tn
grasses grew rank and high; and in thi
time of fear no man cared for them, o
would dare to cut them. A force G
soldiers had just gone into garrison
there, the gates were kept shut an
guarded, the inhabitants dared not sti
outside; and at any moment the men @
Ghent might march down and attacl
them.
1t was no trespass to gather grass iron
the river valley.
The longer she looked, the more sh
felt.that she could get some, and that sh
ought to do it.
When she had made up her mind sh
felt easier, and her face showed it.
was a good face; brown, because sh
had been out of doors SO much, Wrinkles
in a row of burrows clear across he
forehead, and wrinkled about her eve
and chin, but it was kind and patient
She tied dark handkerchief over he
clean white cap, and tucked her smal
checked shawl closer about her neck an