The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1880-04-14
CRAZY LOUISA.

'such a queer old woman as we have
seenl Her dress was ragged, faded
one, and she had on boots like a man.
On her head was an old straw bonnet,
full of feathers and weeds, and they
stood up in every direction, futtering in
the wind, and"
"Arthur, my son, stop a moment"
said his mother. "You are getting ex-
cited and talking too loud and fast.
Now, be calm, and tell me where it was
you saw this singular old lady,"
"Well, mother, she was going down
Main street, as VIII Porter and l were
coming home from school. Will laughed,
and made fun of her, and shouted, Good
afternoon, madam, but the old woman
j shook her fist at us, and acted as though
she was going to.run after us" Hc
il "Arthur, she must have been insane,"
d remarked his mo ther, "And am sorry
that Will Porter should have laughed at
or made sport of her,"
Y There she is nowp suddenly ex-
j claimed Arthur, running to the window.
u Looking out, Mrs. Gordon saw the sin
y gular-looking woman of whom Arthur
Il had spoken, walking slowly along, gazing
N toward the sky. and singing to herself.
Of I have seen her before, my son" said
j Mrs Gordon, in a sad tone; sand have
y heard something Of her early history.
Y Sit down by me, and l will relate to you
j what know about this strange woman
n who goes by the name Of, and is common
II ly called, Crazy Louisa. ,"
y Arthur took seat by his mother, and
y she commenced her narrative in the fol-
y lowing words: +
y "Many years before you were born,
n Arthur, in the far-off land of Germany,
= where the beautiful Rhine winds its way
through vine-wreathed banks and high
cliffs, whose towering castles are reflect
ed in the deep, bright water, was neat
q though small cottage beside a vineyard,
and where it overlooks this beautiful,
ot far-famed river. .f, @ aa
al "In this little cottage dwelt Hons Won
1a Frederic, his wife and little daughter
Louisa, bright-eyed girl with faxen
q hair. Her merry laugh might be heard
II during the long day among the vines,
y where her. bare little feet pattered along
/ beside her mother, helping to gather the
q clustering grapes, to fill the panniers,
= with which to load their donkey gj
! "Time passed on through Louisa's
childhood, and she grew to be one of the
\ fairest maidens who. sang at nightfall
I along the Rhine. Time, which had added to
i her strength and beauty, had also dimin-
ished her parents yigor, drawing lines
. upon their foreheads, and threading their
dark hair with the frosts of age.
I "By-and-by a sad change, cholera
that fearful disease which makes such
terrible ravages in almost every land
came sweeping through Germany,
spreading terror and death in its path
way.
"Louisa's parents were Frustrated
!, among the first Victims Faithfully and
tenderly did the young girl watch over
and nurse them; and at last they began
to recover. But they were too feeble to
work, and in their poverty, Louisa was
stricken down with the dreadful disease.
Long and weary the poor, feeble mother
watched over her daughter; and after
many weeks of suffering, Louisa, began
to revive, and slowly to recover.
! ~"But the rent of their quiet little
1 home-which had accumulated to large
sum during those months of sickness and
! suffering-they were now unable to pay;
and with streaming eyes, and almost
broken hearts, they were turned harshly
out upon the charities of the world. A
kind friend offered Hans and his wife a
home with his own family until some
thing better could be done. This offer
was joyfully accepted. But what should
Louisa do? Here was, indeed, most
important question. But the young
girl soon made known her own intentions.
They we're these: She would brave the
dangers Of the sea, 60 to America, and
strive to secure for her parents in their
old age comfortable home In this land,
which offers an asylum for the oppres-
sion of every nation.
cat last I.ouisa's parents gave their
~ consent; and all that they had which
1 could he turned into money was sold
and when able to work, every penny was
! lhoarded, to raise enough to carry Louisa
Ito America.
"Finally, a sufficient amount was
uraised, Louisa was soon prepared to un.
kiertake her long journey, and the hour
rf parting grew nigh. 1aa 9.a.
n ooh, what sorrowful parting it was,
between the girl and her gray-haired
Father and feeble mother! But hope
strengthened every nerve, and softened
rihe pain of separation.
j "And SO they parted-Louisa came
Okafely over the ocean, and sought her
Speople in America. They were warm,
German hearts, that welcomed and be-
Wriended her.
"With strong hands and willing heart,
she bent her energies to the task, and
+ove made her labor light. From early
slawn till the long shadows pointed east
ward, she toiled; and she denied herself
eaany needful garments, to lay by the
treasured sum, to bring to America hel
much-loved father and mother.
"At last her long and earnest toll was