The daily gazette., 1880-04-12
Crazy Lousia.
BIT +. t. @.

from school, s'such queer old woman
as we boys have seen Her dress WI as
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 di-
rection, fiuttering lin the wind, and
p
"Arthur, my son, stop 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.n
"Well, mother, she was going down
Main street, as Will Porter and I were
coming home from school. Will
laughed, and made fun Of her, and
shouted. Good afternoon, madam,
and he made believe shake hands with
her. But the old woman shoo ok her fists
at us, and acted as though she was GO
ing to run after u.s."
"Arthur, she must have been In
sane" remarked his mother. "And
am sorry that Will Porter should have
laughed at or made sport ofher."
"There she is now p suddenly ex.
claimed Arthur, running to the win
dow. ~ M 81 |e
Looking out, Mrs. Gordon saw the
singular looking woman whom Arthur
had spoken, walking slowly along, gax-
ing toward the sky, and singing to her
self. go, a
'T have seen her before, my sc N, "
said Mrs. Gordon, I'm o sad tone; 'fand
| have heard something of her early
history Sit down by me, and / will
relate to you what / know about this
strange woman who goes by the name
of, and is commonly called, "Crazy
Arthur took a seat by his mother, and
she commenced her narrative in the
following words go tb9H ..A
"Many years before you were born,
Arthur, in the far-off land of Germany
where the beautiful Rhine winds lis
way between vine-wreathed banks and
high cliffs, whose towering castles are
reflected in the deep, bright water,
there was a neat though small cottage
beside the vineyard, and where itover-
looks this beautiful, far-famed river.
SIN this little cottage dwelt Hans
Won Frederic, his wife and little dangh-
ter Louisa, bright-eyed little girl
with faxen hair. Her merry laugh
might be heard during. the long day
among the vines, where here bare little
feet battered along beside her mother,
helping to gather The clustering grapes,
to fill the panniers, with which to load
their donkey. 2 "i 'a'N''i
"Time passed on through Louisa's
merry childhood, and she grew to be
one of the fairest maidens who sang at
nightfall along the Rhine. Time, which
had added to her strength and beauty,
had also disminished her parents
vigor, drawing lines up their foreheads,
and threading their dark hair with the
frosts of age.
"By-and- by 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. fl io 10Y 0flH
"Louisa's parents were prosttated
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 we've too
feeble to work, and in their poverty,
Louisa was stricken down with the
dreadful disease. Long and wearily
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
home--which had accumulated to a
large sum during those months ofsick-
ness and suffering-they were now un-
able 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 Lis wife home with his
own family until something better
could be done. This offer was joyfully
accepted. But what should Louisa
do ? Here was indeed a most import
ant question. But the young girl soon
made known her own Intentions. They
were these She would brave the dan
gers 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 to the oppress-
ed of every nation.
cat last Louisa's parents gave their
consent and all they had which could
be turned to money was sold and
when able to work, every penny was
boarded, to raise enough to carry
Louisa to America.
"Finally, o sufficient amount, was
rased, Lousia was soon prepared, to
undertake her long journey, and the
hour of parting drew nigh. r. Il
"Oh, what sorrowful parting n was,
between the girl and her gra:-haired
fathefly and feeble mother But hope
every nerve, and sohened
the pain of separation. s.r fs' v
"And so they parted--Louisa came
safely over the ocean, and sought her
people IN America. There were warm,
German hearts, that welcomed and be-
I tended her. .1.l..-' '''
"With strong hands, and willing heart,
she beht her energies TO the task, and |
love made her labor light. From early |
dawn till the long shadows pointed |
eastward, she tolled and she denied
herself many needful garments, 10 lay
by the treasured sum, to bring to Amer
lea her much-loved father and mblher. |
SAT last her long and earnest toll was
crowned with success. The necessary |
amount bad accumulated, and was sent |
to the far home Of her childhood, and
her eager waiting parents embarked in
the crowded ship, whose white sails
ta Fl ooft ord tn,