Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1881-02-18
4 SPANISH sTORY

| Zone Of the Danish isles), boasts of a "fattig.
huus' (almshouse) built upon a commodious
| plan, and supplied with everything to make
| its inmates as comfortable as though dwelling
in homes Of their own. II is supported by
an endowment fund which covers all expens-
es. 1t was erected by wealthy young mer.
chant in 1928 and although the storms OF
more than two centuries have beat upon its
walls, il is still standing, and in good condi.
ton.
1t is one Of the show places of Aalborg,
and a story is connected with it which never
| fails TO interest visitors.
Thinking it may prove equally entertain.
ing TO those OF my readers who may never
visit the quaint old city where the incidents
occurred, will relate it.
Imagine city with three sparkling streams
| Of water running through it, and with houses
whose balconies and windows seem to be
bursting into blossom, so many Of them are
| filed with plants, and Aalborg is At once be-
| fore you.
The home of pretty Mette Jensen was a
| quaint, picturesque old building, which would
catch the eye of a tourist, from its oddity,
| even in that time Of incongruous architect
ure., 1t was surmounted by q high peaked
roof, and embraced by a wide, open gallery,
which, of late, at a certain hour, had grown
| to be much frequented by the young mistress
Of the household for Mette was motherless,
and, now that she had grown into a fine girl
| of I6, had been accounted of sufficient good
| judgment to be entrusted with the keys OF
the store-room, from which she dispensed,
each morning, the amount Of provisions need
ed for daily use.
She was a very discreet maiden, and her
head had not been turned by the admiring
| looks which were sure to be leveled Rt her
whenever she appeared in the busy thorough
| fare OF the old city.
But when the time drew near for the hand.
some young merchant to pass on his way TO
| business, Mette was sure to be where she
could exchange smile and a nod with him.
And Jens upon his part, was quite engrossed
with the charming picture Mette presented
as she stood with one dainty -mittened hand
upon the balustrade, dressed in her trim b0sr-
geoiSe costume of braided velvet jacket, scar
let petticoat and high-heeled shoes-with her
hair gathered into two heavy braids, and
hanging down her back almost TO the hem of
her skirt.
Jens was not of ths 6Ourge0iSe class but it
is no unusual thing for caste -prejudices to be
bridged over by the power OF maidenly
charms-and he had fallen an unresisting cap
tive in the train OF the capricious boy god,
who likes nothing better than TO send his
shafts into the most unexpected places. He
reasoned very sensibly that what had been
done once might be done again.
Upon the morningour story opens, Jens had
paused for a moment as he said his gay good
morning" 10 Mette, and had tossed q bunch
of flowers to her. They missed the grasp of
her eager, outstretched hands, and fell upon
the floor of the balcony, and as she stopped
to pick up the fragrant treasures another per-
sonage appeared upon the scene, looking
from one to the other OF The preoccupied
young people with ill-pleased eyes. 1t was
Knud Jensen, the grabbed, misery old man,
upon whose hearthstone had. strange to say,
blossomed so fair human flower as the girl
who stood confused and blushing before
him.
"Knowest thou not" he said, hRrshly,
that it i'll beseems a modest maid 10 handy
words with every gay gallant that passes her
fathers house? on with thee to thy room,
where l soon will follow and give thee les
son thou wilt long remember"
Mette's cheeks riyaled the red carnations in
her lovers bouquet as her father spoke, and
she fed from the spot in dire distress and
shame at being thus addressed before the
young merchant.
Jens stood for a moment looking indignant
ly in the direction in which she had disap-
peared. Then with a sudden impulse he
turned toward the old man, who, leaning up
Ol nlb bNAChf ItBuIueu WIN u
smile upon his thin lips. Jens was too shrewd
a tactician to injure the cause he had to plead,
by letting his hot anger bubble up to the sur
face and overflow in cutting words. So he
doded his velvet cap with respectful gesture,
and bowed his curly head in low obeisance,
MAY crave speech with you for few
moments? will not detain you long" he
asked.
Knud looked at him in silent surprise.
What could the young merchant want Of him
he who dealt in the choicest fabrics of the
loom, surely did not need to price his (Knud's)
last cargo of salted fish 1t did not once en-
ter his mind that Jens coveted a far richer
treasure, for the old man looked upon Mette
as a mere child; and when he found that
Jens had come to him with a proposal of
marriage for his daughter, be was not certain
that he was in his right senses. At last he
said grufily;
"a fine husband you'd make for my girl !
Why, man, are you crRzyP'
Ear from it, answered Jens, subduing q
strong inclination TO laugh at Knuds surprise
81 was never clearer headed, neither more in
earnest, in my life. If you will give your
pretty Mette to me, I promise I'll take the
best of care of her."
Now, Jens was the richest young man in
Aalborg, and Knud knew II. But he was al
30 very free with his money, and that was
not in accordance with the old mans views.
Still, he hardly found il in his heart to turn
his back upon such wealthy son-in-law, SO
he said:
"And if 1 say Yes, what provision will
you make for my daughter? For one who is
such a spendthrift as thou art, will surely end
his days in the almshouse."
49," answered Jens with unrufied good
humor, "you wish TO secure my wife from
going there with me? Well that is as it
should be, and I'll settle the ApOthek belong
ing to me upon her, and also a snug sum OF
money in addition to ii the very day we are
married! !"
The ApOthek of which he spoke was very
large and handsome structure, finished in the
style of the Renaissance, and had cost an
enormous number of rix dollars. 1t was the
wonder as well as the admiration of Jens's
townspeople, and was the show building of
the place. Knud had il in his mind when he
made his ungracious answer for TO him it
seemed the height Of folly and extraVagance
to waste 80 much money upon the carrying
out of an idea. What mattered it, he thought
If the foundations were firm and the walls
slightly, whether or not one part was in the
style of one century and the rest of another.
It was mere nonsense, this talk about harmo-
ny of detail and of design?
Thus had he talked about the ApOttek all
through the time of its erection, and also had
animadverted with equal frankness about the
owner. 1t almost took his breath away from
sheer surprise to now hear this generous Of
fer of Jens to settle il upon bis Mette-his lit
tie girl whom he had hardly thought capable
(until very lately) of managing his own frugal