Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1881-01-06
The Boatman's Daughter.

In the memorable year OF 1914, when
the allied armies were concentrated about
Paris, young Lieutenant of Dragons was
engaged with three or four Hungarans,
who, after having received several smart
strokes from his sabre, managed to send a
ball into his shoulder, to pierce his chest
with u thrust from lance, and TO leave
him for dead on the bank of the river.
On the opposite side of the stream, a
boatman and hls daughter had been watch
ing this unequal fight with tears OF despe-
ration. But what could an old unarmed
man do, or pretty girl of l63 However,
the old soldier-for such the boatman was
had no sooner seen the officer fall from his
horse than he and his daughter rowed Wig
orously for the opposite side. Then, when
they haC deposited the wounded man in
the boat these worthy people crossed the
river again, but with faint hopes of reach
ing the military hospital in time
'You Ahve been hardly treated my boy" :"
SAID the old gentleman to HIM 'but here
am |, who have gone farther still, and
come home.'
The silent and fixed attitude of Lieuten-
ant s. showed the extreme agony of
his pans an1 the hardy boatman soon dis
covered that the blood which was flowing
internally from the wound on his left side
would soon terminate his existence. He
turned to his youthful daughter.
"Mary," he said, ''you have heard me
tell of my brother he died of just such
another wound as this here. Well, now,
had there emily been somebody by TO suck
the wound, his life would have been
saved"
The bostman then landed. and went TO
look for two or three soldiers 10 help him
carry the officer, leaving his daughter in
charge of him. The girl looked at the
sufferer for a second or two. What was
her emotion when she heard him sigh so
deeply, not that he was resignlng his life
in the first flower of his age, but that he
should die without mothers kiss.
"My mother my dear, dear mother !"
said he, II die without"
Her woman's heart told her what he
would have said. Her bosom heaved with
sympathy, and her eyes ran over.
Then she remembered what her father
had said; she thought how her uncle's life
might have been saved. In an instant
quicker than thought, she tore open the
otRcer's coat, and the generous girl recall
led him to life with her lips.
Amid this holy occupation the sound of
footsteps was heard, and the blushlng he
roine fed to the other end of the boat.
Judge of her fathers surprise, as he came
up with the two soldiers, when he saw
Lieut.. s., whom he expected 10 find dead,
open his eyes and ask for his dehverer.
The boatman looked at his child and saw
it all. The poor girl came 10 HIM with
her head bent down. She was about TO
excuse herself, Ehen the father, embracing
her with enthusiasm, raised her spirits, and
the officer thanked her in these prophetic
words:
''Tou nave saved my life IL belongs TO
you"
After this she tended him and became his
nurse; nothing would he take but from her
hand. No wonder that With such nurse
he at lenght recovered. Mary was as
pretty as she was good.
Meantime Master Cupid who is very
busy in such cases, gave him another
wound, and there was only one way 10
cure it--so very deep it was.
The boatman's daughter became Mad
anne !.
Her husband rose to be a Lieutenant
General, and the boatman's daughter be-
came as elegant and graceful as any lady
of the court OF Louis Philippe.