The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1882-06-15
THE OLD SOLDIERS LOVE.


What! What do you say" cried
Slaets. 'tDoes Rosa still Eve?''
''Yes, she still lives" was the reply,
''if one can be said to live who has ex-
perienced her sad lot"
Her sad lot? What do you meanP
What has befallen herP"
''She is blind"
"Blindi Rosa blindn'
And, overcome with grief, Slaets stag
gered back to the bench and sat down
upon it.
"She has been blind for these five
years" continued the grave-digger, ''and
more, she begs her daily bread. l give
her every week two stivers, and when
we bake there is always little loaf for
her in the oven"
Slaets sprang to his feet and grasping
the grave-digger's hand, cried:
Thanks, thanks, Lauw. Heaven will
bless you for your kindness to her. But
you shall be rewarded in this life, for l
am rich, very rich. And now tell me
where Rosa is-where she lives; 1 will
90 to her Immediately; every moments
delay is q moment Of misery for us
both"
''You see, yonder, on the side of the
hill, little cabin" said the grave-dig-
ger. pointing to Hill on the outskirts
of the village; she lives there with
broom-maker, Nelis Gems"
Without a moments delay, Slaets
started off in the direction indicated, and
soon reached the modest but tidy abode
of the brOom-maker.
A h0nf fhn h,Nnr 1l1arnH fnr1p III
children in the sum- They were bare
footed, and not more than half clothed.
The eldest-a boy six or seven years
old-gazed atthe stranger with cer-
tain intentness that partook as much of
wonder as of boldness, while his three
sisters looked at him timidly, and sought
to avoid observation.
Slaets said kind word or two to the
children, and Immediately entered the
cabin, where he found the broom-maker
busily employed in one corner, while
the wife was occupied in spinning.
The entrance of a stranger did NOT
seem to surprise them. They evidently
thought he wanted to enquire his way,
and the man arose and was about to 90
to the door and point it out to him,
when Slaets. in tone that betrayed his
great agitation and impatience, asked
"Does not Rosa Meulinks live here?''
Eyes, mynheer." answered the broom.
maker, placing chair near the door
for the stranger, who was scarcely seat
edwhen he felt little hand laid softly
on his. He looked round. There stood
the little boy he had seen before the
door, looking up at him with his big
blue eyes, as though he were an old aoe
quaintance. .....
"Come here Peerkenr' cried the
mother; ''you must not be so bold, my
child
'Peerken, however, paid no attention
TO the admonition; but continued to look
up into the face OF the stranger, and to
stroke his hand.
You are fine little fellow" said
Slaets, land what beautiful eyes! Yon
shall have something, sir, for being so
good
So saying, he gave some small coins
|. to the boy, who looked at them with
wonder and delight, but did not let go
the strangers hand.
s'Peerken,'' said his mother, ''why do
you not thank mynheer and kiss his
hand?"
The bov kissed Slaets' hand, and then
peering up III his face, said ip clear
voice:
"I thank you very much, mynheer
JAM
An earthquake would hardly have sur
prised Slaets more than the pronounc-
ing of his name by this innocent child.
Tears, in spite of him, came into his
eyes. He took the boy on his lap and
looking him full in the face, as though
he would assure himself of the reality
of what he had heard, exclaimed:
What! do you know me-, whom
you have never seen before? Who taught
| you my name?"
''Blind Rosa" answered the child.
"But how is it possible that You should
recognize meg'
"Ah! / knew it was you at once,''
said Pcerken. ''When go out to beg
with Rosa she always talks about you,
and saws you are so tall, and have such
black, sharp eyes, and that you would
come back some day and bring us g
great many nice things. And l am no
afraid, for Rosa said you would like me
and you would bring me a big bow ano
arrow"
Slaets pressed the child to his bosom
and kissed him tenderly; then turning
to his parents, he said:
Your little Peerken here shall be my
care. BY recognizing me he has made
his fortune. His support and education
shall be my care"
The parents were overcome with rs
tonishment and joy. The man tinall.
stammered:
...Ah, you are too good. We though
it was YOU, but we were not quite sure
Rosa did not tell us you were a ricl
mynheer." --.-.
''And you knew me, too?" crie'
Slaets. 81 am, then, among friends;
at last find some one who welcomes m
here, where. till now, | have beel
met by nothing but death and forgettul
ness
Every Saturday evening"" said tn
woman.
Rosa burns taper for the return
or for the soul of Jan Slaets."
Slaets raised his eyes to heaven an
exclaimed:
.sGod be thanked that He has mad
love stronger even than hatred. M
enemy remembered me only to ours
me; but Rosa-she lived in her recolleG
ton, identifying all around her wit
her love, preserving my remembrance
and making it beloved. p"
When Slaets had in measure regain
ed his composure, he turned to the We
man and asked if Rosa had lived wit
them long.
Il will tell you, mynheer, how this
came about" said the broom-maker
wife. You must know that, when tn
old wagon-maker died, and the childre
divided his little property, Rosa-sh
! could never be induced to marry-yo
can imagine why-well, Rosa gave hi
share to her brother, on condition tn,
he would give her home for the re
of her life Now, more than ever, sh