New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1882-06-14

4 gave herself up to nursing the sick and
helping the poor; and SO when, after we
had been married about 3 year, my hus-
band fell sick and was not able to work
for long time. Rosa did everything
for us she could; and, but for her, I am
sure he would have died.
..You ought to be and doubtless are,
very grateful to her. said Slaets.
AYE, that we are, mynheer, replied
the broom-maker.
''Well, few months later" continued
the woman, Heaven sent us the little
boy you have on your lap-Rosa want
ed to be the child's godmother, and
Peer, my husbands brother was to be
godfather. Well, Rosa wanted the child
called Joannes, but the godfather in
sisted that it should be called Petrus
after him. So. after q long discussion,
the child was baptized Joannes Pctrus.
We call him Peerken, because his uncle
would he angry it we called him bv his
other name; but Rosa always calls him
Janneken, and the child knows that he
is called so because it is your name,
mynheer.n Q
Slaets pressed the boy Peerken to his
bosom with all the tenderness of par
ent, while the woman continued:
! 'Rosa's brother had entered into
some speculation with man in Ant.
werp, and thought he Was going to make
a fortune, but, instead of that, he lost
all he had, and more, too; and then,
poor man, he died afterwards from grief.
Rosa then went to live with the Flincke
family there on the corner. She had not
been there long when young Flincke
came home on leave of absence-he was
a soldier-witha bad disease of the eyes.
In nursing him Rosa caught the same
disorder, and in two weeks she was
blind. Then we asked her to come and
live with U.S.
''But she begs," said Slaets.
Yes; but mynheer. that's not our
fault" replied the woman in tone
which showed that her pride was touch
ed. ''Y0u must not think we have for
gotten what Rosa did for us. For more
than six months we prevented it; but
she was burden to us when she want
ed to be of assistance, so beg she would;
and finally we were compelled to let
her. She forces us sometimes to accept
a portion Of what is given her-but we
return it all twofold; for, although she
does not know it, she is better dressed
than what we are, and has better food.
There is always an extra dish for her at
dinner. See, there it is now, before the
fire."
Having finished her narrative, and
seeing that mynheer was absorbed in
reflections, the woman resumed her spin
ming. After maintaining strict silence
for some time, Slaets suddenly put the
child on the ground, and turning to
the broom-maker said in pcremptory
tone:
''Put away your work.
The brOOm-maker was startled at this
commanding tone, and arose unable to
make reply.
''Away with your work. say, and
give me your hand farmer Nelis."
s'Farmer!' murmured the broom
maker, still more astonished.
"COme, come" cried Slaets; ''throw
your broom corn out of doors, or into
the fire, it you like. I will give you
hide of land, some COWS and horses, and
whatever else is necessary to complete
establishment. Doyou not believe me, =
he continued, showing the bewildered
broom-maker = handful of gold. Il
could give you this money, but 1 esteem
you too highly to offer you money. 1
will make you the possessor Of a farm;
and, as for your children, I will be their
benefactor, even after my DEATH
The good people looked at each other
with tears in their eyes, and seemed to
doubt their senses. As Slaets was about
to repeat his promises, Peerken grasped
his hand as though he had something to
say to him.
..What is it my childp'' he asked.
''Mynheer Jan, . replied the boy, '.see,
the people are coming in from the fields.
know where / can find Rosa now
Shall I 60 and meet her, and tell her
you are comep''
Slaets seized the child hand, saying:
'tCome, lead me to her!''
The child led the way hastily toward
the middle of the village. As they pass
ed along the people came out Of their
houses, or stopped on the road to gaze
at them, as though they saw something
wonderful. The villagers could not un-
derstand what the rich gentleman, who
seemed to be baron, at least, could
have in common with the oom-maker's
Peerken. And still greater was their
astonishment when they saw the stranger
stoop and kiss the child. The only so1u-
ton that any Of them suggested to the
mystery was that the rich gentleman
had bought the boy Of his parents in
order to adopt him as his own. This
was something that happened occasion
ally in the neighborhood, and was more
likely to occur HI Peerken's case than
that Of most poor children; for, with his
big blue eyes and profusion Of blonde
curls, he was undeniably the handsomest
little boy in the village.
In the meantime, Slaets, led by Peer
ken, walked on. The whole village APP
peared to him in rose-colored light, the
foliage OF the trees in q peculiarly bril-
liant green, the air to be laden with
sweet Od0rs, and the birds to sing in
clearer tones than he had ever heard
them before.
Suddenly Peerken pulled him vigor-
onsly by the hand and cried at the top
Of his voice:
See, see! yonder comes Rosa with
our Trientie.''
At this moment there emerged from
cross-street, some two hundred yards
distant, an old blind woman, led by
little girl five or six years Of age.
Instead Of hurrying forward, Slaets
involuntarily paused to contemplate the
melancholy picture before him. Was
this indeed his Rosa? Was this the beau-
tiful. fresh joyous young girl, whose
image had been SO long engraven on
his hearth
These reflections were only moment
ary; he quickly hurried forward to meet
the friend Of his youth. When he had
arrived within twenty yards Of her he
could contain himself no longer, but
cried out, Rosa, Rosa :.
A.. "a