The Osceola times., 1888-08-11
THE TALE OF STAvOREN,


stsyoren 10 situated on tho northern shore OF
NE entrance to the Zuyder Zee. As early a.
she fourth century It was q famous town, and
~ princes made alliances with the Romans
It's DAYS Of greatest glory were In the thirteentk
century, When It was one OF the principal cities
Of the Hanseatio League, which was an asaoei.
alton OF free cities Of northern Europe formed
for the purpose Of protecting their common
commercial interests In the fourteenth cen.
fury s,tayoren began 10 decay. A huge sand.
bsr formed in front Of Its harbor. and its riches
gradually vanished. Al the present time only
few wretched huts, the homes OF poor fisher.
men. occupy the site OF the magnificent city OF
the Middle Ages Among the peasants of that
,,pou the sand-bsr ia known rs "Lady's
nank" and they stl tell this legend OF the
wrong doing Of proud and wicked woman.
within the broad old fireplace leaped up the
Reside IT. with the children, sat the kind old
Holland dame;
While knitting deftly as she talked, 70 wonder
ing ear she told
This story Of Q marvellous thing that happened
long Of old
Upon the shores Of zuyder Zee, where lands
are broad and low.
There stood a proud and stately town in CEN
turtles long ago;
Stayoren was its name, and there tho burghers
saw with pride
The great ships as they came and went upon
the flowing tide
Ships from the Indies far awsy. with freight Of
spice apd gold
For the burehcrs Of Stavoren, the men OF
wealth untold.
But rich and proud above them all was maid
Ihixh degree,
Who owned hundred mighty ships that ssilcd
on every sea.
A stately palace was her home, with floors in.
laid with gold
And many wondrous stories OF her treasure
heaps were told;
No queen in greater splendor dwelt, and many
jewels rare
Upon her raimen, glittered, and in her golden
hair.
One day the captain Of her feet, skipper gray
and wise.
She called to her. and spake to him, with cruel
glistening eyes:
"Go, weigh thy anchor. sail away. This task
lay on thee,
To seek and bring to port the best contained in
land or sea-"
Then humbly spake the aged man: "Shan II
be gold or wine'
or spices from the indies! OF cloth OF texture
hpet
Speak but the word, my lady; l hasten 10
obey"
"Brng me the hest" she proudly cried. ''Go,
take thyself away"
The skipper spread his glistening sails. but sore
perplered was he
To know what was the best OF all contained in
land or sea;
But suddenly 1t came to him, as the ship plowed
through the man
That the noblest thing In nll the earth was
Gods own gin of grain.
And anchoring in distant port, he found the
people there
Rejoicing with festivities about the harvest
So golden, rich, and goodly was never grain be.
fore,
He lo'ded with the precious freight, nnd home
ward sailed once more.
And when he reached stavoren, and stood
again on shore,
He hastened to the palace to report his noble
store.
But paled with rage his mistress grew. How
dar'st thou, wretch" she said
TO bring me miserable grain, from which the
poor make bread"
Then to her trembling servants she gave this
stern command:
go, cast the grain into the sea; and myself
will stand,
To watch and see the work well done, down by
the waters side,
And Joy to see the rubbish float upon the ebbing
tide"
The news fiew forth. From every side the poor
camo crowdng there
To beg this fauty maiden the precious grain to
spare.
'Oaf suffering little ones" they cried. 'tfhy
die for lack of bread:
For Christs sake, lady, hear us, that our chill
dren may be fedl'
She laughed laugh of cruel scorn as the grain
fell in the sea.
When before her stood the skipper, and pale
with wrath was he
He raised his hand; 20 woman, not year
shall pass before
Through this proud city thou shalt beg thy
bread from door to door"
A ring she from her finger drew and cast II in
the sea.
MY riches shall endure" she cried. 'tiu that
comes back to me-"
That very night Usher laid The ring within her
hand;
That very night her ships were strswn in pieces
on the strand.
And day by day quick messengers arrived from
far and near
With news OF sore disasters, which she grew
pale to hear.
Her riches few like drifting sand before the
deserts blast:
She stood beggar In the street before year
had passed.
And where the grain fell in the SEQ bank Of
sand appeared,
pvered with weeds and tanglc, which every
sailor feared:
The ships passed by to safer ports, and with
the coming years
BANK down in crumbling ruin Stavorens
wharves and piers.
From the naughty old Dutch city all wealth
and splcndor fied
The sand blew through It's silent streets from
where the grain lay dead.
Alas for proud Stavoroni only Usher huts 70
main,
ana sea-birds swoop and clsmor there through
driving mist and rain.
-Hesn s. Condnt, IN Horper's Young People.