Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1888-08-10
The TALE oE srAvoREN.


Stavoron is situated on the northern shore q
tho entrance to the zuydcr Zee. AS carly n
tho fourth century II was n famous town. an,
its princes mado alliances with tho Romans
Its days OF greatest glory were In tho thrtcent
century, when II was ono OF the principal citie
of the Hanseatic League, which was nm assoc
ntton OF free cities OF northern Europe, formci
for the purpose of protecting their common
commercial interests. In the fourteenth cen
tury Stnvoron began TO decay A huge sand
lar formed in front of its harbor and its richie
gradually vanished. At the present time onl.
few wretched huts, tho homes OF poor fisher
mon, occupy the site OF tho magnificent city o
the Middle Ages. Among the peasants of thai
region the snnd-bar is known MS Lady;
Bank" and they still tell this legend OF the
wrong.doing OF n proud and wicked woman.
Within the broad old fireplace lenped up the
glowing flame;
Beside IT, with the children sat the kind old
Holland dame;
While knitting deftly MS shc talked, to wonder
ing ear she told
This story of marvellous thing that happened
long OF old:
Upon tho shores Of zuydcr Zee, whore lands
are broad and low,
There stood n proud AMI stately town In cca-
turtles long ago;
Stavoron was its nnmo, md there the burghors
saw with pride
Tho great ships ms they came md went upon
the flowing tide
Ships from tho indies far away, with freight of
spice and gold
For the burghors of Stavoren, tho men OF
wealth untold.
But rich and proud above them all was mnid
OF high degree,
Who owned hundred mighty ships that sailed
on every sea.
A stately palace was her homo, with floors In
laid with gold,
And many wondrous stories OF her treasure
heaps were told;
No queen in greater splendor dwclt, and many
Jewels raro
Upon her raimont glittcrcd and in her golden
hair
One day the captain of her fleet, skipper gray
and wise,
She called to her, and spake TO him, with cruel
glistening eyes:
go, weigh thy anchor, sail awayl This task
lay on thee,
To seek and bring TO port the best contained in
land or sea-"
Then humbly spnlo the nged man: "Shall IL
be gold or wine'
Or spices from the Indles' or cloth OF texture
fnof
Speak but the word, my lady; hasten to
obey"
"Bring me the hest" she proudly cried. go,
take thysolf away"
The skipper spread his gistcning sails, hut sore
pcrpcXcd was he
To know what was the best OF all contained in
land or sea;
But suddenly it came to him, MS the ship plowcd
through the main
That the nobcst thing In all tho earth was
Gods own gift OF grain.
nd NJ In iCto hn thn
people there
Rejoicing with festivities about the harvest
fair;
So golden, rich, and goodiy was never grain be.
fore,
He loaded with the precious freight, and home
ward sailed once more.
And when he reached Stavoren, md stood
again on shore,
lie hastcncd TO tho palace to report his noble
store.
But paled with rage his mistress grew. "How
dar'st thou, wretch" she said,
'ro bring me miserable grain, from which tho
poor make bread"
Then to her trembling servants sho gave this
stern command:
'Go, cast the grain into the sea; and myself
will stand,
To watch and SEQ tho work well done, down by
the waters side,
tide"
The news few forth From every side the poor
came crowding there
10 beg this hauty maiden the precious grain to
spare.
"our suffering little ones" they cried, "they
die for lack OF bread;
For Chrsts sake lady hear us, that our chill
dren may bo fed!"
She laughed n laugh OF cruel scorn us the grain
fell in the sea,
When before her stood the skipper, and pale
with wrath was he
llo raised his hand: 20 woman, not year
shall pass before
Through this proud city thou shalt beg thy
bread from door to door"
ring she from her finger drew and cast It in
tho sea.
"My riches shall endure" she cried, ''till that
comes back TO me-"
That very night n fisher laid tho ring within her
hand;
That very night her ships were strewn In pieces
on the strand.
And day by day quick messengers arrived from
far and near
With news of soro disasters, which she grew
pale to hear.
Her riches flew like drifting sand before the
deserts blast:
She stood bcggar in tho street before year
had passed
And where the grain fell in tho sea bank of
sand appeared
Covered with weeds and tanglc which every
sailor fcared
The ships passed by to safer ports, and with
the coming years
Sank down in crumbling ruin Stavoren's
wharvcs and piers.
From tlic naughty old Dutch city all wealth
ana splcndOr fled;
Tho sand blow through its silent streets from
where the grain lay dead.
Alas for proud Stavoren only fisher huts re-
main,
And eabrds swoop and olamor there through
driving mist and rain.
-Ikien s. ConGnt, in Hdrper's Young People.