Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-08-27
MOLTKE AS \ CHILD'S NURSE.
An Incident in the Life of Germany
Greatest General.

=
Greatest General
From the German
In the Bayarian city of Rosenheim there
was great excitement one Sunday in June.
1852. Emperor William l., accompanied
by Prince Bismarck and Count Moltke.
| alghted at the Hotel Kaiser Bad.
Among the many who streamed through
| the streets to the illuminated hotel was a
| girl OF about twenty-one years, holding a
four-year- old boy by the hand She. too,
wanted to see the emperor, but was more
| anxious to see the celebrated general under
whose glorious command two of her broth
ers had fought. In vain she looked about
for safe shelter for her little brother;
painfully she battled her way through the
crowds. In the vicinity of the hotel,
where it was shut off by the police, her
glance fell upon an old man. She was was
puzzled about his uniform, whether he was
''fnancier" or a railway official. She
thought: Il will leave the boy with him"
and the next moment she made neat bow
to the old gentleman, pressed gold piece
into his hand and said:
Say, 6nancier, will you be kind enough
to keep this little boy with you? | shall
return in half an hour. | would like to
look at that Motke''
Before the old gentleman could reply
the pretty girl was gone. Little Franzel
Was terribly frightened. Finally the little
fellow became quiet and his nurse held
watch to his ear and promised him honey
cakes.
Meanwhile the Alpine girl battled her
way through the crowds. She bowed to
Bismarck and threw kisses to his venera-
BILE majesty, but the expected one, Count
Moltke, did not appear. With disap-
pointed ccuntenance she returned to her
little brother nurse.
Thank God that you are here with my
Franzel! Do you know, fnancier, the
newspapers lie They said Count Moltke
was coming ana he did not comGl'
"Doyou know, girl, the newspapers did
not lie. Moltke is here in the city. OF
course. people do not know him and that
is the reason he is not seem
"He is here?' the girl sighed, stroking
Francois blonde curls. "Oh, deari the
prettiest Alpine cross would give if |
could see the general"
''Good!" said the old gentleman, cheer
fully, and he took card from his pocket
and on it he wrote several words. "Here,
with this note come to the hotel tomorrow
morning at 9 o'clock. I'll warrant you
that with this you will gain admittance to
the field marshal. But do not forget the
Alpine roses!"
is it really true?" asked the girl.
"Well, shall try, but if you have fbbed
to me, fnancier, will scratch your eyes
out when | meet you. Here is a zwanz-
gerl. Buy yourself a measure of beer
with it; but, listen, don't get drunk
Now, God bless you! Good night"
With pleasant smile he left with his
rich gift.
Principally at o'clock the next morning
the Alpine girl stood in the doorway of the
hotel equipped with an immense bunch Of
flowers.
With smirking countenance the adjutant
in waiting took the card, and Veva follow
ed him up the stairs to the saloon where
the general was auartered. After short
announcement by the officer the door OPEN
ened, but at that very moment as Veva en-
tered she dropped her flowers, and
screamed: "Holy Mother and st. Jo-,'
for she stood before the man who had
taken care of naughty Franzel, and he was
the commander-in chief in full uniform,
and adorned with orders.
Won't | be hung?" asked Veva, when
she had recovered from her first fright.
"Sir General, it is really true, | could not
help that | did not know you"
Moltke smiled and reached out his hand
to her.
Fear not, little one, he said. ''It is
all right. Thanks for your flowers, and
| will give you this dollar. Franzel play
ed with it yesterday.
With a gracious smile Veva was dismis-
sed. The dollar is still hallowed token
in her family Count Moltke often relat-
ed with pleasure how he earned seventy
pfennings as a child's nurse.