The islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1891-1899, 1895-10-03

ed by the eminent scholar, Max Muller,
who says of it THAT it came to him III
heap of other papers, fly sheets, pam
phlets and books, but it shone like di-
amond in heap of rubbish, and, Max
Muller adds, las the tale of The Old
Woman of Sleswick Holstein' it may
help to give to many who have been
unjust to the inhabitants of the duchies
some truer idea of the stuff there is i'll
that strong and stanch and sterling race
to which England owes its language, its
best blood and its honored name. -
THE TALE OF THE OLD WOMAN OF sLEswICK
HOLSTEIN.
When the war against Denmark be-
gan in the winter Of 1868, offices were
opened in the principal towns of Ger
many for collecting charitable contri-
buttons. At Hamburg Messrs. L. and
K. had set apart large room for re-
ceiving lint, linen and warm clothing
or small sums of money.
One day, about Christmas, poorly
clad woman from the country stepped
III and inquired in the pure HOlstein di
alect whether contributions were re-
ceived here for Sleswick- Holstein. The
clerk showed her to table covered with
linen rags and such like articles But
she turned away and pulled out an old
leather purse, and taking out pieces OF
money began to count aloud On the
counter, lone mark, two marks, three
marks, till she had finished her ten
marks. That makes ten marks, size
said and showed the little pile away
The clerk, who had watched the pour
old woman while she was arranging
her small copper and silver coins, asked
her, From whom does the money
Gomez
From me-" she said and began
counting again, Zone mark, two marks
three marks ~ Thus she went Oh emp
tying her purse till she had counted out
ten small heaps of coin of ten marks
each. Then, counting each heap over
once again, she said: ''These are my
hundred marks for Sleswick Holstein
Be so good as to send them to the sol
diers -
While the old peasant woman was
doing her sums several persons had
gathered around her, and as she was
leaving the shop she was asked again i'll
tone of surprise from whom the mon
ey came.
From me-" she said, and observing
that sho was closely scanned she turned
back, and looking the man full in the
face she added, smiling: sit is all hon.
est money 1t won't hurt the good
cause. a"
The clerk assured her that no one had
doubted her honesty, but that she her
self had no doubt often known want,
and that it was hardly right to let her
contribute SO large sum, probably the
whole Of her savings
The old woman remained silent for a
time, but after she had quietly scanned
the faces of all present she said "Sure-
lyit concerns no one how got the mon
ey. Many thought passed through my
heart while | was counting that money.
You would not ask mo to tell you all?
But you are kind gentlemen, and
you take much trouble for us poor peo-
pie. So I'll tell you whence the money
came. Yes, | have known want, food
has been scarce with me many a day,
and it will be so again as l grow old
er. but our gracious Lord watches over
US. He has helped me to bear the trou-
bles which he sent. He will never for
sake me. My husband has been dead
this many and many year | had one
only son, and my John was a fine stout
fellow, and he worked hard, and he
would not leave his old mother He
made my home snug and comfortable
''Then came the war with the Danes
All his friends joined the army, but the
only son of widow, you know, is free
So he remained at home, and no one
said to him, Come along with Us, for
they knew that he was brave boy, and
that it broke his very heart to stay be-
hind. l knew it all. watched him
when the people talked of the war or
when the schoolmaster brought the
newspaper. All. how he turned pale and
red, and how be looked away and
thought his old mother did not see It'll
But he said nothing to me, and said
nothing to him. Gracious God, who
could have thought that it was SO hard
to drive our oppressors out of the land?
Then came the news from Frederick!
That was dreadful night. We sat in
silence opposite each other We knew
what was in our hearts, and we hardly
dared look at each other Suddenly he
rose and took my hand and said, Moth
er! God be praised, had strength in
that moment. John, I said, our time
has come. Go, in Gods name. know
how thou lowest me and what thou hast
suffered. God knows what will become
of me if 1 am left alone, but our Lord
Jesus Christ will forsake neither thee
nor me-
John enlisted as volunteer. The
day OF parting came. All, am making
long story of it all John stood before
me IN his new uniform. Mother, he
said. one request before we part-if it
is to be. John, said to him, L know
what thou meanest Oh, l shall weep.
| shall weep very much when l am
alone, but my time will come, and we
shall meet again in the day of our Lord,
John, and the land shall be free, John:
the land shall be free!'"
Heavy tears stood in the poor old wo-
nan ) eyes as she repeated her sad tale,
but she soon collected herself and con-
tinued: Il did not think then it would
be SO hard. The heart always hopes
even against hope. But for all that, -
and here the old woman drew herself
up and looked at us like queen, 81
have never regretted that / babe him