Democratic Northwest and Henry County news. [volume] (Napoleon, O. [Ohio]) 1894-1905, 1895-02-21
A GERMAN HEROINE.


ed by the eminent scholar. Max Muller,
who says of it that it came to him in a
heap Of other papers, fly sheets, pans
phlets and books, but it shone like di-
amond in a heap of rubbish. and," Max
Muller adds, "as 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 in
that strong and stanch and sterling race
to which England owes its language, its
best blood and its honored name."l
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 tho 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
CT small sums of money.
One day, about Christmas, a poorly
clad woman from the country stepped
III and inquired in the pure Holstein di-
alect whether contributions were re-
ceiyed 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, Zone mark, two marks, three
marks, till she had finished her ten
marks. "That makes ten marks" she
said and showed the little pile away.
The clerk, who had watched the poor
old woman while she was arranging
her small copper and silver ooins asked
her, From whom does the money
come%
From me-" she said and began
counting again, Zone mark, two marks,
three marks. Thus she went on 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 I"
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 in
a tone of surprise from whom the mon
ey came
"From me-" she said, and observing
that she was closely scanned she turned
back, and looking tho man full in the
face she added. smiling: SIT is all hon.
est money. It won't hurt the good
cause"
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 I got the mon
ey. Many thought passed through my
heart while ! was counting that money.
You would not ask me 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 day,
and it will be SO again as 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 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 ho was brave boy, and
that 1t broke his very heart to stay be-
hind. / knew it all. I 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 he looked away and
thought his old mother did not see it'll
But he said nothing to me, and I 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
We are firm and honest in our state
ment that nothing equals Brant's Bal
sam for cure of all coughs, colds, throat
orlung troubles, as the manyletters we