Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1895-04-26

WI ny VII ANAAnAMN nAAAAAAAf AAAAA AAAAA
who says Of il that IL came to him in a
heap Of other papers, fly sheets, pam.
phlets and books, but it shone like a di-
amond In a heap of rubbish, and, " Max
Muller adds, ''as the tale Of The Old
Woman Of Sloswick- Holstein' il may
help to give TO many who have been
unjust 20 tho inhabitants Of tho duchies
some truer idea of the stuff there Is in
that strong and stanoh and sterling race
TO which England owes its language, its
best blood and its honored name.
TIE TALE OF THE OLD WOMAN OF sLEswIcK-
HOLsTEIN.
When the war against Denmark be-
gan In tho winter Of 1868, offices were
opened in the principal towns Of Ger
many for collecting charitable contrl-
buttons. At Hamburg Messrs. L. and
X. had set apart a large room for re-
oeiving lint, linon and warm clothing
or small sums Of money.
One day, about Christmas, a poorly
clad woman from tho country stepped
IN and inquired in the pure Holstein di-
alect whether contributions were re-
ceived here for Sleswick-H olstein. The
clerk showed her to a table covered with
linen rags and such like articles. But
she turned away and pulled ont an old
leather purse, and taking out pieces Of
money began to count aloud on tho
counter, Zone mark, two marks, three
marks, 4" 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 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 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; "Thcse are my
hundred marks for Sleswiok Holstein.
Be 80 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 in
a tone of surprise from whom the mon
ey came.
From mo, " she said, and observing
that she was closely scanned she turned
back, and looking tho man full in the
face she added, smiling: ut is all hon
est money. It won't hurt the good
cause.
TLo clo-t. ocer,od ho. 4L,Avo 49,. Ill
doubted her honesty, but that she her
selt had no doubt often known want,
and that it was hardly right to Let her
contribute 80 largo q sum, probably the
whole of her savings.
The old woman remained silent for q
time, but after she had quietly scanned
the faces Of all present she said: Sure
lyi It concerns no one how l got the mon
ey. Many a 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, l have known want, food
has been scarce with me- many q day,
and il will DO so again as l grow old
or, but our gracious Lord watches over
rs. He has helped me to bear the trou-
bles which he sent. He will v for
sake me. My husband has been dead
this many and many n year. l had one
only son. and my John was a fine stout
fellow, and he worked hard, and no
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 tho
only son of widow, you know, is free.
So ne remained at home, and no one
said to him. Come along with us, for
they knew that he was a bravo boy, and
that it broke his very heart to stay be-
hind. i knew it all / watched him
when the people talked Of the war or
when the schoolmaster brought tho
newspaper. All, how no turned pale and
red, and how be looked away and
thought his old mother did not see it.
But BIO said nothing to me, and l said
nothing to him. Gracious God, who
could have thought that IL was so bard
70 drive IA oppressors out Of the land?
Then came the news from FredericaI
That was a 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.
erp God DO praised, l had strength in
that moment. John, l said, cur time
has come. Go, in Gods name. I know
how thou lowest me and what thou hast
suffered God knows what will becomt
Of me II lam left alone, but our Logd
Jesus Christ will forsake neither thee
nor me.
John enlisted as a volunteer. Tho
day Of parting came. All, 1 am making
a long story Of it ALL John stood befor,
me in hie new uniform. Mother, b,
said, 'one request before we part-if Il
Is 10 be. John, / said to him, i know
what thou meanest. Oh, / shall weep
! shall weep very much when 1 an
alone, but my time will come, and WI
shall meet again in the day Of our Lord
John. and the land shall DO free. John
the land shall be freei'"
Heavy Tears stood In tho poor old wo
mana oyos IS she repeated her sad tale