Year: 1861

On the quay Of the Emperor at Amsterdam
stands a house dated 1922. 1t is three stories
high, and terminates in gable surCharged with
those liliputan Obelisks which seem to have been,
at certain epoch, the favorite ornament Of Dutch
architecture In frieze that separates the first
wreathed with aurels. the others crowned with
helmets. The style is heavy and the sculpture
mediocre, but the house has its legend.


1t belonged in Olden times to a negociant, who
had accumulated all manner Of riches. Seven
robbers leagued together for the purpose Of sezing
his treasures, which he had the name Of being able
to increase at his pleasure They waited until one
Saturday evening, for on that day the negociant,
with his family and servants, had gone TO Brock,
leaving his dwelling in the sole charge Of an aged
serving woman. The robbers went silently to
work in the night to excavate subterranean
passage, by which to gain an entrance through
the floors Of the kitchen. Once within, they could
easily have pillaged the house, after having stran-
gled the domestic.


On that night the servant sat watching near a
lamp in the kitchen, and knitting. She heard,
confusedly at first more distinctly afterward, the
sound made by the robbers at their work. She
felt the vague fear that warns one Of the approach
Of an unknown danger, but, as she was brave
woman, she did not ALLOW herself 10 become fright
ened and seizing long knife which she found in
the kitchen, sharpened it upon the stone sink |;
then, after lowering the wick Of the lamp in such
manner as to leave the room very nearly dark,
she stationed herself in corner armed and pre-
pared. Presently she saw one Of the square flag
stones raise and fall over as If lifted by an invisible
power then another, and still another; then q
head brstling, bearded and formidable, as the head
Of brigand should always be, appeared through
the opening. The servant resolutely grasped the
head by the hair and severed il from The body with
single blow Of the knife, before the robber had
time to give even sigh. The woman then drew
the body up through the aperture and placed it
promptly against the wall. The head Of q second
rObber emerged presently, and was seized and cut
of like the first.


Six times this enraged Judith repeated her
bloody task for the robbers came singly through
the trench, and neither Of them having heard either
noise, or cry, or CALL imagined that each had sue
ceeded. The seventh, however, became frightened
at the silence he was an old thief very shrewd
and cautious, and in place Of putting his head
through the fatal entrance, be called to his COM
radcs.


The servant was careful not to reply: he stopped
there. drew long breath, and smelling the warm
and sickening Odor Of blood, he cOmprehended
that something terrible and unexpected had hap
pened above and not having sufficient curiosity
10 lead him to make any further attempt to un-
ravel the mystery, he turned and used his best
speed in making his escape and was never heard
Of afterwards. In commemoration Of this terrible
adventure, the propr etor Of the house ornamented
its exterior with six scuptured heads and gave to
the servant six thousand horins-a thousand for
each rObber.