Show dads letter by JAMES H WALUS WALLIS jan and griet there lived at cologne on the old farm of a peasant who had a maid called i greet and a man servant called jan thus begins the old well known song ot of jan van werth the celebrated general ot of the imperial cavalry at the time when the swedes and french were taking advantage of 0 the civil war in germany but nobody except the inhabitants ot 0 f cologne 03 logne knows that van van worth werth was originally la simple laborer and that tha he was indebted for his luck in life to his bad luck in love jan was an industrious farmer boy with an upright character and a handsome face many a girl would not have rejected him as a sweetheart but jans tender heart had long been captivated by the looks of pretty griet the comely maid of the his love could not long remain a secret one day ho he confessed to her wi with th solas that he loved her dearly and would with pleasure work and toll toil tor for her twice as much as lie he then did tor for his master ile he spoke long and earnestly grid and taking courage with every word he uttered he at last put to hor bar the all important question would she become his hia wife laughingly the pretty irl put her round roun a arms akimbo tossed her head bead back and looked at her honest suitor with a mock ing twinkle in her eyes then she shook her head energetically and said you are only a fann faim ers laborer my dear boy oy and will remain one most probably all your life true it 1 is not your fault tut lut all the same I 1 should prefer to marry a rich farmer with A ith cows and oxen and horses from that day he could nt not endure any longer the life at the f farm arm and pocketing poc ketring his ws gaea ca lie he said good by bye e forever to the ku and became a soldier it was a furious furto it war in which the german emperor E in P was engaged en aged against the enemies of his country and brave soldiers were r rye rare are any valiant warrior might distinguish himself and become an officer at that time the farmer boy jan soon won nor by his bravery and intrepidity the esteem of his superiors and was plo noted to the lank of colonel once vien tigh righting ting against the swedish troops h bho showed wea suell such determination an am courage that lie he v on the battle after this brilliant act he wap wa made a general but the name ot of jan van werth become became everi more famous he teat beat the french in a ski nish at huttlin sen gen in another vay also his good uck luck reconciled him to the I 1 fir I 1 bitter disappointment caused by griets scornful answer ile he married man led a very lovely and nob noble e acan lady who v vas a very proud of coming becoming b the wife of such tl a celebrated general let Us now look back and see sec whit what happened in the meant mean to gillet sie had waited month after month and year after year to for the rich farmer but bu the longed tor for suitor never imade his appearance even in those byone days red checks ind and bright eyes vea ve a much leis tho of than dubits and littering glittering gold As time went on grief brict grow rew old and though she elie would LOW have been content with a simple man tor for her sweetheart not evon even such a ore one descended condescended con to ask C her to become hla afe e lit ONS alo by little garect gave up all hopes of 0 ever mar marrying marlyin ind and had to bicak out for a living to keep ler in her old age aiom lon lion Thee therefore fore 1 aie ahe started a fruit stall at one ot of the large lare gateways ot of cologne one day the good tn inhabitants inhabitant of this town were an in great excitement cit ement and crow decd deed in the theli best sunday clothes round the gate of 0 st severin dhere grill griat sat at her apple stand they had come to meet jan van worth werth the celebrated gen general ral who was re victorious lat at the head of lils his regiment there he be was on a powerful charger which was gor covered with gall d trappings ss s on ills bis fine head jan wore a broad brimmed liat aliat with a flowing feather behind him i rode his splendid soldiers the body guard of 0 the town beat the drum enthusiastically enthusiastic a and the cologne people called 31 led out long live our jan vati van werth when the celebrated general passed the gate ho he stopped his horse just in front of griets apple baskets and lookin looking down upon the old wrinkled woman met her questioning glance with an odd smile ali ah grief gnet sali said he slowly whoever would have thought it at the sound of his voice an expression of sudden recognition passed over her worn features and she muttered sorrowfully row fully but still audibly to the proud rider oh jan it if I 1 had only known it A magnificent monument in u the form ot of the statue of 0 jan van werth now stands in the center of the th old market of cologne it was erected there in memory not only of the heroic deeds of the brave general beneral en eral but also as a warning to all cologne maidens not to reject their suitors because they are acor for one day like jan van werth they may become famous and then they will not like griet have to sigh over things that might have been |