shemustbeagreatlady,theysaid.

theylaidheruponthehumblebed;therewasnotayardoflinenonit,onlyawoollencoverlettokeeptheoccupantwarm.

lifereturnedtoher,butshewasdelirious,andknewnothingofwhathadhappenedorwhereshewas;anditwasbetterso,foreverythingshelovedandvaluedlayburiedinthesea.thesamethinghappenedtohershipastotheonespokenofinthesongabout"thekingofengland'sson."

"alas!howterribletosee

thegallantbarksinkrapidly."

fragmentsofthewreckandpiecesofwoodwerewashedashore;theywereallthatremainedofthevessel.thewindstillblewviolentlyonthecoast.

forafewmomentsthestrangeladyseemedtorest;butsheawokeinpain,andutteredcriesofanguishandfear.sheopenedherwonderfullybeautifuleyes,andspokeafewwords,butnobodyunderstoodher.-andlo!asarewardforthesorrowandsufferingshehadundergone,sheheldinherarmsanew-bornbabe.thechildthatwastohaveresteduponamagnificentcouch,drapedwithsilkencurtains,inaluxurioushome;itwastohavebeenwelcomedwithjoytoaliferichinallthegoodthingsofthisworld;andnowheavenhadordainedthatitshouldbeborninthishumbleretreat,thatitshouldnotevenreceiveakissfromitsmother,forwhenthefisherman'swifelaidthechilduponthemother'sbosom,itrestedonaheartthatbeatnomore-shewasdead.

thechildthatwastohavebeenrearedamidwealthandluxurywascastintotheworld,washedbytheseaamongthesand-hillstosharethefateandhardshipsofthepoor.

hereweareremindedagainofthesongabout"thekingofengland'sson,"forinitmentionismadeofthecustomprevalentatthetime,whenknightsandsquiresplunderedthosewhohadbeensavedfromshipwreck.theshiphadstrandedsomedistancesouthofnissumbay,andthecruel,inhumandays,when,aswehavejustsaid,theinhabitantsofjutlandtreatedtheshipwreckedpeoplesocrudelywerepast,longago.affectionatesympathyandself-sacrificefortheunfortunateexistedthen,justasitdoesinourowntimeinmanyabrightexample.thedyingmotherandtheunfortunatechildwouldhavefoundkindnessandhelpwherevertheyhadbeencastbythewinds,butnowherewouldithavebeenmoresincerethaninthecottageofthepoorfisherman'swife,whohadstood,onlythedaybefore,besideherchild'sgrave,whowouldhavebeenfiveyearsoldthatdayifgodhadsparedittoher.

nooneknewwhothedeadstrangerwas,theycouldnotevenformaconjecture;thefragmentsofwreckagegavenocluetothematter.

notidingsreachedspainofthefateofthedaughterandson-in-law.theydidnotarriveattheirdestination,andviolentstormshadragedduringthepastweeks.atlasttheverdictwasgiven:"founderedatsea-alllost."butinthefisherman'scottageamongthesand-hillsnearhunsby,therelivedalittlescionoftherichspanishfamily.

whereheavensendsfoodfortwo,athirdcanmanagetofindameal,andinthedepthoftheseathereismanyadishoffishforthehungry.

theycalledtheboyjurgen.

"itmustcertainlybeajewishchild,itsskinissodark,"thepeoplesaid.

"itmightbeanitalianoraspaniard,"remarkedtheclergyman.

buttothefisherman'swifethesenationsseemedallthesame,andsheconsoledherselfwiththethoughtthatthechildwasbaptizedasachristian.

theboythrove;thenoblebloodinhisveinswaswarm,andhebecamestrongonhishomelyfare.hegrewapaceinthehumblecottage,andthedanishdialectspokenbythewestjutesbecamehispomegranateseedfromspainbecameahardyplantonthecoastofwestjutland.thusmaycircumstancesalterthecourseofaman'slife!