And yonder maiden, not far from the wagon, binding up the
corn, in whose tall, proud form, in spite of her plain peasant-gown,
there is something imposing; that maiden with the youthful,
blooming, lovely face, is his son's betrothed, whom all in the
village called the beautiful Anna Sophia, and for whose love Charles
Henry was envied by all the village boys. It is true she was a
penniless orphan, but in her busy, industrious hands there was a
better and surer treasure than in a purse of gold, and her ability
and goodness would be a much better dowry to her husband; for Anna
Sophia Detzloff could do almost every thing, and the villagers knew
not whether to respect her more for her great knowledge, or love her
more for her kind, good heart. Anna could read and write like a
school-teacher. She wrote every letter which the women of the
village sent to their sons and husbands, now far away with the King
of Prussia's army, and read to them the answers; and in so beautiful
and winning a manner did she read them, that to the happy women it
almost seemed as if they were hearing the voices of their loved
ones. But, notwithstanding her learning, she was well versed in
every sort of work that beseemed a woman.
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