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The man and his wife went into the cottage。 They had soon takenoff their Sunday clothes and e out again； hurrying over the duneswhich stood there like great waves of sand suddenly arrested intheir course； while the sandweeds and dune grass with its bluishstalks spread a changing colour over them。 A few neighbours alsocame out； and helped each other to draw the boats higher up on thebeach。 The wind now blew more keenly； it was chilly and cold； and whenthey went back over the sand…hills； sand and little sharp stonesblew into their faces。 The waves rose high； crested with white foam；and the wind cut off their crests； scattering the foam far and wide。
Evening came； there was a swelling roar in the air； a wailing ormoaning like the voices of despairing spirits； that sounded abovethe thunder of the waves。 The fisherman's little cottage was on thevery margin； and the sand rattled against the window panes； everynow and then a violent gust of wind shook the house to its foundation。It was dark； but about midnight the moon would rise。 Later on theair became clearer； but the storm swept over the perturbed sea withundiminished fury； the fisher folks had long since gone to bed； but insuch weather there was no chance of closing an eye。 Presently therewas a tapping at the window； the door was opened； and a voice said：
〃There's a large ship stranded on the farthest reef。〃
In a moment the fisher people sprung from their beds and hastilydressed themselves。 The moon had risen； and it was light enough tomake the surrounding objects visible to those who could open theireyes in the blinding clouds of sand； the violence of the wind wasterrible； and it was only possible to pass among the sand…hills if onecrept forward between the gusts； the salt spray flew up from the sealike down； and the ocean foamed like a roaring cataract towards thebeach。 Only a practised eye could discern the vessel out in theoffing； she was a fine brig； and the waves now lifted her over thereef； three or four cables' length out of the usual channel。 She drovetowards the shore； struck on the second reef； and remained fixed。
It was impossible to render assistance； the sea rushed in upon thevessel； making a clean breach over her。 Those on shore thought theyheard cries for help from those on board； and could plainlydistinguish the busy but useless efforts made by the stranded sailors。Now a wave came rolling onward。 It fell with enormous force on thebowsprit； tearing it from the vessel； and the stern was lifted highabove the water。 Two people were seen to embrace and plunge togetherinto the sea； and the next moment one of the largest waves that rolledtowards the sand…hills threw a body on the beach。 It was a woman；the sailors said that she was quite dead； but the women thought theysaw signs of life in her； so the stranger was carried across thesand…hills to the fisherman's cottage。 How beautiful and fair she was！She must be a great lady； they said。
They laid her upon the humble bed； there was not a yard of linenon it； only a woollen coverlet to keep the occupant warm。
Life returned to her； but she was delirious； and knew nothing ofwhat had happened or where she was； and it was better so； foreverything she loved and valued lay buried in the sea。 The samething happened to her ship as to the one spoken of in the song about〃The King of England's Son。〃
〃Alas！ how terrible to see
The gallant bark sink rapidly。〃
Fragments of the wreck and pieces of wood were washed ashore； theywere all that remained of the vessel。 The wind still blew violently onthe coast。
For a few moments the strange lady seemed to rest； but she awokein pain； and uttered cries of anguish and fear。 She opened herwonderfully beautiful eyes； and spoke a few words； but nobodyunderstood her。… And lo！ as a reward for the sorrow and sufferingshe had undergone； she held in her arms a new…born babe。 The childthat was to have rested upon a magnificent couch； draped with silkencurtains； in a luxurious home； it was to have been weled with joyto a life rich in all the good things of this world； and now Heavenhad ordained that it should be born in this humble retreat； that itshould not even receive a kiss from its mother； for when thefisherman's wife laid the child upon the mother's bosom； it restedon a heart that beat no more… she was dead。
The child that was to have been reared amid wealth and luxurywas cast into the world； washed by the sea among the sand…hills toshare the fate and hardships of the poor。
Here we are reminded again of the song about 〃The King ofEngland's Son；〃 for in it mention is made of the custom prevalent atthe time； when knights and squires plundered those who had beensaved from shipwreck。 The ship had stranded some distance south ofNissum Bay； and the cruel； inhuman days； when； as we have just said；the inhabitants of Jutland treated the shipwrecked people so crudelywere past； long ago。 Affectionate sympathy and self…sacrifice forthe unfortunate existed then； just as it does in our own time inmany a bright example。 The dying mother and the unfortunate childwould have found kindness and help wherever they had been cast bythe winds； but nowhere would it have been more sincere than in thecottage of the poor fisherman's wife； who had stood； only the daybefore； beside her child's grave； who would have been five years oldthat day if God had spared it to her。
No one knew who the dead stranger was； they could not even forma conjecture； the fragments of wreckage gave no clue to the matter。
No tidings reached Spain of the fate of the daughter andson…in…law。 They did not arrive at their destination； and violentstorms had raged during the past weeks。 At last the verdict was given：〃Foundered at sea… all lost。〃 But in the fisherman's cottage among thesand…hills near Hunsby； there lived a little scion of the rich Spanishfamily。
Where Heaven sends food for two； a third can manage to find ameal； and in the depth of the sea there is many a dish of fish for thehungry。
They called the boy Jurgen。
〃It must certainly be a Jewish child； its skin is so dark；〃 thepeople said。
〃It might be an Italian or a Spaniard；〃 remarked the clergyman。
But to the fisherman's wife these nations seemed all the same； andshe consoled herself with the thought that the child was baptized as aChristian。
The boy throve； the noble blood in his veins was warm； and hebecame strong on his homely fare。 He grew apace in the humble cottage；and the Danish dialect spoken by the West Jutes became his language。The pomegranate seed from Spain became a hardy plant on the coast ofWest Jutland。 Thus may circumstances alter the course of a man's life！To this home he clung with deep…rooted affection； he was to experiencecold and hunger； and the misfortunes and hardships that surround thepoor； but he also tasted of their joys。
Childhood has bright days for every one； and the memory of themshines through the whole after…life。 The boy had many sources ofpleasure and enjoyment； the coast for miles and miles was full ofplaythings； for it was a mosaic of pebbles； some red as coral oryellow as amber； and others again white and rounded like birds' eggsand smoothed and prepared by the sea。 Even the bleached fishes'skeletons； the water plants dried by the wind； and seaweed； whiteand shining long linen…like bands waving between the stones… all theseseemed made to give pleasure and occupation for the boy's thoughts；and he had an intelligent mind； many great talents lay dormant in him。How readily he remembered stories and songs that he heard； and howdexterous he was with his fingers！ With stones and mussel…shells hecould put together pictures and ships with which one could decoratethe room； and he could make wonderful things from a stick； hisfoster…mother said； although he was still so young and little。 Hehad a sweet voice； and every melody seemed to flow naturally fromhis lips。 And in his heart were hidden chords； which might havesounded far out into the world if he had been placed anywhere elsethan in the fisherman's hut by the North Sea。
One day another ship was wrecked on the coast； and among otherthings a chest filled with valuable flower bulbs was washed ashore。Some were put into saucepans and cooked； for they were t