The Little Barefoot by Berthold Auerbach

A woman who led a solitary, reserved life, -- who cooked and ate her food alone, -- was called her own cook, -- Eigenbrätlerin, -- and to such an one was given all sorts of peculiarities. No one ever had more right, or more inclination, to be her own cook, than Brown Mariann, although she never had any thing to cook, except oat porridge and potatoes. Potatoes and oat porridge were her only food. She lived always retired within herself, and conversed willingly with no one. Towards harvest only was she full of excited restlessness. At this time she was heard talking with herself, and also speaking to all the men, especially strangers, who went through the village. She inquired of them whether the masons from here and there had returned home to their winter rest, and whether they had said any thing of her John. When the linen which she had been bleaching through the summer was finally ready to wash, she remained up the whole night, and was heard to murmur to herself.

Nothing was understood, except when she divided the webs she was heard to say, "That is for thee, and this is for me. " She said, daily, twelve pater-nosters for John; but, on washing-night, they were innumerable. When the first snow fell, she was wonderfully cheerful. "Now, when there is no more work; now, he will certainly come home. "