Theodor Fontane’s ballad John Maynard first appeared in 1886. A ship is on fire, and the helmsman stays at the wheel in the smoke until the ship reaches the shore. Again and again the captain calls: Noch da, John Maynard? Still there, John Maynard? The answer comes: Ja, Herr. Ich bin. Yes, sir. I am. Later it is: Ja, Herr, ich halt’s! Yes, sir, I am holding it! The refrain says what follows: er hat uns gerettet, er trägt die Kron’, / er starb für uns, unsre Liebe sein Lohn. He saved us, he wears the crown. He died for us, our love is his reward. The ballad is still part of the German curriculum in many schools.