The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-02-07
ROSA AND HER SUIT0RS.
A TALE OF SWEDISH DOMESTIC LIFE
BY EMILE +. CARLEN,
Author Of" One Year of Wsdock y The Bride of O1brs
&c, &c
TRANSLATED BY Ebert PIERCE,
CHAP. XXI.

One very hot August afternoon, Hilda Bor-
| genskold might have been seen mounted on
high scaffolding, in the small, once yellow room
painting the dark faded wall with bright colors
Size was indeed, as her father had said, " a
very handy girl" who always knew how to &C.
| commodate herself to circumstances, and was
not frightened if there was a large quantity of
work to be done. 1t would have been necessa
ry to have employed painter, could one have
been procured; but, unfortunately there was
not such a parsonage in the whole country, and
the work to be done was not sufficient to bring
| one from distance. AS IIIua wlsned to have
the little room in order, because they had sew
eral articles of nice furniture, which would
serve to give it comfortable look, were it not
for the dingy walls-so Hilda pored over all
the books in her fathers library which treated
of the art of coloring, mixing, and such like.
At last, deeming that she had sufficient
knowledge to begin to put her talents to a prac-
teal use, as soon as the colors were decided
upon, the grazier of Bro was despatched to
bring the requisite articles from town. Hilda
was very happy when she found herself in pos
session of all the necessary apparatus, which
was to aid her in identifying the old house at
Lndfors, which she had already become so
fond Of
She now only awaited favorable moment to
begin her work-that is, when she might feel
sure of not being interrupted by Wallnder
and this time soon came. He was to be alb
SENT on some business connected with his duty
at W, for four days. On the very same
evening that he left, Hilda commenced her
process upon the old walls, with brush and
color. She thought five days sufficient to COM
plete the work and Wallinder could not, at
soonest, be back before Saturday evening, and
it was very uncertain whether he would come
to Lindfors before Sunday.
Cheerful and confident and her thoughts
quite full of the surprise which she was prepar-
ing for Wallinder against his next visit, she
worked with wonderful zeal and perseverance.
Papa was commissioned to spread coating OF
oil color over the window frames and doors
and on Friday the work was nearly completed
Hilda was standing on the top of the step lad.
der, her dress fastened up and going over with
her brush for the third time the regenerated
walls, phen ell at once, "What in Heavens
name is Miss Hilda about?" sounded from
the door.
She thought she must have sunk into the
ground, and let her brush, full of fresh color as
it was, fall into the face of her assistant, who was
standing below and in his terror he dropped
the color pot with all its contents upon the
floor. With some trouble, Hilda managed to
get down the ladder, and alighted upon her
feet safe on the ground.
master Wallinder !" she stammerad, COW
cred with bushes, while she rapidly arranged
her dress. "You return very soon-indeed, /
might almost say, at very inconvenient time ~
Pretty thanks, indeed" returned Wallinder,
with laugh. off you only would look up,
Miss Hilda, you would see how very rude it is
of you to reward with such GOODNESS and indif-
ference ali the trouble l have taken. come
direct from the Necks Holm, with whole load
of pike"
Hilda looked up, and there was Walinder,
dripping like Triton, and decked out in any
thing but priesty fashion, with large basket
of fish upon his arm. Her vexation vanished
in a moment, and she laughed with all her
heart.
"Surely we are a couple of very pretty fig
ures," said she but how have you got into
such state, Mr.. Wallinder?"
at YVES al the work of a moment, Miss Hill
da ; as l was jumping out of the boat it so hap
pened that, in my hurry, made short spring,
anu, instead OF reaching ory lano, iouhu HlyseIi
In the water"
"Heavens, how careless!" said Hilda, in a
different tone; but now, what shall we do
Mamma and papa are out looking after the Ia
borers. However, if you will go into my father s
room, will send you some dry clothes; and
then, when you make your appearance in papa's
steelgray coat, with its large Anticipated skirts,
we can have good laugh"
You will have to lose that pleasure, fear, !"
said Wallinder, with low bow, after she had
accepted the basket of fish; "for sent back
the boy to the parsonage Immediately and he
will soon be here with more fitting dress to
pay respects to the ladies in. However, il will
be best for me to retire to the Lieutenant's
room, and give Miss Hilda time to recover from
her establishment ana confusion"
And, with wicked look at the blushing girl.
Wallinder disappeared.