The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1871-01-12
HOW A BOY BECA ME A BLESSING G TO
HIS FATHER.

"What shall he be called ?"
"Finn, after my father."' 49,:
"And his god;pareuts?"
They were named, being relatives Of
Thord, and the best men and women in
the district. / s. :" IT.
els there anything else :" asked the
pastor, and he looked up.
T. The farmer stood minute. 1i
II should like to have him baptized
by himself;"che said.
: "That is to say on week day7"
','Next Saturday, at twelve o'clock"
els there anything else p -
"Nothipg else." Z .''
The farmer took his hat and moved
to go.
Then the pastor rose "There is still
this" he said, and going up to Thord,
he took his hand and looked him in the
face "God grant that the child may be
a blessing to you p
Sixteen years after that day.: Thord
stood again in the pastors study.
"You look exceedingly well, Thord," !"
said the pastor.
~ have no trouble" replied Thord.
The pastor was silent, but = moment
after: "What is your errand tonight? p
81 have come tonight about my son,
who wishes to be confirmed to.mor-
row."
The twain talked awhile about the
boy, and how good and clever he was,
and at length the father started to go.
"Is there anything else ?" asked the
pastor.
"Nothing else."
"Well," said the pastor, "God grant
that your BON may be a blessing to
you"
Thord went.
Eight years more passed by, and one
day the pastor heard a noise without
his door, for many men were there, and
Thord first among them. The pastor
looked out and recognized him.
"You come with a powerful escort
tonight"
II have come to request that the
banns may be published for my son ;..he
is to be married to Kareu, daughter
Of Gudmaund, who is here with me "
"That is to say the richest girl in
the parish
"They say so," replied the farmer,
stroking his hair with one hand.
The pastor sat a moment as in
thought, then entered the names in his
book.
Then turning to the father, he said :
"Firu is very fortunate. God grant
that he may be blessing to you"
Shortly after the young couple were
married. 1t was grand wedding, and
the pastor was present at the feast that
followed. He went away early, but. his
last words to Thord, who followed him
to the door, were: "Finn has done
we'll. God grant that he may be q
blessing to you"
Then he departed.
Just a fortnight after this the father
and son were rowing over the lake in
still weather to Storliden.
'rbe cushion is not straight" said
the son. He rose to put it right, Al
the same romeut his foot slipped; he
stretched ont his arms, and with cry
fell into the water.
"Wait minute I" cried the father;
and began to row. But the son turned
backwards over, gazed earnestly at his
father and sank. :.
Thord could scarcely believe it. BE
kept the boat still, and stared At the
spot where bis son had sunk, Is though
he would come up again. A few bub'
bles rose up,a few more, then one
great one ; it burst-and tho sea again
lay smooth and bright as . mirror.
:" For three days and three nights tht
father Was seen to row round and roand
the spot, without either food or sleep;
he was seeking for his son. Oa til,
morning Of the third day ho found him
and Carried him up over the hills to hi
farm. 1879 - 4
About year after that day the pas
tor, one autamn evening, heard soma
thing rustling outside the door in th'
passage, and fumbliog about the lock
The door opened, and in walked tall
thin man, with bent figure and Whit
hair. The pastor looked long at hin
before he recognized him; it xas Thord
"You come late p asked the pastor
and stood before him. 4 s>ss..s .s -. II a /.
sWhy, yes, I do come late" sal
Il Thorfl and hA se>tAa i h;m..lf mn