The free citizen. (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1874-1876, 1875-04-17
Little Stories from the Scandinavian.

THE TNGRATEFUL CHILDREN.

Kindness they have bestowed ON any
one. But alas in this world it goes
too often according to the wcll-known
problem, that n father eur easier sup
port six children than six children one
father. Here We have such II narration
about q father who, while living, gave
all that lie owned to his children and
expected them to support him after.
wards i'll his old age. But when he had
! lived 4 while with his cldns. sos lie be.
came tired of him, and said " Father,
last night my wife gave birth to II son,
aud where your arm char stood HE
cradle must now stand VIII sou not
move over to my brothers? ? He has
got more room than | have
After . wn'lr. the second sou nl;,o he
camc tircu OF him, and said "E'nthcr
| you always liked II warm room, and !
have the headache from it wnuld you
not like to go to my brother, who Is II
baker, he can stand it better"
The father went, and after he had
stayed some time. the third son said
" In nay house we are uiwaS" running
IN and out, SO you can never get your
afternoon sleep would you rot rather
go tn sister Elma, who lives outside the
city gate? You will he more quiet with
! her" The old man looked Mt the clock
and said 9 Very we'll, will go and Try
and live with my daughters. WON n
have generally Il t"ndercr heart than
! men. But, after lie had stayed u while,
the iaughtc: became nnxious to get rii
| Of him also, and pretended to be very
much frightened whenever her father
| had to pass down the high stairway,
either when going to church or any
| where else, and said =" At sister Ma
ria's you need not go down any steps,
as she lives on the first floor" The old
| man admitted that she was right, in
order that everything should go on
| quietly and peacefully, and went to his
| second daughters. When he had stayed
Il couple of days, he became burden
to her also, and she gave him to under
stand, through 4 third person, thai her
house, being too near the water, was too
damp for Il man aho suffered with
rheumatism but her sister who was
married 10 Tie sexton OF ST. Johns
graveyard had dryer and healthier
house.
So he went to the house of his young
est daughter, Laurina He had STAYED
worry short .;.~r mi:cn !.o. SCR e,:'i
him: " Mother told Aunt Hilda, YES
| tcraay, that for you there were no bet
ter Quarters than such as father was
digging in the graveyard" When the
agen parent heard these cruel words.
his heart broke, and he fell back into
his ann chair and died st. Johns
graveyard received him. and showed
more mercy towards him than his six
children had shown; there he can sleep
nndisturbed.
THE NOBLE HEARTED SONS.
Thtre lived once in Stockholm an old
| man OF nearly IL Hundred winters. He
was tailor by profession and had
twelve sons, vino ail had served under
Charles XII. Once they got few
days leave Of abScrcc from their rcg-
mcnts to 60 anG sec their old father,
whom they found on their arrival with
out bread and nearly starving. Fa
thcr has no bread" soid one Of them,
",yct he has given to Swcd, II twelve
warriors = Oar dear father must hc
helped but how?" Cant we find
somebody who would be willing to lend
us II little n,oncy?" asked the youngest,
| who had good deal Of faith in God
aud good, he"rtcd people. Try TO
borrow money, when we have nothing
to give in security What good viii
that do?' asked another. Have we
nothing at MI 2" asked the Youngest /;
my brothers, will show you that we
have. Our father is q tailor, and has
carried on his trade great many years,
md is now about tn die Of starvation.
This Is sufficient proof of his honesty.
We, his sons, Eave served for many |
years in the ranks of the Swedish army,
and no one can yet show stain upon
our ti"iior. Let iis give tliis, nnr honor,
as security; think we might borrow
little money OH such pledge"
This idea won iilcir general approval.
The twelve brothers wrote and signed
tho following letter: eve, twelve
Swr.les, sons Of Il tailor who is nearly
ono hundred years Of age, deprived Of
| the necessary means Of support. pray
tho directors of the national bank for
the sum Of two hundred dollars, to he
used fcr tic support of orr old and
/ helpless father. We pledge our honor
as security. and pIomsc to pay The
above named sum tn the bank within
one year. This letter was handed 10
| the directors. The sum asked for was
! given to them, and the letter torn to
pieces; Furthermore, the directors prom
| iscd to take care Of their ola father as
long as he lived Scarcely had this
| happened before it was made known
through the entire city, and rich and
i poor paid visit, to the old wh;tc-h headed
man, and none went empty handed.
| The tailor was thus placed in good cir.
c1mstsnccs, and after his death left IL
small capital for each of his sons
reward for !hcir iilial love
THE LITTLE FLOWER
One day, two yonng girls went to
L.. 1. IL,