The free citizen. (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1874-1876, 1875-04-17
Little Stories from the scandinavian.
Translated by II. Hanson.

kindness they have bestowed on any
one. But alas in this world it goes
too often according to the well-known
| problem, that father cin easier sup
port six children than six children one
father. Here we have such narration
| about father who, while living, gave
all that he owned to his children and
expected them to support him after.
wards i'll his old age. But when he had
lived while with his eldest sou he bo.
came tired Of him, and said Father,
last night my wife gave birth to son,
| and where your arm chair stood the
cradle must now stand. Will you not
move over to my brothers.? He has
got more room than L have"
After D. wrIle, tho second sou also be.
came tired of him, and said "Fathcr
| you always liked 81 warm room, and /
have the headache from it would you
not like to go to my brother, who s
baker, he can stand it better"
The father went, and after he had
stayed somo time, the third son said
In 10Y house we are always running
III and out, SO you can never get your
afternoon sleep; would you not rather
go to sister Elma, who lives outside the
city gate? You will be moro quiet with
her. The old man looked at the clock
and said : 9. Very we'll, will go and try
and live with my daughters" WON n
| have generally II tenderer heart than
men. But, after he had stayed while,
the daughter became anxious to get rid
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 cat sister Ma
ria's yon need not go down any steps,
as she lives on the first floor" The old
man admitted that she was right, in
order that rything should 20 on
quietly and peacefully, and went to his
second daughters. When he had stayed
couple OF days, he became burden
to her also, and she gave him to under
stand, through third person, that her
house, being too near the water, was top
damp for man who suffered with
rheumatism but her sister who was
married 10 the sexton of St. Johns
| graveyard had q dryer and healthier
house.
So he went to tho house of his young
est daughter, Laurina. He had stayed
a rarF bert 'i:.,s, rrhcn her scr, - y
him Z" Mother told Aunt Hilda, YES
terday, that for you there were no bet
ter quarters than such rs father was
digging in the graveyard" When the
aged parent heard these cruel words.
his heart broke, and he fell back into
his arm chair aud 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.
There lived once in Stockholm nm old
a hrrn IT.,
was tailor by profession and had
twelve sons, who all had served under
Charles XII. Once they got few
days leave of ahscrce from their reei-
ments to go and see their old father,
whom they found on their arrival with
out broad and nearly starving. ''Fa
thor hns no bread" said one of them,
"yet he has given to Sweden twelve
warriors !" Our dear father must be
helped but how" "Cant we find
somebody who would be willing to lend
us little money!" asked the youngest,
who had good deal of faith in God
aud good-hearted people. ''Try to
borrow money, when we have nothing
to give in security What good will
that do? ?" asked another. "Havc we
nothing at all ?" asked the youngest
"my brothers, [ will show YOU that we
have. Our father is n tailor. and has
carried on his trade great many yeare.
and is now about to die of starvation.
This is sufficient proof of his honesty.
| We, his sons, have served for many
years in the ranks of the Swedish army,
and no one can yet show stain upon
our honor. Let us give this, our honor.
as security; think we might borrow a
little money on such a pledge"
This idea won their general approval.
The twelve brothers wrote and signed
tho following letter: eve, twelve
Swedes, sons of tailor who is nearly
one 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 for the support of our old and
helpless father. We pledge our honor
as security, and promise to pay the
above named sum to the bank within
one year. This letter was handed 10
the directors. The sum asked for was
given to them, aud the letter torn to
pieces; furthermore, the directors prom
ised to take care of their old father as
long as he lived. Scarcely had this
happened before it was made known
through the entire city, and rich and
poor paid visits to the old whita-headed
man, and none went empty handed.
The tailor was thus placed in good cir
camstances, and after his death left a
small capital for each of his sons, n
reward for their filial love.
THE LITTLE FLOWER.
One day, two young girls went to