Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1880-01-30
HALF-wITTBD GUTrORM.


knew half-witted Guttorm Haldorslia;
he who built himself church, a church.
yard, church people and a clergyman
in the pulpit; he who never harmed any
mortal man, but only sat nodding at
every one who came along; whom one
might find summer and winter, in fair
and foul weather, busy with his sanctu-
ary, shoveling away the snow from the
graves andputting up new head-boards.
Guttorm was not born half-witted.
He was once as brisk little fellow as
ever you or | have been. His parents
were rarely at home, as they were poor
and had to maintain themselves by
hiring out, both man and wife. The
father was a carpenter, and was often
employed outside of the parish; the
mother went from farm to farm, and
helped with bread making. Guttorm
was therefore obliged to stay at home
and take care of his little sister, who
was the apple of the parents eyes and
very dear to Guttorm, too. He thought
nothing too good for her. and ran at
her beck for flowers and berries and
curious pebbles. He built houses and
boats for her; he lay on hands and
feet in the sun and barked and growled
like dog while she sat in the shade
laughing at him, with nothing on but a
little chemise and a pale-red hood.
Now he would be horse and creep on
all fours with her on his back; now he
would carry her in his arms until the
perspiration poured down his forehead,
if she was tired and demanded to be
carried. He dragged her across the
brook or up the knoll, sometimes with
the feet up and the head down, but al
ways with the utmost tenderness. And
Dolly understood this very well. She
allowed her brother to handle her as if
she had been a bundle, and if he hap
pened to hurt her then she screamed,
and he kissed her and patted her and
made queer faces for her and told her
about the bear and the fox, until she
was quiet.
Guttorm reaped but little thanks for
all his devotion. When his mother
came home in the evening she always
wondered whether he had really been
good to his little sister, and then she
pressed her against her bosom and
kissed and caressed her.
slightest attention; but he took thai as
a matter of course and was never
in the least jealous. And the first thing
he would do in the morning was to run
up to Dolly's cradle, almost yearning to
have the burden once more laid upon
his shoulders.
Once, on fine sunny day, they were
on the banks of the river. Dolly was
then large enough to run about by her.
self. In the river there was u long,
smooth sand bottom atthe end of which
lay huge stone, where the current rar
swift and strong. Guttorm had climbed
up on this stone and stood there wav,
ing with his cap. Dolly stood with hel
feet in the water, lifting up her dress
and looking longingly at him.
Halo, Dolly" he cried. "Now
am king. Come along and l will tak'
you on my lap and you may be my
queen"
Dolly needed not to be told twice
She forded boldly out upon the sanC
while the current fOamed about hel
knees. When she was close up to the
stone and Guttorm stretched himself
out to catch hold of her, she lost hel
foot-hold, fell on the side and the cur
rent swept her away.
Guttorm stood as if spell l-bound, will
wide-dilated eyes. But when he saw
her speeding down through the rapids
he gave heart-rending shrek anC
plunged into the water after her.
Then for while he knew of nothing
until he found himself lying on the rive
bank with half his body in the water
He touched his head and when ht
looked at his fingers they were bloody
he must have hurt himself when h,
made the leap. But where was little
Dollyp He looked round about hin
but she was nowhere to be seen. Trem
bling all over and with terror in hi
eyes he began to call her. No one an
swered. Like a hunted deer he rar
downalong the stream calling Dolly
He cut his feet on the sharp stones un
til they bled; his clothes caught in tht
bushes and were torn, but he did no
feel it. He only ran and ran-ever call
ing "Dollyr' Then suddenly he saw
q rag hanging on a low branch anC
right under something light and vel
low was mingling with the current
He broke through the underbrush; yes
it was Dolly. A branch had become
entangled in her dress; her head wa
under the water. Her fair yellow hair
tied up with pink silk ribbon, doateC
in the stream like flower.
When the mother came home late il
the evening she did not see the children
playing in the yard as usual. Sh
searched for them, she ran up to tn
neighbors to inquire, but no one ha,
seen them. She reused the Deopl
from their sleep, and they went il
search together; for at that time of tn
year the daylight lasts throughout tn
night.
1t was little past midnight whe
the mother came to the place wher
Dolly had been found. She bent asid
the bushes; there she saw Guttorm pal
and with staring eyes, standing wais
deep in the river and holding the hea
Of his little sister above the water. He
dress still Oclung to the branch whic
had caught it.
"God have mercy on thee, Guttorn
What hast thou donepf cried the mott
er, quite beside herself; and she leape
out into the water and caught the chil
to her bosom. The very moment it W,
torn out of Guttorm's hands, he fe
down on the river bank.
Since that day Guttorm was nev,
himself again. When he regained
consciousness he was lying in bed, al
his father was sitting by him. A lit
black coffin was standing on a cha
close by. There his little sister w
lying, he was told. His mother W
walking up and down on the foe
every now and then bursting into tear
Later in the day people came and 10,
away the coffin, TO bury it in the cart
as they told him. Hisfather went wi
them, and his mother followed the
out. When Guttorm saw this he thrt
himself out of the bed, dressed hastil
and ran after them. Before the faith
knew 1t he had caught hold of his han
Then he lifted him up in his arms a
aarf.iad him