The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1880-02-04
HALF-WITTED GUTTORM !:

HALF-WITTED GUTTORM:
There may be many living yet who
knew half-witted Guttorm Haldorsllan,
he who built himself church, church
yard, church people, and a clergyman in
the pulpit; he who never harmed any
mortal man, but only sat nodding to ev-
cry one who came along whom one mi ght
find. summer and winter, in fair and foul
weather, busy with his sanctuary, shovel
ing away the snow from the graves, and
putting 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 employed outside Of
the parish; the msther went from farm
to farm and helped with Dread making.
Guttorm was therefor 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 and call for flowers and berries and
curious pebbles. Hu built houses and
boats for her; he lay on hands and feet
in the sun and barl:ud and growled like
dog while she sat IN the shade laugh
ing at him, with nothing on but a little
chemise and a pale red hood. Now he
would be horse and creep on all tours
with her on his Back; now he would car.
ry her in his arms until the perspiration
rolled 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 always with the utmost ten
derness. And Dolly understood very
we'll. She allowed her brother to handle
her as if she were a bundle, and if he
happened to hurt her, then she screamed
and he kissed her and petted her and
told her about the bear and the fox, until
she was quiet.
Guttorm reaped but little thanks to-
his devotisn When his mother come
home in the evening she always wonder
ed if he had really been good to his lit
tie sister, and then she pressed her t.
her bosom and kissed ana catessed her
On Guttorm she never bestowed the
slightest attention; but he took that as
matter of course and was never in the
least jealous. And the first thing hi
would do in the mogning was to run uF
to Dolly's cradle, almost yearning te
have the burden once more laid upor
his shoulders.
Once on a fine sunny day, they wer'
on the banks of the river. Dolly wa
then large enough to run about by her
self. In the river there was long
smooth sand bottom at the end Of which
lay huge stone, where the current raj
swift and strong. Guttorm hNd climbe'
up on this stone and stood there wavin
his cap. Dolly stood with her feet il
the water, lifting up her dress and look
ing longingly at him.
"Hallo, Dollv,' he cried. ''Now I ar
king. Come along and will take yo
on my lap and you may be my queen.
Dolly needed not to be told twice. Sh
forded boldly out upon the sand Will
the current foamed about her knee:
When she was close up to the stone an
Guttorm stretched himself out to cate
old OF her. she lost her foot hold, fe
on the side and the current swept he
away.
Guttorm stood as if spell-bound, wit
wide-dilated eyes. But when he saw he
speeding down through the rapids. h
gave heart-rending shrek and plunge
into the water after her.
Then tor while he knew of nothin
until he found himself lying on the riv,
bank with half his body in the waite
TT H. i -
at his fingers they were bloody; he mu
have hurt himself when he made the lea
But where was little Dolly9 He Jooke
round about him but she was nowhere
be seen. Trembling all over, with terri,
in his eyes he began to call her. No OF
answered. Like hunted deer he IL
down along the stream calling Dolly. &
~ cut his feet on the sharp stones unit
they bled; his clothes caught in tt
bushes and were torn, but he did n,
a. feel It, He only ran and ran-ever cal
ing "Dolly2" Then suddenly he saw
rag hanging on a low branch and rlgl
under something light and yellow vi
mingling with the current. He brol
through the underbrush; yes, it was Do
ly. A branch had become entangled
uer QreSS, n6I uedu WIS uuueT Tile WaIe
Her fair yellow hair, tied up with pir
silk ribbon, foated in the stream like
flower.
When the msther came home late
the evening she did not see the childr'
playing in the yard as usual. She scare
ed for them, she ran up to the neighbo
to inquire, but NO one had seen ther
She reused the people from their slice
and they went in search together; for
that time of the year the daylight las
throughout the night
cit was little past midnight wht
the mother had come to the place whe
Dolly had been found. She bent ASH
the bushes; and there she saw Guttorl
pale and with staring eye, standing wais
deep in the river and holding his lit
sister above the water. Her dress sti
chung to the branch which had caugl
it.
"God have mercy on thee, Guttorn