Stevens County tribune. (Morris, Minn.) 1877-1880, 1880-02-05
self again. whsnghs resained his CON.

self again. WhenShe regained his con-
seriousness he was lying in Bed, land his
father Was sitting by HIM. A little black
coffin was standing on chair close by.l
There his little sister was lying, he was
told. His mother walking up and down
ON the floor, every now and then burst.
ing into tears. Later in the day people
came and took away the coffin, to
bury it in the earth, as they told shini .
His father went with them, and his moth
er followed them out. When Guttorm
saw this he threw him self out of the bed
dressed hastily, and ran afterthem. Be-
fore the father knew it he had caught
hold of his hand. Then he Lifted him up
/ In his arms and carried him. 49,. 80.
The way was long, but Gutt0rm sat
all the while staring at the little black
coffin. When they reached the church
yard they found some people gathered
there. There were many tine graves with
headstones and crosses, and the minister
I was standing there in his g long black
gown, and both within the church and
! outside voices were singing. The coffin
was lowered into the ground and the
minister cast earth upon it, There was
more singing, and At last all went away.
Guttorm stared before him with open
mouth. and as they went still gazed back
toward the, church yard gate.
{ Will Dolly never more come back to
US now2' he asked his father.
"Oh, yes, she will surely come back to
Us sometime" said he.rgua-
For long time after that Guttorm
never spoke aloud. = They saw him walk
ing about, Stalking his head and talking
low to himself. The father had obtained
work in the nelghbolhood, and was able
to look after him. Both lie and the mo-
| Their treated Guttorm with fotbearance; a
great gehtleness had come over both Of
them Of late. ra a.lsagIg j Lila -s.a1i
One day, Guttorm had climbed up on
the great bowlder in the river, and there
he stood and talked. This he repeated
day after day, until at last the father
brought some neighborsA with him, and
! they rolled the -bowlder away. Another
| time he did not return for his meals, and
| the father after : long search, found him
again In the river, standing under the
bush which had caught Dolly's dress He
had waded out into the water, and stood
as if still holding herhead above the cur
rent. AS he caught sight Of his father he
gave start and cried out: -ag:-
1T wasn't who got little sister into
the river. 49, -''.'.- $780,.
know that we'll enough" answered
the father quietly, pulling out his knife
and beginning to. cut down the bush.
But all of sudden Guttorm leaped up
and rushed against him like wild beast,
| ueating him with clenched fists. Tho
father had all he could do to keep him
at arms length. p .:f's .@'1s-.5a '...-}..-
"You surely know that Dolly is asleep
in the earth, so she can no more be here"
he said. ' .i...,...
Then Guttorm grew calmer. 49,. .,..
"Dollv asleep in the earth-Dolly
asleep in the EARTH he kept muttering
| to himself "But will she then never re-
turn1" he added after. while, with an
anxious glance at his father. .. - -
80, yes, she will surely return some
time," answered he, as before, "and then
you Will take care of her again, Gut
| torm.' 49,, - -
"WilI you let me take care of herl'
asked the boy. ...- ...s %s-# j.
YES YOU are the one to do 1t.p s
Guttorm nodded with his head as if
he were thinking. Eas :~.l .a .-4 .
dolly asleep in the Garth, he whis-
pered. Dolly is coming back and shall
take care of her again.
He made a somersault and laughed.
The father took him by the hand and
| led him home, but he did not cut down
| the bush The next day Guttorm rose
early. All night long he had been heard
talking contented:N with himself. He
ran up toward pine grove close to the
highway, carrying with him a pickax,
| and fell to work with a will He rolled
stones together; he tore up the turf, and
piled it up in small hills. 1t seemed in
credible that such strength could dwell
| in him small as as he Wss. No one had any
idea what he meant do. If he was asked
he only laughed shrewdly! The grove
was worth very little, so the owner left
him in peace to amuse himself as he
Iliked. His father was happy because
tthis new labor took him so far away
from the river. Little by little Guttorm' g
intention revealed itself He was build
ing church and churchyard. The
church was built as nearly as possible
| like the great one where, he had. seen
Dolly buried, and the graves round about
were similarly placed and adorned with
white and brown headstones, just as. he
had seen them on Sunday. Inside of the
wall, just under the great window in the
nave, was Dolly sgraye. He had adorn-
ed it in very fantastic way with flow
eIs, pine-cones, shells. and very small
pieces of boards which he had carved in
to figures. There he sat always VIII en- he
rested. from his labor or when his, food
was brought1to him. IEgl 1 l..g.sl. =. IS =
One day he went into a. huckstSr'e
store and looked about him. riiG !..I2 30
"What is it you want to-day, Gut
torm2" asked the huckster, kindly. IS
Guttorm laughed, and pointed to 8
shelf where some ,colored ribbons were
Flying. 49, -1.sf ,.....s IN, h. nga
II "kibbons for Dolly" he said. In .9s.r,
Il The huckster cut off a small piece Of
'Iribbon and gave it to him. He caught
it up eagerly, flung "a shilling upon The
icouBtef, aud ran as if a mad dog were a,
This heels. The l1uckster called after him
that heshad paid too much; but he only
ran the faster. He was afraid some one
EIn1ght take his property away from him,
The ribbon he bound around a small
cross which he had made. She had such
ribbon in her hair the last time he saw
her. The cross he, planted on her grave
land watched it as ifit had slbeen gold
z If the Weather was wet, he wrapped il
in pillow case, lest itshould be spoiled
: Guttorm had to labor and toll fol
many years beforehc got his little churcf
and his church yard in complete order
Ehe parish people pltied the poor, good
\ hatured lad, and gave him many aolif