The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1880-02-04

and all the travellers who came through
the valley had to stop to see his church
yard. And never was Guttorm happier
than when toey praised his church and
thought it was very fine. Then his
whole countenance beamed. But he
never would accept money; if they
urged HIM, he put his hands behind
him and shook his head. If, however,
some one whispered to him, ut is for
Dolly, when she comes back" then he
looked long and wonderingly before
him, took the money and hid it. The
drivers from the horse-stations soon
were informed of this, and they never
neglected to tell the travellers about
Guttorm, and thus 1t happened that
from year to year many shillings were
collected for Dolly. This money Gut
torn gave every evening to his mother
and begged her to keep it for Dolly.
The father could thus afford to let Gut
torn have his own way, as he contrib
uted much more to the household in this
manner than he could have done by rum
n,ng brands for people or doing small
jobs.
a happier boy than Guttorm was one
could hardly imagine. he went about
busying himself among his graves; if he
was tired, he sat down in pew next to
some wooden doll; took of his cap, and
gazed with devotion at his painted min
lister; or he sat at Dollv's grave, waiting
for her return. One would be sure to
find him there early and late, rain or
shine, and even IN swow-storm. The
parish folk would often stop to have
~ &c nj 1x~ 1.oI
not come yet. Then Guttorm would
place his fingers on his mouth, and look
about him with an anxious gaze, and
whispered, pointing to the grave:
'Dolly is asleep-she will come back
I must take care Of Dolly, father says"
This was always his answer, whenev-
er be was asked.
| One sunny day when the summer was
far advanced, Guttorm had run home to
get his dinner, and on returning remain
ed standing at the church-yard gate !.
quite bewildered. There sat Dolly, large
as life, on her grave. She had still the
pink silk ribbon in her braids, and the
same yellow hair. he stood for while
staring with open mouth; then he laid
himself down, like a cat which sees q
bird it would like to catch, and crept
warily forward, hiding behind the hill
locks. Dolly did not see him; she sat
playing with some shells and snail houses
which she had picked up on the grave.
All of sudden the half-witted lad rose
up in front of her with five outstretched
fingers resting on each knee, staring into
her eyes and laughing nightly.
The child gave scream, dropped its
playthings, and hurried out through the
gate. Guttorm looked crest-tallen after
her; then followed her down upon the
highway. The girl was too small to get
along very fast; but Guttorm had clumsy
wooden shoes on, ana it took some time
before he caught up with her. When she
saw the simpleton pursuing her, she gave
a shrek; a man upon the meadow threw
away his scythe and came running down
He caught her in his arms. and with one
hand grasped Guttorm's coat and shook
him. You nearly frightened the child
to DEATH" he said, tiercely, f1nglng Gut
torn straight against the wooden fence
with such torce that every bone in him
seemed on the point of breaking. Then
he walked with the little girl up the hill
toward the red painted farm house. The
child was trembling, and laid It's arm
J close about his neck.
! Guttorm cenfained fora while stand
ing on the road, gazed about him. Pres.
emily he went up to the fine, white-paint
ed gateway, pressed his face against it
> and stared up to the house. As he do
not come home toward evening, his faith
er began to grow ANXIOUS. Such a thing
had not happened for many year. III
went out to look for him, seeking hin
first at the church yard, but without find
, ing him. He then fastened to the neigh
boring farm, where he found the boy still
, standing with his face pressed agains
the gate. Ja
"Are you here Guttormg" asked hi
father. .....
Guttorm looked at him tlmidly. TIL,
father saw that there was something
which he did not wish to tell, and there
7 fore did not ask further. The boy fol
| lowed him willing homeward.
, The next morning, as the father aros
Guttorm had already gone. The fathe
3 hurried out, and after some search agail
e round him standing at the gate OF tn
Y farm house, exactly as on the night be
s FORE s
: "What does this mean, Guttorme" in
e 4uired the father. e.-a..
e Guttorm beckoned to him to com
n nearer. then whispered in mis- ear:
Il "Dolly has come. She is up there O.
b the farm. She did not know me-"
e He smiled as he said this, but his eye
e were large and full Of tears.
G "They have a little girl up there o
l. the farm who has yellow hair" answere
= the father. "But your Dolly, you know
Il is asleep in the churchyard. You mus
l. go and keep watch over her, or she migt
c come while you are gone.''
d So saying the father took hold of hill
and pulled him along; but Guttorm strus
3 gled, tnrning his eyes ever toward tt
red painted farm house.
t. "Dolly is no more in the grave" /
stammered. "1he ribbon is gone. Tt
a ribbon was in her hair"
c That day Guttorm sat sadly and sllen
~ in his churchyard; he was unable ]
do anything, and Dolly no more returne
u to him. The next day, however, he vel
It tured out through the turn stile an
| I'll