The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1880-02-05
HALF-WITTED GUrTORM

knew half-wit,ed Guttorm Haldorsllan,
he who built himself church, church
yard, church people, and clergyman in
the pulpit; he who never harmed any
mortal man, but only sat nodding to ev-
cry One who came along; whom one might
lind 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 a little fellow as ever
you or have been. His parents were
rarely at home, as they were poor and
ha TO maintain themselves by hiring out,
10th man and wife. The father was a
carpenter, and was employed outside of
the parish; the mother went from farm
TO farm and helped with dread making.
Gu,torm 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 Guttornl too. lie thought
nothing too good for her, and ran at her
eek ana call for flowers and berries and
.uri"us pebbles. He built houses and
boats tor her; Inc lay on hands and feet
IN the sun and barked and growled like
q dog while she sat IN the shade laugh
ing at him, with nothing on but little
chemise and pale red hood. Now he
would be horse and creep on all fours
with her On his back now he would car
~ 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
tier as ii she were a bundle, and if he
happened to hurt her, then she screamed
and nc kissed her and petted her and
told her about the bear and the fox, until
she WAS quiet.
Gut1orm reaped hut little thanks TOR
his dcv"'iSn When his mother come
home III the evening she always wonder
CT if he had really been good to his lit
tie sister, all.! then she pressed her to
her bosom and kissed ana Carcssed her.
On .iuttorm 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 he
"onid 40 in the morning was to run up
to Doilys cradle, almost yeainipg to
have the burden once more laid upon
lis shoulders.
Once ON tin" sunny day, they were
rn the banks of the river. Dolly was
then large enough to run about by her
.eli. In the river there was long,
snco,,. sand bottom st the end Of which
lay huge stone, where tn. current ran
swift and strong. Guttorin had climbed
up Oh this stone and stood there waving
his cap. Dolly stood with her feet in
the water, lifting up her dress and look
ing longingly at him.
Halo, Dolly he cried. Now l am
king. Come along and I will take you
on my lap and YOU may he my queen
Dolly needed not to be told twice. She
iorsed boldly out upon the sand while
the curren, f"amcd about her knees.
When she was close up to the stone and
Guttorm stretched himself out to catch
old OF her. she lost her foot hold, fell
on the side and the current swept her
away.
Guttorm stood as if spcll-bound, with
wlde-dilated eyes. But when he saw her
speeding down through the rapids. he
gave & l'ca,t-rending shrek and plum ged
into the water after her.
Then Tor while he knew Of nothing
an,il he found himself lying on the river
tank with half his body in the water.
BE touched his head ard when he looked
at his fingers they we're bloody; he must
have hurt himself when he made the leap.
But where was little Dolly? He looked
round about him hut she was nowhere to
be seen. Trembling all over, with terror
Il his eyes he began to call her. No one
answered. Like hunted deer he ran
down along the stream calling Dolly. He
tut his feet on the sharp stones until
they tlcd; his clothes caught in the
bushes and We're torn, but he did not
ieei It, He only ran anal ran-ever call
ing "Dol!ys' Then suddenly he saw q
rag hanging on low branch and right
under something light and yellow was
mingllng 18th the current. He broke
through the uhdcrbrush; yes, it was Dol
~. A branch had become entangled in
her dress: her head was under the water.
Her fair yellow hair, tied up with pink
silk ribbon. tloated in the stream like q
flower.
When the neither came home late in
the evening she did not see the children
playing in the yard as usual Che search
ed for them, she ran up to the neighbors
to inquire, but no one had seen them.
She reused the people from their sleep,
and they went in search together; for at
that time Of the year the daylight lasts
throughout the night.
ut was little past midnight when
the mother had come to the place where
Dolly had been found. She bent aside
the bushes: and there she saw Guttorm,
pale and with staring eye, standing waist
deep i'll the river and holding HE little
sister above the water. Her dress still
chung to the branch which had caught
it.
God have mercy on thee, Guttorm
What hast thou donef' cried the moth
Or, quite beside herself; and she leaped
out into the water and caught the child to
her bosom. The very moment it was
torn out OF Guttorm's hands he fell down
on the river bank
Since that day Guttorm was never him.
self again. When lie regained his con.
seriousness hs was lying in bed, and his
father was sitting by him. A little black
coffin was standing ON a chair close by.
There his little sister was living. 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 1t in the earth, as they told him
His father went with them, and his moth.
or followed them out. When Guttorm
saw this he threw him self out of the bed
dressed hastily, and ran after them. Be-
fore the father knew it no had caught
hold Of his hand. Then he lifted him up
in his arms and carried him.
The way was long, but Guttorm sal
all the while staring at the little black
coffin. When they reached the church
yard they found some people gathered
there There were many fine graves with
headstones and crosses, and the ministe,
was standing there in his long black
gown, and both within tho church and