The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1880-03-17
A PLUCKY GIRL.


ing, Malchen9" said Otto Won Polheim
to his eldest daughter one Sunday in De-
cember, as he and the rest of the family
were setting out for the market town to
hear Parson Knopps preach an advent
sermon. ...s -, . tJr.
"No, father, Dorothea can go in my
stead, and will keep the house." .
"Keep the house alone? No, will
leave Hans to protect thee and the manse,
too.''
II would rather not have Hans" said
Malchen, with little pout, as she glanced
at an ugly gawk who was her fathers
head servant. .
"Then thou shalt not have KARL grum-
bled old Polheim, speaking rather to
himself than to the girl; and, wrapping
his ancient blue cloak tightly around him
he struck his iron-tipped staff two or
three times on the flags of the hall to in
innate to the members Of his household
that it was time to be of.
They came Gathering downstairs and
trudged out of different doors-a large
and rather noisy troop. Otto Won Pol
helm was landowner on small scale
what would be called in England gen
tleman tarmer-and he had family of
ten sons and daughters, without counting
two servant wenchcs and couple of Ia
borers whom he treated as his children.
The eldest of these two laborers, a tall,
rosy-cheeked, fair-haired, blue-eyed fell
low, named Karl, had shown signs of late
of being "a bit soft" about Freulein
Malchen, and this displeased her father,
for though he was kind master he had
Squares pride, and would have kicked
Karl straightway out of his house if he
had suspected Malchen of helishlng any
regard tor him. At least this is what he
had once said to Karl with more blunt
ness than prudence, for worldly wisdom
would perhaps, have suggested that he
should begin by turning off Karl before
Malchen's sentiments toward him had RI
pened into affection ., f..
SHOW, come, come, let's be off," re-
peated old Polheim, impatiently; ''come
wife, and you Bertha, Frida and Gretch-
en-; you Hans, take one of the lanterns,
and you, Karl, lead the way with the
other"
Karl skunk out, looking very sheepish,
but scarcely had he got into the open air
before the candle in his lantern was
blown out, and he ran back to get anoth-
er. Malchen was standing in the hall and
struck a match for him. She struck a
second and third, for somehow the phos-
phorous would not act, and the operation
of lighting was delayed little. When
Karl took the lantern his hand touched
Malehen's hand and the girl blushed.
''It's a cruelty cold night to go in" fall
tered she.
"And I don't like leaving you alone"
whispered Karl. II think I shall steal
out OF church and come back to see If you
are safe"
ooh, no, the door will be barred" ex-
claimed Malchen, in futter.
''Then I'll climb the orchard WALL" an
swerd Karl, nothing daunted, and he ex-
ecuted wink as he went forth into the
cold.
GLOW very audacious he is becomine,''
muttered Malchen to herself; but she ap-
parently thought that it was of no use to
bar the door if Karl meant to get over the
garden wall, 50 she simply shut it, and
turned back to spend her evening in the
kitchen.
Herr Won Polheim's farm stood in a
lonely part of the country, about two
miles from R, IN Bavaria. It had
once been castle, and all the rooms
on the ground floor were large, windy
apartments, with wainscoted walls, and
Old oaken furniture. The kitchen which
served as the ordinary sitting-room to
the family of an evening, was made com
Portable by some screens which shut out
The drafts, and by the large fires which
roared IN the immense chimneys all day
long. There were two arm chairs under
the bullying mantel of the chimney on
either side of the andirons, and in one of
these Malchen took her seat. She began
to knit; but soon her work subsidized into
her lap, and she begrn to stare at the fire
IN ssft reverie.