Stevens County tribune. (Morris, Minn.) 1877-1880, 1880-02-05
HALF-WITTED GurTORM:

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There may be mauy living yet who
knew half-witted Guttorm Haldorsllan.
he who built himself church, church
yard, church people, and ayelergyman in
the pulpit; he who never harmed any
mortal man, but only sat nodding to ev-
cry one who came along; whom one might
ind 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.
Guttorn was not born half witted. I'D
was once as brisk q 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 mother went from farm
to farm and helped with bread 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. He built houses and
boats tor her; he lay on hands and feet
in the sun and barked and growled like
dog while she sat In the shade laugh
ing at hun, with nothing on but little
chemise and pale red hood. Now he
would be a horse and creep on all tours
with her on his back; now he would car
ry her in his arms until the perspiEation
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 tor
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 to
her bosom and kissed ana caressed her
On Guttorm she never bestowed the
slightest attention but he took that as
q MdLtCE VI COuISC duI was uSNGE III TIC
least jealous. And the first thing he
would do in the morning was to run up
to Dolly's cradle, almost yearning to
have the burden once more laid upon
his shoulders.
Once on a fine sunny day, they were
on the banks of the river. Dolly was
then large enough to run about by her
self. In the river there was a long,
smooth sand bottom at the end of which
lay huge stone, where the current ran
swift and strong. Guttorm had climb bed
up on this stone and stood there waving
his cap. Dolly stood with her feet in
the water, lifting up her dresssand look
ing longingly at him.
"Hallo, Dollv," he cried. "Now I am
king. Come along and will take you
on my lap and you may be my queen.
Dolly needed not to be told twice. She
forded boldly out upon the sand while
the current foamed 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 hel
away.
Guttorm stood as if spell bound, with
wide dilated eyes. But when he saw hel
speeding down through the rapids, he
gave heart-rending shrek and plunged
into the water after her.
Then tor while he knew of nothing
until he found himself lying on the rivel
bank with half his body in the, water
He touched his head ard when he Looked
at his fingers they were bloody he mus
l. i
But where was little DollyG He looked
round about him but she was nowhere t
be seen. Trembling all over, with terror
in his eyes he began to call her. No ons
answered. Like hunted deer he rar
down along the stream calling Dolly. He
cut his feet on the sharp, stones unit
they bled; his clothes caught In The
bushes and were torn, but he did no.
feel 1t. He only ran and ran-eYer call
ing "Dolly2'' Then suddenly, he saw
rag hanging on low branch and r1ght
under something light. and yellow wa
mingling With the cRfrent.3 He brbk
through the underbrush; yes, it was Dol
ly. A branch had become entangled il
her. dress !; her headjwas under the water
Her far yellow hair, tied up with pinl
silk ribbon, foated In the stream like
fowefa ii S2TnL gaTRJ2U96f
When the msther came homo late il
the evening she did not. see the, children
playing in the yard as usual. she HeaEiik
ed for them, she ran up to the neighbour
to inquire, but NO one had seen them
She reused the people from their sleep
and they went in search together; for a
that time of the year the daylight last
throughout the night.
at was little past midnight ,yhel
the mother had come TO The place wAef
Dolly had been found. She bent asid
the bushes; and there she saw ,Guttorm
pale andmith staring eye standing waist
deep in the river and holding HE littl
sister above the water. Her dress still
chung to the branch which had caugh
1t.
''God have mercy on thee, Guttorm
What hast thou doneY' cried the mott
or, quite beside herself; and she leape
out into the water and caught the child I
her bosom n The very moment it ws
torn out of Guttorm's hands he fell dow
on the river bank.g
Since that day Guttorm was never hin