The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1881-11-19
She came back with Julia. a verv wet

She came back with Julia, very wet
and drabbled butterfly in her arms.
There was no justice, to my mind, in
the end of the accident. Julia, when
dry again, was rosy and pert and charm
ing as ever; but poor Christina had been
thrown against the hull of the boat.
She was quite badly injured, and was
laid up in bedfo a month Mother and
| had her work to do, while Julia took
wing to Newport.
Things are strangely ordered in this
world, | said, as / laid down half
read letter one day in October, full of
her gaieties and successes, and glanced at
Christina, beginning to limp heavily
about the kitchen.
They always come out right, ;" said
mother, quietly. What is that on the
other side ?"
| turned the letter and read.
"Oh, by the way. thought | owed odd
NorIe some reparation for her injuries i'll my
behalf. So | wrote to our consul in Christiana
10 pay JAMS debt for me, and to send him and
his mother ont by the next steamer. You told
me that old Sanders had finally grumbled him
self into his grave. Why not take Jan as farm
hand and put him and his mother into the
few odds and ends to make it comfortable for
them. They will arrive in Philadelphia On next
Monday"
| could hardly finish; the tears choked
me. " have been very unjust to Julia, )"
/ said.
We agreed not to tell Christina, but to
surprise her. We had grown very fond
OF the patient, atfectionate creature with
her everlasting chatter of "mutter and
JAN"
The "odds and ends proved to be a
very complete though, plain plenishing
for house. Christina helped TO clean
the house for g the new farmer" and to
arrange the pretty furniture.
On Monday, mother went up to Phil
adelphla to meet the steamer. She was
to come down IN the morning train next
day. | watched it pass ON to the little
station.
A handkerchief waved out of the car
window the signal that all was well. [
saw from the porch three figures alight
on the platform and take their way across
the field.
When they had time to reach the
tenant house, said, carelessly:
Come, Christina. There is some
thing else to be done for the new
farmer"
II hope" she said, in her pleasant
broken English, che will be goot neigh
Dor. 1t IS nice house. This is fine
country for the poor, Manuel Martha.
L nodded. l was too excited to speak.
When we reached the steps, mother
came out, her face all III glow
"They are inside. They are all we
could wish" she whispered eagerly.
to the astonished girl, smoothing her
fair hair, relying the gay handkerchief
about her neck, while [ hurried into the
room.
A heavy built man in the Norwegian
dress, with honest blue eyes stood wait
ing, and beside him a tall, erect old
woman, with peculiarly gentle, kindly
coUntenance. They We're both greatly
agitated, and scarcely noticed me, their
eyes being on the door.
1t opened. [ heard mother say, with
half sob: $50 in, child. God bless
you" and Christina came in.
She stood one moment dull and still.
her hands stretched out in amazement.
Then came the cry: go, Mutter Nut
ter O, Janp'
1t was the pent-up love and longing of
years forcing It's way into speech.
We came out and LETT them alone to-
gether.
Mother and 1 had prepared little for
them; a good, substantial supper as
foundation, and frosted cakes, flowers
and grapes as embellishments.
After awhile we brought them out to
it but they only ate to please us. They
were too deeply moved for such little
pleasures.
After supperwe went into the kitchen,
and the old mother, looking at the fire
upon the hearth that had been kindled
for them in a strange land, said few
words in low voice, and they all sank
reverently upon their knees while she
prayed.
Mother and l knelt with them. What
did it matter that the words were in a
strange tongue. We understood her,
aud the Great Father of us all heard us
as we kneeled side by side.
Il think, dear little mother" | said.
as we went home that night. Good
heard your prayer when you went out
to find your savage that day.
s. He always hears, she said quietly.