The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1881-10-15

Hendrick Hudson was smoking his first pipe with
the Manhattan Indians on the site of New York,
a group of school-boys were assembled one
quiet summer evening i'll front of house in the
quiet little Swedish village of Honelen.
"That's where the nest is up there by the corner
of the highest window" said one. But who's to
get it?
ooh! can't you really, Karl?" piped a poor
little pale-faced cripple in the centre of the
group. THAT'S just the egg I've been wanting
ever so long Can't you get it somehow"
Il wish I could, little one, if only for your
sake; but I've tried it twice, and got nothing
but good tumble for my pains"
"And so has Austrian Moritz here-haven't
you, old fellow" cried another, cIapping the
shoulder of slim, dark haired boy, who was
spending his holidays at Hornelen with one Of
his fathers Swedish friends.
True enough" said Moritz Won Arnheim with
a grimace. But here comes Johnny Banner
and hen do it if any one can"
"Hurrah for the boy that can't be hurt !"
shouted several voices, as big square-built lad,
with bold, bluff, sunburned face, Joined the
group. why, Johnny, man, how dusty you
are!"
"And so would yo@ be, if you'd just been run
over by wagon" grunted Johnny.
Run over by wagon!" echoed the boys,
staring.
Gust so. You see, was up in the big elm
yonder, having a swing on one of the boughs,
when Farmer Jansen not seeing me, let fly at
rock that had perched there, and put charge
of shot through my cap. Look here" and he
held up the riddled cap to view.
Another escape, / declare" laughed Moritz.
q We shall have to call you jack Nine-Lives'
at this rate
So then, as you may think" pursued Johnny,
i came down again faster than | went up and
got into the road just in time to meet old Nils,
the carrier, rafting along at his usual slap-dash
pace. In trying to avoid him, slipped and fell
right before the cart and horse and cart and all
went merrily over me. Luckily l had fallen
lengthwise, so that the wheels went on each side
of me, and here am all right
"Well old boy" cried Karl "here's another
chance for you. Try if you can get those eggs
up yOnder for little Olaf None of as can"
The words were hardly spoken, when Banner
was over the fence, and the next moment he was
seen scrambling up the side of the house by the
nOtches which time and weather had made in
with run; but he only set his hard mouth a
little more firmly, and went to work again. Inch
by inch he worked his way upward, the boys
holding their breath as they watched him, until
at length general shout proclaimed that he had
got firm hold of the ivy.
Once there, the rest was easy Another minute
brought him within reach of the nest and the
eggs were carefully slowed away in a kind of
pouch in the breast of his jacket.
Just then the village school-master came by
and seeing what was going on, cried, Indignantly,
You cruel boy! it would serve you right if
you were to fall and injure yourself"
The words were truer than he intended for
Banner, startled by the shout, lost his hold and
fell headOng to the ground. 4 cry of horror
burst from the lookers-on, who were all over the
fence in an instant, and the old teacher dismayed
at the effect of his rebuke, was not the hindmost
But to their Amusement they found that "the
boy who could not be hurt" had deserved his
name once more. He had alighted upon a heap
of straw, and though stunned and slightly
bruised was otherwise not whit the worse.
"AH right, boys" said he, family, the eggs
aren't broken, anyhow Here, Olaf And he
put his prize into the trembling hands of the
little cripple, who was crying bitterly.
God bless thee, my brave lad, said the old
teacher, losing all his anger in honest admiration
of the boys courage Thou art one who will
be heard of yet"
"Stand firm, lads Wen beat them VET
shouted tall, handsome man in the uniform
of an Austrian Colonel who was doing his best
TO keep his steady in the crisis of one of the
hardest battles of the Thirty Years War
Few of his old playmates would have recog-
nized little MOritZ Won Arnheim III that bearded
face and towering figure; but it was he neverthe-
less and the soldiers who were pressing him SO
hard were men from the very part of Sweden
where he had once spent his holidays
Forward, my Swedes!" rOared a tremendous
voice from the other side, and through the roll
ing smoke in front broke a long line of glttering
pike-heads and stern faces, sweeping down upon
them like mighty There was a crash and
terrible cry, and the Austrian ranks were rolled
together like leaves before the wind
Foremost among the Swedes, as they swept