Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1881-11-16

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petty willful pettishness.
"Too provoking 1 had set my heart
on sail !" she cried, pouting. 81 will
wager a rose against pair of gloves
that L have it yet, count p her eyes sud
denly sparkling.
The bet was taken. Half an hour
afterwards we missed Julia, and the next
moment saw her in the cockleshell of o
boat drifting out of the little cove, the
sail half raised, Tapping in the wind.
She stood on. the bow, her red ribbons
huttering, kissing her hand saucily.
"I have won I have won the bet p
she cried.
''Put about p shouted the count.
"You are going out to sea p
We rushed down to the edge of the
water, all shouting orders at once.
Julia, terrified by the sudden conscious
ness of her danger, sprang OF the bow.
A heavy flaw came just then, and the
boat was instantly capsized.
"Mon djeu! I cannot SWIM" cried
the count. The others were in the same
case. Two of them, however, threw
themselves into the water manfully, but
were washed back. A solid body leaped
into the surf with a splash 1t was
Christina, Invested of shoes, stockings
and outer petticoat, striking out boldly
for the place where the girl went down.
"Hurrah for old Norje!' cried the
count. "She swims like frog p
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 bedfor month. Mother and
1 had her work to do, while Julia took
wing to Newport.
'Things are strangely ordered in this
world" [ said, as I laid down a 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.
"Ch, by the way. thought I owed odd
Norie' some reparation for her injuries in my
behalf. So I wrote to our consul in Christians
to pay JAMS debt for me, and to send him and
his mother out 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
tenant house? I have ordered from New York
few odds and ends to make it comfortable for
them. They will arrive in Philadelphia on next
Monday"
I could hardly finish; the tears choked
me. Il have been very unjust to Julia, F"
I said.
We agreed not to tell Christina, but to
surprise her. We had grown very fond
of the patient, affectionate creature with
her everlasting chatter of "mutter and
JAM"
The "odds and ends proved to be a
very complete though, plain plenishing
for house. Christina helped to clean
the house for !" the new farmer" and to
arrange the pretty furniture.
On Monday, mother went up to Phil
adelphia 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. I
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"
4 hope" she said, in her pleasant
broken English, "he will be goot neigh
Dor. It Is nice house. This is fine
country for the poor, Manuel Martha. !"
L nodded. [ was too excited to speak.
When we reached the steps, mother
came out, her face all in a glow.
They are inside. They are all we
could wish,"' she whispered eagerly.
Gone minute, Christina, :" and she ran
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 were both greatly
agitated, ard scarcely noticed me, their
eyes being on the door.
It opened. I heard mother say, with
half sob: eco 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 0, JAM
1t was the pent-up love and longing of
years forcing its way into speech.
We came out and left them alone to-
gether.
Mother and I had prepared little for
them; 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 supper we 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 a few
words In low voice, and they all sank
reverently upon their knees while she
prayed.