Mexico weekly ledger., 1883-08-09
A LUCKY WAGER.


A LUCKY WAGER.
One Of Frederick Bremer's Pretty Lit
tie Swedish Romanees.
In the great Swedish university at
Upsula lived a young student, a fine
looking fellow possessing great apti-
tude and love for learning, but with
out the means of living while he wooed
Dame Science. In other. words he
was poor, and consequently had no
influential friends ready TO assist him.
Nevertheless he studied hard, keep
ing up a light heart through all his
difficulties, and trying not to look too
keenly into the future, which certain
ly did not offer him a smiling pros
pect. His gay humor and bis good
qualities had always made him a IA
vorite with his young companions.
One day he was talking and joking
with a few of them in the great square
of Upsula, passing in this pleasant
intercourse q part Of an unexpected
holiday, when the attention OF the
group was attracted by a young and
graceful girl, who by the side OF an
elderly lady vas walking across the
square.
She was the daughter Of the Cover
nor Of Upsula with her governess, and
was generally known as the possessor
Of a kind and gentle disposition,
which, together with her beauty, had
long since made her the object Of es-
pecial admiration among the students.
As the young men stared at her pass
ing away like a beautiful vision, one
of them cried out, BY joye! a kiss
from such a mouth would be worth q
month in prison!"
Our poor student, the hero Of this
story, absorbed in the contemplation
Of this pure and angelic face, answer
ed impetuously, as if by inspiration,
"Well! 1 think I can obtain onet'
"What!'' exclaimed all his friends
in q breath. "Are you crazy? Do
you know herr"
mot in the least" he replied;
s'but I think she would kiss me on
the spot if I asked her!"
"Willingly?"
"Willingly." +
swell! II she kisses you as you
say, 1 will present you with a thou
sand dollars cried one.
"And I. "And IT, continued three
Or four others, for, by a fortunate
coincidence, several of the richest stu
dents were Of the party, and the bet
ting soon RICH on so improbable an
event. The challenge was proposed
and accepted in less time than it takes
to relate it.
Our hero, although not snpremely
handsome, had received from his good
fairy the gift Of a most distinguished
appearance, and now approached the
young lady, saying, while he bowed
deeply, "Mein Fraulen, my fortune
is in your hands," She locked at
him with establishment, but stopped.
He then went on to tell his name, his
condition, his ambition, and finally
confessed with the simplicity Of truth
what had passed between his compan-
ions and himself.
The young lady listened attentively,
and when she had ceased speaking
she said with great ~gentleness, in the
midst of her bushes: ''If by so small
a favor so much good a result, i,
would be silly to refuse your re-
quest" and she kissed the young
man publicly in the open square.
The next day the student was ar
rested by order of the Governor. HI
wished to see the man who had in.
dueed his, the Governors daughter,
to kiss him in this way, as well as the
man whom she had consented to kiss.
He received him with the sternness Of
an inquisitor, but after an hours
conversation he was so charmed with
him that the student was invited t
take his meals at the castle as long a
be remained at Cpsula.
Our young friend now continued
his studies with an ardor which soef
caused him to be regarded IS one Of
the most brilliant scholars of the Uni.
versity.
Scarcely three years had passed
since the day of the first kiss whez
the young student was permitted t.
sue for a second from the Governor
daughter as his betrothed.
He became one of the most famous
scientists of Sweden, as much esteem
ed for his high integrity as for his
learning. His works will live eternal
ly among the most precious gifts Of
science, and from his happy unior
sprang a family well known in Swe'
den at present, whose wealth and pe
sition in the highest circles are justly
considered secondary to their menta
and moral requirements.
Once upon q time a beiated traveller
applied for shelter at a farmhouse II
rather a wild part Of New England, ant
after being taken care of for the night
was invited to join the family at morning
prayers. The host prayed with due fer.
vor for the stranger within his gates, and
also that his own sons might be like two