The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1883-08-17
BRITTA'S STORY.

Sweden, with a small package in her
hand, stood before a lady curtsyine and
smiling.
"The Swede pastor sends YOU me"
h said. HE say he send me more as
some othergirl, cause | clean and loove-
ly for works-and-and"-
"What else did he say?"
And for cause l such a glad girl. In
Brendaburg, my home, where lives Mr..
Jansen's fader, the peoples all calls me
"Britta the Glad"
''Was this all?"
"No; he say h esends me, for cause l
been speaks such loovely English, like
l been here sax month; l been but only
three, and many Swede Say they think l
been horned in Mcrica, such English |
has"
How soon could you come 10 me,
Britta?' said the lady, smiling at the
girls innocence.
81 is coined nowl' cried Britta, hold
ing up the little package, and adding,
Here been my working-gown, and
apron, and sj Jper, for walk easy and
soft in lady house."
In twenty-four hours Britta was at
home in her duties as maid-of- all-work
in the lady's house. The days wore on,
End her smile never faded before cinl-
ers. or dust, or soap suds.
When her first Monday came the
clothes-line broke, letting the moist
clothes down OF the sandy bricks: and
she was heard to remark to herself, at
been good thing that sand wash ont
more as paint!'
Company came unexpectedly one day
when dinner was over. When she set
about getting another meal, Britta re-
MARKED, witha smile, at been good
Sod give us more as is all eat by selves,
then strange one not 90 hungryl"
Such serenity of temper and more
than willing service led the mistress 10
remark that the angels were not ali III
heaven!
Britta, as she vent from room 10
room, saw tokens OF Il little boys pres.
ence, but no little boy. Connecting this
fact with the sable garb and the sad
face of her mistress, she said 10 her, one
day, in a tender tone and ina respectful
manner 81 think you beer give some
little boy to God?'
The lady told her of the less by death
of hen only son and of his long sickness.
"Ah. | hope you been glad lcr that"
said Britta, clasping her hands and rails
ing her eyes.
"Glad!" exclaimed her mistress, in
surprise. GLOW could | be glad?"
II mean | hope you been satisfy"
"No; not glad or satisfied, Britta. |
think perhaps you have never had any
trouble, or you could not talk in that
way" said her mistress.
The first shadow she had seen there,
now fell over the girls face, and clasp
ing her hands on her heart, She said,
"Ah, l been many troubles. | beer
has one big n on my heart now, but
fader up there help me and keep me ali
times glad"
Craving sympathy from even the low
lest trusting heart, the lady drew out
this story of Britta's life.
Near, close to ny home, runs my
river. My dear, looving fAder been long
wears sick with cripples, that never lets
him walk. He makes little brooms of
small Sticks, for beat egg and stir things.
My moder much sick and not work hard
but knits all time. l cook, and wash,
and makes garden.
"Once every month l goes to big town
to sell small broom and knitthmgs-mit-
ten, and stockings and shawl. In sum-
mer | walks on road over loovely green
fields! In,winter | skates there on my
dear river. l sells all, and brings back
fish, and meal, and little tea and sugar,
and white meal for my dears.
"Ah! ali! One day my iader ! so
looves been die when | gets home. My
heart say first it go break. But mem
beers he been say many times, For
what You keep me here, Lord? wants
go home up there!' So | gives him to
God, and ] been glad ever atter-so glad
God got him safe!
."Then ! must work more hard. l
goes to farmer~and works in field all day,
and when night come ! go to his house
and scrub floors till bedtimes. Then
farmer-wife let me 60 home, n mile,
for sleep with my moder, and taEe care
for her.
"When foar clock morning come, I
make moder some tea. and make good
her bed, and goes off to farmer, and dig,
and rake all day. See how my tingers
oended-never come right, FROM hard
work.
I'm winters, when no work in field,
then l spins, spins. After l feed cows
and milks, fariner-wife let me take wool
home n spins by my moder. AT night
l goes back and feeds COWS and milks
more tore l goes to bed in my little
house.
'Ah! 1 SO glad when l can stay night
with my small, dear moder and not
leaves her lone; for she been more sick
since fader 60 trog her, and lie much
times.in bed now"
"Rut, Britta, how could you leave her
to come to American" askea the lady.
II 'fraid you think me fool if I been
tell you all things"
MOL want to know how you can al
ways be co glad with a mother so sick
and pool far from you."
The roses mounted to her cheeks rs
Rritta replied, 81 been got a friend all
my life; name, Knude Knuaesen. He
30 dear Gand good! He, too. had old
moder and grandmother and he work.
work, so much for takes care Of them!
But sometimes they boths die aud 90
home to God up high. Then poor Knud
been all 'loneoin hia small house when
Had he no Rife7" asked the lady
He hut only twenty yearl But [
been promise him long time / will be his
wife when we been rich and can marry.
He cannot leave nloder and Grandmother
end live with me- in my small house
when they lives; and now they dead.i
will not leave my. dear moder to 1--we in
his Small house. Oh, go small those
two housed"
"Well, if you had Knud to leave. as
well ss your mother, how could you
come to America?" asked her mistress.
u tells you ma'am. My farmer-so
kid to me-always give me one dey in
one month for go to town and sell my
moder's knit, and get medicine aud tea
and white meal for her.
Zone night, eight months gone, |
comes home skating on river, SO glad
that | been sing all the way from town.
I meets a,aus on river carrying dead
sheep to town on their backs to sell,
and they says TO me, 4 hear you sing
long way Brina the Gladi"