The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1883-10-11

lone IN his small house when he comes
home from his work in field"
"'Has he no wife?" asked the lady.
"He, but only twenty years! But 1
been promise him long time I will been
his wife when we been rich and can
marry. He can not leave moder and
grandmother and live with me in my
small house when they lives; and now
they dead, I will not leave my dear
moder to live in his small house. Oh,
so small those two house"
"Well, if you had Knud to leave, as
we'll as your mother, how could you
come to American" asked her mistress.
81 tells you, ma'am. My farmer-so
kind to me-always give me one day in
one month for to 60 to town and sell my
moder's knit, and get medicine and tea
and white meal for her.
Zone night, eight months gone, I
comes home skating on river, so glad
that had been sing all the way from
town. I meet mans on river, carrying
dead Sleeps to town on the backs for
sell, and they says to me, Il hear you
sing long way, Britta the Glad
"I think no trouble anywhere for me,
1 got my little moder and Knud; and
God got my fader dear; and on my head
in basket is all good things for comfort
US and makes dear moder smiles and
says. Good child!
"Near my little house my river turns
SO way" she continued, crooking her ell
bow to show its course. "While sings,
I turns round my rivers elbow, and, ali,
I sees fire and smoke!
II throws way baskets and all things,
and flies like my skates been wings"
"My little house blaze! runs in and
wraps little mcder in blankets, and
brings her out in arms, and sees dear lit
tie house my fader built with own hands
all burn up. Blankets and bed, and all
my moder weaves, burn up. But I so
glad, that says. Burn now! I got my
little moder safe to my hearth"
"Then fears she gets cold land l calls
for some good neighbor come, and take
her in his house. But Carlson Peterson
and his wife gone off and widow Marie
Wiberger sick in bed.
"But soon I sees on my river, Knud
Knudeson, like he been got wings on his
feet, and soon comes more neighbors, but
too late time to save blanket, bed or any
thing-beds all made out of our gooses,
too!'
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urselves, and got small houses and much
children. So Knud say, I carry dear
little moder home in srms,' to me, and
old woman to care for
"He carries her and I walks on hind,
so glad, SO glad! We been poor fore,
but no got no things now, but only dear
moder and selves. Soon knud's farmer
and my farmer comes with their wifes
and brings US much things, and we all
SO glad!
think will go to 'Merica and get rich
with these big hands for work-he had
such great hands! Then comes back
and makes you and our dear moder rich,
toor
But when he tells his farmer, he
says, No; you dead mother promise !
shall keep you till % years old. You
cannot CO.
Then Knud say be very grief; but he
will not break his dead moder's for
such a poor price as riches.
"Then says, Nobody been promised
me to my farmer. will go 'Merica and
got rich. Enken Wieberger will take
cargo of dear little moder till comes
back.
"But Knud say, No woman can take
my dear moder from mel will cares for
her while you been gone; and when you
gets more, we will come to you and all
be rich in 'Merica. I been got my pas.
rage money safe in box. Take that
and go. Make home for us, Britta the
Gladr'
"And my moder says: Go. too, and
We all be glad for such hopes
"And how much money have you
earned?" asked the lady.
"Not some at all, ma'am. been very
sick on sea. Water comes into my little
bed, and can't lift my hands and foots
when ship comes in. They put me in
carriage, and takes me to hospital. Doc.
tor-poor gentleman-talks not Swedish,
so sends for Swede minister, and he be
my good friend and comes from home.
when better, he takes me home,
and his wife make me dress and apron
and hat. Now I comes to you, I will
work much and send home my money
for Knud to keep in his big box. When
the farmers two years been out, you will
zee him coming here with my moder in
his strong arms. You not surprise
now that been always 90 glad?'
In two years and Q half the kind mis-
tress, who had learned many . lesson
from Britta. saw . gentle, patient old
woman seated in her tidy home which
her child had prepared for her, and
heard from Knud in . perfect torrent OF
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