Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-12-15

curly head against her brothers shoulder,
and the Testament tightly clasped In her
| hand. When a storm came and the good
ship rolled heavily in the trough OF the
black pillows, Ulrich was fearless and
cheerful. He told the sisters fairy tales,
and watched by their box-like berth every
night till the big, blue eyes were fast closed
in sleep.
New York city looked like new world
to these simple peasant children. There
were forests of masts, and great ocean
steamships and crowded steam ferry boats.
| A multitude of Americans were waiting
to welcome long absent friends. There
was laughing and crying and shouting and
motioning
81 see my papa see my papa !" ex.
claimed little Elsie all at once, as the ship
drew slowly near the crowded pier
"No, no, Elsie l see that man, too,
but it is not our papa. On, wish 1t was =
But it is !"
No, it was the father of the little Ger
man boy who had played with them dur
ing the voyage. and who had come with his
mother from Berlin. 1t made our little
folks cry for Joy and envy to see him
| welcome his child. But Ulrich quickly
brushed away his tears.
"Do not cry, sisters, he said. After
two days more we shall see him, and the
mother, too"
So they watched the passengers leave the
ship, watched the custom. house officers in
specting the luggage, and, by-and-by,
| when the November twilight was fading
into light, and the great city was all aglow
with lights, came their kind Captain.
Come now, my children" he said
cheerily. "To night you shall stay with
me. Tomorrow shall start you off for
Germania"
Tightly holding each others hands they
followed him down the half-deserted pier
to carriage which was waiting for him.
A steward followed with their box and the
Captains hand bag, and soon they were
rolling away through the streets.
Sitting on those soft cushions the little
emigrants gazed about them in wondering,
awe-struck silence. Surely they had sailed
away into fsiryland They were prince
and processes riding in crimson chariot
through streets paved with precious stones
to the door of splendid palace!
A colored servant put the children to
bed. Poor little Gretchen cried for fright.
She had never seen a negro before.
In the morning the Captain took them
to the Chicago express. They kissed his
hand gracefully when he babe them good-by.
And still our wanderers were IN fairy
land. A wonderful river, the like of which
they had never seen, flowed between steep
wsls, and there were palaces and gardens,
aud trees whose leaves were crimson and
gold, and by-and.by across the water,
great shaggy mountains appeared, the home
of COLLINS and giants.
Now, with all his care, their friend the
Captain had not provided these children
with food. The little girls were very hun
cry when the train reached Albany, and
Ulrich wanted to leave the car to buy
bread. But both Elsie and Gretchen held
him back with tears.
"What is the matter, children" asked
a pretty American lady in the next seat.
She spoke in very broken German, but she
understood when Ulrich answered for his
sisters that they were hungry.
Come with me, she said, and they
hastened from the car. She showed the
bow how to buy some sandwiches and
cakes, aud had her silver cup filled with
milk for Gretchen then back they hurried
Elsie told her their simple story, and
Gretchen showed her book, and seated by
her new friends side, ate the first orange
she had ever tasted.
The night was long and dreary to the
faithful brother. The kind lady was gone.
Hour after hour he watched his sleeping
sisters, determined not to close his eyes.
Two rough men behind them snored and
grumbled. Ulrich did not like them.
But as the morning light began at last to
steal through the windows WEAKNESS over
powered him, and he slept heavily.
Suddenly Gretchen's cries awakened |
him.
8" On, Ulrich Ulrich -
One of those bad men had been trying !
TO steal the childrens little bag of money. |
The brave boy sprang to his feet with fash |
ing eyes. Just then the German brakeman (
entered the car to put out the lights. He |
heard the boys story and summoned the |
Conductor, who ordered the men out of |
the car.
At Cleveland Ulrieh left his sisters to !
buy breakfast. Scarcely had he reached !
the lunch-room when the train backed up !
and came into the station on quite differ. |
emit track. Elsie and Gretchen were sadly |
frightened. They ran to the platform of
the car to jump off and find Ulrich. But |
the brakeman came again to their help and |
led them back to their seats.
8" l will find the brother, he said. 1--WE |
have yet fifteen minutes. You must stay
here"
But Ulrich was not easily found. He
had quickly bought the food, and as soon
as ne could get cup of milk started back
to his sisters. But the train had dissp
peared. He ran wildly up and down,
spilling the milk, and asking everywhere |
for Elsie and Gretchen. At last, seeing
train lust starting, he climbed upon it,
supposlug it must be the one he sought. |
Slowly they moved cut OF the station.
Ulrich rushed from car to car, hugging his
parcel of food and calling:
"Wo ist Elsie? Wo sind die schwest-
ern?"
"Where are you going, my boy - asked
an old gentleman with beautiful white
beard. He spoke in German to the Devil
dered child.
q have lost my little sisters. We are
going to the parents in Germauia"
" You are on the wrong train, exclaimed
the man. The bell was rung; the train
was stopped. The boy lesped off, his
beautiful brown eyes shining with graft
tude and hope. Run along the track.
Tell everybody Chicago train !! Run !"
How he ran The kind brakeman had
told the conductor about the missing
brother and the train for Chicago was
waiting still, but putting and snorsing as
if impatient of delay.
The boy dashed into the station breath.
lessly shouting, Chicago train -
This way" cover there !" "Run!"
% You're too late - cried the people. But
Ulrich saw only the steaming train, the
two little faces in an open window, saw
them begin to move away, leaped on board
at the Iast second, and away they went.
q didn't lose the cakes, but the milk is
all spilled.
Uirich was the hero of the car. Several
passer gers interested themselves in the
three odd little waits, and Gretchenis book