The Arkansaw traveler., 1883-12-29

ment.
 One-third of the journey was over, when. with a startled exclamation, An ireas suddenly pulled up his horses. At a turn of the road there lay, extended on the snow, a human form. In a minute the farmer had confided the reins to Olaf, proud of the charge, and he and Hugo jumping down ran to give assistance. The pack at the mans side told them that he was one of those peddlers who wander from farmhouse 10 farmhouse all over the country. Overpowered by the cold, he had sunk into that fainting death-like sleep from which there IS oftimes no waking. At first all efforts to rouse him failed, but life was evidently not extinct 1; so seeing a chalet close at hand, which in the summer had been used as a covert for cattle, and now was a store for fire wood, they carried him there, and kind ling a fire on the outside, they rubbed his limbs until some warmth returned, and poured some corn brandy (which no Norwegian travels withouO down his throat and he partially revived. All this occupied some time, ana they were quite in dilemma as to what to do next. Leave him they could not, to take him on with them was impossible he was not sufficiently recovered to bear the air, even if they could make room for him in that state To turn back and take him home was almost as difficult, and if so they must give up church entirely. Ella, who had alighied to assist them, at last said in decided tone, There is but one thing, father, that we can do-Hugo must stay with the poor man."
 Yes said Hugo. |" that IS the best plan. You drive on to church. and take us up in the afternoon as you return; by that time he is sure to be all right
 Well, said Andreas. !" it does seem 10 be the only way bu, i, will be a sad disappointment for you, my poor girl
 '' l do not know that muttered Hugo, she was the first to propose getting rid of me-
 :. Now that is too bad" said Ella, with face rueful enough to satisfy her lover, when you know have been counting for weeks and weeks upon your being with us on this altar Sunday"
 It clearly was the most feasible plan, and so Ii was settled. Ella murmured to Hugo as he helped her into the sledge agaln:
 "God will not the less bless our en- gagement that il begins with an act of selfdenial.'
 True, Ella, you remember what you sad last night about being almost too happy everything so bright it is as we'll there should be little cross.''
 some provisions which had been put in the sledge ready for any emergency, were handed put to Hugo, and he was entreated to take care of himself as we'll as the peddler, and to keep up good fire.
 Certainly said he. no fear of not doing that; why, here IS tire-wood enough to roast hali-a-dozen oxen whole. You are sure you will be able to do without me, Father Andreas?'
 Perfectly. the horses are quite man. ageable, the road good. and the weather sci fan we can have no difficulty
 So they started of again, Olat saucily calling out to Hugo, that now he was gone Ella would be of some use to other people. and that the rest of the party would gain. not lose, only by his depart ure. However. Ella was no, inclined to be lively, and her gravity infected even the high spirits ot her young brothers. The remainder ot the drive was rather dull for all parties. and everyone was glad when the peaked roofs of the town came into sight The Iansens drove ,o relation s house, put up their horses, left their outer coverings in the sledge. and then entered church soon after service had commenced. Dame lngeborg and EHa took their places on the north side. while Andreas and his boys went to the south. the mems side. The church was d large oetagon wooden building. black with age. and ot picturesque construction. the interior adorned with quaint carving and some strange frescoes of scripture subjects. dating from before the rcfoIma- ton. IL was we'll hllcd and with con gregation as picturesque as the building. There Was mixture of races and dress. the Morse women wearing beneath their hoods the lue." the close fitting black cap and dark. sober-colored dress. while the Fins were decked out m saudy colors and iinsel ornaments. The tall forms of the blue-eyed, air-haired descendants of the Vikings contrasted very favorably with the stunted hgurcs and sallow faces of the mere northern and inferior race. The pastor was a venerable old man, dressed in the style of our English di- vines ot the time of Elizabeth and James l. He had on the black canonicals of the Lutheran clergy, thick, white ruff around lis neck, his long white hair floated over his shoulders. while. on ac- count of the cold. he wore black velvet skull cap on his head
 Prayers and singing over, he com menced to discourse without notes of any kind. and in strain of simple. fervid eloquence. which riveted the attention of his auditors, he expounded the sublime prccept which Christianity frs, nculeated of doing to others what we would tha, they should do to us. The sermon over. some chrlstenlngs followed, and then the communion. The service, which had lasted more than three hours. at length terminated. and they emerged from the church. Many were the greetings to be exchanged between friends and neigh bors unseen for long. and i, was some time ere the t2nsens reached the rel,