New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1885-04-29


water and hurry back"
Following the direction indicated by
her father, Christine took the pail and
was soon lost to sight in the narrow
sinuous path.
Carl OLSON resumed his labor, and
when the tree at length lay across it's
fallen fellows, stood wa itching to obtain
a glimpse of Christine's coming.
"What can keep Christine so long?"
he said aloud. ut is not like the child
to loiter So"
The spring was some quarter of mile
distant, but the path was direct, and
from it, or this unusual delay; and after
waiting several minutes longer, with a
half impatient frown her father started
after her.
Not meeting her at the turn of the
path as fully expected, he quickened
his step; and when he neared the spring
and still saw no signs of her coming, an
anxious fear aroused HIM and he shout
ed christine! Christ1ne!" But no an
swering voice responded.
With rapid strides he reached the
spring and found she was not there.
He saw her footprints in the moist
earth around the water but could trace
no marks of a return.
Thoroughly alarmed, he began to
search the woods in every direction,
calling in frantic tones his daughters
name.
ooh, God, care for and protect my
child, he cried, in his helpless agony,
as, with such feeling of desolation and
sorrow as comes to those who turn from
the grave of loved one, he left the
forest, knowing that his child, if she
had not been already devoured by some
wild beast, was suffering and helpless
in it's dark depths.
How weary seemed the homeward
way, he thought of the sorrowful news
he was carrying to the watching moth
er.
"Ah, here comes Carl" she said, as
she saw her husband appearing IN the
distance. GLOW tired he is, for his
step is so slow! but do not see Chris
tine. The poor child has grown weary
and fallen behind"
AS Carl OLSON drew near, something
in his troubled face and respondent air
caused the shadow of a great fear to fall
upon the mothers heart. What has
happened, where is Christine?" she
called out sharply.
In broken, half choked words, he told
the story. She had gone at noon to the
spring for water; she did not come back,
and he went to look for her; she had
gone-lost in the woods-and he knew
not where to find her.
ooh, Christine, my child! Oh, why
did [ let her go?" was the agonized cry
that came from the mothers pallid lips.
"God rules" was the almost stern
and reverent reply of Carl OLSEN. But
our neignbors must be told, and we
will search for her in the morning"
Hurriedly drinking cup of strong
coffee-the lunch had gone untasted-
Carl OLSON set forth to arouse the COL
ony.
Messengers were sent in every direc-
ton, and the news spread rapidly from
cabin to cabin. "Christine OLSON is lost
in the woods! Search must be made for
her in the morning. Meet at Olsson;s
mousse al SUNRISE.
But what had caused this sudden and
mysterious disappearance of Christine :?
Following the narrow path crushing
with 81 light step the leaves that strewed
the way, without any thought of i'm
pending danger, she reached the spEing
that gushsd out, sparkling and bright
from little hillside, and, as she stopped
by the side Of its cool, green margin TO-
fill her pail with water, she bestowed a
coquettish glance upon the flushed
cheeks and bright eyes reflected upo1a
it's surface.
AS she turned to retrace her steps, a
low deep growl sounded near her; and
she beheld in great alright an eror-
nous bear with cub beside her direct
ly in the path and not but few feet
away.
Again the bear altered her low angry
growl and her small eyes snapped vi
cously as she looked at Christine, who,
with frightened scream, turned and
fed into the woods behind the spring.
On she went in her mad fight, across
fallen trees and through dense ;under-
brush, the sharp thorns and cruel
branches tearing hey face and hands in
a pitiful way.
Still on she went,. until at last, almost
fainting and exhausted, she ventured to
look back.
The bear was not following her; and
somewhat reasured, but trembling in
every limb, she started to walk around
to the clearing where she had left her
father. Whe didn't he answer when
she called him, for surely she had walk
ed far enough to reach him?
"Papa, papa! where are you, papa?'
was her continual cry as she hurried
along, sometimes running, bruised and
torn, but never crying.
Thus all the afternoon the poor lost
child kept on in her vain search FOL
father, now fastening with frantic JOY
ss she thought she heard his voice call
ing, now sinking down exhausted anc
despairing because she could neither
make him hear nor find him.
One by one the stars came twinkfin&
out. At her still continued cry for he
father, some startled deer would pause
with foot untitled and ear alert l..