The Portland daily press., 1885-03-12
THE PRESS.
THURSDAY MORNING. MARCH IL.
A Story Of New Sweden.

was Carl OLSON. accompanied by his wife
and four children.
The log houses of the Swedish colonists
had been built near together, both for Sc
curity and for COMPREHENSIVE; and one
bright midsummer morning OLSON stood
waiting before the door of his home for the
noon-day lunch he was to carry with him to
his days work of telling trees, two miles
away. Within the single room his humble
home afforded, was Christine, girl of
twelve years, removing the remains of the
frugal breakfast.
'Chrisline," called her father, ''if the
mother is willing, you may come with me
to the 'chopping' to-day. The hours won't
seem 30 long where there's little lass fit
ting about"
Christine looked up eagerly at her moth
sob, can't go? Father wants me and 1
shall be SO happy in the woods all day."
Eyes. you may 60" said the mother, add
ing as she spoke, a rye cake 10 the luncheon
''but don't get lost in the woods"
Christine laughed at her mothers need
less fears. and fastened to overiake her
father, who had already started Oh his
way.
A fair type of the Swedish immigrant was
the father, with his broad shoulders, rudy
complexion a blue eyes, and light hair; and
with him along the rough road.
In stature, small for her years; but the
fashioning o! her dress, spun and woven by
her mother with true house wifely skill, gave
her the appearance of little old woman, as
1t hung in heavy, straight folds below the top
of the strong, coarse shoes.
Over her head was tied a dingy cotton
handkerchief, which afforded no protection
from sun and wind; aud the face beneath,
W. arH
freckled. But the features were regular, the
teeth white aud even, the blue eyes clear and
truthful, the faxen hsir long and fine; for
the two smooth braids hung far below the
corner OF the futtering handkerchief.
As her father struck off int a narrow
path down over the hill, Christine was
obliged to drop behind; aud she followed af-
ter the broad footprints in the soft leaf
mould, catching, as she passed. the great
mosswood leaves on either hand, that broke
80 easily at her touch.
A few moments N IRE, and they reached
the "choppiDg," small opening in The
woods where few trees had already been
feled; and, placing his dinner pail and coat
at the loot of tree and directing Christine
to place of safety, so as o be out of range
OF the tree as it fell, Carl OLSON commenced
his work.
Far aud near sounded the ringing strokes
of his axe, and Christine watched the great
chips as they flew in every direction, When
the last severing blow was given and The
tree fell with crash that awoke the echoes
of the forest, Christine shut her eyes until
her fathers hearty laugh reassufed her.
"Hol hol that's the way they come down,
Christine. What a fine farm We'll have one
of these daysp'
Weary at last of watching her father at
work, Christine obtained permission to
search for flowers ard berries.
Don't go out of sight," said her father,
and promising that she would not, she
strolled along the edge of the woods, lost in
delight to everything around her.
In happy Inconsistencies Of impending
danger, she spent the hours of the long sum-
mer forenoon, until her father called.
'Christine Christinep' and, gathering up
her woodland treasure, she approached
within easy speaking distance.
'What do you want. papa" she an
swered.
est is nearly noon, and when finish this
tree, we'll have dinner. Take the pail and
60 down that path until you come to
spring. Fill the pail with 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 its fallen fe-
lows, stood watching to obtain glimpse of
Christmas coming,
What can keep Christine so long?,
he said aloud. SIT is not like the child to
loiter So"
The spring was some quarter of mile
distant, but The path was direct, and there
was no occasion for any straying 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 shouted "Christinei Christinew
But no answering 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 re-
turn.
Thoroughly alarmed, he began to search
the woods in every direction, calling in
frantic tones his daughters name.
"Oh, God, care for aud protect my child"
he cried, in his helpless agony, as, with such
q 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 devou ed
ny bOlut WIN utdst, was cuhClibS aAu ACiP-
less in its dark depths.
How weary seemed the homeward way, as
he thought of the sorrowful news he was
carrying to the watching mother.
SAB, here comes Carl" she said, as she
saw her husband appearing in the distance.
Chow tired he is, for his step is SO slow!
but do not see Christine. The poor child
has grown weary and fallen behind"
As Carl OLSON drew near, something in
his troubled face aud responding air caused
the shadow of great fear 10 fall upon the
where is Christine?" she called out sharp
ly.
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 BOT where to find
her.
Job, Christine, my child, my child Oh,
why did | let ner go?" was the agonized cry
that came from the mothers pallid lips.
''God rules,' was the almost stern and
revereDt reply of Carl OLSON. ''But our
neighbors must be told, and we will search
for her in the morning."
Hu1iedly drinking cup of strong coffee
the lunch had gone untasted--Carl OLSON
set forth 10 arouse the colony.
Messengers we're sent in every direction,
and the news spread rapidly from cabin to
cabin. "Cbristne OLSON is lost in the
woodsl Search must be made for her in the
morning. Meet at Olssoh's house at sun
Iise."
But what had caused this sudden and
mysterious disappearance of Christine?
Following the narrow path, crushing with
light step the leaves that strewed the way,
without any thought of impending danger,
she reached the spring that gushed 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 coquettish glance upon the
flushed cheeks and bright eyes reflected up
on its surface.
As she iurned to retrace her steps. a low
deep growl sounded near her; aud she be-
held in great alright an enormous bear with
a cub beside her directly in the path and not
but few feet away.
Again the bear uttered her low angry
growl and her small eyes snapped viciously
as she looked at Christine, who, with a
frightened scream, turned and fed into the
woods behind tue spring. On she went in
her mad fight, across fallen trees and
through dense underbrush, the sharp thorns
and cruel branches tearing her face and
hands in pitiful way.