New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1886-06-16


Sleep ends his tired snarling.
And that's your boy of three years.
"A STRANGE GUARDIANSHIP.
Twas IS. I was the only girl, and,
strangest OF all, I was an authorass.
The circumstances which led to this
last-named fact were not ordinary
ones.
NY mother had died while I was but
d baby, and my father had always
marked out for me future of fame,
which he imagined could be best gain
ed by my pen. My elder brother and
his pretty young wife were of thesame
opinion and as my aunt, who took
care of me, thought always as my
father did, it seemed that nolens, vo-
lens, should be an authoress. Fortu-
1ately for the general peace, perhaps,
L WAS not averse to the desire, and aft
er consideration I determined to ven
! ture upon a story, and on it's compile
#tion to present it as a, surprise to the as
sembled family. But here I found an
unexpected difficulty; what could l,
Helen Dare, find to say to a critical
and exacting public? At last fortune
avored me with a simple solution Of
sthe problem. I would tell a little
story which had always touched me;
a simple tradition OF my quiet, coun-
ny birthplace. My heart was in the
work, and it was soon finished.
Strange to say itmet with much favor,
but as I had written under the nom
de plume of George Percy, it was uni
-versally attributed to my elder broth
ssr, who tacitly consented to the de-
geptlon, and at this was rather glad.
One day however, my father handed
sme d letter addressed to him and bear
ing a foreign postmark. Itook it with
some curiosity, which deepened to
profound astonishment as [ read it.
It ran thus, and was characteristic of
The writer:
BOULEVARD DEs 1NvALIDEs,
PARIS Aug. IL, 1880.
Dear Sir-You will be glad to know that
your sons reputation as a writer has
crossed the Atlantic, and that I consider
'eBrakesdale" a wonderful book You
probably have heard who 1 am, being a
distant connection OF yours on your
rmother's side. l am All old man, and I
have a favor to ask OF you. I wantyou to
use your influence with the author OF my
tavorite book to make him accept the post
OF guardian to my son, for | consider the
advice and friendship of the man who
could write such book asinvaluabe. lido
snot expect to live very long, and 1 want to
leave my son in good hands when I die.
His financial arrangements will be man
!, aged for him by an old friend until he is OF
age, and am willing and able to make it
worth while Tor you to gain his acceptance
Of the proposal. Let me know your de-
cision by return OF mail.
Your obedient servant,
JOSEPH I. LANGToN
II the skies had fallen l could not
nave been more thunderstruck. "Gra-
cious!' was the undignifed and femi-
nine exclamation OF the author OF
<tBrakesdale."
MY father looked reproachfully at
me and said: "My dear, there is no
cause for such surprise. OF course
you'll except this fattering proposal;
and, in fact, should think it a good
idea for us to go to Europe and see
this gentleman. remember mymoth-
er's speaking of him as queer, &C.
centric old fellow, but withal kind
khearted and loyal"
chit you can't mean it," I gasped.
certainly Ido,"
"But he doesn't mean me; he saws
your SON. expressly. He means
John
~ beg to differ from you. On the
contrary, he mentioned several times
the author of sBrakesda]e,' and he
says it is the advice, the Invaluable
advice, that he wants, and as you
wrote the book you are the only one
~who can give it. Just think, my dear,
of the poor man dying alone with one
little boy to dispose OF! You know
you always had good success with
children, and if you don't take him,
rwho will? What may become OF him?"
All this had it's effect. The picture,
sto say the least, was rather touching,
7and did love children; SO compro-
naa1sed, and gave my father theresult Of
my cogitations.
4.Ill tell you what we can do,' I
said. eve will accept conditionally
II he will have me without change Of
sex, I'll come"
"You can't change your sex of
course said my methodical father,
who usually crushed my small at
tempts in this way; $50 we will con
slider 1t settled, and your aunt and
/. yourself can get ready to start for
France next week." And, unheeding
,sny protestations against such short
notice. he went away, well pleased
with his success.
In due time the trunks were packed,
a good supply OF toys for my young
ward not being forgotten; all was ar
orI Sot+1o1