Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1886-12-23
IA Christmas Party in Sweden

4 1O6 tOELT666 Vi DOh0C1 ~
Important to the North, still belonged
to Denmark in the year 1902. The
month of December in that year was
remarkable for its severity. Even
across the river Goetha the ice had
formed bridge from fortress to Skar-
dalen, so that it was with great diff
Guilty the troops kept open the neces-
sary channels for the defence of the
castle.
The sun had just risen, and glistened
on the crystals OF the frozen panes in
Otto Rods castle, where the light
hearted Knight sat making merry
with his wife, Carry Bilde. Lady Car
ry was to-day burdened with Christ
mas care. With the customary bunch
of keys rustling at her slender waist,
she fitted to and fro, attended by her
house maidens. 1t was in the days
before Christmas, the busiest week in
the whole year, especially sofor lady
of castle, who in these days consid-
cred herself mistress of the whole
household, comprising all the inmates
from the lord to the groom. But this
hustle did not keep the noble lady
from an occasional wrangle with her
lord.
"If you open the door once more,
Lady Carry, without shuttingit, Ishall
have to put you in irons!'
"And if you don't shut it yourself,
then the Lent shall commence for you
even to-day, you lazy gold-beard," re-
torted the wife laughing and Ringing
the door wide open.
| With a bound Otto Rud was by her
side, clasping her in his arms and
pressing kiss upon her lips. "Do
you see, keep my word9 Now you
are imprisoned"
"But I shall release myself" ex
claimed the wife, endeavoring to free
herself from the Knights embrace.
At the same moment he received a
slight touch on his side, and heard q
feeble voice
Release my mother or you will get
a drubbinglr
Ii was the little esquire, Gudmar,
the Knights son, taking the first step
in the chivalrous career with his small
wooden sword, to protect the weaker
against the stronger.
"Eh, little one," reclaimed the hap
| by father, 81 perceive that there are
treachery and seditIon in progress.
Wife and son enter into conspiracy
against their father and master.
Lady, / shall quit this reasonable
/ castle and leave you to repentance"
81 have no objection. you hard
hearted warrior, and in moment !
shall order the three crowns to be
hoisted in the tower, and surrender
the castle to Stem Sture.
81 trust you TO that, you traitress.
/ But to prevent your malignant pur-
pose / now, in full earnest, will pat
4 you in irons" and another kiss and
embrace choked the word rising to
her lips.
"And you, you urchin," turning to
the boy, "accustom yourself IN time
to the use OF the sword; but turn it
not against your father or your coun-
trymen.'
/ mo, sir, I'll never do that pro-
tested the boy, and drew himself
around the neck of his father, asking
eagerly, "But may not slay all the
Swedes?"
Eyes, when they are your enemies"
"But how shall know when they
are my enemies?"
"When they call you Danish fox,
point at you with the sword, or do
by your mother what was doing my
self lately"
Fly, 0tto!" interrupted the lady,
fixing a glance OF gentle displeasure on
the laughing face OF her husband,
This pleasant scene was suddenly
and rudely broken in by half-grown
lad, who reported the return of mes
senger dispatched some days before.
The messenger himself, young man
with curly hair, then stepped in.
ut was good ride you had, Einar,"
| exclaimed the Knight; ''you have not
spared the spurs, and therefore you
shall now have a good Yule-drin k.
Now, has the great snake out there in
the Bullar sea shown himself? and
what news do you bring from my jol-
ly companions at Olsborga Did you
see the Primer"
Eyes, SIRE" replied the messenger
handing the knight a package of
| papers fastened by silk band and
sealed with wax.
The Knight opened the document
and ran mis- eyes over it. His brow
darkened Immediately, while he NUT
tered half aloud: ''Well, the Prince
will have it so"-and the usual smiling
expression returned directly.
Garry, you and your rebeilious
son will have to consume the Christ
mas-eheer alone this year. hope"
he added, while his features reas-
sumed their earnest expression that
in future years we shall eat it as hith.
| erto.n
But what has happened. what is
to be done?" asked Lady Carry with
look of terror.
at is, only alittle Joke; am invited
by my friend Rautzen Olsborg, to
take taste OF his Christmas cheer,
and by st. Canute, he shall not have
only me as his guest. -
"But the peace of God, which you
| yourself, in accordance with the holy
church, have proclaimed under flour.
ish? Willyou break it on the approach
ing feast ofpeace?"
Nov, then" interrupted the knight,
impatiently, ''such talk belongs to the
curate and not to yop. Rather pray
the Holy Virgin to bless our purpose
To serve the king and the country
this is to be done. Take care OF your
pantry and don't NEEDLE with my af-
fairs
Never before had the Knight ad.
dressed his wife so violently. Lady
Carry stood as petrified, with uplifted
hands, her eyes staring, but only for a
moment; in the next she rushed with
a cry of pain toward the door.
III.
Oisborg, long ago levelled with the
ground. was in the year 1902 occupied
| by a Swedish force under the COM
mand OF Nils Raatzen, and formed q
strong fortress in the northwestern
part of the feud Bohus, as it was stu
ated on a high rock whose walls slop-
ed down to the gloomy Bullar sea.
In the ancient hall was great merri-
nlent on Christmas eve. Alongside
the extended tables, which divided the
great hall in halves, sat in uneoncern-
ed tranquility superiors and subordin-
ates between each other, from the
chief to the william. The tables groan-
ed under the weight OF the dishes, the
Christmas pig, with an apple between
the white teeth, occupying the place