The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1886-07-30

%AihA ri 'iidll W III S''it'hIi'l
He named several, great people all in the
eyes of the neighbors, and relations Of his
own,
Anything else = asked the pastor, look
ing up. The peasant hesitated a little.
Il want him christencd by himself" ne
said.
That means on a weekday
Next Saturday, at oon.'
Anything else, repeated the pastor.
Nothing else. The man took his hat
and turned TO go.
But the pastor arose. Yes, one thing
more" he said. and going mp to Tlord, he
took his hand, looking him in the face
''pleases God that this child become a
blessing to YOURSELF
Sixteen years later the man again stood
in the pastors study.
'You are little changed, Thord.' re-
marked the pastor; age deals kindly hy
YOU.
There is nothing to trouble me, re-
Piled Thord.
To this the pastor made no answer, but
presently he asked, And what have yon
come for this evening -
Il havc come to speak about my son,
who is To be confirmed Tomorrow"
''IIe is a fine fellow"
Il did not want 10 pay for his instruc-
ton until | know what rank he is to take
tomorrow at church.
He has got the first place.
so | hear. and | have brought ten
crowns for the teaching.
Anything else % inquired the pastor,
looking at Thord
Nothing else. And Thord went his
way.
Eight years had passed, when one day
,hcre was a great connection outside the
pastors study: a number of men had
come, Thord at their head. Thu pastor
looked mp and recognized him. "You are
well attended, > he said.
1T is 10 ask you to put up the bans for
my son; he is going to be married to Ka-
ren storlinden Gunmnnd's daughter, whose
father is here beside me
why. She is the richest sirl in all the
countryside =
People say SO, returned the peasant,
pushing back the hair from his forehead.
The pastor sat silent, as though following
his thoughts, and then he entered the
names on his books. Thord put three
crowns upon the table.
ut should be but one, : said the pastor.
Il know; but he is my only child, and
| want to do it handsomely.
The pastor took the money. This is
the third time, Thord. that you have come
here on account of Your boy"
And | have done with him now, said
Thord, putting mp his pocket-book. He
took his leave and went, the other men
following slowly.
A fortnight after this, father and son in
fair weather were rowing across the lake
to Storlinden, in order to arrange about
the wedding. THE board on which | am
sitting seems loose, said the son, and rose
to fix it. But the plank on which he rested
slipped: he opened his arms wide. and with
a cry fell overheard.
Catch hold of the oar = cried the
father, holding il out to him. Bat the son
struggling twice, hrice-scemed numb
and stiff. wait. | am coming - cried
the father, pulling with his all might. But
the son, on his back, gave a long look into
his fathers face and sank from sight.
Thord could not believe it; he sat, oar
in hand, staring blankly upon the spot
where his boy had gone down, as though
waiting for his temperance. y bubble
rose; another and yet another. and then a
large one which burst on the Surface-and
the lake lay smiling as before.
For two days and three nights the father
was seen rowing about the spot, without
taking food or sleep; he was seeking for
his son. On the morning of the third day
he found him, and carried him in his arm
across the hills to the homestead,
A year had passed, when one Autumn
evening late the pastor heard a sound in
his anteroom as of some ones hand on the
latch. lIo went to open, and iii came a
tall man, but bowed, wasted and white,
The pastor had to look close before he re-
~cognizcd him; 1t was Thord. is it yon
coming so late9' said the pastor. and stood
silent.
"Oh, yes, | have come late, said Thord,
and sat down, as though to wait; he waited
long in silence. Then Thord began: Il
have brought something | want to give to
the poor; it shall be a trust fund bearing
my sons name" He rose, put the money
on the table and sat down again.
That is a large sum, = said the pastor,
examining the Gift.
1T is half my psoperty; | have sold it
this morning.
The pastor sat very still when he spoke
again there was a tremor in his voice.
'What will you be thinking of for your
self, now Thord?
'sThe better part"
A. long pause followed. Thord's eyes
were OF the ground, the pastors searching
his face. And then the pastor said slowly
and softly; Il think, Thord, that your son
has become a blessing to you at last.
tsYes, | think So. = said Thord, looking
up; and two big tears ran heavily down