Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1889-11-21
OLE'S LULLABY.
A Pathetic Story OF a Little Norse-
man.


A few years age Swedish family
named Olson LEFT The fatherland and
sought home and fortune in America,
the promised land. says the Minneap-
oils Journal. They were poor, but
their hearts were stout, and they fear
ed not for the future so long as they
had health and strength. From the
confusion and strangeness OF Castle
Garden they set their faces to the west
the golden northwest. Others might
stay and starve in the crowded cities,
they said, but they would go where
they could claim a bit OF land as their
own and find health and happi ness.
The broad prairies of Dakota beekon-
ed them onward, and at last they rest
ed on unbroken soil near Long lake.
The Olsons were amazed mt the wealth
Of the land that spread out before
them, with the virgin soil waiting for
the touch OF the husbandman, and they
set to work with u will. A year or
two passed away. The Olsons had
not become rich, but they had home
that, however humble, was theirs. and
they were happy.
Harvest time came. The golden grain
stood ripe and heavy in the fields. The
mother and the eldest children went to
help the father with the harvest lest
the rain might come and catch them
mapping. So it happened that one
morning little Ween, aged 7, was left
all alone TO care for his little brother,
who was just able to toddle about the
house. For an hour or two they
amused themselves with their toys and
then the little ono, in childish glee ran
about the room playing horse" The
floor was built OF rough, undried
boards and in some places had become
sprung" Careless Of danger little
Ole ran about until he stepped into
crack and fell. The merciless boards
closed fast about his foot and held him
prisoner. Shrieking with pain he call
ed to his brother for help. Ween
tugged away at the boards, but they
refused TO release their prey. Little
Ole's appe Is bee ime more and more
frantic. Ween went TO the door and
shouted for help, but no ono heard
him. At last, frantic with fear he
seized a dull ak that stood in the shed
and rushed to the little sufferer. Still
he could not pry up the boards. There
was but one way now; he must cut off
the little ones foot! SO he raised the
dull ak and brought it down. A ragged
cash was male and the shreks grew
louder. Don't cry. Ole, / will soon
have you free; and down came the
cruel Ak ag in. Again and again it
fell. until ut last the prisoner was free
The blood frightened Wecn, and he
took the little one in his arms and
sought to soothe it with song he had
heard his mother sing:
"Rock-a-by, rock ably, baby, to sleep"
Little Ole's cries became fainter and
fainter. His head fell lower on his
brothers arm and his eyes closed.
Ween thought the baby was very white,
but still he sat there grooming the
cradle song and waiting for the return
of his father and mother High noon
came and the mother returned to pre-
pare the frugal MONDAY meal. No
little voices came to greet her with
shouts OF JOY, and her mothers heart
stood still with IA nameless terror. Into
the house she rushed. "Shl shr'
whispered Ween. "Ole got hurried,
but rocked him TO sleep"
Yes, Ole was asleep. His eyes would
never open again upon earthly scenes.
And little Ween rocked TO and fro,
singing softly:
"Rock ably, rock-a by, baby, to sleep"