Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1891-05-13


as they were, brought pleasant stir
and excitement into her life. which
otherwise was always quiet, and often
a little sad.
The grandmother with whom she
lived alone was bed-ridden cripple,
entirely dependent upon the girl.
Lisa spun and knitted, dug and sowed
in their little garden, and sold the
cherries and walnuts from off the
trees. 1t was a laborous life, but in
that matter she was not worse offthan
the neighbors about her, who all
worked hard for their daily bread,
and were not in the habit of expecting
any thing different. What made
Lisa's life little harder than theirs
was its loneliness.
Most of them had fathers or moth
ers, children or sisters, with whom to
share their troubles or joys Lisa had
only her grandmother, and she. was
more of care than companion
She was IA gentle old woman. but with
the affection of brooding melancholy
with which it was almost impossible
to rouse her, and her own troubles
and ailments seemed to fiji her
thoughts so entirely as to leave no
room for other things.
She was very old, poor soul, and
perhaps her faculties were little
dulled but the excessive depression
and WEAKNESS which hung on all her
words often cast reflection Of them
selves on Lisa's brave spirit and
without any idea of being hard on the
girl, the old woman could not bear to
have her out of her sight. considering
herself ill-used and fretting over it, if
neighbcr came in and Lisa was of
with her cherries to sell.
When the girl, passing through the
dark room underneath, had climbed
the rough steps which led to the up
per part, she was in room bare in.
deed of furniture. but beautifully
clean, and fragrant with the whole
some smell of pine. On low bed
near the window, out of which great
Glove carnation was tlinging itself, lay
the old woman, with a fir branch in
her hand to keep of flies.
II have seen Franz, grandmother"
Lisa said, walking up to the bed with
the smile still on her lips.
"Ah, you young ones, you can move
about" said the old woman mourn
fully. "Now if could but get rid of
this pain"
as it worse ?"
at is always worse, my child"
"Oh, grandma, but the ointment
did it good"
"Thou knowest nothing about it,"
said old Anna, with a touch of i'm.
patience in her voice. "What do the
Young understand Of pain and sorrow'
They can walk about; all the good
things in the world comes to them,
only they are so ungrateful."
With sigh the girl seated herself
by the window, pulled the knitting
out of her pocket, and made up her
mind not to long for the sweet evening
freshness which she could find in the
meadows. She had worked hard all
day, and would have liked to have
strolled out or had a chat with the
other girls.
But these little crossings of her own
will were common enough, and she
had learned to accept them without
considering herself a victim, or so
much as feeling vexed with her
grandmother; and rs the quiet shad.
ows crept along the valley, and the
village noises were hushed, and a
rustling breeze swept the walnut
trees, and overhead a star or two
shone out Of the clear sky, Lisa's
thoughts went away from the small
Earring frets of the day, and were lost
in thanksgiving to Him who had
given her the good things Of her
life.
If the evening was beautiful go was
the morning, and Lisa had a good
many things to think about when she
started to meet Franz. She came up
on him sooner than she expected,
striding along the road, singing and
carrying a bunch Of cotton grass in
his hand for her and certainly
among all the pleasant things of that
morning Franz Lingen was not one
of the least pleasant to look upon.
At least, SO Lisa thought.
There was no time to spare, and
she turned to walk will. him, and
then il came out that he had plan
in his head over which he grew quite
excited.
"Hans Schmitt will take my place
tonight" he said and only listen.
best Lisa. Thou knowest that have
a cousin living at Viesch ?"
Johann Falk =? Yes"
al saw him Yesterday. and we