The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1892-10-05
BIRGIT AND OLA.

BIRGIT AND OLA.
She followed him all day like little
dog. If he ran, she ran, fell and
scrubbed her knees, cried and was
the weeks beginning to its end.
He grew tired of her and would have
liked to run away from her. But he
did not dare, for she was his masters
daughter and he was-well, there was
the rub-he did not know who he was.
He woke up one day and found him
self born. The sky was above him
and there would have been earth be-
meath his feet if he had not pointed
them in the wrong direction. He was
christened in a random way Ola, and
was put on the parish, as they say.
Jens Oestrud took him as his share
of the parish burdens. When he was
years old he could be made useful
enough to earn his food and shelter.
Jens Oestrud then wanted to send
him away, but his little daughter Bir-
git was so fond of him that he decided
to keep him.
When Ola was II years old he could
kick Il cufo from -teail-hig ahaua-hiS
head. Birgit was so fond of Ola that
everything he did seemed admirable.
Once she said bad word and Ola was
whipped for it.
So Ola was sent to the mountains;
he roamed with his Alpine horn over
the wide mountain plains, ate berries,
caught fish, set traps and was happy.
He hardly thought once of the little
girl down in the valley.
One day late in the summer she came
up to the dairy with her mother. She
was carried up on horseback in bas-
ket. When she saw him she flung her
self down upon the grassland screamed
with delight.
But when her mother had reached
the hut she ran up to him and hugged
him. While the cattle were being
MIXED he went to look after his things
She followed him, proud in the
thought that he tolerated her.
"Look here" he cried, lifting up a
brown hare, "isn't that a big fellow?"
"What is it," she asked.
at is hare"
"No, it isn't hare. A hare is
white"
"It is brown in summer. 1t changes
its skin"
HAS he two skins, one inside the
other?"
Instead of answering he took his
knife and cut the hare's skin.
"No," he said "he hasn't got MORN
one."
The time came when he had to go to
the parson to prepare for confirmation.
1t so happened that she went the same
year.
But, though he had a coat now, it
was a cast-otf one of Jens Oestrud's.
which was much too big for him. His
boots, too, had seen better days before
they made his acquaintance.
He walked aside from the rest; his
ears burned when any one looked at
him. If any one dared to mock him
he used pair of fists that inspired re-
spect.
He was handsome enough lad and
finely made, but his clothes aud his
frowsy hair made him look ugly.
Heavy thoughts came to him and a
fierce, defiant spirit was kindled within
him.
1t was at such a time that Birgit
sought him and spoke kindly to him.
"You mustn't mind the girls" she
said; "they laugh at everything. They
don't mean anything by it. 1t is just
a way they bave."
Somebody will come to harm if you
do it," he answered, fercely.
"That is foolish talk" she gently
demonstrated. 81 know you too we'll
Ola. You wouldn't harm me-"
"Ah, you don't understand me-" he
said. dts no use talking"
"Oh, yes, do understand you, Ola,
she replied, with a smile, "and l wish
you would let me say one thing to yor
before 60"
"Say it."
81 wish-I WISH" she stammered
while quick blush came to her cheeks
"No, I think l won't say it, after all,
she finished, and turned to go.
"Yes, say it," he entreated, seizins
her hand.
"Well, II wish you could do as tn,
hare, change your skim"
She drew her hand away from hi
and ran down the hillside, so that the
stones and dry leaves flew about her
That night he picked quarrel with
| Thorger Sletten, who was said to bt
attentive to Birgit, and thrashed him
All the following winter he kept watcl
of her from afar and picked quarrel
with everybody whom she seemed t.
favor.
Change my skin," he pondered
"Change my skin like the hare. How
oh, how can l do it?"
This thought followed him day ant
night. One day, in the spring, al
emigrant ship bound for America az
peared at the mouth of the river.
Ola packed together his few trap
and went up to Oestrud's to say good
by. He met Birgit in the birch grow
behind the barn. 1t was the tim
when the buds were bursting and tn
swallows had just returned.
"Well, Ola, where are you goin g?
she asked, as she saw him comm
with bundle and staff in hand.
"To America"
"America!" she cried. America!
The answer seemed to frighten her
She turned pale and caught hold of
birch tree for support. He watches
her narrowly.
"What are you going to do in Amer
lea, OLAF" she asked, softly.
"Change my skin," he replied. wit
a vigor that startled her. "And if
come within five years with a change
skin will you wait for me?"
81 promise" she whispered, weepin
quietly upon his shoulder.
Five years from that day youn
man was seen fastening up the hillsio
to Oestrud's. He had big slouc
hat on his head and was well dressed
His face was strong, square and d.
termined, his eyes danced with jo.
for in his pocket he had a royal MARI
age license, with which he meant