The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1893-02-22
slGRiD AND THE KING.

S!GRiD AND THE KING.
It was rude apology for a dwelling
house, a small hovel-like structure with
a thatched roof and tumble-down.c chin
nsy. There we're but three rooms in 1t I;
one Of these was the loft reached by 8
rude stairway, which was used By the
family as a sleeping-room- OF the two
on the ground floor one was used as q
storage or provision room. while the
larger was a kitchen, living-rOon and
parlor all in one.
The walls were bare save Tor a pair Of
deer's horns over the door. The win
dows we're narrow and had shutters in
side. At one end OF the room vas r&is-
ed hearth OF stone. The rsfters were
smoked to a deep rich cofee-eolor. A
rough deal table, a chair, half dozen
stools and a spinning comprised
the furniture.
The hut stood among the DAleearlian
hills in Sweden in the midst Of deep
woods, though on one side there was an
open stretch, through which could be
seen green fields and far below in the
valley, the roofs and c.Iimneys of small
hamles. 1t was a Wild beautiful country
and even the cottsge and lis adjacent
barn, which had also a thstched roof,
made pretty picture
This was the home of Sigrid Johanns-
son and her little brother Carl. Sigrid
vas only y and Carl years old. They
had lived in this lJnely little hovsl ever
since they were born. Their father had
beens wood-chopPer, but the year before
had been killed By the fall Of one Of his
own trees.
Their mother, Dame Ulriea, went nur-
sing for livelihood and was then attend
ing the miller's sick wife at Rattyik,
little hillside village about half dozen
miles distant through the woods. So the
children were all alone in their forest
home.
BE careful, Sigrid," Dame Ulrica had
sail when she had lef home the first
OF the week. The Danish soldiers are
about, searching everywhere for thattrue
SEede, Gustavus Vasa. Thou hadst better
not leave the house lest harm come to
thee
You needn't worry about Sigred or
me, mamma" declared Carl, shaking his
golden curls and struttiug up and down
very bravely with his fathers ak on his
shoulder. Il will kill all the wicked
Danes, and then the good GastAyus won't
have 70 hide any longer with price on
his head.
Sigrid laughed pleasantly at her broth
er's bold speech. She was quiet digui-
fed little thing with two great coils of
yellow hair hanging down below her
waist, and eyes mild and blueas the sum-
mer skies Of her own land.
AYES, brother viii take care Of me, and
We will be Ea-chfll and won't even leave
the house.
Il shall be back as soon as the good
wife Is better" said the mother. "And
Ulfson shall come over with a bag Of
meal meanwhile and you will have
enough to eat.
The children saw her depart without
any thought of being afraid. Their
mother was absent 50 much that they
had neser been molested, and though
strangers had often passed that way they
seldom paused, unless it Was to beg
drink OF water from the spring beside the
door.
Carl and Sigrid had plenty of work to
busy themselves with. The boy fed the
chickens, the Two sheep and the COW,
carried the water and gathered the fuel
from the adjacent forests, and his sister
MIXED the COW, made the butter, cooked
their simple meals and spun the wool,
even as Swedish maidens DO to-day.
When it came night they closed the shut
ters, drew the stout oaken bar across the
door, lighted their single lamp and roast
ed nuts in the hot ashes till bed time,
when they said their simple prayers,
drew the ashes over the Goals and climb
ed to the loft to their couch of straw with
a xolfskin for blanket
In the middle of the week the miller's
boy came over the bills with bago
barley meal on bis mules back, which
was left at the cottage, bnt no other per-
son visited them till, one night just at
dusk little Carl rushed into the kitchen
where his sister sat spinning, with the
exclamation:
'0h, Sigrid; there's a great big man
coming up the road. think it must be
one the Danes. Hadn't We better bar
him out?'
"Hush, CzrlT' said his sister pausing
to stir the brands on the wide hearth:
'he is no Dane if he comes alone. Doubt
less he Is some traveller who needs shelf
err
Il don't know" answered Carl -I'm
afraid Of him, he is 50 tall and burly.
think Z viii get my axe"
Before Sigred could answer there Was
q loud rap at the door, and her first
glance wss an apprehensive one as she
opened it.
The stranger was Of large frame, tall
and broad-shouldered and his great size
was rendered still more impressive BY
the large cloak of bears fur that hung
from his shoulders, for If was the season