Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1894-03-22
THE RED FORESTER.
BY JANE L. ROBERTS.

oIch WCiO hhCIihy Nv pay vi OiiO OuO-
skirts of one of the grand old forests
that are found on the Baltic shore.
The pretty red and yellow leaves
under their feet afforded them i'm
mense delight as they massed them
into a pile, upon which the three
year-old Elsa was seated in great con-
tentment, making the bright things
fly in all directions with the stick in
her hand.
The eldest child, a boy of ten, had
q kind, thoughtful face; the other, q
happy and light-hearted boy of eight,
did not rest until he, too, had found
q good, stout stick, with which he
aided his sister in scattering the fut-
tering leaves to the four winds.
Suddenly the air about them was
darkened, and over their heads great
bird came flying low with tapping
wings and dismal croak. Down it
came on the pile of leaves beside the
little one. It's eyes were keen and
piercing, and the child gave scream
of terror as it looked into her face
with a hoarse cry. In a moment the
older boy had caught up his brothers
stick and, aiming two or three stout
blows at the birds head, laid it life
less.
AS he took Elsa in his arms and
soothed her the younger boy exam
ined the raven. "Oh, Hans" said
he, II fear that was one Of the Red
Forester's birds, it is so large and it's
look is so evil. Old Walther says
sorrow comes to any who modest
them"
"Mother says old Walther is not
always truthful" answered Hans.
1--WE must not mind his stories.
Leave the bird, Otto. Come, the
wind is cool. and Mother will look for
the baby now"
Two or three hundred yards from
where the children played might be
seen the straw-thatched roof Of their
little home, and from the sand bluffs
before the cottage one had view Of
miles of seacoast. To-day the waves
rippled and danced in the sunlight as
IL no storms could ever disturb their
calm. At anchor near the shore lay
q number of fishing boats, making q
pretty bit of color with their copper
hued sails; and the white, sandy
beach was covered for long stretch
with the nets hung out to dry on the
endless frames, showing plainly the
general occupation of the breadwin-
ners of that pretty village nesting
between the forest and shore.
Fisher Muller and his wife, al
though simple folks, were superior
to the people with whom their lot
was cast. In his youth the fisher
had hoped to attain some better
station; but the military service Of
his country held him the best years
Of his life, and he returned from SER
vice to find the only means left him
Of procuring livelihood was to fol-
low his fathers calling, and so he
continued to be fisherman.
Frau Muller was gentle and thought
full, and, as the little home was well
tended and snug, they were content
and only longed for something better
for their children.
The mother met the children at the
door and. taking Elsa from Hans,
asked the reason Of her cry. The
boy eagerly told the story of the great
bird that would have eaten Elsa's
eyes, but that Hans gave him a
whack in time. Mother" said
Hans, lotto says the Red Forester
will punish me. Old Walther told
him So"
"What did Walther tell you about
the Red Forester" said the mother.
Have you not heard of the old
red mann" asked Otto.
What about him?" said Frau
Muller, as she clasped Elsa close in
her arms and pressed her lips to the
rosy cheeks.
He has a castle in the widest
and darkest part of the forest, but no
one ever returns that seeks it; and il
one kill his favorite bird, the raven,
sorrow will come--bitter sorrow."
As the boy told his story, darkness
had come on and the wind began to
moan round the house.
The mother sat quiet, with her
baby asleep on her knee. Mother, /"
said Hans, troubled at her silence,
"you don't speak; do you believe
old Walther's storyf"
"No, Hans" said the mother |;
"but you should have tried to
brighten away the bird before killing
it."
Poor Hans. He felt sad and heavy
hearted. His mothers face wore a
troubled look, he was sure. And this
was true; for the entire force OF fish
ermen were out at sea, and old Wal
ther had called to tell her heavy
storm was brewing; many shooting
stars had been seen the night before,
showing clearly from which direction
to expect the wind. Did she not
recall the woe the last October storm
had brought to three families?
Indeed, she remembered it only too
wildly. The wind as 1t blew strong
, er sounded more and more dreadful
to her. II, as last year, they were
driven far out, 1t would be days be-
fore all could return; until tsen what
terrible anxiety The sight of great
pair of boots in the corner made her
shudder, for she knew they were the
fisherman's doom. Weighted down
- 4 n. 4 A Il