Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1894-06-14
WALDBURGA.
By Stugua.

.apper would allow the poor to gather.
u Che was singing softly to herself, at the
N same time glancing now and then at a
,rover book with thick covers, as peas
ants use in that country. Suddenly she
"a hooked up at the sun and exclaimed
1H ooh, | have only an half hours time
= 10 get home, Aunt Lena will scold If l
40 not come in time"
She put the old, time-worn prayer
nook in the pocket Of her scanty dress
and was about to take up her bundle,
when she heard the trotting of a horse
In the narrow road. Shading her eyes
18th her hand she saw a stranger on
horseback slowly trotting his horse
olong and looking about as though in
ADMIT of being on the right road. The
Elder stopped his horse when beside
~ How far to Oberhofen, little girl?"
aSked he.
"One small hour, kind sir" she an
svpred. making her obeisance.
Can you show me the way?" he said
| In a voice that was a pleading in itself.
Certainly, kind sir" she replied,
milling happily as though the kind in
~tonation Of his voice was new to her,
tbut | will have TO take this wood to
a mt Lena; IL Is but a little out Of the
nav and Aunt Lena will let me show
sou the way if you cross her hand with
/ kreutzer."
Good, child, lead the way. / will
ii 4fL, -. Ior ,,nro than thO hut tbnt I,,,
de Is too heavy for you, isn't it?'
"Oh. no, find sir, l have carried
heavier loads than this. l would have
more wood now, but the forest keeper
xould not allow me any more today;
here are many poor people here and
BE forest keeper is kind to all and
dishes all to have some"
Feeling for the prayer book in the
pOcket Of her dress, as though it was a
feasure, she put the bundle on her
bck and started off.
#"No. my child" said the stranger,
That is too heavy for you; come, 1 will
nj it on my horse before me and you
had the way"
Kind sir, I can carry it," she an
sFered eagerly, 1T would be too much
tbuble for you; l am used to IT,"
f'Come, come, child, give me your
bpndle." Jumping off the horse he
fstened the bundle, and leading the
heSe he walked side by side with the
nttle maid.
What is your name, little girl?" he
eked.
fWaldburga," she answered, casting
' kglance at the handsome young face
f her companion.
u *Waldburga, and what else?" asked
ttk horseman.
III what else? I do not know; I have
o. 8 other name"
eu tNO other name? Have you no par
be ax<ts?'
aN ~NO, kind sir" she answered mourn
= My, my parents they tell me, died
DE- Efhen | was a babe and thecommu nifty
'N Nfe me- in charge Of Aunt Lena. She
k the lowest bidder and therefore l
S~ given TO her to take care of me
~ &nl | came Of age"
w Poor little girl; is she kind to your
W. k stranger queried.
'~ ~, yes, she does not strike me
=" and gives me a piece Of bread
70 nfn Tm. hungry, and sometimes l get
"" 2ftNes or bread-soup or bread dump
u on Sundays and holidays. She is
Wy V@ and cannot work much; she Is get
Rns Old, too" After a pause she went
cheeriiy: 1--WE have such a clear
R2nng near the hut, with beautiful
DAD AtrcreSs growing in it, but some
IA, EatS l thought | would like to drink
Pafe again. real coffee, like the
4" RSSriehter has on his table; his cook
moa' Z me a cupfull. Oh, it vas nice.
Y she gave me a piece of cake-Oh!
Cnly have acorn coffee once in =
IN, | have not taken the leaves
my hair; Aunt Lena would scold
sSy3e me have them on" she said,
.sE "a lhS, and | love flowers md trees
uelr green leaves and the brides
MI ABOUT and singing in the sun
l.N une little squirrels whisking up
MI uoWn the reeS-but sometimes it
E1 4 and then the brides and squir-
" Enue and the leaves look SO our
~ sue SAID, looking mOurnful her
oVWlnS her head. After a little
W. she raised her eyes to the stran-
MlEI anu smiled. 1T is necessary,
laJ she went on; 1--WE want to
M su urlnk, and L suppose the trees
Nc lovely flowers in the grass be-
, Nv uem want to drink also, and it
hS ~ lovely when the sun comes out
ana the raindrops glisten bright
- ue glasses on the chandelier Of
sg uurcn on Christmas eve"
ue little girl kept prattling on,
interrupted by the stranger, who
Pou amused and awed by the in
E oonception Of the beauties Of ma
s,a l one so young.
M { Is aunte'S hut" she cried at
reading the way into a lane and
I rough, stony hill; please give
bundle Of wood and come with
III aunt Lena. I would so much
snow You the way to the village,
must first talk to Aunt Lena"
wing the bride Of his horse over
tnient post the stranger followed
~ NSneu The hut after Waldburga.
Aut OF course was poorly fur
1uI 1t could be seen that the
uld all in their power to make
neat and clean.
Leha,' the little girl cried,
"sing down her bundle, here is
sehueman that would like to
snow him the way TO the viii
ma iate, but l can find my way
- ear woman" interrupted the
l VIII gladly pay you what
4" r, II You will kindly let this
y. snow me the way. / have