The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1894-03-21
The RED FORESTER.
ny JANE l.. ROBERTS.

One fine day in October three chill.
dren were mcrrily at play on the out.
skirts Of one Of the grand old forest =
that are found on the Baltic shore.
The pretty red and yellow leaves
| under their feet afforded them i'm.
mcnse delight as they masSed them
into pile, upon which the three.
year-old Elsa was seated in great con.
tentmcnt, making the bright things
fly in all directions with the stick in
her hand.
The eldest child, boy Of ten. had
kind, thoughtful face: the other. =
happy and light-hcarted boy Of eight,
did not rest until he, too. had found
a good, stout stick. with which he
aided his sister in scattering the flut.
tering leaves to the four winds.
suddenly the air about them was
darkened, and over their heads n great
bird came flying low with flaming
wings and dismal croak. Down il
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 il looked into her face
with a hoarsc cry. Ina moment tho
Older boy had caught up his brot hers
stick and o;mip, ,wo or ,Lroo e,,',,.
blows 81, tho bird,s Lo.d Ia;L :, ,;,,
less.
As he took Elsa IN bis or,o. onl
soothed her the younger boy exam.
Ineu rne raven. on, Hans said
he, 81 fear that was one Of the Red
Fore ,tcr's birds. il is so large and it's
look is so evil. Old Walthor SAWS
sorrow comes to any who molest
them"
Mother says old Walther is not
always truthful" answered Hans.
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 wards 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 Law
a number Of fishing boats. making n
pretty bit OF color with their copper.
hued sails; and the white. sandy
beach was covered for n long stretch
with the nets hung out to drv on the
endless frames, showing plainly the
general occupation Of the breadwin-
ners Of that pretty village nestIinG
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 a livelihood was TO fol-
low his fathers calling, and so he
continued To be fisherman.
Frau Muller was gentle and thought
ful, and, a. 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 0f the great
bird that would have eaten Elsa's
eyes, but that Hans gave him a
whack i'm time. Mother, said
Hans, "Otto 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