Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1896-11-26
Two
T:e story Of n swedish girls Expo
rience In This

rience In This Country.
She sat patiently awaiting her turn
IN the crowded intelligence office late
in the aftcrnocu of a chilly November
dry. There seemed TO be more appli-
Giants for work than places 10 be
filed, and Dagmar'S pale face grew
more tense and almost hopeless when
a gay. chattering trio cane in TO regis
ter for places. She had heard the
questions asked Of those who applied
for work. Were they strongy' Gould
they cook?" Were they eXperienced.'
Heart and courage failed her when
they asked her these questions. She
was not strong. she could not cook.
aud she had had but little experience
in housekeeping.
After all. she con-llded. perhaps she
had done n very foolish thing when
she left the comfortable old home IL
Sweden. There she was n child among
her schoolmates; here she must take
her place among tile working people IN
the world.
If she only had Siegred's address.
SiegrCd was her school friend and
companion. who had come 10 America
a year before, and had written once 10
her old friends in Grenna Ct the Won
ders of the new country. Siegred had
married Il rich husband. who had il
store of his own. Dagmar had not met
anyone who could tell her about Sic
cred or her rich husband or his store,
and there were more stores in the
great city than she ever dreamed Of;
So she concluded that to find Siegred
was out Of the question.
After walking several blocks she
saw a sign: Girl Wanted" and tim
idly rang the bell. All fear of being
questioned had left her, and in her
simple, guilelesS brain there arose the
brilliant plan of lying-of answering
satisfactorily any questions as 90 her
ability: but her tender conscience was
spared this necessity. for the lady was
not ~oyerexacting in the matter Of quail
itcations for a chamtermaid, and took
her in with no other reference than her
honest eyes and the bundle of clean,
well made clothes.
But little sleep came to Dagmar that
first night in her new home; she was
trying To think Of herself under these
q conditions. She felt so worldly
y H"N - iVA tiAs1 tADtt tIt vi lDf-
last two weeks. this simple. little, fair
haired maiden. Surely, Ii her father
could know how well she had man.
aged on the long journey. he would no
longer think her Il child. Dagmar's
heart was quite full when she thought
of the dear father who had been her
friend and companion in her child
hood and budding womanhood. She
loved him none the less. only had felt
hurt when he had brought home a
young wife-a girl o much older
tina herself. Had not Dagmar al
ways been a loving and dutiful daugh-
ter! Could anyone in all Sweden
mend his socks or cook his herring bet
ter han she? Now, since Signe had
GENE to preside over the little house
bold, he never found time to take long
walks with his little girl In the sum
mer twiligits along the ford, as she
had always done since her babyhood:
for now the old man had eyes or ears
for no one but the dark-eyed Signe.
He did not even offer serious objection
to pagmar's proposition to seek her
fortune in America
No one seemed To care very much
o her going. only Lars. and he.
big, good-natured fellow. cried when
she left-then Dagmar cried, too-ey-
cry one did when the boat was leaving
She thought of the good times she had
had on Christmas and on the Kings
birthday and Midsummer day. and
Lars seemed 10 be the center of all
these pleasures.
SIe was awakened by a shrill alarm
that the cook had sent for her. ana
she arose rather heavy-eyed but anx-
iOus to assume her new duties She
saw preparations for a great dinner
going on and the whole house wore. ,
testal appearance.
The cook told her it was Thanks.
giving day. And do you thank God
only once a year in America ?" she
asked Il have always said my pray
ers every night"
AZ the morning family service she
r~ehearsed to herself her debts of graft.
tube TO God. Il am thankful She
salu, that | have found So geaa =
nome ia TINS great city. | am thankful
yes am thankful that my dear
Iather Is happy, and" here she paused
10 consider the propriety of the next
1 am thankful that Lars cried when i
anne away. OF course" she added ~
no not like him IN no SaI 49,. 49,,