Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1896-03-06
AN ODD COUPLE.
Usually every community has a few
dividuals that can be called originals,

a ~ " ~ - ~ " ~ Il Lilo
Usually every community has few
individuals that can be called originals,
and by their originality attain classic
al fame, and among several such char
acters I remember old Fla Maord and
the provincial letter carrier, Johannes
Isaksson.
Fla Maord had her little history and
her proud recollections in spite of her
humble station in life. Ever since she
was child, and long after she had at
tanned the gracefulness in figure Of a
barrel, she had been in the service of
the harons Of Svanaholm, and when the
old baron departed this life, like all
other barons, and his sob, the young
honorable, succeeded his father, feeling
his aesthetic mind suffer from daily
beholding old Fia's corpulence, Fla
was pensioned off and given little cot
tage on the estate and enough pasture
ground co support in comfort the female
of the bull-in other words, a COW ct
the regulation pattern and size. Old
Fla had it most comfortable in her old
age. Not party, wedding, christening
or funeral took place for miles around
but that old Fla must be there and
cook, and as Fla was not by any means
bashful, her larder was constantly pro-
vided with the choicest of eatables and
drinkables.
Old Fla was certainly not beauty.
tol Of r,,17c+aaloc that
were the envy Of the young men in the
village. Her form partook more of the
resemblance Of a Dutch cheese than
syIph, and to behold Fla sailing down
the village street, like galley under
full sail, was sight for the gods. Of
course Fla was not to blame for her ap-
pearance-that was accepted as freak
of the Creator-but Fla was Of such ex-
tremely moral temperament that as soon
as she discovered that any young man
and woman in her neighborhood were
spooning, or an engagement reported,
Fla did her best to break OR hinder it,
claiming it was all frivolity and the
work Of the evil one. Of course Fla
claimed to be prompted only by the
best intentions, but this little streak of
virtue in old Fla was not appreciated
by the young people, and Fla was con-
sidered good, lawful subject for all
the pranks that the depraved minds OF
the young village people were capable of,
and young peoples minds in our mod
ern times are very elastic.
Imagine, then, the glorious rumor that
spread that old Fla herself had been
made subject for the lance of the evil
one and that the object of her tender,
maidenly love was the old letter carrier,
Johannes And to think of the conse-
quences Of letting love loose in such a
big body as Fia's! The result might well
be considered serious, and the villagers
were on the tiptoe of expectation.
Old Johannes had, early in life, been
steward On big estate and associated
with city people, and even met foreign
ers, and acquired high toned language
and manner which, all combined, had
conquered cid Fia's maiden reserve.
One day Johannes had called at Fla S
cottage to deliver letter, and as this
was something SO extraordinary, an event
in Fia's life, Johannes must perforce
remain and read the communication. 1t
turned out to be a notification that Fla
had inherited the respectable sum Of
1000 rix dollars from member of the
noble family of Svanaholm, and Fla
had, therefore, the attraction Of an heir.
ess for Johannes.
Fla, on her part, considered Johannes
as great man. Was not his language
like what she sometimes had heard at
Svanaholm? And did he not represent
his majesty the kings postoffice depart.
ment! The best Of everything from Fla s
larder was placed before Johannes, and
he was Toasted like king. The satisfac
ton was mutual, for as Johannes sale
one day: "Mamselle Fla, it is so pleas
urable to visit here, when one has as
suetuded with edifcated persons, anc
again converse with an eguivoke ant
cynic female. %
Old Fla just sat there, the picture Of
establishment at the big words, Of which
she did not understand the meaning, but
it charmed the old girl, and Johannes
learning was rewarded with pancakes
and frequent glasses of something Ri;
claimed kept rheumatism out of tbt
bones.
Johannes would have been made O.
stone if such attention had not touched
his heart Or his stomach. Whether Fla O.
Johannes first made the proposition tt
visit the village pastor and request tina
the banns be published between then
will forever remain mystery. III
Sweden it is the custom for the pastor {,
eead the names from the pulpit afte
service cd Sunday Of those that intend t.
marry, and this is done for three Sun
days III snccesslosi.
Isqtlf Fla and Johannes knew that i
their ias$aation became known to Shc vi
layers they wopld be exposed to muci
sanb.eas8n tness froHa the young people
ard they decided Oh a plan that the,
thought was very cleyer. This was fol
johannes and Fla to start, dressed il
sheir ordinary everyday dress, by gepa
rate routes and then to meet at the
edge Of the forest, where they could put
on their Sunday costume, which they
would bgjng with them tied UP in q
bundle
The tive benigjlted old souls had
many good laugh at tbs clever way il
which they would fool their tornaeItor s,
The day finally arrived, and early il
the morning Johannes started out, car
rying with him his Sunday dress. tieG
sap in bundle. Unfortunately be wa
compelled to pass through the yillage
street. and here he was accosted with
the inquiry by enc Of the young fellow
of the village "where the postmastel
was going to SO early in the lnsrning?'
"Oh,'' replied Jobannes-and he tries
to look dignifed--ttjast peregrinatins
terra ir1na'' Johannes expected the big
words would astonish his tormentor
but the boy stuck TO him and succeeded
in discovering that Johannes Sunda,
coat was in the bundle. The ylllagen
were at one informed Of the fact, ane
Johannes Was followed at a distance BY
one Of the boys. Soon Fla was seen wad
ding through the village street, alst
carrying a bundle, and the yiiiagerI