The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1896-11-26
TWO THANKSGIvINGs.
The Story of n Swedish Girls Expo
rience In This Country.

rience In This Country.
e She sat patiently awaiting her turn
in the crowded intelligence Office late
in the afternocn of chilly November
$dsy. There seemed to be more appli-
cants for work. than places to be
filled, and Dagmars pale face grew
more tense and almost hopeless when
a gay, chattering trio came in to regis
ter for places. She had heard the.
questions asked of those who applied
for work: 'sWere they stropg?" "Could
they cook % Were they experienced?''
Heart and courage failed her when
: they asked her these questions. She
was not strong, she could not cook,
and she had had but little experience
in housekeeping.
/ After all, she concluded, perhaps she
had done very foolish thing when
she left the comfortable old home ir.
Sweden. There she was child among
her schoolmates; here she must take
her place among the working people in
the world. 7
If she only had Siegred's address!
Siegred was her school friend and
companion, who had come to America
year before, and had written once to
her old friends in Grenna ct the won
ders OF the new country. Siegred had
married a rich husband, who had a
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 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 to her
ability; but her tender conscience was
spared this necessity, for the lady was
not overeXacting in the matter Of quail
ifications for chambermaid, and took
her in with no other reference than her
well made clothes.
first night in her new home; she was
trying to think Of herself under these
news conditions. She felt so worldly
wise with her large experience Of the
last two weeks, this simple, little, fair
haired maiden. Surely, if her father
could know how well she had man
aged on the long journey. he would no
longer think her a child. Dagmars
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 not much older
than herself. Had not Dagmar al
ways been loving and dutiful daugh-
ter? Gould anyone in all Sweden
mend his socks or cook his herring bet
ter than she? Now, since Signe had
come to preside over the little house
hold, he never found time to take long
walks with his little girl in the sum
mer twilights 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 Dagmar's proposition to seek her
fortune in America
No one seemed to care very much
about 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 to be the center Of all
these pleasures: .t II
She was awakened by a shrill alarm
that the cook had sent for her, and
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
festal appearance.
The cook told her it was Thanks
giving day Z. And do you thank God
only once q year in America ~ she
asked. Il have always said my pray
sers every night. =
At the morning family service she
rehearsed to herself her debts Of graft
#tude to God. Il am thankful, she
said, that have found SO good a
home in this great city. am thankful
~ es, am thankful that my dear
father is happy and, < here she paused
to consider the propriety OF the next,
ssI am thankful that Lars cried Whenl
came away. OF course, Z she added, 81
8 do not like him Ia ha sad hlIf them,