Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1896-11-26
TWO TH4,NksG1v1NGs.

rience I'm This Country
She sat patiently awaiting her turn
in the crowded intelligence office late
in the afternoca of a chilly November.
day. There seemed to be more appli-
cants for work than places to be
filled, and Dagmar's 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: 'Werc they stropg?" "Could
they COOKE" 'Were they experimental
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 il.
Sweden. There she was Il child among
her schoolmates; here she must take
her place among the working people i'll
the world.
If she only had Siegred's address!
| SieSred was her school friend and
Il year before. and had written once to
1
ders of the new country. Siegred had
married q 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 OF 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
honest eyes and the bundle of. clean,
we'll made clothes.
But little sleep came to Dagmar that
first night in her new home; she was
trying to think of herself under these
new 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. Dagmar's
heart was quite full when she thought
of the dear father who had been her
friend and companion i'll her child
hood and budding womanhood. She
loved him none the less only had felt
hurt when he had brought home
young wife-a girl not much older
than 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 than she? Now since Signe had
Gene 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
bad always done since her babyhood:
for now the old man had eyes OF ears
for no one but the dark-eycd Signe.
He did not even offer serious objection
to nagmars 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 Daglnar cried. too-ev-
cry one did when the boat was leaving.
She thought of the good times she had
had on Christmas and Oh the Kings
birthday and Midsummer day, and
Lars seemed to be the center OF all
these pleasures.
She was awakened by 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 Il great dinner
going ON and the whole house wore Il
festal appearance.
/ The cook told her it was Thanks
giving day. 'And do you thank God
only once year in America she
asked. II have always said my pray
ers every night"
At the morning family senyire she
rehenrsed to herself her debts Snf graft !
tude to God. II am thank fnl," she
said. "tlMt have found SoH GOOD a
home In this great city. amsthankful
yes. L am thankful that any dear
fatl.er is happy, and" here ale. paused
10 consider tho pr0prlety or the next.
II nm thankfutthat Lhrs cried when l. /
.c,lne away. OF course she Allttril, ~ !
idoinot llko Hin to- lG sad. hut thcn"-l
Il w0mnn's fancy. me-, .,.., h34ii|
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