The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1897-01-01

7s -
asked such 4 thine. That was the
thrush, she said. He L. not usually
30 much afraid a m % IS
..1e lifted her out OF the swing, ana
she went TO the tlellis There lay tho
dark-yellow fruit and the foliage. NJ
!" Your thrush has given you q, treat,
ne said.
"She shook her lead and laid q
beautiful apricot in his hand. YOU
she said. softly.
Nov your great-g-andfather cnme
back to the garden gain. snke carc.'
said he. You will MT easily get rid Of
her. Then he spoke of business mat.
tcrA and beth went into the s.l0use.
..In the evening little Barbara was
allowed to sit at the table with them.
The kind young man had asked for
her Things were not quite as she
could have wished. The guest sat at
the table beside her father; but she
was only little girl as vet, and had
to sit down at the foot, next the young
est clerk. and that is why she finished
her supper too soon. Then she rose
and stole to her fathers chair, but he
was talking 80 earnestly with the
young man over premiums and dis
counts that the latter had no eyes for
the little Barbara Yes, yes. 1t Is
eighty years ago. But the old grand
mother remembers well how impatient
little Barbara grew Mt that, and was
not to be propitiated by her good faith.
err. The clock struck 10. and now she
hn6V tn Mt. ~
to your grandfather he asked her,
snail we swing again tomorrow?
ana Barbara was quite happy once
more. He makes n fool of himself
over children said your great-grand-
father, but. in reality. he was himself
unreasonably fond of his little girl.
Tle next day. toward evening, the
young man went away.
linen eight years passed. In the
winter time little Barbara would often
stand by her glass door and breathe on
the frosted paMcs. Then she would
!ook out through the peep-hole down
into the snowy garden and think of the
beautiful summer time, Of the dane
ing leaves and warm sunshine. and the
thrush which always made its nest in
the treilis, and how once the ripe april
cots were shaken down upon the
ground, and then of one particular
summer day of which she always
thought, when she thought of summer
at all. So the years went by. Little
Barbara was now twice as old-in fact.
she was no longer little Barbara-but
that one summer day was always
bright spot In her memory. Then Mt
he came again."
'Who?" asked her grandson, smiling.
THE summer day."
YES" said the grandmother. "He
was a veritable summer day."
And then?'
Then there was a betrothal, and lit
tie Barbara became your graDdmotl-
er.sWho now sits among you, telling old
tales. But 1t had not vet gone quite so
far as that. First there was a we'd
ding, and then your grandfather had
his hall built. With the garden and
the flowers all was now indeed over.
But he had no longer need of them.
lie soon had living flowers to enliyen
his noon hours. When the hall was
finished the wedding came off there. 1t
was merry wedding, and the guests
talkcd about 1t long afterward. You
who sit here, You were not present
then. 1t is true, but your fathers and.
grnndfathers, your mothers and grand-
mothers were, many Of them, ard they
were people who could put i'll their
word. These Were quiet. modest days.
We did not seek to know more than
the kings and their ministers. and he
who thrust his nose into politics was
called by us a state tinker and il he
were shoemaker We gave his neigh.
bors our boots to mend. The servant
maids were oil named Urine and Slime,
md every one Wore a dress which
suited his position. Now you even
wear mustaches, like young squires or
cavaliers. What would you have,
pray? Do you all want to rule, too!
Yes, grandmother" said the host. i
And the nobility and the high gen-
try, who We're born for that, what is
to become of thcm?"
sOh, nobility" said the young moth
er, looking up into her husbands face,
with proud. loving eyes.
He smiled and said,i abolished,
grandmother. or we shall all be bar
ons. all Germany, man and mouse.
sec no other alternative"
The grandmother made, no response
to this. She only said: TAT my we'd
ding there was no talk ab I:lt stat, his
tory. The conversation vent on it's
even gait. and we were jret as happy
as you, in your new-fanAled compa-
MES. At table amusing riddles were
propounded end doggerekY composed.
At dessert we sang, your health. my
good neighbor, till empty the glass;
and all the other pretty songs that are
now forgotten. Your grandfathers
clear, tenor voice was always to be
distinguished. People were more po-
lite to each other in those times. Dis
putting and clamor were regarded as
very unseemly in a fine. company.
Now everything has come to b ediffe.-
ent; but your grandfather was gcll-
tie, peaceable man. 1t is so long siEce
lie left this world. Fe went OH before
me. 1t is time that followed HIM"
The grandmother was silent mo-
ment. No one spoke-only she felt her
hands seized. Every one wanted to-
hold them. A peaceful smile fitted
over the dear old face. Then she
looked up at her grandson and said:
Here In this hall stood also lis coffin.
VrpV OF hot