Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1901-05-30
w. ~ - = = 80 ISS@WGSS% 800 GG 1906
! FOR AN0THER'S FAlIIT, !
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Continued.

ten to her once to thank her. but haG
received no reply. Surely, though
she would write for Christmas,
Mammals letters mentioned neither
her nor any other Westerbergers-r
ton of an attack.
Christmas Eve was there before
realized it. The Hubner's son, the
student at the Gymnasium, had come
home; Herr and Frau Hubner had
met him, and the horses, home-return-
ing, painted beneath their heavy load.
/ had never seen so many Christmas
packages in one place.
The postman had a man with him,
who carried in a bag on his back all
sorts of boxes. while the postman him
self had three of four fastened to-
gether across his shoulder | saw all
this when going for a walk; directly
after dinner l started off Out-of-
doors, in the open air | felt the op-
preston of my soul the least This
time | did not turn my steps towards
the village, but in the opposite direC-
ton; l did not desire to see all the
Christmas preparations,-wha were
they to me, Upon the high-road in
the midst of the forests | should be
reminded of them the least. So with
hasty steps | descended into the
valley; l met several sleighs upon
each of which lay a Christmas tree
1t looked very much like snow, in fac
a few flakes were already falling.
felt more and more disconsolate. more
and more anxious; my young heart
was filled with longing. l had moth
ing, nothing in the world! Mamma
did not love me, no. she loved me no
IOnger: she had sold herself for my
sake, and by this sacrifice had rem
dered me more wretched than | wouli
have been more wretChed than | would
perience hunger and want. And the
worst of it was that she had sold he"
soul as we'll She no longer felt that
she was helping to make me miser
able, she thought like her spouse, and
if indeed a remnant of love still lin
geTcd within her for me, this too
would soon be bestowed upon another
object All, how terrible is the
thought of having a brother or a
brother or sister whom one cannot
love, whom one must hate. l already
hated this child with my whole soul
with a hatred such as can only be
cherished by a young creature re-
jected while thirsting for love. How
well they all seemed to understand
how to torment me,
A prisoner was better off than was,
ne could work for the years of FREQ
dom to come was inactive. | had
no set purpose in view, ! was like a
child undcr-age, whose wishes arc not
needed because she is childish, and
who is not allowed to express an
opinion. had not even any money.
would not ask mamma for any. nor
would | ask cousin either; | could not
even buy a trining Christmas gift for
the faithful old soul. What did I
need money for, they probably
thought | was provided with cloth
ing and food, and more might cause
trouble: | might have gone away with
it. Time alone was given me. ample
LiIlN III WHICH W NbuNlutl NY dNllOIlN,
and possibly to see what a simpleton
l had been TO refuse my wealthy
sutton.
| clinched my fists in my muff And
they talked about a persons. wo-
mans, free will, Was it in my power
to escape from this position? Ger
tainly not In what way? / had not
even the money to take me to the
nearest town, not even enough to pay
my expenses at the most inexpensive
hotel until I could find position, not
enough to ray tho fee at an employ
meut bureau or the cost of an adyer-
tisement. ] could not beg my wav
upon the htgh-road. 1t sounded so
simple: by oEe's own power. through
life independently, But how difficult
it is for a girl who has not been
trained thus from her earliest youth
This had been my relatives intention,
but illness. that miserable illness had
interfered, Oh. was a begger in
worldly goods, in protection. in love!
Occupied with these thoughts | had
not needed the distance I had gone.
when suddenly stood at the point
where the road wound around a sharp
ly-projecting rock, and upon the other
side sloped towards a ravine. guarded
by plain low wall The day wa
drawing to a close. and casting its
last faint light over the ravine with its
frs. over the hills round about | was
surrounded by a grand impressive soil
tude. There was not a sound in these
woods. the snowfakes dance around
me. l held my breath and listened.
Suddenly | grew uneasy-all was so
still, there was not to be heard even
the rustic Of a leaf. the crack of a
whip. not a shot re-echoed in tho
woods. Even the sportsman was not
hunting today It was Christmas
peace upon earth for e>ary creature:
peace and joy. happy meetings ard
happy hours-but not for me,
My grief oTercame me, I seated
myself upOn the little wall in the snow