The Redwood gazette., 1910-08-30

was eleven years old, thin and i'll noGr-
ished. Her back and limbs were sore
and aching. But the ache in her heart
made the biggest trouble The last
straw had been added ITO the burden
upon her small shoulders. They had
taken away Grimm. Always at night,
however tired she might be, she had
turned to Grimm for comfort and hope.
Each time had Grimm whispered to
her that the prince or the fairy would
come and deliver her out of the wicked
enchantment. Every night she had
taken fresh courage and strength from
Grimm.
Lena's home was in Texas, away up
among the 9ittle mountains on the Pc
dernales river, in a little town called
Fredericksburg. They are all German
people who live in Fredericksburg.
They are very thrifty people.
Thriftiest among them was Peter
Hildesmuller. Lena's father, and that
is why Lena was sent to work in the
hotel at the quarries. thirty miles
away. She earned So every week
there, and Peter added her wages to
his well guarded store.
Lena raised the lid of an old empty
case that haG once contained canned
corn and got out a sheet of paper and
a piece of pencil. She was going to
write letter to her mamma Tommy
Ryan was going to post 1t for her at
Ballinger's.
The stump of candle was burning
low, so Lena hastily bit the wood
from around the lead of her pencil and
began. This is the letter she wrote:
Dearest Mammal want so much to see
you and Gretel and Claus and Heinrich
and little Adolf! 1 am so tired! want
to see YOU Today was slapped by Mrs.
Maloney and had no supper. could not
bring in enough wood, for my hand hurt.
She took my book yesterday. / mean
"Grimm's Fairy Tales which Uncle Leo
gave me. 1t did not hurt any one for me
to read the book. try to work as we'll
as can, but there is so much to do
read only little bit every night Dear
mamma, l shall tell you what am going
to do. Unless you send for me tomorrow
to bring me home l shall go to a deep
place / know in the river and drown 1t
is wicked to drown, suppose, but want
4
am very tired, and Tommy is waiting for
the letter. You will excuse me, mamma
If 1 do it. Your respectful and loving
daughter, LENA.
Tommy was still waiting faithfully
when the letter was concluded, and
when Lena dropped it out she saw
him pick it up and start up the steep
hillside Without undressing she blew
out the candle and curled herself upon
the mattress on the floor.
At 1890 o'clock old man BalIinger
came out of his house in his stocking
feet and leaned over the gate, smolx-
ing his pipe. 1t was time for the
Fredericksburg mail to come pattering
up the road.
Old man Ballinger had waited only
few minutes when he heard the live
" hoof beats of Fritz's team OF little
black mules, and very soon afterward
his covered spring wagon stood in
front of the gate.
Fritz Bergman was man of three
sentiments-or. to be more accurate.
four. the pair of mules deserving to
be reckoned individually. Those mules
were the chief interest and joy Of his
existence Next came the emperor of
Germany and Lena HiIdesmuIler.
"Tell me-" said Fritz when be was
ready to start. contains the sack
letter to Frau HiIdesmuIler from the
little Lena at the Quarries? One came
in the last mail to say that she is
little sick already. Her mamma is
very anxious to hear again"