The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1910-10-11
THE CANDLE WAS BURNING LOW


and aching But the ache in her hear
made the biggest trouble. The last
straw had been added to the burden
upon her small shoulders They ha6
taken away Grimm. Always at night
however tired she might be, she ha6
turned to Grimm for comfort and hope
Each time had Grimm whispered tt
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 UT
among the little 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 quarrles. 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 had once contained canned
corn and got out sheet of paper and
a piece Of pencil She was going to
write letter to her mamma Tommy
Ryan was going to post it 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 ! am SO tired! l 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 well
as l can, but there is so much to do /
read only a little bit every night Dear
mamma. I shall tell you what l am going
to do. Unless you send for me tomorrow
to bring me home l shall go to a deep
place l know in the river and drown. 1t
Is wicked to drown, l suppose. but want
ed to see you, and there Is no one else.
am very tired, and Tommy is waiting for
the letter. You will excuse me. mamma
II l do 1t. Your respectful and loving
daughter. LENA.
Tommy was still waiting faithfully
when the letter was concluded, and
when Lena dropped 1t out she saw
him pick 1t 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 Ballinger
came out of his house in his stocking
feet and leaned over the gate. smok-
ing his pipe. 1t was time for the
Fredericksburg mail to come pattertng
up the road.
Old man Ballinger had waited only
a few minutes when he heard the live
ly hoof beats of Fritz's team of little
black mules. and very soon afterward
bis covered spring wagon stood in
front of the gate.
Fritz Bergman was man Of three
sentiments-or. to be more accurate.
be reckoned individually. Those mules
were the chief interest and Joy of his
existence. Next came the emperor of
Germany and Lena Hildesmuller.
'Tell me-" said Fritz when he was
ready to start. contains the sack a
letter to Frau Hildesmuller from the
little Lena at the quarries? One came
in the last mail to say that she is a
little sick already. her mamma is
very anxious to hear again"
EYES," said old man Ballinger. "thar's
a letter for Mrs. Helterskelter or some
SIGH name. Tommy Ryan brung it
over when he come. Her little gal
workin' over thar, you say"
I'm the hotel" shouted Fritz as he
gathered up the lines; eleven years
old and not bigger as frankfurter!
The close fist of Peter Hlldesmullery'
Up the road went the little black
mules at their steady trot. while Fritz
Numbered at them occasional words of
endearment and cheer.
These fancies occupied the mind of
the mail carrier until he reached the
big post oak forest. eight miles from
Ballinger's. Here his nominations
were scattered by the sudden fash and
report Of pistols and whooping as If
from whole tribe of Indians. A band
Of galloping centaurs closed in around
the mail wagon. One Of them leaned
over the front wheel. covered the driv-
er with his revolver and ordered him
to stop. Others caught at the brides
Of Donder and Bitten.
"Donnerwetterg' shouted Fritz with
all his tremendous voice. "Wass list?
Release your hands from dose mules.
We vas der United States MALL"
Hurry up. Dutchp' drawled mel
ancholy voice. Don't you know when
you're In a stickup? Reverse your
mules and climb out of the cart"
1t Is due to the breadth Of Hondo
Bill's demerit and the largeness Of his
achievements to state that the hold
ing up of the Fredericksburg mail was
not perpetrated by way Of an exploit
AS the lion while in the pursuit Of
prey commensurate to his prowess
might set frivolous foot upon cas-
ual rabbit In his path. so Hondo Bill
and his gang had gwooped sportiYely