Norwich bulletin., 1912-05-15
THE BULLETINS SHORT STORY.
THE ARRIVAL OF FRAU HOORN

one fine day, when the children had gone to the swamp for wild flowers to decorate the spare room. Twice a week they had done this for a month.
 We want the grandmutter to feel much at home when she arrives" ex plained Bertha to certain curious neighbors. "Mooch flowers she lofe- ja!"
 The afternoon passenger" due to pass at about 2, found the grass plot almost deserted. but not quite. Franz and Bertha 2d and the twins were in the swamp; the mother was busy i'll the kitchen; Franz senior had gone to Weston, his trips being almost daily. When the whistle blew for the bridge Frau Bertha spared a moment to run to the front door, and was horror struck at what she saw.
 Baby Max was not safe inside the gate, or even on the outside grass; but he was seated between the rails, play ing with the crushed rock ballast which sparkled with bits of mica that had been freshly spread along the roadbe day or two before. On leav- ing the bridge a sudden curve hid Max from the engineer until, with the old style hand brakes, it was impossible to stop in time, though Jo Hirsch sig naled shrilly, yelled, waved and with his fireman did what he could. Max, his back to the cow-catcher, was vaguely frightened at the noise and 'jarrings, but made no move other than to set up a lusty crying. Frau Bertha ran, but her limbs were trem- bling. No earthly power, to her, seemed able to save her child.
 "Ach, Jo Hirsch,'' she screamed. My Maxi My lidle Max"
 On the other side of the cab Hirsch was yelling, gesticulating, as the re- luctant engine slid on and on.
 Fritzy, staring at this double pam tomime, seemed to catch the idea; for, with a frantic howl, he numbered back to where Max had by this time start ed to crawl and had fallen fiat. F'ritzy seized his companion in a pair of strong jaws, anywhere. anyhow, but fortunately only by the clothing, and pulled the screaming child over the rails just as the remorseless engine glided past
 Yards further on Hirsch stopped that engine Frau Busche, almost col lapsing, reached the spot when the train stopped. The other children were also coming. screaming, from the swamp, scattering flowers as they ran "Achl Dat Jo Hirsch!" said Bertha | in telling of 1t afterwards "Eet vos de express: but he get him down from his inchine, undt he hug our Max; undt almos' hug FritZy too, init de tears roonin down hiss face. He don't spik von word: but he det right pack | on bat inchine, undt he blow dat vistle, undt off dat train again go like | it was in bigger horry as it vas pe- 1 fore"
 At this point Frau Bertha would usually stop to laugh out of sheer de- | light over the unlooked-for climax. "All at vonce," she would add | "undt vhiles 1 was still half crazy some von to me say in good old coun- | try Deutsch: My tear daughter, why you been for cry so? look den 1 Dere iss mine own mutter-our chil- i dren's grandmother, from over dei l gross wasser-ja! So it vass. Yet l links me at de first, she vas-vat vol call dem "a ghost, a-haunt. But find oudt how mooch better when sht say: How dat man know where you undt Franz live? De guardt, he tel me back wonder to gedt me off at dt next place where de train shtop. Bu I see no station, yet l see mine taugh- | ter undt my taughter's childer-al here to meet the old grandmutter
 Ach! I see not Franz. Where 1!
 Franz"
 Here Bertha would laugh again, add.
 ing as her final coup:
 T say: Franz, he has gone init dt
 buck board into Weston to meet you | Ach! He go most every day now. bu i he not indt Grandmutter Hoorn before
 back home he cooms "-SpringfielC | Republican.