Year: 1869

OF course you've heard of the Island of
Rugen? It's large Island in the Baltic
Sea, south of Sweden, and not far from
the German coast. Many years ago, when
l was mate of ship that sailed up and
down the Baltic, in the timber trade,
happened to 60 ashore for run at Rugen !;
and there it was that an old fisherman
told me the following story, which am
now going to tell you:


"You see that long strip of Island 2"
he said, pointing to ridge of rock sel a.
ated from Rulen by narrow channel.
"If you look at it you'll declare that once
upon a time it must have been Joined to
the lard on which we're standing, and
you'll be right. Once that Island was
part Of Rugen; and I'll tell you how they
came to be separated. It's many long
year since it happened. had the story
from my grandfather. who said how he
had heard it from his mother when he was
quite little boy.


SIN the days when these two Islands
formed one, there dwelt here two women,
one on the present Rugen, the other on
what is now Iiddensee Island. They
were neighbors, but they seldom met; for
one of them, who was called Dame Hidda,
was wicked woman, with whom no one
liked to have much to do. She never had
coed word for any one; and when she
paid visit to the cottage, fri,nls whom
she had been to see were always sure to
miss something soon after she was gone.
Moreover, she was very ayaricious and
stingy. and in all the years she had dwelt
at Rugen she had never been known to
give anything away, except old potatoes
that had be,ome mouldy and unfit to eat.


"One day, when evening was already
appro: ling, there came traveller stump
ling along the road. He had been upset
from boat while fishing on the coast, ,and
had consequently no luggage, and not
even hat on his head, so that his appear
ance was rather forlorn. When he saw in
the distance the white walls of Dame
Hidda's cottage, he said to himself
'Good,' and he repeated this three times
over, and then made the best of his way
to the cottage. He knocked at the door !;
and when Dame Hidda looked out of the
window to see who was there, he made her
polite bow, and asked if she would kind
ly give supper and q nights lodging to a
traveller in distress.


"'No, no ; replied Dame Hidda, in a
surly tone; ''theres nothing here for any
poor travellers. am only poor woman
myself, my cottage is small. as you may
see, and I've hardly anything to eat for
myself, and nothing to give away. Why
don't you 60 to my neighbor yonder ?
She's better of than l am And she
slammed the door in the applicants face.


"Now, the traveller, in looking through
the pane had very plainly seen good and
plentiful supper smoking on the table
namely large dish of baked fish and a
fine white loaf. The smell of the steam
ing fish was very delicious, and there was
plenty for half dozen people, though
the covetous old woman was quite alone
in the house. So he went away, shaking
his head and muttering, Dame Hidda does
not tell the truth


she next betook himself to the cottage
the old woman had pointed out; but on
looking through the window, he was at
once struck with the shabby and poverty.
stricken look of the interior.


"'IIere's bad luck = he said. 4 shall
receive the came kind of welcome here
that was given to me yonder. Well,
there's no harm in trying, and he gave q



modest rap at the door.


"Dame fll eth, who lived in the little
hut, was seated in the chimney corner,
knitting away with all her might. with a
large basket Of coarse worsted by her side,
when she was disturbed by the stranger s
knock. She rose Immediately, and went
and opened the door, wondering not a
little who her visitor might be.


"'My good lady, said the man, Il am a
poor traveller who has been unfortunate,
l am tired ard hungry, and want shelter
for the night. Allow me to come into
your cottage


"Then the old dame pitied him, and
opened the door wide, and said
"Come in, and welcome to the best
can give you. have not much to offer,
for am poor; but if you can be content
with q little soup and piece Of bread,
they shall be heartily at your service and
l will manage to find you q bed for the
night


$50 she gave him her hand, and led
him into her little room, where the strang.
ers wants were quickly attended to. The
u Al