Year: 1859

only one left at home, whom they would
not part with at any price, - Mrs. Uggla.
who sees her daughter happy aud the best
possible circumstances, almost worshipped
by the best of husbands, whose only fault
is that of being sometimes rather queer
does not rightly know what she, at the pres
ent time has to sigh about.


All the people of Housekeeping had a
great deal to say about Hertha's education
al institution, and especially about the eve
ming Conversations of which we have al
ready spoken but in the mean time she
acquired more and more consequence in the
town, and people became generally agreed
in the opinion that the weekday school
was excellent, and that the Conversation
lessons might be very useful as practice in
foreign languages. The young people of
the town regarded Hertha as sort of Sibyl
to whom they silently or openly propound-
ed all important questions They asked
themselves, What would Hertha say p


And now we will return to


HERTHA's HoME--MoRNING.


Hertha's home was prepared for festi-
val the clear blue sky of midsummer ard
its blazing sun which came forth like
bridegroom from his chamber, and reioiced
himself as q hero to run his course glanced
in through the open windows Of the Iduna-
hall brilliant butterflies 6uttered in upon
the wings af fresh warm summer breezes,
to salute the lilacs and lilies of the valley,
which exhaled and dffused fragrance a,
round the beautiful image of the goddesses
Of youth. 1t is glorious midsummer morn.
ing.


Do you see that tall aud noble woman,
wno IN snow-white attire stands in the beau
tiful room as its priestess The breeze
plays with the light, black-lacc mantle,
which falls from her shoulders, and caress
es with rejoicing breath a countenance,
which, though no longer young, is neverthe.
less possessed Of beauty-of a peculiar
picturesque beauty The eyes and fore
head, especially, are unusually full of ex-
preston, whilst the bitter expression of
the mouth is softened at this moment by
quiet, melancholy smile. 1t is Hertha ex-
peets Yngve home This day, this very
morning he is expected And as Freya, of
old, took an oath of everything in nature
that it should not hurt her beloved son, so
seemed Hertha at this moment to coniure
them all to join with her in welcoming
YngVe. She looked on the beautiful plants,
on the statutes, on all which make the
Iduna-hal temple for the soul, on the
butterflies, and up to the clear blue sky,
with new love, because Yngve would soon
see them in this room, and she, as it were,
| admonished them to be more beautiful than
ever to receive him, for all that was hers
was his also. Many. many things on earth
at the same time circumScribed her Joy and
her hope, but her soul at this moment, ris-
ing above every oppressive fetter, ascend
ed in song of thanksgiving for all that
she had won and for the wealth of this mo-
ment on earth. AS strong tree raises it.
self again after the storm and lifts its head
aloft and spreads out anew its branches as
shelter for the birds of heaven, so did
Hertha raise herself after the conflict of so
many years, full of thanksgiving, of power
and will to comfort and to bless.


Her young sisters entered attired in their
best; they also expected Yngve with eager
yearning for it would make Hertha SO
happy. ......


How handsome You are to-day said
they, embracing her you look like a
bride and like priestess at the same time


Hush, hush, fatterers = said Hertha,
clasping them in her arms, you must not
spoil me. Where is our little motherP


1t was thus that Yngve'S mother was
spoken of by the daughters of the house.


She too entered from her room, not un-
like happy shadow, so pale, but yet at
the same time so full of delicious joy, in so
soon being able TO see her beloved son.


Breakfast was set out in the Idma-hall,
in the midst of lilacs and deliciouSly fra
grant lilies Of the valley The table was
covered with the most exquisite delicacies
which a country life affords nothing was
wanting to complete the whole but the
warm morning beverage, ge,-this waited for
Yngve's arrival. Everything seemed to
wait for Yngve.


That was in the morning at Hertha's
home.


At this very time, scene of quite an
other character was witnessed at about
three English miles distance. A steam
boat was seen burning on lake Wiener 1t
was making way towards tie nearest land.
The shore towards which the steamer was
advancing was cOFeTeu WIN lOI6SJi uulu-
habited and wild. The peasants of the
neighborhood lay as yet sunk in their Sab
bath morning sleep, and such few as had
become aware of the fatal mischance, were
long time in getting the boats of the
shore in action. The occurrence Of any
accident to steamboat is so rare in Swe-
den, that people are little prepared for it..


1t was one of the canal-Steamers on its
way from Gotheborg through the country,
which had this morning taken fire. The
passengers, who had beeu woke out Of their
sleep by the outburSting of the flames,
found themselves, as they rushed on deck,
enveloped in FIRE. The boats on board
were found to be unfit for service, but the
land was near at hand they were making
rapid way towards it, and all still hoped,
Suddenly, however, it struck the engine
ceased to work, and the fire increased on
all sides. They were not many fathoms
from land, but the water around the vessel
was too deep for any to get to shore, ex-
cepting such as could swim. An awful
and heart-rending confusion prevailed, amid
which pale mothers besought men to save
their children.