Little Tora, The Swedish Schoolmistress and Other Stories

n outside and quite separate from the sacred edifice, like an ecclesiastical functionary whose own soul has never entered into the Holy of holies. No; the parish of Kul

To it came on Sunday the rustics of the parish as regularly as they went to their week-day work. Only here and there in

home. Then came the second ringing, when prudent, far-away worshippers took psalm-book and pocket-handkerchief in hand and started demurely, at a Sunday pace, for the house of God. At a quarter to ten the clergyman had been seen in the dim distance, and the fact was announ

n angels might have gathered there in their fair garments. The worshippers, however, on the women's side were all in black-black dresses, and black kerchiefs over the heads, like solemn, mou

hurriedly took their places, and in a formal, perfunctory manner put down their heads for a supposed private prayer for a blessing o

the good things of life, was sweet and loving. Her companion was tall and strongly built, and somewhat gaily dressed in garments made in every particular according to the latest fashion. Two long ostrich feather

tute for a gown hanging from the nape of his neck to the floor. In one hand he carried

e put down on the narrow shelf her prayer-book and a tumbled red handkerchief, and then bowed her head. Suddenly, in the midst of her devotions, she hastily withdrew the offendi

the face of her companion for sympathy. Instead of the responsive glance she

d when her companion went down the aisle at an unusually rapid pace. The rustics generally lingered to hear when there was to be an auction, what letters were to be distributed, and

Long, narrow black lines stretched off in every direction as over the well-trodden paths the cottagers plodded awa

the swallow winging its flight to its winter home. He who careth for the birds would surely care for her. It was plain she was one of the humble of the earth in every sense of the word. Her black head kerchief was old and worn, and her clumsily-fitting