Little Tora, The Swedish Schoolmistress and Other Stories

ad covered it with evergreen boughs, and sprinkled among them bright flowers, so t

taint of this present world and the worldliness reigning therein. She had entered humbly and

ly tell of privately-done repairs by his wife's untailor-like hand; that man whose very hair was scanty, and was changing colour-she looked up to him as if he had been a prince.

vely and lovable. The baby, who fell much to her care, seemed to have a healing influence on her wounded, humbled, penitent heart. It had for her its artless smile, and its little arms went o

pride. There had been no dressmaking, no consulting of milliner or modiste. Like most Swedish girls, she had a black dress; she had but to put a

the impressions of years, and strengthened in her, day by day, the new purposes

ner of the handkerchief a large K had been embroidered by unskilful hands. Karin knew it as one of her own early trophies, that had been given to her mother in pride when she had received it as a reward for skill shown

en Bilberg and his daughter were expected,

interest and kind advice on the other. They were never to meet again on earth, but they

sure at the meeting and her eagerness to tell her late experiences, did not notice anything particularly serious in the face of the maid. When, however,

s the matter?" aske

I have lost my mothe

something, and felt that I was different from other little girls, but I did not really understand what it was. I have had everything I wanted, and papa has been so kind, and you too, Karin, but there was something. Where I have been the children did so love their mamma,

ows in front, and on the long, low, rocky ridge beyond them. Possessionaten Bilberg was smoking a cigar in the wide porch, and quietly thinking. Elsa had flown dow

mply, "I am sorry to hear that you have had trouble. Your m

d feeble," w

t, and then began to

d his face wore a most peculiar expression,

ith young companions. There is something about her as if her pleasure were the most i

nheritance, as her father was not without his own tendencies i

d I am pleased with you. Elsa needs now some one

. Was she to be dismissed, when she felt almost as much

ht to leave my home. What Elsa needs, though, is a mother's care. She needs one wh

d and said abruptly: "I am going to be married, and I want you to tell Elsa about it. Tell her that it is the lady whom the children called 'aunty' there in the country-th

ure she will be a good mother to Elsa. I really believe she would hardly have taken me if she had not longed to get my child under her care," said Pos

y taking a seat on his knee and putting her arms round his neck. "Papa! papa!"

I am sure she is the right kind of a wo

upstairs in a less ecstatic mood than when she came down, and told Karin