After Long Years and Other Stories

the mountains. Here he owned a large house, surrounded by a beautiful garden. A short distance from the house stood a great number of oli

The sun was fast declining and the men, before leaving the grounds for the day, tried to extinguish a small fire which they

n the sunlight, while the valley lay in shadow. The two children enjoy

tle girl, Almira, who could not run so fast, lost her footing and fell helpless on the ground as the lion was approaching her. Antonio quickly seized a gl

g his eyes fixed upon the torch. The enraged lion again stood still, growled and roared louder than before, and once more stood ready to spring. Antonio plucked up courage, and steadily

ock. The mother pressed her child's pale face close to her own, and their tears mingled. The father turned his eyes, full of gratitude, toward heaven. He drew Antonio, inwardly trembling, close

s only too glad to have saved Almira; and at night he thanked God for