Gritli's Children

and was startled when she suddenly saw her standing just inside the door of the sitting-room. Elsli had brushed her light brown hair carefully back from her forehead,

ig blue eyes had a timid expression as she glanced toward N

re you the girl who is c

and sit down by me, and let us have a little talk. Isn't your name Elsli?" she continued; "mamma has some errands for you this morning; sewing-silk and pencils and egg

ied Elsli. "I get tired at home, because I h

what it is to feel

like to lie down and never get up again. Hanseli is getting dreadfully heavy, and I can sca

we? Don't you feel sometimes as if you never wanted to stand up again, and wouldn't you lik

pen; you only just h

from usual; wouldn't you lik

like to die. I never thought of t

s together. I never talk to mamma about it, because she always begins to cry. But I will tell you, and then you will be gla

Stanhope entered the room. She was much surprised to see the two litt

nor about the eggs either; I don't care for any of them just now; it

well pleased,

ow; it will be time enough for the er

easant intercourse to enliven her weary hours, and Elsli at the tho

home, and Elsli told about her little brothers and the baby, and then about Fani; and once started upon that topic she hardly knew where to stop. She told how kind he was to her, and how clever at his lessons, how he helped her with her exercises, and she did not know how she could live without him. If s

re tender as she talked on about her brother. As for Nora, she did not lose a word of it all,

to go; we shall expect you bac

will not be at home till eigh

r, she darted off, not even stopping to speak to Emma, lest she should be detained. As

stop when I tell you to?" It was F

angry, and sending fearful threats after her; but he grew soon out of breath, and when he stopped to catch his br

d reached the house at Oak-ridge. Nora had been watchi

one, and Nora told her, with great satisfaction, that her mother had gone out for

she continued, growing more and more excited as she went on, "who can tell how beautiful it will be? Far more lovely than anything we have ever seen; and there will be no sick people the

ing wonder to her excited tones. It seemed as if she saw the beauty that the song described, and her voice trembled with emotion. When she ceased with the last words

the song?" ask

eed!" said El

o go with me, where

going?" a

ld go too. She has talked to me again and again about it; and I long to go, because no

enthusiasm of the beautiful hope which shone in

it together. And perhaps we shall be called at the same time; and how delightful it would be to go together and walk in the

he glories of the future life were pictured to her, and a wholly new world o

ach was occupied with his own plans. Fred took the road towards home. He had a very interesting description of a rare little animal to read to his aunt, and he was very gl

had noticed that when Feklitus couldn't understand anything in his lessons, he always went to Elsl

g in a pudding-bowl. She was reading aloud from a paper that lay on the table before her. "Take four large eggs, two spoonfuls of flour, and the rind of a lemon"

gh stool, spread his book

, I want to read you a description of it. The '

I'm listen

n the night; usually Krawy! Krawy! but sometimes Uplumb! Uplumb! The hen lays fo

wo spoonfuls of flour, and the rind of a lemon," said h

e had spoken quite seriously, wi

s she observed her mistake. "I was only thinkin

k that birds lay flour and lemo

esh tast

le Oscar stood as close to his aunt, as he could, on the right, Emma pulled her head down on the lef

, that he has heard another that he likes a great deal better. What do you say, aunty? What sha

sently. Now, Oscar, what is this verse that Feklitus

Equality,

d the juice

ted O

that

r no

itus that there isn't even a verb in that motto, and it won't do. I advise you to ask him

of a speech! that's just the thing!" and Osca

f relief as he disappeared, "it's my

d her aunt; "I haven't the gift of hearing diffe

, and not have any time to paint and draw. I am sure he ought to be a painter,

o think. And, then, who knows whether Fani has really talent enough; it n

tter for Fani to be a painter, if he can, than to go into th

he said kindly, "If Fani had any real prospect of becoming a painter,

; "it seems to me that Emma is talki

s not to be

said, "what i

at is, adorns or beautifies

oo; a man who paints scener

said Emma, and s

for a while, a

rly Emma behaved? Do you suppose she

his aunt calmly; "she has no ide

d. She's not often very particular to know the meaning of a word; she's

e; for a sudden familiar

oh, a snak

to his pocket, and t

t another still wilder scream betokened such dire

g down on a pretty little green snake on the step below, that was wriggling along as fast as possible

y; "if you are so afraid of that harmless little

ch me! it is a snake!" cried t

g away," said his aunt; "I

ing. But I think Rikli ought to be taught not to behave so ridiculously.

ther Fred's method was a very wise one. Something must be done about it, but not just this; so she