Little Tora, The Swedish Schoolmistress and Other Stories

st. This was no legally-sanctioned Swedish moving-day, and yet it

two establishments were, even to their loading, like a pair of twins. In each was the furniture for one simple room, a sofa-bed being the striking article in the inventory. A

form; though both parties knew that she would soon be opening that door and coming into lawful possession of all the effects, remnants,

fully grown, had been the little Tora, the singer of one public performance. Now she had in her pocket her greatest treasure-the paper that pronounced her a fully-fledged schoolmistress; w

for Upsala University, with his arrangements complete for

And don't have any 'food-days'; I could not bear that. But you must not live too low, and pull yourself d

way. I shall teach boys in the evening, and study after they have gone to bed. I have served a good apprenticeship with the doctor's chaps these years. I understand packing lessons into youngsters to be given out in

ld you?" said To

willing to help I am willing to let help me. Of course, I shall enjoy a good substantial dinner once a week, but I really care more to be with the family at that house. Gunner is a splendid fellow, as you know, and his father draws all kinds of nice people about him, I hear. I did not dare to tell

sight-a token of the honours he had lately won at his examination, and would be striving to win at the old centre of learning. The kind neighbours whom he had known from boyhood had added to his equipment-here a cheese, and there a pat of butter or a bag of fresh biscuits; but he did not need to op

an triumph. She had reached the goal towards which she had long been striving. She was now an independent worker, with a profession by which she could earn an honourable living. She was a teacher, "a te

w through groves of bright birches, and at last out on the rolling meadows. The fences had disappeared, and but for a lone landmark

right stream threading its midst, and then there was a triumphant sweep up to the l

meadow, and there "the forefathers of the vale" had

ing the wide playground. Where "the field for sport" ended at the road there

id the driver, with a whimsical look. "Nils is

and stepped up to the wagon to help Tora down. She shook his hand kindly, and said, "I hear you ar

ered promptly, while his eyes beamed pleasantly on the ne

e driver, "and then if you'll set the rest here, we'll take them

overed with a white cloth, its edge outlined by bright birch leaves laid on it, loosely and tastefully, like a wreath. Then on a tray covered with

ded to pour out a cup of coffee as if he were quite at home. At home he was in a way, for in that schoolho

in her new home, and her heart sent up really grateful thoughts to her heavenly Father, who

he simple entertainment to the teacher. Of course the driver did not refuse the proposed refreshment, nor d

n open since early morning, and the closets and shelves could we

tress, as she took the boy's

e to the new teach

furnish my room for me. The sofa should stand there, and the bureau

ssed" it round the room, whispering to himself, "Moth

that the space between the two windows that looked out towards the meadow had been painted, to be used as a

simplest sort, saving one, which was larger and higher, which the teacher at once understood was the permanent arran

nd unskilful hands had done the work; so the boxes were but clumsy specimens of carpentry, and deep enough, it seemed, to hold sand for all the long winter through. The grandfathers of the neighbourhood could remember when these receptacles were their writing-desks, in which, stick in hand, they were taught to trace i

ropes for the swings to be fastened to the tall trees by adventurous Nils, whose friendly hands delighted to send the laughing little on

her chair of state, and noticed a simple footstool put in front of it for her use, as

rniture was all in place, the covers were taken from the boxes, and

the driver, pointing to the late improvement. "They thought pe

oolmistress, wonderingly; "I

d his eyes wide

an apron thrown over it, so the thieves could not find it and shoot her before she had a chance at th

nt for his services, when he shut his broad fist

t, and I don't mean to do it now. Folks for the most part seem to like you, bu

hurried out of the room. Nils followed with his b

anks to you both.-I think we shall

loving pressure was given to his daughter, and then that hand lay still and white. Its work on earth was done, and the brother and sister were left alone. Courageous and loving, they had both struggled on. Her end was attained, but he was at the beginning of the steady conflict before him. How would he bear himself in the battle? If she could only know whether his surroundings would be as pleasant and homelike as her own, and his heart as full of hope and quiet trust! Would he be borne safely through the privat