Little Tora, The Swedish Schoolmistress and Other Stories

een tossed and whirled by the wild winds till it was fitfully heaped, now in the meadows, and now banked up against the very hill-sides. But for the dark woods as landmarks

w way to the seat of learning had been walled higher and higher, until at last the rustic scholars se

r-bud to greet them. The weather had suddenly grown soft

d him welcome more as a visitor than a scholar. They had some pleasant chat together, and then the teacher said seriously, as she lai

ears suddenly filled his large eyes as he add

judge you for what is not your fault. It may be, 'Well done, good and f

nd to the conversation, and the school

t scholars were in their places, not counting Nils, who occupied in many

hoolmistress was hearing the class read aloud. She sat with her back to the windows, with the light falling on the book she held

other moment he said quickly, "Plea

ehind her. Nils pointed to the window with wide

s. If the pond above breaks over the banks, we may be all swept away in a moment. There is no time t

s his onl

es of the boy, and she knew she could trust him. They returned quietly to the schoolroom. The teacher had hardly taken her seat a

ue from the teacher. "I put up the bar after the

teacher cheerfully. "We didn't mean to go out that way. We s

ghtedly, for to them a row or a sail w

ith a sceptical look in his small countenance. "And w

id the teacher, glancing at the sand-boxes.-"Nils,

of Nils's. With one foot on his desk and his kn

stilts; for the little schoolmistress was a leader in the spo

"And now the ropes for the launching," and another glance p

s. They had but to receive their garments in the daily orderly way, and to put them on as they well knew how. There might sometimes be an obstinate string or button, but Nils was sure to be able to help in a

and-boxes of olden times. "And now we must launch the boats," said the teacher,

ong shoulders to the work of moving the boa

dow-seat. Then came the orders-"Climb to the top of the shutter, Nils! Pass that rope round the upper hinge; tie it fast

promptly and s

rtight?" said the mistress, with, for the first

er for the last examination, to float the boats the children had made. The

his ship, and he made it every bit himself." The eager memories that came to the minds of the children we

g in and letting out and holding fast on the part of Nils and the teache

he oars for us both. Lay mine across my boat and yours across yours. You

ap, backed up to one of her little girls, saying, "Put y

So the little one, with her eyes away from the window, was backed up to it, to be lifted down by Nils with a merry shout as he l

rope as if she were in a gymnasium. She took her place in the centre of

er short up to the stern; and then give me your knife, and

and then the little party started across the wate

n advance of the other. He neared the bank, plunged in and drew the unc

roof to give the poor creatures a little air. He knew that in the corner by the window there was a great bin that had been freshly filled with dried birch branches a

managing with difficulty her awkward oars in the thick,

as they could be by the weary hands that held them. His feet had just touched bottom when there was a loud cheer from the top of the hill

e had been lost in the preparations after the first news of the condition of the meadow had bee

the children must go in one wagon, and you will see them safe home, Petter. We go the other way where the road forks. Of course, I tak

th a kind of little quiver round his li

"Good-bye! good-bye! good-bye, teacher! good-bye, Nils!" and a hearty shout of "Hurra