按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
surprise； shone through the tears that veiled her eyes。 She could read
nothing but filial love and confidence in those grave； manly features； and
she saw in that moment that all her doubts had been groundless； that her
long prayerful struggle had been for naught。
〃I brought thee into the world nameless；〃 she whispered； 〃and thou
hast no word of reproach for me？〃
〃With God's help； I am strong enough to conquer a name for myself；
mother；〃 was his answer。
It was the very words of her own secret wish； and upon his lips they
sounded like a blessed assurance； like a miraculous fulfillment of her
motherly prayer。
〃Still； another thing； my child；〃 she went on in a more confident voice。
〃This is thy native land；and the old man who was just sitting here at my
side wasmy father。〃
And there； in the shadow of the birch…trees； in the summer stillness of
that hour； she told him the story of her love； of her flight； and of the
misery of these long； toilsome five and twenty years。
Late in the afternoon； Brita and her son were seen returning to the
farm…house。 A calm； subdued happiness beamed from the mother's
countenance； she was again at peace with the world and herself； and her
heart was as light as in the days of her early youth。 But her bodily
strength had given out； and her limbs almost refused to support her。 The
strain upon her nerves and the constant effort had hitherto enabled her to
keep up； but now； when that strain was removed； exhausted nature claimed
its right。 The next dayshe could not leave her bed； and with every hour
her strength failed。 A physician was sent for。 He gave medicine； but no
hope。 He shook his head gravely； as he went； and both mother and son
knew what that meant。
Toward evening； Bjarne Blakstad was summoned； and came at once。
Thomas left the room； as the old man entered； and what passed in that
hour between father and daughter； only God knows。 When the door was
again opened； Brita's eyes shone with a strange brilliancy； and Bjarne lay
on his knees before the bed； pressing her hand convulsively between both
63
… Page 64…
TALES FROM TWO HEMISPHERES。
of his。
〃This is my son； father；〃 said she； in a language which her son did not
understand； and a faint smile of motherly pride and happiness flitted over
her pale features。 〃I would give him to thee in return for what thou hast
lost； but God has laid his future in another land。〃
Bjarne rose； grasped his grandson's hand； and pressed it； and two
heavy tears ran down his furrowed cheeks。 〃Alas；〃 murmured he； 〃my
son； that we should meet thus。〃
There they stood； bound together by the bonds of blood； but； alas；
there lay a world between them。
All night they sat together at the dying woman's bedside。 Not a word
was spoken。 Toward morning； as the sun stole into the darkened
chamber； Brita murmured their names； and they laid their hands in hers。
〃God be praised；〃 whispered she； scarcely audibly； 〃I have found you
bothmy father and my son。〃 A deep pallor spread over her countenance。
She was dead。
Two days later； when the body was laid out； Thomas stood alone in the
room。 The windows were covered with white sheets； and a subdued light
fell upon the pale； lifeless countenance。 Death had dealt gently with her；
she seemed younger than before； and her light wavy hair fell softly over
the white forehead。 Then there came a middle…aged man； with a dull eye；
and a broad forehead； and timidly approached the lonely mourner。 He
walked on tip…toe and his figure stooped heavily。 For a long while he
stood gazing at the dead body； then he knelt down at the foot of the coffin；
and began to sob violently。 At last he arose； took two steps toward the
young man； paused again； and departed silently as he had come。 It was
Halvard。
Close under the wall of the little red…painted church； they dug the
grave； and a week later her father was laid to rest at his daughter's side。
But the fresh winds blew over the Atlantic and beckoned the son to
new fields of labor in the great land of the future。
64
… Page 65…
TALES FROM TWO HEMISPHERES。
A GOOD…FOR…NOTHING。
I
RALPH GRIM was born a gentleman。 He had the misfortune of
coming into the world some ten years later than might reasonably have
been expected。 Colonel Grim and his lady had celebrated twelve
anniversaries of their wedding…day； and had given up all hopes of ever
having a son and heir； when this late…comer startled them by his
unexpected appearance。 The only previous addition to the family had
been a daughter； and she was then ten summers old。
Ralph was a very feeble child； and could only with great difficulty be
persuaded to retain his hold of the slender thread which bound him to
existence。 He was rubbed with whisky； and wrapped in cotton； and given
mare's milk to drink； and God knows what not； and the Colonel swore a
round oath of paternal delight when at last the infant stopped gasping in
that distressing way and began to breathe like other human beings。 The
mother； who； in spite of her anxiety for the child's life； had found time to
plot for him a career of future magnificence； now suddenly set him apart
for literature； because that was the easiest road to fame； and disposed of
him in marriage to one of the most distinguished families of the land。
She cautiously suggested this to her husband when he came to take his
seat at her bedside； but to her utter astonishment she found that he had
been indulging a similar train of thought； and had already destined the
infant prodigy for the army。 She； however； could not give up her
predilection for literature； and the Colonel； who could not bear to be
contradicted in his own house； as he used to say； was getting every minute
louder and more flushed； when； happily； the doctor's arrival interrupted the
dispute。
As Ralph grew up from infancy to childhood； he began to give decided
promise of future distinction。 He was fond of sitting down in a corner
and sucking his thumb； which his mother interpreted as the sign of that
brooding disposition peculiar to poets and men of lofty genius。 At the
65
… Page 66…
TALES FROM TWO HEMISPHERES。
age of five； he had become sole master in the house。 He slapped his
sister Hilda in the face； or pulled her hair； when she hesitated to obey him；
tyrannized over his nurse； and sternly refused to go to bed in spite of his
mother's entreaties。 On such occasions； the Colonel would hide his face
behind his newspaper； and chuckle with delight； it was evident that nature
had intended his son for a great military commander。 As soon as Ralph
himself was old enough to have any thoughts about his future destiny； he
made up his mind that he would like to be a pirate。 A few months later；
having contracted an immoderate taste for candy； he contented himself
with the comparatively humble position of a baker； but when he had read
〃Robinson Crusoe；〃 he manifested a strong desire to go to sea in the hope
of being wrecked on some desolate island。 The parents spent long
evenings gravely discussing these indications of uncommon genius； and
each interpreted them in his or her own way。
〃He is not like any other child I ever knew；〃 said the mother。
〃To be sure；〃 responded the father； earnestly。 〃He is a most
extraordinary child。 I was a very remarkable child too； even if I do say it
myself； but； as far as I remember； I never aspired to being wrecked on an