| Show f i Hansle tJ t By Clara Larson IT is only five by the little old fash clock on the piece chimney-piece yet the shadows of evening are already y y beginning to gather and the cold bleak Decem December ber afternoon will soon be ended The downy flakes of snow have been r falling rapidly all day until now at eve it seems that nature has cast her mantle of purest white over all the earth The Theair Theair Their air ir without is s so o keen and penetrating that even the hardy New England a forester draws his big coat closer to protect himself from the trie cold and shouldering his ax hastens to his cabin The snow-birds snow that have been beena a r hopping and skipping all day chirping notes of gladness now quit their play and seek shelter shel ter under the gables ga hIes of the small neat-looking neat house at the window I of which a woman is standing gazing t 7 anxiously towards the neighboring vil vil- lage II How I wish he would come r she says to herself as she shades her straining eyes with her hand II He He has been gone ever since noon oon and although it is hardly past five I feel somewhat somewhat- anxious It is so cold and the snow must be very deep He will soon come though she adds as she turns from the window and begins the preparation of the eveni evening ng meal This little home is extremely plain There are not many comforts and fewer luxuries but in that humble abode there abounds a fc feeling li ng of love and peace that despite the poverty makes the simple furnishing attractive On Ori this particular Saturday night the cot looks very cosy The li light ht from the large fireplace wherein a great log logis is crackling dances upon the white bare floor and prances up an and J down the crudely ornamented walls In the small adjoining room which serves as a kitchen the table is spread with its white snow-white cloth and the kettle singing 1 cheerily on the hearth tells that tea w will ll soon be ready Once more the mother looks out He Heis Heis Heis is not yet in sight She sighs leaves the window and draws her low low arm arch chair nearer the hearth Let us glance a moment at that at-that that tired mother as she sits rocking slowly to and fro before the glowing fire her ha hands quietly folded in her lap and her eyes dreamily gazing at the flames as they playfully race up the chimney Mrs is a small slender woman a and d the slight figure stoops a little not from age but from long weary hours of toil Her face is sad and pale and the broad noble forehead is already deeply furrowed while the rich wa waving ing nut-brown nut hair is slightly streaked with silver slIver The beautiful dark blue eyes are kind and tender in their gaze though tonight they are strangely sad There is a troubled look on the sweet motherly face a sigh escapes her lips as she slowly passes her hand over brow brow A Thus she sits in thoughtful reverie till a clear musical whistle falls upon the ai air and in a moment she recognizes in the doorway the form c cf f her son Have you been waiting for me mother he asks breathlessly The snow was so deep that I could not walk walkr r r very f fast as t Mrs tenderly strokes the sh short rt straight rumpled hair and pats the broad square shoulders Yes Hansle she says I I have been waiting for you But off now with this wet coat and a dr dry one on Hassle Hansle is a cheerful good- good natured boy of thirteen still broad- broad shouldered and manly in appearance He is not a handsome boy yet one cannot but admire the frank honest intelligent countenance Supper over the mother and son sit down by the fireplace she with her needlework in hand and he with his book Neither speak for a few mo mo- ments There is a off far-off look in the eyes of both and a shadow of pain darkens each face No doubt each experiences experiences experiences ex ex- the same sad reflections One year is already past since the fathers father's death and tonight the sorrowful memories memories memories mem mem- ories all come back anew Hansle is first to speak I saw Mr Wills in the village to today today today to- to day mother and he wants me to come and help him on the farm when spring opens As we cannot live here anyway dont don't you think I might as well go Of course I should like to keep on at school for Mr Lewis thinks I am getting getting getting get get- ting along pretty well but as I cant can't I Iam Iam Iam am willing to work on the farm and some day maybe I can earn some money for myself There is a short painful silence for here is another trouble to be met Yes Hansle my boy I h have ve been thinking about it all aU day and I can see nothing better for us to do than to leave here I will win have to go to the city I do not like you to leave your school but you know our little means are soon gone The home must be sold for Mr Wills was here only this to see if I could not pay our debt so as soon as spring comes we must make some change Hansle has a hopeful disposition and though but a mere child he now lends cheer heer and comfort to his mother We need not give up mother he joyously remarks Her small thin hand gently the disheveled hair She kisses the full brown cheek as she smilingly replies I I am glad I have my boy Eight years ago Mr with his wife and child came from Germany and settled in the northern part of New England The first few years were indeed indeed indeed in in- deed very happy ones Mr had h-ad steady employment in the timber business and for a time everything prospered but only for a time One autumn afternoon Mr was returning returning returning re re- turning with a load of timber when the wagon rolled over an embankment and the unfortunate man was thrown under the logs One limb was crushed and mangled so badly hadly that amputation was necessary Other injuries were also received from which he never fully recovered and for two years the mother i and son tenderly cared for the dear helpless father The loss of her husband was indeed a severe blow During the three years since the sad accident she had toiled and struggled to support the family But now both body and spirit seems to tobe tobe be failing To sell the home pay the debt and go to the city are the only things to be done She can at least gain a livelihood livelihood livelihood liveli liveli- hood there and if Hansle goes to Mr Wills' Wills farm larm he will be well provided for He will also be near her for she cannot bear to part with with her dear boy Such are the thoughts that tonight are passing through gh the mothers mother's mind as she looking into the uncertain future wonders what the coming years will bring to her and the dear one at her side F Over seven years have passed since Mrs Shelmer and Hansle left the old home in New England Great changes have been made during that time The first three were years of hard work for them both Hansle went to Mr Wills' Wills where he soon became a great help The rich farmer liked the warm-hearted warm German boy and treated him kindly Hansle was permitted to attend school during the winter months of the year Being naturally fond of books he used every spare moment to good advantage and soon made great progress progress He had one aim in view to togo togo togo go to college and become a teacher and all his energies were directed to toi toy y i- i that end if During the three years he earned enough not only to help support his mother but bu had saved sufficient a sum to enable him to enter college Hansle had never experienced such joy as he did the morning he entered 4 the University of Vermont at Burlington Burling Burling- If ton and the four years spent there were the happiest he had ever known They r were true years of hard har work for Hansle could not devote all his time to his studies but he struggled on no obstacle was too great for him to sur sur- mount t r. r I It is is- commencement d day y at on ont 1 University Fifteen bright promising t iii young men and women have honorably f com completed their course and are soon to toI take upon themselves the responsibilities of various walks in life I f. f Mrs sits listening to the clear well modulated voice of the young haired fair-haired boy who is standing before i the large audience rendering the valedictory valedictory valedictory vale vale- S address Her eyes are dimmed 1 I with tears as she he looks at the tall comely youth who but a few short years ago was a laughing boy at ather ather ather her knee She smiles as she softly whispers whispers whispers whis whis- pers I I am glad I have my boy Hansle met with great success as a teacher but he remained in the East only one year after leaving school Owing to the ill-health ill of his mother he brought her West to Utah where he heat heat heat at once commenced teaching It the is last day of December and the snow has been falling since morn morn- ing In the bay window of a cosy little cottage on Vine Street sits an old lady slowly rocking to and fro Her thin waving locks are snowy white and her small slender form is somewhat bent There is a sweet smile on the pale face and a kind loving look in the dark-blue dark eyes At her knee stands a little fellow tossing into the air a ball of yarn and roguishly hiding his golden head in the theold theold theold old ladys lady's lap as the little roll of wool com comes comes s down with a bounce on the broad square back Presently the door opens the tiny toddler leaves his fun and with outstretched arms runs across the room shouting Papa papa The strong arms tenderly encircle the baby form as th the chubby hands playfully playfully playfully play play- fully pull the wet rumpled hair II Waiting for me Nellie and mother he asks The snow is pretty deep you know so I couldn't travel very fast Being superintendent of schools is allright allright all allright right if there weren't so much running about to do Yes Hansle we have been waiting for you But off with the wet coat and anda a dry one on my boy He smiles No doubt thoughts of childhood come corne back to him H He draws his large easy chair near the grate and takes his boy upon pon his knee Come mother and Nellie bring your chairs nearer the fire its a cold night i The little group makes indeed a pretty picture as the firelight glows upon each happy smiling face No Noone one speaks for fora a moment Hansle finally breaks the silence Mother do you know it is just twenty y years ars ago tonight since you and I sat by the fireplace in our old cottage making our plans as I called it How time does fly I he adds I I well remember my son Those were dark da das s but true ever every cloud has a silver lining She seems again to hear those those boyish boyish words of comfort We need not give up mother One withered hand rests upon t the e daughters daughter's head with the other she Hansle's hair just as she smoothed it twenty years ago and she whispers I I am glad I have my chil chil- dren II |
