Tales and Sketches.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 3, Issue 991, 4 February 1882, Page 2 (Supplement)

Tales and Sketches.

ILKA ON THE HILL-TOP. Mr. Julius Hahn and bis son Fritz were on asunmiergourneyintbo Tyrol. They had" started from Mayrhofen early in tho after-noon)-on two mcok-eyed, spiritless'farm horses, and,they mtpndcd.to; reach (Jinzling before,night-fall,-, .• i „j.: .;,,,• ,;:,,7 There was a groatplazq pf ; Bplendor ; bidden somewhere behiud : the, western; iinpuntaintops; broad bars of,%y;light wjero[climbing ..tho, chjilcjp : itml.fe Alpiuo PHK\ys)hono',jn soft, crimsonjjlluminntipn. TnoZemiiibach, which,is of.a;pholeriotemperament, was seething and brawling in, its rocky bed; and now and'then sent tip a.fiorco gust of : spray, which "blew, : like 'an .icy shower-bath,' iiito the faces of the travellers. "Ach,"Mlclverjliichtes Wetter!" cried Mr. Hahn fretfully, wiping off the streaming perspiration. • "I'll be blasted if you catch ino going to the Tyrol again' for tl)o"sakd of being-fashionable " ; '■''' "But the scenery, father, the scenery !" exclaimed Fritz, pointing to a great, sunflushed peak, which rose in majestic isolation toward the north, ''i

" The scenery—ball!" growled the senior Hahn, "For scenery, recommend ino to Saxon Switzerland, where you may in an easy cushioned, carriage without blistering your,legs, as' I have been doing.,ljd-day in this'blasted saddle," ';''; ,'>.,.• ~ :i ','Father, yp'uarc too fat," remarked the s.bn, with .a miscliievpns chuckle. '. ~ '"And you promise fair to tread in my footsteps, ■ son," rotated,. the elder, relaxing somewhat in his'ill-humor. , Tiiis allusion to Mr, Fritz's probable cormileiiGc was not, well, received bythc latter, He gave his.horsoasmart.cntwith the whip, 'which made the jaded - animal start off at a sort.of pathetic mazurka gait up the side of 'tlie.inpuntain!' ( . , Mr. Julius Hahnwasa.pcrsonof no;small consequence in, Berlin. "Ho.'was the propri'etor of the "Haute Noblesse"cencert garden, ,a highly respectable place of amusoment, •.which enjoyed the especial patronage of the 'officers of the Royal, Guard, . Weissbeer, Bairisch, Scidcl,'Pilzner, in fact all varieties of beer, and as connoisseurs, asserted, of .exceptional excellence, could.,be procured at the '"Haute Noblesse';" and the most ingenious noyolties in tho way of gas illumination, .besides twoinilitary bands, tended greatly, to heighten the flavor ..of.' the-beer, audio put, the guests iii a festive humor, Mr, Hahn ,had begun life iu a' small..way .withasival-j ."low-tail coat and a white, choker,, and, a nap-1 .'kin 611 his anil; bis stock in-trade, which he .utilized to good,'purpose, was a peculiarly elastic smile 'and how, both of. which ho accommodated with extreme nicety to the social 'rank of the person to whom tboy were, addressed. .He could listen to a conversation in j 'which'he was vitally interested, never losing! jeveh the shadow, of an,intonation, with a! blank neutrality of countenance which cbuldj only be, the result of a long transmjssion'of j ',anocstrftl. vdtiaucy." : He read 'the. depths of! 'your character, divined your little foiblesj 'arid vanities, and very' likely passed hisj 'supercilious judgment upon you, ..seeming: c all the while the personification of imcriticalj 'humility. i

" Itis needless to say that Mr. Halm picked 'up a good deal of valuable information iu thei course of his,carecas a waiter; and to.him 'information meant money,' and money meant] .power ami a recognised place, in society. The! diploma'tic shrewdness which enabled lijm toj ' estimate the moral calibre of a patron seryed] ,him equally well in estimating the value' ofj an investment.' He had a hundred subterra-: _ licaii; channels of information,,and' liis judg-j ' me'ntas'to' the soundness or .unsoundness of a) financial cnterpriso was almost unerring,! His ; little secret transactions on the Bourse,! where' he had his commissionaires, always! yielded him ample, returns; and when an op-] 'portunity presented itself, which he had long: foreseen, of buying a suburban garden at aj bankrupt sale, he found himself, at least pre] liminariiy, at the goal of his ambition. From' this'time forth, Mr. Halm rose rapidly inj Wealth and power. He kept his thumb, so to sricak, constantly on the public pulse, and pro-: scribed amusements as unerringly as a physician prescribes medicine, and usually, it must bo admitted, with 'better results. ,TheJ "Haute Noblesse" became .the favorite resort "of fashionable idlers, among whom the' .'.military'element usually preponderated, and the / flash of gilt buttons and the rattle of swords and'scabbards could alwaysbe counted on. as the unvarying accompaniment to the

music, With all lis prosperity, however, Mr,, Halm could not be called a happy man. He 1 had one secret sorrow, which, until within a year of his departure for the, Tyrol, had been; p.'soiirco of corisfyit annoyance; Mrs. Hahn,! whom ; he hall Had the indiscretion to marry' before lie had arrived at a proper recognitioni of his- own ,wprth,„was 'not, his . equal in in-j telle.ct'; m fact, sho was, 'conspicuously his! inferior. Sho.had been a clianiber-maid in a' . noble family, anil had succeeded in marryingi Mr,; Halm simply by, the fact ;that',she lia.il 1 made. up her', mind not to marry him, Mr, i Halin,' howcv'ar,' was not a man to be baflledi;by opposition, WJicn ,tlie pert Maririna had , cut'.him.thioc times' a't a (lancing.hall, ji'e bc-i ~came( c onvinced'tliat she was theonethingini the w.orhl which he needed to make his ex-' ostence complete, i After presenting him w'ithj a-'soii, Frjtz, : an'd three rathef unlovely daugh-' '.tors,' slip, had/gradually lost all herpertucss ' .(which' had /.been, .her.,great charm) and .had' 'developed 'into' a -stout,'dropsical matron,, with an alnmdunce.of domestic virtues. Her, ; priiicipaliivait of character had.be.en a dogged, • .desperate loyalty. She was loyal to her king/ and, wore'his' ; favorite flowers as jewellery,,i ..She; was, loyal to .Mr, .Halm, top;. and no: amount ofiiyaltrcntmeiit could convince, her: ; tli.it lic'wiis ,|iot;the bes|t of husbands, ,She; ; adored' her '.former' mistress and woujd insist! -upon 'paying .rcVctfid little visits to jierj kitchen, takliiglicr children with hor. This; latter habit nearly.droye her husband' to'dis-! traction, 'Hcstamped hjsfeet, tore.bis hair,' I he swore at her,, and I believe? he even struck 'her; but when'the next .child was born—a particularly wonderful one -Mrs'i Hahn had not the strength to resist the temptation of • knowing how the new-born woiider .would imprqss the Countess von, Markcnstcin.j Another terrible scene followed, '. .The poor! ■woman could never .understandthat.shewasj no .longer t|ie i: wifepfa waiter, and tliat.slic iniist .not, be 'paying visits to fhe great'folks'' in their kitchens, l '..-., ' i ■Another source of disturbance in ,Mr,| Halm's matrimonial relations- was his.wife's! absolute. refusal to -appear .in' the parquet ori tlie proscenium boxes in tho,theatre',' In tliis! ; matter her'resistance bordered on the heroic;! ; ; ncither threats nor-entreaties could -move her, , '■. . '

,': "Law, Julius,"sho would say, while, the, tears streamed down oyer.her plump cheeks,! . "the. parquet .and 'the. big boxes are for, the! gcntlcfplks, and not .for humble people like 1 ~ , you an'd.mn, I know my place, Julius, .and; '"" 11 don't want to lo the laughing-stock of the! "" , top, us I should .be, if Iweut to the.'opera! and sat where my lady, the Countess, and the other .fine ladies sit, I.should feel'Jikc a fool, .too, Julius, and I should cry iny eyes', out when! get home." '. . \] | '. It inay easily be conjectured that Mr. | ;Halm's mourning covered a very light heart! ' when, the dropsy finally carried oft this lov-| .ing but troublesome spouse. Nor did .he; .make any'secret of the fact .that her deatbj .was rather a relief to him, while on the other! band he gave her full credit for all her excellent qiialtics. Fritz, who was in cordial sympathy with his father's ambition...for social eminence,'had also 'learned frdni lii'm to bo ashamed of his mother, and was rather

inclined' to-mate light bitho Borrow which' \\o actually felt whtn ho saw the cold earth' ■closing over hor.

. At the Jimo when ho made his summer ex- j oursion in tho Tyrol, Fritz was a Btout blonde youth of two and twenty, His round, sleek face was not badly modeled, but it had neither' tho rough openness characteristic of a peasant, nor yet. that finish, which, only culture can givp, In's'pjtp of his jaunty, 'fashionable, attire, you would have put hinvdownat onco.as bplonging' ( to what in the Old World is .'called' "the, middle class.''''.His.blue eyes indicated shrowdness, and his .red,cheeks habitual devotion to'the national beverage.. He was apparently a youth of, (the sort that Nature is constantly turning out by the thousands—mere weaker copies of progenitors, who, by an unpropitions marriage, have enfeebled instead of strengthening the typo. Circumstances might have made anything of him in a small way; for, as bis count'enanoc indicated, he had no very pronounced,proclivities, either good or bad., Ho had spent his boyhood in a gymnasium, wheiio.hd had had greater success in trading jack-knives than in. grappljng with Cicero. He had made.two futile attempts to enter the Berlin University, and had settled down to the conviction that ho had mistaken his calling, as his tastes military rather than scholarly; but, as he was too old to rectify this.mistake, he bad chosen to,go, to the Tyrol in search of pleasure rather than to the Military Academy in search of distinction. At the mouth of the great ravine of Dornauberg the travellers paused and dismounted, Mr. Hahn called the|guide, who was following behind with'a ; horse laden!with baggage, and with his assistance a choice repast, consisting of all manner of cold curiosities, was served on a largo flat rook, The senior Hahn fell to work with a will, and made no pretence of being interested in the sombre magnificence of the Dofnanbcrg, while Fritz found time for an occasional exclamation of rapture, flavored witli caviar, Rhine wine, &M'paiedt foie'gras, '' '.' .''.'' "Ach, Golt, Fritz, what stuff you can talk!" grumbled liis father, sipping his Joliaunisberger'with tho air of a'connoisseur. ',' When I was of your ago, Fritz, I had—hush, what is that?" ''"'''" Mr, Hahn put down bis glass with such an energy that half of tho precipu's contents was spoiled. '.' ' ; ', "Ach, du liebei;, Gott}' he cried.a moment later,,' "Wirwunilaiclwn!" .'."

>, From a mighty cliff overhanging the road, about, a hundred feet distant, came along yodling call, peculiar to the Tyrol, sung in a superb ringing baritone, It soared over the mountain peaks and died away somewhere among.the.lngent glaciers. And just as.the laafc faint note was expiring, a girl's voice, fresh and clear ; as the dewdrop, took'itup and swelled it and caroled it until from sheer 'excess, of delight it broke into a hundred leaping, rolling and warbling tones, "which floated and gamboled away over thehighlands, while soft-winged echoes bore them away into tlie wide distance.. ,' " Father," said Fritz, who was now lying outstretched on a soft Scotch plaid smoking the most fragrant of weeds; "if you can get those two voices to the' Haute Noblesse,' for", tlie next season, it is ten thousand thalers in your pocket, and I shall only charge you ten per cent, for the suggestion." ; "Suggestion, you stupid! "Why, the thought flashed through my head the very moment I heard the first note. But hushthore they are again." From the cliff, sung to the air of aTyrolese folk-song, came this stanza:

Tell ine, Ilka on the hill-top, While the Alpine breezes blow, j Arc the golden locks as goldon As they were a year ago? (Yodlo). Holili-ohli-ohli-uol i Hohii-olili-ohli.hol Hohli-ho! ! The effect of the yodlo, in which both the baritone' of, the cliff and the Alpine soprano united, .was so melodious that Mr. Hahn sprang to'his.feet and Bwore an ecstatic oath, while Fritz, from sheer admiring abstraction, almost stuck the-lighted end of his cigar into his mouth. The soprano answered: Tell me, Hiiusel in the valley, While the merry cuckoos crow, Is thy bristly beard as bristly i .•As it was a yonr.ngbi"' ''■"■■'' . ' Holili-ohli-ohli-lio! Hohli-ohli-olili-ho! Hohli-bh! j Tlie yodling refrain this time was arch, gay —full of mocking laughter and mirth. Then the responsive singing continued : Hi'mscl: Tell me, Ilka on tlio hill-top, . While the crimson glaciers glow) Arc tliino eyes as blue and beaming As they wero a year ago ? • Both: Holili-ohlUc,

Ilku: Hiinscl, Hiinsel in the valley, Iwill tell yon, tolll you truo; J ('mine eyes arc blue and beaming, . . What is tliat,] pray, to you? Both: Holili-olili, Hansel: Toll me, llka'oii the'hill top, While the blushing roses blow, Aro thy lips as sweet for kissing As thoy were a year ago? Both:-.- Holili-ohli, &c, /

Wi/i; Naughty Hansel in tho ya/lcy, .- Naughty Hansel, tell mo true, , ~ " If my lips are sweet fur .kissing,' What is tliat.,l pray,to you? .80//1: ' HolilUohli,&c. Il'iipnh Toll me, Ilka on tho hill-top, ', : ' Wltllo'tlio rivers seaward ,; ,1s thy heart as true and loving'' ■ ; As it was a year ago ? ' Both: ' Hohli-dlilii&c.

Ilk; Dearest Hiinselin they'alloy, I will tel! you, tell you true. " ' Yes, my heart is ever-loving, ' .-' • True and loving-unto you I ' •■' 1 Both:--. Holili-ohli-oblkho! ■; Holili-ohli-olili-lw! Holili-oli! ' : For a few! moments their united voices seemed still to bo quivering in the air, then to be born softly away by the echoes into the cool distance of tho glaciers. A- solitary thrush began, to warblo on alow branch of a stunted fir-treo, and a grasshopper raised its shrill voice in emulation, Thcsun Was near its setting; the bluish evening shadows crept up the sides of tho ice-peaks, whose summits were still flushed with expiring tints of purpic anclired. :,.Mr, Hahn rose, yawned.and stretched his limbs, Fritz threw the burning, sturnp of his. cigar into the depths : of the ravine, and stood watching it with.lazy interest while it fell, Theguiclo clearcd.away the remnants oftbe:repast and began to resaddle the horses, " Whoi-was that girl wo heard singing up on the Alp? "said .Mr, Halm,-, with wellfeigned indifference, ,as ho put his foot in his stirrup and made a, futile effort to niount. " Curse the mare,, why don't you make lier standstill?" .

. "Pardon, your, honoi'," answered-ithe guide stolidly;." but .she isn't used to the saddle, The girl's name is Ilka on the Hilltop, She is the best singer iu all the valley," "Ilka on the Hill-top! How—where does she live?"

"She lives on a farm called the Hill-top, a mile and a half from .Mayrhofen." ;; ''And the man who answered—is he her sweetheart ?"

" Yes, your honor. They have grown up together, and they mean to marry sometime, when they get money enough to'btiy out the old woman."

" And what did you say his namo was, ?" ■ "Hansel the Hunter He is a garnetpolisher by trade, because his father was that before him; but he is a good shot and likes roving in' the woods better than polishingstones," "Hm," grumbled Mr, Hahn, mounting, with a prodigious effort. : ' ", ,! " • Chapter 11. '' It was in the autumn of 1863, only, a few weeks after Mr. Halm's visit to Gindihg arid' Doruaubcrg, There was war and rumors of 1

! w*ar in the air/ and the Prussians wero both mobili&ng army-corps after army-corps, and all the Tyrolese youth, I liable to, service, wero ordered Jo.join. their, regimeuts, Tlio Schlcaw.ig-Holatcr 'question' was being violently debated; and the English press, the former clamoring for blood, the latter-counseling moderation.Tho Danish,press was,as,loud-mou ( thed as any, and,"if'th'6 .bal&cs\cbhioV ! liave been fought come out victorious.' ' '■'' i " '■' ■'' "■• '-

' It had been a sad' day at the Hill-top;' Early in,the other, yphngiollojys- of .iin? | ~nmghbdrhopi d , had.inarc|ied.a)yay',t'o the jnu?ic j)f ; ||ejnd drum, and would come back again.,, A.dismal, whitish fog had .been .hovering, about; tho:fielda;.alt day long, .clanged Upward' oyening info a ifinoi,drizzling fain-one, of, those'slow, hopeles rains that seem -to,.have no begin-' njng and, no end. ,01d, mptlipr Überta, wjip, although'sne. to.'greatjy.'dis-, pleased at .'ilka's .'/matrimonial.' peiy sisted in .holding ,her .r'espqnsibiejpr'idl'lipr lover's follies, had been gpiiig, about'tlie housp grumbling and scolding bince tlie.early dawn, .. ~.,,';,,

i'' Humph,",said' Mother,.Udert'a,,as .'.she lighted a pine-knot.and stuck it into a'crack iu. the .wall (for ;it was'already'dark, and pandles were expeusive); "it. i^.a,great ;§in and shame-the lad,;is.neither, misshapen-theLordjhas by him,; Heaven, knpws,; and,,yet. never.a stroke of !u;bi')£ lias ho his poor father went out of the world as naked asjie came into it, A shiftless, fiddling anfl gala'vanting set they ,hav<w, always .been, and.me then, as' has only this ono 'lass, giyiKJ* ljor away, with my eyes.wjde open, into misery."

Ilka, who was sitting before .the,.open-fire-. place?rmiiigling-,her -furtive.tears.withi'.the wool sho was carding, here broke.into a loud sob,and hid her face in. her bands,.. . y 1 "-You always" say mean-'things to me; mother, when Hansel is away," sobbed she, " but when he ■' is' here yon let on as if' you liked himovei'Bomuch," : • '- ! l " ■'

. The', mother .recognised tliisiW.a hometlnirst, and wisely kept silent,. .She wether fingeWip'Si'twiried the;thread, stopped the wheel, inspected so.in'e point in with'a' scowl 'of intense preocQupation,' and then .'spun'bh',agairi \ylfcli a'seye're concentration of interest as, ifjbyei's small consequence.',, compared JBpiiming-whee'ls, Mother ÜbertajW(iß.iv,tall,.stately woman of fifty, with a'ljomely wrinkled fdVe,.ahd,jarge' well-irioijeied features', ifon saw at once that life was a.serious business to her,'andthat shegavoherself.uqauarter. "'.' ' . " Humpli I" s]ie\begair after a While, with that indefinable interjection' of displeasure which defies all ".spelling".' "You,ia]k like the witless 'creature, that you are,.' Didn't I tell the lad, two, years ago, Michneluias'was, that the day he 'couldpay off the mortgage on the farm, he should have, you and farm, too? And eight hundred'i\nd fifty ( florins oughtn't to frighten a man as has'got'the right spirit'in him, And there was Ruodi, 1 of Gauzelstein, as has got a big farm of his own, and Casper Thinglen with fifteen hundred acomin' to him when hisgrandfathefdic's, and you sendin' them both off with worse grace than if they had been beggars askin' you for a shillin', Now, stop your sniveliu' there, I tell you. You are like your poor sainted father—God bless him whero he lies-he, too, used to cry, likely enough, if a ilea bit him,"

At this moment Mother Überta's monologue was interrupted by a loud rapping on the door; she bent down to attach the unfinished thread properly, but before she had completed this delicate operation the door was opened, and two men entered. Seeing that they were strangers she sent them a startled glance which presently changed into one of defiance, The fire was low, and the two men stood but dimly defined in the dusky light, but their city attire showed that they were not Tyrolese, And .Mother Überta, having heard many awful tales of what citydressed men were capable of doing, had a natural distrust of the species. ■ "And .pray, sir, what may your errand be?" she asked, sternly, taking the .burning pine knot from its eraok, and holding it close to the face of the tallest stranger, ■, ;•. "My name is Hahn, madam,"answered the.person whose,broad expanse,of countenance was thus'suddenly illuminated, "and this is my.son, Mr. Fritz Hahn. Allow me to assure you;.madam, that our errand here is a most peaceful and friendly one, and that wo deeply regret it if our presenco incommodes you,". "Ilka, light the candles," said Mother Überta, sullenly. " And you," sho continued, taring again to Mr, Hahn, " find yourself a seat, until we can see what you look like,"

"What a vixen of an old woman 1" whispered the proprietor of the'' Haute Nobless e" to his, son, as theyjeated.themselves on %.. hard wooden bench near the window. "Small chance for-the I'Haute Noblesso,'' I fear," responded Fritz, flinging his travelling cap on the clean-scoured deal table, Ilka, who, in the meanwhile, had.obeyed her mother's injunction,, now came forward with two lighted tallow dips, 'stuck iii shiniug brass 1 candlesticks, and' placed them on the table before tho. travellers. She made a neat little courtesy before each of them; to which they responded'with patronising nods; ' , "Parbleul Elle est charmante .'" exclaimed Fritz, fixing a bold stare on the girl's blushing face, , ■'" ~ '■'.-" '"■Bien charmante," replied Mr,Halin, wlio took a great pride in the little French he had picked, up when he carried a napkin over his shoulder. 1 : ',""''" '■.'

. And, indeed, Ilka..was charmante as she stood therein the dim candlo light,' lier great innocent eyes dilated withchild-like'wonder, hor thick blonde braids hanging over her shoulders, and .the ■picturesque,' Tyrolcse costume—a black' embroidered velvet Waist, blue apron and shorf black skirt—setting,oiF her line'figiirb to admirable advantage.'' She was'a tali ires'h-lopking'girl.'ijf'statelybuild, without being'stout, with a healthy blooming countenance and an open guileless expression, Most people would...have., pronounced her beautiful, but her beauty was of that rudimentary, flnimlividjUaljsedpkind - which i is found so" frequently among the peasantry' of all .nations;' To 'Fritz 1 Hahn, -however; who •was not a philosophical observer, she seemed the, most;! transcendent phenomenon his eyes had ova' beheld,

■'■ ('To make &■ long story short, madam," 'began Mr. Halm after a pause, during which Mother Überta' had been : brißtliu'g silently while- firing 'defiant glances at the' two Btraiigere; "I of a great establishment in: Berlin—the 'Haute' No.blcsse '—you may have heard of it," "No, I never?' heard of : it," responded Mother Überta, emphatically, as if anxious ■to express her disapproval, on general principles; of whatever statements ! Mr, "Hahn •might choose to make. ■;•■.:. . " Well, well,' madam," resumed thelatter, a trillo discontented,'"it makes very little 'difference whether you have heard of it or not, I see, however/that yon are a woman of excellent common sense, and I will, therefore, be as brief as possible-avoid circumlocution, so to apeak. "Yes, exactly," said Mother Überta, nodding impatiently, as if'eager to help him on. -'••■•'

"Madam-'Uberta—for that, as I understand, is your honored inan-wonkl you like to get one thousand florins ?" ' ; ' "That depends upon'how I'should get ''cm," answered the old ; woman,,sh'arply, "I 'shouldn't like to get 'cm by stealing.' "I mean,. of .course,■ if you had honestly earned them," said Hahn, •' ■ • ; ' !

■" I.'ani afcarcdhohesty with you and with i me isn't-exactly the same thing.' 1 ' ' -. j Mr, Hahn was about to swear, but, ininuV]

ful of hirohorislied omerprwoVhe toisely re-' \ "I bog--leave to inform you, MSdtmr -Überta^Vheobaevved^Hthatitii&'gmJilemett: W honor "you"-have' to deal with, and that tibjgiu willfce of an honorable cjiaracjter.f,,.,.., ._ vt ''^And'laffl•v■erfgl«d''to y hkr■tbaH^'n , > r| , ling in ,'tpia romon, deter-, mpd|jDo);'to,.a|loiy; to'bp pfp&, '}m h^ard,' ( a '/npat,^pri'derfi\l ypdljng fountains'., I ', Bp\y |h,f jtlio W(,ws jojr jye Jpcgine here, to goffer, |a,t^bußan'd, | fjpras,'if W;s» sing ber |] iiatjy | e'Tr'yplo,Bo|aii^ 1 l9 i i) eight.'Weeks at,, pur |Qpnqer|ij .Qarclen, ..the ,!\jHi(tytp.', jSfpinpthej.l" .flxclain\ealllfa,,wnohaQ .been .bji tp'njng tp'Ha|n'B terest.' : ; ,f Then'j jt ppuld,,,'p'ay,,pff|, gjtge and weahould npt'hayV j#, pay interest; any.more, .Ijaye: one'hundred and firty floriusl^f t r 'jfgr jiiy,dowry,''' ; ',.. ( ',jj '.';'; Hu^^'^iild^.husli!, • Ydu|'don|);,' k|npyf what ( y'ou f 'are. |alkin' | ,ftf>out,". mother',', seyerpiy. ut jiji'en, pj, JjCaliu: " I shoukj Jjlfp, |o piit'one .question jtpj bj)|h of you| andAvhen'| l you liaye.. j^nsw : ered, I'll give my.iuiswpiv whipli (jhere'.is glin'outof. .If the old, wpman^ventplpnjji 1 would ye' then carejsojhuchab'put'jihe.sipgin 1 ofthe'dau'g'h'ter?":,'.'','.',' ■ j.^'-!,.'..,;',' i'■ "Certainly, by'all mpahs," 'responded Hiihn promptly'; '■but'Frife ,was ; so'absorbed iii'pOlishinghis'finger,hails Witha'littleinatrument designed especially!' for"that'puf-. pose that he'forgot to hiiswer. ' '.'" "''.:'' ! ' A,long | c9rfsulta^iQn i 6nd'oi t it,W!U3 that Berlin !Ji|d..,smg l ,fpr''ejg)it weplfs, in costume,. pn .cdndjtipn ' ( expense? .'aiut bo defrayed,by,. .manager. .Mr!;|,HaliU|,a]sp agreed to pay .for'tlio .board 'andJpjlgjpgß .of the two women during their'sojourn in the capital, and-to-pay Ilka-the-one thousand florins (and this was a point upon which Mother yberta i; strenuously .insisted) in weekly instalments,'

. Thenextday the contract was drawniup iniegal form/pipperly stampedand signed; whereupon. MothpriUbertai.andllkahStarted withHahn;and Fritz for Berlin,! .. ■: , ■.!■.: (Tobe'continued,) '''• .' l|! ''

A.'TOUCHIN&;HOSHTAi,SKETCHi '.. '■ To TPJ«w,/ro»t Ai? in. the liospitjil or'oiUlib battle, field,' ipr tue'spko of, God arid you. comrauniciito -with' my uio'tlicr, Mis: Charles Dodik— town!'— State." "■ ■■'' . ■■- h -<i-■*■;■'■•■■ ■

This, written upoii'|tho fly-lenf of a little black pocket Testament, ".' . ~;;,"'„■' • I am fast getting to lie an old wpmanj |)ut I {shall never forget tlioso old hospital days, And this little book has brought b^ck'the ok] memories, just ns the sight of old andirons and spinning-wheel will cany one back to grandmother's .time. You see, I, haven't always had grey hair and crow's feet! There was a time, time lonjj ago, when I thought that life meant happiness. But when our neighbor's boy Jo, whom I had played with in my childhood, came to ma and asked me to make a choice for life, I had to put it all away; for father and mother died that year and left four little brothers in an elder sister's care, I did the best I could for them, but wo were poor, and sometimes the weight was well nigh too heavy for young shoulders,

Well I my boys grew up and went out into the world; all but Jamie, poor little cripple boy. I loved him the more because so dependent on me, But he-took sick, and one spring day I laid him away in the meetinghouse; grave-yard, and went back to a lonely Jiome, Nobody knows how my heart ached for something, to love. and. work for. Anil then the war broke out, and as I hadn't a husband or sons to give,to my country, I thought I'd go myself. Not to fight., Oh, no; but 'as'; ft' Jitirse in tho hospital. And so that's' how T happened'to go. I had been there several months when the battle of 6 killed and wounded so many of our boys, you remember. Quito a number of them wero brought to our hospital. I saw them carried in, and then went through the wards to do what I could. As I was hurrying from one to another I came to this one in the comer, I couldn't help but notice right away how young and boyish tho face was. Somehow I thought of Jamie, and my heart gave a great throb. He raised up on his elbow as I came near, gave* a cheerful nod, and said: " Good morning, auntie," I. wanted to putniy arms atound his neck and give him a good motherly hug, but, you .see, we had to learn.to.ov.ercome our feelings .there,. So I only, said: " Good morning "as Quietly'as I could; arid tlion went to work to smooth out tho army blanket, and replaced the haversack, doing, duty as a pillow, jjy a woollen'shawl of my own. You see, Iwas thinking so hard of Jamio', it never occurred to.me that he.waa w;o.unded.until ho put|his hand over his breast, anil gave a little short breath.; "What been.doingjo you?" I.asked, taking away, his hand. .... " Used mefor a target, Auntie, ■ 'Splendid shot, trne.,as you live," and lie'smileclijust.as though he was talking about some sport. , "Did the surgeon take the ball out T said l, , '■ ' ' : .■"■■■ ...

"That old fellovv with .driver! Whew !'• .'.He',.'bored .till I 'most thought lie was the gimlet and I was, the hole, Guess.he didn't find it. ". .""■ .','

~ Isa w, that it wanted. dressing,, boJ ,sefc;' about'it, It didn't lpokvery.bad, iycntu.red to say„Bo, and ,'you ought to have hjs face ,brighten, ; while, lie askec}, so earnestly :. I'Do, voiithink so ? - Jiist Vhat ttb,b,ugk .I'll be all right in a few. days. 'Bbn't.you, think I W n ■ ■-'., ' ;■;.'.' ■■„'■ '■"„."■''■ ',l shook ju'y head,,. I tp dis-; agree with him,' but,kncwit,was,better tjian; to givefalsc.hope, '"Noj'npt'inafew.days. !j Perhaps ina ;few .week's,", I liad.dress'ed the; 'wound by,this .time,' so,he. said ih'bis clieery ■. way. that ho*d ( take ajittlc trip into the land! of, nod, and 'then;, began to snore'like a mis-j chievous school bw. ,, , I went about my .o.ther! .duties, but b'y , -andrbye.,catrio around; just toj see 'how ho, was' ;,and, ,sure,,eri6ugh,' ( 'hewas sleeping just as quietly as a.baby.' ''.,.,.; ,Next morning I stopped the surgeon after' he' had goqe.through the jWards, for though! was■'in i ',a hurry, I w.'a.nted.tb know when : ,my boy„w | , as : goiiig'.to. get well,/ I thpiiglltj likely aa'not Jie'd ask mp'.agajn, and'it.iipuld be so .much better'to.say "the .doctor'says so,"'. The way,that surgeon frowned,w,hen,l : asked, \hini, and '-he '.answered' 'so, sharp, " When ? -Shot' ; thro,ugh .the lung, ni'adam ;i just as.'surelydead as.tlpghjliishcadwas' cutoff.' 1 ' . '' "' ' '■ ', ! . It was well that I had so (liscipliri'e';,among the, suffering .and dying, or I could not.liave.heard.it and been spca|m';j for, you see r this boy .was„taking! Jamio's; .place; ,so, .when I went in !wit|i ; the bowls of J porridge I couldn't' smite'back' 'at'him,..al-i though I saw him raised up on his .elbow, the .minute.l stepped insido.the^d.oor." Ojf.poursei I.expected lie ( would .be'.'worse, .but.hc atethe' .porridge, with.a bpy's relish; and.declared.he felt good enough to'stand'on rl)is .head, While I was working for the others I heard a little tunc, now softly whistled, now sung, coming from that corner. It was something' .about the, "patter:of :; the raindrops on the rpof.";rWhenJ.came aronndiagain.he stopped -his tune longionough; to;askiriie if I ever.snng it; Itoldhim 1 didn't sing, but perhaps some.' ■bodycould.■ • ' '•'■■/■ • ,: ■ - -"No matter,any'.way,'"'he said 1 ; "only inother'u'sed to ■ sing it to us when We were littlo chapa at home, I thought it would'

a mil sound sort of gorahtfre, bhnptft flupppsy anybody could sing it quite lrab her." I told him I didn't believelmybody cdHld. :r seemed a gKaTdwlTe'tter, ' T'had nl'ade tr a letter homo that dayxbut wnenjie began to talk about get;rad harder,, , ■ .'',", Don't you suppose-fll hiive 1 ,a. furlough', Auniie'.'ffi Itie'old Hblb psMledupf''; '• pm?,"J,couldn!t':heljii.bht say'.' your jrigiii^fiei:'?V .'. '. .. ',",;[ .j "iOnyjij, 'twould scare : W'little' wbin'an but of lier'wiy,''''3esl^es 1 , l i''failt' to!' surprise' her/' Wonf'she I .lje!glad''effiugh'to'burst when sheseM-me'-walkinnpfiSt fili'fcdpor 1 hylh^allwi':^ 1 .., ,'■ Anldjie peganti) get sb'Mite'd jiisttalkiiigttifcW him.tago fo^eepepr,he wouldn't gp.'h'pine «« Willi' iirijw'.ij.iir.i" i:jl''i'!iJo :»,.*..■" delusion. Ho was to much ■.: better, > and so hppeful - ( ty)o j, I. Really ..began ''the surgeon^'wa^, ; mito Th'en'ekt day lie',''feit''po' i,y611; Ji^/wantWjto Bit,ilp; but' I,said no, abi'iriW ,'to' amuse jiim pyery,',miriute' f'cpijhl;'lje o'ther&V rupbed ; "hia like his ; mother,' be glad 1 to see' ,h|rn'tliouglx'l'•' , When 'he^&pblte of 'his rrlotjier,l'asked He hadn't befc'ie'rjwrite .he di'£)'tr',wanjt'| liis ] mbthef.' to boineand'oflcbrt ( hirrt jh'bmb.'fdr"he wouldn't strpn| i ; 'fpr' Me,'' Itut ( lie seepi'ed ,sp arid I'tlien te 'a| ! guei| tl{at' 'jbivas top !far ,f p'r'tKe little .mother to ,cbme alpnp ( ; aiiil he wto.gct: iingwell Bo'fiwt; 11 the iiext'day'' and'tljehext bpyjull of, ; hpjje, and .hnpatient; to get >vell,ana..start!fpr 'lipnie'; had'sue]) pleasanftalJis. '/Hotpld apd little..BipterB i an,d i widpweu,mother. I tpjldjnin appiiji, and |ni'v lonely, life I .' '' 1 foujfil 1 , jirjyaetf..' \auguing \ 'funny Bpeecjies a good ma'ny'tiineg.a 1 very uiiiißual thjng.fpr ; a,sofler,.ola ; maid likeme, ,!Heso nrmly..b,elie,ycd, i ting, well,'jjhjiilhe.'iS hayp ;/ won'da'ed|,hpw 1, coiild have oeen sp.deoeiy^d.', , v . . ~'.!..!.,'„.'...'.,'., i'. ' Tlib sixth morning' T'openbd'the door, I missed the raised head; and whelil reached his corner} sawit-lay oh the pillow, Thesmilewasa.little.fainter,|han u5ua1....,1 noticed at'dnoe tliat' each'olieelc 1 was walked with a flushed sp6t,'.an'dothat he breathed iu.short, quick breaths, In answer as tphow he felt he_ said,:. . .„, ~, ~„,,';, :, ' t ' j'^lijfiglfj^only'oi^t.of M^in^d,„' '.Ojn't.y,bu' raise, l a i br,e^e ) spmeway|." S ',,,'., ~■■..,! > Ivbolstered' C him up : an.d i -|a,nnpd,' l as though life depended ,ou it.i!M,thß.time. l my heart WfiS'.heating,,so,fast ( l;didp't :i paro to speak> .He eaaiei\, . tp feel;bettpr. / He i.triedilhatd ,to,,swallpw, the the; breakfast, I- had,- taken, p,,, Utile ...extra troubje to prepare,' : aud grpw pheefful all t)ie time. i„The:Biirgeon:dian't do any thing, more thau.lJiaddone, andonlyfrownedwhenthe boyaskedjiim in iA Qarelessfway, ,that .was all assumed, if he wouldn't be up in a fow days. He whispered in my ear as he passed:

" Inflammation set" in, ■ -BetteMondrfer friends if he has any," ' "i I didn't lose any time, and.wjth trembled and eyes that blurred I \vfote'-to that mother—who, somehow, litid- gfpvtjii akin to me—that Willio was wopdedfaud the doctor thought that he wouldn't'Tjiyij. At the close I wrote, " I am doing.all,l\can for your dear boy." I thought,'perhjps,'')t would ease her mind a little.. I wasii't going to tell him of the letter until he apoke;of writing; but toward night he grew .worse again, and I could see he was thinkjug about it, Finally I asked what Icould'jdb for him. He only turned his head away a'n'd kept very still. He thought I.dldii't seehis lips quiver, and the tears that he .tried „;w hide in the woollen shawl. After a mome'ut he spoko lip just as pleasant as ever. ■'' " Perhaps you'd better—let mother know —I ain't getting well-so fast as I was." J I told him just as quietly as I could that'l had thought for some time that his mother had better come and see if she couldn't, jio better than I at nursing, so I sent a word to .her that morning. He seemed really pleased, rbut didn't have breath enough to tell me So for a long time. After a whiloM Beemjid easier, and I almost thought ; he 4, fiope asleep; but in a minute hisYeye3:idpencd. "Auntie "—I was at his side,instantly— "do you think I'll get well?" ■''[ ~'^.\ What could I say ? Did you over have to' answer such a hard- question ?,--'1 ncj'er d|d myself,, to tell the truth. "I hope so, Willie, but Urn afraid not," 1

Another question followed: "Willmb.thjr come - in the morning J" " Perhaps so. Can't you goto sleep?" ■.■'< He shook his head, and pretty,soon;: laid his hand in mino, I gave it a : warm pressure. '"' '""" ■""■' r;,: - ,5v - m

"Auntie, I'm'fraid—l havn'tbeen good. Didn't ever forget—to pray, though-just as mother'said. Won't you, now ?"

My first thbughtwas to send forthe chaplain ;'but,'no ] 'Willie had'afeked,fne.'BO I prayed tWe;'beat I could—prayed that the mother might dome ebon,'and if not that, the dear Saviour \yoiild help'this suffering ; ; boy hereand'the mother at home,, arid that they night.mcetby and by in' Ee'aven; When I raised my''head I thought lip '.was dying. I called'ah afctehdantand the doctor; but after a thiio i(6 became' 'conscious,' and then began a struggle/for breath that lasted 'all through that, long weary 1 night. -Not' one word of complaint, "arid, always a siiiile'whenwe tried; $ relieve him,' At day-breaWlie'ra'bMter, Assoori.asthestiage'eameI'wa's'.at the door! to see ; if brie of its 'occupants 'wasn't'a little! .wohiari iri ! black. I'"bright'to"n'ayekriown: that tile timewaV too short,' but I was-ioo excited to be reasonable'. '•'l!cto'jfc 'forget \yhat ■ ananxibiis^aqe 1 it''was : tliat l 'tutnedito me. ; : '!Did shecdpi'e?"', ' ''' •: : '■'■ ! ' I'eoulij'onlykhake fAy head, 1 ahdswallbwed har'dtbkeep'thiJ'kmp butofmythroat. '■'• ': ■" If : she'-dbri't late—tell ■ lierT^t'i'alltight.''' Yp\\ prayed—prayed. me! 'thrphgli.'" '{These" wcre'!.tbe f 'last conscious 'words' hoover sp'olto, ■• I was almost 'glad ■ to have | hiriv' jtnoonsolousf; 'Vecause Mirf" breath' 'catrib'sb hai'd',' 'I nevprjeft that bedside 'all the iribrinhg.';^riei'dbctor,'cairie',-'and said;he : could not last\long|aiiid'rsawthb'same beautiful 1 look"' cbming il 'back \ to •; his' face, ;I whispered; ' "". ; '' : , •■.' ■ : , I' Willie," arid/kissed'his 'fei'cHea'd, growing moist "with I llie' l l ; dea'tK-'oJamp;' jiiat-iia I; thought!his mother, would nave done 'were 'slie'lpresent. '■•:' " '"';'" ;:; ■ , Thelips'/m'byed:'' .;'' ; '" " '.; .. . ' ",Ho,w' I— fme—do\yn-dpwn : to—; sleep—"'' ",,';■ ■';'' •'" ."' : .;' : ; : "And'he was/ 'dead, even'wjiilo' I'held him! tb.mybeatirig'heart. ""'■';' ; "Doyou,knowanythingabouthqspitalfunc-! ' irals J. 1 * : They;biitied' him next 'day,'an'4 still Ms'.mother Uriel nbt'.come, •••'There wjis a pirie |coffin, a few'flower's'l had/a great' deal pf ■trouble to; get,' a short,prayer/and'-'fidust to' 'dust.'' ■■■<• ■■•■ ■••- l ; ■■.■'-■ ■•' ' •■■;

|: ;The one; mourner'had'tp pKoke'b'aclrher '.tears/.'and gb'"bacli'to : 'duties, jraowri'morV "aaoreb? but heve'r aiore 'to'.'.b'e lightened or. refreshed by'thfeamilo and of her, 1 own ;boyi ;"" ;.'.,'.'' '. '■ "" ;,) '"' ; .'''"J r '_ She' 1 came next day, ,1 showed her the 'little'.wbpden'''slab)" and told' .her how he •talked of moth.Gr, 1 and! the.' messiige' he left,' 'and l how'he'went''t6' i ßleep;' ; She : didn't blame rijea bit'; seemed, to know that I'had done wha'tl coukV for' him,: and "bo; comforted me morcthan I did her- 'She'took'.tho'pine 'coin'back with her to bury her boy. by'lier, liusbancl, • Nover 1 shall ; I ( 'forget libiv' slje 'smiled- through ,her tears' .as Bite talked, of, ■their being together. There "can jie 'sublimity'' 'iii suffering. ■ '1 have'seen'it. 1 This ! Te'staraent, you see, rtgiven me by that mother, when

oftthat dreary mdrnlDi; Wo sMieijOßWronu the dark, gloomy hospital with Mary Loutse Beeclter in the Christian Union'