STELLA:

Taranaki Herald, Volume XL, Issue 9123, 2 July 1891, Page 4

STELLA:

A Norwegian Story, Founded on Pact. It was a 'wet, stormy evening. The" jwind howled round the chimneys in the town ' of Trondjora and over the old cathedral, as it had howled an hour earlier among the great Norwegian mountains, before sweeping away southwards to fill the sails of the fishing boats in the North Sea. It sounded very desolate and Cruel in the ears of little Stella Brandt as she sat by her . mother's bedside, in a dreary attic, hungry and miserable. ; Mrs. Brand was a German, wnose husband had made his home in the northern city two' years before ; but his death had left her, a, stranger, unknown and poor, to Bupporfc herself and her only child, as best she could. Up to this time she had struggled pn bravely, but a severe illness had laid her on her couch for weeks, and now, on this chill; August day, they seemed to have come to their worst. The last penny was" spent, and to-morrow the rent would be due, and the laridfoTd wps a very hard man, who refused to wait for his money. i' „ i " If we have not three kroner by to-mor-row," sighed the poor woman, " wo shall be turned out of our poor little home, and what then will become of my Stella ?" ■ " Mother," said tho little girl, suddenly, •• I know how to get a little money. May ' I go out for an hour or two, if I leave you comiortable?" "In this rain, my cnild, and such a dark night? What have you got into your head now?" " It's a secret, motner, tnat I have just thought of. Do let me go. lam sure I can earn some money." " Don't be long, then." " Very well, mother." So Stella, after turning the pillow and placing a cup of water within reach of the invalid, put on a shawl and hat, took a basket, and went out. She went iivst to a shop where 'flowers •were sold; and begged so prettily for a'bunch of waste sprays that were not fresh enough to be put up for sale again, that the ttorist could not # refut>e her some ; indeed r after ask- < ing a few 'questions of the timid, blue-eyed maid, he added several fresh blossoms/and ' gave her wiro to bind them into itiny rbouqucts.' , i With her basket thus filled, Stella went to the harbour. , Moored close to the quay lay a large steam yacht from! Scotland, and on deck, sheltered by an awning, the passengers were .dancing •merrily to the sound ofra band.j ( ( Coloured {lanterns hung to thd riggmg^he I gay light over Jthe scene, md in! thegenertl merriment the miserable jweather if^s^lmoi t[| forgotten. i ' ' At last the music ceased, and the danceijs paused. ' , "' j I When all was still, ajclear sweet voiwkjTOSis on the air in childish tones — a ' .pliintivje ballad, such as maybe often heard in mbun.tain lands. ' / ' ' Everyone listened. - \ It was like the voice of a bixjl, swelling anjl' thrilling as it gained confidence, and rising high on the wind which swept about the vessel in gusts. ,' > The song ceased, and there was a moment's silence. Then a clapping of hands .and a loud cry of " More, more," encouraged the child to ainr again." , '" This time she chose a German sqng, one of ' those that her mother bad taught her in her dear native land. ,It seemed no longer *. child who stood there, but a- little woman, earnest with cares beyond her years; all her heart was in the song. Stella -had never before sung to so many people, and the effort tried her almost' beyond her powers. In the. last verse she could not keep back her tears, and though she made a brave at r tempt to sing to the end, it was too much; her voice quavered, broke, and the song finished in a burst of sobs. , ButeheJbad done,cnoji;;h. ' • Kind arms came about her'; gentle hands dried the flowing tears, and while she told, shyly and falteringly, her sad story* a collection was made among the passengers on her behalf. , Then the gentlemen began to buy her but-ton-holes, and in ten imputes all the flowers were sold, and into*" the empty basket was poured more money than 3ho had ever pos-1 sessed in all her life. \ As the hour of nine was «lriking, an Eng-| lish sailor brought the child to her mother's' door, and great was the delight of Mrs. Brand on finding that her brave little daughter had' earned ten kronen (nearly twelve shillings)j by singing. „, , , , " . < . , i i Stella Brand succeeded, because she was in earnest. I There'is an old proverb which says, " God . hslps^ those tvho help themselves." Hej helped Stella by putting the thought intohe'rj heart to do what she did, and He never forsakes those who try to do right. '

"I'm gaun' to be married, Peggy," fluid & j young man to a lady with whom he had taken! | tnany long walks, but a falfeor at the fountain; head of feeling had always stopped him when-; tho important question t should have been put. •"' * ••Are ye 2" ,' "Yea." ' "Towha?'. ' * , ♦• To yersel', and no. Ither," said he. . " Wcel, mon, I wish I had kenned sooner," eaid she. Visitor (to butler, who is showing him the picture-gallery of th«a mansion) — " Is that an. old master there !'V V No, air, it is an old, missus." To Overcome Weakness. — Pepper'sQuinine and Iron Tonic gives New Life r Appetite, Health, Strength, Energy Cures Neurulgia, Indigestion, Nerve Debility. Specially useful in hot, depress ing climates or malarious districts. Everyone should keep ijp strength by taking Pepper's Quinine, the world'-koown. English Tonic Bottles everywhere.— Advt Wolfe'a BohQaPips is imitated, pit for, the narao '« ■ y '