Boy's Column.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume XX, Issue 2076, 3 June 1887, Page 2 (Supplement)

Boy's Column.

Car! Lapp. Lit lie Carl Nossor was awakened from a sound sleep, one cold winter ni'dit, by such a commotion that he thought at first a wolf or l>ear, or perhaps one or two of tlio reindeer, had got into the tent; for Carl lived in Lapland, and when night came he fell asleep as soon as he got under his sheepskin. Yes, ho slept under a sheepskin, and over one too ; and in very cold weather he got into a sort of bag made of rein-deer-skin with fur inside. This was in place of a night-gown, and it kept him warm as toast. Carl liked the warmth, and lie dearly liked to be comfortable. It was not at all comfortable to hoar this noise and talking in the night, and at first he tried to go to sleep again, and forget all about it. But presently the thought of his mother and little Marta, and Lara, the kind, generous father, made him feel ashamed, and he started up, quite awake, to*sec what the trouble was. It was a queer-looking place inside the tent. Right in the middle, under the opening at the top, a bright fire was huriiing, and over the. (ire was swung a large brass kettle with reindeer meat cooking in it. How good that moat did smell, and bow Carl wished that he could have some 1 They were making coffee, too, and he liked (lie smell of coffee. There were the huge chest and reindeerskins on the floor lo sit on; and many things, such as pola, pails, saddles, and clothes, were lying around. Overhead hung the baby's cradle, and reindeer horns, skins, harness, and pieces of frozen meat. There were several people and two or three dogs. All these, things Carl was used to seeing, but the fall stranger in the group was something now. This was an Englishman, travelling to Sweden. An accident had compelled him to halt and arouse these worthy people for a bed and a supper. After a while Carl's mother saw the boy s great round eyes wide open, and when the guests had been attended to, she slipped over to the bed with a nice bit of meat, whispering, as she popped it into Ins mouth, “ Lie, down to sleep again, little one ; the stranger will not hurt thee.” “Then he isn’t a giant, mother?” whispered Carl. “No, indeed,'’ said the mother; “he is a good man and very tired. See, I’m going to make ii is bed.” Airs. Lars spread fresh skins on a pile of young birch tree branches, and soon all was quiet once more. Tiie next morning the little Lapp boy took breakfast witli the strange gentleman ; and when he saw his pleasant laughing eyes and Kind smile, ho thought he would like to show him his own reindeer that was given to him when he was born, which is Hie fashion with Lapland babies. When ho saw this wonderful reindeer, Mr, Thorne praised its handsome antlers and its pretty color, and laughingly asked what Carl would take for it. But Carl only hugged his pet tighter, and the animal replied with an affectionate grunt. Then Carl put on his snow-shoes, which were queer (hit i m do of Hr-wood, and longer than Carl s height. But lie strapped them on and ran ah mt, leaping from one snow-heap to another, and shouting with glee. Wh.m the stranger tried to got about in them he tumbled down awkwardly and made Carl laugh. They became good friends during the next two days, while the visitor was getting ready to proceed on his journey ; and when the time came to start, Mr. Thorne offered to lake Carl home with him. He had fallen qnito in love -with the little Lapp hoy. At first the good Lars and Margarita looked troubled, for they did not want to lose their little Carl ; but then they said, reverently, “Cod will take care of him as well as here. Cod is everywhere. It is for Carl's good. Wo will consent.” Then Carl got his beloved reindeer and his snow-shoes ready, never doubting that he should need them in England. His molher made up a little bundle of clothing, which she gave him with a long good-by kiss ; his father solemnly blessed him ; so feeling quite like a man, Carl started oft' with his new friend. After a while ho began to ask: “Do they have such beautiful snow in England 1 Are there forests there of birch and pine and Ur ? Do you have warm skins to sleep under, and nice bladder-puddings to eat ? And do you hunt wolves and bears V “ Oh no,” replied Mr. Thorne, laughing. “ You will not need your snow-shoes. And I’m afraid your reindeer will starve unless you can get it to eat something else besides moss.” “Then,” said the boy, solemnly “I’ll go back to mother, and stay in Lapland. It is not good to be where everything is strange. ” And Carl went back to the tent with the queer hole in the top to let the smoke out, and all sorts of handy things scattered around. Mr. Thorne was not offended, and when the guide went back ho sent the little follow a bos full of delicious candies, and just in the middle was a white sugar reindeer. It was beautiful; and around its neck was a slip of paper on which was written “.Selma,” the name of Carl’s own pet reindeer. “ It must have come all the way from Stockholm,” he said, in a tone of awe. On tup of tho box was a dear little Bible with Carl’s name and “ A gift from his English friend” written on it. This was a great prize, for though tho Bible was well known in tho tent of Lars Nosser, Carl had never had one of “his very own.” Tho good Margarita clasped her boy in her arms when he returned, and said, “It is well; tho home and tho Bible are all that one needs.”

Society and the Criminals.— ln coming time the world will look back in amazement upon the days when it let known, determined criminals run at large, only punishing them occasionally, by a temporary deprivation of their liberty in short and determined sentences. Wc can sec to-day that it is a thoroughly illogical proceeding. The man determined upon a life of crime is of no use to himself at large and he is both a danger an 1 expense in his community. He commonly gives evidence in his character and his acts of this determination—evidence suffieieut for the court which tries and sentences him ; but if that is too uncertain, then conviction for a second offence may be legally taken to define his position. After the second offence the criminal should be shut up, on an indeterminate sentence,where he will be, compelled to labor to pay for his hoard and clothes and the expense of his safe keeping. ‘■Just fancy. Boorge," said Mrs. De Vane the oilier day, "you know white belts are coining in again, and I find your collars arc just my size exactly. Could anything he more convenient!'’