Gritli's Children

n the gentle breeze mounted like incense to the open windows, and sought entrance there. From a great basin in the middle of the garden, a slender shaft of water rose straight up into the bl

ats in sheltered nooks invited the loiterer to rest and listen to the concert o

s of the sunny garden, and rested far away on the glistening waves of the fast-flowing Rhine, that ran past the foot of the garden, bathing caressingly the long over-hanging branches of the old linden trees as it passed along. The rich foliage of the trees by the river-side was visible from the windows of the house; but not the stone bench which stood in the cool shade, so cl

r voice, "may I not go out soon into the garden, a

ting-place in the window-seat, and her anxious gaze had scarcely left the pale little face, with its big eyes full

n, "you know that you are too tired to go out in the morning; but this afternoo

she said no more, she did not turn her eyes away fro

eat that one would have thought that she had no other business in life than that of keeping in perfect order her gray hair, with its snow-white cap, and her simple, spotless dress; but, on the contrary, she was the house-keeper, and had the whole charge of the big house, with a

the house down to the lowest servant, her word was followed as law and obeyed with affection; and one took i

nd let us go," begged t

g and calling us: why should we not try it

oned to carry the little girl down the long staircase and out of the house. Then, once out-of-do

py now?" asked the

t I should like to go down to the stone bench by th

the clusters of whose pendent, sweet-smelling blossoms the bees were busy, mingling their deep murmur with the so

I am so tired; I am always tired. I long to hop about as the birds do u

mother, in a cheerful tone; but her looks belied her voice, for

mer to make you stronger. Now we must go back to the house, Nora; you loo

ler and her expression more suffering. She reached the house with difficulty, and, when Frederic had

ittle Nora, who certainly seemed to be losing strength daily. He would write to a physician, a friend of h

ensward in golden radiance, and lighted up the rose-leaves till they shone like lamps among the flowers. Clarissa sat at her work-table

resently, "will you repeat th

laid asid

, when you are strong enough; now I will say it to y

f water, cr

through mea

s, shining

ling starl

blow, and

rds in e

loud, are

adise a

blows the so

wers grow

s from a dr

ad on ho

l happiness

with each

w in bond

the grave's

nd wearines

ow and a

e gathers mo

are wel

lness for a long time; Nora seemed lost in thought. "Clarissa," she

d Clarissa, with tears in her eyes. "Then you can

e gathers mo

are wel

n join you there,

ra, even though her child were called to heaven; but the mother had heard enough of what had been said, and looked at the child with renewed anxiety. N

h her old friend, she began anxiously to question the

rnful things, Clarissa. Nora is not so ill that

to live only to suffer through long years of pain, can you wish for life for her? Why should we wish to keep her here, where she cannot enjoy

ll yet go well, and Nora get strong again?" said the poor mother; and the heart within h

mer moon shone down upon it, whoever had seen it standing there in stately beauty,

here! No care nor sorrow can reach

Nora. The faithful Clarissa, who had taken care of Mrs. Stanhope in her childhood and who had accompanied her to her foreign home, loved these children as if they were her own. The little family had now lived several years in this beautiful house on the Rhine; a very peaceful and regular life it was, one day like another; for the children were

willingly offered to find a house for Mrs. Stanhope near his own, in the little village of Buchberg, among the moun

ith them. As the carriage rolled away, bearing Mrs. Stanhope and her little daughter on the way to Switzerland, Clarissa gave them ma

ure gathers

are wel