United States or Israel ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Durrien declared positively that it would be impossible for her ever to part with her. Erik undertook to arrange with Mr. Hersebom and Dame Katrina that they should leave Vanda behind them, with the express condition that he would bring her himself every year to see them.
Hersebom, I greet you affectionately, and I beg you to remember me most kindly to your worthy wife and children. When the fisherman had finished reading this letter, Dame Katrina, who had been silently weeping while she listened to it, asked him what he intended to do. "My duty is very clear," he said. "I shall tell the boy everything."
The traveler perceived those who were watching before the door, and taking off his cap, he waved it around his head. Two minutes later Erick was in the arms of Katrina, Otto, Vanda, and even Mr. Hersebom, who had left his arm-chair and advanced to the door. They hugged him, and almost stifled him with caresses. They went into ecstasies over his improved appearance.
They were the fishermen who had gone out the day before, not expecting such a cyclone; but Mr. Hersebom was not among them. Nobody could give any account of him, and the fact of his not returning with the others increased their anxiety as all the men had been in great peril.
Hersebom having seen them safely on board, walked as far as their depot of provisions, thinking that another sailor might have taken refuge there. They went all around it but saw no one. "I have been asking myself the last few moments," said Erik, "if it would not be better to prevent another panic by landing part of the crew?" "It might be better perhaps," answered the fisherman.
"Yes, doctor," answered Hersebom, gravely. "If he is not our son by birth, he is in love and affection," said Katrina, with moist eyes and trembling hands. "Between him, and Otto, and Vanda, we have made no difference we have never thought of him only as our own child." "These sentiments do you both honor," said the doctor, moved by the emotion of the brave woman.
The only thing they could do, therefore, was to return to Noroe, and wait as patiently as they could. The hour when he habitually came home passed without bringing Mr. Hersebom, but none of the other fishermen returned; so they hoped that they were all detained by the impassable state of the entrance to the fiord, and would not believe that he had personally met with any disaster.
"Why not? also the elements of Greek and Latin. I do not see what harm it can do them." "Nor I," said the doctor, laughing, and Erik Hersebom translated several sentences very correctly. In one of the sentences, reference was made to the hemlock drunk by Socrates, and Mr. Malarius asked the doctor to question him as to the family which this plant belonged to.
"God be praised!" cried Dame Katrina, pressing Erik to her heart in a transport of joy and tenderness. "I knew that the child would prefer the sea to all their books," said Mr. Hersebom, not understanding the sacrifice that Erik's decision would be to him. "Come, the matter is settled. We will not talk about it any more, but only try to enjoy this good festival of Christmas!"
Hersebom spoke of the value of his experience as a fisherman on the coast of Greenland, and of the usefulness of his dog Kaas, who could be used as a leader of the dogs which would be necessary to draw the sledges. Otto had only his good health, his herculean strength, and his devotion to the cause to recommend him. Thanks to the influence of the doctor and Mr.
Word Of The Day