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the white forehead。 Then there came a middle…aged man； with a dull eye；
and a broad forehead； and timidly approached the lonely mourner。 He
walked on tip…toe and his figure stooped heavily。 For a long while he
stood gazing at the dead body； then he knelt down at the foot of the coffin；
and began to sob violently。 At last he arose； took two steps toward the
young man； paused again； and departed silently as he had come。 It was
Halvard。
Close under the wall of the little red…painted church； they dug the
grave； and a week later her father was laid to rest at his daughter's side。
But the fresh winds blew over the Atlantic and beckoned the son to
new fields of labor in the great land of the future。
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TALES FROM TWO HEMISPHERES。
A GOOD…FOR…NOTHING。
I
RALPH GRIM was born a gentleman。 He had the misfortune of
coming into the world some ten years later than might reasonably have
been expected。 Colonel Grim and his lady had celebrated twelve
anniversaries of their wedding…day； and had given up all hopes of ever
having a son and heir； when this late…comer startled them by his
unexpected appearance。 The only previous addition to the family had
been a daughter； and she was then ten summers old。
Ralph was a very feeble child； and could only with great difficulty be
persuaded to retain his hold of the slender thread which bound him to
existence。 He was rubbed with whisky； and wrapped in cotton； and given
mare's milk to drink； and God knows what not； and the Colonel swore a
round oath of paternal delight when at last the infant stopped gasping in
that distressing way and began to breathe like other human beings。 The
mother； who； in spite of her anxiety for the child's life； had found time to
plot for him a career of future magnificence； now suddenly set him apart
for literature； because that was the easiest road to fame； and disposed of
him in marriage to one of the most distinguished families of the land。
She cautiously suggested this to her husband when he came to take his
seat at her bedside； but to her utter astonishment she found that he had
been indulging a similar train of thought； and had already destined the
infant prodigy for the army。 She； however； could not give up her
predilection for literature； and the Colonel； who could not bear to be
contradicted in his own house； as he used to say； was getting every minute
louder and more flushed； when； happily； the doctor's arrival interrupted the
dispute。
As Ralph grew up from infancy to childhood； he began to give decided
promise of future distinction。 He was fond of sitting down in a corner
and sucking his thumb； which his mother interpreted as the sign of that
brooding disposition peculiar to poets and men of lofty genius。 At the
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TALES FROM TWO HEMISPHERES。
age of five； he had become sole master in the house。 He slapped his
sister Hilda in the face； or pulled her hair； when she hesitated to obey him；
tyrannized over his nurse； and sternly refused to go to bed in spite of his
mother's entreaties。 On such occasions； the Colonel would hide his face
behind his newspaper； and chuckle with delight； it was evident that nature
had intended his son for a great military commander。 As soon as Ralph
himself was old enough to have any thoughts about his future destiny； he
made up his mind that he would like to be a pirate。 A few months later；
having contracted an immoderate taste for candy； he contented himself
with the comparatively humble position of a baker； but when he had read
〃Robinson Crusoe；〃 he manifested a strong desire to go to sea in the hope
of being wrecked on some desolate island。 The parents spent long
evenings gravely discussing these indications of uncommon genius； and
each interpreted them in his or her own way。
〃He is not like any other child I ever knew；〃 said the mother。
〃To be sure；〃 responded the father； earnestly。 〃He is a most
extraordinary child。 I was a very remarkable child too； even if I do say it
myself； but； as far as I remember； I never aspired to being wrecked on an
uninhabited is land。〃
The Colonel probably spoke the truth； but he forgot to take into
account that he had never read 〃Robinson Crusoe。〃
Of Ralph's school…days there is but little to report； for； to tell the truth；
he did not fancy going to school； as the discipline annoyed him。 The day
after his having entered the gymnasium； which was to prepare him for the
Military Academy； the principal saw him waiting at the gate after his class
had been dismissed。 He approached him； and asked why he did not go
home with the rest。
〃I am waiting for the servant to carry my books；〃 was the boy's
answer。
〃Give me your books；〃 said the teacher。
Ralph reluctantly obeyed。 That day the Colonel was not a little
surprised to see his son marching up the street； and every now and then
glancing behind him with a look of discomfort at the principal； who was
following quietly in his train； carrying a parcel of school…books。 Colonel
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TALES FROM TWO HEMISPHERES。
Grim and his wife； divining the teacher's intention； agreed that it was a
great outrage； but they did not mention the matter to Ralph。 Henceforth；
however； the boy refused to be accompanied by his servant。 A week later
he was impudent to the teacher of gymnastics； who whipped him in return。
The Colonel's rage knew no bounds； he rode in great haste to the
gymnasium； reviled the teacher for presuming to chastise HIS son； and
committed the boy to the care of a private tutor。
At the age of sixteen； Ralph went to the capital with the intention of
entering the Military Academy。 He was a