Little Tora, The Swedish Schoolmistress and Other Stories | Page 3

sure to hand that house over
to the landlord in a superlatively clean and tidy condition.
Two stout men took their places as drivers, and two passengers stood
on the low steps for a few parting words. They were by no means twins.
The straight, slight girl, though not tall, yet fully grown, had been the
little Tora, the singer of one public performance. Now she had in her
pocket her greatest treasure--the paper that pronounced her a
fully-fledged schoolmistress; who had completed with honour the
prescribed course at the seminary duly authorized for the manufacture
of teachers of unimpeachable character, and all pedagogical requisites
in perfection.
At Tora's side stood "brother Karl," just about to start for Upsala
University, with his arrangements complete for his bachelor
housekeeping on the most simple principles.
There was no effusiveness in the parting. "Keep well, Karl, and don't
study too hard," said the sister. "And don't have any 'food-days'; I could
not bear that. But you must not live too low, and pull yourself down.
Send to me if you get to the bottom of your purse. I shall be likely to

have a few coppers in mine."
"I'll warrant that, Miss Prudence," was his reply. "Nobody but you
would have managed to keep us both comfortably on what was only
meant to carry you through the seminary. Don't be afraid for me! I shall
clear my own way. I shall teach boys in the evening, and study after
they have gone to bed. I have served a good apprenticeship with the
doctor's chaps these years. I understand packing lessons into youngsters
to be given out in the class next day. Then I am to write an article now
and then for the paper here, with Upsala news for the country folks. As
to 'food-days,' I am not exactly of your mind. I have made
arrangements for one already."
"O Karl! how could you?" said Tora reproachfully.
"Gunner Steelhammer liked well enough to take porridge with us now
and then when he was teaching here. His mother has told him to invite
me to dine at their house on Sundays, and to call there whenever I feel
like it. We are real friends, though he is a university tutor now.
Anybody that I would be willing to help I am willing to let help me. Of
course, I shall enjoy a good substantial dinner once a week, but I really
care more to be with the family at that house. Gunner is a splendid
fellow, as you know, and his father draws all kinds of nice people about
him, I hear. I did not dare to tell you this before, little sister; but now I
have made a clean breast of it. I was half teasing about it, too. Be sure,
I'll work hard and live low before I shall let anybody help me. Well,
good-bye," and he stretched out his hand to Tora, who took it hastily
for a hearty shake, and then they parted.
Karl was wearing his white university cap, which, with the loading of
the wagon, marked him as a student on the way to Upsala, and would
ensure him many a friendly greeting by the way. Tora had prudently
covered the fresh velvet with a fair cotton cover; but the
blue-and-yellow rosette was in full sight--a token of the honours he had
lately won at his examination, and would be striving to win at the old
centre of learning. The kind neighbours whom he had known from
boyhood had added to his equipment--here a cheese, and there a pat of
butter or a bag of fresh biscuits; but he did not need to open his stores

by the way. Now and again from the roadside houses kindly faces
smiled on him, and homely fare was offered him by the elders; while
flowers or wild berries came to his share from glad children who had
been ranging the woods for treasures during these last days of their
summer vacation.
As for Tora, sitting in a low chair in the midst of her possessions, she
went rattling over the cobble-stones, if not more proud at least more
happy of heart than a conqueror of old at the head of a Roman triumph.
She had reached the goal towards which she had long been striving.
She was now an independent worker, with a profession by which she
could earn an honourable living. She was a teacher, "a teacher of the
little school"--that is to say, of the school for little children. The state
was her sure paymaster. If continued health were granted her, her path
for the future was plain--her bread was sure.
The cobble-stones were soon passed, and over the smooth country road
rumbled the clumsy vehicle, now through evergreen thickets, now