The Home in the Valley | Page 5

upon young Rask to
whom I am obliged to entrust this letter, as he might be tempted on his
way to the post office to enter a beer-house, and there lose the money. I
am forced to send Rask to the office, as I am obliged to remain on the
vessel until it is unloaded.
"I will tell you in advance that I shall not be able to send you a large
amount of money; but instead of that, I shall forward you when Jonson
returns, a quantity of foreign goods which I have been fortunate enough
to purchase and to place on board his sloop without paying the duty,
which you know is heavy. It consists of sugar, coffee, tobacco, cotton
yarn, and a package of silks.
"You, my dear wife, must select the best, a silk shawl which you will
find in the package. Nanna may have the next best shawl, and you may
give Carl the blue handkerchief which is at the bottom of the parcel. I
have not forgotten father. I shall send him a small cask of liquor, and in

the parcel of silks you will find a bundle of toys for the children.
"You cannot imagine--but still you must--how pleasant it is to deprive
oneself of luxuries that you may provide for the wants of those whom
you have left at home.
"My ship-mates frequently say that I am severe towards them when at
sea, perhaps I am; but it grieves me when I see those noble men, so
skillful in the management of our vessel, lavish their money when on
shore in foolish pleasures. They have as great reason to be economical
as I have myself, and I cannot resist from occasionally censuring them,
and therefore I may not appear so kind to them as I am to you when at
home, or while I am writing this letter. Although all my efforts may be
fruitless, still I feel assured that there is not one man amongst them who
would not peril his existence to rescue 'the tiger,' as they call me, from
any danger. They well know that I would not stop to think, but would
spring into the ocean at once, if it was necessary, to rescue them.
"But, my dear Magde, a word in confidence. I am neither as wise or as
well educated as my father was in his younger days, yet I would not
wound your feelings either by word or action; but I must inform you
that a rumor has reached my ears about a certain man, whose neck I
once would have twisted willingly, because, when in church, he looked
at you oftener than he did at the minister.
"But if, when I return, I discover that that villain from Almvik has been
poaching on my grounds, he must look to safety. In you, Magde, I can
place all confidence, and shall therefore say nothing further. And now
farewell. Remember me firstly to my father, and then to my sister, and
my children.
"Your faithful husband, "RAGNAR LONNER.
"P.S. During the soft moonlight nights, when on my watch, I see your
form, dear Magde, bright and beautiful, as I look over the wake of the
vessel. And when the night is dark and cloudy, I see you sitting by my
side, the binnacle light shining upon your pleasant face, which is
illumined with smiles as I gaze upon little Conrad, whom I imagine a

fine full grown lad, climbing the shrouds with all the eagerness of a
competent sailor. But, belay, otherwise my letter will be under sail
again."
When Magde read the portion of her husband's letter which he had
intended as confidential, her voice trembled as it did when she had first
read the letter.
"It would have been my desire," said she, "that Ragnar had sent the
money in the letter. It has been more than three weeks, dear father,
since you have partaken of other food than fish, bread and potatoes. Ah!
I wish we had a quarter of beef!"
"O, stop your prating, child! Fish is very good food indeed."
"But not strengthening. How delicious it would be if we only had a
partridge, or even a rabbit. Certainly they would not cost much! But
who dare think of such luxuries? All delicacies must be sent to
Almvik."
"God grant that we may have nothing worse to expect from Almvik,
than that they should prevent us from enjoying luxuries that poor
people cannot expect to procure."
"O, that is not my opinion. In winter-time, when Ragnar is at home, he
procures us many a savory dish with his gun."
"Yes, but I think that if Ragnar has disturbed the hunting grounds of
Almvik, he may consider himself fortunate if the proprietor has not