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hast denied to me; Freedom; a Future; a Home for the Life of the Soul. For myself I desire nothing more. My pilgrim's staff is laid down my pilgrimage is ended:

I lift my hands confidingly
Up to God's holy hill!

KUNGSKÖPING PEOPLE.

NEVER had any person's illness and last moments caused so universal an interest and sympathy throughout the whole social circles of Kungsköping as those of Hertha. But there were very few of the better families of the town of which a daughter or other relative had not been educated at her school, and who had not to thank her for having given them a higher and more beautiful conception of life.

When she was gone they sung her praises in chorus, and fine poems, warm from the inspiration of the heart, were composed in her honour. During her long sickness all kind of things were sent to her which it was thought would please or comfort her, nor would greater gifts have been withheld if Hertha by one word would have allowed it. But her inborn pride forbade this. She only besought from her nearest friends that they would be kind to her sisters when she was dead. And was it piety towards her memory, or the effect of that heavenly guardianship, which Hertha sometimes pleased herself with the idea of being able to afford her sisters, when she was gone, but certain it is that people were kind to them, and that a propitious star seemed to rule their lives. Already before Hertha's death had Olof E- and Hertha's sister Maria become sincerely and devotedly attached to each other, and now

when we take our leave of them we see Olof E

pro

moted to a situation which enables him to offer his hand and a safe position in life to his gentle Maria. Martha, it is said, is nominated to the superintendance of an Industrial School, which some of the Kungsköping people have instituted in memory of Hertha, for young girls, and for which they repurchased the statues which she had destined for it. The spirit of life and of love for a higher development, which she had awoke, survived her, and still lives in the town.

Hence it is that the good pastor's wife lived to see the fulfilment of her wishes for the Infant-school. Who became the teacher after Amalia left the town to join her husband at some other place, we know not. After Marie Dufva's marriage, the pastor and his wife obtained a new daughter for their house, and they are yet wishing for another. The good married couple have still room in their house and room in their hearts.

Mimmi Svanberg still continued her manifold activity as "town councillor" in the town, even after she was married to a wealthy man of the place.

Her protégée, the bright-eyed, but lame little singer Mina, is appointed singing-mistress in the Infant-school, and divides her innocent, cheerful life between this and her now much happier mother's home (one of the good works of the Family Union,) and never, on the face of the earth, did a lame being more resemble a singing-bird, in life and disposition.

Mrs. Tupplander continues to give coffee parties; to contend against the principles of this age "without rule or morality," and bitterly complains that Miss Krusbjörn is more and more infected by them and actually defends them.

Professor Methodius still has not brought his system. into operation, nor has Protocol-secretary N.B. written his book against Ladies' Societies. He has, however,

done much better; he has become a member of a private lady's society-he is married to Mimmi Svanberg.

Mrs. Uggla, who can no longer sigh over the seven Miss Dufvas, nor her own daughter Ingeborg's many daughters, inasmuch as she has only one and two sons, nor yet sigh over her daughter's fate, has now taken it upon herself to sigh over the five Miss Hoppenstedts and the seven Miss Ugglas (her relations) and their uncertain prospects.

In conclusion we will speak of two persons in whom Hertha had great interest, and with whom she was in constant intercourse while she lived, although we have but little to say of them.

Rudolph-" poor Rudolph," as Hertha used to call him, continued his pedestrian pilgrimage for several years. Every now and then Hertha received a letter from him in which was a small sum of money "for the sufferers by the fire." After Hertha's death all intelligence of him ceased, and it is probable that he did not long survive her. By his letters it was evident that he found neither rest nor repose on earth, but was continually pursued by the memory of the terrible night of the fire, as well as by a voice which seemed to call to him "hence! hence!" But he also heard another voice which caused him to raise his head and his eyes upwards and which repeated, "thither thither!" A voice which whispered of a God greater than our own heart, one who knows all things, and with whom there is much forgiveness. And as there are human comets which in the course of their eccentric career are seen for a little time above our horizon and then never more return, but may be attracted by other planetary systems, and in their orbit find order and rest, so are there also among mankind nebulosities which never during their earthly lifetime are able to fashion themselves to a decided nucleus; and even for these we look confidingly to Him who can and will perfect all his

work. He has placed the one human being as a sun to the other, and thus we see Rudolph, the poor "son of the twilight," through his connection with Hertha advancing on his way to light and life.

Eva Dufva lived, Egeria-like, concealed in the sacred grove, where she, through influence, rather than by words imparted a beautiful doctrine of life's wisdom to all who came near her. Long may she blossom at the Parsonage pretty and fresh as a rose, and, though in time withering and growing old as other roses, still will she retain an imperishable fragrance of youth in her quiet, active life as daughter, friend, and mother to fatherless little ones. She will never marry; her only passion in this world was Hertha.

THE END.

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