tion, and no relatives or friends in the country, the
examination was cut short, and after an hour's delay and a wearisome
cross-questioning by different officials, she was put on board the tug,
and returned to the steamer in which she had crossed the ocean. Four
dreary days passed; then there was a tremendous commotion on deck:
blowing of whistles, roaring of steam, playing of bands, bumping of
trunks and boxes, and finally the steady pulsation of the engines as the
big ship stood out to sea. After nine days of discomfort in the stuffy
steerage and thirty-six hours of downright misery while crossing the
stormy North Sea, Inga found herself once more in the land of her
birth. Full of humiliation and shame she met her husband at the
railroad station, and prepared herself for a deluge of harsh words and
reproaches. But instead of that he patted her gently on the head, and
clasped little Hans in his arms and kissed him. They said very little
to each other as they rode homeward in the cars; but little Hans had a
thousand things to tell, and his father was delighted to hear them. In
the evening, when they had reached their native valley, and the boy was
asleep, Inga plucked up courage and said, "Nils, it is all a mistake
about little Hans's luck."

"Mistake! Why, no," cried Nils. "What greater luck could he have than to
be brought safely home to his father?"

Inga had indeed hoped for more; but she said nothing. Nevertheless,
fate still had strange things in store for little Hans. The story of
his mother's flight to and return from America was picked up by some
enterprising journalist, who made a most touching romance of it.
Hundreds of inquiries regarding little Hans poured in upon the pastor
and the postmaster; and offers to adopt him, educate him, and I know not
what else, were made to his parents. But Nils would hear of no adoption;
nor would he consent to any plan that separated him from the boy. When,
however, he was given a position as superintendent of a lumber yard in
the town, and prosperity began to smile upon him, he sent little Hans
to school, and as Hans was a clever boy, he made the most of his
opportunities.

And now little Hans is indeed a very big Hans, but a child of luck he is
yet; for I saw him referred to the other day in the newspapers as one of
the greatest lumber dealers, and one of the noblest, most generous, and
public-spirited men in Norway.

THE BEAR THAT HAD A BANK ACCOUNT

I.