Bozeman avant courier. [volume] (Bozeman, Mont.) 1872-1882, 1874-02-06
FOR DEAR LIFE.

FOR DEAR LIFE.
Winter again, and the land il once
more wrapped in the same spotlcss
mantle, locked in the same icy fetters,
as it was that memorable winter so
long ago when Eric and I had that
Aerce struggle ssfor dear life" At this
season of the year the never quite
dormant recollection reyives, and I
feel al the horrur Of that midnight
scene rise and come back upon me,
like ghost from the confines Of th6
past. 1t chills me with its dread Pres
eAoe until shiveking in nerve and hmb,
I rise and draw nearer to the blazing
hearth, heap on some more pine logs,
and strive ia the region Of light to bid
it defiance.
Y In vain. Through tho whirl Of my
spinning. who 81 comes the long drawn
moan Of the wind, whilst without the
snow falls Loavily sss ever, addlng
desolation to the already drear and
sombre landscape. Eric has gone to
the fold yard, as beseems . thrifty hus.
bandman, to see after tho well being
our of kline. Would that he were back
to laugh of my fears, and exercise the
phantOms which rise thus unbidden
from the days that are now no more !
His hearty presence and joyous voice
are in themselves as potent against
distraught fancies as the s'sprig of
rowan" which the faithful wear for
safeguard against witchcraft and the
evil eye. Meanwhile as / sit waiting
with supper ready, and all things
bright aud tidy, must even yield to
the spell Of the place and hour, and
listen to the tale suggested by tho
wandering fancies Of old.
New Years eve some thirty years
ago-and we were keeping it right
merrily at the old manor-h house of Stor
Aswan, the house Of my childhood, as
it had been that of my f0refathers for
many generations. The pleasantest
spot in all the world. Thought, I and
still think, that quaint Norwegian
homestead, with its buff walls and
birch bark roof, which succeeding sum.
mers had rendered vcrdant with an
evergreen thatch Of moss and lichens.
just now, however, this was not visi-
bic, for snow lay thickly upon it, as it
had lain for weeks past, not only there
but upon all the country round. We
were in the midst Of . whits re-,
whose billowS were the partially sub.
merged hedges, that daily grew less
noticeable as the snow drifted in and
piled above them. The fir-tree alone
atood forth bravely, as-it defying this
insiduous foe, yet even their stately
branches trailed eastward, and their
strong arms creaked and strained un.
der the evcr-increasing load.
It was the hardest winter there had
been tor fifty years, so the old folks
said, and they f0ret0ld its continuance
for some weeks longer. Other signs
were not wanting, which more plainly
than aught else denoted the unusual
severity Of the season. The fl0cks Of
wild fowl, usually SO shy and difficult
of approach, came down from the up
per meres, their accustomed haunts,
and strove with the tame denizens of
our own farm. yard for a share of their
midday meal. Hares and rabbits,
impelled by hunger, forgot their ma
ture, and stole up to our very doors,
begging with their large black eyes in
. piteous dumb fashion for relief.
Herds of reindeer also came south
fivm Lapland, seeking moro genial
pastures, and it was rumOred that less
pleasant visitors had recently been
seen and heard. The black pine for
ests of Salten had again sent forth
the grim blood thirsty pack Of legion
aries who for ages had dwelt nnmo-
Tested in its dark fastnesses, and the
cry Of "wolf" was no longer, as here.
tofore, an empty sound.
All this, however, did not affect any
Of our party, who were all Norsemen
and maidens born, used to the cold,
full Of health aud spirits. /, Ella Bieorn,
daughter of the house, was the widest
Of that mad circle who had assembled
1T Stor Aswan that Christmas.tide, to
do honor to my betrothal to Eril Jarl,
the lover of my youth, ere long to Be |
my husband. As soon q the birch !!
trees put forth their first green tassels
in the early spring, I was to leave my
old home for q new one; 20 now, sur. |
by kinsfolk and neighbors,
We were keeping this last anniversary
Df my spinsterhood in goodly fashion.
We revived many by.gone pastime,
md the vast hall ct Str Aswan No
echoed once again to tho shouts that
greeted the incoming 0f . mighty yuls.
og, and rang with joyous laughter 1t
Ehe tricks and antics 6f morTis.daucees
Ind mummers. 900
So in dancing, feasting and merry.
the week sped, until . few
hours moro would eco rs I'll scattered
q various directions to meet again We
Enev not when o. wheges, For To last /
lay, therefore, We had reserved the
,hief pleasure, the crowning point Of
n our enjoyment-s sIeighing and
Ikating party 70 6tor Aswan, . moan.
,~s~ ~,.I.sv~.HAA lAlA snwAA 49, snenn~ 49, II