The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1874-01-10
FOR DEAR LIFE.

uloIe WldPpSu III tne same SpOCloSS
mantle, locked in the same icy letters,
as it was that memorable winter so long
ago when Eric and L had that fierce
struggle ''for dear life." At this sea
son of the year the never quite dormant
| recollection revives, and / feel all the
horror OF that midnight scene rise and
come back upon me, like Il ghost from
the confines Of the past. 1t chills me
with It's dread presence until, shivering
IN nerve and limb, l rise and draw
nearer TO the blazing hearth, heap on
some more pine logs, and strive in the
region of high, and warmth to bid it
defiance.
In vain Through the vhir of my
spinnlng-wheei comes the long drawn
moan Of the wind, whilst without the
snow tails heavily as ever, adding
desolation to the already drear and
sombre landscape. Eric has gone to
the fold-yard, as beseems thrifty hus-
bandman, to see after the well being of
our kline. Would that he were back to
laugh off 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 Ia themselves rs potent against dis
traught fancies as the "sprig Of row.
TN, which the faithful wear for safe
guard against witchcraft and the evil
eye. Meanwhile as [ sit waiting with
supper ready, and ali things bright and
tidy, | must cen yield to the spell of
the place and hour, and listen to the
tale suggested by the wandering fam
cies of old.
New Years eve some thirty years
ago-and We were keeping itright mer-
rlly at the old manor-house Of Stor
Aswan, the home of my childhood, as
it had been that of my forefathers for
many generations, The pleasantest
spot IL all the world | thought, and
still think, that quaint Norwegian
homestead, with its buff walls and
birch bark roof, which succeeding sum
mers had rendered verdant with an
evergreen thatch Of moss and licbens.
just now, however, tins was not visi.
bic, for snow lay thlckly upon it, as it
had lain for weeks past, not only there,
| but upon all the country round. We
were IN the midst Of q white sea.
whose pillows were the partially sub
merged hedges, that daily GREW less
| noticeable IS the snow drilted ia and
piled above them. The fr-trees alone
stood forth braveiy, as If defying this
insiduous foe, yet even their stately
branches trlled earrhward, and their
strong arms creaked ard strained I'M
der the ever increasing load.
1t was the hardest winter there had
been for fifty years-so the old folks
said-and they iorctold its continuance
for some weeks longer. Other signs
were not wanting, which ne ore plainly
than aught else denoted the unusual
| severity OF the season. The focks Of
wild fowl, usually so shy and difficult
of approach, came down from the ~
| per meres, their accustomed haunHs.
and strove with the tame denzens OF
our own faTm-vard for q share in their
mid day meal, HaTes and rabbits,
lmpelled by hunger, forgot their ma
ture, and stole up to our very doors,
begging with their large black ewes in
q pIteous dumb fashion for relief,
| Herds of reindeer also came south
from Lapland, seeking more genial
| pastures, and it was rumored that less
| pleasant visitors had recently been
seen and heard. The black pine Tor
est5 OF SaltGn had again sent forth
the GRIM blood thirsty pack of legion
aries who for ages had dwelt unmo-
Tested IN its dark Businesses, and the
cry of . wolf " was 30 longer, as here.
tofore, an empty sound.
Ali tins, however did not affect aDy
of our party, who were all Norsemen
and maidens born, used TO the colo. full
of health and spirits. |, Ella Bieorn.
| daughter OF the house, was the widest
| Of that mad circle who had assembled
, ab Stor AswaD that Chrisjmas-tide. to
do honor to my betrothal 10 Eril Jarl,
the lover OF my yOUth, ere long TO be
my husband. As soon as the birch
trees put forth their first green tassels
IN the early spring, | was to leave my
old home for new one so now, sur
rounded by kirsfOik and neighbors, we
were keeping this last anniversary of
my splnsterhood IN gGodIy fasbiop.
We revived many o hygOue pastime
and the vast bali at Stor Aswan re
echoed once again to the shouts that
greeted the incoming of q mighty yule-
log, and rang with Joyous laughter at
the tricks and antics Of morfis-dancers
and mummers.
So III dancing, feasting and merry
making, the week sped, until a few
hours more would see us all scattered
III various directions, to meet again we
knew not when or where. For the last
day, therefore, we had reserved the
chief pleasure, the browning point Of
all our enJOyment--a sleighing and
skating party to Stor Aswan, noun
tain-encircled Lake scrGe ten miles
further north, the same from which
Our homestead derived its quaint Ru-
nc name. This was to be our vail OF
greeting TO the New Year-our welcome
to the incoming guest.
Brightly dawned the eventfuI morn
Dg, clear and fair IS heart could de-
sire. Blue was the sky as a sapphire,
whilst the freshly-fallen snow sparkled
and shone as though streWn with I1v-
ing gems. Alinaturs seemed rejoicing
like ourselves ut the advent of another |
year, and one already so foil of prom
Use. Without the sleigh-bells tinkled |
and chimed mernly, making the frosty |
AIR ring again as the gally caparisoned |
horses paved aud shook their heads, |
impatient at their owners to be off. At |
length we started, Erie and rs hosts |
being the last of the parly, for, of |
course, he was my eharioteer [ well |
remember my father standing at the |
door to see US go, and as he tucked the /
bear-skip rug more closely around me,
bidding us "return eaTIy," and be /
ware of the Salten hounds. We /
laughed at the warning then, but had |
awful cause to remember ii afterwards /
OF that day ] shall not speak we
O LII Al -,