Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1878-04-03
ASLAUGH'S WOOING.

When Aslaugn became q tull-grOWn
girl, peace was gone on Husaby farm.
The finest boys of the parish wrangled
and fought there, night after night 1t
was worse on Saturday nights, buS then
old Junt Husaby went to bed with his
leather breeches ON and a birch club at
his elbow. Have | gotta girl? he said,
81 shall know how to take care of
her" saaf.a
Tore Neset was only a squatter's son.
There were people, though, who said
that he came oftener to see the farmers
daughter on Husaby than anybody else.
Old Junt did not like this talk and said
it was not true, for he had never seen
him there. But people smiled at one
another and limited that if he looked
better into that corner where Aslaugh
sat, instead Of squabbling with those
who strutted on the open floor he would
have found Tore.
Spring came, and when the cattle
were driven up on the hills for grazing
Aslaugh followed to take care Of them.
Hot lay the day over the valley, but the
cliff rose cool above the sun-smoke,
and when from its top the cow-bells
tingled, land the watchdog barked and
Anslaugh sang and played on the Gur,
how did the boys feel toihng in the
meadows below! The first Saturday
night they all took to the cliff, one faster
than the other. But still more fast
they came back, one after the other,
just where the path turned the ham
mer. Some one stood and took hold of
them, one by one as they came, and
wheeled them downward, making his
words we'll remembered: If you choose
to come again, yeu shall be still better
served" 5asz. -gs
AS far as people could understand,
there was in the whole parish only one
who had the proper hand for such a
piece of work, and that was Tore Nest.
But all the rich farmers sons thought
it rather mean, that he, the squatter's
son, should take his stand next to her,
Aslaugh Husabv. - <gT - ~
The same thought also old Junt, when
he heard it, and he thought furth er that
if no one else could master that chap,
he would try, and those sons of. his.
Junt had began to grow old, but although
he had passed the three-score, he still
liked to try wrestling metch with his
Oldest son when sometimes the COM
pany seemed to him to become sleepy.
Up to the Husaby grazing grounds
there led only one pathway and it start
ed just in front of Husabv farm. Next
Saturday evening when Tore intended
to take his way and already felt little
more quick-footed because he had clear
ed the stables, one rushed upon him
and grasped him by the throat. "What
do you want?" said Tore, and threw the
other to the ground SO it rang through
his body. "That shall tell you," said
another, ard gave him a blow from be-
hind; it was the brother. "And here
is third" said old Junt and clasped
him around the waist.
Tore grew stronger with the danger;
where he hit it was felt. And was limb
Der like willow wand he bowed and
bent; where blows fell, hewas not; where
blows were not expected he hit. But
sound thrashing he got, though after
ward old Junt often said that he had
never had a finer lad to deal with The
three kept on till the blood came. then
Husaby said stop, and added shrewdly:
"Now if next Saturday night you can
cheat the old Husabv bear and these
cubs of his, you may have the lass"
Tore dragged himself along as best he
could; when ne reached home he lay
down. Much was spoken in the parish
of that fight on Husaby farm, but every
one said: g What would he there %
there was one, though, who did not say
SO, and that was .Aslaugh. She had
waited for him that Saturday night, and
when she heard Of the meeting between
him and her father she sat down and
cried, and said to herself; :" If cannot
get Tore [ shall not see another glad
day in tnis world"
Tore was laid up for the whole Sunday,
and on Monday he felt that he must
still keep the bed. Tuesday came, and
what fine day it was 1t had rained
during the night, and the cliff was green
afresh. The window was open and the
smell Of the foliage drifted in. Upon the
cliff the cow-bells tinkled and somebody
was singing. Had it not been for his
mother who sat in the room, he would
have cried.
On Wednesday he was still in bed,
but on Thursday he wondered whether
he could not be all right till Saturday,
and on Friday he was up. He rep en-
bered now the words which JCnt had
said: If next Saturday night you can
cheat the old Husaby bear and these
cubs of his, you may have the lass"
He looked away to Husaby farm time
after time. ~ a1rar :
81 don't think there will be any more
beating" he said.
There led as above mentioned, only
one pathway up to the Husaby grazing
grounds, but one who dared, might get
up there, though he did not go the beat
Ell way. By rowing round small land
slip and mooring at the foot of the cliff,
one might get up, though the wall was
steep that it had seldom been trodden by
the goat who else is not very particular
about her way.
Saturday came and Tore was out doors
the whole day. Never was such day
The sun played, SO the woods danced
apd ovoy.xy now apd non con- q ono conn