Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1878-09-12
PETEE,AND5THE .WOLvES.

the mountain wilderness near the Cheat
river. yzs.,. : s,4.%. gSs. .ss..~s-
These mountain Businesses were then,
as indeed, they are; Still, atenanted by the
bear, the great gray wolf (not the COM
paratively harmless cayote Of the sWest),
and even the panther. ~ &"'s.z> ..-s.
The Jansens were genial, kind-hearted
folks. aud counted everybody neighbor
and friend who lived within circuit
Of thirty miles. ), " -. .,...,, ~
lfJan or his wife we're needed in time
OF sickness or other emergency, they took
P. tor and Greta and set out, leaving the
cabin locked, and the key hung outside,
according to the custom of the country.
SO me=- Christian" soul,". they said,
"might need shelter or a meal, and the
beasts could not unlock the door, ~. =.
Fear of the wild beasts prevented their
leaving the children at home, though, in
fact. neither bear nor panther were ever
known to approach house, and wolves
only in case of extreme hunger.
After living in the mountains for few
years, the Jansens became convinced that
there was no danger, and grew more care
less. They frequently were absent in the
field all day, leaving Peter. and Greta
alone in the house. But they took care
never TO let the night fall before their
return.
The summer OF 1850 was hard one in
that desolate region for man and beast.
Crops Of all kinds, even mast, failed.
As the fall passed and winter ap-
preached, the deer actually came near the
cabin III midday, driven by hunger.
Runners came from the far-( # farms that
wolves, gaunt and hunger bitten, had
attacked the cattle in the barns.
In Early December, Jan was sent to
John Supplee, farmer living about ten
niles down The range. SuppIee had
fallen and broken his leg, and Jan, who
had good ds al Of medical skill, was tile
only person who could bandage it
properly. >.,4.
''Yon will come with me. Maria" he
said to his wife. co that in case I cannot
come back before night, you can bring
the csrt and OK home
Maria kissed the children good-by. ~
will be back before sundown," she said.
"Y"n can have The supper ready, Greta,
and P-,er may milk the cow"
The children spent the day quietly at
work in building house for their hens.
The sun Was going down before thew
thonght it wal noon. Peter ran to milk
the COW, and Gre:a put the bacon to fry,
and the cOrn-cake in thu covered skillet
among the hot ashes,
"Qnjet quiet, e Cd Spry! cried Peter.
patrng the ~li'e spot in her forehead
''Mother is coming, snd have not done
nv work.
Spry stood still. The milk was strained
and put away in the brown crooks The
cake was baked. and waited smoking by
the fire, but mother had not come.
What is that, Peter2" Greta grew
white as she caught his arm. 1t was
rushing, roaring, Kissing noise, which
filled the whole air; then followed by
deaf ming, prolonged crash, like thunder
Then shere was silence.
The sky was clue, the setting sun was
warm. The birds were twittcripg their
lat good highs before the darkness ,ell.
The two children stood trembling in the
doorway.
ut is an evil spirit said Peter
promptly; for the Jansens had brought
all their native superstitions with them.
1--WE have made blm angry in some way.
Come in and shut the door"
The Crash had brought more trouble
to the chlldren tran could any angry
spirit. Twas " tornado which had cross
ed the mountains five miles to the south,
tearing ~ gIeat oaks by the routs, heap
ing the ravlnes with rocks and fa len
trees. 1t had crossed the load on which
their mother On the cart was slowly driv-
ing the OK.
Peter was fifteen, and stout bov OF
his sge. He sat now stivering and
~himpering in the corner like scared
baby.
Mother is dead! He has killed herl'
be cried.
who would kill mother2 I'll go and
find her. Come! Do something, Peter!"
said plucky little Greta, Juggling at the
latch with her shaking fingers.
DO! What Can nybouv do when the
spirits 40 out2'
He crouched on the floor and hid his
eyes then started up. Il know what
Ill do. They are hun cry. In Norway
we always set ont meal for them in
winter nights. My father never has done
1t here.
There was haunch of vension hanging
TO the rafter, but halt dried. The boy laid
it in front of the fire until it began to
crackle and burn. Greta knelt on the
HI ar;h watching it. She knew that this
was the way in which the angry spirits
thst filled the noun aims of Norway were
appeased: but she thought they had left
al these terrible creatures behind them.
Peter took up the smoking meat, car
ried it to the edge Of The woods, threw it
down and ran back, his teeth chattering
wit! terror.
Come away from the window" he
cried to Gre a. ut is death it you look
at Them"
lie threw himself fiat on the bed.
But presently the little girl crept to the
window. 'Sureiy mother is coming
And they can't SEQ me. anyhow. through
this chink,' she thought.
The moon lad risen, and threw spec.
trail light over the open space and the
dark woods beyond.
Little old the POOR boy think tina.
While appea~ing the anger of imaginary
spi'its. hc was whetting the appetites of
creatures far more formidable.
What were these black. shadowy shapes
tearing AT the meat2 The child's blood
grew cold in her VEINS. The spirits were
indeed there! They left the meat. They
crept steallhily to the house.
"Wolves! wolves!" she shrieked
"They are climbing in at the Window"
"Wolves2'
Peter, with one leap, reached the gun
Tie gave quick, conyulsive shouts, as
10y Is apt to do with great excitement
Wolves! He could kill hundred
wolves! A different thing from spirits
lie had just time to close the heavy shut
ter rs the fierce beasts reached the win.
COW. The door was already shut. Greta
drew the grest bar across it The ki1ch
en- was full Of smoke of tine roasting meat
and the smell maddened the famished
beasts, who each had tasted but morsal
of The mesh.
There was window IN the washshed.
for which there was no shelter. :.
They will not find it, whispered
Greta 1.-THE bushes cover it." + =