Emmons County record. [volume] (Williamsport, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-current, 1885-11-25
He Delayed the Fire-Break.
fEstelline Bell

Estelline Bell.1
There is man living few miles from
Estelline named Oliver Carson-old Oil
yer E.. Carson. He is man who never
gets in a hurry, and always claims that
there Is time enoughfor everything that
there is good deal more time than is
needed for the affairs of this world De-
spite the great abundance of time he al
ways has, he generally asks for more when
his notes come due-but we are getting
off the subject. You will find men with
just as much time for everything. all over
Dakota. Early in September his wife
one day said to him:
"Opver, hadn't you better run some
flre-breaks round things--a fire is lrble
to come long most any time"
20, I'll tend to that all right nuff,
M'riar; there's lots of time. Guess I'll
90 down and see what wheat's wuth.''
So he went to town that day, and then
he worked on the farm week or so, and
went hunting occasionally, One day his
wife renewed the fire. break subject, say
ing: II see Skinner's folks have broke
up and burnt out as nice fire-break as l
ever seen. Hadn't you better fix up one
for us?"
"Goshallhemlock NJ riar, don't git in
such hurry. The grass IS too green yet
D'you want to see me down on my hands
n knees blowing fire to make it burn
D'you want me chasin' round after a fire
with bellus? Expect me to fan the fire
with pa'm-leaf fan to make it burn !?
D'you think I'm goln' to take up each
spe'r O. grass round these hui prem ses
an split 'em 50 they'll season? You
couldn't make the grass burn now if you
shook club at it,
His wife subsidized at this, and he went
out and began digging potatoes. The
next day he went fishing, and for couple
of weeks after plowed and watched the
wheat market. It ran along for some
time, when the old subject was renewed.
eyes," said he; "Tll tend to that fire.
break termorrow. Guess that grass has
got so won't have to pour ker'sen on
it to make it burn"
f At the supper table the next day one Of
the boys spoke to him of the failure to
construct the fre-break. ~.
eyes; know we didn't do it, Bill.
Well fix it some time termorrow.'
The next day, after dinner, neighbor
dropped in and said
Carson, do you notice that smoke off
west? Guess it's pra RE fire."
eyes should judge 1t is. Well, Bill
and will plow round the stacks and
house before it gets here. What's your
opinion about the price of wheat-goin'
up or down?'
'Well. I don't know. Seems 'sif it
ought to go up"
After they had talked some time his
wife came in and said "Opver, that fire S
got onto the school section, and is COM
ing right this way"
20, stop harpin' bout that fire D. you
want me to go out and move the school
section over into the lake7 Expect me to
argue with the fire and make it burn agin
the wind?'
Then he turned to his neighbor and
said Heard any war news lately? Likely
TO be fight over there?"
"Well, no don't b'peve they'll get to
fghtin. Wish they would, though it
would help wheat"
Mercy sakes alivel" broke in his
wife, don't you smell that smoker"
''Ycs; we'll tend to- it now. Bill, you
hitch up the colts and plow furrer
round the stacks. What d'you think"
he added, turning to his ncighbor, "'bout
this new plan of having five commish'.
ners2'
A moment later he caught sight of the
fire almost up to his stacks He made
rush for the door without putting on his
hat, and got out just as Bill got the team
hitched on the plow.
"Here Gosh all flinders Drive them
hosses down and get around them stacks
quicker n lightnin'.'
But, before they got there, the stacks
were ablaze and the fire was creeping
toward the house and barn. He quickly
turned and went around the buildings,
throwing sud through tile air like charge
of dynamite. The team ran over three or
four chickens, got tangled up in the
clothes.line couple of times, tipped over
the well-curblng, and finally ran away
and tried to jump over barbed-wire
fence down the read hall. mile The
buildings were saved, however, and he
went in and said to his wife :
'M'riar, you're the all. .6redest biggist
fool ever seen. Why didn't you tell
me the fire was so close, and fde been
ready for it? Did you 'spect fellow
was going to set here in the house and
feel it in his bones that there was fire
comm that would burn up the best settin'
of wheat in Dakota7'
Migratory birds.
AhOllt this time af the vaar tltauo To.