Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1885-05-01
"YACK."


About two miles from my house, on my
Dakota wheat farm, stands one tall, lonely
tree.
Ii is the only ject in sight that breaks
the low horizon, aud for many long mile,
no1b, south, east, or west no other tree can
be found.
1t stands Just on the high bank of Smoky
river, which goes curling and winding across
the country westward and close beside it
stands Chris Tronsen's log house, built Of
logs brought down the river in the spring
time from the north.
One day, early last spring, l had been to
the next town to get an iron bolt made at the
blacksmith's to replace one that bad been
broken the day before, and was riding home.
My mule was Looping at a good rate along
the road which follows the river. And as we
reached Chris's log. house, which had Just
been newly whitewashed outside, saw Chris
sitting calmly on the doorstep, while Lotta,
bis wife, was lifting the heavy harness, and
throwing it on to "Yack," their old white
mule.
Chris must be either sick or very lazy"
said to myself, ito sit by and let his wife
harness the mules"
~ did not know much about Chris then,
but giving him the benefit OF the doubt
shouted in passing
'Sick, Chrisf"
Chris shook his head in what l thought
was q rather sheepish way, and Lotta looked
over her shoulder and laughed.
In the hurry Of the days work, this OCCUR
renee slipped from my mind. But some
time afterwards, when l happened to pass
their place again, l saw Lotta out in the field
driving the mules, which were fastened to
the seedeT.
T.. L -
ing, for the Norwegian women in the terrific
ry, with their vigorous frames and robust
health, often work with their husbands at the
outdoor labor. But l saw great, robust Chris
himself pairing potatoes outside the door.
And Just as / rose into view from below the
river-bank, he caught up his pan and slipped
into the house.
mo doubt he is a lazy, good for nothing
fellow, said to myself, who has a thrifty,
energetic wife. And so he sits down and
does her light work, while she is out sowing
the wheat. 1t might not have a bad result if
he could be harnessed up with one of the
mules for a day aud made to work under the
whip"
After that saw Chris himself at work in
the field several times
But one evening, a week or two later, /
passed there again. The mules were fasten-
ed outside the straw barn. The ground had
been very wet for two or three days past
and of course the mules legs were fairly
coated with sticky mud, which had partially
dried on.
Lotta was hard at work over the old white
mule, scrubbing and rubbing scraping and
brushing and curryng, as if her life depend
ed on her success.
And there, on an overturned barrel, sat
Chris, much at his ease, calmly smoking his
pipe aud looking complacsntly on.
remembered what l had said to myself
before about his laziness, and now l added, -
~ will just stop for few minutes, aud
see il the presence Of a stranger won't shame
the fellow into taking of his coat and going
to work in his wife's place"
SO tied my mule to a ring at the corner
of the house, and walked over to where Chris
was sitting.
He looked up and smiled, and said Good
evening" with the same sheepish expression
had noticed before. Aud Lolita paused for
a moment and stood up, her face glowing
with the exertion, and laughed, u thought
she would have done better to give her hus-
band good shaking, and said it WAS very
warm. Then she went TO work again, to get
through, so she said, before dark.
But do my best, / could not lead the con-
yersaton to any explanation of the strange
state of affairs, and Chris showed no disposi-
tion to take hold of the work himself.
When it was dark, Lotta led the two mules
to their stalls, and then at last Chris conde-
scended to rise and fasten the barn door.
| was sure by their manner, aud by Chris's
expression when the subject was broached,
either that he was outrageously lazy, or there
was some odd explanation OF his wifes do.
ing so much of his hard work, while he sat
idle.
So took pains, as met one neighbor and
another here and there about town, to make
inquiries about Chris And with one accord
they all gave the same answers.
Had Chris Tronsen good reputation p
Eyes, very good"
"Was he industrious and steady 2"
GAS hard working aud steady as any man
in town"
"Did he treat his wife kindly p
"There could be no doubt of it. He was
as kind hearted as he was hard working"
Then why" would ask myself, was his
wife always out ploughing, or rubbing down
mules, while he looked ON and did nothing ?"
This all happened in the spriog and early
summer.
But it is only about a week ago now that
drove over to Chris's one mild evening, TO
get some bags that l had lent him to use in
carrying his grain to the elevator.
The years work was over. The wheat
Was cut, luIbhuth huu sOlus luo Uni II hud
| been buried anew in q mountain OF fresh
wheat straw, which filled the door-ysrd with
its pleasant, fragrant smell. The mules were
tethered and browsing near by.
Lotta and Chris were sitting together on
the doorstep, talking over the years work,
no doubt, while the sun was setting in great
bank of black clouds, from behind which
streamed out fire of crimson and gold.
After Chris had got the bags and thrown
them into my light wagon, he aud Lotta
asked me into their little parlor, the walls of
which were simply the inner side of the logs,
fitted, closed and hewed smooth. There was
a gay -colored carpet on the floor, and on the
whole the room was quite CHEEKY and COM
| Portable, and we sat down in the twilight
without lamp.
After we had talked some time about the
crops and prices, and the best way of bank
ing up houses in winter, in which Chris was
greatly interested. l said to Lotta,-
"But you have worked almost as hard as
Chris this year. You must be glad the sum-
mer is over"
Chris shifted uneasily in his seat. Lotta
laughed.
80 now shall tell why it was SO, Chris p
she said, looking at Chris.
! He only nodded in silence. He apparently
did not anticipate much pleasure from the
recital.
"But no." said Lolita, "you shall tell those
first part, and shall tell those last part, and
that is how we shall do"
Chris appeared still more uneasy, and
laughed neTvously, but after a moments hes
itation, he plunged into his explanation OF
what had so often wondered at.
"You haf onerly been lif here two year 2
be asked.
That is ALL" said.
''Wel, so this all happen one year longer
ago as that" he said. "Those time l iii
alone in sod shanty, and Ruys and Oscar
those was the two mule, the last one be
named for King of Sweden and Norway, be
cause he so good-they lif 10 other sod shan
ty. haf onerly twenty acre broke then
aud ready for SOW seed. Very few neighboi
then. Onerly Mr.. Knudt Qualley and Mr.
Petersen near here.
80 then Mr.. Jannsen, father of Lolita, h,