Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1886-07-29
FOR DEAR LIFE


long ago when Eric and had that
fierce, wild struggle "ior dear life !" At
this season otthe year the never quite
dormant recollection revives, and /
feel all the horror of that midnight
scene rise and come back upon melike
ghost from the confines of the past.
1t chills me with its dread presence,
until, shiverii,g in nerve and limb, /
rise and draw nearer to the blazing
hearth, heap on some more pine logs.
and strive in the region of light and
warmth to bid it defiance.
In vain. Through the whir Of my
spinning wheel comes the long drawn
moan of the wind, whilst without the
snow falls heavily as ever, adding des-
olation to tho already drear and SOM
bre landscape. Eric has gone to the
fold-yard, as beseems a thrifty hus-
bandman, to see after the well-being of
ourkine 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 morel
His hearty presence and joyous voice
arein themselves as potent against dis.
traught fancies as the 'tsprig OF rowan"
which the faithful wear as a safeguard
against. witchcraft and the evil eye.
Meanwhile, us Isit waiting with the
supper ready and all things bright and
tidy, must cen yield to the spell OF
fireplace and hour and listen to the
tale suggested by the wandering fan
cies OF old. EE5s
New Years eve some thirty years
ago-and we were keeping it right
merrily at the old manor-house OF
Stor Aswan, the home of my child
hood, as it had been that of my fore
fathers for many generations. The
pleasantest spot in all the world, i
thought, and still think. that quaint
Norwegian homestead, with its buff
walls and birch. bark roof, which sue
ceeding summers had rendered YER
dant with an ever green thatch OF
moss and lichens. Just now, however,
this was not visible, for snow lay
thickly upon it, as it had lain sor
weeks past, not only there, but upon
all the country round We were in
the midst OF white sea, whose bill
lows were the partially submerged
hedges, that daily grew less noticeable
as the snow drifted in and piled above
them. The fir-trees alone stood forth
bravely, as if defying.-this insidious
foe, yet even their stately branches
trailed earthwards, and their strong
arms creaked and strained under the
ever-increasing load - tAEa
1t was the hardest winter that has
been for fifty years-so the old folks
said-and they foretold its continu-
ance for some weeks longer. Other
signs were not wanting which more
plainly than aught else, denoted the
unusual severity of the season. The
flocks of wild fowl, usually so shy and
difficult OF approach, medown from
the upper meres, their accustomed
haunts, and strove with the tame
denizens of our own farm yard for q
share in their midday meal. Hares
and rabbits, impelled by hunger, tor
got their nature and stole up to our
very doors, begging with their large,
dark eyes in pitious dumb fashion
for relief Herds of raindeer also came
south from Lapland, seeking more
genial pastures; and it was rumored
that less pleasant visitors had recent
ly been seen and heard. The black
pine forests of Saltem had again set
forth the grim bloodthirsty pack of
legionaries who for ages had dwelt I'M
molested in its dark Businesses and
the cry OF "wolf was not longer, as
heretofore, an empty sound.
All this, however, did not affect any
OF our party, who were all Norsemen
and maidens born, used to the cold,
full of health and spirits. /, Ella
Bieorn, daughter of the house, was the
widest of that mad circle who had as
sembled az Stor Aswan that Christ
mas-tide to do honor to my betrothal
to Eric 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 time
was to leave my old home for new
one; so now surrounded by kingsfolk
and neighbors, we were keeping this
last anniversary OF MY sisterhood in
goodly fashion. We revived many q
bygone pastIme, and the vast hall at
Stor Aswan re-echoed once again to
the shouts that greeted the incoming
of mighty yule log, and rang with
Joyous laughter at the tricks and an
tics of morris-dancers and mummers.
So in dancing, feasting and merry
making the week sped until a few
hours more would see us scattered in
various directions, to meet again we
knew not when nor where. For the
last day, therefore, we had reserved
the chief pleasure, the browning point
of all our enjoyment-a sleighing ard
skating party to Stor Aswan, a noun
tain encircled lake some ten miles
further north, the same from which
our homestead derived it's quaint Ru-
mic name. This was to be our vail of
greeting to the New Year-our well
come to the incoming guest.
Brightly dawned the evenful morn
ing, clear and fair as heart could de-
sire. Blue was the sky as a sapphire,
while the freshly fallen snow sparkled
and shone as though strewn with liv-
ing gems. All nature seemed rejoicing
like ourselves at the advent of another
year, and one already so full of promise.
without the snow-bells tinkled and
chimed merrily, making the frosty air
ring again as the gayly caparisoned
horses paved and shook their heads,
impatient as their owners to be off.
At length we started, Eric and i as
hosts being the last of the party, for
of course he was my charioteer. j
well remember my father standing at
the door to see us go, and, as he tuck
ed the bearskin rug more closely
around me, bidding us return early
and beware of the Salten hounds"
We laughed at the warning then, but
had awful cause to remember it after
wards.
OF that day I shall not speak, we
are all young and i'll wild spirits, and
some of us in love. Need say more?
Amid the many fair faces and little
forms that glided so gracefully over
the frozen mere, tireless Though those
long hours, was the fairest. Iblue-
eyed, golden-haired Ella Bieorn, was
the acknowledged belle and queen
of the party, and Eric, my lover,
the most stalwart youth OF the
countryside. But all things, even the
pleasantest, must come toan end. So
when the shades of evening began to
fall heavily, merging earth sky and
water into one gray leaden cloud, We
began our journey homeward. Tired
out with my exertions, as soon as we
started nestled down among the soft
furs in the sleigh, and, rocked by It's