River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1889-06-20
A DAKOTA WEDDING.
The Bride and Groom Not the Only
Ones Made Happy.

About two miles due west from my
house, in the Red River Valley in Da-
kOta, the ground suddenly rises about
five feet. and then gradually falls away
again to the prairie level From my
windows I causee > solitary tree grow
ing on this mound or little hiIIOcII. and
near by is the door Of Pete Jansen's
''dug-Out"
The dug-OUt Is old Pete's only home
He followed it out himself in the side
Of the hiIl-in the wide stretches Of
level prairie even such slight rise
attains the dignity Of a Lill-aud he
himself fashioned the rude door-frame
and fitted the door, aud transplanted
wild flowers to the ROOF"
was riding By one day, just after
the dug-Out was finished. and he in-
vited me to 90 in So. hitching my
mule to the tree, / came down aud
entered. 1t was dark inside, even when
the door was open; when that was
closed there was no light at all-aud
as for ventilation. well, perhaps the
little stope-pipe furnished that. As
may be imagined, there was only one
room in the dug-Out. but then, as Pete
said with entire truth. there was Only
one person Poor old fellow, ] hui
then heard only iudis'inct rumor- or
his story, but that day. at his insit.i-
ton. sat down outside his door on the
grass, and hc soon began To tell Tie
about himself Here he was living on
the wide. wide prairie. with no immc-
diate ncighbOrs. an old man with fail
ing strength-no wonder he was glad
10 have "A sympathetic listener even for
one short half hour.
He had in his hand the hammer with
which he had just been putting the
last strokes on tie dOOr-frdme, and as
he talked he stsucIz the firm sod again
and again.
How long have you been here.
Pete27 I asked.
Zone year" he said, slowly. Il
work on the Tustin farm last summer.
This year l say I must M. my own
home. So l take this quarter section
and lif here, and work WHEREVER l can
find work.
WHO does your cooking"
There is not much cooking" said
the old man. Il MEIER cat much. l
feels too sorry all the times, and when
/ tries to eat something's he shall stick
IN my throat / feels sorry all the
times
That Is because you live all alone,
Of course" / said.
Yes" he replied. Il nefer Iif alone
in Norway There / did haf my dear
wife and my dear little girl. and did
hat a little stone cottage. all with
vines and flowers. and ne sun always
was shining. and the birds always
singing. And then my dear little girl
Ola. she sang, too. better as any bird
ever lived. / was refer lonesome
then"
The old man paused in his story, and
nervously pound I'd the sod with the
hammer. After moment he went on:
Il was ferry happy We was all fery
happy. ] worked hard all day. and at
night times we hat our little table
under those green trees. for some sup
per. and we uefer did get sorry. Well.
by and by my dear wife was sick and
die She was ferry sick for long times.
and haf to stay at home from work
to elf care 10 her, and spend 50 much
money Il az when she died | must sell
my house
SO then ! must come to America to
make some moneys. Aud Ola she
shall come after me ] work all those
first summer and get some moneys to
bring her Offer. and send il To her. But
she ucfcr hat come.
The poor fellow looked 80 forlorn
that { tried TO comfort him
she never received the letter / am
sure. / said
There was p man hC came offer from
those Same town, aud lie say hc saw
GA. and she say she hear from me and
are coming right away Thst are the
last efcr hcJr. I ann sure Ola come.
but she are lost somewhere think
/ shall uefer sec her some more
IfeIt sorry enough for the OH fell
low. ana engaged him 20 come over
work for me. The spring ran ON 10
summer. and the summer 10 autumn.
aud Pete WIS laying in his store of po-
tatoes and PORK aud wood for the win
ter.
One day he came over 70 mend a
piece OF machinery for me and he had
fine piece If news tn tell. lie was To
.. "a D..
who had taken the quarter section"
next 70 Pste's- lie was a Norwegian,
too: his name was Chris Felseu and
he and Pete had "a thousand things 10
talk over about Norway. and the voy-
ace 10 America. aud the journey across
the continent
Il did WISH said Pete. ''that he
come from those same town tie hat
uefcr been there. lie hat been liting
for three years in Minnesota
The work on tho new dug-out that
Chris was building within stones
throw 81 Pctc's mansion. went on
apace Chris was 70 have mule IN
the spring. and was 10 break part
of Pcte's land. and in return Pete was
to work part Of the time for Chris
The dug-Out was finished at last, and
tho two men lived togethec. first in
one residence and then in the other.
Chris. il appeared. had saved up some
money during his three years in Min
neso.a-nOt great sum. hut enough
to give him cool start in his new
home
Ioften rode by the two dug outs. ahd
saw Pete and Chris working together
in tie field. They were great friends.
and were no small help 10 one another
Chris provided all the food for both.
and beyond that neither of them had
10 spend much money. Chris pian-
as I learned from Pete one day, was
to get every thing in readiness for the
spring work-his own dug-out finished,
= still ruder dug-out made for the
mule. the necessary tools and instra-
ments laid il. He meant to buy