Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1889-06-19

ter.
One day he came over to mend a
piece of machinery for me and he had
fine piece of news to tell. He was to
have neighbor-a near neighbor,
who had taken the "quarter section''
next to Pete's. He was d Norwegian,
too; his name was Chris Felsen-and
he and Pete had a thousand things to
talk over about Norway, and the voy-
age to America, and the journey across
the continent.
II did wish" said Pete, 'that he
come from those same town. He hat
nefer been there. He hat been liting
for three years in Minnesota.
The work on the new dug-out that
Chris was building within stones
throw of Pete's mansion, went on
apace. Chris WAS to have q mule in
the spring, and was to ''break' part
of Pete's land, and in return Pete was
to work part of the time for Chris.
The dug-out was finished at last, and
the two men lived together, first in
one 'residence" and then in the other.
Chris, it appeared, had saved up some
money during his three years in Min
nesota-not a great sum. but enough
to give him a good start in his new
home.
often rode by the two dug outs, and
saw Pete and Chris working together
in the field. They were great friends.
and We're no small help to one another.
Chris provided all the food for both,
and beyond that neither Of Sam had
to spend much money. Chris plan,
as 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 instru-
ments laid in. He meant to buy a
mule then, cheap, and keep him over
the winter. Very early in the spring
here Pete's voice failed him little
Chris was to be married.
II shall be ferry lonesome, to Nf
| alone some more,' said poor Pete.
Il shall hat those new neighbors, but
nobody in my own house,
perhaps it will be pleasanter than
ever" I said, who knows"
No.
You will have two ne;ehbors i'll
stead of one
Yes, two neighbors instead of one
friend"
You can go over to Chris house
after the days work is done, and sit
and talk with him and his wife,
But shall hat to begin to cook
again on my turf stofe.''
Perhaps not, perhaps she will be
very kind to you. She will COOK
bread for you, and she will get you to
help her set out vines and flowers, and
fence in q little front yard tor your two
houses, and plant trees
Perhaps"
And if you are sick, she and Chris
will take care Of you.
Yes
land Sundays, when they drive over
to knudtsen's to meeting, they will
take you too, and then you can see
some Of the people that came from
your town at home
Perhaps, said the old man. I'VE
shall see when she does come. rather
hat Chris alone for my friend, and not
lif all alone in my house.
Chris made fine bargain for a
mule, q large, strong, gentle creature,
that belonged to d farmer a few miles
west who was selling OUT and pre-.
pairing to get back to Ohio And then
the winter set in-cold and clustering.
The road Chris Travelled in going to
the post-ofice lay past my house. He
came by every Wednesday-that, l
Judged, was the day when his Mime
! sofa mail came in. No rain, no snow,
no sleet, no cold, deferred him from
travelling three miles on Wednesdays
to get his letters. If Jack-that was
his mule-could make his way, Chris
drove. If not, Chris walked.
tive, like Pete, and although he often
stopped on his way to rest awhile at
nay barn, he had never said any thing
to me of his plans. One day-a
Wednesday in April-the snow was
three feet deep. The white flakes were
still falling slowly and steadily. Chris
had passed in the morning on his way
to the Office, and though it was now
past three o'clock and already begin
ming to grow dark, he had not been
seen returning.
'Chris must have decided to stay
away tonight I said to my foreman,
as we stood in the barn door, watching
the falling snow. The wind is rising.
| dare say he was afraid to risk it. ~
It grew dark fast and the wind kept
rising. The air was full of the flying
flakes. It was no longer showing, but
the wind drove the white drifts about
like clouds, and it grew colder and
colder.
We made every thing snug, and shut
ourselves up for the night.
1T is the last storm of the year," we
said. Spring is here, and when this