Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1889-06-13
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 can see solitary tree grow
ing on this mound or little hillock, 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 hill-in the wide stretches of
level prairie even such u slight rise
attains the dignity of a kill-and he
himself fashioned the rude door-frame
and fitted the door. and transplanted
wild flowers to the '.roof."
was riding by one day, just after
the dug-out was finished, and he in
vited me to go in. So, hitching my
mule to the tree, came down and
entered. It was dark inside, even when
the door was open; when that was
closed there vas no light at all-and
rs 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! I had
then heard only indistinct rumors of
his story, but that day, at his invita-
ton, sat down outside his door on the
grass, and he soon began to tell me
about himself. Here he was living on
the wide, wide prairie. with no imme-
date neighbors, an old man with fail
ing strength-no wonder he was glad
to have . 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 the door-frame, and as
he talked he struck the firm sod again
and again.
.'How long have you been here,
Pete?' asked.
Zone year." he said, slowly. 81
work on the Tustin farm last summer.
This year 1 say l must hat my own
home. So take this quarter section.
aud lif here, and work WHEREVER I can
find work"
''Who does your cooking?'
There is not much cooking" said
the old man. II nefer eat much. ]
feels too sorry all the times, and when
tries to eat something's he shall stick
in my throat 1 feels sorry all the
times"
THAT is because you live all alone,
of course" said.
YES" he replied. II nefer lif alone
in Norway. There I did hat my dear
wife and my dear little girl, and 1 did
hat a little stone cottage, all with
vines and flowers, and the 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. I was nefer lonesome
then"
The old man paused in his story, and
nervously pounded the sod with the
hammer. After moment he went on
81 was ferry happy. We was all ferry
happy. worked hard all day. and al
night times we hat our little table
under those green trees, for some sup.
per, and we nefer did get sorry. Well,
by and by my dear wife was sick and
die. She was ferry sick for long times.
and hat to stay at home from work
to gift care to her, and spend so much
money that when she died / must sell
my house.
$50 then must come to America ia
make some moneys And Ola she
shall come after me. work all those
FIRST summer and get some moneys to
bring her ofer, and send it to her. But
she nefer hat come"
The poor fellow looked SO forlorn
that tried to comfort him
..She never received the letter, am
sure" said.
There was man he came ofer from
those same town, and he say he saw
Ola. and she say she hear from me and
are coming right away. That are the
last l efer hear. am sure Ola come,
but she are lost somewhere. / think
] shall nefer see her some more"
felt sorry enough for the old fell
low, and engaged him to CONS owe,
the next day with his tools to do some
work for me- The spring ran on t.
summer. and the summer to autumn
and Pete was laying in his store of pc
tatoes and pork and wood for the win
ter.
One day he came over to mend 8
piece of machinery for me and he hae
a fine piece of news to tell. He was tx
have a neighbor-a near neighbour
who had taken the quarter section
next to Pete's. He was Norwegian
too; his name was Chris Felsen-and
he and Pete had a thousand things Il
talk over about Norway. and the voy
age to America, and the journey acros
the continent
81 did WISH" said Pete, that b