The national leader., 1889-02-02
A RUN FOR LIFE.

When 1 was boy, all my dear rela-
lives thought that was ''cut out" for
aMethodist minister. Upon what partlc-
llar traits of my character they based
;beir opinion cannot say, for am not
able to affirm with truth that my gen.
sral department was to be recon-
mended as q model for other boys to
follow. Perhaps it was because my
face had naturally solemn and wise
expression.
Be that as it may, at the suggestion
and with the advice Of my far seeing
relatives, was brought up to regard
the Methodist ministry as the goal Of
my studies, and with commendable
ardor my father, who was not wealthy,
ent every effort to the attainment of
This object. In consequence of the too
great zeal with which seconded their
views, found myself at twenty with
health much impaired, and mind weak
sned to degree that untitled me for
further study.
In the general alarm at my condi-
lion, my relatives again came to the
front, and suggested change, a trip
to the West. Straightway an aunt on
my mothers side, who had married a
lumberman and lived In Northern
Minnesota, being duly made aware Of
the state of things, invited me to visit
her family, and thither went.
That was In spring of 1870. The
Minnesota climate acted like magic
upon my overst1alned nerves, and the
beginning of autumn found me restored
to strength, and so far recovered as to
be able to take a school to teach. More
than half the people in the district
were Swedish and Norwegian settlers,
and experienced no end OF trouble,
with not a few ludlcrous incidents, in
understanding their broken English
and their odd customs.
The term of school end ed about the
first of December. My uncle was at
that time carrying on the numbering
operations forty miles from home, on
the outlet of Lake Winibigoshish, one
Of the lakes which form the head
waters of the Mississippi River. He
invited me to join him at the end of
the school term. l had never been in
a numbering camp, and determined to
spend month or two in the pine
weeds with him. There was fine hunt
ing-deer, foxes. muskrats. lynxes, and
other animals In the region.
In the settlement where I had been
teaching there was ayOung Norwegian.
Lars Bjork, two or three years older
than ]. who had trapped and hunted
about Winiblgoshlsh for several years.
He was a skillful woodsman, and a
thoroughly good-hearted young man,
strong, sturdy and intelligent. He had
been chopper at the camp through
the autumn, but as he thought that he
could make more money by trapping
and hunting, my uncle willingly let
him off, and acquiesced in my plan to
accompany him for trip Of a few
weeks around the foot Of WinibigO.
shish, twenty miles above the camp.
He also offered us mule-'Bingo' by
name-to haul our outfit.
1t was the middle OF December when
we started out from camp. We had
an odd assortment of provisions, buffalo
skins, blankets, camp utensils, tools for
constructing log house, traps, guns,
snow-shoes, little rusty stove, and
two bundles of pressed hay to exc out
Bingo's browse diet, all loaded securely
on an old sled. We followed the
smooth, ice-bound river, which. as but
little snow had fallen, furnished good
roadway.
1t was long days tramp. It was
getting late when we arrived at the
place settled upon for camp. Nothing
could be done that night beyond throw
ing up temporary shelter of saplingS
and evergreen bows. beneath which
we crawled into our robes and blankets.
and with our feet to a big fire of dry
pine logs, slept till morning. That is
to say. Lars slept. but the unusual and
lonely situation drove sleep from my
eyes for many hours.
Bingo, poor beast, was hitched in a
birch thicket little way of, where be
browsed diligently.
We lost no time in selecting site fol
our winter camp. At the end of two
days, with Bingo's help in drawing the
logs into place. we had constructed a
comfortable hut, It's chinks tightly
calked with moss to keep out the sitting
snow. which, in that cold region. usu.
ally falls in fine, dry crystals. Against
the back side Of the hut we also threw
up rough 'lean-to' for Bingo's accom-
mediation.
After getting our camp In order. We
turned our attention to business. Lars