The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-09-28

preposterous plan. That he refused to
do, however, but he grew moody and
silent, tinkered at a model for an improved
thrashing machine which he had invented,
and lost all interest in the farm When
this had gone on for a couple of years
Martha concluded that his case was hope
less, and she changed her tactics and began
to urge him to go. II that was the only
way to secure his happiness she would no
longer stand IN his way. And 30 ons day
he took the model to pieces and packed it
with some clean shirts and socks which
Martha had made for him into his KNAPP
sack and started off for the nearest rail
way station. which was forty miles dis
tant. That was the last Martha OF her eon
had seen Of him. Half dozen letters ar
rived, to be sure, at long intervals during
the first year of his absence, but they told
only Of mishaps, appointments and
privations. Martha wrote urging him to
return. but there was always something
new to try, always some tempting pros
pect which babe him take heart and not
give up the battle. If this proved delusive
be would acknowledge himself failure,
return TO the Morse settlement and hide
his head In the chimney corner.
IL was now twelve years since the last
letter was received, and Martha took 1t for
granted that her husband was dead She
had tried to institute inquiries, advertised
for him in the Scandinavian papers, etc.,
but with no result Several settlers had
proposed for her hand during this time,
but though she regarded herself Is a widow
she had refused all offers. A large settle
ment had grown up about her, and in
circuit OF twenty or thirty miles the coun-
try was largely in possession Of Norwegians
They did all in their power TO keep out
other naticnalities from their immediate
neigh borhood, and vented particularly
their hostility on the Irish if a representa-
tive Of that race dug hole ia the ground,
and staked out homestead on land which
they had reserved for the occupation Of
their brethren in the faith. German Prot
estants they tolerated, though they were
far from liking them, but the community
of religion restrained them from active
hostilities. And, moreover, the Germans
were no less clannish than the Norsemen
themselves congregatiag in communities
of their own, and rarely from choice en-
croaching upon Scandinavian precincts.
In the meanwhile a church had been
built-a simple frame structure, and about
as ugly as could have been devised-and
clergyman had been called over from Nor
way. An archaeological student named
SalvesOn, formerly addicted 70 drink, but
now ostensibly reformed roamed about
the country, giving instruction of an anti
quated sort in reading, writing arithmetic
and Bible history. He was an odd stick
a typical wreck Of the kind the Old World
is continually contributing to the new, but
for all his failings he was well received
wherever be went, and had free board and
lodging ad libitum on any Morse farm he
chose to visit. When be retired with a
black bottle or two 30 some remote spot
people let him alone, and received him on
his return after two or three days with I'M
diminished cordiality. He was not in the
best condition for teaching Bible history
on such occasions; but then, in a new
country where scholars were scarce, no one
could afford to be exacting
Widow Matson, who was anxiCSs to have
her son profit by Salveson's accomplish
ments, induced him to stay for months at
a time at her farm, and kindly overlooked
his periodical disappearance and his de-
moralized aspect when he crawled forth
again to resume his labors. 1t was enough
who in spite Of his unhappy proclivities
was perfectly orthodox and truly and
purely Lutheran. Gunner, on the other
hand, was inclined TO take critical view
of him, but found his instruction. on the
whole, amusing. Salveson always smoked
q long pipe when lie taught, and his rubi-
cund nose cleaned through the smoke
while he spoke of Norway's past glory and
the great deeds of the Vikings. Often he
grew quite excited, scratched his tousled
head and wiped away the tears that trickIed
down his cheeks.
Thank God on your knees that you were
born a Norseman, boy" ne would say, for
he might Just "a well have made you a
miserable Deutschman or Englishman or
American. We are the prOudest nation on
earth, or we ought TO be, II we would read
1ur history Alright. There wasn't anybody
could lick those old Vikings They CON
Iuered Normandy, a mere handful Of them,
and when the king OF France wanted Duke
Rollo to kiss his COMPOUNDED tOe-think Of
I, he Norseman, kiss a Frcnchman's
simply took him by the foot
md quietly turned him upside down.
served him right, the fool! And when /
hey had gobbled up France these very I
ame fellows-orI think it was their grand /
over and put England in /
heir pockets Ho ho! That was a neat I
Oh, wasn't it?"
And thus the poor drunken sot, with his 4
BAD teeth, frowsy head and dirty hands, 4
would sit by the hour and with hysterical (
.loqueuce glory In the deeds of his ances- 4
orS. He was so proud Of being Morse
nan, though drunken one, that be forgot
II present misery in the sense OF his his /
oTicsl grandeur. A Norseman drunk, he
moe declared, was better fellow than q
or An EngGshman or en-
American sober
Gunnar accepted this and other similar
declarations in good faith, and never ques-
toned his own superiority by virtue OF his
Worse blood TO sll the foreign babel that
urrounded him. He heard continually
he same story from the pastor ana all the
ieighbors, Anecdotes were told at every
ocisl gathering illustrating the money
read Of the Americans and their unscrupu-
Gus attempts 10 cheat the guileless immi-
rants. The settlement, which was now
7rge and prosperous, bad sense of com
Ortsble solidarity and oompsctness as a
mug little Norway, safely hed.sed IN snd
liked aga nst the wild ocean OF in6dehvy,
trife and vice which roared IL vain against
Is defenses.
CHAPTER III.
GunnRr lived in this state Of idyllic sat
sfAction until he was Il years old At
EAST he tried hard 10 persuade himself