Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1894-06-07
THUR'S " DOING.

4 Hun = W OUlNU.
From the time that Aslang was quite
grown up there was no longer any
peace or quiet at HuSaby. In fact, all
the handSOmeSt young fellows in the
village did nothing but fight and quar-
rel night after night; and it was al
ways worst on Saturday nights.
Aslang's father, old Canute Husaby
never went to bed ON those nights
without keeping on at least his leather
breeches and laying a stout birch
stick on the bed beside him. IF |
have such pretty daughter" said oil
Canute, L must know how to take
care Of her"
Thor Nesset was the only son Of a
poor cOttager, and yet folks said that
it was he who went OfteneSt to visit
the farmers daughter at Husaby. Of
course old Canute was not pleased to
hear this. He said it was not true;
that, at any rate, he had never seen
him there. Still they smiled aud
whispered to each other that if he only
had throughly searched the hayloft,
whittier Aslang had many an GRAND,
he would have found Thor there.
Spring came and Aslarg went Up the
mountain with the cattle. And now.
when the heat of the day hung over
the valley, the rocks rose clear and
cool through the SUMS misty rays, the
! cowbells tinkled, the shepherds dog
barked, Aslang sang her ''jodel' song,
and blew the cOWhOrn. all the young
men felt their hearts grow sore and
heavy as they gazed upon her beauty.
And on the first Saturday evening.
one after another they crept up the
| hill. But they came down again
quicker than they had gone up, for at
the top stood a man who kept guard,
receiving each one who came up with
! such a warm reception that he all his
life long remembered the words that
accompanied the action: Come UP
in store for your
All the young fellows could arrive
but at one conclusion: That there was
only one man in the whole parish who
had such fists, and that man was Thor
Nesset. And all the rich farmers
daughters thought it was too bad that
this cottager's son should stand high
est in Aslang Husaby's favor
Old Canute thought the same when
he heard about it all, and said that if
there was no one else who could check
him he would do it himself. Now, Ca
mute was certainly getting on in years;
still, although he was past sixty, he
often enjoyed a good wrestling match
with his eldest son whenever the time
indoors fell heavily on his hands.
There was but enc path up to the
mountain belonging to Husaby, and it
went straight through the farm-gar-
den. Next Saturday evening, as Thor
! was on his way to the mountain,
| creeping carefully across the yard.
! hurTying as soon as he was we'll past
past the farm buildings, man sud
! denly rushed at him.
What do you want with me?" asked
Thor, and hit him such a blow in the
| face that sparks danced before his
! eyes.
! You will soon learn that" said some
one else behind him, and gave him
! a great blow on the back of his neck.
! That was Aslang's brother.
And here's the third man." said old
Canute, and attacked him also.
The greater the danger the greater
was Thor's strength. He was supple
as a willow, and hit out manfully; he
dived and he ducked; whenever a blow
fell it missed him; and when none eX-
pected it he delivered a good on. He
stopped down, he sprang on one side,
but for all that he got a terrible
thrashing. Ole Canute said after
wards that ''he had never fought with
a Drawer fellow" They kept it up
until blood began to flow, then Canute
cried OUT Stop Then he added
in croaking tone: IF you can get UP
here next Saturday in spite of Ca
mute Husaby and his men the girl shall
be yours"
Thor dragged himself home as best
he could, and when he reached the
cottage went straight to bed. There
was a great deal of talk about the
fight upon Husaby hill, but every ont
said: why did he go there?" Only
one person did not say so, and tina
was Aslang. She had been expecting
Thor that Saturday evening, but whe1
she heard what had happened be
tween him and her father she sa
down and cried bitterly, and said t.
herself: IF I may not have Thor
shall never have a happy day again
in this world
Thor stayed in bed all day Sunday
and when Monday came he felt b
must stay on where he was. Tuesda.
: came, and it was a very lovely day.
: had rained in the night; the hill
t looked so fresh and green, the WindO7
' was open, sweet odors were waited il
: the cowbells were tinkling on til
. mountain, and far up above some on
e was 'iodling" Truly, if it ha
t not been for his mother, who was si1
I ting in the room, he could have CRIED
e Wednesday came, and still he stage
n in bed; on Thursday, though, he bega
to think about the possibility of bein
we'll again by Saturday. and Frida
found him on his legs again. Then b
thought of what Aslang'S father ha
e said: IF you can get up to her mex
Saturday with being stopped by CT
/. mute and his men, the girl shall b
= yours" Over and over he looked u
5 at Husaby farm: 81 shall never Sc
IL YTyt--