The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1899-07-22


steep slope that little further
north becomes cliff, but Peter and his
wife are from the highlands of Norway and
perpendicular farm is their choice. A
rotten little pier iuts into the bay and on
the little plot OF level ground they have
built after the fashion of their fathers in
the old country. 1t looks like a small vii
lage, for, beside the main house there is a
sleeping house Of two stories, cook house,
a dairy, COW barn and the shed where
Peter builds his boats. The two main
houses are painted white, with pale green
trimming, and they are surrounded by a
curiously carved fence of black walnut tor
tured into strange devices At the pier a
feet of skiffs always rides some are old
ing with fresh paint and gliding, for Peter
loves to build boats, and in the winter he
news and shapes all day in his shop, max
ing a strange build Of boat that has high
prov, carrying an emblem and curious
keel of intricate curves that is braced with
ribs of bent wood
Peter wife is sour old woman, who is
forever nagging her husband to leave his
boat building, that he loves to work on
the farm-labor that he hates. They live
lonely life, rowing over to the village
only to buy their necessities Or to sell the
scanty produce of their stony acres. They
have no neighbors, for behind their farm is
forest of hemock and spruce, and to the
right the cliff raises its rocky shoulders.
One day when Peter was trading at the
village store, he heard some Norwegian
sailors talking of the Worlds Fair. The
crew of the schooner Arrow had seen the
buildings as they were trying to beat into
the harbor, and even their rude hearts had
been thrilled by the beauty of the domes
and cleaning facades as seen against the
red evening sky. "It wass de new Yerusa-
lem wat de Bible tole about big Olaf
Hanson said, relapsing into English-he
was proud of his command over it. 81 am
going to dat fair if hat to schwim dere ~
Peter listened to the talk and asked
when this great fair Was :" begin. When
he had hea d, he went out and STOW cd dis
groceries in the stern Of his boat. the
gi9ries Of the fair had stirred his sluggisN
old Fancy, and as he rowed home in his|
high proved, green skiff, flash of inspira
tion came to him. He would build vik-
ing boat and take it to Chicago-the idea
was all his own, for he had not heard of
that other ship which was to come from
Norway.
When he had tied the painter to the pier
he ran to the house to tell his wife what he
had heard. She was seated by the window
knitting a coarse gray sock. The living
room was so clean that it reeked with the
odor of yellow soap and whitewash. Take
off your shoes 70 the old woman screamed
as her husband came in, his boot soles leav-
ing their print on the white floor.
He went out and returned in his stock
ing feet. "Everina," he said, "have you
heard Of the great fair in the South-in
Chicago?"
81 read something about it in our paper, "
she grunted-they took the Scandinavian
Gazette, for they spoke little English and
read none 'But what is that to you, old
fool 20
The old man moved about the room in
his excitement /; his faded brown eyes were
bright and his wrinkled cheek showed a
touch of color. II am going to build a
beautiful boat" he cried, "a viking boat,
and am going to take it to the fair. There
can sell it for much money" he added
cunningly, knowing that the hope of money
would interest his wife--for himself the
Joy of planning and building would be
enough.
"You are a dreamer" she retorted scorn-
fully. "You will build wonder boat
you are always building boats that fall to
pieces or rot on shore -
For moment Peter was abashed 1t
was true that heretofore there had always
been grave defects in his boats that made
them safe only in smooth weather. but he
was ever dreaming of the perfect boat that
could ride out any storm He had not been
born a builder-he had picked it up after
he was grown, but he came from a family
who had been shipwrghts as far back as
their annals ran. In minute he was
cheerful again. 81 will build wonder
boat he said stoutly. 81 will make q
viking galley, for | remember we'll the
model that used to be in my grandfather s
house at Aardal. He has told me that it
was very old and was exactly like the long
ships of the sea kings-and my grandfather
was wise man and a builder of stanch
ships"
- arRar grandfather was, but you are
Aer. If you make it, how
Aicago? Will you hire
he old days, or have