Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1899-08-03
A Singular Escape,
By F. M. Colby.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES

DRIGHT and yellow rose the sun over
ID the wintry ice-fields-such sun.
rise as no one ever sees in any but a
northern land. There was something
in the rugged grandeur of the scenery
in the whiteness of the snow, the black.
ness of the rocks which peeped out from
it's voluminous wreaths, the lightness
of the atmosphere, and. above all, the
impressive silence, which would have
affected forcibly the senses of stran.
ger.
No living being was in sight, either
among the stupendous crags which
lowered above, or on the lower ice
fields, which lay SO cleaning white be-
tween the black cliffs and the greenness
of the sea.
But presently, from "a dwelling
pitched far up among the ice-cliffs,
there appeared signs of life. Smoke was
seen issuing from the low chimney, and
shortly afterward the single door was
thrown open, and woman made her
appearance, leading goat by cord,
with which, she fastened the animal to
post in front of the hut-for the
dwelling was only a hut, and a very odd
looking one at that.
It was built of layers of stones up five
or six feet from the ground, with turf
between the layers to keep out the cold.
The roof above this was also covered
with turf, which in the short, warm
<o1 rx,;<h
grass, that provided many nice break
fast to the nanny goat, who would often
climb the family mansion, and clinging
with her sharp hoofs to the turf, nibble
meal with much satisfaction.
This stone-and-earth house was the
home of Hilda Ulricson, poor widow.
1t stood on the western coast of Green
land, where the winter is cold and long,
and the days are so short that one can
scarcely more than have time to get up,
turn round, and it is night again.
Dame Hilda's husband, Ulf, had been
hunter and fisherman, and they had
lived together happily for many years;
hut one day the preceding summer, as
he was out to sea after seals, in his
kaiak, there came great storm, and
the stout-hearted Norseman had never
been heard of since.
As for his widow, she continued to
dwell in the strange little Greenland
hut, where she lived quite alone, with
her goat and her two children, Jansen
and Use.
Jansen-or Jan, as he was called
was stout, active boy of about ID years
of age, with thick brown hair, round
wind-tanned face, and brave, merry
black eyes, that his mother said looked
Just like thsse of poor Ulf.
Use, his sister, was a dainty little
thing of siS. whose blue eyes were like
the violets that bloomed among the
rocks in The early summer, and long,
golden curls, that fell around her laugh
ing face like sunbeams.
Jan! JAM" called his mother, going
within doors, sits time you were up.
The storm is over and the sun is bright.
You have the traps to visit after break
fast, and you must be getting ready
Jan obeyed, like the obedient boy he
was, and presently came yawning down
the ladder from the loft, where he had
slept warmly under his fur coverlet.
\ As he stepped upon the kitchen floor
was greeted by his little sister with:
You said ,gou would ask mother to
ne se~&ith you when you went to
apps again. You have not forgot
dear Jana
boy looked at the mot her inquir.
o, no." said Mrs: Ulricson, shaking
lead. Elise is too small and tender
with you. Besides, she would only
your way
ph, she wouldn't be the least
ible, mother, and she would like sc
eh to go. Wouldn't you, Ilse?''
That ! would answered the little
Fl, tossing her sunny curls. Il am not
raid of the cold, and 1 could help Jar
try the furs, indeed l could
Mrs. Ulriscon saw that they would
bosh be disappointed if she refused tc
let Use go, and yet she feared thai
something would befall her if she con
senteG.
''It is so far" she said, ref1ectively
"And have you forgotten the raven that
perched on our roof no longer ago thar
Wednesday week? / fear its visit will
bring us no good. The day before you,
poor father was lost a raven perched
upon the house-top and croaked dismal
L.. 1t was an illeomened bird
Il saw two ravens the same day, ahd
don't you remember how hard it froze
that night? and fond three foxes in