The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1899-07-08
A Singular Escape
By F. M. Colby.


bright and yellow rose the sun over
d the wintry ice-fieldS-such Il sun
rise AZ 10 one ever sees in any but a
Northern land. There "a something
in the rugged grandeur of the scenery.
in the whi-cneSS of the SNOW. the black
ness of the rocks which peeped out from
its voiuminous wreathS, the lightneSs
of the atmosphere. and. above all. the
impressive silence. which would have
ger.
No living being was in sight, either
among the stupendouS cra%s which
towcred above, or on the lower lee
fields. which lay 50 cleaning white be
tween the black cliffs and the ~"rccnness
OF the sea.
But presently, from a dwelling
pitched far up anon" the icc-cliifN.
there appeared signs OF life. Smoke WAS
seen issuing from ihc low chimney. and
shortly atrcrward the single d"or was
thrown open. and Il woman made her
appearance. leading a goat by Il cord.
with which She fastened the animal TO
q post in front of the hut-for the
dwcllin" was only a hut. and a very odd
looking one at that.
1t was built of LAYERS Of stone up five
or six feet from the ground. with turf
between the layers to keep out the cold.
The root above this WAS also covered
with turf. which in the short. warm
Summertime ]sprunted with thick. green
.T.- ,.r,, lid man l. - nice. hT.1k-
fa,; to the nanny goat. who would often
climb the family mansion. and ciin%Ing
with her Sharp hoofs TO the turf, nibhic
a mca! with much satisfaction.
This stunc-and-carth house was the
home OF ililda Ulric>on. Il poor widow.
II stood on the western coast of Green
land. where the winter is cold and long.
and the days art 50 short that one can
scarcely more than have time to get up.
turn round. and it is night again.
Dame Hilda'S husband, UIf. had been
a hunter and fisherman, and they had
lived together happily for many years;
hut OF" day the preceding summer, as
he was out TO sea after seals. in his
kaiak. there calnc Il great storm. and
the S~fUIf-ntdrlcu NOTSeIlldh hdu hI'Sl
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.
Janseu-or Jan. us he was called
was a stout. active boy of about - years
OF age. with thick brown hair. a round.
wirj-tanned face. and brave. merry
black ewes. that his mother said looked
lust like those of poor IF.
Use. his sister. was Il dainty little
thing of six. 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 sunbcams.
Jan, JAM" called his mother. going
within doors. its 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,
he was greeted by his little sister with:
You said you would ask mother to
let me go with you when you went to
the traps again. You have not forgot
ten it. lear JAM"
The boy looked at the mother in0iir-
ingiy.
NO. no." said Mrs. Ulricson. shakY
her head. Else is 100 small and tend
to go with you. Besides, she would on
be in your way"
..Oh. she wouldn't be the leaS
trouble. mother, and she would like SO
much to go. Wouldn't you. Ilse?"
THAT | would" answered the little
girl. tossing her sunny curls. lam not
afraid of the cold. and | could help Jan
carry the furs, Indeed l could"