The Afro-American advance. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1899-19??, 1899-07-08
A Singular Escape
BY F. M. Colby
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DRIGllT and yellow rose the sun over
ID the wintry ice-iieldS such sun
rise ms no one ever sees in any hut
northern land. There was something
IN the rugged grandeur OF the scenery,
In the wilderness Of the SNOW, the black.
ness of the rocks which peeped out from
Its yoluminous wreHths, the lightness
Of the atmosphere, aud. above all. the
impressive silence. which would have
affected foreibly the SENSES Of a siran-
ger.
No living being VIVA In sight. either
among the stupendous eraRs which
lowered above. or ON the lower icc-
fields. which lay 80 cleaning white be-
tween the black cliffs aud the greenness
of the sen.
But presently, from u dwelling
pitched far up among the iee-oliiTs.
there appeared signs Of life Smoke WIS
teen issuing from the low chimney, and
shortly afterward the single door was
thrown open. aud "a woman made her
appearance, leading gont by cord
with which she fastened the animal to
a post In front of the hut for the
dwelling was only hut, and very odd
looking one at that.
II was built Of layers OF stones up five
az slN feet from the ground. with turf
between the layers TO keep ont the cold
The roof above this was also covered
with turf. which In the short. warm
summertime sprouted with thick. green
grass, that provided many nice break.
fast 20 the nanny goat. who would often
climb the family mansion. aud cliuging
with her sharp hoofs 60 the turf, nihblc
a meal with much satisfaction.
This stone-and-cnrth house was the
home OF iIllda Ulricseu, a poor widow
II stood ON the western coast Of Green
land. where the winter l. cold aud long,
and the days are so short that one can
scarcely more than have time to get up.
turn round. aud IL Il night again.
Dame Hilda's husband, tlf. had been
q hunter aud 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 q great storm. aud
che stnut.hrarted Norscmnn had never
been heard ~ since.
As for his widow. she continued 10
dwell In the strange little Greenland
hut, where ahc lived quite alone. with
her 1. = ard her two children, Jansen
aud llse.
Jansgn- or Jan, as he was called
Nds stout. active boy Of about - years
Of age. with thick brown hair a round,
wind.,anned face, and brave. merry
black eyes. that his mother said looked
Just like those Of poor tlf
Ilsc, his sister. was a dainty little
thing ~ SIS. whose blue eyes were like
the yiulett that hloomed among the
rocks in ,hc early summer, and long.
golden cul Il, that fell around her laugh.
ing face lice sunhcams,
''Jani Ian" called his mother. going
within doors, Its time you were up.
The storm Il over and the sun Is bright
You ha,v the trap 20 visit after hrrak.
fast. and you must bc getting ready"
Jan ohVyed. like the obcdisut hos he
was. aud presently came yawning down
the ladder frnm the loft. where he had
slept warmly under his fur coVvriet.
A. ne stepped upon the Kitchen noor
he vac greeted los his little sttter With.
"You said YOU Would ash neither to
let me 80 With Noa when YOU went to
the traps again. Noa have not forgot.
ten IL. dear Jan -
The hos lookvd al the mother iuquir.
inRl,.
.No, no. said Mrs. tlrieson. shaking
Ter head. Else Is tea small aud tender
10 70 with YOU. llssidrs, she would unl,
be la your MA.
"Oh. she wouldn't he the lcast
trouble. mothsr. and she would like 80
much To 80, Woul,n't You. llss -
'sfhat meuid "a answered. the little
girl, teasing her sunny euris lam net
afraid Of the cold, and | could help Jan
sarFy the fars. indeed could
Mrs tiriseon san that thet would
hols he disappointed II .he refused Ia
ict iisc 10. and yet she feared that
something would hgfall her IL shc con.
scnted.
III u So far" shs said, effectively.
And have yuu forgotten the yass n hat
psrehetl on our root 40 longer ago than
Wednesday week fear lts ,islt will
bring Us no Foc.i The day hrf,,fc Nour
pear father ,sNs lost raven n rehrsl
upon the hnuss~top and ero9krd dismal
t. II WIS ar iil-o,Henrsi bird
4 saw Two Fasens the same slag. sud
lan't Aau remsmser how hard il fru1r
laEi nlSAts aad / 70 md three foxes IN