The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1907-11-29
Selett Stnrp.
How Olaf, the Son of Olaf, Ad-
minisfered Justice.
BY WALTER ARCHER FROST.
From the American Magazine.

ran down the Swedish bark, Helga in the
fog off Minot's Light, her small boat
picked up but one man, and him they did
not see until his big hand caught the bow
oar close to the gun'al and stopped them
like rock; and it took three men to land
the hand owner. After they had hauled
him inboard, he shook the water from his
yellow head and beard, and smashed the
bow seat, when he settled himself upon it,
for he was heavy man.
Deeply chagrined at this, lie mutely in
sisted in pulling an oar back to the big
liner, and he snapped the oar the first time
he threw back his shoulders. He then
ceased offering aid, rumbled pipe organ
apology in his native jargon, and sat mo-
tionless, huge column of man, until he
swung himself up the swaying ladder, and
stood upon the Savernia' deck.
To the captains inquiries he had re-
spopded in the jargon named, but only a
few words were ineligible, "Helga. Swe-
den. Olaf Olafson. Kelsingfors.'
The ships surgeon looked him over, and
the captain gave him dry clothing, and
Olaf, the son of Olaf, bent his yellow head
twice, once in acknowledgment of the new
raiment, and once in order to pass beneath
the Intel of the door; in the latter instance,
he turned half round, but this was on ac-
count of his shoulders. "No wonder they
took Britain said the captain, who had
read the rCommentaries. ~
In the morning the Sayernia came in
with the tide, and two hours later, Olaf
Olafson passed down the plank and emerged
upon Commercial Street, looking down in
amaze upon the cobblestones, and then up
at the Elevated simultaneously lodging
the car which tore along above his head.
Kate Smiths lodging house ["Reds 10
Gents Night next caught his eyes, he
could not read the words, but his glimpse
of the rows of cots made their meaning
clear, and he made mental note Of it as
he crossed the street, and walked on through
New Italy.
He spent the morning in examining the
city Of Boston, and marvelled much at
what he saw. In the afternoon, when he
cooled his head in the pond in the Com
mon, he marveled again at the policeman,
who told him to tmoye on" Olaf did
not understand English, but he knew that
the water was cool and that his head was
hot, and, lastly, that submersion was good !;
he did not ''move on but he hurled into
the pond the officer who had elutehed his
wrist Three other policemen came to the
rescue, and Olaf spent the night in the
station house on Hancock Street.
An interpreter explained the situation
to him in the morning, and Olaf paid his
fine. OF many of the conventionalities he
was still ignorant, but be had learned not
to cool his head in that way again, and the
officer, whom be had cooled had
learned to ignore men of Olafs build.
After leaving the Municipal Court, Olaf
walked down to the wharves, and looked
longingly seaWard. :'Ban sailor man, -"
he said to the men around him; but no one
understood this or the other "signals'' for
work, and at night he climbed the narrow
stairs at Kate Smiths, weary and alone.
A brisk little man was saying to the pro-
prietress, "Tm looking for men to work
on Water Street. Who's this chap?' as
Olaf lowered before him.
Newcomer. Swede, | guess. Better
try him..
The little man addressed Olaf in Swed-
ish patois, presenting paper which Olaf
covered with his ''mark, and Olaf Olaf
son had contracted to work for the city of
Boston at 81 so a day.
Olaf had made but one observation,
"Ban sailor man. and the little man had
done the rest.
At seven O clock the next morning, Olaf
followed his guide down the already swell
tering street, turning unconsciously toward
the water front, his eyes already seeking
the ship, but his companion laughed,
"Not there, tow-head; it s a wheelbarrow
and not rope that you Il work with now, ="
and he laughed again at, Olafs surprised
disappointment when he was presented with
wheelbarrow, and pushed into line of
men who were wheeling cracked stone up
narrow plank.
He watched the men whose example he
was to follow. 1t seemed not very diff
cult; the man ahead of him advanced until
he came to a trough, into which he dumped
his load; simultaneously, man, on the
other side of the trough, threw in wet ce-
ment; then the first man wheeled his bar
row away, past the wheeling engine, which.
with its iron hands, mixed the stone with
the cement. That was the process, and
to Olaf it seemed child play; he had seen
the first man give heave of his back as
he shot his load into the trough, and Olaf
carefully initiated him. His intentions
were most praiseworthy, but he had not
taken into consideration the strength of his
back. The contents of his barrow envel-
opeG the man opposite him, and the barrow
leaped like mountain goat into the trough
itself-a series of snaps, the rendlng OF
wood and iron, a wild shout of unintelligi-
BILE commands and the machinery stopped
with an angry snort. Olaf sprang over the
trough, picked up the fallen man, and
smoothed him tenderly with an enormous
hand The Irish ''boss' then kicked Olaf,
swearing violently the while, and OLAF
touched the ''boss' once only with his
other hand, and they picked up the ';boss'
and carried him into an apothecary shop,
the "boss'' offering neither assistance mol
resistance of any sort whatsoever.
Had the city Of Boston been less in need
of men to lay the asphalt on Water Street,
Olaf, the son of Olaf, would have spent
another night in the station on Hancock
Street. AS it was, he slept serenely al
Kate Smiths and appeared punctually at
his place in the morning.
And now nothing came to break the
monotony of the life which Olaf led. By
day, he worked with his barrow; each
evening, he smoked his short pipe upor