Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1908-09-23

on the opposite side of the creek-only
we did not call it persecution in those
days.
Nearly all children are provincials
at heart, and neither of us was lacking
in our fair share of prejudice. When
distant observations showed us that the
newcomer was Enthusiastically Scandina-
Wan in type, we turned to look into
each others face in disgust too deep for
words.
''Well-if that isn't the limit" LATE
burst forth, at last. IF we had to
have neighbors, we needn't have had a
foreigner! If father just had taken
up that bottom the way he meant
to"
A brilliant idea broke off the speech,
and he clapped his hand suddenly upon
his horses neck. Il tell you, Jim, let's
run him off,"
1 was Lafe's guest that summer, and
a year or two his junir, and was ach-
ing fr excitement.
Let's" 1 agreed, without a second
thought, and we rode slowly home,
planning our ways and means.
Naturally we said nothing to the rest
Of the household regarding our inten-
lions. Mr.. Bradley, Lafe's father,
seemed, after a single outburst of dis
appointment, to forget the very exist
ence of the newcomer; and as for Mrs.
Bradley, a woman who objected even
to such innocent amusements as the rid
ing of calves and the roping of chickens
could not possibly have sound views on
the subject of neighbors. Indeed, we
had a shrewd suspicion that l and not
the Norwegian would be banished if
our project came to light.
We needed no outside help, however,
in devising means of annoyance. The
Norwegian's gates came open and the
wires came down from his fences with
surprising frequency; the water at the
head of his ditch was continually chok-
ed by driftwood, and his cows, turned
out to Craze in the morning, by night
were miles away.
For long time the victim of these
outrages seemed to lay them entirely to
natural causes. Then he must have OBJ
served that the days we rode through
the hills surrounding his claim were
always the days of accident, for he ac-
cused us heatedly once or twice of in
reference with his cattle, and the in
reference continuing, complained to
Mr.. Bradley, with the result that we
received orders to remain strictly on
our own side of the creek.
Though 1 know you haven't inten-
tionally harmed anything of Olson's,"
Mr.. Bradley assured us. Il told him
you were a thoughtless pair, but you
were honest, and l want him to see
he's no better off with you away"
That was what we wished also. We
echoed the last clause with genuine sim
cerlsy, and we're scarcely out of hear
ing before we began schening for ways
to make it come true.
'OId meddier - LATE growled, I'M
justifably. He'd like to keep us shut
up in the barnyard." Then he flushed
a little But l suppose he's got a
right to play back he added, urged
"But he hasn't any right to drag
your father in l pointed out. ''We
don't go finding fault to his wife," and
both of us seized eagerly upon this new
reason for indignation.
We were beginning TO find it rather
difficult to keep up an active dislike for
the newcomer. He was a quiet, hard
working man, somewhat past youth,
and except for slight frightening of
the sibilant sounds in his speech, with
no mark of foreign origin. Then, too,
he was poor.
His poverty tugged at our sympa-
thies more than once when we saw
him dragging wearily home at the end
of a days work. or patching up his an
cient farm machinery to fit it for fresh
service. His house was in view from
the edge of the creek, and most of the
fields where he worked. After our pro-
hibition we used to spend hours wan
dering up and down the creek bank,
watching him and melting each other
to extraordinary revenges, which some
how never were brought to pass.
He noticed Usone day, and came smil-
ing down to the creek bank. MY fence
is staying up nicely now, thank you -
he called across to us.
"But your ditch isn't staying open
any better." LATE tainted back, furi-
ously.
We had found a point on our side of
the stream from which we could float