Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1916-03-08

ton. The greater portion of same was
an apple orchard and, oh, how we en-
joyed to be invited, after our return to
school in the fall, to help pick the lus-
cious apples of different varieties and
to return to our rooms with our pockets
bullying enormously with the savory
fruit. Mrs. Hasselquist took great
delight In gardening and managing that
end of the work. She used to pay us
college boys 10 cents an hour for work
in the garden during spring time and
would pay us by teaching French to a
voluntary class. We did enjoy to have
her as teacher. She gave a great deal
of time to teaching her two daughters
mathematics, English and History, the
latter being a favorite subject of hers.
When the doctor would return from one
of his many itineraries to different parts
of the Synod. the daughters and their
mother would vie with each other who
should be the first to welcome the father
home and give him the welcome kiss;
they would be on the watch for him and
hasten to meet him ere he came into the
house.
"A beautiful custom was in vogue
among the students of the college to
serenade the doctor in the early morn
ing of his birthday, the End of March.
One of the singing clubs would in some
way get the key to the house, tip toe
into room adjoining his bedroom and
burst forth into enthusiastic student
song. Sometimes they would use some
Of the beautiful Swedish national airs
and words; at other times some of their
number would compose an original ode
to some classical air. A sample is given
Of one thus composed and sung:
Fast granad star han an stafven,
var larare oss vorden kar,
lik mandeltradet, hvilket afven
sin purpurkalk i silver klari
'The singing clubs would vie with
each other at times who should be the
first on the spot. They were sure 10
be invited during the day to a family
banquet in the evening, where more
singing was INDUCED in by the boys,
until they had exhausted their repertoir;
later on the doctor himself would call
on his oldest daughter, Hannah to come
to the pianO-a large square one-he
would then seat himself at her side and
sing some of his favorite selections.
Most generally these were G. Wenner-
berg's Psalms of David, just then pub
lished. He had a beautiful, clear, mel
odious baritone voice-we students many
time thought what a happy family,
what a delightful home circle!
"As he was pastor of the church of
Paxton beside that of being president of
the college, seminary professor, and
editor of Augustana, he would organize
choir for special church festivals; to
this he would thru his son and daugh-
tiers invite such students as were good
singers to come to his parlor for prac-
tice. OF course his children were sure
to invite their favorites to such choir
practices and we had the most enjoyable
time. The music had to be copied and
the lady contingent of the choir would
inevitably call on the student members
to copy their music which they did with
great gallantry and pride, until they
became experts as music copyists. But
good deal of midnight oil was con-
sumed in this gallant act. They were
requited by the sincere thanks Of the
ladies and sometimes with an invita-
ton to the house of their parents. Did
we enjoy this!
1.-THE church possessed an old worm
out cabinet organ. At festive occasions
members of the choir to come to his
home early on Sunday morning and help
carry his own cabinet organ to the
church, distance Of nearly half mile
After services the organ had to be car
ried back again to his home. Nobody
grunted although the muscles in the
arms became somewhat stiff the fol-
lowing day.
ITO hear him preach was a rich treat
for one who could enjoy rich spiritual
thought clothed in simple but correct
classical Swedish. He was no pulpit
orator, but a gospel preacher in the
fullest sense of the word. His good
wife would take notes and at leisure
moments write out as much Of the SER
mon as she remembered We expected
to see some Of her labors in print, but
80 far the writer has not seen any.
Probably she did not ind time to finish