The citizen., 1920-10-21

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families. These men we're soon noted
as individuals of some moment; they
became the center OF little knots Of
conversation. and their fellow-immi-
grnnts hung In reverent attention upon
every word from their lips.
"Tell us about the crops" said one
OF the men passengers. "what like
wheat can ye grown
Like corn said the narrator, with
great deliberation. Heads like ears
o. corn. Wheat that grows so fast ye
can hear II. Nothin' uncommon to
walk into wheat fields when they's
knee high. an have to fight yer way
out like Jungle"
rs the Iniuns VERY bIg1" piped q
little voice. MY pas go'n' to make
me bone-arrow so I can kill EN- all
up"
THAT'S brave soldier" said the
man, drnwing the child 10 his knee
"But All know better way TO fight
Indians than with bows an arrows.
All fights 'em with four an blankets
an badger-meat. an it's long way
better"
The child climbed up on the friend.
W Knee and Interested himself In the
great silver watch-chaln that looped
convenient TO his fingers. Go on wifi
your story. man." he said. "Ts listen.
In"
And big Aleck McCrae forgot the i'm
migrants crowded around. forgot the
lurch of the train and the window
glimpse Of forests heavy-blanketed
with snow. as he plowed his fertile
Imagination and spread a sudden har.
vest OF wonderment before the little
soul that clung to his great watch
chain.
And so the Journey wore on. As day
succeeded day to the monotonous rum
Bile OF the car wheels the Immigrants
became better acquainted and friend
ships took root that In after years
were to brave every storm of adver-
slty and bloom forth In the splendid
community of spirit and sacrifice
which particularly distinguished the
pioneers
In the cold gray Of a March morn
ing, when the sun had not yet dis
PEELED the mIsts OF night, and the
ringing woods back from the Red
river loomed white and spectral
through the frost, they re-entered the
empire. and In few minutes we're de-
trimming at Emerson, the boundary
town and gateway to the prairies
which for 1000 miles stretched into
the mysteries Of the unknown.
Emerson was the gateway OF the
great invasion. The "farthest west"
OF rail communication. on the thresh-
old OF the prairie country. Il seemed
the strategical point for the great city
which must arise with the settlement
and development OF the fertile king
dom or territory lying between the
Lake of the Woods and the Rocky
mountains. and between the forty
ninth parallel and the unknown north
ern limit Of agriculture.
Harris left his wife with a company
OF other women In the government i'm
migration building while he set out to
ind. II possible. lodgings where she
might live until he was ready to take
her 10 the homestead country. He
must first make a trip of exploration
himself. and as this might require sew
eral weeks his present consideration
was TO place her In proper surround
ings before he left. He inquired al
many doors for lodgings for himself
and wife. or for his wife alone. The
response ranged from curt announce
ments that the inmates "ain't takin'
boarders" TO sympathetic assurances
that II II were possible TO find room
for another II would be done. but the
house was already crowded to suffoca-
tion. In two hours Harris. notwith-
standing his stout frame and his |
young enthusiasm. dragged himself |
somewhat disconsolately back 10 the |
immigration building with the infor- |
nation that his search had been fruit |
less.
Al the door he met Tom Morrison |
and another, whom he recognized as |
the teller of Indian stories which had |
captivated the children of his car.
"And what luck have ye had3" asked |
Morrison, SELLING the young man by |
the arm. Little, I'll be thinkin', by |
the smile ye're forcin' up. But what
am thinkin' Of? Mr.. McCrae is from
way out In the Wakopa county, and
an old timer on the prairie"
"Aleck McCrae." said the big man.
I'VE leave our 'misters' east OF the
Great Lakes. An Ah'm not from Wa
kopa. unless you give that name TO all
the country from Pemblna crossing TO
Turtle mountain. Ah'm doing bust
ness all through there, an no more
partial TO one place than another"
What is your line OF business, Mr..
McCraer asked Harris.
"Aleck. ! said. an Aleck II ls."
"All right" said the other, laugh
Ing. what is your business. Aleckf"
MY business is assisting settlers to
get located ON suitable land. an exc
Ing out my own living by the process.