Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1926-04-08

Mrs. Brown and Mr.. Brown forgot him.
self and kissed the girls and Jack and
/ almost kissed Mrs. Brown and we
drew slowly away waving our hands
and watching the five figures framed
In the doorway against the yellow
light of the oil lamp on the opposite
wall.
Our experience with the Browns en-
couraged us to cultivate the acquaint-
ance of our other neighbors and as the
short, bright days of November wore
BY the Iow-hanging sun often saw our
ox-wagon vending slowly across the
prairies, and the north star and the
great dipper were the silent witnesses
of it's return to Fourteen. Sometimes,
too, the great magician Of the North
would light his mimic candles, and we
would creak homeward In the weird
light of their pickering battalions min
ueting on the stage of the universe.
Smith. the Scotsman, and Burke, the
American, received us with undivided
hospitality and that strange sense of
common interest which Is the most
priceless thing about pioneer life; one
Of the rich qualities of human nature,
which seems inevitably to dry up in
the more complex civilizations. Ole
Hansen entertained us for full hour
In the stable before his buxom Olga
consented to admit us into the house.
When at last we were granted that
privilege there was evidence of hur-
ried scrubbing of floors and faces.
"My wife bane all the time yust on
the yump," Ole explained apologetical-
". "Some time Ay tank by d-n we
have too many kids, eh?" 1t appeared
that Ole was beginning to harbor some
modern ideas about the size of FAM
lilies. His opinion that six was "yust
nice commence" was being shaken.
The housing problem was coming home
to him and bearing its inevitable fruit.
No such radicalism had yet filtered
into the mind Of the Russian, who, for
the sake of convenience, we continued
to call Sneezit. He met us stolidly
where the trail wound down the bank
of the gully near to his dugout. He
wore long sheepskin coat, with the
wool still on 1t, high boots drawn well
up on the thigh, and brushy. black
beard. He regarded US in silence. and
at length Jack spoke.
1--WE are your neighbors. We have
come to call on you. We hope you are
we'll"
The lips under the black mustache
parted slowly, showing a set Of
strong. regular teeth.
"No much Angleesh." he remarked.
We clambored down, and shook
hands. This seemed to assure him of
our friendly intentions. and when we
managed to make it clear that we
wanted to visit his house he led us TO
1t without hesitation.
1t was merely cave dug out Of the
side of the gully. The front was
roughly built up with stones and sods,
and crude door, made Of pieces of
packing boxes, afforded admittance.
The only light was from an opening
In the door. which could be closed
when the weather was too severe.
Sneezit went first and addressed
some words In Russian into the gloom
We followed, encountering In the door
the fumes of the places bad ventila.
ton. 1t was some time before our eyes
became accustomed to the darkness
| but presently we discerned woman
STOPPING, indicating a long bench
which had been set for us. Across the
cave was a drove Of children, their
eyes peering and shining like those OF
wild animals. Indeed 1t seemed that
| eyes were the most noticeable thing
In that very humble little home. Pre-.
sumably there were mouths as well
no doubt Sneezit and his wife had
reason to know that there were mouths
as well as eyes.
/ AS soon after our return from har
vesting as our duties permitted It we
paid another visit to Mrs. Alton. Sandy