English
I
Oneweekofauthenticspring,oneraresweetweekofMay,onetranquilmomentbetweentheblastofwinterandthechargeofsummer.
DailyCarolwalkedfromtownintoflashingcountryhystericwithnewlife.
Oneenchantedhourwhenshereturnedtoyouthandabeliefinthepossibilityofbeauty.
ShehadwalkednorthwardtowardtheuppershoreofPloverLake,takingtotherailroadtrack,whosedirectnessanddrynessmakeitthenaturalhighwayforpedestriansontheplains.
Shesteppedfromtietotie,inlongstrides.
Ateachroad–crossingshehadtocrawloveracattle–guardofsharpenedtimbers.
Shewalkedtherails,balancingwitharmsextended,cautiousheelbeforetoe.
Asshelostbalanceherbodybentover,herarmsrevolvedwildly,andwhenshetoppledshelaughedaloud.
Thethickgrassbesidethetrack,coarseandpricklywithmanyburnings,hidcanary–yellowbuttercupsandthemauvepetalsandwoollysage–greencoatsofthepasqueflowers.
Thebranchesofthekinnikinicbrushwereredandsmoothaslacqueronasakibowl.
Sherandownthegravellyembankment,smiledatchildrengatheringflowersinalittlebasket,thrustahandfulofthesoftpasqueflowersintothebosomofherwhiteblouse.
Fieldsofspringingwheatdrewherfromthestraightproprietyoftherailroadandshecrawledthroughtherustybarbed–wirefence.
Shefollowedafurrowbetweenlowwheatbladesandafieldofryewhichshowedsilverlightsasitflowedbeforethewind.Shefoundapasturebythelake.
Sosprinkledwasthepasturewithrag–babyblossomsandthecottonyherbofIndiantobaccothatitspreadoutlikearareoldPersiancarpetofcreamandroseanddelicategreen.
Underherfeettheroughgrassmadeapleasantcrunching.
Sweetwindsblewfromthesunnylakebesideher,andsmallwavessputteredonthemeadowyshore.
Sheleapedatinycreekboweredinpussy–willowbuds.
Shewasnearingafrivolousgroveofbirchandpoplarandwildplumtrees.
ThepoplarfoliagehadthedowninessofaCorotarbor;thegreenandsilvertrunkswereascandidasthebirches,asslenderandlustrousasthelimbsofaPierrot.
Thecloudywhiteblossomsoftheplumtreesfilledthegrovewithaspringtimemistinesswhichgaveanillusionofdistance.
Sheranintothewood,cryingoutforjoyoffreedomregainedafterwinter.
Choke–cherryblossomsluredherfromtheoutersun–warmedspacestodepthsofgreenstillness,whereasubmarinelightcamethroughtheyoungleaves.
Shewalkedpensivelyalonganabandonedroad.
Shefoundamoccasin–flowerbesidealichen–coveredlog.
Attheendoftheroadshesawtheopenacres—dippingrollingfieldsbrightwithwheat.
"Ibelieve!Thewoodlandgodsstilllive!Andoutthere,thegreatland.It'sbeautifulasthemountains.WhatdoIcareforThanatopsises?"
Shecameoutontheprairie,spaciousunderanarchofboldlycutclouds.Smallpoolsglittered.
Aboveamarshred–wingedblackbirdschasedacrowinaswiftmelodramaoftheair.
Onahillwassilhouettedamanfollowingadrag.
Hishorsebentitsneckandplodded,content.
ApathtookhertotheCorinthroad,leadingbacktotown.
Dandelionsglowedinpatchesamidstthewildgrassbytheway.
Astreamgollopedthroughaconcreteculvertbeneaththeroad.Shetrudgedinhealthyweariness.
AmaninabumpingFordrattledupbesideher,hailed,"Giveyoualift,Mrs.Kennicott?"
"Thankyou.It'sawfullygoodofyou,butI'menjoyingthewalk."
"Greatday,bygolly.Iseensomewheatthatmustofbeenfiveincheshigh.Well,solong."
Shehadn'tthedimmestnotionwhohewas,buthisgreetingwarmedher.
Thiscountrymangaveheracompanionshipwhichshehadnever(whetherbyherfaultortheirsorneither)beenabletofindinthematronsandcommerciallordsofthetown.
Halfamilefromtown,inahollowbetweenhazelnutbushesandabrook,shediscoveredagipsyencampment:acoveredwagon,atent,abunchofpegged–outhorses.
Abroad–shoulderedmanwassquattedonhisheels,holdingafrying–panoveracamp–fire.Helookedtowardher.HewasMilesBjornstam.
"Well,well,whatyoudoingouthere?"heroared."Comehaveahunko'bacon.Pete!Hey,Pete!"
Atousledpersoncamefrombehindthecoveredwagon.
"Pete,here'stheonehonest–to–Godladyinmybumtown.Comeon,crawlinandsetacoupleminutes,Mrs.Kennicott.I'mhikingoffforallsummer."
TheRedSwedestaggeredup,rubbedhiscrampedknees,lumberedtothewirefence,heldthestrandsapartforher.
Sheunconsciouslysmiledathimasshewentthrough.
Herskirtcaughtonabarb;hecarefullyfreedit.
Besidethismaninblueflannelshirt,baggykhakitrousers,unevensuspenders,andvilefelthat,shewassmallandexquisite.
ThesurlyPetesetoutanupturnedbucketforher.Sheloungedonit,herelbowsonherknees."Whereareyougoing?"sheasked.
"Juststartingoffforthesummer,horse–trading."Bjornstamchuckled.Hisredmustachecaughtthesun.
"Regularhoboesandpublicbenefactorsweare.
Takeahikelikethiseveryonceinawhile.Sharksonhorses.
Buy'emfromfarmersandsell'emtoothers.We'rehonest—frequently.Greattime.Campalongtheroad.
IwaswishingIhadachancetosaygood–bytoyoubeforeIduckedoutbut—Say,youbettercomealongwithus."
"I'dliketo."
"Whileyou'replayingmumblety–pegwithMrs.LymCass,PeteandmewillberamblingacrossDakota,throughtheBadLands,intothebuttecountry,andwhenfallcomes,we'llbecrossingoverapassoftheBigHornMountains,maybe,andcampinasnow–storm,quarterofamilerightstraightupabovealake.
Theninthemorningwe'llliesnuginourblanketsandlookupthroughthepinesataneagle.How'ditstrikeyou?Heh?
Eaglesoaringandsoaringallday—bigwidesky—"
"Don't!OrIwillgowithyou,andI'mafraidtheremightbesomeslightscandal.PerhapssomedayI'lldoit.Good–by."
Herhanddisappearedinhisblackenedleatherglove.Fromtheturnintheroadshewavedathim.Shewalkedonmoresoberlynow,andshewaslonely.
Butthewheatandgrassweresleekvelvetunderthesunset;theprairiecloudsweretawnygold;andsheswunghappilyintoMainStreet.
II
ThroughthefirstdaysofJuneshedrovewithKennicottonhiscalls.
Sheidentifiedhimwiththevirileland;sheadmiredhimasshesawwithwhatrespectthefarmersobeyedhim.
Shewasoutintheearlychill,afterahastycupofcoffee,reachingopencountryasthefreshsuncameupinthatunspoiledworld.
Meadowlarkscalledfromthetopsofthinsplitfence–posts.Thewildrosessmelledclean.
Astheyreturnedinlateafternoonthelowsunwasasolemnityofradialbands,likeaheavenlyfanofbeatengold;thelimitlesscircleofthegrainwasagreensearimmedwithfog,andthewillowwind–breakswerepalmyisles.
BeforeJulythecloseheatblanketedthem.Thetorturedearthcracked.
Farmerspantedthroughcorn–fieldsbehindcultivatorsandthesweatingflanksofhorses.
WhileshewaitedforKennicottinthecar,beforeafarmhouse,theseatburnedherfingersandherheadachedwiththeglareonfendersandhood.
Ablackthunder–showerwasfollowedbyaduststormwhichturnedtheskyyellowwiththehintofacomingtornado.
Impalpableblackdustfar–bornefromDakotacoveredtheinnersillsoftheclosedwindows.
TheJulyheatwasevermorestifling.TheycrawledalongMainStreetbyday;theyfoundithardtosleepatnight.
Theybroughtmattressesdowntotheliving–room,andthrashedandturnedbytheopenwindow.
Tentimesanighttheytalkedofgoingouttosoakthemselveswiththehoseandwadethroughthedew,buttheyweretoolistlesstotakethetrouble.
Oncoolevenings,whentheytriedtogowalking,thegnatsappearedinswarmswhichpepperedtheirfacesandcaughtintheirthroats.
ShewantedtheNorthernpines,theEasternsea,butKennicottdeclaredthatitwouldbe"kindofhardtogetaway,justNOW."
TheHealthandImprovementCommitteeoftheThanatopsisaskedhertotakepartintheanti–flycampaign,andshetoiledabouttownpersuadinghouseholderstousethefly–trapsfurnishedbytheclub,orgivingoutmoneyprizestofly–swattingchildren.
Shewasloyalenoughbutnotardent,andwithouteverquiteintendingto,shebegantoneglectthetaskasheatsuckedatherstrength.
KennicottandshemotoredNorthandspentaweekwithhismother—thatis,Carolspentitwithhismother,whilehefishedforbass.
Thegreateventwastheirpurchaseofasummercottage,downonLakeMinniemashie.
PerhapsthemostamiablefeatureoflifeinGopherPrairiewasthesummercottages.
Theyweremerelytwo–roomshanties,withaseepageofbroken–downchairs,peelingveneeredtables,chromospastedonwoodenwalls,andinefficientkerosenestoves.
Theyweresothin–walledandsoclosetogetherthatyoucould—anddid—hearababybeingspankedinthefifthcottageoff.
Buttheyweresetamongelmsandlindensonabluffwhichlookedacrossthelaketofieldsofripenedwheatslopinguptogreenwoods.
Herethematronsforgotsocialjealousies,andsatgossipingingingham;or,inoldbathing–suits,surroundedbyhystericalchildren,theypaddledforhours.
Caroljoinedthem;sheduckedshriekingsmallboys,andhelpedbabiesconstructsand–basinsforunfortunateminnows.
ShelikedJuanitaHaydockandMaudDyerwhenshehelpedthemmakepicnic–supperforthemen,whocamemotoringoutfromtowneachevening.
Shewaseasierandmorenaturalwiththem.
Inthedebateastowhetherthereshouldbevealloaforpoachedeggonhash,shehadnochancetobehereticalandoversensitive.
Theydancedsometimes,intheevening;theyhadaminstrelshow,withKennicottsurprisinglygoodasend–man;alwaystheywereencircledbychildrenwiseintheloreofwoodchucksandgophersandraftsandwillowwhistles.
IftheycouldhavecontinuedthisnormalbarbariclifeCarolwouldhavebeenthemostenthusiasticcitizenofGopherPrairie.
Shewasrelievedtobeassuredthatshedidnotwantbookishconversationalone;thatshedidnotexpectthetowntobecomeaBohemia.Shewascontentnow.Shedidnotcriticize.
ButinSeptember,whentheyearwasatitsrichest,customdictatedthatitwastimetoreturntotown;toremovethechildrenfromthewasteoccupationoflearningtheearth,andsendthembacktolessonsaboutthenumberofpotatoeswhich(inadelightfulworlduntroubledbycommission–housesorshortagesinfreight–cars)WilliamsoldtoJohn.
ThewomenwhohadcheerfullygonebathingallsummerlookeddoubtfulwhenCarolbegged,"Let'skeepupanoutdoorlifethiswinter,let'sslideandskate."
Theirheartsshutagaintillspring,andtheninemonthsofcliquesandradiatorsanddaintyrefreshmentsbeganallover.
III
Carolhadstartedasalon.
SinceKennicott,VidaSherwin,andGuyPollockwereheronlylions,andsinceKennicottwouldhavepreferredSamClarktoallthepoetsandradicalsintheentireworld,herprivateandself–defensivecliquedidnotgetbeyondoneeveningdinnerforVidaandGuy,onherfirstweddinganniversary;andthatdinnerdidnotgetbeyondacontroversyregardingRaymieWutherspoon'syearnings.
GuyPollockwasthegentlestpersonshehadfoundhere.
Hespokeofhernewjadeandcreamfrocknaturally,notjocosely;heheldherchairforherastheysatdowntodinner;andhedidnot,likeKennicott,interrupthertoshout,"Ohsay,speakingofthat,Iheardagoodstorytoday."ButGuywasincurablyhermit.
Hesatlateandtalkedhard,anddidnotcomeagain.
ThenshemetChampPerryinthepost–office—anddecidedthatinthehistoryofthepioneerswasthepanaceaforGopherPrairie,forallofAmerica.
Wehavelosttheirsturdiness,shetoldherself.
WemustrestorethelastoftheveteranstopowerandfollowthemonthebackwardpathtotheintegrityofLincoln,tothegaietyofsettlersdancinginasaw–mill.
ShereadintherecordsoftheMinnesotaTerritorialPioneersthatonlysixtyyearsago,notsofarbackasthebirthofherownfather,fourcabinshadcomposedGopherPrairie.
ThelogstockadewhichMrs.ChampPerrywastofindwhenshetrekkedinwasbuiltafterwardbythesoldiersasadefenseagainsttheSioux.
ThefourcabinswereinhabitedbyMaineYankeeswhohadcomeuptheMississippitoSt.Paulanddrivennorthovervirginprairieintovirginwoods.
Theygroundtheirowncorn;themen–folksshotducksandpigeonsandprairiechickens;thenewbreakingsyieldedtheturnip–likerutabagas,whichtheyaterawandboiledandbakedandrawagain.
Fortreattheyhadwildplumsandcrab–applesandtinywildstrawberries.
Grasshopperscamedarkeningthesky,andinanhouratethefarmwife'sgardenandthefarmer'scoat.
PrecioushorsespainfullybroughtfromIllinois,weredrownedinbogsorstampededbythefearofblizzards.
Snowblewthroughthechinksofnew–madecabins,andEasternchildren,withflowerymuslindresses,shiveredallwinterandinsummerwereredandblackwithmosquitobites.
Indianswereeverywhere;theycampedindooryards,stalkedintokitchenstodemanddoughnuts,camewithriflesacrosstheirbacksintoschoolhousesandbeggedtoseethepicturesinthegeographies.
Packsoftimber–wolvestreedthechildren;andthesettlersfounddensofrattle–snakes,killedfifty,ahundred,inaday.
Yetitwasabuoyantlife.CarolreadenviouslyintheadmirableMinnesotachroniclescalled"OldRailFenceCorners"thereminiscenceofMrs.MahlonBlack,whosettledinStillwaterin1848:
"Therewasnothingtoparadeoverinthosedays.
Wetookitasitcameandhadhappylives....Wewouldallgathertogetherandinabouttwominuteswouldbehavingagoodtime—playingcardsordancing....Weusedtowaltzanddancecontradances.
Noneofthesenewjigsandnotwearanyclothestospeakof.
Wecoveredourhidesinthosedays;notightskirtslikenow.
Youcouldtakethreeorfourstepsinsideourskirtsandthennotreachtheedge.
Oneoftheboyswouldfiddleawhileandthensomeonewouldspellhimandhecouldgetadance.
Sometimestheywoulddanceandfiddletoo."
Shereflectedthatifshecouldnothaveballroomsofgrayandroseandcrystal,shewantedtobeswingingacrossapuncheon–floorwithadancingfiddler.
Thissmugin–betweentown,whichhadexchanged"MoneyMusk"forphonographsgrindingoutragtime,itwasneithertheheroicoldnorthesophisticatednew.
Couldn'tshesomehow,someyetunimaginedhow,turnitbacktosimplicity?
Sheherselfknewtwoofthepioneers:thePerrys.
ChampPerrywasthebuyeratthegrain–elevator.
Heweighedwagonsofwheatonaroughplatform–scale,inthecracksofwhichthekernelssproutedeveryspring.
Betweentimeshenappedinthedustypeaceofhisoffice.
ShecalledonthePerrysattheirroomsaboveHowland&Gould'sgrocery.
Whentheywerealreadyoldtheyhadlostthemoney,whichtheyhadinvestedinanelevator.
Theyhadgivenuptheirbelovedyellowbrickhouseandmovedintotheseroomsoverastore,whichweretheGopherPrairieequivalentofaflat.
Abroadstairwayledfromthestreettotheupperhall,alongwhichwerethedoorsofalawyer'soffice,adentist's,aphotographer's"studio,"thelodge–roomsoftheAffiliatedOrderofSpartansand,attheback,thePerrys'apartment.
Theyreceivedher(theirfirstcallerinamonth)withagedflutteringtenderness.
Mrs.Perryconfided,"My,it'sashamewegottoentertainyouinsuchacrampedplace.
Andthereain'tanywaterexceptthatoleironsinkoutsideinthehall,butstill,asIsaytoChamp,beggarscan'tbechoosers.
'Sides,thebrickhousewastoobigformetosweep,anditwaswayout,andit'snicetobelivingdownhereamongfolks.Yes,we'regladtobehere.
But—Someday,maybewecanhaveahouseofourownagain.
We'resavingup—Oh,dear,ifwecouldhaveourownhome!
Buttheseroomsarerealnice,ain'tthey!"
Asoldpeoplewill,theworldover,theyhadmovedasmuchaspossibleoftheirfamiliarfurnitureintothissmallspace.
CarolhadnoneofthesuperiorityshefelttowardMrs.LymanCass'splutocraticparlor.Shewasathomehere.
Shenotedwithtendernessallthemakeshifts:thedarnedchair–arms,thepatentrockercoveredwithsleazycretonne,thepastedstripsofpapermendingthebirch–barknapkin–ringslabeled"Papa"and"Mama."
Shehintedofhernewenthusiasm.Tofindoneofthe"youngfolks"whotookthemseriously,heartenedthePerrys,andsheeasilydrewfromthemtheprinciplesbywhichGopherPrairieshouldbebornagain—shouldagainbecomeamusingtolivein.
Thiswastheirphilosophycomplete...intheeraofaeroplanesandsyndicalism:
TheBaptistChurch(and,somewhatless,theMethodist,Congregational,andPresbyterianChurches)istheperfect,thedivinelyordainedstandardinmusic,oratory,philanthropy,andethics.
"Wedon'tneedallthisnew–fangledscience,orthisterribleHigherCriticismthat'sruiningouryoungmenincolleges.
WhatweneedistogetbacktothetrueWordofGod,andagoodsoundbeliefinhell,likeweusedtohaveitpreachedtous."
TheRepublicanParty,theGrandOldPartyofBlaineandMcKinley,istheagentoftheLordandoftheBaptistChurchintemporalaffairs.
Allsocialistsoughttobehanged.
"HaroldBellWrightisalovelywriter,andheteachessuchgoodmoralsinhisnovels,andfolkssayhe'smadeprett'nearamilliondollarsoutof'em."
Peoplewhomakemorethantenthousandayearorlessthaneighthundredarewicked.
Europeansarestillwickeder.
Itdoesn'thurtanytodrinkaglassofbeeronawarmday,butanybodywhotoucheswineisheadedstraightforhell.
Virginsarenotsovirginalastheyusedtobe.
Nobodyneedsdrug–storeicecream;pieisgoodenoughforanybody.
Thefarmerswanttoomuchfortheirwheat.
Theownersoftheelevator–companyexpecttoomuchforthesalariestheypay.
TherewouldbenomoretroubleordiscontentintheworldifeverybodyworkedashardasPadidwhenheclearedourfirstfarm.
IV
Carol'shero–worshipdwindledtopolitenodding,andthenoddingdwindledtoadesiretoescape,andshewenthomewithaheadache.
NextdayshesawMilesBjornstamonthestreet.
"JustbackfromMontana.Greatsummer.
Pumpedmylungschuck–fullofRockyMountainair.
NowforanotherwhirlatsassingthebossesofGopherPrairie."
Shesmiledathim,andthePerrysfaded,thepioneersfaded,tilltheywerebutdaguerreotypesinablackwalnutcupboard.
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