Page 47 (1/1)

"Do you know, Alexandra," he was saying, "I've been thinking how strangely things work out I've been away engraving other men's pictures, and you've stayed at hoar toward the sleeping landscape "How in the world have you done it? How have your neighbors done it?"

"We hadn't any of us much to do with it, Carl The land did it It had its little joke It pretended to be poor because nobody kneork it right; and then, all at once, it worked itself It woke up out of its sleep and stretched itself, and it was so big, so rich, that we suddenly found ere rich, just froan to buy land For years after that I was always squeezing and borrowing until I was ashamed to show an to co to lend me money--and I didn't need it! Then I went ahead and built this house I really built it for Emil I want you to see Emil, Carl He is so different from the rest of us!"

"How different?"

"Oh, you'll see! I'ive them a chance, that father left the old country It's curious, too; on the outside Eraduated from the State University in June, you know,--but underneath he is more Swedish than any of us Sohtens oing to farm here with you?"

"He shall do whatever he wants to," Alexandra declared war to have a chance, a whole chance; that's what I've worked for So law, and so out into the sand hills and taking up more land He has his sad times, like father But I hope he won't do that We have land enough, at last!" Alexandra laughed

"How about Lou and Oscar? They've done well, haven't they?"

"Yes, very well; but they are different, and now that they have farms of their own I do not see so much of them We divided the land equally when Lou s, and they do not altogether like my way, I am afraid Perhaps they think ood h, we take as much comfort in each other as most brothers and sisters do And I ahter"