Public-domain ebook
A Little Norsk; Or, Ol' Pap's Flaxen
Language: en2,974 downloads on Project Gutenberg
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In: Novels·American Literature
Public-domain ebook sourced from Project Gutenberg #21850.
About this book
A Little Norsk is a frontier drama that follows the harsh realities of pioneer life in the Dakota Territory, centered on an orphaned Norwegian girl known as Flaxen. The story opens with a vivid, breath‑shortening description of an unrelenting winter wind, then moves quickly into the daily grind of two bachelor settlers, Anson and Bert, as they argue over scarce provisions and the looming blizzard. When the storm forces Anson to brave the gale and rescue a frozen child from a deserted shanty, the narrative shifts to the tender yet precarious bond that forms between the child and her new guardians. The opening chapters lay out a stark landscape of snow‑drifted plains, isolated cabins, and the desperate struggle to survive, establishing the novel’s focus on orphaned children, single fathers, and the unforgiving pioneer experience.
The prose is steeped in the colloquial diction of late‑19th‑century Midwestern settlers, with a rhythm that mirrors the howling wind and the labor‑filled cadence of frontier life. Its straightforward, dialogue‑heavy style captures both the grit and the occasional humor of characters coping with isolation. Readers who appreciate historical fiction that immerses them in the daily hardships of early Dakota pioneers, especially those interested in stories of resilience among orphans and single fathers, will find this work compelling.
Characters in A Little Norsk
- AnsonMiddle‑aged frontier man, weather‑worn face, grizzled beard, rough wool coat, broad hat
- BertLate‑30s pioneer, lean build, dark hair, simple shirt, leather vest, sturdy boots
- FlaxenYoung Norwegian orphan, pale skin, long flax‑gold hair, simple dress, solemn eyes
The opening · free to read
New York D. Appleton and Company 1892
Copyright, 1892, By D. Appleton and Company.
Printed at the Appleton Press, U.S.A.
On the Plain.
My cabin cowers in the pathless sweep Of the terrible northern blast; Above its roof the wild clouds leap And shriek as they hurtle past. The snow-waves hiss along the plain, Like spectral wolves they stretch and strain And race and ramp--with hissing beat, Like stealthy tread of myriad feet, I hear them pass; upon the roof The icy showers swirl and rattle; At times the moon, from storms aloof, Shines white and wan within the room-- Then swift clouds drive across the light And all the plain is lost to sight, The cabin rocks, and on my palm The sifted snow falls, cold and calm.
God! What a power is in the wind! I lay my cheek to the cabin side To feel the weight of his giant hands-- A speck, a fly in the blasting tide Of streaming, pitiless, icy sands; A single heart with its feeble beat-- A mouse in the lion's throat-- A swimmer at sea--a sunbeam's mote In the grasp of a tempest of hail and sleet!
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