"Cather, Willa - O Pioneers!" - читать интересную книгу автора (Cather Willa Sibert)

trated to their hearts.

"Did Lou and Oscar go to the Blue to cut
wood to-day?" Carl asked.

"Yes. I'm almost sorry I let them go, it's
turned so cold. But mother frets if the wood
gets low." She stopped and put her hand to
her forehead, brushing back her hair. "I don't
know what is to become of us, Carl, if father
has to die. I don't dare to think about it. I
wish we could all go with him and let the grass
grow back over everything."

Carl made no reply. Just ahead of them was
the Norwegian graveyard, where the grass had,
indeed, grown back over everything, shaggy
and red, hiding even the wire fence. Carl real-
ized that he was not a very helpful companion,
but there was nothing he could say.

"Of course," Alexandra went on, steadying
her voice a little, "the boys are strong and work
hard, but we've always depended so on father
that I don't see how we can go ahead. I almost
feel as if there were nothing to go ahead for."

"Does your father know?"

"Yes, I think he does. He lies and counts
on his fingers all day. I think he is trying to
count up what he is leaving for us. It's a com-
fort to him that my chickens are laying right
on through the cold weather and bringing in a
little money. I wish we could keep his mind off
such things, but I don't have much time to be
with him now."

"I wonder if he'd like to have me bring my
magic lantern over some evening?"

Alexandra turned her face toward him. "Oh,
Carl! Have you got it?"

"Yes. It's back there in the straw. Didn't
you notice the box I was carrying? I tried it all
morning in the drug-store cellar, and it worked
ever so well, makes fine big pictures."

"What are they about?"