putterings 474 < 475 > 476 index
But here he had good company!
The hole was dear to Louis; not only had he discovered it, but the scheme of the stovepipe treasure-chest was his own invention. After the money had been placed there the barn became ever so much more interesting and cozy. Going into the barn after dusk to do chores or to look after his horses, he felt a sense of comradeship, of friendly spirits meeting him, who were glad at his coming. Puttering about, he communed with them by humming and crooning softly to them — they would understand perfectly ! When he had finished the chores he would often sit down on the threshold and light his pipe, for after the last set-to it was no fun to smoke in the house. But here he had good company! Often he stayed here by the hour . . . ₁
sleeve and asked curtly whether he intended to sit there all night? She was still puttering over by the stove.
In a drawling tone Louis presumed that he would go to bed . . . after a while, perhaps, and continued ₂
both from Ole Edvart Rølvaag, Pure Gold; “English text by Sivert Erdahl and the Author” (1930) : 115 and 204
(google snippets only) : link
borrowable at archive.org : link
reviewed by Percy Hutchison in The New York Times (February 9, 1930) : link (paywall)
—
Ole Edvart Rølvaag (1876-1931)
wikipedia : link