An Immigrant Boy on the Frontier

Abstract

by SIMON JOHNSON 1 translated with an introduction by NORA O. SOLUM 3 An Immigrant Boy on the Frontier Simon oirs the (formerly story of his Simen) Americanization, Johnson tells from in his boyhood memoirs the story of his Americanization, from boyhood to young manhood, on the prairies of Dakota Territory. His account takes us back to the early 1880's, when the Johannes Bergumshagen family were natives of Gudbrandsdal, Norway, and owned a small farm there. The incentives for their emigration to America are familiar; namely, the difficulty of supporting a family in the homeland, and the lure of more opportunities in the new.2 To eke out the lean living afforded by the farm, Johannes, a man of considerable grit and brawn, undertook to work at improving roadways in the parish, a job which few of his 1 Simon Johnson, well-known journalist and novelist, was born in Gudbrandsdal , Norway, in 1874. At the age of eight he came to the United States with his parents. He edited Normanden (Grand Forks, North Dakota) for four years, and was a member of the staff of Decorah-Posten for fifteen years. He has published the following books: Et geni (1907) , Lonea (1909) , I et nyt rige (1914) , Fire fortellinger (1917) , Falliten vaa Braastad (1922) , Frihetens hjem (1925) . aThe selections translated here form parts of chapter 2 of Simon Johnson's unpublished memoirs entitled "Opplevd: Noen minner, funderinger, og skildringer - og livsoppsj0r tilslutt" (Experiences: Some Memories, Reflections, and Sketches - and a Casting of Accounts) . The original manuscript is in the possession of the Norwegian- American Historical Association. 51 Nora O. Solum fellow parishioners would attempt because of the difficult hill-and-vale terrain. This undertaking earned him some repute among his neighbors. A severe winter set in, paralyzing the area under snowdrifts and putting an end to road work. After weeks of layoff Johannes took to the mountains, hoping to return with a bagful of ptarmigan to bolster the family board. Late one night he returned unexpectedly, almost empty-handed, hungry, and worn-out. He resolved to leave for America as soon as possible. During these years the parish was abuzz with stories of the land of abundance across the Atlantic, given credence by the return of successful adventurers who had been there. The son, Simon, remembers the incredibly stony look on his father's face and the pitifully distraught stare of helplessness on his mother's at the announcement. Johannes would go alone; Mother Anne and the children would follow later. Arrangements for their trip and a heavy burden of responsibility during the period of separation fell to Mother Anne. The uprooting was difficult - this had been the family home for hundreds of years. But the full realization of what it meant came to Simon only long afterward. The family was reunited after a couple of years. Johannes had rented some acreage and started building a sod house; a neighbor brought Anne and the children from the railway station to his own home, where they awaited the arrival of Johannes , who had been there every day to see if they had come. Anne and the children - Simon, Mathias, and Vesla (Little Girl) - had been given a room for themselves. The following scene moves directly into chapter 2 of Simon's memoirs. SIMON JOHNSON'S NARRATIVE Mother was busying herself with the family's clothing. Suddenly she drew up and stood stock-still, a rapt expression on her face. The garment she held in her hand fell limp. The door opened and a man stood there. His clothes resembled those of the man of the house, but his beard was 52 AN IMMIGRANT BOY darker. It was hard for him to fix his eyes on what was directly in front of him; he stared blankly ahead. "Johannes!" Mother cried out as she opened her arms to him. He choked out something which sounded like, "Welcome !" Questions began. Had they stood the trip pretty well? Vesla, too? Oh, yes, but Vesla hadn't paid much attention; there had been too many menfolk around. And Mathias? The youngster only looked bewildered; he couldn't figure out who this bearded man was who was...