Knut Hamsun

Name: Growth of the Soil — Book One, Chapter III
Author: Knut Hamsun

Growth of the Soil — Book One, Chapter III (1917)

Summary

“Growth of the Soil — Book One, Chapter III”, published in 1917, is a work by Knut Hamsun. It explores elements such as Isak, Goldenhorns and Inger.

Quotes from Growth of the Soil — Book One, Chapter III (Knut Hamsun)

Knut Hamsun, Growth of the Soil — Book One, Chapter III (1917)

“ Isak had not heard better news a long while; it was a burden lighter. Goldenhorns was his and Inger's by honest right. To tell the truth, he had half thought of getting rid of his trouble in a sorry way; to kill off the cow that autumn, scrape the hide, bury the horns, and thus make away with all trace of Cow Goldenhorns in this life. No need for that now. And he grew mightily proud of Inger all at once.
"Ay, Inger," says he. "She's one to manage things, that's true. There's not her like nor equal to be found. 'Twas a poor place here till I got a woman of my own, as you might say." ”

[↩︎]

Source: Wikisource

Knut Hamsun, Growth of the Soil — Book One, Chapter III (1917)

“ Lonely folk, ugly to look at and overfull of growth, but a blessing for each other, for the beasts, and for the earth.
And Goldenhorns calved. A great day in the wilderness, a joy and a delight. They gave her flour-wash, and Isak himself saw to it there was no stint of flour, though he had carried it all the way himself, on his back. And there lay a pretty calf, a beauty, red-flanked like her mother, and comically bewildered at the miracle of coming into the world. In a couple of years she would be having calves of her own.
"'Twill be a grand fine cow when she grows up," said Inger. ”

[↩︎]

Source: Wikisource

Knut Hamsun, Growth of the Soil — Book One, Chapter III (1917)

“ But when Inger gave up asking, and began talking to the horse instead, he came out of his lofty silence at last.
"Ever see a farm without a horse and cart, and plough and harrows, and all the rest of it? And since you want to know, why, I've bought that horse and cart, and all that's in it," says he.
And Inger could only shake her head and murmur: "Well, I never did see such a man!"
Isak was no longer littleness and humility; he had paid, as it were, like a gentleman, for Goldenhorns. "Here you are," he could say. "I've brought along a horse; we can call it quits." ”

[↩︎]

Source: Wikisource

Knut Hamsun, Growth of the Soil — Book One, Chapter III (1917)

“ But there was another matter Isak had thought of times out of number: that Goldenhorns, where had she come from, whose had she been? There was never a wife on earth like Inger. Ho! a wild thing she was, that let him do as he pleased with her, and was glad of it. But — suppose one day they were to come for the cow, and take it away — and worse, maybe, to come after? What was it Inger herself had said about the horse: "You haven't stolen it, I suppose, or found it?" ”

[↩︎]

Source: Wikisource

Knut Hamsun, Growth of the Soil — Book One, Chapter III (1917)

“ And with a cow they had already....
"What'll you be bringing up next?" said Inger.
Isak brought up a host of things. Brought up planks and a saw he had got in exchange for timber; a grindstone, a wafer iron, tools — all in exchange for his logs. Inger was bursting with riches, and said each time: "What, more things! When we've cattle and all a body could think of!"
They had enough to meet their needs for no little time to come, and were well-to-do folk. What was Isak to start on again next spring? ”

[↩︎]

Source: Wikisource

Knut Hamsun, Growth of the Soil — Book One, Chapter III (1917)

“ That was her first thought, yes. That was what she had said; who could say if she were to be trusted — what should he do? He had thought of it all many a time. And here he had brought up a mate himself for the cow — for a stolen cow, maybe!
And there was the horse he would have to return again. A pity — for 'twas a little friendly beast, and grown fond of them already.
"Never mind," said Inger comfortingly. "Why, you've done wonders already." ”

[↩︎]

Source: Wikisource

Knut Hamsun, Growth of the Soil — Book One, Chapter III (1917)

“ Isak is a woodman, felling trees and sawing logs. He is better off now than before, having a saw. He works away, and mighty piles of wood grow up; he makes a street of them, a town, built up of stacks and piles of wood. Inger is more about the house now, and does not come out as before to watch him at his work; Isak must find a pretext now and then to slip off home for a moment instead. ”

[↩︎]

Source: Wikisource

Knut Hamsun, Growth of the Soil — Book One, Chapter III (1917)

“ He stood there, upright and agile, against his wont; shifted the plough once more, picked it up and carried it with one hand and stood it up against the wall. Oh, he could manage an estate! He took up the other things: the harrow, the grindstone, a new fork he had bought, all the costly agricultural implements, treasures of the new home, a grand array. All requisite appliances — nothing was lacking. ”

Knut Hamsun

Summary

Quotes from Growth of the Soil — Book One, Chapter III (Knut Hamsun)

Common terms

Similar works

Get perspective with Kwize: daily news enlightened by great literature