Willa Cather

Name: O Pioneers! — The Wild Land, III
Author: Willa Cather

O Pioneers! — The Wild Land, III (1913)

Summary

“O Pioneers! — The Wild Land, III”, published in 1913, is a work by Willa Cather. It explores elements such as Ivar, Alexandra and Emil.

Quotes from O Pioneers! — The Wild Land, III (Willa Cather)

Willa Cather, O Pioneers! — The Wild Land, III (1913)

“ Ivar had explained his choice by saying that the fewer neighbors he had, the fewer temptations. Nevertheless, when one considered that his chief business was horsedoctoring, it seemed rather short-sighted of him to live in the most inaccessible place he could find. The Bergson wagon lurched along over the rough hummocks and grass banks, followed the bottom of winding draws, or skirted the margin of wide lagoons, where the golden coreopsis grew up out of the clear water and the wild ducks rose with a whirr of wings. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Willa Cather, O Pioneers! — The Wild Land, III (1913)

“ He closed the book on his knee, keeping the place with his horny finger, and repeated softly:--
He sendeth the springs into the valleys, which run among the hills;
They give drink to every beast of the field; the wild asses quench their thirst. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Willa Cather, O Pioneers! — The Wild Land, III (1913)

“ But these wild things are God's birds. He watches over them and counts them, as we do our cattle; Christ says so in the New Testament."
"Now, Ivar," Lou asked, "may we water our horses at your pond and give them some feed? It's a bad road to your place."
"Yes, yes, it is." The old man scrambled about and began to loose the tugs. "A bad road, eh, girls? And the bay with a colt at home!"
Oscar brushed the old man aside. "We'll take care of the horses, Ivar. You'll be finding some disease on them. Alexandra wants to see your hammocks."
Ivar led Alexandra and Emil to his little cave house. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Willa Cather, O Pioneers! — The Wild Land, III (1913)

“ Lou called. "We're going to Crazy Ivar's to buy a hammock."
"Sure." Carl ran up panting, and clambering over the wheel sat down beside Emil. "I've always wanted to see Ivar's pond. They say it's the biggest in all the country. Aren't you afraid to go to Ivar's in that new shirt, Emil? He might want it and take it right off your back."
Emil grinned. "I'd be awful scared to go," he admitted, "if you big boys weren't along to take care of me. Did you ever hear him howl, Carl? People say sometimes he runs about the country howling at night because he is afraid the Lord will destroy him. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Willa Cather, O Pioneers! — The Wild Land, III (1913)

“ They can only stand it there a little while--half an hour, maybe. Then they fall back and the wedge splits a little, while the rear ones come up the middle to the front. Then it closes up and they fly on, with a new edge. They are always changing like that, up in the air. Never any confusion; just like soldiers who have been drilled."
Alexandra had selected her hammock by the time the boys came up from the pond. They would not come in, but sat in the shade of the bank outside while Alexandra and Ivar talked about the birds and about his housekeeping, and why he never ate meat, fresh or salt. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Willa Cather, O Pioneers! — The Wild Land, III (1913)

“ They look this way and that, and far below them they see something shining, like a piece of glass set in the dark earth. That is my pond. They come to it and are not disturbed. Maybe I sprinkle a little corn. They tell the other birds, and next year more come this way. They have their roads up there, as we have down here."
Emil rubbed his knees thoughtfully. "And is that true, Ivar, about the head ducks falling back when they are tired, and the hind ones taking their place?"
"Yes. The point of the wedge gets the worst of it; they cut the wind. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Willa Cather, O Pioneers! — The Wild Land, III (1913)

“ Ivar ran his fingers through his thick hair. "I have many strange birds stop with me here. They come from very far away and are great company. I hope you boys never shoot wild birds?"
Lou and Oscar grinned, and Ivar shook his bushy head. "Yes, I know boys are thoughtless. ”

Willa Cather

Summary

Quotes from O Pioneers! — The Wild Land, III (Willa Cather)

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