All Mine to Give Page #2

- Oh, I'm sorry.

Well, what is it? What do you want?

I'm, uh, Robert Strong Eunson

and I'm ready for work, Mr. Cullen.

Well, and what kind of work

might you be ready for?

You said you'd use me as a chopper.

Oh, I did, did I?

And what did I say

I'd be paying you, Norsky?

Uh, twenty dollars a month.

But not to plough through the snow

all night and use up all your energy.

Can you give a good 13 hours' work

for the company?

I'd be much obliged

if you'd watch me, Mr. Cullen.

I'll do just that, Norsky.

Get one thing straight, Mr. Cullen.

I have no doubt

the Scandinavians are a fine race...

...but it just so happens I'm Scottish.

Stop telling me your family history

on the company's time.

The stand of timber's that way.

Half a mile.

Get an ax and keep your nose clean.

He's going to grow up

to be a great, big, strong man.

It's blowing up something.

The wind's from the north.

- Oh, Katie, Lela.

- I'm glad to see you.

I've, uh...

I've made you some scones.

Yes.

How is your?...

Nothing like a baby

in the house. They're so cute.

- My mother's recipe.

I know.

But when they get to be

about eight months. Oh, my.

I know it.

Then it's friends...

When they start...

Oh, yes.

- But then it's very sad.

Yes, of course, but...

When a child is about 10.

Oh, dear.

Where am I going to sit them?

My dear, when doctor and I

first came to the wilderness...

...we had only one chair.

Don't worry.

- Ladies, tea is ready.

- Oh, tea.

A hot cup of tea will be good

after that long walk.

- Yes.

- I should say.

Robbie, Robbie.

Is this a proper welcome

when I've walked 25 miles...

...because I was hungry

for the sight of you?

- Come here.

- Oh, no, Rob.

Rob, please, please. We've got company.

Oh, ladies, forgive me.

Congratulations again.

- Thank you.

- We had such a lovely tea time.

- Did you see my burly lad?

It's no problem, it's all right.

I'm so glad you joined us.

Oh, thank you, Mamie.

- Why, he favors me.

- And who has a better right?

Oh, what fine heavy pelts.

- They're lovely, aren't they, Mrs. Bradley?

- Oh, yes.

Oh, my husband

can get you a good price.

Well, thank you, Mrs. Bradley,

but these are not for sale.

I trapped them myself

near the lumber camp.

Excuse me.

Accept the gift

Though humble he who gives.

Rich is the tribute of the grateful mind.

In the immortal words of Bobbie Burns.

We've got to go.

- Yes, goodbye, Mamie.

You be careful, ladies.

Thank you. Be careful, it's quite a gale.

Say hello to your husbands,

and come back.

Hey, lass, what's the trouble?

The ladies are gone.

- That disgusting growth.

- Oh, 'tis nothing yet.

Wait till next time.

You'll scarce be able to see my face.

I will not kiss with a monkey.

But all the lumberjacks

grow something on their faces.

I did not marry with a lumberjack.

Now myself,

I deem it a handsome addition.

O wad some Pow'r the giftie gie us

To see oursels as others see us!

In the immortal words of Bobbie Burns.

Heh. Jo.

Aw, jo.

Jo, I have ached for you.

I have ached for you.

Rob.

- Is it time to go?

- Aye, lass.

But I'll never make it to camp

in this blizzard.

Then come back to bed.

The storm will keep you with me

for a while.

Aye, lass, aye.

But it keeps me from my job too.

I fret for you, Rob.

Oh? Why, jo?

Well, the ladies, they...

They tell me of a danger...

...of crashing trees and the flying axes.

The rough and violent men.

Why, lass, the lumberjacks

are only full of fun.

Oh, of course, they may scrap a little.

Well, the ladies tell me

that they thrive on fighting and brawling...

...and, Rob, I'm aware

of your terrible temper.

- Your only fault.

- Thank you, lass.

If you could just learn

not to use your fists.

I'll try, jo. I'll try, I'll do my best.

But that Irish...

...that Irish is just begging for trouble.

What do you suppose he'll be?

Well, born in America...

...could be president.

Would you be liking that? Hm?

Yes.

But more I'd like him to be a good man.

Like his father.

Come now, lass. Let's go to sleep.

- Rob?

- Mm?

Now what?

Could I learn to read?

What in Tophet for?

Well, I never thought on it in Fair Isle.

But here, most of the ladies

know how to read.

Aye...

I'm not so sure it's a good idea

for a female to know how to read.

Timber!

From then on, Mama and I

were alone most of our first winter...

...because Mr. Cullen

wouldn't give Papa time off.

You're aware, Norsky,

that the wild game belongs to the company?

The company owns the timber,

nothing else.

You calling me a liar?

- Lf the shoe fits.

- I ought to fire you for that.

Mr. Cullen, you can do anything you like.

I'll swallow my gorge and my self-respect

until my belly's aching with it.

And what do you propose

to do about it, Norsky?

That's... That's another thing.

Are you figuring on fighting the boss?

Aye, if he's not too much of a coward

to tangle with a Scot.

You're talking to an Irishman.

And now, Irishman,

if you'll be good enough...

...to instruct the paymaster

to hand me my March wages...

...I'll be turning my back on you.

Well, the river's breaking up.

We'll be starting the log drive

in a couple of weeks.

Well, it's no concern of mine.

I'll need a good jack on the sluice.

Well, I hope you find one.

You think you're man enough

to handle the job?

You can say that to me

while you're sitting there...

...with your tail wet in the snow?

Maybe you don't know

how dangerous the job is.

I've heard.

Of course,

the company will bury you if you get killed.

Scotty.

Oh.

It's Scotty now.

You know, I think you saved the boss

a trip to the dentist.

That same spring,

Mrs. Pugmister rang her cowbell again...

...and my brother Jimmie was born.

Named after Mama's brother James.

Papa was very proud.

Since Papa's trade was boatbuilding...

...Mama persuaded him to give up logging

and open his own boatyard...

...with money borrowed

from the Oshkosh Bank.

Oh.

Because she said

logging was too dangerous.

Mrs. Pugmister rang her cowbell again.

This time, for my brother Kirk.

Named after Mama's brother Kirk.

When I was 4 years old,

Mama and I started in school.

"Mr. Post and the Little Girl.

One cold night... "

That summer, Papa taught me

how to help in the boatyard.

Stroke the brush with the grain,

not against it.

That's it.

That's Mrs. Pugmister now, Papa.

Oh, no, Robbie, no.

She rings a bell.

Not for girls, she don't.

They named her Annabelle.

Mama had sisters also.

They named this one Elizabeth.

Now Mama's second sister

was taken care of.

Now that we were getting to be a family,

Papa had to enlarge the cabin.

He even made a fiddle for Kirk,

who couldn't fiddle too good.

Papa joked a lot and made us laugh.

It seemed like he was always there

when he was needed.

Do not laugh at your sister.

Will you stop it?

That's my new sister, Jane.

Named after another of Mama's sisters,

of course.

It was some time before Lizzie and Jane

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes