The Prairie Wife, Arthur Stringer

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by Arthur Stringer · 1874–1950

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"The Prairie Wife" by Arthur Stringer is a novel written in the early 20th century. The story follows the life of Chaddie, a young woman who finds herself navigating the unexpected complexities of marriage and life on a prairie ranch after marrying Duncan Argyll McKail, the so-called "Other Man," instead of her previous romantic interest, the sophisticated Theobald Gustav. As Chaddie chronicles her experiences, the narrative paints a vivid picture of the challenges and emotional upheavals she encounters while adapting to her new surroundings. The opening of the novel introduces us to Chaddie's lively voice as she pours out her thoughts in a letter to her friend Matilda Anne. Filled with humor and introspection, Chaddie's correspondence reveals her mixed feelings about her marriage and her new life on the prairie, where she grapples with feelings of loneliness and the stark reality of her new home. The narrative juxtaposes her earlier glamorous life with the hard work and humble nature of her current existence, highlighting her struggles and growth. As she details her initial adventures and encounters, including a humorous incident involving her duck-gun, we are offered a glimpse into her resilient spirit as she learns to embrace the realities of prairie life.

Summary generated automatically by Project Gutenberg.

Read time
247 min
Words
54,259
Chapters
6
Paragraphs
616
Price
Free
  • Canada -- Fiction
  • Frontier and pioneer life -- Prairie Provinces -- Fiction
The Prairie WifeTHE PRAIRIE WIFE

I have been practising like mad learning to play the mouth-organ.

He estado practicando como una loca aprendiendo a tocar el armónica.

I bought it in Buckhorn, without letting Dinky-Dunk know, and all day long, when I knew it was safe, I've been at it.

La compré en Buckhorn, sin que Dinky-Dunk lo supiera, y todo el día, cuando creía que era seguro, he estado tocando.

So to-night, when I had my supper-table all ready, I got the ladder that leaned against one of the granaries and mounted the nearest hay-stack.

Así que esta noche, cuando ya tenía preparada la mesa para la cena, tomé la escalera que apoyada contra uno de los graneros y subí al heno del fardo más cercano.

There, quite out of sight, I waited until Dinky-Dunk came in with his team.

Allí, completamente fuera de la vista, esperé hasta que Dinky-Dunk entró con su equipo.

I saw him go into the shack and then step outside again, staring about in a brown study.

Lo vi entrar en la choza y luego salir de nuevo, mirando a su alrededor absorto en sus pensamientos.

Then I struck up Traumerei.

Entonces empecé a tocar Traumerei.

You should have seen that boy's face!

¡Deberías haber visto la cara de ese chico!

He looked up at the sky, as though my poor little harmonica were the aërial outpourings of archangels.

Miró hacia el cielo, como si mi pobre armónica fuera la efusión aérea de los arcángeles.

He stood stock-still, drinking it in.

Se quedó completamente inmóvil, bebiendo la música.

Then he bolted for the stables, thinking it came from there.

Luego corrió hacia los establos, pensando que el sonido venía de allí.

It took him some time to corner me up on my stack-top.

Tardó un buen rato en acorralarme en lo alto de mi fardo.

Then I slid down into his arms.

Entonces me deslicé a sus brazos.

And I believe he loves that mouth-organ music.

Y creo que le encanta la música del armónica.

After supper he made me go out and sit on the oat-box and play my repertory.

Después de cenar me hizo salir y sentarme en la caja de avena para tocar mi repertorio.

He says it's wonderful, from a distance.

Dice que es maravilloso, desde la distancia.

But that mouth-organ's rather brassy, and it makes my lips sore.

Pero ese armónica es bastante chillón, y me deja las labios doloridos.

Then, too, my mouth isn't big enough for me to "tongue" it properly.

Además, mi boca no es lo bastante grande para «tonguearla» correctamente.

When I told Dinky-Dunk this he said:

Cuando le dije esto a Dinky-Dunk, él dijo:

About the author

Arthur Stringer1874–1950

Arthur Stringer was a Canadian-born novelist, poet, and screenwriter who later became a resident of the United States.

The Arthur Stringer page, and where to start →

Questions about The Prairie Wife

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Book details

Original language
English
Translation
Spanish, machine translation
Source text
Project Gutenberg #18875
Licence
Public domain worldwide

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