"Oline? How is it with her?"
"She's none so poorly. Where will your husband be now?"
"He'll be at work in the fields somewhere."
"They say he's not bought yet," says the Lapp carelessly.
"Bought? Who says so?"
"Why, 'tis what they say."
"But who's he to buy from? 'Tis common land."
"Ay, 'tis so."
"And sweat of his brow to every spade of it."
"Why, they say 'tis the State owns all the land."