Burt Green
Little's Right-Hand Man
Burt Green is often included in the boys’ stories alongside William Little, whether it be providing support during war or hunting and trapping. Their relationship within the brothers' imaginary world is reflective of Arthur and Elmer’s relationship in reality. Elmer is the oldest brother involved in the imaginary world of the Nelson brothers, and it is pretty clear through studying the boys’ collective works that Arthur and Elmer were the driving forces of the world's historical accounts. Even though Elmer is the oldest, Arthur takes the lead when it comes to creating storylines, co-publishing periodicals together, and most importantly, ganging up on their youngest brother Walter over on Big Continent.
In a rudimentary book named Horse Rase, Elmer Nelson describes the relationship between him and his brother, along with their respective alter ego’s within their imaginary world. The section is titled, “V. A Few Great Authors and Their Stories.”
“There is Arthur Nelson who belongs to one of the world best writers there is four of the greatest of the worlds writers William Little, Elmer Nelson, Bert Green, and Arthur Nelson. Arthur Nelson is a great writer of history and adventure. There is Bert Green one of the worlds greatest authors he trapped 20 [years?] with with [sic] William Little he is a great writer in history adventure and home stories.”
Elmer’s immaturity is evident by his misspelling of “Bert” and repetitive statements, but his sincere appreciation for his younger brother Arthur is undeniable. At a very young age, the connection between these two brothers is starting to grow closer both in reality and within their literary works. Both Long and Round continents were a stones throw from eachother as well.
Burt Green, (No. 6)
Military Support
Burt Green comes to the defense of William Little during a battle outline in The History of Long Continent. This particular book was written by Arthur Nelson, and the story highlights the combined efforts of both leaders against Ethan Allen and Big Continent.
“William Little was not satisfied he went over to Round Continent and got Birt Green and three thousand soldiers then William Little and four thousand men started with Birt Green and his men to a talk Poplington but Eathan Allen met them first the Long Continenters drove Eathan Allen but Birt had his horse shot under him and then Eathan Allens men drove William forty Big Contineners were shot and one hundred of Wills and Birts men shot then again the Long Continenters drove the Big Continenters for Will and Bert had seven thousand and Eathan Allen only fore thousand but a gain they rushed at each other but the Long and Round Continenters could not stand any more so they broke and fled for the ship they got in and went of[f] amids the shouts [page break] of hurah for Eathan Allen has beat William Little”
Despite Arthur and Elmer's joint efforts to defeat their younger brother with a larger army, they realize their forces are not as strong as the "Big Continenters'." Arthur could have made William Little victorious in all his battles and had his alter ego at the center of each story, but he includes his older brother, Elmer, and cedes victory to his youngest brother, Walter. There are not many older brothers that would allow the youngest to win. Elmer and Arthur's generosity illustrate the genteel nature of the brothers and their closeness to each other. They were not in contention for dominance over one another or hungry for complete control over this imaginary world, rather they put aside their personal wants for the betterment of the world’s history and only wished to produce the best story.
On the contrary, Gazetteer of the World includes details of the "only battle that [William Little and Burt Green] had between themselves." This is another detail that illustrates the close relationship between Arthur and Elmer, noting that they both did not fight often--in both realms.
“United Divisions, F.C. [Forest Continent] Birch Valley was first discovered by William Little and Burt Green during about the only battle that they had between themselves. William was driving Burt, so Burt headed straight to the eastward and after three or four days hard sailing came in sight of land. He supposed he had gone around the world and had struck on the west coast of Big Continent but instead of that it was a new continent and Birch Valley was the first to be populated. First Farmington sprung up composed mostly of farmers who gathered in a village to protect themselves from the Indians then other cities sprung up. A piece of land on the coast was sold to Big Continent and received the name of Twin Pass. Then a piece of land was granted to a small party under the leadership of a man by the name of George Washington. These people were of a slightly different race from those then inhabiting this continent. Since then no land has been given or sold to any party outside of Burt Green’s and William Little’s nationality.”
The Trapper cover page
Collaborative Publishing
The Trapper is an unfinished publication by “Green & Little Publishers.” Both Arthur and Elmer produced the first number and volume of The Trapper together, including brief stories that tied into the periodical’s hunting theme.
The first story is titled “The Great Mountain Gold Mine”. The beginning of the story lays the foundation for an adventure to find their way home while on top of Great Mountain. The story references “my brother and I,” which is most likely representative of Arthur and Elmer. The imaginary characters write this particular story about the actual brothers, providing a complete opposite style of authorship than usual. This publication is one of many published by the two brothers under the “Green and Little” company name.
Birds of a Feather Flock Together
Burt Green and William Little are constantly presented alongside eachother in storylines, and there are also instances of the two characters doing very similar things. For example, "Bert" Green had “licked eight Indians at a time," just like William Little had. Burt Green’s wife, Ida Green, also writes poetry, just like Ella Little, wife of William Little.
The poem is included in the December 26, 1892 issue of The Pioneersman and focuses on fishing. Ida does not write seriously, which is a reflection of the boys responsible for writing the poem. The ending of the poem almost makes fun of the poem’s subject:
But we have wasted
Lot of time
Thinking of the brook
And this long rhyme…
So we say good by
with many thanks
please with your compliments
through all these pranks.
In Ida Green perhaps the boys were incorporating the personality of their own mother, Ida Farr Nelson.