Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1837-02-24


A plate oftin looks as bright at distance rs
one Of silver
Near Chicago, ---, 1896
Provisions here are low in comparison
TO what they were last winter. Butter is
from 10 10 20 cents per pound, and plenty,
and every thing else is so in the eating line.
The climate is quite cold here, much more
so than at Litch6eld or New York State
The summer is very short. do moi know
whether il is best 10 be sorry that we have
come here or not We talk some Of going
south. We feel quite dissatisfied with the
country here. Lumber is 40 dollars thous.
and. A poor man can hardly afford floor
to his log cabin. We live on a road where
from twenty to thirty market wagons. loaded
with flour. butter, corn meal. oats. &c. pass
iron south to Chicago) every day. Reason
teaches US that where these articles grow is
better than to stay here. where ii is so cold
that oats can't grow more than,a foot high,
and not get ripe at all. We have been dis
appointed in coming here.
In this country every house, cabin, or
wigwan is a tavern, Al least the wearied
traveller thinks it very hard il when he gets
to house he cannot &c, something to eat by
paying for it,
"Ofien inthe still hour Of midnight do my
thoughts wing their way to my sisters bed
side, and there ] fancy myself administering
to her wants; at other times am by our pa
rents hreside listening to the voice OF nstruc-
ton and prayer, which long since became
silent but alas! in the morning it is all a
dream. and | find myself in our little log
cabin. which is 10 by l6 ieet-only one
room. | have in 1.-TWO beds, bureau, nine
chairs, table, chest TO keep luncheon in.
a barrel of -four, stove, three shelves for
dishes, besides the trundle bed and chest OF
two under the other beds We have one
window with six lights on the west side, and
a hole cut through the logs on the south.
with an old rug hung up before j, on rainy
days The remainder of the light creeps
through the crevices between the logs A
son OF floor we have overhead made of loose
rough boards. which is accessible by a roug..
ladder--[no cellar, no chambers, no closet,
- no well--and this is happiness in the
Vest
Our children have not been TO school a
day since they have been in this country. and
If we remain where we are they never can
unless we are able 10 have them boarded in
town. Ihave not attended public worship
since left the State Of ~ York (lsmonths
since) | do not wish to have mother come
here; il is too cold, and she could never go
TO meeting. or have any society of any con-
sequence. five move SOUTH hope we shall
be difepenlly situated in this respect
"The wind here is
piercing, When blowing its highest gale
on Litch6eld OF Goshen hills. can hardly be
compared with our every day breezes here,
| must confess that am somewhat homesick,
To me, who was brought upamong the hills
and woods and among pleasant neighbors,
an uninhabited prairie has but few charms
A little prairie land is very convenient, but
has an ocean prairie where there
IS no object upon which the lone traveller
IAN fix his eye; no object whittier to direct
MS steps2 would almost as soon take up
ny abode with the tempest.tost mariner as to
hink Of living on such a place Yet this is
! correct description Of a great part of the
ar.famed Illinois"