The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1850-02-26
Western Correspondence.
NUMBER FIVE.

Hdidn Hunicrs-Frud Country Wages
/ Of 7eachers- Want Of LaJorers-Mnket
for Cattle, Sheep and WOOL
YouNG's PRAIRIE, Cass Co. Michigan.
There is an ecsiacy of pleasure, at
times, in a stroll along the margin Of "A
beautiful and placid Lake-in ram
bling walk in the shadowy forests-not
along the beaten gravel path formed by
the art Of man, but among the wild un>
trodden copses--ihe inuermost shrines
where the spontaneous vegetation of
nature unfolds its beauties-where the
wild birds Of ,he.woods tune their pipes
to pleasing melody, and the widest
flowers blow, undstufbed aud unseen,
in the solitude of the sequestercd shades
and where, on every side. works lie
giving energy, clothing the forest and
the earth with the freshest beauty aud
bloom. Surely,
There isa pleasure in the painless woods,
And on the lonely shore"
The climate of the west is proverbially
adapted to the growth Of wild flowers.
They blossom and flourish in spring time,
with all the luxuriance Of hot hoIse.
Many of the house plants, that are cul-
tivaied with great care at the east, there
grace the fields and woodlands, and vie
in beauty with domesticlted plants. OF
their great variety and number, we have
often heard but never before saw such
an endless profusion of wild flowers, as
every where greeted our vision. As
late as July, we made up boquet, that
was extremely beautiful. To the lovers
of flowers, the west affords sufficient to
feast the eye to safety. Thousands of
acres bloom in elysian beauty in fields
untrodden by the white man. Yes,
"Many flower, is born to blush unseen,
And waste its sweetness, on the desert air"
After perambulating several counties
in the eastern and central parts of the
state, in most Of which there are large
quantities of land, unchdrcd, owned aud
held by spectators, through much Of
which lay our way, deHghtfui as ii pas,
we were nevertheless ready to greet a
change in the scenery and face Of the
country. We refer to the prairies.
One Of the most striking features, in
the geography Of the western states, is
the prairies or natural meadows. These
are lnnumerable plains, often stretching
10 every direction farther than the eye
can reach, entirely destitute of trees,
aud covered aith grass and wild flowers.
d 'Eba.o . e
couu,ry, north of the Ohio and west of
the Mississippi siording pasturage to
countless herds of the buffaloes, deer,
aud other wild animals When the grass
has been parchcd and dried by the heat
of summer, it sometimes takes fire, and
a sea of flame is swept by the wind, o.
yer these vast plains, spreading, i. is
SAID, more swiftly than the heetest hor-
ses can run before il. A holder and
more impressive figure Of the last con-
nagralion cannot be conceived than a
prairie on fire. These natural meadows
extend up into the southern part of
Michigan, of which there are several
known by the names Of Bronson's, Stur-
gIs's, Cooks, White-pigeon, Round,
Gull, Youngs, d &c. These vary in
extent, from 5000 TO 5000 acres. The
land Is usually fertile. owing no doubt
to the yearly accumulation of vegetable
mould upon its surface, for vast num-
ber of years. The origin of these vas;
pralries, which in Illinois are so exten-
sive that they are without names, the
groves being named instead. is not yet
: satisfactorily accounted for. The most
common sense opinion however. I've
ihink), is, that it is the work Of fire
aud that they have been kept from q
re-growth Of timber, by the same cause
1t is true that this solution of the mat
ter has its difficulties, but we think les,
than any other. If il is attributed tC
; the agency Of water, or to drainage, tht
query arises, why are lands Of the same
altitude of surface excepted 7 If it il
attributed to the direct agency Of the
Deity, creating them thus, and presery'
ing them in this condition, the truthiu
objection arises, ale works not by par
tal but by general laws" In short, Tho
subject is wrapt in mystery, and doubt
less will long remain a question, afford
ing deep interest to speculative and phil
osophlc minds.
Young's Prairie is one Of the mos
, fertile of any we have seen. 1t is sur
rounded by hill Of heavy-timbereC
land, of beech, birch, and maple, in
stead of oak.openlngs--which is very
unusual. This belt furnishes fire. wood
and timber for large number Of far
mers living on the prairie. II is settled
principally by Quakers from Ohio and
the older states. We were somewhat
amused, by a reply made by one of Iheil
number, to presbyterian minister, who
was soliciting provisions for dinner
To be furnished for the benefit Of a new
church, on which rested small debt
The clergyman asked of the clever Qua,
ker, pig. The disriple of Geo. Fox,
as though dwelling upon the past, looks
ed for a moment upon the man in black
aud then said "Thee knowesi that the
Presbyterians hung the Quakers but
the Quakers ought not TO hang the Pres
5ylerians thee may have a pig. " The
pig was furnished, and the minister de-
parted, smarting with the rebuke of the
honest Quaker.
The woodlands, skirting these pra'-
ries, abound in deer and other game,
which are hunted by remnant tribes Of
Indians, who still cherish love f'r their
old hunting grounds. One day, party
/ pnfarp1 tnNn unOn fhplr nnntps all