The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1852-11-27
THE MINNES0TIAN.

III u VI IN N u y " a N.
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Those who have lived in q woody country
can more fully appreciate the following thrill
ling sketch:
BURNING THE FALLOw.
BY MRS. NOODLE.
The winter and spring of 1884 had passed
away. The latter was uncommonly cold and
backward; so much so that we had very
heavy fall of snow upon the I4th and 18th q
May, and several gentlemen drove down to Co.
burg in sleigh, the snow lying upon the
ground to the depth of several inches.
Alate, cold spring in Canada is generally sue
ceeded by burning, hot summer and the sum-
mer OF '34 was the hottest ever remember
No rain fell upon the earth for many weeks. till
nature dropped and withered beneath one bright
blaze of sunlight and the ague and fever in the
woods, and the cholera in the large towns and
cities, spread death and sickness through the
country.
Noodle had made, during the winter, large
clearing of twenty acres around the house. The
progress of the workmen had been watched by
me with the keenest interest. Every tree that
reached the ground opened wider gap in the
dark wood giving us broader ray of light and
clearer glimpse of the blue sky. But when
the dark cedar swamp fronting the house fell
beneath the strokes of the axe, and we got first
view of the lake. my joy was complete; new
and beautiful object was now constantly before
me. which gave me the greatest pleasure By
night and day, in sunshine or in Storm water is
always the most sublime feature in landscape.
and no view can be truly grand in which it is
wanting. From child it always had the most
powerful effect upon my mind, from the great
ocean, rolling in majesty. to the tnkling forest
rll. hidden by the flowers and rushes along its
banks Half the solitude of my forest home
vanished when the lake unveiled its bright face
to the blue heavens, and saw sun, moon and
stars and waving trees reflected there. Iwould
sit for hours at the window, as the shades of ey-
enlng deepened round me, watching the massy
foliage of the forests pictured in the waters till
fancy transported me back to England, and the
songs of birds and the lowing of cattle were
sounding in my ears. 1t was long, very long.
before l could discipline my mind to learn and
practice all the menial employmonts which are
necessary in good settlers wife.
The total absence of trees about the doors in
all new settlements had always puzzled me- in
country where the intense heat of summer
seems to demand all the shade that can be pro-
cured. My husband had left several beautiful
rock-elms (the most picturesque tree in the
country near our dwelling, but, alas! the first
high gale prostrated all my fine trees, and left
our log cottage entirely exposed to the fierce
rays OF the sun. The confusion of an unclear
fallOw spread around us on every side huge
trunks OF trees and piles of brush gave Uttered
and uncomfortable appearance to the locality.
and as the weather had been very dry for some
weeks, l heard my husband daily talking with
his choppers as to the expediency of firing the
fallow. They still urged him to wait little
longer till he could get breeze to carry the
fire well through the brush.
Business called him suddenly to Toronto. but
he left strict charge with old Thomas and his
sons who were engaged in the job, by no means
to attempt to burn it off till he returned, as he
wished to be upon the premises himself, in case
of any danger He had previously burned all
the heaps Immediately about the doors. While
he was absent, old Thomas and his second son
fell sick with the ague, and went home to their
own township. leaving John, a surly obstinate
young man, in charge of the shanty where they
slept and kept their tools and provisions Mon
Afghan had sent to fetch up my three COWS, as
the children were languishing for milk, and
Mary and l remained alone in the house with
the little ones. The day was sultry, and to-
wards noon strong wind sprang up, that roar
ed in the pinetOps like the dashing of distant
billOws, but without in the least degree abatng
the heat. The children were lying listlessly
upon the floor for GOODNESS, and the girl and
were finishing sun-bonnets, when Mary sudden
ly exclaimed:
Bless us, mistress, what smoke!''
ran Immediately to the door, but was not
able to distinguish ten yards before Inc. The
swamp Immediately below us was on fire, and
the heavy wind was driving dense, black
cloud of smoke directly towards U.S.
"What can this mean?" / cried "Who can
have set fire to the fallow?"
AS l ceased speaking, John Thomas stood
pale and trembling before me.
John, what is the meaning of this fre:'
80, ma am, hope you will forgive me it
was set fire to it, and l would give all have
in the world if 1 had not done it.'
What is the danger!''
80, Pm terribly afeard that we shall all be
burnt up" said the fellow, beginning to whim-
per.
"Why did you run such a risk, and your mas
ter from home and no one ON the place to rem
der the least assistance? ~
IL did it for the best" blubbered the lad,
'what shall we dO?'
"Why, we must get out of it as fast as " e
can. and leave the house to its fate
''We can't get out said the man. in low.
hollow tone.-which seemed the concentration of
fear; 81 would have got out of it if l could /;
but just step to the back-door, ina am, and
see."
l had not felt the least alarm up to this min
ute had never seen fallow burnt, but | had
heard of it as a thing of such common occur
renee that had never connected with it any
idea of danger. Judge then, my surprise, my
horror, when, on going to the back-door saw
that the fellow, to make sure of his work, had
fired it in fifty different places. Behind, be-
fore, on every side, we were surrounded by a
wall of fire, burning furiously within hundred
yards of us, and cutting off all possibility of
retreat; for could we have found an opening
through the burning heaps, we could not have
seen our way through the dense canopy of
smoke ; and buried as we were in the heart of
the forest no one could discover our situation
till we were beyond the reach of help. closed
the door and went back to the parlor. Fear
was knocking loudly at my heart, for our utter
helplessness annihilated all hope of being able
to effect our escape-I felt stupefed The girl
sat upon the floor by the children, who uncon-
scious of the peril that hung over them had
both fallen asleep. She was silently weeping :;
while the fool who had caused the mischief was
crying aloud.