The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-06-16
NO. 337.

But, Rose, when you look around you at
the countless millions of flowers left blooming
nay | mean to say, when you think of the
countless millions of trees left standing
does 1t not give you an exultant sense Of tho
exhaustless wealth, the houndless resources, OF
our prairies and forests ~
Il know something inspires me with unllmit-
ed hope Just now. There is, certainly, as far
as the comforts and eleganccs Of civilized life
are concerned, a look Of great privation in the
village and among the people We have Just left
And yet-and yet-whethcr it is because the
inhabitants are mostly young and full of health
and hope, or that the houses are all new, or
that the primeval wealth and exuberance OF
nature is not only undimnished, but almost
untouched whether it is any or all OF these
causes, do not know, but certainly to me there
Is about this country an air of youth, vigor.
hope, promise, unlimited, indcscrbable feel
Its influence, without being able to explain it.
1t seems to me that here, the age, the weari-
ness, and the sorrow of the old world has been
left behind. That this is breaking ont in q
new place, or rather that this country and
people, and we ourselves, are new creation,
fresh from the hand of God, and with a new
promise Let US be faithful to our part of the
covenant Oh, let us he faithful, let no sin, self
ishness, injustice OF ours, cause us to lose the
glorious promise l"
pressure OF the hand at once approving.
kind, and warning, from Mark Sutherland re-
minded Rosalie that they were not alone And
at the same instant the sprightly eyes Of the
girl lighted upon a large, speckled bird, stand
ing still, almost in their road
What beautiful bird What is it, inauir
cd Rosalie
It's q prairie chicken. Now, want YOU
just to take notice o that creetur; it won't
take the trouble to move--you'll see" said the
man, driving slowly past, and leaving the bird
behind them, standing still
They must be very tame, said Rosalie
No they amt nyther, but they'v We got heap
o sense. We are driving. Now, If had q
been afoot with gun, or anything that looks
like gun to tt-say n stick-why, it would
a-taken wing in minute I've took notice of it
often and often. Same case with deer-itl
stand right still and look at you going past
with your team; but only just let it catch its
eyes on you when you're walking long o your
gun, aud it's off in an instant Well knowing
OF that, you see, | often just quietly lays my
gun down in the bottom of the wagon, to be
ready for the creeturs"
In desultory talk like this which neverthe-
less gave our young immigrants some little in
passed over The three miles of intervening prai-
rie land, and entered VOLTS Grove.
Wolfe's Grove was not what its name indi-
cated-an isolated piece of woods, similar to
those that at wide intervals dotted the prairie
it was rather portion of that vast, unbroken,
intermnable forest projecting here into the
open prairie like point of land into the sea
but stretching back and back hundreds of
miles, and even to the banks of Lake Superior
Here the old primeval forest trees were of g-
gantic, almost fabulous, size, but thinly scat
tered, and standing singly apart like the out
posts of n vast army.
Half Il mile within the Grove, where the
trees were thicker stood the cabin originally
| built for school and meeting house. by the
| first settlers. There was not wood shed n
fence, fruit.tree, nor foot Of cultivated
ground around it nor house, nor a field
within three miles of it,
Mark Sutherland and Resale alghted, and
entered the house, while the driver secured
his horses and gave them water. The cabin
was unusually large and well built being near
ly thirty feet square, and constructed Of hugo
logs, well hewn and well cemented The
cabin fronted south, where one door admitted
into the only room opposite this door, in the
north wall, stood the large open fireplace.
The room was lighted by two windows, 'front.'
ing each other east and west The floor was
well laid and a stop.ladder in the corner, be-
tween the fire. place and tho east window, led
up to loft The house was in good repair,
with the single exception of tho broken win
dows.
"A very different abode from that YOU have
left, for my sake, dear Rosalie and yet il you
only knew, IA ! do, how much better this is
| fhap 9TH 10 l.,
where! Why, Rose, it is a palace, compared
to someo
al know it is; and | only wonder that it has
been left SO long untenantod, while the mean
est novels have been oil taken up"
why, you see, my dear, this house il tol
remote from the village for any one but
farmer, and as it stands upon the reserved
school lands, of course no farmer can cultivate
the ground"
"Will 1t not be too far for y0u?"
With me it is different. like 10 walk
and do not grudge my steps. The three miles
walk morning and evening will do me good
Nay, more that exercise will be necessary
relief from the sedentary life of the Office. Nv
only anxiety will be in leaving yon here alone,
all day. Will you DO very lonesome dear -
Lonesome | don't know should be
Lonesome dnyphere without you, Mark. But
that is a very foolish weaknes and must 10
overcome, Of course
{" But will you BIO afraid to say here all day
long alone 2"
Afraid OF whati Why shou a be Is
there any cause Of fearfp
No. dear; no cause for fear but as Emilia
said of jealousy, one might say ofi.ar
That fearful souls will not be aHst, ned 50
They are not ever fearful for
Hut fearful for they are fearful 49,
"WelI, | nm not afraid with on without "a
cause. A hare would not be afraid in this
quiet place said Resale, going to one Of the
Windows, and looking out into the waving
woods.
How still-how very still-no sound to be
heard but the rustic Of tho leaves and the rip
pie OF water, that must DO near,n she continu-
cd, looking from the window, while Mark walk
ed about the room and made notes of glass,
putty, door-latch and such little matters that
would be needed to be brought out with their
furniture. Then they went out where the
driver stood watering his horses, and where
the only sign Of previous human presence was
afforded by tho barrow grass-grown path lead
ing down into deep dinge, where the ripple
Of water was heard
of you'd like q drink, there's one Of the
finest springs in the whole country down
there" said the landlord taking tin cup from
the wagon and handing it Mark Roealie was
already going down the path. They reached
the spring, and found the water cold and clear
as crystal They drank, and congratulated
themselves upon this great blessing and then
went up to the cabin, and as their host was in
hurry to be Of they entered the carryall to
return 10 the village.
Well, are you going to take II p" asked the
driver, looking around AS he took tho rcins and
started.
"Why, Of course. had already taken it.n
81 knowed that but thought when she saw
how lonesome it was, she'd object. Tains
many women-I can tell you that--who'd agree
IN 1.-Two out there by than aelvca i'm that l,na