Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1855-03-17
FROM IOWA.
PRAIRIE HONE, Benton Co.; 10y
Yours for truth,
JOSEPHINE S. GRIFFING

i UNIV SNJ AONH
DEAR FRIEND MARIus: l hastily take time to
pen q few lines to the readers of the Bugle:
1t does me good to let you know how the world
wags along with us, las many suppose in this be-
nighted region.
We have q beautiful country, with its boundless
prairies, lying in q succession of waves, like the
pillows Of the ocean, and almost nc4haustible fer
tility of soil, inviting the farmer to come where he
will be richly repaid for his toll. Our soil is of n
sandy loan, of from two to five feet in depth, and
it is truly astonishing with what rapidity it shoots
forth vegetation. l am confident things grow with
half the amount of labor that they do in eastern
Ohio. Besides, the soil will stand the drouth much
better.
We live near Big Grove, q body of 1900 acres
of rs good timber as there is in the State, of a
mixed variety-oak, black and white walnut, linn,
cherry, and soft elm-mostly very tall and straight
The country is well watered, we'll adapted to
stock raising, and especially sheep, as our winters
are not wet as they are in Ohio. We have not had
rain enough since winter set in to catch q tub of
rain water under the caves. And up to the LIST of
January, we had the most beautiful winter wealth
er | ever saw, in fact, winter could hardly be said
to have set in till after that time. Since then, it
has been more cold and clustering, generally clear,
hardly a day but what the sun has shonc, haze had
but very little snow. The coolest day we had, the
thermometer sunk to nineteen degrees below
zero.
1t is surprising how the land has been taken up
for the last six months. We came in July last,
and entered on the outskirts, and now there is not
a vacant quarter within ten miles of us, and
houses are springing up Xix magic over the prairie.
But enough of the country.
Methinks some one asks-"What is the society
like? ?" Why, it is composed of q mixed variety,
like the timber. But, he it said to the credit of the
place, there is Ito my knowledge but ono regular
built, dyed-in-thc-wool old bunker in the place.
and we have some hopes, however faint, of his re-
generation, as VIC have a debating club in success
fui operation, where such old fogies are handled
without.mittens. We have discussed some very
good questions, among which was woman's rights,
and as hunkerish as this man is, he he hadn't the
courage to come out and oppose that much needed
reform. Italmost amounted to q lecture, and the
subject was handled in q mastery manner by a
Mr.. Shuts, a very radical reformer from the State
of New York. l am rejoiced that Mr.. 8. is here
Would there were more like him. lie Is destined
to make his mark here. Our last question but one
was, Resolved, that the signs of the times indicate
a dissolution of the Union. 1t did me good to see
his earnest indignation of those peace-making ant
quiet-restoriug compromises. Oh, how doubly
felt the need of that gift that unfortunately l have
not got-a speaker. Yet l endeavored to show, n,
best / could, if the Union was worth the price
paid for it. Our bunker was very sensitive as re
CARDS that pink of villiany, the Fugitive Slave
Law. He didn't relish being made out worse thar
Judas.
No indeed, this is not the most benighted place
under the sun. Forty copies of the Tribune are
taken at this Office, which s%oonlwill pave the way
for something more radical. There is a paper jus
started at Vinton, called the Vinton Eagle, tina
claims independence on all subjects.
{ Mr.. Shuts informed me he was going to discns
woman's rights through its columns, with a Mr.
Dolfott, who has recently come in with his famil!
from Indiana.
But / see | am running on to a greater lengtl
: than / intended. Therefore l will stop right here
by saying that if anybody wants to come west t.
get them a good home in a healthy and prosperous
country, tell them to come here especially if the,
possess liberality and are not conservative.
Yours for Progression in the Far West.
Feb. 81, 1855. NJ. BRANIN.