The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1859-04-07
Don't get Discouraged.
BY MRS. F. d. GAGE.

"Oh, George don't get discouraged" said
sweet Carrie Linton, as she stood by her
husbands side one bright moonlight sum
Iner evening. II know the season has been
hard, and we have hal trial upon trial; but
We have had many blessings, too
81 should like to know what you call
blessings" said the moody husband, and
the chair tilted back against the log cabin.
"lIerc we have been toiling for the past
year and 4 half, on this bleak, miserable
prairie, not hill in sight, and the winds
sweeping US ten months in the year, like
tornadoes. Last year musthave the ague,
50 that could not tend to my corn, and the
drouth spoiled my wheat" m.
''Oh well, George, these things may never
happen again"
81 know, that's the way you always reas-
on. So you said last year, that luck would
change, and kept saying, Don't get discour-
aged Ifit hada't been for you. I'd have
quit last fall, and gone back to the old Onei-
da." 81 ,
"Anl what would you have done there,
George?" #7f#a- @.sassb
"Donc \ darnel sight better than I'll ever
do here, in this heathcn country!' was the
pettish and almost profanc reply of the
young farmer who had songht home for
himself and wife on the prairics of Illinois,
in the year 1S--. s. ..s
Carrie was hurt A tear sprang to her
eye, and quicker throb to her heart, but
she knew his mool might be changed, and
knew, too, that were sho to speak one des-
ponding word, he would give up utterly, and
insist upon returning again to the haunts of
his childhood, where his situation would on
ly be that Of a common laborer. She check
ed the rising emotion, and again answered
with tone Of cheerful encouragement and
mild reproof
"Oh, don't speak so, George know we
have not been very successful, but then we
arc settling in new country, and beginning
new life. We must struggle on, and not
-give up. After few years, our locust trees
viii break the wind, and the loss of one
planting Of corn or wheat, I hope will not
PROSTATE us as it does now"
"Rut how am ever to get where | can
help myselfe Corn spoiled, wheat blighted
and the COW lost in the prairies; the wolves
have killed my sheep, and now my best COW
must die. You talk Of BLESSINGS, but don't
and I'm determined to sell out to the first
white man that will take it, and then quit
the country"
us not this blcssing?' she asked, laying
growing baby boy, the very image of his
father, into his arms
The fathor smiled family; his heart was
really sad. The hardships, trials, and de-
privations ola new country, were more than
he could bear, but with his faint smile came
a low acknowledgement.
Eyes, Carrie, Dick is blessing"
sand is not Carrie blessines" she added
as she placed warm kiss Of affection upon
his brow.
"Aye, AMI Carrie is blessing" was his
response in lightcned tone.
"And is not good .alth blessins?'
Eyes, suppose SO" said he, almost laugh
sing
SAnd is not this soft, cool air, this mellow
*ponlight, and the star-spangled heavens, a
~lessings"
"Of course"
"See our beautiful garden; how softly it
sleeps in the moonlight Did you not tell
me the other day, that you never saw such
beets and cabbage, such onions and squash.