The new era., 1860-02-16
Life in the Woods.
No. 6.


the firm of the American Fur Company.
Trusty agent, obliging landlord, Indian
trader, he also added to his Offices that
of Postmaster, County Treasurer, ex-
3 Representative from Pokegoma, and
others too numerous to mention--in
short, he was man whom Office en-
phatically and continually sought. He
is at present Deacon of a church, ex-
proprietor and ex-editor Of Newspa-
and enterprising proprietor of the city
of West-Sauk Rapids, of which he is
as ya the sole occupant, but for the
future growth and magnifcence ofwhich
he entertains hopes as high as the stars,
and as immeasurable as the sands Of the
sea shore.
Well, from that dark and chilly even
ing, when we first became his guests,
Mr.. R never seemed stranger.
And from that day to this, has he always
evinced, in word and deed, that brother
ly regard and kindness, the more priced
and appreciated, because SO seldom is
it met with in this world of selfish in
tercst. His wife, a native of an island
in Lake Superior, and all the more in
teresting, as being connected partially
with the proud aboriginal race, was one
of those gentle, reticent women who
make acquaintance slowly, but whose
friendship, once gained, is worth more
than dozen ordinary friendships. Un-
like those, who, careless and unloving
of Home, sparkle in gay assemblies,
eager to attract the applause of world
lings and pleasures votaries, she, fitted
by nature and education to adorn socie-
ty, chose rather to make home her most
loved place and sphere, and to make it
an object of her highest ambition to be
deserving of that lofty praise, which the
great Preacher accords to woman, but
which she SO seldom fully wins
I" She openeth her mouth with wisdom,
and in her tongue is the law of kindness.
She looketh well to the ways of her
household, and eateth not the bread oil
idleness.
Her children arise up and call her
blessed her husband also, and he
praiseth her."
What we say Of Mrs. R, we as
cribe also, with equal truth, to her sister,
whom, with her husband and children,
we found resident, temporarily, of the
same family. More inclined to society,
we formed with the latter a more con-
slant intimacy, which has been great
pleasure throughout the several years OF
our residence in the new country. In
those early days, as since, and now. il
one was sick, it was the soft voice, and
gentle step, and presence of mind o.
these ladies, that eased the pain, took
from nauseous doses their bitterness
and brought hope to dependency.
We trust we shall be pardoned, fol
thus parading publicly the virtues o
dear friends Those who know them
will feel that we have but given express
sion to their own appreciation of them
while those at distance-who aciH have
it, notwithstanding our asseverations t.
the contrary, that we are passing life
among barbarians-willh have evidence
if'open to proof, that we find here, a
elsewhere, the gentle amenities ofsocia
life. if not all the glitter and tinselry in
cident to so-called polished society.
1t would be impossible to give th'
precise number Of individuals, VIII
dwelling in the same habitation wer
yet sheltered, paradoxical as it ma.
appear,by different roofs, and assembling
thrice daily around two long, home
manufactured tables in the capaciou
refectory. 1t was interesting to pause
and amid the clatter ofknives and forks
listen to the jargon oflanguage. Their
was the quick iabber of the French
the rough, not unpleasant brogue of tn
Irish, the broken English Of the Dutc
and Norwegian. the nasal tone !
our own native Yankee, and nj
unfre ouently the short and expressly
ejaculation of the Chippeway or VIII
nsbago. What all these people wei
there for. we never could and never d
understand. Many of them were en-
ployed as hands upon the large farm
Some as teamsters for the up-countr
others for "below." There was II
bostler and the boy of allwork. The
was the Clerk of the Court. and IL
Register Of Deeds. Occasionally Il
digniRed Judge of the District The