The new era., 1860-03-01
Life in the Woods.
No. s,

/
eral survey of the surroundings. There
was fine garden in the rear of the
Agency House, the vegetables in which
would have astonished us for their size,
had we not already become acquainted
with the wonderful adaptation of Mime
sofa soil to the growth of these coarser,
but substantial articles of food. During
our stay at St. Anthony, we had enjoyed
a delightful visit to Fort Smelling, where,
among many rare and new things which
pleased US, we toook promenade in
the common garden. 1t consisted, we
believe, of an eighty acre lot, cultivated
to perfection, and devoted to vegetables
alone. Soldiers were at the time gath
ering in their harvests. 1t was beau
tiful sight. Immense piles of each
variety were stacked at little intervals
of distance. Beets and turnips of the
size of hat-crowns, cabbage heads meas
uring yard across, vines still crimson
and golden with clusters of tomatoes,
served to heighten our impression that
the beautiful scenery Of Minnesota was
by no means its sole attraction. So, tho
this solitary garden, mid the wilds of
prairie and woodland, compared to that
at the Fort, was but as a moIe-hill to the
mountain, it was yet equal to those gar
dens in Kentucky, which were consid-
cred SO fine and fourishing. Melons,
we were told, had been raised that sea-
son in perfection and abundance. Of
the potato we had heard at St. Louis
that of Minnesota production being
there the favorite, and in great demand
A New England barn upon the pre-
m'ses. but newly completed, brought US
to the inevitable conclusion that a Yam
kee had there found employment; which !
proved to be correct.
There was no sign in glittering letters
suspended upon pole. or paraded over
the principal entrance or elsewhere, to
show the weary traveller that here at
this house he could find refreshment and
repose. Such would have been, in fact,
superfuous, for in those days every house
upon the territorial road for hundreds of
miles was "Home for the weary" We
do recollect one poor little apology for
shanty, down at Coon Creek, which
published to the world its hospitality, by
means of a shingle over the door, on
which was scrawled in hierogIyphics
by dint of perseverance,
g Kali and c." We bowed our head
down once to enter in at the door
way-but we were not 10th to humble it
again for making final exit. To such
a distinction then as a sign, this Agency
house made no pretenton. The ex-
treme apex however of one of its gables
was distinguished by the branching
horns Of a deer. Stove pipes issued
from the patchwork roof in such multi
plicity as would have puzzled even an
expert Mathematician for chimneys of
any description in Benton County were
among the.things which were not. One
Of the additions Of which we spoke in a
former number, comprised the "Mens'
room," where congregated for a long
time anerward, especially of Sundays,
the working men of the locality, in red
Jackets and calico roundabouts. Along
side Of this, was the store, filled mostly
with Indian goods and trinkets, leaving
space sufficient for the Sauk Rapids
Postofice, honorcd by city papers and
gentlemanly editors magazines, which.
upon reception, were carefully slowed
away in letter-box of respectable di-
respectable we conclude
it was-notwithstanding it was termed
by some an old 6" candle box" Among
the half-story chambers, one had served
as a Court Room, at an earlier day than
we wot of. At the time we speak Of,
this room was the office of the Clerk cf
the District Court, fanked upon one
side, by the Office of Register of Deeds.
and on the other by double row of six
by six bed rooms. some of them lighted
by small windows, others "with only
darkness visible" A few rods distant
was the then present Court Hose, con-
structed of logs, whitewashcd without
and within. 1t was somewhat less than
twenty feet square-the Judges bench
being of rough boards covered with
substantial Indian blankets. Behind