The Iowa transcript. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1858-1866, 1862-07-24
Picture 1st.
PRAIRIE uoME-FAREwELT.

see cottage in prairie land
brown and Iowa poor mans humble
home. The vines Of the wild cucum-
Der arch its windows, and morning
glorics grow by the door In the little
box on the caves the bluc-birds make
their home. Every Spring they come
to build there. A grove Of quaking
aspens ward off the chilling north winds
Of winter, and two spreading locusts
shade it from the burning sun Of sum
mer. Near at hand is the byre and
sheds for the brute inhabitants Of the
farm. Rooted with wild grass Of the
prairics, they arc in keeping with the
masters unpretcnding abode. On
every side, far away roll the prairie
waves till lost in the level Of distance.
One mile eastward is seen the house
Of one nc;ghbor; southwark, and far
off, the dim outlines Of ofano,hcr--hamble
cots, both. In the first lives "ncighbor
Dean" How bright the humble farm.
er's home the blue eyes Of his daugh-
ter Zura light it! In the second, a
newly mated pair, far away from all
neighbors, are building up home.
The declining sun burns red in the
smoky west. A soft breeze steals
across the FIRE blackened pillows Of the
plains, scarce lifting the ash fades
from their crests. The wild hens call
to each other from their coverts in
hills. In struggling line
the cattle are following the familiar
homc.lcadine trail. Timid deer rise
from their lairs in the hazel and gaze
timidly about. Cawing crows wing
heir straight course to solitary groves.
by their shrill ont.cry wakcning the
dozing cat owl to fit on noisless wing
in search Of his evening meal. Fearful
rabbits are bold to play at hide and
seek near tho travelled roads, and qnails
call and answer in the dusky thickets
About the farmhouse everything tells Of
the nearness Of night. The pigs in
their pens, are clammoring to be fed !;
the horses neigh in their stalls, the hun
cry sheep bleat neutrality-suspicious. are
flutterlng to reach their roosts, the pig.
cons COO about tie caves. Distant
sounds seem ncar-thc baying Of the
FAR OF watch dog is heard, and the
voice Of tho ncighbor calling to his
cows seems near at hand.
Nov, 1t last, the farmers day Of toll
10 ended !; night, not less black than the
,,harred bosom Of the prairie, rests on
the land. Still. all is not dark. Away
westward CLEANS : long crimson line
Of prairie.6re; ever aud anon this line
Of dull crimson is eniivencd by brighter
flashes, where the forked tongues Of
flame lick the intervening ridges; dane
ing along the dusky line, now eingly.
now in files, they seem blazing demons
Of destruction exulting in their power.
In other quartere-north, south, east
the clouds and sky glow with the faint.
er red Of more distant fires. On some
near ridge are heard the shrill yelps q
. band Of prairie wolves, fired off ia q
rattling volley, like the wild cries q
study y-weary children rushing out from
. school room to play. and the fa;nte'
answering ululation Of more distan'
packs. This is night on the wild prai
ries Of the West.
| 'ris night on the prairics. 3nt to
night they are sad at the farm house.-
The red eyes Of the good woman tel
tales OF late weeping, and the good mas
ter is silent. He we'll knows why hi
good wife's heart is full-knows wei
why her eys are drowned in tears.
j The old couple are now alone.-
Three cons and two daughters-chi
dren fair as the dawn Of the mornin