Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1863-05-07

noo d SViioni oaUlu SuoCICl tHolI eyes,
between the two termini of the road.
That was somewhere about the time that
the brave "Old Zack" was in command of
the old fort at Prairie du Chen and the
bold bad young Lieut.. Jeff. Davis won
his daughters hand and heart, much
against the veterans will, within its walls.
But ages before that, amightier hand
had laid out this ridge, extending $50
miles (N E.) across our State, as high,
dry and plain route for the wild tribes of
the west and almost entirely free from
rivers, fords and rocks. The oldest track
is worn down from one to three feet, while
on each side the smooth sod is covered
with parallel roads, and in wet weather,
to width of ten rods. In places there is
hardly fence or farm to be seen, and
we keep the old road: then we enter long
"lanes" (every fenced road is called a
lane.) and drive for miles upon the Sec
tion lines between splendid farms. young
orchards and good houses 1t is contrary
to squatter Sovereignty to let road run
across a farm, diagonally. Hence the
roads are forced out of their natural
courses, viz lcngthaoise the ravines and
ridges, and must follow the section lines
across them, presenting an eternal series
of ups and downs. This is one of the
most uncharitable of western customs. If
one wishes to 60 N. E. ten miles across a
thick settled prairie, he must take zig
gag course, going North seven miles and
East seven miles, crossing low ridges all
the time.
1t is now the very perfection of spring
weather: warm, dry and breezy and as
we wind along the the northern edge of
Long Prairie, on such day, we contrast
the condition of the thousands of early
settlers who have trod that path before US,
with that of the millions of free and
happy people who shall yet, in the full
ness of time, come after u.s. Every sports
man knows how easy it is to find game
when without his gun. Thus was it with
US. All kind of game came unscared
within half gun-shot, Pigeons sat in clust-
ers on the great oaks; rabbits rolled in
the dust ahead of us, and cautercd daint-
lily out of our way; happy families of
quails trip along in the underbrush the
lone lean spindling plover whistled all
around; meadow larks and woodcocks
abound; the pheasants (or, in Yankee
dialect, PatridgeS) sat unmoved by the
very roadside, in the woods, Or drum.
med upon their logs, even as VIC
passed. while on the high prairie
swells strutted large coveys of prairie
hens, not caring enough for our approach
to rise from the ground, and seeming y
feeling that their lives were insured by
the State till August by the five dollar
penalty against killing them. But the sur
sinks like ball of fire below the level
horizon. and leaves us five miles from
Wingville, where we were to pass the night
Soon after dark we decend hill and
find at it's foot, for the second time that
day, brook. Beside this stands huge
barn, and little above looms up against
the woods, mansion of the composite or.
der of architecture. 1t consists Of two
ancient two-story log houses side by side
joined by one-story addition between.
alight and rap. No lights appear
Hello are you all asleep?' mo sir
what 'ye want ?" replies Hiberian voice
whose owner soon protrudes his curly red
head from the door. 'Is this hotel p
"Yes sir, it is, sir" "Then we'll have
to take supper and lodging with
you" After seeing the load secured, and
the horses made happy, we enter, mean
while observing to H. in a whisper, "My
boy, judge not by outside appearances; fol
I have often had splendid accommodation!
at these log taverus, which seem to prom
ise poorly The furniture of this vas
log pile was of the value Of three or foul
dollars and half; consisting ] think o.
one stove, two tables, three chairs, (broken,
four or five plates and a handful Of othel
necessaries. When we entered, the dis
NAL looking landlady (who, like q grea