Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1866-10-27

my own great interests involved, cher
ished the most sanguine faith in the fu-
ture greatness Of this embryo city,
On over the praircs, as vet undisturbed,
made my way lightly and hopefully
The wild roses seemed more beautiful
than the choicest flowers Of the garden
Ny pTepossessions. and the investments
had made. and the coloring which my
enthusiastic friend had given rendered it
impossible for me not to admire every
thing I saw and approve everything /
heard.
l went back with brow radiant with
satisfaction. The bow Of promise seem
ell to span the heavens over head Mag
nifcent schemes Of enlarging and i'm
proving my possessions haunted the i'm
agination and quickened the pulsations
Of the heart. l should be a farmer on
q great AMI liberal scale. Golden har-
vests should wave in hundred fields.
An army Of workmen, with teams and
implements, should ba hurrying to and
fro, breaking aud subduing the virgin
soil. In fact. l should be n leading far
mer,-introduce the most improved ma
chirery. and teach, both by theory and
practice, the best methods of huebandry.
But alas for air castles
d" This is the state Of man: To-day he puts
forth
The tender leaves of hope, tomorrow blossoms,
An bears his blushing hOnors thick upon
him;
The third day. comes frost, killing frost !;
And when lac thinks, good easy man, full
surely
/ His greatness is ariPening, nips his root,
Z AMI then lie falls"
[ was soon notified Of taxes in arrears.
The amount due was astonishing and
sickening. Taxes for schools, taxes for
roads, taxes for State, county and town
was informed they must be paid. To
save the whole from sacrifice, / author
lied the sale Of tract No. /, south of
Prescott. which | had christened by the
name Of Oak Grove" No buyer.-
Then No. 2, or Hale, Paradise" was
offered. This WAS a choice tract, care
fully selected. It is at the head of the
Trimbe!'e, well wooded and watered -
No buyer. At length ny agent effected
the sale of No. 3, or The Prairie
Farm" The proceeds Of this sale clear
ed the rest from incumbrauce-but alas !
only for a time. The same woefuI no
tice was soon reitcrate taxes taxes
-taxesi The elimination Of all my
misfortunes in land speculation, was a de-
fective title to tract No. ., aud tax
deed on No. l, through which my fond
anticipations of railroad depot aud
100000 from city lots were suddenly
extingui>hed Fro m these beautiful
grounds where we are now assembled,
my eyes can rest upon that lost posses
sion-Iost through the innocent neglect
of my excellent and faithful agent. Il
is now in better hands, awaiting the ful
fillment Of predictions which generations
yet unborn may rejoice to see.
Thus en- lei the first chapter Of my ex-
/ perience in agricultural life. 1t WIS
fraugLt with useful teachings. 1t sub
dued my ieyerish loagings for sudden af-
I fuence. 1t led to a fixed determination
to mt my hand to the Tlow and rot TO
. look back-to move cautiously and per
seyeringly, and to gain a livelihood by
honest toll. L was not, nor am l now,
convinced that this is not lnnd of prom
[ ise,-the veritah!e Hay +ah in which was
placed the Garden Of Eden, whence all
our woes originate. For on mans ac-
count the ground was cursed-the sky
muttered its thunders, and the cold winds
Llighted the flowers and locked the earth
in frost. ln what land is the evidence
Of tho direful curse more palpable than
in this! The deep, rich soil is over
spread with busby snsgs. and stumps,
and scrubs. The storms are sudden,
violoIt, and sometimes terrific; and the
extremes of cold and heat, almost un-
paraieied. The winters are long and
seyore-often bleak AMI drifting.
My friends, we come not here to be
charmed by the Siren Of Flatterv. If
he land We have chosen for our homes
has It's drawbacks, and inconven:enccs,
we should have the courage and mag
nanimity to expose them. Self interest
even, when guided by discretion, will al
ways deal fairly and honestly. Imigra
ton induced by false representations, be-
comes a curse in the end, 20 any coun-
try, or section of country. 4 c0atented
people is essential to independence and
public prosperity. Many who emigrate
to a distant country leave the scenes of
their chil lhood, the graves of their faith
erS, and other cherished associations
They gather up the savings from a life
Of toll, sacrifice properly, forsake father
and mother, neighbors and friends. and
abandon the imEunerable little conven-
fences which taste and ingenuity have
devised to add to the eujoymcnts Of home.
The places anil objects that have long
known them, the streams, the meadows,
the flowers in the garden, the trees and
roses which their own hands have plan
ted. the church going bell" the :" old
Oaken bucket, these, and more than
these. are 10 know them no more.
They have heard of better land ex
aggerated descriptions have met their
eyes. Expectations of sudden afiluence,
immunity from labor, and other iuagi-
nary advantages, may have neryed SOME
to the uncertain and perilous underta-
king. An enterprising disposition and
love of adventure may have stimulated
others; to some n healthiul climate is a
leading motive, and to others an easier
and more comfortable subsistence than
thew haze hitherto eniOved. All who