Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1866-08-07


surface. But we admire them most
when there arc connected with them
evidences Of human life. In poetry
and on canvass tho ocean is painted
with ships, mountains with the cot
tages Of shcpherd9 nestled on their
sides, and prairies with the homes Of
farmers. TO the south and east Of
Plattevile you can see prairie such
as painter might choose for his can
vass. TO the north are the fiat top
ped mounds, green with the short
spring grass, beyond you roll the
smooth pillows OF land till they are
absorbed by the blue horizon Down
in the tronghs Of these huge swelIs
are the brick houses with their con-
comitants Of yards, straw sheds and
barns, behind is Platteyillc, sitting
rs gracefully as she can on a bolster
Gus swell, guarding her academy
The long ricks Of corn are evidence
to the unbelieylng Of the resources Of
the prairie, but the experienced are
satisfied by the great patches Of black
soil which the pIow has exposed.
Standing on this magnificent spot
you do not think Of the CONFORMATION
of the surface, the vast area, and the
grecnmonnds alone. The bountiful
harvests which the hand Of the dill
gent may gather fora thousand years,
the wealth which will result from
the harvests, the social condition
which will ensue, these are rchec-
tons which excite grander emtoons.
] The inhabitants Of the plains in the
old world are more easily cnslavcd
than those of the mountains Wealth
of soil brings ease ease brings wee,
and vide brings slavery. Bat they
never have tried the experiment ol
schools and churches, these keeping
pace with wealth will avert the ca
lamity Darlington is 70 miles be-
yond, and the way is long, to him
who is footing i Tor the third day.
The sun is right over head, and, oh
for Il bit Of woods this IS another
view Of the prairics.
AT II clock we came to q clean
brook and conclude to halt for a
couple Of hours. There is Il plat of
cool grass sprinkled with dandelions
there are thrushes singing from the
bushcs-thc air is cool, the sun is
hot A slice Of brcad and cheese is
enough for dinner uhes c0NdB3-
e,stum cst optlmam" After IN hour
for maStication and digcstion-En>
glish fashion-we rise to our after
Moons journey in thos"broiling sun"
The houses change from brick to
hoard, and from board to log, in tic
expressive language Of the miners,
they are 'petcring out, and we find
ourselves at 3 O'Clock p. NJ in an
Irish sottIement-thcse people VIII
Ike On the fertile prairie in . con
dition, Of filth not much above that
Of their railroad making brethren Of
the cities. Having turned 2 half
doren corners, according to the di-
rections Of about as ma y persons,
we come upon a road which is but
little travelled we appeal to man
who is just coming out Of a shanty to
learn the way.
"Go sthralt ahead a laile and q half
till yez come to d big ,0hite hoHSh, thin
take the right hand, that will lade
yez 10 Darlington" This direction
was given with such dcfniteness that
it seemed to be right-a mile 4 half
a BIC white house and thin, right
hand rosd! That's good enough. Now
walk about % minutes, then look out
for a big white house" A ten min
utes walk brought US to small sized
house probably painted one coat at
the building, but ow faded to a
color 1t couldn't be this place
though there was right hand road
at this place-so we went on determ-
med to follow our Instructions impic
lily. The result was, we got into
wet swail, some brush, aud were
brought to stand still by rail fence
and, | guess this will be the result in
every case Of following an irish
man implicitly For some miles, be-
fore reaching Darlington the road,
is through anarrow valley. At alittle
bousein this valley, close by school
house, We stop'd for supper. A white
baird old gentleman Of short thick
frame gave a kindly welcome to such
as hey had for they had but just
moved IND The table was neatly
spread & on it was arranged some old
fashioned crockery ware, with red
flowers on the cups and borders
round tue plates, The old man asked
simple, heartfelt blessing and NC
ate cur bread in thaukfuluess.
May our land be filled with such
men