Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1866-05-16
For The Freeman
Letter from Kansas.
GENEVA, ALLEN Co.. KANSAS, I
Apri. 23d, 1866.

GENEVA, ALLEN Co.. KANSAS,
April 23d, 1866.
FRIEND W Willard: To day in Kansas ap-
pears to be old Boreas' gala day, and though
he does but little damage in his excessive DEM
ons.rations, he M nages to be very disagreea-
bic He will take a fellows hat off, and make
him think his head is in danger OF similar
treatment; he will tear your coat oh too, al
most, and send chill through you which is
not = ali pleasant aud then if you attempt to
face MIN, ten to one if YOU do not find more
than your match. Ii wind is conducive to
health, Kansas ought to be one of the heaihi-
est places in the world, for surely there is no
other place half windy this. 1t blows
ali the time, general thing-a calm day Is
a rare exception. However we won't complain
of the Wind to-day. Ii is just what We need.
We have been having heavy rains again, and
this wind is needed to dry off the ground.
| used To hear great deal about the severe
drouths of Kansas, but really the weather for
the past few weeks is not much likely to i'm
press a stranges with the idea that Kansas is
dry and parched region. When l wrote you
last, if you remember, told you We had had
= shower which thoroughly soaked the ground,
and since then we have had them several times
repeated The Neosho river has been unford-
able for several days and SO have the larger
creeks. We isht venture to predict that no
prayers will be made for rain in Kansas for
some length of time.
These abundant rains are having fine effect
on the grass and wheat. The wheat will "stool
OUT" make more stalks, and, of course, more
heads of wheat. The prairie fres last winter
swept off the old crop that had become dead
and dry, burning it closer to the ground than
any scythe could have shaved it, and as the
green blades sprout up, they catch the eye at
their first appearance. II certainly 10 sight
worth seeing. Acres and acres-in some pla-
far the eye can reach-smooth and
nearly level, covered with natures beautiful
green carpet of grass, just tall enough to bend
before the breeze. On what an invts ton these :
acres are giving bold enterprising men to
come and develop their resources. They will
bear you good crops, and they will feed all
the stock you may wish to keep without ex-
pense. But, says one, shall have to forsake
SO many of the dear comforts of life that |
cannot make up my mind to come. l know
there is good land there and plenty of it, but
it requires so much effort md so much sacrifice
to make nome in u new country, that think
l will remain and plod along where am.
Well, my dear friend, your objections have
some foundations, and, perhaps, on the whole.
you had better not come. But if you know
of any farmers among your neighbors who
not quite content the world should barely af
ford them living, but would in their calling
prefer to make it the better for their passing
through it, and who would glory in subdung
these wild pra ,rles and making luxuriaut crops
grow where crops never grew before, helping
to build up thriving community, and home
for themselves and their posterity in places
th.t now desoate, please tell them to come.
They VII be cordially welcomed. They are
wanted here. Their kindred spirits who have
pioneered the way will rejoice to see them COM
ing. Kansas needs them. They need not let
the stories of drought-croakers frighten them.
All countries are liable to droughts and Kansas
IS not an exception. Yet the drought of 1860
was an exception to Kansas. Indian missona-
ries, who have had opportunities to know, say
that for forty years previous to 1860 no such
drought was known, and even that year those
who powed deep, and sowed early, and took
half the pains in cultivating their crop that
they are obliged to Ike every year in the East,
raised good crops. Years ago there we're q
class OF philosophers who honestly thought
and could produce good arguments to prove
that all west Of the Missouri river was one
vast desert-the Great American Desert-but
now that idea is exploded. However let nocs
suppose that wealth can be obtained here with
out effort any more th4n in any other place.
God never meant that the inhabitants of Kansas
should be set Of idlers.
Occasionally we have interesting item Of
news. Last Friday two horsemen rode by
here going down the Neosho Valley road, who
were shortly afterward followed by another
riding thsir stolen property who we're about
an htur ahead of them. Yesterday it was re-
ported that they we're overhauled that day at
lola, few miles below here, arrested and put
under charge of keepers. The next morning
they were found suspended by the neck from
the limb of tree. They were old cases. Mis-
souri, guerrillas who ravaged Kansas during the
the war, and who are determined not to for
sake heir profession, now the war has closed,
find but little mercy when they are caught.
WILBUR.
A RAGGED SCHOOL STORY ABOUT GKsERoUs
BoY.-In a speech at Lsi:h ON the 9th ult.,
the Rev. DIR. Guthrie told the following story:
- On one occasion a very serious crime Was
committed by one of the boys in the Edinburgh
Ragged School. He had broken a rule sacred
in the school, and must be punished. Mr..
Glib, the governor, assembled the school, and
the boy was told TO strip. Strip he did TO the
skin, and stood before them spectacle that
wrung the teachers heart-so thin, 90 worn,
20 starved like, 50 wresched, that Mr.. Glib
had not the heart to bid the janitor lay on tho
whip. But he must be punished 90 Mr..
GibD turned round to the other boys and said
50 You see that child, will any one bear the
punishment in his room will any one bsar
the strokes for him 2" Then . little fallow
off with his jacket and took his place. end
barred his back for the blows"
Mav n = Oond parbnra the boee timA. fuR