Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1865-1872, 1867-02-22

there can boast of barn. Scorched,
burnt and blackencd, they are often COM
PEELED to fight on till nearly exhausted.
The winters are long, dreary and cold.
The winter of 1867, my first winter on
the praries, was the coolest / ever ex-
perienced. Quite a number of persons
were frozen to death by being caught in
some of the terrible snow-storms 30 CON-
mon in that country. There storms come
very suddenly, and in many instances
the air becomes so thick with the driven
snow, the road so hidden, and the eyes so
blinded, that it is impossible to see the
way, or to ascertain what direction one is
going, and if itcontinpes long he is in
imminent danger of falling victim to its
pitiless rage. Sometime during the win
ter above alluded to, a young married
pair having visited the husbands father,
not more than three quarters Of a mile
distant, in the afternoon the appearance
of the clouds denoted storm; they start
ed home, hoping to reach there before the
storm came on, but it over took them on
the way, and they became immediately
lost As soon as the storm had sufficiently
abated to admit Of search they were fol-
lowed by some Of their friends and neigh
bors, who, after travelling about five miles,
found the unfortunate young wife dead;
her husband had folded her icy hands a.
cross her breast; then taking her shawl
and wrapping II around himself had
travelled on, enceavoring to End shelter in
time to rave his ewu life, but his lifeless
body was found, cold and stiff, few
miles farther on. Houses were scattered
here aud there over the prairies bat they
had failed to find them. Other simlai
incidents occurred during that and sub
sequcnt Writers, but their recital Is un.
pleasant, and leave them to the imnei
nation Of those who have never tried
those Northern Winters.
In very cold weather, when tho sky Il
cloudlets, bright, luminous spots appear
above, and sometimes on either side, O
the sun, called sun-dogs. They resembl,
the sun in appearance, though not gen
crully quite no bright When brightes
they arc surrounded by circle semewhn
rceembling the rainbow in color, the rim
ofwhich crosses the sun, the sun.dug be-
ing its center. Not unffcquently another
circle crosses the luminous center Of th,
first, in'the sapio hummer that the frs
crosses the Gun, having another sun do
for It's center. Sometimes several Of thes,
beautiful circles appear, each one crossing
tho center Of the other.
These Interesting phenomcna often oc
cur ~ night around the moon, though
less Brilliant
Some patches ofthe tallest and coarscst
grass remain standing through winter
On cold morning this grass is loadeC
with n very heavy FROST us the sun rises
and shines full upon it, it.displays all III,
colors Of the rainbow in dazzling bright
ness, and as it waves back and forth il
the wind, Il sparkles and flashes in such
manner as 10 almost dazzle the eye.
The scenery Of a prairie country is beaa
tiful, enchanting, but tho eye soon tires
Of its monotony. prefer the ever chang
ing scenery of a timbered country. Their
is a grandeur In those old forests, wbicl
haze wi,hstood the storms Of centurie.
which, to me, is ever interesting, aud G
which never grow tired.
j. II. cLouD.
Drewcrsbur;, Ind,