The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1869-11-19

DOEs dbu ever luibS leuulDg 10 du-
vance their common veal. 1t was
these little things, then cherished by
all, but now too often unseen and
unappreciated, that gave vivacity
and energy to the infant settlements
Of Seneca county. 1t was these that
infused the patient pioneer with
hope and courage; that gave cheer
to his lonely home in a cabin, and
coDtentment with a scanty wsrd-
robe. 1t was a daily increase of the
Ee9hforts emanatiDg from these that
inspired him with an abiding conf
deDce 10 ultimate success.
The demand for the necessaries of
life greatly exceeded the home sap
ply. Markets we're remote and al
most inaccessible. A month, on the
average, was busily occupied by the
Tifin merchant 20 visit the city Of
New York, purchase stock of goods
and return. The roads, although
deceptiEeiy defined on some Of the
maps. consisted merel% of tortuous
Indian trails. Ooe entire day, es-
pecially during the winter and ear
~ spring, when the muddy ground,
| COR the causes herein previously meD-
toned seldom became solIdly frozen,
was diligently occupied il travelling
on horseback from Tifin to Fremont,
only eighteen miles, aud the nearest
point Of access to The waters of Lake
Erie. Mosquitoes and other nau-
seous insects and reptiles were legion
aud intolerably snnoying. They we're
at nightfall only expelled and kept
of by sufocsting smudge placed
WiudEard for that purpose, and now
we'll remembered as grateful GOO
send on those occasions. The squir-
rel and raccoon, the blaekbird and
crow would ruthlessly despoil their
eornfelds. The hawk would seize
and plunder their domestic fowls.
The bear aud ferocious panther were
oftentimes more familiar than cour-
reous or desirable. The howl of the
prowling wolf would not unfrequent
~ chill the blithesone gayety of the
terror-smitten pioneers ensconced in
their isolated cabin for the domestic
chit-chat Of eve. Chills and fever
were not uncommon; and now aud
then the shaking ague, like some
saucy prude, would stir up the bile of
its quiVering victim. jerking and tos-
sing and torturing him for hours
without respite or mercy. The
thoughts of former sweet home and
its multifarous surroundings would
Inevitably return, requiring mighty
mental effort to divest them Of the
forms of reality. But these thoughts
we're transitory, for nature was bOun-
tiful and her assurances visible aud
convincing. She whispered in their
ears patience. Ny resources, crude
as they are, when developed by your
skill aud industry, will convert these
solitudes into the abode of a moral
and intellectual community, beset
will. churches and schools, all sus
tanned by the munifcent products
of my SOIL The maternal voice,
the instructive promptings of stern
necessity were cheerfuliy needed; and
the stately forest wilted like dew be-
! fore the ak of the stdlwert pioneer
and his sturdy sons. The goodiy wife
aud her CHEEKY daughters meantime
! did the honors of the kitchen, super
Iintended household affairs, made
clothes for family use, read books,
eschewing trashy periodicals; foster
ed a taste for social enjoyments and
moral and intellectual culture; and jim
deed, did all these things and more,
ro5ed IN donlestics, without the be-
wisching destinations of modern cor
sets or the Grccian bend. At night
fall this weary group cpngregated in
their homely cabin, roughly coz
structed of logs, with a floor Of
puueheon and a chimney of billcts
cemented and plastered with mortar
of clay. 1t was dimly lighted by
small window or two, made sometimes
\ of glass, but not unfrequently of pa
per. A single door, hung with wood
en- hinges and fastened with a wooden
latch operated BY latch-striEg Of
recent political notoriety, furnished
passage for iugress and egress.
Now follow me into that cabin, and
contemplate this interesting group
ministering to the demands of press
ing hunger. Behold the purity Of
its domestic enjoyments. A skillet,
bake-keftle, frying-pan and cofee-pot
or teapot constitute the principal
utensils for cooking. Supper, being
already prepared, is spread oftentimes
without table clotd, upon a table OF
boards or puEcheons. The house,
hold gather around it, seated in
chairs of rudest manufacture, or upon
: stools or benches provided for the
occasion. The head of the family, in
mien careworn and benign, pronOun-
ees an appropriate benedictiOn. The
plain, yet nutritious meal, bespeak-
ling most perfect cookery and neat
ness, is disposed of with will. The
I, Iabors of the day create craving
appetite, aud that appetite was a sub
stitute for those exquisite delicacies
: which now-a-days induce dyspepsis
: and liberal demand for patent nos
trnms. Supper over and the table
, and dishes carefully disposed of, the
E family assemble for the social chit
I chat aud comforts of eve, around the
q big fire cracking in the wide and
e open fireplace. The faithful watch
5 dog sleeps at the door and puss in {
4 corner. The evening is devoted II
: reading or instructive conversation
+ alternated with gleeful amusement
D to which the busy housewife now anC
S then superadds darning and knitting
' At bedtime, closing the departing
e day with devotional service, they re
d tire for the night, reposing on bed
s made sometimes of feathers, some
o times of straw, upon roughest bunk
: or bedsteads of domestic manufacture
It With heavenly Innocence playinl
!. upon the countenaness of all, the.
: sleep soundly and sWeetly until th
d dawn of another day. Such, briefly
Il was the daily routine of pioneer life
g Their hearts, overhowing with graft
!. tude, pulsated warmly with love 70
d one another, aud with still create
IT love to Him, who, unseen had conduct
l. ed them safely, without guile, throug
y the day, and crowned their labor
D. with success. Suffice it to say, tina
&c here, in the wilderness, beyond tn
4 pale of social intercourse, all the FIJI
s. er emotions of the heart and love {
as the benevolent duties of lite dive
I'd in the family circle, however humb
Il that circle might be. The inmates
b. . palace constructed of marble, al
If richly furnished in oriental splel
u dor, might we'll envy such dWelle
IL Il