The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1871-06-01

COMMUNICATION.
SHERIDAN, NEMAHA Co., NEB.
y 4 - May q, 1871.
DEAR ADVERTISER
A few days since we received, through
the Kindness Of friend at home copy
Of the Upton ADvERr1sER. The sight
of it, familiar pages brought % our mind
many memories Of the past, some blight
and fanciful; some sad and gloomy,
and we thought few lines from our
uninspired pen might be kindly rsceiv-
ed BY you. and find place in your CO.
lumps. ~ @~ -a
We arrived here quite recently and
found the country in better condition
than we had really expected. Since
our earliest recollection, the name Ne.
braska khas conveyed to our minds the
idea Of some far or country out Of civil
ization aud almost God forsaksn but
in this We were agreeably disappointed.
Nature has worn her brightest dress
since our arriva!-the sky being cloud
less, aud "Old Sol' respiendent in his
dazzling light, shines forth In ali his
majestic beauty through his azure robe;
and a. we gaze upon the surrounding
landscape, our heart almost stands still
In very admiration, aud We breath a
silent prayer Of gratitude to our Heav-
emily Father, for giving US such grand
and beautiful country and putting 1t in
the power of every one to acquire good
and pleasant homes. From where we
sit - we write, We can see with the
naked eye distance Of Is or 20 miles.
The surface Of this country IL much
more undulating than tl,st Of Iowa,
which rather adds to than detracts
from ito beauty. Many, many miles of
rolling prairie lie stretched out on every
side of u, covered with rich prairie
grass, which twenty years ago was q
barren region, comprising part of the
"Great American Desert" 81
The houses are universally poor, (be.
ing generally hole dug in the ground,
walled with stone and covered with
boards and dirt, from which manner Of
construction, they receive tho appropri.
ate cognomen of dug outs," but the
loving hearts within, aud the kindly
manner of greeting with which you are
welcomed as you enter, in great meas
Gn nh iul, n
appearance may have caused. There
are no fences to be seen, except hedges
of Usage, honey locusts. aud willows,
the crops being literally raised out Of
doors. 1t seems queer indeed to see
large fields of grain, aud handsomely
laid off gardens, without fence of any
kind for protection; but the secret lies
In the "herd law" Every thing in the
way Of stock is lariated, which word &C.
cording to "Nebraska's unabridged"
means long rope with one end tied to
a stake driven in the ground, and the
other end attached to the "critters'
head.
Every farmer has q planted grove
around their house, of cotton wood and
maple, the latter being most in favor,
which in a few years will furnish them
All ample protection from the wind and
sun, while some grow trees for wood,
black locust being best.
School houses are being built in every
direction, good teachers are in great de-
mand, and command good salary
We attended Teachers Institute last
Friday, or tried to but failed to fad
tile Institute at home. After riding
Thirteen miles in the hot sun and over
dusty roads, and having pictured in our
minds.eye a smoking hot supper and
hospitable, "stop right here and stay
with u.s." with which we were wont to
greet strange teachers on similar occa.
sions, we were much disappointed to
find no supper, or invitation to "tarry
with me" awaiting us. In fact, many
Of the people scarcely knew that there
was going to be an Institute, and these
that did seemed not to know that teach.
ers needed anything to eat, or place to
rest after such fatiguing ride, and we
turned our horses heads homeward,
having learned from experience, that
best of teachers to labor aud to wait
for something to eat.
We expect to open q school in this
place to morrow morning. The people
here are all "home- steaders' and hav-
ing been without school I've years, they
feel the great need Of one, and a. their
school house is just completed they are
anxious to have school commence,
though it brings it very late in the sea-
son.
But I will not weary you with more
this time. Should any thing Of in
terest transpire, We will write more
anon. Lou.
|