The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1872-01-13

il about two hours we were greet
Cd with . pack Of savage h&lf
starved dogs, aud soon attef drew
up before q small squatty log hat, |
with one door aml ono window.
The inmates attracted by the ull-
usual disturbance Of the dogs, now |
opened the door, and after consider
able scolding aid kicking, with no
little swearing intermingled, the
brutcs were driven OF, and upolf cir
qu:ring we found the distance 70 ID.
to be about six miles. That seemed
strange; bit after brief discussion
we concluded TO ask for shelter for
the night, which, after q prolonged
debate between the host and some
one within, was granted. We then
alighted aid went in.
1t would be difficult to describe
the place, and certainly impossible
to do It tjustice. There was but cne
room; the ceiling was low and
smoky; the rude log walls all
around us were bcsmcared with dirt
aud grease. The mistress Of this
lovely place now came forward, a
| short, tfickly-built, excessively
homely Dutch woman, who stared
at us with open mouth and eyes, q
perfect picture Of stolidity. | did
not feel at all comfortable in our
new quarters, but knowing it was
the next thing to impossible to pro-
coed to D. that night, tried to feel
contentcl. We were Offered the
only bed of which the house could
boast, but affirmed my intention
of setting up all night. To this,
however, my husband very strongly
disented, and as the dirty blankets
on the bed were not at all prepos-
sessing in appearance, | accepted
what is called a "shakc-down" con-
sisting Of q buffalo robe and some
blankets, on the floor, OH which,
without disrobing, | threw myself,
and was soon lost in the land OF
dreams. | thought we were COM
fortably settled i'll our little house,
nicely furnished, and tall rose
bush in full bloom at the window.
This pleasant picture was cruelty
dispcllcd on awaking at daylight
the next morning and finding my
selfin the dismal, drcary hoyel. Our
host, the only ore Of the two who
could speak a word Of English, in
yited us to a breakfast which he
had hastily prepared, but all Of
which | declined, except a cup Of
water, and some eggs, which !
thought might be clean under the
she'll. This sumptuous meal over, we
were soon on our way to d., where
we arrived without anything mors
serious than an upset. Early the
next morning we, with the other
couple who had managed to get lost
the night before, proceeded on our
journey without waiting for the re-
Inainder of the company, who were
still unable to cross the river.
Nothing worthy Of notice occur
red fol. q day or two; the snow had
been falling off and on, and now
began to impede our progress very
much. Just at dusk on Saturday
night we reached q village by the
name of Dogtown, where a census
taker would have great difficulty
in finding the population owing to
the superAuous abundance of the
canine tribe. There being no hotel,
we selected the largest and most
respectable looking house, . long,
two-story and a halt. Driving up
to the door we asked for lodging,
which request being finally answer
ed in the affirmative, we entered .
room very similar to the one in
which we passed our first night in
Iowa. To make room for the Wis
itors, a back door was opened,
through which was elected several
dogs / had thought myselfiD I'm
pleasant situations before, but this
certainly was without a parallel.
Supper consisted of a huge pot OF
soup sat in the center of the room,
around which we all gathered sup
piled with bowl and spoon. After
considerable scrambling and jost-
ling, for the children seemed nearly
famished, all were helped, when 4
proceeded very snspcidusly to ana
lyze the contents Of my bowl. I
think every kind Of vegetable that
grew in the west was represented /;
most prominent, however, in this
compound conglomeration of indi-
gestibles were onions, cabbage and
turnips. The hostess seeing my hes
| itation came around to where | was
sitting and nudged me very famil-
iarly telling me at the same time to
"pitch in" which | did not feel at
all inclined to do, as my appetite
bad taken wings and disappeared.
| made a pretense to eat, however,
in order to escape observation.
| With the daylight the household