The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1876-01-14
LETTER PROM WAsoo COUNTY.

LETTER FROM WASgO COUNTY.
To THE EDITOR OF THE NEW NORTHWEST:
1t would perhaps be meet TO begin
this communication by an apology for
my long silence, but apologies are pro-
verbally tedious, and in the case of one
situated as ana house-keeper on the
verge of civilization-are perhaps super
fiuous, so I will defer mine for the
present.
Christmas comes but once a year,
even in the midst of civilization, and in
this regard we. who are in this isolated
region of the earth are equally favored
with thedwellers in its cities and pal
aces. How different will be our manner
of observing that day from that Of many
who will read this communication. Ere
it shall be read, Christmas day, 1875,
will have passed away, leaving its usual
train of pleasant memories to those IA
vored of fortune and blest with society,
while with others who live as we do
there will be nothing unusual to help
keep bright its memory. Tonight, as I
sit in my far-off home, in fancy I can
see the brilliantly-lighted streets of the
metropolis through which the eager
throngs are hurrying; pausing now to
gaze at the attractions displayed in the
many gayly-lighted windows, now to
clasp hands with friends and wish them
"Merry Christmas" Little girls
skipping along, happy with gayly-
dressed dolls, and boys made glad by
thoughts of what the morrow will bring.
can see it all, as plainly as though 1
were one eofthe jostling throng that is al
ways abroad on Christmas Eve. On
the morrow I shall hear the merry
bells proclaim ''peaee on earth, good
will to men," and see the thoughtful
crowds file into the churches to listen to
words of Holy Writ that shall serve to
keep in mind the glad event that all
Christendom celebrates, and in my
imagination too shall keep Christmas
as a glad holiday, however differently
it shall be kept in outward seeming.
The stormy weather, which was get
ting quite monotonous to "sand-eaters, ("
and which has prevailed to an unusual
extent during the fall and early winter,
has at length been superseded by gen.
uine snow-storm. The hill-sides had,
on account Of the long-continued
moisture, assumed an emerald hue, sug-
gestive of spring, and had it continued
warm for a few weeks longer, stock of
all kinds would have passed the winter
in thriving condition. Should this
storm prove of the usual duration, fear
that hides will be drug in the spring
market. However, we hope for the
best, and do not yet feel nearly as much
interest in the probable price of hides as
of live stock in the spring.
Pioneer life throughout this region is
rendered endurable by the thought that
it will last but few years. We learn
to accept temporary inconvenience
with a ready and willing spirit, that we
could not endure with equanimity if we
saw or thought we saw no better pros.
pect ahead of US. Just wait until the
price of cattle comes up, and then we
all expect to sell out, realizing thereby
small fortunes, and return to the haunts
of civilization and spend our lives in
peace, plenty, and social enjoyment. Sc
we all think, and so with this future
possibility to cheer US on, we live from
day to day, looking forward to the time
when we shall bid adieu to frontier life
I cannot close this letter without con.
graduating you upon the success o
"our paper" and the variety of reading
matter that you furnish your readers
each week. For myself, always perust
the serial story the first thing, while al
most every word of original matter the
paper contains is eagerly read before j
leaves my hands. "SImple Justice,
contributed by Mrs. McCOrd some week.
since, was an effort to be proud of.
want to say "How'd ye do'' to Madg,
Bright, and request her to continue he
interesting papers by all means.
Hoping that the New Year ha!
brought to you and your numerous
readers promises of happiness and pros
perity that the future will faithfully
fulfill, 1 will once more bid you good
bye. E.E. S.
Wasco county, December "a, 1875.