Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1877-03-28
Letter From Minnesota.
Freeborn Mimi, Mar. l.


ready inaugurated and all anxiety in that
direction at an end, perhaps a few COM
monplace remarks from an obscure resi-
dent in this far off Western state may be
worth reading.
And first in regard to weather. No man
that writes a familiar letter from Mimi
esota in the winter time need expect for
civeness unless he explains the weather.
Mark Twain has had his say about the
weather in New England and we have
laughed ut him for giving the good old
home country credit for having such an
abundance of this article. But if Mark
Twain had ever lived in Minnesota for a
single wear it would have taken all the
wind out of his enthusiasm for New Eng
land weather forevermore. Nobody can
cuess ANYTHING about the weather in Mimi
csota. 1t delies all calculations. Even
the Yankees themselves give it up, When
YOU are expecting a storm and have made
all necessary arrangements for it even TO
postponing OF a visit you have long want
ed to make it will clear off and be as fair
as summer You make up your mind you
won't be cheated in that way a second
time and start out and very likely if you
get safe home through the storm which
comes up Immediately, without having
frosted feet, fingers or ears, you will al
ways look back to the event as remarka-
bic dcliverance And when the stormy
weather has lasted until you feel entitled
to respite, be careful how you make a
venture upon it for then will come the
most singing weather Of the season. But
as my range of experience only extends
over two years, modesty would forbid me
to enlarge upon this subject especially
when am told by the oldest resident that
during the last two winters we have had
some Of the most beautiful winter weather
ever known in Minnesota. | have spent
ten winters iu Southern Kansas where it
has the reputation of being mild and every
one knows that $50 miles in direct line
north and south makes great difference
in climate. But have seen times when
one felt that the safest rs well as the most
comfortable spot was around the fire place
have seen the mercury below zero there
in March, | have seen it so above, here,
in February. In Kansas when it thaws for
Il few days everything thaws,-the ice on
the river the fIost in the ground and
every hidden sDov-baDk disappears and if
the Sronnl is wei cnouoh the mud will he
knee deep. Here though it NAV thaw
many l,v5 the ice on the lakes and slouobs
showed no signs of yielding to any great
,,ro nj, tbraa inches while underneath was
\ frozen foundation two or three feet deep.
All sirns of softenino was only on tie
surface and the frost underneath seemed 10
bold i,salf in readiness to co down another
foot as soon as = ocnuine blast from tbe
north should rive fhe SIGNAL.
All tbropob I,nuarv and nrarlv all If
Deron,her The mercnrv lincnred amono
the minus Numbers. bnf rs soon as Febrn-
IVY comr,oncn5 a,here wos n wonderful
chance Dprinn Februarv II was like
summer The snnw wont off and some
bopnn IN sow wheat If was nrrdicted
MI in March if wonll he different and
suro enonrb as soon rs March was usher.
ed in. the very first day. don't know
how the storms knew it-it BEGAN to snow
anu il Has o'gH "s Vo''' 10 uieenI"nu ever ,
since 0'c.zH'"S H"s VUIliG oHCe lIioIe anu
We ''le nav 'le n seoInU eui'lon Vi Min'el 81
"''' soIi'e I'%I 'n'' 'Iie h'9' s'"'e "Hl oe
worse worse tL'h :. lIe Htsl' however spring may
oe..!' pIl II WIN og sute 70 coliie III Hs
own 9ooq ''Ine ana al t'le S'ulloIihs III
Ine "orII won n's'eh II. H. .-...
"A Efet' cI"uu haIss over tue pros PEGS Gu
Oh lIe laFh.eIs ieIe ON account ol lhe
9rasShoPPers' All business interests, are
IN lacl' affected oy H. lnls part oi ilie Lle
country was o'erruh l'sI autumn WIN n, ,lis
miserable scourge ior lie iirst 'nne' 4hey
came TOO late 10 40 Us mucil ui'ihaSe IN lle
l3Il' out Ihey nave deposited IneiT eggs IN
the sou mere by the Dili'oh anu tle l'Vellest
i alpIehehsiohs are Iell ior Tue result II
iAe same uesttutioh Is III store lot Us lnal
mas oeeh lhnlctea o. some PortlohS ol tIle
coNn'ry west OF Us II Is not ul'uier 10 De
iau9hed at' VI course no one KNOWS Wla'
me issue VIII DE ahl no one uates 10 pre-
a'cI' II Ihe same ue>ulu!loh Is III stoIe
LOT lIlese counties newly Vis,Ie.' thaI Couh-
les Wesl '. Oh Us nave suueIeI' II VIII WI os % IN
apPallIhg caIanllty 10 us anu 1t VIII auecl
the general interests ol Ihe state. vi
course business men are very cautious III
lhelI uhderIahinSs' Farmers o''Fe lloU llre
mnch OF make large caicuIa.lohs lor Tie
coming season, ior lear lI'eir ionuesl hopes
may oe o'a>leu' " ileat Is Ine PllhcIPll