St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1878-01-25
Western Hospitality.
PIONEER LIFE FORTY YEARS AGO.

PIONEER LIFE FORTY YEARS AGO.
The following sketch is taken from Il
posthumous paper by Robert Dale Ow-
Ell, written for Scribner's Monthly and
published in the January number of
that magazine:
have soiourned among the laborers
of England; | have visited amid their
vineyards the peasantry of France; |
have dwelt for years among the hardy
mountaineers of Switzerland | have
seen, and conversed, and sat down i'll
their cottages with them all. | have
found often among them simple good
ness: ignorance, oppression, cannot
trample out that. | have witnessed
patience under hopeless toll, resigna-
ton beneath grievOus wrongs: | have
met with civility, kindness, cheer
ful smile, and ready welcome. But
the spirit of the man was not there
the spirit that can lift up the brow with
noble confidence and feel that, while
it is no mans master, neither is it any
mans slave. Between them and the
favorite of propitious fortune, one felt
they feIt-that there was great gulf
fixed, broad, impossible.
Far other is it even in the lOwiest
equal you meet there an equal in po
litical rights; one to whom honOrs and
office, even the highest, are us open us
to yourself. You feel that it is an equal.
The tone in which hospitality is tender
ed to you, humble though means and
forms may be, reminds you of it. The
conversation, running over the great
subjects of the day, branching off per-
h.,,N -
right, or even of International law, as
sures you of it. l have heard in many
Il back-wOods cabin, lighted only by the
blazing log-heap, arguments on govern
ment, views of national policy, judg-
ments of men and things that, for sound
sense and practical shrewdness, would
not disgrace any legislative body upon
earth.
The early settler was Arabian in his
hospitality. Houses of entertainment
were infrequent the farmer was often
comparatively isolated, and, though
scant of cash, he had usually enough,
and to spare, of plain provision for man
and beast. Thus, as general rule,
the chance traveller found welcome and
shelter for himself and horse, if he
knocked at any door which he Glanced
to approach toward night-fall. Pay
ment, commonly offered, was almost
always declined.
"What do | owe you?" | asked ii
farmer, to whom l was indebted for il
comfortable supper and breakfast, and
plentiful provision for the animal |
rode.
"Well," he replied with a smile, 81
haven't time this morning to make out
the bill but III tell you how you can
pay it. Promise me that if you ever
come within striking distance of my
little place again, you'll give me Il call
so we can have another good talk to-
getheT,n
The only hesitation seemed to be
when they feared the stranger might be
dissatisfied with such fare as they could
offer. On one occasion | encountered
tempestuous snow storm during Il
horseback journey to indianapolis to
attend an eighth of January celebration
and, espying "a decent looking double
log cabin, L resolved to seek shelter
there.
''Can l put up with you tonight,
madam 2" | asked a patient-looking
woman who came to the door at my
call.
'Well," she said, hesitating, sit don't
seem like body should turn stranger
from the door on a night like this, but
we amt fixed to keep travellers. We
hain't got no meat in the house.n
The snow was drifting right in ny
face, and it was getting colder ever,
minute.