The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1879-02-07

MOTIFS, tuo osooos hssAH .-,s~
| the county; and here Il was that Daniel
Alexander and Margaret peggy o. she vas
Familiarity known little spent their honey
noon. building that served to shelter the
first family, was the frat hotel, fhyych, school
house and bridal chamber, where the first birth
!. and death occurred where the first domestic
altar was set mp, deserves more than psssing
Office, and its site should be marked as e re-
I miDdsr OF our early history Bot Elijah Goble
and Elizs Title were the first couple marrying
in the county. Ihis took place Sept. 2sth,
1888, the ceremony being performed by John
y The trials OF the early settlers AFFORD many
very interesting incidents. There was the
failure of seed corn, and messengers sent the
long journey to Ohio to obtain further sup
ply, there we're late spring frosts cutting down
the corn nat with the ground. There we're e1-
cessive cold and snow in wipteE, Hoods and
heat IN the summer, . want Of the simplest
medicines, of mills to grind grain for food. OF
salt to preserve their meat while there was
album dance OF malariL diseases to break down
taeir strength of pestiferous wild animals to
destroy their focks, and OF rumors OF Indian
horrors and Indian wars, to keep them fearful
IN day time and awake At night. One who
truly weighs the courage and fortitude with
which these men, women and children, met the
dangers ana hsrdships Of their pioneer life,
will hardly after attribute to the soldier a
monopoly OF those qualities The differences
IN awarding praise seems to be that the latter
receives his promptly, on the arrival of the
courier announcing great battle fought, lost
or won while the former sends off 10 courier
and leaves to~tradinon the memory OF all he
endures and wins. Yet the dangers OF the
pioneer had its humorous side, which none
appreciate more than he. The following as
illustrating their often dangers, and pleasant
ssue out OF 1t, is worth preser wing:
Young Convey, who afterwards served in the
Federal army, and died q soldier, while a lad,
possessed great tooth for tamArsck gum, and
would often steal away in search for it, Once
he found q large tamarack nearly uprooted,
and leaning almost prone against other trees
having upon it the coveted oxidation in abupd-
ance Dropping on his hands and knees he
commenced nipping of the crystalized gum
while working his way slowly towards the top
of the tree. He was dressed after the fashion
Of those times, with . SHIRT, pants and coon
skin csp--the tan of the coon forming the apex
OF the cone shaped cap which bodied with the
motion OF the bot's head as he crept all atten
tive TO his gum, up the trunk Of the tree When
he had reached the main limbs, . loud vicious
snarl accompanied by the rush OF sharp
clawed animal over his head and back, down
the tree, struck terror into his heart aud losing
his balance he rolled, more dead than alive.
/ down upon the messy ground below. The
conclusion did not harm him but brought him
! to his senses, and sprnging to his feet he fed
WITH his utmost speed to his home. The
animal was wild cat that had seated itself in
the tamsrack and astonlshed at the singular
/ object creeping up the trunk towards her had
maintained silence until fully alarmed for her
own safety, she broke with q series of terrlfy
ing snars and cries. down over the body Of tue
/ boy clswing INN with vicious energy in Der
/ fight, and got away into the depths of the
forest. No wonder the boy was frightened
and rolled irom the tree.
The efforts OF the pioneers TO educate Their
children IL worthy OF the highest praise Their
means we're limited and yet they would SHIRE
them with the .pedagogre; their homes were
small. yet, to exc out the expense of the school
they would take the teacher in and share their
bed aud table with him-or even surrender up
the much needed room, as in Morris case, to
school purposes. The following incident illus
| trating the narrovness OF their quarters, and
the shifts they resorted to for the sake OF the
school, and having iudlcrous side that has
kept 1t in memory, is in point The teacher
was from York State" and the patron he
houses In the distriet--or rather Of those who
were employing him. There was but one room
in it and no loft the bed was in the corner
and children's, or trundle bed under il when
uiSub ChEiO. SltueK Tue utu WOulu 30 Out uOOIb
till the wife retired, or she would absent her
self until the teacher turned his face to the
wall. He slept with the good man of the
house and she with the children. Things
moved along comfortably enough, and QUE
morning the teacher having overslept, found
on waking, the whole household up and about
their duties, with the sun streaming flood OF
warmth and light full into the room. The
wife was sweeping the floor, and had pushed
the bench on which his clothing lay to the
other side of the room. Beneath the bench the
house cat with her back erect, was nervously
watching the great wolf dog, who lay with his
nose between his paws, ready to spring at her.
The good lady observing the teacher was
awake, Withdrew from the room and our young
friend was directly out OF bed aud dressing
himself. lie paid no attention to the cat and
dog, but setting one Of his legs into his pants
he was proceeding with the other, when whisk
the cat few out from beneath the bench, and