Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-03-26
FRONTIER LIFE,

Experiences or a Soldiers Wido,v, TVho
actth Her Too Young Boys, is Cs.lttvatina
| Minnesota Prairie.
To the Editor of the Globe.
GRANT COUNTY, Mimi, March Is, 1872
There is significance in the following sen.
tence, "a walk on the prairie;" and those
only who are not yet the fortunate possessors
OF horsepower and SO have to exercise
their own Flooding ones in perambulatine
through unburnt prairie grass, covered with
snow, and into new breaking and old, can
FULLY understand or appreciate it.
Into new breaking. That just expresses
it, for, it is in and out, down and up, till your
breath is almost gone, or if sufficient left,
you find yourself putting and blowing some
thing akin to steam engine just returned
from trial trip of speed IT, before the
end OF your journey, you have not "stormed
| the earth works. of half dozen or more
gophers, to be gobbled up and
'pocketed' away by those cavernous
ANIMALS, you may consider yourself for
tunate pedestrian.
| But must not get ahead of my story, for
l would have you continue walk with me of
| half mile to my nearest neighbors, there to
rest while, and then ready to start to the
home of our next neighbor, that of the
young couple occupying the "dug out.''
! There had been "new arrival" and we we're
| anxious to offer congratulations, etc., and did
not omit the usual compliment of, show it
does resemble it's father.'' AS you enter you
Will be astonished at the comfort and cozi-
ness of that humble home. Every nook and
Loo IL
1enoe' as for instance, dirt was thrown out
from the wall of one side of tire
room, leaving space in height.
and depth, sufficient for a pantry of
good size, neatly papered throughout.
corresponding with that on the walls, and all
guarded with as scrupulous care as are those
of a fastidious city housekeeper, whose walls
are hung with artistic gold leaf, or calci-
mined with some delicate tint. So cleanly
and inviting is everything that king might
eat at their table.
The latter part of the journey in question
toward home, between daylight and dark
Enough nearer dark) and regular s:bliz-
zard'' IN prospect, was made with consider
able trepidation of spirits, especially as our
eldest boy of ~ years had that morning with
a nelghbor gone to town to replenish our
supply OF groceries. Here will say that we
are nine miles ito lemon" The guiding
star on our homeward trip was a claim
shanty, looming up against the threat
ening sky, distant few rods from
our own, which is down on
side hill and less conspicuous from the
north, the direction in which we had come
Tie strain on the eyes, assure you, was
trying enough, keeping that mark in view,
fearing we might lose our way, and at the
same time peering through the settling dark
ness down the road, hoping to see the team
returning that had carried away our boy.
When within hearing distance, and we could
only discern a small, dark object on the brow
of the'hill beyond, our hearts were gladdened
to recognize the familiar voice and to feel
that he would be safely sheltered from the
prospective storm.
A "blizzard p If one can imagine any
thing on prairie more to be dreaded, then
do you fail in comprehending it's full
meaning? I had, few weeks ago,
little experience in that direc-
ton, though it did not prove to be serious
one. You see L am leading you on from
walk to ride. Well, if walk is fatigue
ing one then is ride sometimes one full of
perils 1 had occasion TO take trip to Fer
gus Falls to see to ''our land," and as a
gentleman friend of one of 'sour neighbors''
happened along on his way to the same place
and on the same errand gladly did we accept
his generous offer-the privilege of accom-
to that of Fergus Falls by travelled road is
forty miles, and on cold though not very
windy morning (the winds being what we
dread most out here) we started. Intending
to get through the same evening which we
successfully did, stopping only for dinner
and to rest and feed our horses al Pomme de
Terre, twenty miles north, and just half our
journey completed.
walk on the prairie, though always ia
tiguing, is not usually cold one, as the ex-
erclse IN walking will keep one warm. But a
ride, facing the north, and what wind there
was being in that direction, was more to-
dlous and severe than we can we'll describe.
just after the people of that fourishing
town had lighted their lamps for the even
| ing, giving to the place an attractive and in
vitlng appearance, did we enter, glad that
one-half our journey over the prairie was
accomplished.
On the following morning, or rather about
noon, after business at the land office had
terminated, our homestead having been
! made secure to us, did we turn our horses,
heads honnewerd, with even a better day in
prospect than the previous one
had been. But how uncertain are
all things. After returning as far as Pomme
de Ierre, which we call the "half way house,
and resting and feeding ourselves and
| horses, we again at o'clock in the after
| noon, which in the winter is late, began our
| journey of twenty miles homeward
Never having had experience In Minnesota
| billiards., we really did not know there was
| the least sign of one; thought it only little
snow storm that had come up, while we were
eating dinner, not suspecting it would ter
! inmate in anything serious.
Well, we started, and when about two
miles out, and the storm on the increase, the
gentleman who held the reins remarked that
the hotel-keeper had said he had been out on
these prairies more than twelve years, and
there was not money enough in Minnesota to
tempt him to start out, with such storm in
prospect But we were we'll on our way
and so must bide the consequences. HAVING
previously learned that our companion had
had considerable experience in driving over
pralrles in all sorts of weather, courage did
not fail US till we lost our way. Mistook an
old trail leading to the river for the regular
| travelled road.
When finding our mistake, all we could dc
was to start through the storm across thu
prairie, in search of what we had lost
After ride of perhaps half an hour OF
more, we struck the road, to the great de-
light of one heart, assure you, for to sa,
that little feeling of nervousness was OK
perienced during that ride, would not hall
express it. And when about half past nine
| IN the evening, with our journey ended, we
drew up around our comfortable kitchen fire
and related to the boys how we lost our way
and SO came near losing ourselves, happ,
we're we in the thought that We need no
take that journey again in seven years.
! JENNA.