Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1879-10-30

BY ". W.
AS ! trust my readers are by this
time aware, I am not writing merely to
amuse those who chance to honor me
with their attention, but with the hope
that what is here set down bearing up
on past and existing conditions of the
South may serve to draw attention to
what in the end may subserve the adj
vantage and prosperity, in some de-
gree, at least, of both sections. I pur-
pose to deal to some extent with the
substantial resources and attrac-
tions with which the South is really
so richly endowed, if, perchance, some
may turn to these advantages, and,
sooner or later, reap good returns from
them.
Let me remark, then, that most un-
doubtedly the poverty, and resulting
ignorance and simplicity, of the mount
ain districts-because prosperity, and
resulting wealth, in most cases means
education, books and thousand differ
ent enterprises-came largely of the I'M
fortunate start made two-thirds of a
century ago, and not from lack of re-
sources in the country itself. The first
settlers believed implicitly in the pleas
ures and profts-whatever they we're
of the chase, and, so long as they could
raise corn enough to furnish bread for
themselves and feed for their stock,
they troubled themselves but little be-
You'd this, their meat, until hogs and
cattle become substitute and neces-
sity, being gotten "out of the woods"
Placed in these rich and well-wooded
and wa.ered valleys, excepting now and
then small peach or apple orchard
where fruit of the best kind might be
made to yield a superabundance, they
thus existed for half or two-thirds of
century, the world, somehow, never
having let its daylight stream in upon
them.
And yet, all through that region,
where only the traveller on horseback
or on foot could make his way, coal and
iron are everywhere @cropping out"
from the hillsides, in q manner that
would make unlimited fortunes for New
England with the same conditions.
The truth seems to have been, that
the advantages for living could be had
on far too easy terms. And, in H.
lustration of this, let me give an Incl
dent, the leading features of which
might be multiplied indefinitely.
On one OF my many jaunts through
these valleys, I came upon one so ex-
ceedingly charming in all it's belong
.ngs that friend Of mine along could
only utter ordinations of pleased sur
prise. The occupant of the one habi-
tation in it was evidently the monarch
of all he surveyed" With his pictur-
esque log cabin, located on small
eminence in the middle of the valley,
behind him was o fine peach and apple
orchard, while little further off was a
rustic mill turned by the beautiful
stream that noisily bowled its way
downward, while upward toward the
tops OF tho hills that shut in this little
paradise waved the arms of great forest
: rees, cottonwood, oak, and others, that
seemed to bend over the place protect
ingly to shield it from tempests and all
else that might threaten it. Cleared
and rich fields in ample supply com.
pleted the picture. ['3 =. - :, .,s> q +;
have said above that life and its
comforts here were had on too easy
conditions. Stopping to get breakfast
and our horses fed, the good woman OF
The use, to give us something to
elo.''s5she said, while she was preparing
the meal, brought forward some plates
of the most beautiful honey in its Whit
comb I was ever fortunate enough Il
taste. And she added, the bees had
left that rich hive Of honey the day be.
fore, and she couldn't think Of q single
reason for their doing so-but was com
pletely puzzled. !"
Well, it was not long before an I'D
nairable breakfast was smoking on The
table before us, and then, IN the course
Of conversation, We learned that the
family were doing their best 70 dispose
Of their beautiful place for the purpose
of moving to Missouri. SIS
Alas" said to the good woman, {. j
didn't believe there was any vale q
content in this world, whatever The
poets might say" for / could no more
understand why they could think 81
leaving their present beautiful home