The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1881-02-09
A STRANGER IN TIE LAND.
lie Experiences Gold Weather and Ex-
presses His Dissatisfaction.

customed to Montana winters [ soon discov-
cred I was not wrapped sufficiently to stand
such polar storms. Coming to a house where
lived q German family, and I asked if |
could borrow a scarf or something to wrap
nv ears. With the heart of q liberal soul the
German man told me to come in, and he
handed me q shawl.
'sRather cold day" said I.
Fiery cold it is durty-dree pelow zero,
and I have no beer to give a stranger; DIES
am offul coontry,' said he.
| made a new start feeling very comfortable,
and determined to sepak toevery oneI would
meet, and I did not expect to meet many but
strangers, for Mr.H. and family were the only
ones I knew in the neighborhood. AS I was
passing the next house, which is near the
road, there was q man repairing the gate.
''Good morning." said I, and he nodded.
Stopping my horse, I asked:
''Do you think that it is going to storm?'
"Hey," said the man at the gate.
"Do you think this cold weather is going
to last much longer?'
"What you say 2" asked he.
'Do you think we are going to have an
other Storm"
'Go in tomorrow" he said.
was getting discouraged, but as a last re-
sort I asked in a loud tone:
"Do you think I had better go?'
Il go tomorrow" he answered.
Giving my horse the spur, I rushed OFT
about a mile further. ! met a3middie aged
man, a NAH Of 45, ! would judge, but ne
looked as loving as if he was 81.
"Good morning" said I.
"Good morning." he said.
'sThis winter is hard on stock, is it not z"
stVerv. This is the winter OF our dlscOn-
tent" said he.
"Do YOU live on this valley" | asked.
sThere is my place between the road and
the river" said he, pointing at 9 fine mansion
and a large barn.
ooh, yes. You are Mr.. c., suppose"
"That is my name" he said.
''What percentage do you think you WILL
lose of your cattle this winter, | asked.
"I do not make any calculation whatever on
the cattle that are on the range, but 1 nave
one heifer that is Stalled, and IT / get
away with her in the spring it's all | want,
said be.
Next | caught up with an old freighter !;
he said that he was making regular trips be-
tween Sun River and Ft. Benton. remarked
that it was rather cold weather for freight
ing.
Oh, this is nothing" he exclaimed, in 63
T.~-.l 80. C,oHo rsuo~ ori whln nm
voked the cattle I had TO drive q wedge be-
tween two oxen to get them apart, and ct the
CAM fire I had a long stick holding my
coffee-pot in the flames to boil, and it turned
cold so sudden that I had to let go of the
stick and rub my nose, being afraid / was
going to freeze it. I ran in the wagon and
went to bed without my supper, and when ]
got up next morning the smoke stood like 9
trunk of an old dead tree, and the coffee-po'
was still in the flames, and everything was
frozen stiff to the ground; and breathing
that cold blast that very night it froze all my
teeth, and as l was getting up that morning
they dropped out of my mouth like corr
from 8 patent corn-sheller."
When he old of freezing his teeth l be
lieved it, for he had not a tooth in his head
I thought 7 would not say a word to any on
about cold weather again, and gave my
horse the reins.
AS I got near to the large white house t.
the left of the road, I noticed smoke coming
out of the chimney, as if there was a goot
fire started. Tying my horse to the fence
went to the door and knocked; q mai openet
i. and asked me to come in and get warm
He went out to split ONE wood, and Will
rubbing my hands before the red-hot stove
noticed milk pans, churn, ETC., and this con
yinced me that it was q milk-ranch. Soon d
came in with some dry wood, and BY Id
time his wife had come in from the pantry
ssCan / Get 4 glass Of milk to drink,
asked.
II don't know, ask the old woman sail
he.
eyes" said she, ''of course you can.
While drinking it | asked:
ssDo you think we are going to have al
other snow storm?'
"Well, It really don't know. Ask the o'
woman, she can tell.
81 think we are. going to get one righ
away.
scare YOU going to the debate to-night?'
"Well, I really don't know. Ask the OH
woman, she can tell you.'
~ sry 49, - AZ, So 49, rLa11 - cold che