Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1881-03-30

old maid who was found weeping olteiy'
and who. on being asked the cause OF her
grief, said: IF should ever get married
and have baby and live by the river and
the baby should get drowned, alas my
heart would break"
am sorry Vermonter" did not use
his own name. abhor the custom OF
using fictitious signatures. 1t is too much
like the dodge of the malicious gossip who
concludes IA yarn with, Don't never tell
who told you
The questions raised are such as every
man who goes west ought to weigh, and
are well, though sarcastically asked. Why
not have signed your name?
Question. Having told how cold it was
in December, will he now tell how cold it
was in January and February d.
Answer. For December last "a friend
sent me daily report. have not receiv-
ed a report for January and February. A
year ago the winter was very mild. A few
years ago the Dakota historical society
made observations and reported for Janu-
AIRY the lowest temperature at 16 degrees
below zero, and for February 20 degrees
below. 1t ranged from these figures to
50 and SIS above zero, with a mean tenn
perature at about zero. The past winter
has been an exceptionally severe one.
There has been much suffering. More
than will ever be told If, however, read
correctly the early history of Vermont
our fathers saw some suffering, and in
many a severe winter they carried bags of
corn to mill for miles on foot. Who re-
grets that his father or grandfather were
among those pho leersP Who ever hears
one of those veterans, who may yet linger,
express regret that he shouldered his pack
for venture into the arctic regions OF
Vermont? | recommend to "Vermonter'
10 read the early life of Garfield and his
near ancestors in their pioneer experience
in Ohio.
Question. About loss of stock, taxes
fuel, etc.p
Answer. In some parts of Dakota there
is plenty of wood in other sections fringes
of wood on the rivers, but the greater part
is treeless. They are dependent for fuel
and building material on foreign sources
Good pine lumber sold last fall in Eastern
Dakota for eighteen and twenty dollars
per thousand, hard coal for ten and twelve
dollars per ton, and hard wood for five
and six dollars per cord. In Eastern
Dakota there has been but little loss o
stock this winter, for they protect thei
cattle and cut hay for them. In thu
western part, on the large ranches where
for the last five or eight years they hav'
not pretended to provide for winter, tn
loss has been very great. Taxes are no
higher than in the east, except it be on tn
Ian held by spectators. Tools. wagons
etc cost but little more than here. Th
trouble with many people is that they mis-
take the fabulous prices of the mining O
ranchng region for the prices of the agr
cultural frontier. Groceries. includln
meats, tiour,syrup, etc, average no highe
han in Vermont. and dry goods are nc
much higher. Wheat for the last tw
years has sold for from seventy to eighty
, live cents per bushel.
Question. Don'tt you think if the
, would stay in Vermont and be as savin
as they have to be in Dakota to get a liN
ing that they would get rich, be happ
and therefore contenledp
Answer, Surely "Vermonter" woul
not have had the many sons that hav
gone from us remain. believe that tn
statement would hold good that the aggrt
}, gate wealth of native born Vermontel
who NV live outside the state is equal
!, the property of resident native Vernon
ers. We can stay and see the advantag,
from the development of the fairest pc
ion of our country secured by foreigne
II if we prefer, but to our young men wi
have the sand to stand few years
racket let me say: Come boys, lie
: push out ard try our hand, rememberr
- always to Seek first the kingdom
e Heaven and all these things shall
=, added. o. S. BAsFoRD.
= Essex, Vt.