The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1881-05-04
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mon and known to everybody as the
meat bird or meat eater. The stage
driver insists that in winter they are
meat birds and in summer blue Jaws
For the sake of peace we pass the
statement unchallenged. He also
tells US that herd of moose have
this winter crossed over the ice to
Kewcenaw point from Manitoba by
way OF Isle Royale, and that two of
them have been killed. Our stage
driver by the way is a character, for
over thirty years he has been in the
country packing the mail through
the woods, travelling on snow shoes,
on dog sledges, horse back or on
foot. His knowledge of strong
words for embellishing the Queens
English, and his love OF strong drink
have steadily increased, and with
the utmost impartiality he reins up
at every saloon. Thanks to the
wilderness We are in, they occur but
once in about ten miles, and the
stoppage gives US welcome oppor-
tunity for getting out of the cold.
Our driver also warns up and has
much to relate. He knows everv
man, woman and child we meet, he
speaks French and the Chlppeway
like native, and has influence with
the population of the road. AT
least he tells us that the honorable
M. g., Of the district was not above
paying him $40 for his last ride,
though the fare was not one third OF
that amount He tells of the time,
over twenty years ago, before the
telegraph wires had come as far as
this, when he was paid $3.50 for car.
rying dispatches to Appleton, dis,
tance Of 80 miles, which trip he
made on foot inside OF six days.
The gentleman who sent him by
having the stock OF a mine bought
that had inst. etrrnk arch vein az
copper before the holders OF JnoS
stock received the news, was able to
clear fortune, but neither he nor
the messenger had the good sense to
keep the money so easily earned. On
the road we meet some few pedes-
trians, but almost invariably they
have snow shoes under their arms,
occasionally we meet a white boy or
an Indian with dog team, and worst
OF all, loaded with wood or freight
sleighs. 1t. we meet alta place used
all winter as a turnout, no trouble
ensues, but in the soft snow along
side of the narrow track, the horses
founder about, unable frequently to
extricate themselves from the snow
in which they can find no bottom,
though they are in as deep as their
body allows them to sink. Some
times they roll over and become so
helpless that they must be unhar.
messed and it is a trial to our
patience before We are allowed to
proceed. Occasionally some vexa-
ton has so much an air of the ludi-
crous, that it serves to add enjoy.
ment to the otherwise chilly pastime
of travelling. Seeing a desirable
switch by the road side, our fellow
traveller volunteered to get it, as
moral suasion alone proved TO be un.
effective in smanaging our horses (.
He had not proceeded far, when the
crust of snow which hid a brook
flowing by the roadside, gave way
under his weight, and he stood in
the snow nearly to his armpits, with
his feet in the water.
Along the road we occasionally
come to deserted mining camps.
The old mine shaft and stampmill,
houses built along many streets, the
cemetery, OF which only the tops of
the monuments peer through the
snow, empty store, the church and
school house, all show that here once
relgned the household gods OF a
community now scattered and gone.
Such deserted towns are quite hume.
rous, and they are melancholy tea
ture OF The country.
AS long as the Sleighing lasts all
business Is active, but III a few weeks
the warm south winds will change
the snow into an impossible slusn;
and until the warm days and pleas
ant nights OF midsummer have come,
there Is littIe ~ invite tue 10. iup
stranger, and until then Farewell
10 the Northland.