News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1881-12-29
OUR DAKOTA LETTER.


MADISON, DECEMBER 23RD, 1881.
Dear Ne,os and Citizen Greeting:
1t has been a long time since /
could sit me down in quiet to write to
you, and here / would say just a
word in explanation of my silence
My head has been so tired and full of
pain, and have been so nearly blind
in one eye much of the time that /
could hardly write a reasonable letter
% my dearest friends. Everything
seemingly, Gas regards circumstances
over which / had no controD has con-
spired to crush me, but l am coming
out into the light again and feel some
thing like my old self. Have got the
burden of the farm off my shoulders
and mind also for the time being, and
am living in town where my husband
and son B. D., are running wagon,
and general mechanic shop, black
smithing included, and are making
good thing Of it too. We are having
splendid weather, and have had for
some time. Through the late sum-
mer and autumn almost every other
day was rainy, but in the month of
November, Dame Nature treated US
to change in the shape of relicking
sort of blizzard which was followed
by extremely cold weather. The
snow has all gone off again, and much
travel has male the roads quite pas
sable, while there are still ruts and
rough places enough to make repair
ing specially in our shop. l suppose
you are at this time dashing over the
dear old hills to the accompaniment of
jingling bells and furry robes. How
do wish / could enjoy a good old
fashioned NaR- England sleigh ride
once more, and often think | SHALL
If we are prospered, l shall see YER
mont once more. Our town is grow
ing rapidly, tile first house, (then on
" a shanty), was on the ground in
July 1880, and now there are stores
doing good business, two banking
houses, two large hotels, three meet
lag houses, and another in contempla-
ton. The Congregationalists and
Presbyterians already have settled
Pastors. The Baptists are as yet,
small element here, and probably for
that reason dependent upon the chance
visit of the missionary. The Catho-
lies are to have a house of worship
here and mass once month, all of
which will help the place to grow, if ii
does not help morals and religion.
Apropos, of tie general religious tone
here Twill relate one item Of interest.
The Baptists dedicated their house to
the Lord with Thanksgiving dinner
within its sacred walls and an oyster
supper was had in the evening, to
which the dancers ia the neighboring
ball did ample justice Thus enter
ing church precincts for the FIRST time
(some of them at leasD. and paying
of their means for the help of the good
cause. o! well might angels weep at
such mockery of professed Christ
ians paying their vows to the Master,
who was a man of SORROWS and ac-
quainted with grief. Fancy him here
upon the earth, getting up an oyster
supper in the sacred temple and inFit-
ing the dancers, the rum sellers and
money changers to sit with him as
boon companions, what use think you
would have been made of the corded
v hip. But l did not intend to preach
and will return to the growth of Madi-
SON. We have, $50 my husband
says,) over twenty business houses
including almost everything which is
done under the sun, SO / will not take
time to specify We hare also a.
mammoth Touring mill (merchant of
eourse) and foundations laid for a.
large graded school house, while our
city already boasts of large school in
session now. There is Main street
and Centre street; Eagan avenue,
where the stores and backing houses
are situated aud Van Epps avenue,
which boasts on the east side of Stewart
.& Hollis shop and the domicile which
now occupy. The south end of the
blacksmith shop connected with it
being on main street and near the
commercial house, besides there are
other pleasant streets, of which l have
not had time to learn the names.
Madison is pleasant and bustling
place, with vim and push enough to
make bright mark as the world goes,
with now and then pleasant treat
for all, as for instance last night the
Presbyterian Sunday school conven-
ton held praise meeting to which all
were cordially invited. We were
treated to some god music both vocal
and instrumental, and some excellent
speeches, which we enjoyed very much.
But am getting to the end of my
sheet and to my hour of rest also, and
must close, but if should not be
thought intrusive by the new firm of
Editors Cor corps) rather, L will
write again as have opportunity, but
let me say here 1 was sorry to learn
of the change, as thought perhaps
my pleasant relationship with the paper
would cease, but whether it does or
not, let me thank the retiring Editor
for his patience and gentlemanly kind
ness to me in the past, while / make
my best congo to the powers that be
with the humble request that his man
tie may fall upon them in this respect
at least. Mrs. r. 2. STEWART.