News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1882-02-16
Dakota Letter.
MADISON, LAKE Co., DA.,
Jan. 9th, 1882.

Dear Ne,cs & Citizen, Greeting:-
1t is just the sort of a day to make
me think of you. The wind is having
frolic with the snow, and circling
around the corners, and through the
cracks with lively gusto. and bids fair
to develop into a first-class blizzard.
Well let it come, We have had so few
this winter that we can smilingly en-
dure this, we had the heaviest snow
storm of the season two days ago, and
that not over one inch in depth
Wagons are the only conveyance about
here as yet, and the roads have been
smooth enough to make bowling over
the prairie with a light rig rather an
enjoyable affair. Labor for mechan-
les has been good thus far, prices such
as one can live by, only money is
close, owing to the short crops, and
book accounts though sure some
time, are not so much to be admired
when one is out of flour. As the
weather has been so favorable for
building, our new school house of
which l spoke in my last is nearly
completed, and makes a very impo-
sing appearance. Whatever may be
the case in other places on account
of the hard times, we have no fear of
stagnation. What with street brawls
and saloon brawls and such heart
sickening episodes as wives with their
helpless children fleeing from brutal
husbands, we are likely to keep our
interest and sympathies awake, and
healthy state of Indignation also
against the saloon keepers, who will
for filthy lucre's sake, deal out the vile
stuff, which they know will make
beasts of men. / think feeling
somewhat stronger than Indignation
exists in the minds of some in regard
to our county Commissioner who is
said to be the best salesman of the
most fashionable bar in the city. Isn't
that consistency for you? In view of
the wretchedness and misery caused
everywhere by this vile traffic, L feel
earnestly to cry "How long, o Lord,
how long" am greatly rejoiced at
the stand which the people of St. AL
bans, Vermont, have taken upon tenn
perance. Would that our town might
ssgo and co likewise" ] am also glad
to learn that some who are considered
high medical authority are coming to
TO see how doctors have unwittingly
aided and abetted the spread of
drunkenness, by ordering stimulents
as medicines. OF course it was living
up to all the light they had, but we OF
the coldwater-army know there is a
better way. May the light shine clear
er and the reform spread wider until
all. our cities, towns and villages are
free from the foul stain of drunken
ness. CHANGING out the window l see
that our blizzard turns out not a biz
card after all. The sun shines out
warm and bright and the elements are
still shall / take it as an omen that
the curse of intemperance will also
subside, and peace and smiling plenty
bliss all upon whom our quiet breezes
shall rest. One thing we can certain
ly feel assured of, God rules, and He
will stretch His hand over every land
with justice by and by. The measles
have just swept through town, and
are spreading into the country. They
have been of the lighter type | be-
lieye, and but one case has resulted
fatally ;but now comes another scare,
a genuine case of smallpox was re-
ported last night, and the city author
tiles are talking of going into quaren-
tine, all this is well if there is danger,
but most are inclined to think it bo-
gus scare, which l nope it may prove,