News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1882-08-31
Letter from Dakota.
MADISON, Lake Co., d. T.,
Aug. 18th, 1882,

&Ad 4OSAl, AOO-'
Dear Neoos & Citizen;
Another storm of wind and rain
this morning. Nothing fearful, how
ever; just enough to keep up pleas.
urable excitement in the minds of the
people. 1t is seldom that we have
over two or three pleasant days in
succession, now. Very different from
what it was the two first summers we
spent here. l think if some of oul
eastern friends could spend a few
months here now, they would find the
idea that it never rains in Dakota,
(Which seems to have prevailed to some
considerable extent,) passing away
like dissolying view.
To illustrate the rapid growth OF
everything pertaining to the vegetable
kingdom, let me say of the grove
where We held our camp-meeting, of
which 1 spoke in my last letter, that
little slips of cottonwood trees were
set out four or five years ago. and
now some of them are thirty feet high.
The weeds and underbrlsh had been
carefully removed, and the lower
branches cut from the trees to accom-
modate the tents, which were set in
evenly between the ten-foot rows of
trees. The circle of tents, of which
there were thirty-eight, compassed
three sides of the ground, with the
large preachers tent occupying the
center. The south side of the ground
was left clear for a carriage-way
Just across the road we could see our
horses picketed up to their eyes in
luscious grass, furnished gratis by the
owner of the ground. But as we be-
lieve in giving an equivalent for every
thing, we voted him something more
substantial than thanks. The Yer
million river runs q few yards to the
right, and we had to ford it, too, both
ways, but it was rather pleasure
than otherwise, as the water at the
crossing only reached to the wagon
box. l always did enjoy the pictu
rescue and romantic. The former 7
found plenteously distributed upon
the camp-ground, and the latter in
pitching through the deep sloughs,
jolting over the stones, or sticking in
the soft mud at the bottom. Some
times the tall slough-grass waved like
a banner around our horses, but gen.
orally We could pick path where it
was lighter. wish | had counted
the sloughs we passed through. /
think it would amuse the children to
see the wild ducks and prairie chick
ems nests in the grass. One owls
nest was discovered containing three
young awls-one nearly as large as
the mother owl, one half grown, and
the smallest but few days old.
Taking out Of account the high
winds and fearful storms which some
times visit US, Dakota is a lovely
place. Fine groves are springing up
all around US, towns are fairly burst
ing into being. neat cottages grace
neater sites, and in many pleasant
yards are to be seen the rose and lilac
bush, the maple, spruce and pine,
currants, raspberries, blackberries
and apple-trees, which give a sort of
home look. Yes, these great storms
are fearful; but even with them, are
we not as safe here as elsewhere?
Because these things are increasing
all over the world.
1t may interest the friends of our
brother Othy, to know that we have
set a beautiful slab cut from Vermont
marble at his grave. A weeping-wil-
low is chiseled at the top, and under
meath his name and age, are these
words "The Lord gave, and the Lord
hath taken away. Blessed be the
name of the Lord" We set willows
at the head and foot, and planted up
on the grave the flowers which he
brought us from Vermont. The place
does not look as lonesome now
There are several other graves in close
proximity. Taken altogether, the
people of Madison could hardly have
found pleasanter spot for their City
Of the Dead. MA. STEWART.