The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1882-07-07

draw lumber, or other heavy material
back, thus making q load both ways.
Suppose he receives seventy-five cents
per bushel for his wheat, and twenty-five
cents per bushel for his oats. If he puts
up at a hotel while on the road, how much
will he have left at the end of his journey
for his grain after paying expensesf Oh,
these railroads are necessary evils, as
well as civilizers, as all will tell you who
have had an experience without them.
Even pioneers must have goods, cloth
ing, shoes, ETC., and scattered settlers
here and there were many miles from
any store, and must, therefore, suffer con-
siderable Inconvenience. But for every
want in the mercantile world there is cer-
tain to be n supply. Every pioneer will
remember the four horse team and heav-
;y loaded wagon ofthe travelling merchant
or "peddler," as he was familiarity called,
and how welcome were his visits. And no
store ever displayed a more varied as
sortment than these wagons carried. The
peddler was a jovial, good fellow, a friend
to all, and his regular visits were looked
forward to almost as a holiday, and for
his benefit, as we'll as that of his patrons,
the stray dimes were saved up, and many
"a prosperous merchant laid the founda-
ton of a goodly fortune, in a store that
travelled on wheels and went to its GUS
toners, instead of waiting for customers
to come to it.
Stage coaches did a good business,
when the passengers paid their fare, and
then carried a rail and assisted in prying
the stage out Of the mud when it got
stuck.
Some settlers made a good living by
keeping a team in readiness, and helping
travellers through miry places near their
homes, and this paid better than it would
to repair the road.
An ignorant, but solemn-looking indi-
vidual, who would set himself up as In
practice, and his "roots and YARDS" gener.
ally had the merit of being harmless,
which is more than can be said Of the
remedies of many of our modern ply
sicians.
Dances were in high favor. Singing
schools, spelling schools, and other good
old-fashioned gatherings were appreciat-
ed by the young. Church sociables and
donation parties were not unfavorably re-
ceived, especially if they rejoiced in a
%'letter box" or other means Of fun and
enjoyment. 1 knew several young ladies
who, in a winter Of deep snow, would go
four or FIVE miles ON snow shoes to these
gatherings, and, yes, they lived to he
worthy women, whose strong, healthful,
physical organization. many Of the young
ladies Of to-day we'll might envy.
CONCLUSION.
In the foregoing pages I have tried to
give you q glimpse OF the lives OF those
who have paved the way for the broad
civilization and enlightenment which we
enjoy in this portion of our Union. In
many respects it has been different from
that of any other part, and in some of its
features l think l have succeeded in por-
traying, though feebly, perhaps, the spirit
of the times, and with my readers have
lived over again those stirring days.
But the subject opens broader and
deeper as l proceed, and I am 10th to
leave it. Gladly would I 60 on and
search in as yet unexplored fields for
scraps of history that are as yet, and are
likely to remain, unwritten; matters that
are Of o different nature from that which
historians usually seek, but which. If res
cued from oblivion, would DO priced by
those who CONF after us.
These sketches have been hastily writ
ten, and their collection accomplished un-
der adverse circumstances, when both
head and hands seemed almost overtaxed
with other work. In leaving the work l
feel as If il were but Just begun. Shall /
be permitted to finish it. OF will it meet
with the fate of those whose lives it por-
trays, who laid a foundation, the laying of
which was not altogether toll and adver-
sity, but which had a bright and pleasant
side. and who, even in the midst of hard
ships, were buoyed up with hope, but the
full fruition of whose labors vas mostly
reaped by those who came after them9
And, finally, 1 would extend n tribute of
honor and respect, not unmixed with d
certain reverence, to those to whom such
tribute is justly due-THB PIONEERS OF
THE NORTHWEST.
II END