News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1882-12-28
OUR DAKOTA LETTER.
MADISON, D. T., Dec. 20, '82.

MADISON, ID. T., Dec. 20, 'S2.
Dear NeaUs and Citizen, greeting:
1t is cold and snowy to-day, enough
so to make me think of the breezy
heights of old Vermont. We have hac
several little spits of snow, for two
weeks past, but not enough to cover
the ground but once. l call it cold.
because there has been gradual
change in that direction for several
days, but believe it hasn't stopped
people from work upon buildings now
in process of erection. There is an
Odd Fellows hall and also a stately
Catholic church going up. Perhaps
the satisfying thought of the good
they are doing, keeps the workman's
fingers, as we'll as heart, warm. They
are working for the interests of Mad
ison in certain way, but there might
be difference of opinion as to its be-
ing the best way. To those who look
at the future of Dakota, or to that
portion of it at least, about which l
am posted, from a business stand
point, everything seems prosperous.
but the great increase of drunkenness
ought to alarm some in high places.
Murder and thieving also, are greatly
on the increase. A respectable sort
of RIGHTEOUSNESS finds its way into
the annals of Dakota society at times.
1t is too bad that these evils follow
so soon upon the footsteps of popula-
ton. cultivation and of supposed
civilization, but l suppose Dakota
vies with her older sisters In such &C
complishments. She can not excel
them, judging from the records we
find in the weekly papers, but shut
ting my eyes to these blots upon the
fairest landscape, expect / ought to
give a puff for Dakota's prosperity.
In all conscience, the past season has
been all that could be desired, as
viewed by the light of the harvestman.
No warning elements have laid our
towns or cities waste, no pestilence.
nor destroying presence, worse than
gamblers and saloon-keepers, has Wis
tied our borders, therefore in view of
the many good things we have receiv-
ed from a benignant providence, I
must still sing praises TO Dakota.
1 am feeling pretty well now days, but
can get but little time to write, fer l
have added cares in the shape of
little waif, who appeals to the sympa-
thies of all who know her. The
young mother, who is the dissatisfied
wife of an old man, chooses rather to
pick corn in the field Gas corn is har-
vested out here), than to perform the
duties Of house-keeper. The child is
four years old, and mixture of sew
eral races. She has enough of the
Indian to make her hardy and self re-
liant, and enough of the African to
make her cunning. The blood proper
l should think, was German or PEN
sylvania Dutch. Stuart says that
with care and kindness and suitable
food she will grow white. l can have
her for my own, if want her, and he
says ought to keep her because l
have so much sympathy for the In
dians, Gas have under the treatment
they nearly always receive from the
whites). As far as sympathies ex-
tend on account of the African tinct-
ure, we are perfectly agreed, and will
keep her until other arrangements can
be made.
/ would like to see your snow-clad
hills and mingle with nv friends once
more, but | never expect to do it.
Dakota, probably, holds my interests
as long as l have any, anywhere on
the earth. / don't think 1 could be
induced to settle in Vermont again,
as much as / love it. A late number
of the NeaCs and Citizen informs me
that my brother, G. Darling, has sold
his ri2h1 in the old homestead, but
ing to enlarge with his presence.
Perhaps he is coming to the fruitful
plains of South Eastern Dakota to
expand his ideas. l can't say that
his hair will regain it's youthful hue,
for mine has grown decidedly gray,
but otherwise / am confident that he
would grow younger. We had a
slight prospect of a blizzard this
but as the day progressed
it grew beautifully less, until, with
the going down of the sun it is as
calm as a summer morn.
Mrs. r. P. STUART.