The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1882-06-30

Correspondence or the M,dd,ebury na,.,r
on the Prairles VI uak 1
and Minnesota In 81.
aneT was never winter known IN
Nv est like the winter OF 81; hut
Nv e was not near the suffering that
' me tried 10 make out; still the sue W
was very deep, and some OF the time
1t was severe cold. l read 10 eastern
papers chow the folks suffered for the
want of food and fuel, and how several
families moved into one house and tore
down the others for fuel, and that faini-
lies were frozen to DEATH" | was all
over that country during tue winter
OF '8l, but never saw much suffering,
nothing more than they could pass
through again If obliged to. The peo-
pie learned lesson never to be for
gotten. Southern Minnesoti and Da-
kota, as rule, have very open winters,
stock runs out most of the year, there
being but little snow in this country.
There Is very little sleighing in south
ern Dakota. The snow stays on the
ground but few hours; the sun and
wind soon melt 1t. The winter of '8l
the snow came very early in ,ho fall,
before the farmer had his usual amount
OF work done. A large part of the
threshing is done in the winter after
the ground is frozen, but the snew came
80 deep 1t filled the stacks full at first,
and stayed till late In the spring. There
was very little thrashing done after the
first snow, something that was never
known before, and large amount of
grain was rotted in the stack and
spoiled. The stock run OPT, most 0 f the
prairie from the straw stacks and corn
fields. The corn is not cut as in the
east-cattle aud hogs arc allow cd to
run loose In the field. The farmer
usually cuts his hay before the frost
comes and leaves 1t In the heap where
he cuts it Till he wants to use It, the
falls aud winters being so dry and free
from storms that the hay late in the
winter Is as bright as if 1t came ont of
large stacks. This Is where tho farmers
suffered the most, their hay being GOV.
cred up, and their corn fields all under
the snow so they could not get any
fuel. There IL large amount of corn
burned here, 1t Is cheaper than wood
and makes q good fire and is very clean.
Some burn fax straw, 1t makes hot
fire and great deal of work. There
are patent stoves for burning hay and
straw, but they don't seem to succeed
as yet. In towns screenings were used
for fuel after the wood and coal was
used up. Wood and coal dealers buy
the summer TR62 ss S9a coal b. 9Inrin1
much longer and the corn covered witt
they could not get much ii IN on account
OF the railroads being filed with snow
This was hard winter for the railroad,
and they worked to keep the roads open
A person who has not been in :
western blizzard has not much of ar
idea how they can make the snow move
around. Some seem to think that the
people on the frontier away from rail
roads must have suffered The most in
81, but they were the ones that suffered
the least; being new corners and think.
ing the winters were like tho east. nm,
in a supply, so they got through bette,
than some of the oldest settlers. Threa
months of this winter very little bust
ness was,done, and the only way of get.
ting around was on snow shoes and dog.
slods. Some camemiies to town on snow
shoes with hand lied to to take home
their purchases. NorweGians know how
to use them, as they were accustomed n
them In the old country. A Norwe.
gian snow shoe IL about feet long and
from to 6 inches wide, turned nm Al
The toe. Tho Indian snow-shoes are
made of raw hide strips crossing each
SpoiI mat being an there was to do 10
while away the time, and men and
women, old and young had to try The
Norwegian snow-shoe, there being
more sport on them than on skatss J1
the evenings there were parties, dances.
socials and meetings. There were more
weddings this winter than ali the other
winters in this country known to white
men. There was ono lovely connie
married and 1 was the only guest at
the wedding. They were martial in
inmher office by a Justice The
justice told me there was to he q h;o
wedding in the afternoon. but no ohe
Knew anything about It but him
and the interested parties. / told him
to count me In as one of the inieros,nd
parties; he swore up and down be nos
not going to let any one see him ,nsrr 90
tn,, Dut after my promising not to
. .Sli anyone ne consented-I to know
.ns tiane 70 come In by sign. l did
no. nave 70 wait long before saw the
justice and his large white dog, and the
unarkey couple coming. He went In.
.ne aog followed. After the darkies
the sign and closed the door. was
soon across the street, listening. When
no got to will you take this man.UT
opened the door and the dog rushed
past me and went between The hannv
darkies. The girl gave a whoop apd
Jump, and they were parted. The doc
seemed to think there was so,nefbin9
up, for he got between The bio dsrLos
and tho justice. The way The Sirl
looked at that dog II seemed her eyes
and 'monkey screws" stuck strs;gbs
out. The justice gave me one Ioot
will not forget. He sent Tho DO
under the table with the toe NJ his hootk
and turning to the couple he sbon,oS
"ready, join hands," the man stannoS
forward, but the girl hesitated h nt Sa
sald WIN heavenly smile. "Slnshine.
come and take my hand, the parson is
IN . hurry sne came forward all smiles |
anu her hair all right and took his hand.
ana after some bad work on the psrt
OF the Justice they were made one.
before could get out the justice made
me acquainted with the happy pair, and
said Il was customary for guests Al The
wedding to salute the bride. / replied
that the one that married the couple had
the first chance. Inever got the second
chance. The groom told me he was a
farmer. l wished him success and
hoped he would raise q big crop.
Inc men that had the hardest time
during the winter of '8I were the trav-
cling men. Their life Is not an easv one
1t best, but the winter Of '8i was foo
much for most of them-a winter
hat will not be soon forgotten. The
sd OF Feb, '8I, found me In Sinnr