The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1882-12-02

enjoyable affair, and one that will long be
remembered by those present.
There is nothing that makes us love
home and appreciate neighbors more than
travel. Those with whom we came IN
daily contact upon the thorougfares OF our
native towns and cities, we may pass and
repass indIfferently or as almost strangers,
but meet them away in some remote region
and you are at once the warmest of friends
Rev. Mr. Barnes lives little north OF
Bushnell's, engaged in raising wheat,
which pays better than preaching up IN
that country.
Rev Mr.. Nash joins Bushnell ON the
south, and like his friend OF the cloth, Mr..
Barnes, believes there IS more money In
cultivating the cereal from which the stat
of life is produced than Bible barking"
He has plowed up 400 acres of prairie for
the grain business. 1t may be that both
those gentleman are there for the Love OF
God" it certainly is not 10 "beat the devil
around the stump" for there are no stumps
IN the country! And yet the "boys," when
they speak of coming to Ottawa, say they
are "going down to Gods country after
harvest
1t was along towards thH close q b. -,.-
rious afternoon that we drew up at the
house of Col Brush. Like Uaii OF fire
"Old Sol" went down beyond the western
PLAIN, his golden rays reaching high into
the heavens and casting out splendor OF
enchanting grandeur round all that region
of the vaulted dome. The long hours Of
twilight in this latitude enabled Us, though
late, TO take In q portion OF the Coloneis
vast domain and enjoy a pleasant chat be-
fore leaving. He is located about ioui
miles from Campbell, and IN the vernacu-
lar of the country, Is the "best fixed man
in the colony" for, in the words OF Alex
ander, he is
| Monarch of all he surveys"
His farm consists OF about 5000 acres, 400
of which are under cultivation. His stock
OF farm horses numbers some forty odd,
and without exception are the finest in the
state. He employs some fifteen or twenty
hands during the season.
Like all the rest Of the land the Colonels
IS low. But he insists that there Is grade,
and heavy one, too, and that III time all
the swamp lands In the vicinity will be
made available by a system of drainage
now beng introduced. / noticed, as we
drove through his farm, an immense 'cat-
tail swamp" of perhaps 1000 acres, which
even the Rabbit river fails to drain, but
which, in time, may be reclaimed. The Col
;, onel Is not lacking for water on his farm;
indeed, it is conundrum how to get rid
of it, for, in addition to his swamp he has
an artesIan well IN his yard that would
drain out Hades if turned on full head. 1t
flows over 1000 gallons minute, and with
such force as TO be available for running
machinery. When he let on full 70 show
its immensely, 1t reminded me Of what old
Ben Wade said to the Nebraskian, who
was enthusiastically telling what great
country the grasshopper state was: "All
We want" said he, ITO make Nebraska the
paradise of America, Is more water and a
;, little better society" Says Old Ben, gruf
fly: "Why that's all HI wants-more
water and better society"
There are others that 1 met and visited,
but time aud space forb,ds further men
ton, and of whom . mere reference to
would require full letter IN itself.
J. ID. II.