Delta chief., 1883-04-11
Life on Surface Creek.
SURFACE CREEK, April 10.

SURFACE GREEN, April ~.
To the Editor Of THE CHEF:
Ii is related of Abraham Lincoln on one
occasion when riding through Arkansas with
friend, wishing to know in what estimation
their State was held by its natives, accosted
lank and very bueolic looking individual
ploughing by the road side, and TO him said
what kind of country is this 10 live in,
anyway ?" "oh," replied the Arkansas
toothpick assuming a contemplaiive attitude
"this amt no such bad country if we only
had plenty of water and good society"
"Well" murmured Mr.. Lincoln rcfectively,
that's all they need in he'll to make il a
pleasant place"
We are reminded of this anecdote by the
recollection that just about year ago our
condition differed but little from that repre-
scented as existing in Arkansas; we didn't all
have plenty of water, and in fact there are
still good many who are struggling to OBJ
tain that, and our society touched neither Of
those contradictory extremes known as be-
ing good enough as much as there was of ii,
and plenty Of IL such as il was" Perhaps it
would be permissible TO draw a comparison
between this country, as IL then existed and
of ,hc Legion lay dying, in that there were
in both cases noticeable lack Of f'wOman's
nursing and a lameniablc scarcity Of won.
ans tears.
We can call to mind the heroic resolution
Of two ranchmen on our creek who, mindful
of the domestic appearance that the presence
Of the serene COW imparts 10 the most rugged
hnbi,ation. undertook to lasso few Of the
Wild ones running on the range, and by
svei.inatic course Of kindness 10 80 subiuc
their inhercn, ferociiy that but few days
would elapsc ere they would assemble n, cv.
ening in docilc groups, and would each like
the
prilnnry well conducted criiiur.
Keep ON supplying milk and butter
We regret tn say, however, that all their ef.
forts proved futile. The cows seemed 10 view
with suspicion that no amount Of kindness
could dispel any and all attempts to establish
a permanent dairy. In Justice, however, to
the ranchman above mentioned, we would say
that no efforts were spared to insure sue.
cess Of their undertaking. They commenced
ne the rising OF the sun and continued
their labors till the going down Of the same.
Vas. clouds Of dust cnvclopci their cabins and
carrals by day, out Of which ever and anon
could he heard some forCihle apostrophe to
the local gush, or persuasive 80, now.'
tina, for winning and tender en,rcaty was
calculated TO soothe the heart of the most OBJ
dura,e beast, through an occasional riff in
the dust could be seen for moment the
cleaning horns of some infuriaied brindlc,
as with erect ears and wildly brandishing tail
she fed before the charge OF the incenscd
,lairyman. Strangely enough some we'll d.
rected attempts 10 milk on horseback also
failed most ignominiously, and a, last after
three days of inccssant warfare the cows were
allowed 10 depar, in peace. One Of the ranch
men remarked as he watched the last tail dis
appeared behind the hills with a whisk Of
triumph, "well, pcver was stuck on milk,
uoway."
And then year ago We did no, possess the
unappcasablc rooscr that would stay awake
till three o'clock in the morning, in order TO
bnnsh sleep and fill our souls with gloom by
Growing every four seconds, till we arose with
fire in our eve aud frozen potatoes 10 stone
him of his perch. As gentleman remarked
the other day, "if the calculations of the PEG
pie who are counting the pro,oplastc chick
ems before they crack their cnvironng intcr.
nments are only half realized, next fall will
sec Delta in much the same condition of the
ancient city of Samarie at certain tune OF
its existence, for will not two pullets be sold
for shekel and measure of fine wheat for
scycnty.fvc cents ?"
| must not forget to mention that there is
one product of the soil with which from pres.
ent indications the residents Of De.la VIII be
supplied the coming summer. refer to
melons One of the ranchmcn in this viciu-
iy--I suppress his name for obvious reasons
sent seven dollars to d. N. Ferry Il Co., of
Detroit, requesting them to send him gem
eral selection OF garden seeds. Imagine his
liscomfoiture when there arrived for him fee
pounds of melon seeds and u half dozen mi
ercscopic packages of cabbage and lettuce
seed. OLD RESIDENT.
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schools.
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