The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1883-05-25

AZ last have beer much Logger
in sendrg the country comnunica-
ton thar | expected. but my delay is
due 10 the unavoidable circumstances
produced by the storm for while
we were visited by nothing more
than the heavy rain which accom-
panied il. we experienced its disa-
greeabie ttfrcis afterwards in the
shape OF bad roads. After heavy
rain fall in this sticky, prairie soil
the roads are almost impossible and
one has TO make himself content to
remain stationary for while
| shall not take the space for an
account of the terrific cyclone. You
are no doubt well posted by means
Of the newspaper descriptions and l
could add nothing new ; would on
ly be to draw'out the already lengthy
tale OF wre,Chedness and destituiion
which everywhere followed in lis
track and stamped its impress with
an iron hoof throughout the land.
True to the southern generously,
the calls for aid me. with prompt
response. Everything possible is be
ing done ior the wounded sufferers,
50 shall leave them as it rests and
tell you something Of the country in
which am sojouraing
Yesterday was one of the finest
days OF the sessor, the atmosphere
being al HAT delightful medium
when it is neither TOO warm nor too
cool. Growing tired of the house,
| proposed that we should take adj
vantage OF the propitious weather and
make a tour through the farm. The
household readily assented, and pass |
ing through the yard gate We scon !,
found ourselves il a long strip OF
lawn throusH which the negro cab
ms We're scattered amid the clumps
o. tall shady oak trees.
"The cabins look to be numer-
GUS remarked TO my host. "How
many acres does your farm possess F"'
"Sescn hundred and twenty.
"3ut | sec" said | approaching
nearer the large body of cabins, sit
is as ] suspe cted, you have more
houses than you need. How many
empty onesi'
ayes, there are good many UNI
occupied ones now, but no more
than | need when the entire place
is cultivated
"Then you are not cultivating all
OF it"
ooh no hardly above one hun
dred and sixty acres. Labor is so
scarce that |, like many others, have
been forced to let ny land lay OUT
aWhat pity, and is this the con-
dition of the country
.'Well, yes. Owing TO various lit
tie advantages, perhaps all the farm
ers have not been SO unfortunate as
l, but l have used every exertion and
offered every inducement without
success. The labor is not here to be
had. "a man can't get it for love or
money"
"Why il appears to me tina. this
handsome estate is more an incum-
berance to you than anything else.
1t is only destroying itself with taxes
"That is true, but can only hold
to it aud hope for something better
to turn up. What else can do?
Everybody is as anxious to get rid of
such investments as | am and no
man who has money cares to expend
it in SUCH property unless it can be
had for almost nothing. This is very
productive soil and we only need
emigration to build the country up"
We were nearing large gate, and
walking across the gin lot we were
in few moments in the midst Of
the cotton fields. 1t was lovely
landscape which lay around us. l
guess its charms were tracable to its
novelty in part, and SO carried away
was | that | believed at the moment
= would feel cortent TO live and die
there. Human nature is so tickle,
and have YOU ever noticed how prom