The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1884-10-03
CAvlLEER,

Wr1tten Dy u. II. MClA. Sept. 10th, and
sent from here tQ the Huron Exposition,
published at Seaforth, Ont.:-As . large
number Of your readers are either direct
ly or indirectly interested in this part of
this great wheat growing state, Dakota, a
few items concerning the harvest, crops
&c. &C., will doubtless prove agreeable
reading to them. For the past ten days
all the vast expanse Of prairie within
range Of vision is being despoiled of its
golden glory. Reapers, or rather binders
which do the work of both reaper and
binder, have been at work on every
hand. = The p.airie IL now COW
ered with stocks as thickly a. I remem-
her to have seen fields in Ontario stud.
ded with black and cllarretl stumps.
. Grain first cut is Smelling out badly.
The blackbirds have found II out and are
flying around in Thousands. Jaw an
immense flock the other morning settling
down TO business in wheat field, they
covered the ground and stocks ON several
acres, rendering the prospect perfectly
black. They all seem to fly northward,
having no doubt begun operations in tile
early harvest fields of the south and fol-
lowed the ripening grain northward.
Well, they can't 10 much farther north
or they will find themselves out of EN-
paoyment.
The past summer has been . remarka-
bly, vet one for this section. The oldest
settler has never known 60 much rain to
fall In one season, but although rain and
thunder storms have been very frequent
there have been no cyclones, and very
little damage by lightning, although I
never saw in Ontario such . continual
and incessant display Of lightning as on
two or three occasions here during the
past summer. The only accident caused
By lightning in this neighborhood o.
CURED some three weeks ago, when the
electric fluid struck the chimney Of Mr..
Hills house, some three miles from here,
ran down the stove pipe, shattering the
stove considerably, and then down the
cellar. The family were seated around
the stove at the time. and ~ the shock
was quite unexpected and the lamp went
out in the melee, all present felt for
. few minutes as il their last hour had
como. Itwas . miraculous escape for
which they were all, no doubt, devoutly
thankful. Owing to the wide
range Of vision here the dome of the sky
10 much larger than in = billy and undu-
lated country. have seen as many as
five thunder storms at one and the same
time ON different parts Of the horizon.
There is very little sultry weather here.
When the thermometer stood $50 in
the shade It would not, on account of the
cool prairie breeze. seem nearly as warm
- the same degree Of temperature in On
tario. and the nights are always cool.
The young people here have . very
favorable opportunity Of obtaining a
common school education. School hous-
- have been built at convenient distanc-
e. end are supplied with qualified teach-
en-, mostly female, who are paid salaries
from go to 80 per month. /. /. This
truly is paradise for servant girls. An
ordinarily clever g,rl can readily get q
situation a. from sl2 to Sl8 per month,
and . housekeeper from 3l6 to s25.
$50 There are no churches built
in this section yet. Presbyterians and
Methodists hold service every Sabbath
In adjacent schoolhouses. The PIesby-
terian congregation was Organised about
two years ago and has now . member
ship Of thirty.fve. Rev. Mr.. Mullin, q
native Of Quebec, 10 the pastor in charge.
I had the pleasure of being present at
Communion service one Sabbath morning
10 few weeks ago. Service Is held in q
new frame schoolhouse not yet finished,
but roomy, comfortable and we'll lighted.
The school marm's desk was improvised
for . pulpit, and was decorated with two.
lovely boquets in Large, handsome vases.
The text was written on the blackboard,
that oil who saw might resd. There were
about 100 persons present and thirty-six
communicating. There arc four elders,
three Of whom are we'll known In Huron,
Mr.. Murdock, formerly from Hullett,
Mr.. Geo. Kirkley, Of Blanchard. and Mr..
Dobis. from some part Of Huron county.
!. About the only amusement
people here have 10 dancing. There are
no shows, concerts or lectures, no base
ball, lacrosse or other athletic games. con.
ssqueutly the dancing parties arc fire.
lquent and we'll patrouised, They have
lcoms III through summer 3nd harvest q
labout the rats Of one fortnight. Their,
Twas ons held . few weeks 4gp In . new
I atanasy On ihs arm Of NJ. AK. McIes,
i lurlssiy! q raeksrsmith, q tih 5ost!
liep sssrs pssssat ard & 1nG -
. sna l Y J. !. - q;