New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1885-12-23
CHRISTMAS En- a DUG-OU T.
4 Story Of : western blizzard.

L ] well remember when my old friend
Archer Metcalf, who was then Just
married, started from the East with
his pretty wife to take up his home
in Dakota. Archer was possessed Of
both the physical and mental quail
ties to make the most Of Mr.. Greeley's
advice. EGO West, young man, go
West" q species Of counsel intended
for neither Incidence nor timidity.
He was a stout young blacksmith
and wheelright, and I recollect that
about Christmas, in a very few weeks
after his departure, he wrote to me
saying, that he already had a house
and shop, and had shod his first West
ern horse
How many Christmasses have
wheeled about since then! but all the
while my friend has stuck nobly to his
forge, and continued to hammer pros
perity out of the solid iron.
Archer, upon emigrating, had left
his parents in their home in the east,
which, of course, they were then loath
to leave. but hehad always cherished
the desire to have them with him, and
this desire increased as he felt that
they were growing more feeble.
About a year ago, he succeeded in
prevailing upon them, together with
his two unmarried sisters, to make the
journey and take up their abode with
his family. He had four children. but
his house was commodious enough
for the expected addition to It's occu-
pants.
It was "dug-out," kind of house
very common in Dakota and the 9TH
er territories, SO called from the fact
OF It's being excavated in a bank of
earth. The front and roof were of
logs, and it was made to face the south
with a view to the necessities of win
ter. With the same object also, the
roof had received a covering of some
two feet of turf, upon which, in early
summer q crop Of prairie flowers
sprang thickly up.
Flowers, flowers-beautiful flowers,
Smile OF the sunbeams and laugh of the
showers?n
And that, too, upon the very house
top! What a picturesque sight they
were!
The earth and sandstone into which
the house was dug formed the back
and sides, and there were four com
Portable rooms. Such is the hahta-
ton OF many a pioneer in regions
where the prairles are almost bare OF
timber I.
Near the house, and constructed in
the same way, was the smithy.
1t was now December, and as the
anxiously expected parents and sis.
tiers would probably arrive on Christ.
mas Eve, it was resolved by the little
household to make the event the oc.
cassion of ajoyful celebration of the
season. Thelnote OF preparation was
sounded, and all was hustle under the
humble roof.
Cookery WAS in the ascendant, and
tempting odors filled all the rooms
The very dog, the mere puppy that
ronlped with the children, might have
said with the Caesar of Burns:
"frs1n morn'to night there's nothing but
'tofling,
Attacking, roasting, frying, boiling.
Thleeanty auId folk cracking Grouse,
Inc goung anes rantin' through the house
Ny heart has been sac fain to see them.
ThatI for Joy haze barkit wi Them
GrAnay, III ,
over all the doors, and beautiful
Scripture notices and gems of poetry
told that even there in the Western
Wilds, the soul had found it's means OF
culture.
The neighbers were invited, and in
suchsa country the word .sneighbor''
hasa meaning which it seldom &C
quires in the East-for it means
eNnyb ody within dozen mixes.
Mrs Metca1f was extremely busy,
with Annie, the Oldest girl, as her
chaefmssistant, while the son, George,
now twelve years OF age, made him
SELF ias useful as possible. In ,conlpa-
ny with Joe, a young Crow Indian, he
had Supplied the larder with such
stock of wild game that his another
telt almost overwhelmed by it.
At last he flew out to thesmithy
upon some business Of his own which
was to be held a secret from the
common gaze, only Joe, the Indian, be
ingperinitted to assist. "A terrible din
they set up, and Mrs. Metcalf smiled
as it reached her ears, wondering what
whim OF the season had got into her
boys wild head.
1t was q mystery, he told her;but
she wodla find it out in time-only he
mustm0tsbe disturbed.
Meantime Mr.. Matcalf had started
early to meet the stage and bringhome
the newcomers. He feared, however.
that storm was near, as the sky had
a threatening look. This would he
unfortunate and he felt the necessity
of haste.
Very shortly after aais arriv;.l With
ihis two-horse sled a5 the place of
rendezvous. she was gleddened by the
sight OF the did stage coming up in fine
style the driver clad ln Buffalo skins
aud scarlet opter-stocklngs.
The tired stage horses mere led away,
and Archer. Nfotoalf n.ar.o,,,o1 ~