Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1888-06-22
REUNITED.
a story OF the Blizzard, Nov. 18th,
I'm, 1856.
BY FRoNA w. CALVIN.

BY FRoNA W. CALVIN.
During the autumn of sc, the wealth
er was remarkably pleasant all over
the western states till the middle of the
month of November. Up TO that time
men worked out doors in their shirt
sleeves. and women continued to wear
sunbonnets just as IN midsummer.
But the 10th dawned cold and gray.
and the wind, which is always astir in
this section of the country. was sharp
and keen. Still nobody expected a
storm of great severity. as raw.
cloudy day is not infrequent at this
season Of the year, and just as fire.
quently it comes and goes unheeded.
save TO cause one TO put on an ex
ira garment for the day and lay it
aside agan on the morrow when the
sun shines out brightly as ever But
then. no one in this slipshod west
ever does expect storm till il comes
on and finds them unprepared. Some
way the ldea that the winters are not
going 10 be severe and don't open up
TIL late is so fixed in the brain of the
average settler, that he wouldn't be
ready for cold weather If il didn't be-
gin till the following season. and when
1t comes and finds them mapping
OH. what rustling there is to Fix
things up little for the cold snap
Done. declared who'd thought
winter'd set in right way so
soon
The more shiftless never make any
provision for their cattle during the
severe weather unless it be a straw
stack for them to stand against in case
of a blizzard. At other times they
are expected to rustic their living on
the buffalo grass. This is short,
woody growth which is pouplarly be-
lieved TO contain an o ". nutritious
substance for the animals. Many of
the poor creatures die of starvation.
and those which do manage to pull
through are so poor by spring that it
takes three of them standing together
TO cast respectable shadow.
On this particular dav. it did not
clear off as it was expected; on the con-
trarr the clouds became denser rs the
day wore on. the wind rose to per-
feet gale, and toward night sleety
rain set in.
Its going TO be bad night, moth
er. What will we do with Cherry's
calfp 'Twon't do 10 let it stand out, Fl"
said Julian Ashley. coming from the
stable where lac had been 'doing the
chores" just at nightfall on the MEM
orable 10Th.
wen have to put it in the back
room in the hen-house till we can get
a place fixed replied the mother.
III come and help
There are usually exceptions TO a
rule, and Mrs. Ashley was the excep-
{ on TO the general rule of shiftlessness
in her neighborhood. Her neighbors
claimed that this was due to her peck
et-b book being better filled than theirs;
but when did laz ness ever fail to- in
vent an excuse behind which to screen
itself? The fact of her purse beng
longer than the rs was due to her pro-
vidlng food and shelter for her stock -
which is the greatest source OF revenue
on a claim-thus increasing the outfit
and doing away with the losses which
impoverished her neighbOrs.
The calf having been Induced with
many "S0ok boss g. " "lluay there
and an &C ;asional twist of its caudal
appendagc to enter the dark hen-hOuse
and allow itself to be tied to the cen
ter post Mrs Ashley took final sun
vey of The animals in the sheds and
stables to see that all were as comfor-
table as they could be nslde under the
.ir 20 tlnn Sh.. ani Tttli
each carried in scuttle of coal, clos
ed the door and pulled the rug before
il TO keep the cold from coming in at
the bottom.
The house was a long. low structure
rs sod houses usually are. and was half
.'dug-out IL, like the out-buildings.
was better than the generality. Ii con-
tanned three rooms, and not only had
board floors. hut they were carpeted
and the walls were papered. 1t also
had single roof which. much as it
may astonish you to find it out. nv
eastern friends. is luxury not enjoyed
by the common herd OF homesteaders.
A board roof with sod laid over it to
keep out the rain is considered fine,
but people who go to the extent Of
sporting single roofs on their DWELL
ings are considered way up" in west
ern parlance.
The houses are usually covered in
this wise. A ridge-log Is laid from one
end wall TO the other, supported in the
center by log with crotch on the
upper end, standing perpendicularly.
Small poles are then placed at q
distance of two feet apart one end OF
each resting upon a side wall, the
other upon the ridge-log. This con-
stitutes the frame work. Willows are
then laid thickly across the poles. a
layer of buflalo-sod, added. and the
entire roof covered with dirt n foot
thick.
Board foors are another luxury not
enjoyed by the majority. 'dirt floors"
being the rule. That is, the earth in
closed within the four walls is leveled
down rs smoothly as possible with a
spade. and considered quite good
enough. IL is no uncommon occur
renee TO see people who own hundreds