The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1888-06-02
REUNITED.
Story of a Mans Repentance and
a Woman's Forgiveness.

During the autumn of 'S6, the weather
was remarkably pleasant all over the West
ern States till the middle of the month of
November Up to that time men worked
out of doors in their shirt-sleeves, and
women continued to wear sun-bonaets 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 very great severity, as a raw,
cloudy day is not infrequent at this season
of the year. and just as frequently it comes
and goes UNDECIDED, save to cause one to put
on an extra garment for the day and lay it
aside again on the morrow when the sun
shines out brightly as ever. But then no
one in this slipshod West ever does expect
a storm till it comes on and finds them I'M
prepared. Some way the idea that the
winters are not going to be severe and don't
open up till late is so fixed in the brain of
the average settler that he wouldntbe ready
for cold weather if he didn't begin till the
following season, and when it comes and
finds them napping-oh, what rustling
there is to Elk things up a little for the cold
snap. Done, declaren who'd "a thought
winter'd a set in right away so soon.'"
The more shiftless never make any pro
vision for their cattle during the severe
weather unless it be a straw stack for them
TO stand against in case of blizzard. At
other times they are expected to rustic their
living on the buffalo grass. This is short
woody growth which is popularity believed
to contain an oily, nutritious substance for
the animals. Many of the poor creatures
die of starvation, aud those which do man
age to pull through are so poor by spring
that ittakes three of them standing together
TO cast respectable shadow.
On this particular day, it did not clear off
as was expected; on the contrary the clouds
became denser as the day wore on, the wind
rose to perfect gale, and toward night a
Sleety rain set in.
cts going to be bad night, mother.
What will we do with Cherrys calfl 'Twon't
do to let it stand out" said Julian Ashley,
coming from tho stable where he had been
''doing the Chores" just at nightfall on the
memorable 10th.
s'We'll have to put it in the back room in
the hen-house till we can get a place fixed"
replied the mother. "I'll come and help"
There are usually exceptions to rule and
Mrs Ashley was the exception to the gener-
al rule Of shiftlessness in her neighborhood.
Her neighbors claimed that this was due to
her pocket-book being better filled than
theirs but when did laziness ever fail to in
vent an excuse behind which to screen itselfl
The fact of her purse being longer than
theirs was due to her providing food and
shelter for her stock-which is the greatest
source of revenue on claim-thus increas-
ing the profit and doing away with the
losses which impoverished her neighbors.
The calf having been induced with many
a 'Sook bossie," "Huay there,r and an oc-
casi0nal twist of its caudal appendage, to
enter the dark hen-house and allow itself to
be tied to the center-post, MrE. Ashley took
final survey of the animals in the sheds
and stables to see that all were as comfortable
as they could be under the circumstances
then she and Julian each carriedin scuttle
of coal, closed the door and pulled the rug
before it to keep the cold from coming in al
the bottom.
The house was a long, low structure, as
sod houses usually are, and was half "dug
out" 1t, like the out-buildings, was better
than the generality. 1t contained three
rooms, and not only had board floors, bu
they were carpeted and the walls were
papered. 1t also had shingle roof which
much as it may astonish you to find it out
my Eastern friends, is a luxury not enjoyed
by the common herd Of hOmeSteaders.
board roof with sod laid over it to keep ou
the rain is considered fine, but people wht
20 to the extont of sporting shngle roofs OF
their dwellings are considered SWAY up,n il
Western parlance.
The houses are usually covered in thi
wise. A ridge-log is laid from one end wal
TO the other, supported in the center by
log with crotch on the upper end, standing
perpendicularly. Small poles are thel
placed at a distance of two feet apart, on
end of each resting upon a side wall, tn
other upon the ridge-log This constitute
the frame work. Willows are then lai
thickly across the poles, a layer of buffalo