Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1888-05-31
REUNITED.
Story Of a Mans Repentance and
Woman's Forgiveness.

During the autumn of sc, the weather
was remarkably pleasant all over the West
ern States till the middle of the month of
November. Up 20 that time men worked
out Of doors in their shirt-sleeves, and
women continued to wear sun-bOnnets 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
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 wouldn't be ready
for cold weather if he didn't begin till the
following season, and when it comes and
finds them napping-oh, what a rustling
there is to FIX things up a little for the cold
snap. Done, declared 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 il 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 a short.
woody growth which is popularity believed
TO contain an oily, nutritious substance for
the animals. Many of the poor creatures
die of starvation, and those which do man.
age to pull through are so poor by spring
Job Z
to cast a 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.
Its going to be bad night, mother
What will we do with Cherry's calfl 'Twon't
do TO let il stand out" said Julian Ashley,
coming from the stable where he had been
''doing the chores just at nightfall on the
memorable 18th.
''We'll have to put it in the back room in
the hen-house till we can get place fixed"
replied the mother. I'm come and help"
There are usually exceptions to rule and
Mrs. Ashley was the exception to the gener-
al rule Of shiftlcssnesS in her ueighborhood
Her neighborS claimed that this was due to
her pocket-bOOk being better filled than
theirs; but when did laZincsS 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 stocll-which is the greatest
source of revenue on a 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 bessie" ''Huay there" and an oc-
casional twist of its caudal appendage, TO
enter the dark hen-house and allow itself to |
be tied to the center-post, Mrs. Ashley took
a final survey of the animals in the sheds |
and stables to see that all We're as comfortable
as they could be under the circumstances.
then she and Julian each carried in a scuttle
of coal, closed 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. as
sod houses usually are, and was half ssdug-
out" 1t, like the out-builiings, was better
than the generality. 1t contained three |
rooms, and not only had board floors. but
they were carpeted and the walls were |
papered. 1t also had shingle roof which. |
much as il may astOnish you to find it out, |
my Eastern friends, is luxury not enioyed |
by the common herd of hones;eaders.
board roof with sod laid over it to keep ont |
the rain is considered fine. but people who |
go TO the extent of sporting shingie roofs on |
their dwellings are considered sway upn in |
Western 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 a |
log with q crotch on the upper end, standing |
perpendicularly. Small poles are then |
placed at distance of two feet apart. one |
end of each resting upon q side wall. the |
other upon the ridge-loS. This constitutes
the frame work. Willows are then laid |
thickly across the poles, layer of buffalo |
sod added, and the entire roof covered with |
dirt a foot thick.
Board floors are another luxury not en-
joyed by the majority, dirt floors being
the rule That is, the earth enclosed within |
the four walls is leveled down rs smoothly |
as possible with spade, and considered quite /
good enough. It is no uncommon occur
renee to see people who own hundreds of /
heads OF cattle and three or four sections OF |
land living in sod houses-or even .sduC-
outs" sometimes, with dirt roofs and dirt |
noors-buildings which Eastern farmers |
would not consider lit to winter stock. in. /
This being the usual style of living among /
tne pioneers OF Nebraska, of course when |
MIS- Ashley took a claim and fixed II nm so /