New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1888-11-07
9 'VVah-te-to.'
THE PEARL OF THE MINNESOTA.
Chapter /.


Chapter 1.
10 lover of nature, sensitive to the
beauties strewn with open hand around
the valley of the Minnesota reveals
charms singularly without comparison.
They exert their influence so unassum
ing, that peaceful consolation creeps
into ones heart ere he is aware, and as
one gazes overt the wooded hills, reced-
ing g from the tranquil and majestic river,
over the rolling prairie, stretching fa1
toward the west, one feels as though a
pastoral poem dawns upon the mind.
Such was my experience when first
let my eyes wander over the broad ex.
panse of land bordering on that river,
which the Sioux in their poetic language
have called CLOUDY Water Far as
the sight could search lay country as
IN sweet repose, and as the sun rose O e1
the lake, which my companions and ]
had just crossed IN our canoes, resting
for a moment with its golden splendo1
on the rippled water, and then stealing
steadily along over the dew-ridden prai-
rie-g grass, on which sparkled myriad
OF crystal drops, till finally it dove into
the folds of an enveloping mist that lay
in the river-bottom, our srapturous ad-
miration knew no bounds, and we gazed
over the enchanting scene till the FOG
had risen high above the verdant hills,
and the river lay like silver band be-
fore our view. All breathed quiet and
contentment, and overcome with the
revelation of the character OF the coun-
try which was to become our home, nv
gentle wife knelt down upon the sod
and sentup fervent thanks. I too clasped
my hands and gazed with dewy eye
toward heaven, which spread its azure
canopy over my beloved family, the
family of a sturdy pioneer. Alice, my
eldest daughter, just about revealing
the attributes of modest womanhood,
had gathered a handful of prairie-roses
and laid them in mothers lap, while
Ora, my adult son, was busying himself
about the luggage, which my second
son, Roger, helped him to unload from
the canoes.
Such then was our entrance into the
valley of the Minnesota, peaceful and
promising, and with good cheer we set
about preparing for our days travel,
which was to lead us toward a newly
established frontier-post, which we
hoped to reach in few days travel.
There it was our intention to procure
few ponies, which would materially aid
US in the transport of our baggage which
necessarily consisted of all the house
hold goods of an emigrating settler. We
had in our company Canadian French
man, who, thoroughly posted as to the
requirements of a sojourn over the prai-
RE, was of eminent service to US, and
we owed him thanks for having conduc-
ted us thus far through wild, unsett-
led country without having encountered
those serious obstacles so commonly
met with in an emigration to compara-
lively unprotected region. Besides this,
Martell, whom we, for the sake of con-
venience and brevity, called Mart. was
a most genial friend, and we had learned
during the few weeks in which he had
led us, to regard him as one of the fam
lily, and no council was held without
consulting him and giving due weight
to his suggestions. He and Ora, es-
pecially were good friends, and now
that my sons and he had shouldered our
belongings, while the women and car
ried the lighter articles, we cheerfully
followed him as he led the way over the
prairie. The canoes had been well con-
cealed in the high grass under some tall
lake, and confident that no strange eye
wonld discover them, we followed the
path indicated by our faithful guide,
content that the journey was begun un-
der most favorable auspices.
The season was late fall, commonly
named in the region which we were
trayersing, Indian Summer, and we,
who had never yet experienced similar.
autumnal days, gladly welcomed the,
cool and yet balmy air that famed the
tall prairie-grass all around us. Long
spun spider webs were floating about us
and clung to the stems which we trod
down on our way, and the general land
scape, enveloped in that peculiar hazi-
ness so peculiar to the season and Civ
ing to the entire surroundings the as.
pect of sleepiness. spread out before US
in deepest silence, scarcely interrupted