The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1888-12-28
Joe Jefrerson,s Homo.

Across the marshes and bayors
eight miles to the west from Petite
Anse island rise Orange island. IA
nous for its orange plantation, bat
called Jefferson island since it became
the property and home Of Joseph ysfs
ierson. Not so high as Petite Anss,
it is still conspicuous with its crown
of dark forest. From a high point on
Petite Anse, through q lonely vista oi
trees, with Towering cacti in the lore
ground, Jefferson's house is q white
spot in the landscape. We reached it
by q circuitous drive OF IL miles Owe
the prairie, sometimes in and some
times out OF water, and continually
diverted from our course by fences. It
is q good sign OF the thrift OF the race.
and ofits independence, that the color
ed people have taken up or bought lit.
tie tracts of 80 or 40 acres, put up
cabins, and new fences round their
domains regardless of the travelling
public. We zigzagged all about the
country to get round these little en-
closures. At one place, where the
main road was bad, n thrifty Acadian
had set up a toll of twenty-five cents
for the privilege of passing through
his premises. The scenery was pas
toral and pleasing. There were fire.
quent round ponds, brilliant with lii
les and fleurs-de-lis, and hundreds OF
cattle feeding on the prairie or stand
ing in the water, and generally OF q
dun-color, made always an agreeable
picture. The monotony was broken
woods stretching into the plain.
and the horizon line was
always fine. Great variety of birds
enlivened the landscape, game birds
Astounding. There was the lively
nonpareil, which seems to change it's
color, and is red and green and blue
Il believe of the oriole family-the
papabotte, q favorite on New Orleans
tables IN the autumn, snipe, killdee,
the c~heerooke (snipe?) the meadow
lark, and quantities Of teal duck in
the ponds. These little ponds are
called ''bull-holes." The traveller ID
told that they are started in this wa
terry soil by the paving of bulls, and
grad Tally enlarge us the cattle fire.
quent them. He remembers that he
has seen similar circular ponds in the
North not made by bulls.
Mr.. Jefferson's Residences pretty
rosevine-covered cottage-is situated
on the slope of the hill, overlooking a
broad plain and vast stretch of bayou
country. Along one side of his home
enclosure for q mile runs o superb
&c II.,l-a .A., a. A.
Stops back of the house, and almost
embracing it, Is a magnificent grove
of liveoaks, great gray stems, and the
branches hung with heavy masses of
moss, which swing in the wind like the
pendant boughs of the willow, and
with something of its sentimental and
mournful suggestions. The recesses of
this forest are cool and dark, but up
ascending the hill, suddenly bursts
upon the view under the trees q most
lake of clear blue water. This
lake which may be q mile long and O
half q mile broad, is called Lake Peig-
neur, from its fanciful resemblance, /
believe to a wool-comber.
The shores are wooden. On the ISL
and side the bank is precipitous; on
the opposite shore amid the trees is a
hunting lodge and L believe there are
plantations on the north end, but it
is in aspect altogether solitary and
peaceful. But the island did not want
life. The day was brilliant, with a.
deep blue sky and h~ieh-sailing fieecy l.
and 1T seemed q sort OF animal
holiday; squirrels chartered; cardinal
birds flashed through the green leaves;
there fitted about the red-winged
blackbird, blueiays, red headed wood
peckers, thrushes and occasionally d
crossed the scene; high over
head sailed the heavy buzzards, de-
5~cribinggreat aerial circles; and off in
the still lake the ugly heads OF the al
toasting in the sun.-Charles
Warner, "The Acadian Land"
n Harper's Magazine for February.