The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1888-03-21


Sixty years ago the Linn family lived
all by themselves in little cabin in the
woods of western New York. Their
nearest neighbors were ten miles away,
in Harrington, new village which
had sprung up there in the depths of
the wilderness. Six out of its eight
houses were built of logs so lately cut
that they had scarcely forgotten their
old tree-life, and some Of them were
ready to sprout again when the ma
Piles around them felt the reviving
breath of spring.
From this little cluster of houses a
road pushed its way into the woods,
where it wound over hill and dale, a
mere wagon track that stopped at the
door of the Linn cabin, for all the
world as though it could not, if it would 3,
60 any further.
Here the trees had been cut down to
make room for corn and potatoes and a
little patch of buckwheat. Still, so
many great, ugly stumps were left that
one could scarcely call the clearing a
garden, much less farm, though in
time it became one of the finest in all
that country.
But it was rough enough when
Farmer Linn, with his CHEEKY wife and
their little ones, went out to seek their
fortunes in what was then known as
"the lake country Their cabin was
built on a beautiful stream that ran
tinkling through the forest on its way
to turn a grist-mill at Harrington.
The wild flowers which grew by this
in, IN
remember when all the land was
cleared and settled, as it is now. There
trailing arbutus in early spring, and
azaleas, pink and white, made the
woods gay in their season. In August
the fiery torches of the lobelia lighted
up the banks of the stream, while there
were scores of other blossoms for
which the newcomers had no name.
Every nut-tree, however, was a
familiar acquaintance. There were
chestnut-trees on the hills around, and
hickories and walnuts grew here and
there in the woods, where they had
been planted by their devoted friends
the squirrels. AS for acorn cups, they
were near at hand, for the cabin stood
under an oak-tree, one of the giants OF
the forest, which stretched its protect.
ing arms not only over the low roof
but its neighboring cow-shed and wood.
pile. Clambering up on these into the
branches, the little folks in trousers
and petticoats were almost as much al
home there as the little folks in fur and
feathers.
This was while leaves were on the
trees. But it was not always summer
in the clearing. Chill northeasters
sometimes blew through the woods
The birds went flying southwark, the
flowers were gone, and the brook, il
it sang at all, sang with muflled voice
For months at time the earth lay
wrapped in winding sheet of snow
The road was so completely hidden I'M
der the drifts that, when Farmer Linz
ventured to Harrington with his sled
he sometimes rode on the tops of tn,
bushes, and was guided home by marks
on the trees which he had blaZed will
his Ratchet
The first winter which the Linn
spent in their clearing was marked b,
one of the heaviest SHOWS ever know
since white men came to the lak'
country" The family in the cabin haC
been shut in so long that they began t,
be anxious for news from the great out
side world.
Wife," said Farmer Linn, one night
as they sat together by the blazing fire
it's over three weeks since I've beef
to the post-oflice. Who would eve
think we would live so long within tel
miles of one without going there TO
news l think I'll make a start to
morrow morning."
Mrs. Linn shook her head wisely, a
she drew the yarn through great hol
she was darning in Sans stockings
"The almanac says, Heavy snoN
about this time husband"
Pooh! What does the almana
man know about snow in 9 the lax
country?' Might as well expect tn
old fellow in the moon to know whe
it is going to rain down here. | eXpeC
to start tomorrow morning about min
O'Clock for the village" So saying
Mr.. Linn gave the burning log befor
him such a vigorous punch with tn
tongs that shower of sparks flew u
the chimney.
"May go with you, father?" aske
Sam, who was busy on the hearth wit
dish of chestnuts he was putting
roast in the ashes.
" No, my boy, you must stay wit
your mother. There is the cow to fee
and milk and wood to bring in. 70
and Johnny will find enough to do
keep you out of mischief"
The next morning, bright and earl,
Mr.. Linn started, as he had proposed
to go to Harrington, but before b
could possibly have got there tn
weather suddenly changed. The SIX
clouded over and the air was thic
with snow, which, drifted by the win'
soon covered the track made by ii
oxen and sled. AS the storm increase
the trees around the cabin were scarce