Arizona weekly enterprise., 1889-04-13
FIRST NIGHT IN DAKOTA.

We were sitting about the open fire place of our old home Down East, one clustering Saturday evening In March. We were awaiting with some impatience the appearance of my younger brother Jack, who had an hour before gone to the postoffice, a half mile away, for the mail. "I don't see where the child can bel" mother said at last, trying to pick up a stitch in her knitting by the waning fire light
 "Oh, he's probably three miles away by this time, ranging about the pastures with that Scud Winters laying out fox bait" said Dorothy. "I declare there's no more dependence to be put in that boy than in a chipmunkr
 "When he knows, too, this is his fathers night to write, and we are all so anxious to hear from him" added Emily. Its shamei"
 "Oh, ohl There he is now!' shouted little Bob, as a series of whoops and cries worthy of band of Chilcat Indians came rapidly nearer.
 Next moment the door burst open, and in tumbled tardy Jack, hatless, breath less, with a volley of snowballs whizzing after him, sent with vengeful aim by the hands of much enduring companions whom Jack had antagonized. Mother, while mildly chiding him, hastened to extricate him from beneath the round table, which, in his headlong flight, he had upset upon himself, with its load of | papers, books and work baskets of mend- ing.
 "Such a mess! Turn him out again, and let him get his desserts!' urged | Dorothy, gathering up the melting snow l balls.
 But where's the letter, my son?" mother asked, anxiously, not much heed l ing these indignant ezclamations. ''Oh, that's all right and Jack thrust l his rough, red hands deep into one l pocket after another.
 But the letter was not forthcoming, and fresh outburst of indignation be- gan to descend upon his head.
 '' Twas in my cap. There's some big ho,ca in ny pockets,' he exclaimed, rucfully.
 "Oh, there! And he's lost his cap!" cried Emily.
 Didn't I tell you?' said Dorothy, in some contempt.
 Jack ran to the door, and 1 hastily lighted the lantern and followed him. Down by the gate his cap was found where snowfall had knocked it of, and after feeling about in the soft snow, which had fallen that day, the letter was found, crumpled and wet from the tramp of many sturdy feet In our thankfulness at recovering the precious missive, Jacks offenses were for the time forgotten.
 My father, whose eastern business had been declining for the Inst few years, had gone to the far west some weeks previ- ously, in quest of tract of land on which to settle our big family, hoping not only to improve his fortunes, but to find em- ployment for the two boys who were now able to do something to help meet the family expenses.
 He had left us behind to wait his sum- mons, and this letter, which had been so nearly lost, proclaimed his success in securing a tract of land such as he wished in sheltered valley in central Dakota, with abundance of grass and water. It was situated in a township not then in tho market, and the only way to secure it was to squat" on it and mold the claim down" til it was thrown open for settlers.
 Notwithstanding the depth of snow on the ground at the time and not foot of lumber nearer than Pierre, thirty miles : distant, building of some sort must be
 
 had purchased lumber for small house, had it framed, and sent it by rail to a station within six miles of his land.
 He had shoveled the snow away on a selected site, and with the help of an. other ''squatter" and his wife, living in Q dug-Out a mile away, he had got his house up, and now would one of the girls como out and keep it, while he worked and made further preparation: for the reception of mother and the rest of the family in the autumn?
 "Now. girls, don't all speak at onceP cried Jack. as we sat regarding mother in inquisitive silence.
 "Dorothy can't go. that's certain, mother remarked rehectively. ''Hel school won't close this two months tt come"
 Better send En-" interrupted Jack ''She could hold claim down if sh, l.. once got her foot on it." - "Im afraid Emily hasn't experience enough to undertake the long journe! alone, much less the hardships of pionee life" said mother.
 No. you will have to go, Kathy. Yol are economical and can help your fathe and make him cOmfortable."
 It was finally decided that should g out to father in his new home in th northwest, and two weeks from tha time found Rle on my way thither.
 The journey was tedious one, ant many homesick thoughts and longing for the dear ones left behind woul come, despite my efforts to banish them , as the train sped swiftly on over tn wide breadth of country between Main and Dakota. Yet everything had bee favorable, and began to cong, tulat myself on my shrewdness and i.S fly a !. a traveller. when, by blunder, n1isse V the last connection at Pierre. To make it worse yet it had bee
 storming all day, and it was now Satul day afternoon. There was no other pai
 senger train for the day. 1 expecte that father would be waiting for me : A l crawled along the aisle of the car t the stove and grasped the iron fire poker though 1 had, confess, little faith in n ability to wield it successfully in self de fense.
 Twice the miscreant outside the doc appeared, from the sounds, to throw hi > weight against it, and then with mu I tered curse set hastily off through th snow.
 Rising from the floor, peered out an
 saw his dark form move off in the dire'
 tion he had gone on our arrival at tl
 station. It at once came to my min
 that he had gone away to procure an a r or bar with which to force the door. '' The instinct to fly instantly took flu