, 1889-02-09
FIRST NIGHT IN DAKOTA.

L non Niblll IN bAIAO ~,
We were sitting about the open fire,
place of our old home Down East, 50 one
clustering Saturday evening in March.
We were awaiting with some impatienc,
the appearance Of my younger brother
Jack. who had an hour before gone to the
postoficc, n half milo away. for the
mail.
ii don't sec where the child can BET
mother said ut 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. II declare there's
no more dependence to be put in that boy
than inn chipnunkr'
"Nhen he knows. too, this IS his
fathers night to write, and we are all 80
anxious to hear from him, added Emily.
Its n shame!'
"Oh. oh! There he is nowl' shouted
little Bob, as n series Of ~whoops.and cries
worthy OF n band OF Chilcat Indians came
rapidly nearer.
Next moment the door burst open, and
in tumblcd tardy Jack, hatless, breath
less, with a vollcy Of snowballs whiZzing
after him, sent with vengoful aim by the
hands of much enduring companions
whom Jack had antagonizcd. Mother.
while mildly Gliding him, fastened TO
cxtricntc him from beneath the round
table, which, in his hcadlong flight. he
had upset upon himself. with its load Of
papers. books and work baskets of mend
ing,
''Such n mess, Turn him out again.
and let him get his dcsscrts!' urged
Dorothy, gathering up the melting snow
balls.
But where's the letter, my SOM"
mother asked, ~anNIously, not much heed
ing these indignant ordinations.
''Oh, that'sall right, " and Jack thrust
his rough, red hands deep into one
pocket after another.
But the letter was not forthcoming,
and a fresh outburst of Indignation be-
gan 10 descend upon his head.
Twas in my cap. There's some big
holes in my pocketsl' he exclaimed,
ruefully.
"oh, therel And he's lost his cap!'
cried Emily.
Didn't 1 tell youy" said Dorothy, in
some contempt.
Jack ran 10 the door, and | hastily
lighted tho lantern and followed him.
Down by the gate his cap was found
where n SNOWFALL had knocked it oil,
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
thankfulncss Mt recovering the precious
missivc, Jacks ofTcnscs were for the
time forgotten.
My father, whose eastern business had
been declining for the last few years. had
gone to the far west some weeks prcvi-
ously, in quest of n tract OF land on which
to settle u hig family, hoping not only
TO improve his fortunes, but to find en-
ployment for tho 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
20 nearly lost, proclaimed his success in
securing n tract of land such as he
wished in a sheltered valley in central
Dakota, with abundance of grass and
water. 1t was situated in n township
not then in the market, and tho only
way to secure it w to squat on il
and hold the claim down till it was
thrown open for settlers.
Notwithstanding tho depth of snow ON
the ground ut the time and not n foot o!
lumber nearer than Pierre, thirty mile,
distant, n building of some sort must bC
erected to shelter us. So at Pierre he
had purchased lumber for n small house,
AtAA u lAAllitl. anu htllI IL uN IaAll ~ II
station within six miles of his land.
He had shoveled tho snow away on .
selected site, and with the help of an,
other 'squatter' and his wife, living IL
a duE-Out n mile away, he had got his
house up, and now would one of the
girls come out and keep it, while Inc
worked and made further preparations
for the reception of mother and the rest
Of the family in the autumn?
Nov, girls, don't all speak Mt oncei'
cried Jack, rs we sat regarding mother
in inquisitiyc silence.
Dorothy can't go, that's certain
mother remarked relectively. ''HeT
school won't close this two months 10
come"
Better send EN-" interrupted Jack.
she could hold n claim down If she
once got her foot on it."
I'm afraid Emily hasn't experience
enough to undertake the long Journey
alone, much less the hardships of pioneer
life, said mother.
mo, you will have to go, Kathy. Nol
are economical and can help your rathcl
and make him comfortable"
It was finally decided that ! should &,
out to father in his new home in til,
northwest, and two weeks from tina
ume found me OF my way thithcr.
The journey was q tedious one, AM
many homcsick thoughts and longing
for the dear one left behind wouli
come, despite my efforts 10 Danish them
as the train sped swiftly ON over tn
wide breadth Of country between Main
and Dakota Yet everything had bCel
favorable, and began TO c~on~.tulat
myself on my shrewdncss and . " q
a traveller, when, by a blunder. | uissc,
the last connection at Pierre.
To make it worse yet it had LCCl
storming all day, and it was now SatuI
day afternoon. There was no other par
senger train for the day. l oxpectc
that father would be waiting for mo Il
How can narents allow their hildren