The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1889-03-27
FIRST NIGHT IN DAKOTA.

FiRS NIGHT IN DAKOTA.
We were sitting about the open fire
place in our old home Down East, on,
clustering Saturday evening in March
We we're awaiting with some impstienc,
the appearance Of my younger brother
Jack, who had an hour before some TO the
I postofiice, half mile away, for thG
mail.
don't see where the child can be =
mother said at last, trying to pick. up 4
stitch in her knitting by the waning IRE
light
Oh. he's probably three milesiiway by
this time. ranging about the pastures With
that Scud Winters Lying out fox bait,
said Dorothy. Il declare, there's NJ
more dependence TO be pct in that boy
than in chipmunk p
When he knows, too, this is his IA.
theirs night TO write, and We are all 50
anxious to hear from him, added Emily
It's a shsme,7
Oh, oh There lac is now - shouted
little Bob, as a series of whoops and cries
worthy ola band Of Chilcat Indians came
rapidly nearer.
Next moment the door burst open, and
in iumbled tardy Jack, hatless, breath
less, with a volley Of snow balls whizzing
sfter him, sent with venseful aim BY the
hands of much enduring companions
whom Jack had antagonized. Mother
while mildly chiding him, hastened q
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 mess Turn him cut again,
and LET him gel his deserts y urged Dor
othy, gathering up the melting snow
balls.
But where's the letter, my son p ask
Ell mother, anxiously, not much needing
these indignant exclamatioDs-
Oh, that's all right, and Jack thrust
his rough, red hands deep into one pock-
ct after another
Bat the letter was not forthcoming, and
fresh outbnrst Of Indignation began to
descend naon his head
Twas in my cap. There's some big
holes in my pockets ~ be exclaimed, rue
fully.
oh, there And he's lost his cap,
cried Emily.
Didn't tell you ?" said Dorothy. in
some contempt.
Jack ran to the door, and hastily
lighted the lantern and followed him.
Down by the gate his cap was found
where SNOWFALL had knocked it off 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 most precious missive.
Jacks offenses were for the time forgot
ten.
Ny father, whose eastern business hal
been declining for the last few years. had
gone to the FAR west some weeks previ-
ously. in quest Of a tract ofland on which
to settle our big family, hoping not only
to improve his fortunes, hut 10 fiud en-
ployment for the txo boys who were now
able TO DO something to help meet the
family expenses.
He had left Us behind 10 wait his sum-
mons and this letter, which had been 50
nearly lost. proclaimed his success in Sc
curing a trac; of land such as ne wished
in sheltered valley in central Dakota.
with abundance OF grass and water. It
was situated in township not then in
the market. and the only way to secure II
was to squat on it and hold the claim
down till It WAS thrown open for set
tiers
Notwithstanding the denih Of SHOW on
the ground at the time and not foot Of
lumber nearer than Pierre. thirty miles
distant. building Of some sort must be-
erected to shelter US So at Pierre he had
purchased lumber for a small house, hal
it framed. and sent it By rail to a station
within six miles of his land
lie had shoveled the snow away on
selected site, and with the helPof snoth-
er squatter" and his wife, living in
dug-out mile asay, he had 20, house
up. and now would one of the girls come
out and keep it. while he worked and
made further preparations for the recep-
ton Of mother and the rest OF the family
in the autumn
"Now, girls, don't all speak at once -
cried Jack, as we sat regarding mother in
inquisitive silence.
Dorothy can't 60, that's certain re-
marked mother, reheetively. Her
school won't close this two months 10
come
"Better send En- interrupted Jack.
She could hold claim down if once
she got her foot on Il"
I'm afraid Emily hasn't experience
enough to undertake the long journey
alone, much less the hariships of pioneer
life, said mother.
{" No. you will have to go. Kathy you
are economical, and can help your fztber
and make him comfortabIe,s
II was finally decided that shoHld go
out to father in his new home in the
northwest. and two weeks from that
time found me on my long journey
thitber.
TIE journey was tedious one, and
many honesick thoughts and longines
for the dear ones left behind would come
despite my Efforts to Danish them, as the
train sped swiftly on over the wide
breadth Of country between Maine and
Dakota Yet everything had been IA