The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1891-07-17

scarcely any of whom we knew.
Young men and women, little girls,
grass widows and COW boys;-a
genuine Texas half bred among
them. It was certainly a surprise
party, in more ways than one. They
soon begun their plays, hurrying
through the games to get to pay
ing forfeits; this forfeit paying
seeming to be the object Of the
parties. To my uninitiated eyes,
it was simply amazing to see the
zest with which those girls "waded
Cedar Swamp" except TO-" made
double shovel plows," etc. Maid
emily reserve or modesty seemed
unknown. The half. bred and the
so called widow we're particularly
partial to the .double-shovel. [
never shall forget the look of sur
prise Oh the face of the head ofthe
house, when, in''wading the swamp"
the g. W. marched up to him and
gave him a resounding kiss! One
Of the little girls afterwards mar
ried at thirteen years Of age. Her
cowboy lover, wishing to make her
a present of a belt, asked the
merchant 'sif he had any women's
cinches."
All these things, too, became Of
the past. One after another left
the country and We felt o, SO iso-
lated and disolate!-hardened with
many cares and trials.
Just at this time a different ele-
ment came in to our lives in theper-
sons ofthose who were afterwards
so we'll known and so closely as
ISOLATED with the educational adj
vancement Of the county, that it
is hardly necessary to mention
the names of MI. and Mrs. G. L.
Nettleton. AS we are always in
terested in the private life of those
whom we know in a public capacity
it will not be amiss or out Of place
to speak of their coming. The trips
to the U. P. R. R. for supplies
were still kept up and on one oc-
casion J. went to Plum Creek,
where he meet Mr.. Nettleton, who,
with his family, had been detain-
ed beyond the appointed time for
some one to meet them at the r. r.
One relative had gone, but not
seeing them had returned. Private
conveyances we're then the only
modes of travel and it was a ques-
ton what they should do. 1t was
finally arranged that they should
come with J. provided they could
endure the cramped accommoda-
tons Of a loaded wagon, and walk
up the hills. This they did, reach
ing our house on the evening Of
the second day, where they re
manned that night and the next
day, were taken to their claims be-
yond. The little bright eyed boy
and girl were much interested in.
the new, strange things they saw
in their two days wagon trip across
the country and among amusing
recitals, they told Of Papa chas-
ing a rabbit, and we who knew
the running capacities Of a jack
rabbit, enjoyed the telling. Mrs.
Nettletion was so kind and polite
aun tried so hard not to show that
she thought our western manner
seemed odd! Time and a frontier
life have ways Of their own in lev
cling things and it was not many
years Of drouths and toll and grass
hoppers, before the ''fellow feeling
that makes us wondrous kind''
came to her. Her visiting eastern
friends sought not to show that
they thought she had become a
little western in appearance. Not
so considerate was our own home
visitor, who was much amused at
the change in me, so much so, as
to wish for my photograph to take
back as a curiosity.
I know [ shall be pardoned for
speaking so personally, when I say
that the greatest sorrow that has
come to us, was when MI. Nettle-
ton, with his intense, eager nature
in a frail body, laid aside his life
work and entered into rest, and
we missed his genial coming and
pleasant visits. Only those of us
who have known things from the
beginning can fully appreciate
what was affected by Mr.. Nettle-
ton in the improvement Of the
schools of this county.
III kLEl IL Ni IL -