The Holly chieftain., 1899-12-15
THE ROMANCE OF IRRIsA TON.

preciated by those who have, through
their labor, caused the arid prain to
burst into greenery, flowers and fruit.
1t must have been upon the irrigator
upon him who caused two blades Of
grass to grow where one grew before
that the blessing WAS called down, forit
is he who aceomplishes this miracle
more than the man who spends his
time in dry weather PRAYING for rain
and in wet weather praying that the
rain may cease.
In the Western arid and sems-arid
country the few streams flow hurridly,
as though to escape the heat and
dust about them and quickly reach
the sea. or moister climates, where
the suns rays are not so greedy OF the
river beds precious burden. On
either side the rolling land stretches
away for countless miles. Its vegeta-
tion is sparse and harsh. Great
reaches OF bare ground tell OF the I'M
successful struggle OF life against the
deadly drought. The sky is always
blue and clear. with steely CLINT
which gives no intimation OF pity.
The nights come cold and dewey, but
the gentle moisture OF the darkness is
hut a tantalization, for at the hrst
peep OF the brazen sun above the low
horizon it is gone. and by noon even
the medow lark and the grasshopper
succumb to its discountenancing stare
and give no sign OF vitality.
In the winter the cold is sharp. the
driven snow finds no Judgement and
rustles over the ground with the noise
Of dead leaves stirred by the wind.
From the north there is no refuge
and on the arid plain OF the great
West the fierce blasts Of winter have
full scope for their terrible play. All
life is gone. 1t is world apparently
dead.
From over the edge OF the low east
ern horizon comes canras-coVered
wagon on one OF the early spring DAYS.
II is dragged along by wearied horses,
that have lost all ambition except to
reach camping place. 1t is driven
by man whose face is drawn IN an1-
ious but determined lines, and his
glance is always far ahead along the
road he is making for himself. In the
wagon is tired woman whose dream
is OF . home. place to stay Tor more
than one night. With her are the
children with curiosity and hope in
their sunburned faces and with little
thought that they, in Year, TO come
will hold the honored place OF pio-
neers in the minds OF the neighbors
yet to come.
The wagon reaches the low bank OF
the swiftly moving river. Ihe man
face lights up with eagcrncss. 1t Is
here lie will buid for himself and
those with uim. lie looks mol TO the
sky above him for the water, Tor There
IL is in the river before hlm. lie
needs but !, glance at the river bank
TO tell him the story OF the deep ana
fertile loan and The subSoli. lie
strips the harness from his horses, un-
loads his IA nily from the wagon and
SAYS; 1t is ucrr We stay" Ana lie
or his children are st.l. thsrc, Dut
with VII. a u!Acrrucc.
VITA sturiY arm It turned the
rre fro.a It's bed. lie carried It's
w.lcr broadcast upon the drouth-
stricken land until ii cries enough for
fear OF drowning. The grain, the
q ass, and the trees sprang up as II by
magic. In the midst OF all there came
a home such as the wife had dreamed
OF. About this home came Others,
then churches, school, libraries and
then they called it a town. Then
came the railroad, but in all this pros
porous hurry and hustle there was no
such real joy as when the hardy ana
adventurous founder OF that town
first saw the water OF that river slowly
spreading over the scorched earth and
filled each crack and GRANNY until 1t
ran over into the other one, for this
all came from the labor of his hands,
and the result was beautiful to look
upon.-Kansas City Star.
A new passenger ticket system will
be inagurated on the Santa Fe road
proper January lst. On that date the
sale OF present style tickets will be
discontinued, and the Thrall simplex
tickets will be placed in use. The
Thrall simplex tickets are now In use