River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1899-10-19
From North Dakota.

nave SdIu TO IN 4Seil over duu ONcT
that l would write that long promised
letter to the JOURNAL, but "Old
Prob" finds a placein this large coun-
try where help is not to be had-house-
hold help-and there is so much that
always stands ready to be done.
/ will strive first to answer the q,tes-
ton: Do you like North Dakota? /
do not dislike it. My health is SO much
improved that | feel too thankful to
the country for what it has done for
me along that line TO feel other than
kindly toward these broad prairies.
Then we have had no bad storms here.
Living as we do in loop of the river
the severe hail storms seldom visit
here as they seem TO follow the river.
We have had almost no rain since the
thirteenth Of July. Fred dug some
parsnips few days ago that were
"wllted to the end,n as.-the children
said.
The people as far as l have become
acquainted in this neighborhood are
of the finest type. A kindly christian
fellowship dwelIs in our midst.
The boys like it here very much,
Lyman in particular is in love with
the country. Mr.. G. and ] are happy,
but all this does not make US for one
instant forget our old home or those
OF our dear friends and kindred who
have been so much to us in the years
that have gone by. Those painful
years that have made our friends
grow dearer, and the old home that
was so much a prison to me that "My
chains and I'd grown friends" /
long for the trees and shddops. Oh!
how ! miss them, one who has never
lived Sin the middle of nowhere can
not know their worth. To-day is my
birthday and it is the first of the
forty-four that has been spent out
side of the st. Croix Valley Oh. it is
hard to tear old trees up by the root.
How glad we are when the JOURNAL
comes-read every word and wish for
more.
Yesterday we went down to Valley
City, nine miles south, "to see Co. G
come home." They came in Sunday
afternoon, but we're not publicly
received until Monday. Well there
was crowd there to say the least,
opd it yvac n cold oroud too INIT fbau
were very proud and patient for was
it not their boys? They fed about six
teen hundred at the Armory--coyers
were laid for four hundred at a sitting
and many were fed elsewhere. In
the restaurant where Mr.. Getchell and
/ took dinner it seemed to me that as
many as hundred ate while We were
there. / enjoyed sitting and watch
ing the crowd. There were the much
satisfied ones, also the grumblers.
One lady in particular amused me by
herfault-fnding. There was nothing
quite right anywhere. Every one
should have been fed at once at the
Armory. She remarked that, 1T is
always the town people first then the
country people can tag along and
hang on if there is room, if not they
may fall off, She said, II would
rather have one acre of land down in
Maine--with the fruit and something
to eat than all of North Dakota" /
replied that this was not very sassy
country" She said, "No, but you will
find it a cheeky one" :.
AS the people passed in and out l
saw men who made me think of old
neighbors, but NO, they must be
strangers all.
The town was decorated with flags
and bunting, and everywhere were
notices like these: welcome Co.
G." or "Welcome Co. G, heroes ALL"
The band played and the pro-
cession was fine. Among the most
honored was Lieut.. G. w. Getchell--
whom many of you knew as" Charles"
he is Charlie just the same and all of
the honors do not seem TO particular
ly elevate him. He is every ones
friend and all people of all classes
seemed to vie with each other in
making what he calls a ''fuss" over
him. All Of the soldiers were strong
in his praises. | was much with his
mother that day and felt a part Of
her joy at such words as these: you
are Charles mother, we'll he is good
man, one of the best men out there"
or II tell you Mrs. Getchell you may
well be proud of your boy not better
man in the army She with many
another mother was too glad to talk
much that day. @
Crops are fair here. l believe our
average was about twenty bushels per
acre. Our blowing is nearly finished
that is, the two brothers have about
six hundred acres ready for seeding in
the spring.
Lyman is in town attending the
Public School. Fred would be there
too but good men to take charge of
four horse teams are not to be found;
he will go as soon as possible. Father
GetcheIfs health is improving of late;
he has been very poorly all summer.
We have had what the people here
admit to be windy summer and fall.
Oh! such dust storms! hope soon to
forget that "Dirt is matter out of
place." and to kHo,c that it is never in
one place long at time out here.
Well, the clock tells me that it is
bed time and as l must stop I'll say
'now is the time"
With love and best wishes to all.
SARAH WADswoRTH GETCHELL.
We will cure your cough for twenty
five cents. BARNARD & CLoUGH.
Free Lecture.
On Monday evening. next, Miss L.