The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1907-04-27
dure a great mountain called Har-

that had a good spring upon 1t and
he s. there will / st up my tent
and plant my vine and fig tree. And
o. this patch # prairie l will make
a farm
And again he hiked to the west.
Ard he came to a beautiful little
city nestled among the hills. And it
was pc. III anks of a little river
callea pid. And as he entered
the city, o i sound of the hammer
and of the s-w came to his ea..
masons with trowel to be seen every
from every side and there were
where, and there were men with
all kinds of tools at work all about
him, and there were new railroads
being built into the town. And it
was a growing place.
And as he journed on his way 10
he met an old geeZer, and one who
had been there SO long that there
was cacti growing up between his
toes for he was an old resident and
he thus addressed him:
WHITTIER SO fast my young ten
derfoot?"
And he answered and said, II am
going to seek the land office that I
may file. For 10, / have discovered
a fine farm out upon the divide and I
would farm it,"
And threup OH the old geezer said
unto him, "Ha! hal, you be a EN-
derfoot for sure. Know you not oh
grinned a mighty grin, and he said
youthful hero that this is not a farm
ing country, for verify l say unto
you nothing will grow here but the
cacti and prairie dogs and sage
brush. That it will get SO dry here
that you cant drive a ten penny nail
into the ground and the gnmbo will
roll up on the wagon wheel till six
horses can't pull the empty wagon
and the grass dries up and will not
sprout and we have hail storms that
pound the earth till. there amt a
live thing left above the ground. The
water is full of alkali that will eat
the bottom out Of a beer glass if it
stands over night. The grass is so
rich that the cows won't give any
milk on 1t and that starvation awaits
tho settler who tries to live here
And does it never rain here?"
asked the tenderfoot.
Rain, l should say it does. 1t
comes down in water spouts, chunks
as big as a dry goods box and the
wind 1h1nurSL on that ~ -, 49,
gravel on the hill points. why"
Se added "Onc Teller had a harrow
g on the hill and the wind
w it twenty rods and broke the
I'll the way"
But the tenderfoot shook his head.
your story he. said 'has about 1t
the odor of pickerel and bass and
suckers. | will wait and see for my
SELF" and he passed IN.
But even as he looked his bright
est hopes began to fade away into
the distance, and to take on a
blush tint as though seen through
colored glasses, for he did not know
that the man was q knocker. But as
he Went along he met a carpenter
with his arms full of planes and
saw and other implements and he
said unto him:
"Knowest thou yon man that Just
lie me?!"
"Ay, that ] do"
How long has he been in this
country?"
Long enough to get rich was
the swift and pregnant answer.
And again the %tenderfoot took
heart for he said to himself. If that
man could get rich here l surely will
not starve, and again he said to the
carpenter, "Canst thou build me a
house."
Sorry my friend but I have some
six weeks work ahead"
And are all the carpenters busy,
now?"
No carpenter or plasterer or any
other man who wants to work in
Rapid City Is idle now. There is
much to do"
But that man told me that MOTH
ing will grow here. How can there
be SO much to do in a country, where
there can be no farming?"
And the carpenter answered and
said. go you over to his place and
9 how he farms., And the ten
.derfoot went and 10 there they were
breaking the sod. Three boys had
hitched their ponies to the pillow with
their lariet OF ropes and another had
strapped saddle upon the beam
where he could guide the machine
and they were blowing to the best Of
their ability.
And the tenderfoot went on his
way to the land at once and filed.
PART III.
Out upon the bleak and wind
swept divide some thirty young pines
are seen. It is the grove around the
settlers home. The carpenter has
been there and amid the pines a
coy home has arisen. In the door
way stands a youthful bride, while
All around are&the evidences of thrift
and intelligent labor. The fat and
healthy looking mich cows lie chew.
ing the cud; In the corner of the pas
Eture;; fowls Of various kinds roam
around the barns while at the gate.
stands q man in overalls. It is! the
tenderfoots OF few years ago. Near
him and seated In q buggy is one of
the land Agents OF the town Ands
you won't-take $35 for your place
now