Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1907-03-28
EARLY sPIoNEER LIFE
Pioneer Life is Much the Same The
World Over.

1t was humble, unpretentious home. 1t
was built of native logs covered with cotton
wood boards, and was situated inear Fort
Cherokee. Iowa. and one hundred and forty
miles from railroad station. 1t was built
in 1865 The roof boards warped so badly in
the sun and rain thatiplenty of ventilation
was provided without extra effort and on
numerous winter mornings the children
sleeping upstairs would awaken to find that
the snow.hadi sifted in during the night aud
covered the bed clothes to the depth Of
half an inch. In later years an addition was
built thereto of modern lumber which did not
respond so readily to the alternating changes
of heat and cold. But it remained II simple
farm house. 1t did not have the exterior or
/ interior adornments which characterize the
homes of these modern days. but it sheltered
happy. united family. Many years have
come and gone. since those early pioneer days.
Changes have been wrought in the lives of
the family. The shadow of death has fallen
u number of times across the Threshold,
Time has thickly woven silver threads among
the raven locks but memory sweeps aside the
intervening years aud carries us back to the
old home on the prairie and to the happy days
of childhood. THE old farm house was set
back from the road and was reached by path,
across which in lateryears stately trees threw
their shadows in the afternoon sunshine, and
scarlet leaves were whirled by the breezes of
autumn. In front of the house box elders
were set out, and the cottonwood slips, plant
ed by boylsh hands grew into trees and shaded
the busy colonies of bees. While the boys were
growing into manhood the trees we planted
were reaching higher and higher. Thus was
the home bnilded in those far away years.
The years we passed in that home were mark.
ed with toll and often with p,ivation, but they
We're happy years. The fare provided was not
elaborate but 1T was wholesome and substan.
tial, and our boyish appetites, sharpened by
an active, outdoor life were sharp and keen.
A hard day's work brought night of sound
refreshing sleep. a fter the days work was
ended and the chores all done. we were ready
to do justice to the supper mother had provid-
cd we used to retire early in those days.
We did not nave a large supply of reading
matter, and tired nature called for rest. There
was no music or games or excitement in that
primitive home. At an early hour mother
would take down the Bible and after she had
read chapter, in prayer she would ask the
Heavenly Father to enfold them in His care
while they slept Nothing could be better
for tired children than the sonnd sleep which
came SO unbidden to them. In summer and
autumn we heard the drowsy voices of the
birds; in winter we were lulled by the sough :
ing of the wind or the swirling of the snow
against the window. pane
Strangers have occupied that old home for
many year. The ties which bound the fam
lily 50 closely have been broken. In retrospec-
oft tlair 70.
their voices as we heard them when life had so
much OF simple joys and so little Of the canker
OF care. And in the busy days which succeed
ing years have brought, memory often carries
us back to our boyhood days and we dwell
with fond recollection on that old farmhouse,
which for years stood alone upon the prairie.