The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1908-10-02
JOYS OF A DRY FARM.

| During the past few years we
have heard much of the strenuous
/ life" Whether life is more strenu-
| Gus now than it was In earlier days
is debatable question. 1t is certain
1 however, under modern conditions,
one keeps up the pace set him, he
must lead very active life. But II
| anyone wishes to get taste of q
really strenuous existence and at the
same time learn something of the
experience OF the pioneers, let him
take up tract of new land, twenty
4 or thirty miles out from town. Such
a trial is no longer dangerous from
the standpoint of Indians, ruffians, or
wild animals barring, of course, rat
tleenakesbut, ON the contrary
quite refreshing and educational.
Not very long ago two lone women
decided to try their luck some twenty
miles out in the hills After much
feyerish anxiety claims were located
in spot that promised, by only the
slightest attention, to be made to
blossom as~the rose" A dear little
cabin was bargained for and a con-
tract made to break and prepare the
ground for the first crop. All labor
was to be faithfully performed, and
everything ready when the home
steaders should arrive.
The time to make entry was at
hand. What to take and what to
leave was the question. The packing
took a week and was not then all
done when the draymen came to cart
the goods to the train, but by their
help everything was put on board at
last. In reaching the end of the
railway route, the ladies were met by
bland farmer. Instead of big
wagon and hay rack, as was en-
1 gagged, he had come with small
team and wagon box to haul over
$500 pounds of freight. After some
hours of work, boxes and barrels,
i trunks, chairs, ct cetera, were tied
on to every conceivable place. Then
the danes with lunchboxes, wraps,
La few packages, and a bag Of kit
tens mounted an elevated seat in
front and turned their faces toward
the country. Everything was on but
supplies for the larder. These they
could easily get up there, so said the
. farmer.
4 A long toilsome journey up hill
ensued, and it was late at night be-
fore home was reached. Rain had
begun to fall SO it was out of the
question to unload that night. Hast
lily pulling out few things they
made a bed on the hard floor of the
cabin, too tired to notice anything.
The rain continued throughout the
night and next morning brought
snow Daylight showed that the
building was far from finished and
the dampness from the freshly laid
plaster, combined with the dampness
without, added to the gloom. After
hours of waiting their farmer friend
appeared Git was the holy Sabbath
and he lived mile away to set up
the stove. By hunting up the scat
tered pieces, supplying the missing
parts by plates of tin and lengths of
wire, and sending mile away for
an extra joint of pipe, fire was
finally obtained about two p. M. The
next problem was how to put every
thing in two-by-four cabin. 1t was
solved, by leaving sewing machine,
several boxes, barrels and chairs in
the open. an addition to the house
seemed an immediate necessity.
4 Alas, for the supplies that could
be bought nearby. A few things
might be had but no spuds, coal oil,
and a multitude of necessities could
be obtained short of town, while wa
ter must be brought two miles from
the creek. AZ
If the cabin was unfinished, the
wheat ground that was supposed to
be ready for sowing was just as the
plough had left 1t; the sage half cut
off and sticking out in every sdirec-
ton. Though money had been cheer
fully advanced to buy horsefeed, the
farmer must needs to travel yet to
the nearest town to procure a har-
row. Determining to get at least
something done, the more youthful
dame secured the help of small boy
and proceeded to the field to pull
sage until the heat of the sun and
aching joints warned her that the
task was far beyond her strength.
She was forced to retire, feeling that
she did not care what became Of the
crop
Such Is the close of the first chap
ter. Incidentally. there were also
two fatalities: One kitten died of
. fits; the other-which had its whisk-