Life in Prairie Land (1846) by Eliza Wood Farnham

Author:Eliza Wood Farnham [Farnham, Eliza Wood]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2015-12-16T04:30:00+00:00

CHAPTER XXII.

The spring of '37 opened with delicious beauty on the prairie land! The growing world, both animate and inanimate, seemed to rejoice in the departure of an unusually rigorous winter. The showers fell more lightly than those of the previous year, and the earth, moistened with gentle rains and bathed in genial sunshine, seemed more willing than ever to enrich man. Happy would it have been for the inhabitants of these fertile regions had they obeyed her summons, and turned from the alluring uncertainties of speculation to honest, productive labor! But they had not then learned the bitter lesson which the few following years taught them. Men had resorted to the west expecting to coin the rich soil, not by expending patient labor to convert its energies into products useful to man, nor by erecting upon it homes which should increase the amount of happiness there enjoyed; but by dividing it into small fractions and setting an inflated estimate upon them—an estimate not authorized by its capacities, or the condition of the country; but dependent on the extent to which they could deceive each other and themselves. So the growing population of the rich savannahs disregarded all the strong inducements which the earth held out to seek legitimate wealth and happiness, and left the fertile acres untilled, to scour the country for " town sites," which no one of their generation will ever see occupied. Time and energy were spent in these fruitless labors, that, well directed, would have enriched the state. Men seemed to have forgotten that wealth has natural sources, without drawing upon which, it can never be obtained except in few arid

rare instances. And, forgetting this, they plunged deeper and deeper into the mazes of speculation. The cloud of distress which had risen over the eastern world had not yet cast its shadow on these favored regions. Money was abundant, and hope high. This was the year of the " crisis" in the west; and the change which succeeded it was terrible.

But the country was now full of life and energy. The human, the animal, and the vegetable world seemed alike rejoicing in the superabundant vigor of the season. Happy and joyous life smiled everywhere! Our little village had received many valuable families the preceding autumn, and with the first flowers of spring came several others, who had been long expected and were joyfully received. Among the former was one which I shall introduce here, as well for the interesting character of its members, as because there is a tragical sequel to be told, by-and-by, of the husband and father. This family consisted of four —father, mother, and two sons. They had emigrated from the metropolis of the east late in the preceding autumn, and spent the winter in a neat little dwelling on the southeastern border of the village. They were members of the Society of Friends, and if their form of faith were to be accepted as the origin of their many and exalted virtues, one could wish it universal.

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