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WE have been having some
terrible blizzards. The other night I went out to look to my horses, and at
one moment I had to lie flat on the ground to prevent myself being blown
over. Thank God we have had no damage done so far. It really seems to us
that out here on the immensity of the prairie, so far from all human aid, we
realize more fully His protecting power, and our hearts are more truly
thankful as each danger passes us by, for each storm does constitute a
danger, when you think of the force the wind must gather in its
uninterrupted course over so many hundred acres of prairie, without a single
tree, or any obstacle but a few wooden buildings here and there, to break
its wild career.
The freeze up has set in now,
so I shall get a quarter of beef, 50 lb. of dried fish, and kill the pig. I
mean to have a hunt and shoot a deer ; I ought, perhaps, to add, if I can.
I am glad to say that a store
has been opened six miles away, along a good trail. It will be a great
convenience later on, instead of having so often the long journey into
Saskatoon. We were asked to a dance to celebrate the opening of it, but we
were not able to accept the invitation.
Things are humming a little
round us, you see; the land agent told me the other day that the value of
land here had again increased, which was cheerful hearing.
We have at last got into our
new house, and it is a great joy to us after all the discomforts of the old
one. There is still a good bit to do to the interior, but that can be done
by degrees; the principal part was to get in, before the weather was too
severe.
We have been talking a great
deal about home lately, and wondering when we shall be able to afford a
trip. Mabel predicts we shall manage it in 1907, but I am sceptical about
it; time will prove. It would, indeed, be glorious to be able to spend a
winter with you again; our visit must always be paid in the bad season, as
the spring and summer time is very fully occupied. The worst feature of
Canadian life is that the working seasons are so short, you have to crowd so
much into such short periods.
Jack had a very happy
birthday on the 12th, and fully appreciated all the pretty picture books
sent him. The dear boy is a great comfort to us, and certainly his presence
takes away a great deal of the monotony and loneliness of prairie life; he
is growing fast and keeps as sturdy as ever.
We are getting some heavy
snowstorms now, and I must hurry up to get all the wood I can collected. I
have hauled a good lot I am glad to say, but not enough to last the winter
if it turns out a long one. I have secured a good load of coal, to help keep
the heater going well all through the nights. |
