Locating a Homestead 



had not brought them, but the latter sang " Mona " 

 with such feeHng that we were much impressed. 



Commenting on this, after the departure of 

 the two friends. Bob told us a sad story, which 

 I will briefly relate, as, though not uncommon, 

 it is characteristic of the troubles which often 

 beset the settler, especially with a wife and family. 



•' About four years ago," said Bob, " Fred and 

 his wife came into this district from New York ; 

 she was a very worthy woman, helping him in 

 every way, and working very hard. They 

 homesteaded in a pretty spot under a little hill, 

 at the foot of which lay a nice little slough or 

 lakelet, on which the wild ducks and their young 

 were constantly to be seen swimming about. 

 They had a small log-house, implements, and 

 livestock — among the rest a fine black Angus cow, 

 a splendid milker, which was a great pet. They 

 were rapidly bringing some of the prairie under 

 cultivation, and things looked promising for a 

 happy future, when the wife's health failed. 

 Fred got a doctor from the nearest town, twenty- 

 eight miles away. He prescribed for her, and 

 eventually told her husband that an operation 

 might be necessary, and advised him to get a 



surgeon from B , some forty miles away. 



The surgeon came, placed her under chloroform, 

 and after examination said she must go into 



63 



