Homesteading 



something of the same quahty to the mind and 

 to benumb the senses. On one such day near 

 the end of February we let our Httle bunch of 

 stock go without their usual trip to the water- 

 ing hole. 



At such times we were, of course, practically 

 confined to our shack, and though there was a 

 certain amount of cooking, washing, and clothes- 

 mending to be done, and we had newspapers, 

 magazines, and books, we realized that it is well 

 for the early settler on his homestead in the winter 

 to seek some regular employment. A story is 

 current of some young fellows who, under such 

 circumstances, forgathered during the winter in 

 each other's shacks and spent their time in play- 

 ing cards, and when the supply of firewood ran 

 out, proceeded to burn one shack after another 

 to keep themselves warm. Whether true or not, 

 it indicates one of the temptations into which 

 settlers from the older countries lacking resource 

 and initiative may fall. There is, however, no 

 need for this sort of thing. 



In many parts of the great Dominion where 

 game is plentiful there are experienced trappers 

 who live alone all the winter, making the rounds 

 of their traps periodically and gathering dollars 

 in the shape of pelts. But as settlement ad- 

 vances and the country passes through the transi- 



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