' “IN DAKOTA. 21 
got ready I could build a larger one in front of and 
connected with it. It cost me $344. [also built a 
sod barn, with a small granary at one end of it, which 
cost me $68, and dug a well at a cost of $12, 
In September I returned to Illinois for my family, 
and we reached our new home in Dakota the first 
week in October. 
It was a beautiful evening, and although we were 
all tired after our twenty-three miles ride in a com- 
mon farm wagon, yet the pleasure we enjoyed in feel- 
ing that we were in our own home, and on our own 
_land, can only be understood by those who have had 
a similar experience. 
Our furniture, what we had, was plain and cheap, 
and as yet nothing was in order; but it was own home, 
and as such it was to us the sweetest spot on earth. 
We had as yet no cooking stove, so [ kindled a fire 
out in the yard, and my wife prepared supper. Of 
conrse, it was a simple and very plain meal, but we 
all enjoyed it more than we could ‘have done the most 
sumptuous feast in a house that was not our own. 
MAKING THE HOME PLEASANT. 
It would make this paper too long to go into de- 
tail as to my operations, but I will give such an out- 
line as may be of value to others in making homes 
in the Northwest. 
The first thing I did was to make my homeas 
cheerful and comfortable as possible. I expected 
cold weather during the winter, and prepared for it 
