BUFFALOES 



sloping prairie with a typical western village in 

 the distance with several small shanties, one of 

 which had a "lean-to" and was used for the 

 post-office and hotel. A general store, two 

 saloons, blacksmith-shop and sod school-house, 

 that was also used as a place of worship on Sun- 

 days, all strung along on either side of its one 

 crooked street constituted this little trading-post 

 that was seventy miles from the nearest railroad. 

 Between the town and the river was a strip of 

 fine white sand with its miniature crystal grains 

 brilliantly sparkling in the sunlight. Then 

 came the river with its swiftly flowing current, 

 treacherous quicksands and its banks bordered 

 with tall cottonwood trees; here and there was 

 a clump of willows or a box-elder; beyond were 

 the long green hills that made the horizon. 

 The atmosphere of the plains is so clear one can 

 readily discern objects at a surprisingly great 

 distance. Several years had passed ; one of my 

 earliest childhood recollections was one evening 

 when we sat watching this grand scene while the 

 sun sank beneath the horizon leaving the sky 

 with a ruddy glow that was reflected upon the 

 water. Meanwhile time passed and darkness 

 C7] 



