FUNERAL OF BARBER — DEATH OF BROWN. 175 
defence. While the administration, with that corruption which will 
make it infamous in the annals of our country in all coming time, 
turns a deaf ear to the agonized cry of widows and orphans; while 
the President says, “No acts prejudicial to good order have oc¬ 
curred under circumstances to justify the interposition of the 
federal government,” the ear of Him, who will call to account for 
his stewardship any who make so base a use of power, is open, and 
he sends, for the present safety, this weather of unequalled sever¬ 
ity, and fast-falling snows. 
Horses go ploughing through it, with difficulty making any 
headway. The most people we see moving to-day are with heavy 
sleds of wood, drawn by three or four yoke of oxen. We burn a 
cord and a half of wood a week, and, our wood-piie growing less 
not very gradually, we have watched with a good deal of interest 
a load which attempted to come up the hill this afternoon. The 
oxen pulled with all their strength; the driver now coaxed, and 
then scolded. The oxen would lose their foothold, and plunge 
headlong into the deep drifts. Sometimes the forward yoke of 
cattle would turn fairly around, and face the load. All exertions 
to right them were of no avail until they were unyoked. As the 
night was coming fast, and the driver two miles from home, the 
load was thrown off about half way up the hill. The next morn¬ 
ing the man came back, and succeeded in getting half of the load 
to the house. He was until midnight getting home the pre¬ 
vious night, as he lost his w^ay and wandered about hours in the 
darkness. 
Wood is one of the principal articles of consumption here this 
winter. Most of that burned is black walnut. There is also no 
lack of provisions here. Flour of the best quality can be bought 
in Missouri for four dollars and a half per hundred. We have 
always had good flour until this winter. Just after the invasion, 
a load of flour made of grown wheat was brought in. Apples, of 
the best quality and flavor, are very plenty. They sold in the 
autumn for one dollar a bushel. Sweet potatoes were abundant 
at one dollar twenty-five cents. These, with the apples, came 
from Missouri, but the nicest of squashes and other vegetables 
were raised in the territory. Squashes sold for one cent per 
