AUG. 27 
RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
568 
Utollanms. 
SOUTHERN MINNESOTA. 
MESSRS. HOLMES AND BWEBTLAND. 
[Special Correspondents of the Rural New-Yorker.] 
Hating two or three dayB to spare, we drove 
across the country, trom Esthervllle, lowa, to 
Sherburn, Minn., ana were enabled to get a very 
accurate Idea of the interests we can after all but 
so feebly portray. Many features of the landscape 
which greeted us were well calculated to inspire 
admiration and a desire to proclaim the marvel¬ 
ous beauty of the picture, and the wondrous 
wealth It adorned; undulatlDg prairies, dotted 
here and there with natural or artificial groves of 
timber, beautiful lakes of clear, limpid water, 
with gravel bottoms and banks well defined; farm 
houses, and barns In the edge or large fields of 
waving grain, and alt evincing Industry and thrift; 
grazing herds numbering each from tens to hun¬ 
dreds; district school-houses within convenient 
reach of the youngsters; and in the dim distance 
the telegraph poles Indicating the line of the Min¬ 
nesota Southern It. R. now a busy division of the 
C. M. and st. P. Ry. whloh has contributed so 
much to develop and advance this section, corn 
looks thrifty, and is doing well, though backward 
on account of the late, wet Spring and drought. 
Wheat, (of which there is only a limited amount 
sown), as well as oats and other small grain are 
very promising for a full average yield, should no 
mishaps Intervene. There has been considerable 
breaking done this season, whloh has mostly been 
sown to flax, upon the sod; this too Is looking fine 
and, by the by, deserves more than a passing notice 
as this method of flax culture gives remunerative 
returns the same season the virgin bou is turned 
to the sunlight; about three pecks are sown to 
the acre, which gives an average yield of seven to 
eight bushels, worth from at) cents to one dollar 
per bushel. This, of course, could not be done 
upon stump-ribbed and rocky-faced farms, where 
extensive fertilizing Is the sine qua non for a 
crop, but Martin County has a deep, rich sou, 
possibly a little deficient in sand, yet with enough 
to aid In growth and dram age ; and these lands, 
covered with a luxuriant growth of nutritious 
grasses can be bought from fc* to $s per acre. As 
might be Inferred, the moat lucrative branch of 
husbandry here is stock-raising and dairying, 
which are increasing fully fltty per cent, per an¬ 
num in the numbers as well as quality of the herds 
and flocks. Several of the best Short-horn strains 
have been Introduced for the raising of grades; 
and fuU-blood Cotswolds are at tbe head of the 
flocks; while Berkshire and Poland-Chln| hogs 
are the favorite cross. Farms partlaUy Improved 
can he bought in this county from $6 to 120 , ac¬ 
cording to location, improvements and surround¬ 
ings. 
There are four ereeka of considerable size cours¬ 
ing through the county, and oo meandering lakes 
within Its limit, au abounding In fish, whloh are 
being augmented by the Fish Commissioner of the 
State. Wells of good water average about 35 feet 
in depth. Natural timber Is found along the 
streams and around the east, center and west 
chain of lakes, more abundantly in the southern 
tier ol townships; while artificial groves of Um¬ 
ber are almost, as numerous as the developed 
farms of the county; groves ten years old, con¬ 
taining five acres or over furnish fuel for the fam¬ 
ily fireside. 
Let us give you a brie; statement of a single 
farm we visited, as an eye-opener: about two miles 
southwest from Sherburn ts the farm of Messrs. 
Cargill and van Valkenburg, of La Crosse, W1 b., 
containing 6,eoo acres ol which 4,000 are under 
the plow. There are two good residences and 
two large barns, with a cattle Bhed aoxl,ooo feet 
inclosed by a tight hoard fence, two stock wells, 
run by wtnd-mlllH, for Winter use, there being a 
good supply of water from the lakes in the Sum¬ 
mer. There are <>75 head or cattle, fully one-third 
Short-horn grades; 1,050 sheep, grading from 
full-blood cotswoid bucks, and about 300 head of 
Berkshire and Poland-Chlna hogs; and the firm Is 
yet In lta Infancy. The above mm farm the en¬ 
tire interest without renting any portion, C. E. 
Wenzel of Sherburn being their agent, who also 
buys grain, wood, etc. at the station, while H. E, 
Anderson la their superintendent on the farm. 
We heard there was a new creamery building 
about tour miles north of Shorburn, but were un¬ 
able to get detailed information. It cannot help 
doing well, and several others would prove profit¬ 
able both to the farmers and their projectors, for 
the grazing Is ample; the grasses are sweet and 
succulent; the water is pure ; the climate salu¬ 
brious, healtbtal, tree from malarial taint, and the 
numerous groves furnish Summer Bhade and Win 
ter shelter from wind, stock and dairy invest¬ 
ments will pay here 30 per cent, net profit per 
annum. Nor should we overlook the great inter 
eat felt in raising good horses, including many 
roadsters, but principally tbe solid, tractable, 
serviceable Norman. 
The population of Martin County, In June, lsso, 
was 5,9*21, and since then there has been a mate¬ 
rial increase. The county is well supplied with 
market raciutiee, and connections with 11 all the 
world and the rest of mankind," by the Southern 
Minnesota Division of the Chicago, Milwaukee & 
St. Raul Railway, passing through east and west. 
Jno. M. Egan Is Division Superintendent. This Is 
a part of ou A of tho rnoMt extensive railroad sys¬ 
tems on me continent, under the general manage¬ 
ment of 8. 8. Merrill, of Milwaukee. 
This county has no railway indebtedness, and 
while me present aggregate tax averages only 
about three cents, this will soon be diminished, 
as many lands heretofore Inaccessible will soon 
be8ubjeot to taxation, comprising me railroad 
and State lands, thereby increasing taxable val¬ 
ues and reducing the per cent, of the tax. Here 
are a rich soil, healthy climate, abundance of pure 
THE 
water, natural and artificial groves of timber, rail¬ 
way advantages, educational, religious and social 
privileges. Moreover, me geniality and enterprise 
of the citizens must be added as a no less attractive 
feature in lta desirability as a resort for hunting 
and fishing. So many, Indeed, are the sporting 
advantages of this region, that It Is a kind of 
sportsmen's paradlBe, where the fruition or the 
angler's or hunter’s hopes Is assured to Batlety. 
There is talk of connecting the chain of lakes 
north and south In this county, which la feasible 
at an expense of from $3,ooo to to,000, which would 
open the way for a steamer over a beautirul route 
fifteen miles in length. 
Fairmont, the county seat, is prettily located 
on an undulating site, an elevation rlslDg to the 
south, fringed with timber to the south and south¬ 
west, under the shadows of whloh lies one of the 
beautiful lakes of tho chain. The town has three 
church edifices, a graded school of three depart¬ 
ments with three teachers; Masonic and Odd Fel¬ 
low organization^ two live newspapers, the Mar¬ 
tin County Sentinel, an eight-column folio in its 
eighth volume, by Frank A. Davy; and The People’s 
Advocate, by Mr. V. B. Scribner, a seven-column 
folio in lta first year. The last census gave the 
place 5tl population within the corporate limits 
while some of me best residences and a liberal 
percentage of the population are located Just 
outside of the enumeration. Pleasure-seekers, for 
hunting and fishing, from as far as our Eastern 
and southern cities, make this a place of resort, 
and securing tho comforts of the Occidental HoteL 
they hunt, flsh, recreate and are happy, situated 
In a good agricultural center, business Is well 
sustained, and possesses every element for growth. 
Among these is a flour and feed mill (two buhrs 
to flour and one to teed) run by wind power, hav¬ 
ing a 60-toot wheel, which in a twenty-mile breeze 
is equal to 40 horse-power. This belongs to P. 
WaUaston from near Liverpool, England, who in 
addition to extensive mercantile Interests Is also 
farming 380 acres, and raising stock adjoining the 
town; his wheat last year averaged 17# bushels 
per acre. Mr. WaUaston; C. H. Bullard; (Land, 
Loan and Insurance Agent) A. L. Ward; (of the 
Martin County Bank), and H. M, BlaisdeU, (Attor¬ 
ney and Real Estate Agent) will accept our thanks 
as representatives of me The Rural, for their nu¬ 
merous courtesies. Inclose a stamp for return 
postage, and either of them wUl cheerfully con¬ 
tribute his time t» answer any letters of inquiry 
regarding me town or county. 
Sherburn la a nice prairie town next west on 
me railroad, on an elevation which gives an ex¬ 
tensive and picturesque view of the surrounding 
country, and with a population of only 113 by 
actual count. It la me largest, healthiest, brightest 
infant of Its age we have seen. A church edifice, 
good-school-houae,costing *a,ooo, efficient teacher, 
steady improvement, stores, lumber yards, ware¬ 
house and streets filled with teams laden with 
grain, wool and other farm produce even at this dull 
season of me year, bespeak a fine present and a 
promising future. A trifle over a mile north of 
here is Fox Lake, one of the "beauty ” spots of 
Southern Minnesota, with a gravel bottom and 
sandy beach, skirted wlth;a fine natural timber, 
and embossed with a couple of green-clad 
islands, and abounding in flah. This beautiful body 
or water, about one mile wide and five or six long, 
could be made me moat popular place In 
this section. To do this, a good lodge, conven¬ 
ient and comfortable, with satisfactory beds and 
board, should he erected on me hank or the lake 
for which mere la an elegant location. Here con¬ 
veniences should be supplied for hunting and fish¬ 
ing—In season—and there should be convey¬ 
ance to run regularly to and from the trains, for 
the exclusive accommodation of the guests. Here 
Is a chance for some man to make himself bom 
happy and useful, and make money beside, by de- 
veloptng thtB project. 
“ Thank you gentlemen !’’ la what we said In 
private, and would repeat in public, to Messrs. C. 
E. Wenzel, and W. M. Masters, (proprietor of 
the City Hotel) for their kind attentions and as¬ 
sistance In our work. Any correspondence ad¬ 
dressed to mem, would receive prompt attention. 
» * » 
The Three F’s.—To-day, Monday, August 22, 
the new Land Act goes Into force in Ireland. The 
Lords’ amendments somewhat emasculated the 
measure originally proposed and valiantly defend¬ 
ed for seven months by Gladstone, yet it now gives 
to Irlah farmers more man they have ever had of 
the three F’s—fair rents, fixed tenure and freedom 
of sales. 
-- 
Fay’» Prolific Cnrrant. 
In reply to the remarks of Mr. Lyon on Fay’s 
Prolific Currant in a late Rural, it may not 
be improper to say that no one acquainted 
with the late Mr. Fay would wonder at his 
holding this variety for the purpose of testing 
it in different generations alongside of all the 
popular varieties. In this connection let me 
ask—is not the practice of rushing new varie¬ 
ties of fruit plants on the market —i. e. sell¬ 
ing them first and testing them afterwards— 
sometimes overdone ? Of the two, is it not 
better to be rather too slow than a little too 
fast ? As our good friend, Mr. Fay, has now 
departed from us we hardly think anyone will 
question his wisdom in doing j ust as he thought 
right and best In the matter. His enthusiasm 
on the subject of fruit growing was almost 
without bounds. In this community as a 
citizen, neighbor or friend, none stood before 
him, and in our Fruit Growers’ Association 
we all feel that there is a gap which will never 
be filled. His success in originating was great. 
His new peaches alone (better and earlier than 
any others known in this locali ty) would have 
netted him a fortune had they not been 
destroyed by the yellows. g. s. j. 
Fredonia, N. Y. 
fiterpr Hjftkedairg. 
WEEDS. 
Along the j’Wndsulfi nml up tbe hills; 
Pwritinr demurely into the rills: 
Lifting their faces up to the aky: 
Throwing their kisson to each passer-by: 
Trailing their crowns all over the wrasses; 
Waving their hands to a bird as it passes; 
Ciltin* the butterflies—UmwlilnR’ and sray, 
Bawtred and rollicking all the loncr day. 
How the winds love them ! How the bees linger ! 
How the birds woo them, each happy young’ singer ! 
How the sun kisses them, eager and warm ! 
How the grass shelters them safely from harm ! 
Who is so .lolly, who is so frpe. 
Of all the bright blossoms that grow on the lea? 
Purple ami azure, golden and red. 
Some with big bonnets and some with bare head; 
Some with gold stars on their foreheads so sweet— 
Some with great mantles straight down to their feet: 
Some like a drift of Wav snow, pure and white. 
Some that are dark as the rolddlo of night; 
Some with shy eyes that are hidden ’neath lashes, 
Some with the largest and gayest of sashes; 
Some with lips sober and some with arch smiles— 
All with the bonniest, gladdest of wiles. 
Amber and rosy, snowy and blue. 
Some that are false and some that are true; 
Yellow and crimson, sapphire and pink— 
All are as fresh as the dews that they drink. 
Along alt the roadsides, down by the brooks. 
Hiding away in magical nooks 
Down in the meadows, always aglow— 
Dearest of all the things that grow. 
—Fanny Driscoll, in Boston Commonwealth. 
-♦ ♦ ♦- 
COUSIN FRED. 
CHAPTER II. 
DECISION. 
Cousin Fred slept but little that night: not only 
was he miserable on bis own account, but most 
anxious on Lucy’s. He held a secret that he felt 
It would be terribly wrong for him to pass unno¬ 
ticed. 
His cousin was not quite eighteen. Supposing 
some scoundrel, afraid openly to show his face, 
had secured her affections, and harm were to 
come to her, i red Beaufort felt he should never 
forgive himself. 
Yet he still shrank from Informing his uncle— 
at least, until he knew something more about the 
man she met. Mr. Brand was stern, not to say 
hard, of disposition ; and Fred Beaufort felt capa¬ 
ble of doing anything rather than get Lucy Into 
trouble, for he well knew her position at silver- 
vllle. so again he returned to the old question— 
what waa he to do t 
He couldn’t possibly tell Lucy that he had been 
spying on her actions, request then her confidence. 
Of all persons—and he sighed—he would he the 
last she would give It to. 
“ I know, ha finally determined, “ As her cousin, 
and next to her, after uncle Brand, I have a right 
—nay, It la a duty—to shield her from harm. I 
will see if I cannot And out who Is the person she 
meets, i'll come upon them as If unexpectedly. 
She then will he forced to confide In me; and, as 
Heaven hears me! It the mau is worthy of her 
love, I'll stand her friend without one thought of 
myself." 
And no more loyal and chivalrous heart heat 
than Fred Beaufort’s. 
The next day Linda was out of temper. 8he had 
risen amiable enough, but cousin Fred, for a won¬ 
der, was thoughtful, not to say pre-occupled and 
dull—an offence, when In her fascinating presence, 
which she held punishable by her law. Hence she 
was out of temper; and to spite him, when visitors 
called, flirted desperately with a certain captain 
of the Guards who was one of them. 
Poor Linda! If she had but guessed how thank¬ 
ful her cousin was to be released, as It were, from 
duties she rather exacted than he voluntarily 
paid, and able to watch Lucy ! Her manner, like 
his own, was ohanged. She was quieter, more re¬ 
tiring, while be noticed frequently, when she 
fancied she waa not observed, a pained, anxious 
look steal over her pretty face. Once, ralalngher 
eyes, she had encountered his. a rush of color 
had coma to her cheek; then, after a moment, 
she had changed her place. 
“No one would less prefer to meddle In her 
affairs than me," he thought; •• yet It must be.” 
When the girls had left the dining-room that 
evening, instead of resuming his seat, Fred Beau¬ 
fort fetched his hat, and telling his uncle he had 
a call to make, quitted the house by the window, 
as the previous evening. 
During the day he had formed his plans. About 
half a mile down the rl ver was a bridge. Proceed¬ 
ing to this, he crossed to the other side, and made 
his way back to tho spot where twice he had seen 
Lucy attach her boat. 
The question then was, would she come this 
evening ? Almost as he put cue mental query he 
heard the oars. Three minutes later he perceived 
through the hushes Lucy, In tbe gray garb, land 
and come on, swiftly passing him. He followed 
cautiously at a safe distance, fearing discovery. 
Not tor worlds would he have Lucy see him i 
.TuBt then his cousin arrived at where the bushes 
were clearer. He saw her move quickly forward. 
A dark figure advanced as quickly to meet her. 
A second, and they were clasped In each other’s 
arms. Fred BeaufOTt dropped back a step, with 
dimcnlty checking the astonished cry that rose to 
his Ups. It was a woman 1 
A woman—yea 1 But though bis heart began to 
beat with a great sense of relief that amounted to 
Joy, he rapidly asked himself what woman ? Who 
could she he ? What woman need Lucy thus meet 
clandestinely? 
As yet the question was not to he answered. 
The two had moved on to the more open space, 
where he dared not'follow. 
The conversation, which seemed animated, 
lasted not more than a quarter of an hour, when, 
turning, they came slowly towards the bank. 
Wbtle they were within hts hearing Fred Beau¬ 
fort heard these words: 
Do not seek to persuade me. It is useless ; I 
am resolved.” 
Tbe voice was Lucy's—the accents low and pas¬ 
sionate. 
“ Do not ant hastily.” reniiod tho other. “ Re¬ 
flect—think. Lucy, what you renounce.” 
“ Nothing,” broke In the girl, “ but what I 
shall psteem greater gain, You cannot tell how 
I harp stivervllie ! How T lore, long to beaway— 
away with one whose love I know is true. Ah! 
better love than all! W'bat ts poverty to that? 
I shall be here again at midnight. Tf you do not 
meet me. t shall go alone.” 
The woman made some Inaudible resnonse. then 
they were bevond hearing. What, did It all mean ? 
Surely the mystery Increased. 
soon there was the sound of the woman re¬ 
turning. 
Letting her get to a safe distance. Fred Beaufort 
fol lowed her. She proceeded to the town ; there 
bvthe light he sa^ DPr fsce. It was »hat of a 
middle-aged woman, and had once been very 
handsome, but now was pale and haggard, as 
from Illness or privation. She made her way to a 
bouse In a retired street. As she reached It, a 
woman came un from theonnoslte direction. 
“ Ah ! Mrs. Melville.” she said, as Fred Beaufort 
passed. 14 Here yon are. ma’am: I was so fright¬ 
ened. I was. lest I couldn’t get my bit of shopping 
done, and be home before you ; and here we are 
together. ” 
Mrs. Melville, whatever had she to do with 
Lucy, or Lucy with her ? Then, with a start Fred 
Beaufort remembered that Lucy had said she 
would iPave Sflvervtfle that very right, and hur¬ 
riedly he retraced bis steps, Great Hpaven I what 
was he to do? Surely be must inform Uncle 
Brand now—matters were growing desperate. 
Still he hesitated. How eonid he tell it ? What 
could he say ? Yet one thing was certain—Lucy 
must, not be permitted to go. 
On entering the drawing room he found Linda 
alone, her temper by no means Improved by hav¬ 
ing enjoyed her own coraoany for nearly two 
hours. 
“ Where is uncle ?" asked Fred Beaufort. 
“ Gone to Mr. Falrbro’s.” was the short reply, 
as the be auty returned to the book she was not 
reading. 
“And Lucy ?” 
“ Has a headache, or pretends she has, and has 
gone to her room; not that her society or any¬ 
body else’s has been mneb los« ro-day.” 
“ What has put you out. Tlnda ?” 
“Putouf- resounded tire beauty. “ T am not 
put out; but I suppose one Is not expiated to 
be very gay when one has been alone all tbe eve¬ 
ning. I fancy Lucy has given me her headache 
I shall go to bed too ; there Is nothing to entice 
one to sit up when papa Is out. Good night.” 
With an assumption of indifference she moved 
to the door. Perhaps she imagined her cousin 
would detain her, but he did not. 
“ Good night, Linda." he said quietly. “ I am 
sorry you have had so dull an evening. I trust 
sleep will remove your headache,” 
“Thanks,” she replied, coldly, as she passed • 
trom the room. 
Never had Fred Beaufort been so glad to get rid 
of hla handsome cousin before. 
“ Linda ought to he the one to seek Lucy’s con¬ 
fidence,,” he thought, “but!could not entrust 
such as she, so purely selfish, with Lucy's secret. 
To me she seems to regard Lucy little more than 
as au upper servant or lady-help. Well, my 
dilemma yet remains—Uncle Brand's out at Fare- 
bro’s, and may not return until two or three; for 
when those two get talking politics, there’s no 
separating them. 1 see, whatever Is done must he 
done by myself.” 
He first thought he would send a message to 
Lucy, asking to see him. But that might appear 
singular, as she had given out that she was 
Indisposed, and had gone to bed. No, he must 
wait, as he knew she was doing—for midnight. 
The household were generally all In their rooms 
at a quarter past eleven; and Mr. Brand’s absence 
made no difference, for he always let himself In 
the back way, leading trom the stables, and went 
to his room, where everything that he might 
require was placed ready. 
Thus as that hour approached, Fred Beaufort 
went to his own chamber; but as soon as all waa 
still, he descended again to the dining-room. He 
had no light; but the hall through which Lucy 
must pass was flooded by moonbeams coming 
through the large oriel window. 
The clock struck—midnight: Would she come ? 
Had her courage tailed her? No! There was a 
step on the stairs—so light, that It would not have 
been heard hut for the stillness. 
Then in the moonlight he saw her quickly cross¬ 
ing the hall. In a moment he was by her side, 
whispering her name. 
** Lucy!" 
With a startled cry the girl turned round, and 
cowered from him. 
“ Lucy," he said, gently, “ where are you going ? 
Oh ’. Lucy, has there been no one kind to you in 
this house, that you can go like this ?” 
“ You do not know—you do not know, cousin 
Fred," came her trembling answer. *• Oh! it is 
not that, no one has been unkind—but I must go— 
1 must t You must not stay me!’’ 
“ Yes, Lucy, 1 must!” he responded, gravely. 
** What danger may you not be running into ? Do 
you fancy for a moment ihat 1 could quietly stand 
by—I -your cousin—and—friend—and see you quit 
the house at such an hour ? You—so young, and 
without a friend save this house contains 1" 
