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Below is a web page of text from a journal that (Elizabeth) Marion Frost kept from 1883 to 1921. There is a link to the next page near the bottom of this page. There is also an index of all of the pages. |
better than usual. The weather has been quite warm and pleasant, although pretty windy a part of the day.
March 11
Arthur came up and got the mail from Chicago. There was a letter for Ethel from Lulu Mason; letters for Arthur from Daniel C. Eaton, Nellie DeGrey, Mr. Nichols, and a stationer; one letter for Cora from Uncle Sam; letters for Father from the editor of the Rural New Yorker, N. Hills, and a Protectionist. There may have been more letters. There were several papers, as usual. Father took Mrs. Botts and her children to Neligh to-day. The day has been pleasant, but windy until night.
March 12, 1887.
The day has been bright, with a high n.w. wind and sandstorm. Ethel was here. Uncle Sam’s letter contained a plan of his house. Arthur was here in the evening.
March 13, Sunday.
It was much colder last night, water freezing in the house. To-day has been pretty coo, bright, n.w. wind.
Arthur came over twice, the first time with some bedding which they had borrowed, the last time with water and a little fuel. He took down eighteen eggs because Father is going to Plainview to-morrow. These will be the first that Carrie or I have ever sold. Thirteen are Carrie’s, and five mine.
March 14
Freezing last night. To-day, fair, with pretty strong s. wind. Cora came up, but did not stay long. Arthur was here, also.
March 15
A very pleasant day. Cora and Jennie came up. Cora went back, but Jennie will stay for awhile. Father did not go to Plainview yesterday but he and Arthur went to-day. They took two hogs to sell. Carrie and Jennie walked to Mr. Dean’s to get some water. They could hardly spare it. Jennie and Cora brought some from home when they came. We can get water as easily from Father’s well as anywhere now, the nearer wells being in poor order. They generally bring us water in a barrel, but Father’s well rope is too short and the team gone to-day, so we were out.
March 16
Father bought Carrie a mop and a stable fork yesterday. Arthur came up this morning, bringing water, fuel and other things. Mr. Dean took two barrels and went west after water. The day has been pleasant; wind from n.w.; fog in the morning, but fair since before noon. Carrie writes letters nearly all of the time. Jennie is writing now.
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March 17
Cool, hazy. Father, Mrs. Dean, and Sylvia Dean were here. Arthur spent the evening here.
March 18
Cool. Wind in s.e. Sky cloudy or fair. The hazy look yesterday was caused by extensive prairie fires in Pierce Co. Carrie and Arthur came up but went back. There were letters for Jennie and Arthur.
March 19, 1887. Saturday.
Cold, cloudy, a little rain in the morning; wind from s.e. in the morning, n.w. afterwards Arthur came up, bringing corn, cornstalks, water, milk, and some other things.
March 20, 1887.
Cold, cloudy, strong n.w. wind and snow; would probably be a blizzard if there were snow enough.
March 21
Cold, clear. Carrie and Arthur came up, bringing water, etc. Arthur got mail. Jennie and Arthur went down
March 22
A beautiful day. We heard the meadowlark this morning for the first time this year. Cora came up in the evening. Arthur came up earlier bringing fuel, water, etc.
March 23
Another nice day. Cora was sick all last night and all to-day with a bad headache. Arthur was here in the evening.
March 24
Last night there were many prairie firs. In the night the wind came up and afterwards blew from the n.e. and then from the n.w. It had been in the s.e. or s.w. One fire which seems to have been started on "Jas. Bainard’s claim" became very fierce. It swept over parts of Cora’s and Jennie’s and perhaps Father’s. They started back fires to protect their trees. If the wind had not changed it might have been done much more damage up this way. Mr. Hoagland had some hay, and perhaps something else, burned. He would probably have lost all of his buildings if they had not awakened. He had several men about the place and Arthur went. With the help of the men and his windmill he fought the fire successfully. It is reported that the fire went down on the Willow and destroyed much hay.
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The wind blew very fiercely, so that many were afraid that the wind alone would do damage. Arthur and Ethel came up in the morning. Ethel did not go to school because Father would not allow her to go, she being not very well and the whole family having been awake early all night. Father also did not wish Arthur to plow. Father, Jennie, and Arthur were all seeing to the fire last night. Arthur went to Rev. Mr. Barrows and got Skip. The well men came and sand pumped Carrie’s well. Arthur go the mail. Cora went home with the children this morning. Cool, clear, wind n.w.
March 15, 1887, Thursday.
The Meadow Lark.
A True Story of the Day.
Oh, wild the east wind bloweth,
And slow the winter goeth;
The sky is cold and gray,
And weary seems the day.
But listen, listen, hear!
What voice is that so near?
The meadow lark is singing!
Tiding of spring-time bringing!
God’s blessing on the bird
That bringeth us that word,
Our hearts fly upward on his song,
Borne by its sweetness, pure and strong.
Within a lowly cabin, I,
Weary, upon a sick bed lie;
And listen to the restless feet
Upon the roof, - a trampling sweet.
He sings! The clouds have rolled away;
It seems a happy summer day;
The sun shines bright, the air is blessed,
And all is peace and joy and rest.
He sings! The merry brook I hear
That charmed my childhood’s listening ear;
My bare feet in the stream I lave,
And watch each twisted, rippling wave.
He sings again; and now it seems
(His song is mingled with my dreams.)
That he a lily fair must be,
Growing upon a sunny lea.
A slender stalk the flower upraiser;
The whispering wind its beauty praises;
Softly and low the lily sings;
Deep in my heart its music rings.
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"I come see you. I come see you. /Coming we to see you.
I come see you new." / " " " " "
This is the song the meadow lark sings. /Coming we are now to see you
When he rests his happy wings;
And his song doth banish sadness,
Leaveth room for naught but gladness.
Carrie called on the other folks and brought Ethel back with her. Arthur got the mail and left some of it here.
March 26, 1887, Saturday.
Ethel stayed all night. She was a out sick with a cold. She went home to-day and Jennie and Thea came up. Arthur brought a load of corn for fuel. Carrie and Jennie have started to go to Mr. Leibolt’s. When Arthur got Skip, Mr. Leibolt said that they would like to have Jennie for their teacher this summer. I did not suppose that she could be spared, but it seems that the family think it best. The girls may not get to their destination, for a storm which may develop into a blizzard is raging. A driving n.e. wind with snow. We cannon see the houses of our nearest neighbors, and the storm seems on the increase. Father sent Arthur to see if the girls were lost. They were not.
March 27
Jennie and Thea stayed all night. Ethel and Arthur were here. Jennie and Thea went down but Jennie came back. The day has been clear and rather cold, wind n.w. The snow still covers the ground almost everywhere.
March 28
Considerably snow fell during the night. There seemed to have been little or no wind. In the morning at 7:30, there was a frozen fog resting on the hills below their tops. The day is beautiful, sky almost clear, and the eaves dripping, at 9:15 A.M. Also the meadow lark is singing, but it sang yesterday and, I think, every day since we first heard it. Jennie went down in the morning and stayed until nearly dark. Arthur was here and brought the mail. There were several letters. Most of the day it has been somewhat cloudy.
March 29, 1887
Cold and windy (s.w.) until late in the day, when it became quiet. Rather cloudy. Jennie is not feeling very well. Cora walked up. Last night she received a letter from Mrs. Totten saying that Uncle Blackmer’s house and store were burned. Jennie took Cora home.
March 30
The day is very pleasant and the snow is almost gone. Wind n. I walked to the well. Jennie went down. Mr. Hinsdale came to see her about his school. Arthur an Ethel were here and went to Chicago to get the mail.
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Last revised April 26, 2001.