upon myriads of messengers to light their torches at the altar of the setting sun until all had flashed into one long and continuous blaze.

The following graphic description of prairie fires was written by a traveler through this region in 1849:

"Soon the fires began to kindle wider and rise higher from the long grass. The gentle breeze increased to stronger currents, and soon formed the small, flickering blaze into fierce torrent flames, which curled up and leaped along in resistless splendor, and like quickly raising the dark curtain from the luminous. stage, the scenes before me were suddenly changed as if by the magician's wand, into one boundless amphitheater, blazing from earth to heaven and sweeping the horizon round,-columns of lurid flames sportively mounting up to the zenith, and dark clouds of crimson smoke, curling away and aloft till they nearly obscured stars and moon, while the rushing, crashing sounds, like roaring cataracts mingled with distant thunders, were almost deafening. Danger, death, glared all around; it screamed for victims, yet, notwithstanding the imminent peril of prairie fires, one is loath, irresolute, almost unable to withdraw or seek refuge."

WOLF HUNTS.

In the early days more mischief was done by wolves than by any other wild animals and no small part of their mischief consisted in their almost constant barking at night, which always seemed so frightful and menacing to the settlers. Like mosquitoes, the noise they made appeared to be about as dreadful as the depredations they committed. The most effectual, as well as the most exciting method of ridding the country of these hateful pests, was that known as the "circular wolf hunt," by which all the men and boys would turn out on an appointed day in a kind of circle comprising many square miles of territory, with horses and dogs, and then close up toward the center of their field of operations, gathering not only wolves, but also deer and many smaller "varmint." Five, ten or more wolves by this means would sometimes be killed in a single day. The men would be organized with as much system as a little army, every one being well posted in the meaning of every signal and the application of every rule. Guns were scarcely ever allowed to be brought on such occasions, as their use would be unavoidably dangerous. The dogs were depended upon for the final slaughter. The dogs, by the way, had all to be held in check by a cord in the hands of their keepers until the final signal was given to let them loose, when away they would all go to the center of battle, and a more exciting scene would follow than can easily be described.

SPELLING SCHOOLS.

The chief public entertainment for many years was the celebrated spelling school. Both young and old looked forward to the next spelling school with as much anticipation and anxiety as we nowadays look forward to a general 4th of July celebration. And when the time arrived the whole neighborhood, yea, and sometimes several neighborhoods, would flock to the scene of academical combat, where the excitement was often more intense than had been expected. It was

far better, of course, when there was good sleighing, then the young folks would turn out in high glee and be fairly beside themselves. The jollity is scarcely equaled at the present day by anything in vogue.

When the appointed hour arrived, the usual plan of commencing battle was for two of the young people who might agree to play against each other, or who might be selected to do so by the teacher, to "choose sides," that is, each contestant would choose the best speller from the assembled crowd. Each one choosing alternately, the ultimate strength of the respective parties would be about equal. When all were chosen one could be made to serve, each side would "number," so as to ascertain whether amid the confusion one side had more spellers than the other. In case he had, some compromise would be made by the aid of the teacher, the master of ceremonies, and then the plan of conducting the campaign, or counting the misspelled words, would be canvassed for a moment. There were several ways of conducting the contest, but the usual way was to "spell across," that is, the first on one side would spell the first word, then the first on the other side; next the second in line on each side, alternately down to the foot of each line. The question who should spell the first word was determined by the "choosers." One would have the first choice of spellers, the other spell the first word. When a word was missed, it would be repronounced, or passed along without repronouncing (as some teachers strictly followed the rule never to repronounce a word), until it was spelled correctly. If a speller on the opposite side finally spelled a missed word correctly, it was counted a gain of one to that side. If the word was finally corrected by some speller on the same side on which it was originated as a missed word, it was "saved" and no tally mark was made. An hour perhaps would be occupied in this way and then an "intermission" was had, when the buzzing, cackling, hurrahing and confusion that ensued for ten or fifteen minutes were beyond description.

Coming to order again, the next style of battle to be illustrated was to "spell down," by which process it was ascertained who were the best spellers and could continue standing the longest. But often good spellers would inadvertently miss a word in an early stage of the contest and would have to sit down humiliated, while a comparatively poor speller would often stand till nearly or quite the last, amid the cheers of the assemblage. Sometimes the two parties first "chosen up" in the evening would again take their places after recess, so that by the "spelling down" process there would virtually be another race in another form; sometimes there would be a new "choosing sides," for the "spelling down" contest, and sometimes the spelling down would be conducted without any party lines being made. It would occasionally happen that two or three very good spellers would retain the floor so long that the exercise would become monotonous, when a few outlandish words like "chevaux-de-frise," "Ompompanoosuc" or "baughnaugh-claugh-ber," as they used to spell it sometimes, would create a little ripple of excitement to close with. Sometimes these words would decide the contest, but generally when two or three good spellers kept the floor until it became tedious, the teacher would declare the race ended and the standing spellers acquitted with a "drawn game."

The audience dismissed, the next thing was to go home, very often by a roundabout way, “a-sleighing with the girls," which, of course, was the most interesting part of the evening's performances, sometimes, however, too rough to be commended, as the boys were often inclined to be somewhat rowdyish.

THE BRIGHT SIDE.

The history of pioneer life generally presents the dark side of the picture, but the toils and privations of the early settlers were not a series of unmitigated sufferings. No; for while the fathers and mothers toiled hard, they were not adverse to a little relaxation and had their seasons of fun and enjoyment. They contrived to do something to break the monotony of their daily life and furnish a good hearty laugh. Among the more general forms of amusements were the "quilting bee," "corn husking," "paring bee," "log rolling" and "house raising." Our young readers will doubtless be interested in a description of these forms of amusements, when labor was made to afford fun and enjoyment to all participating. The "quilting bee," as its name implies, was when the industrious qualities of the busy little insect that "improves each shining hour" were exemplified in the manufacture of quilts for the household. In the afternoon, ladies for miles around gathered at the appointed place, and while their tongues would not cease to play, the hands were as busily engaged in making the quilts, and the desire always manifested to get it out as quickly as possible, for then the fun would begin. In the evening the gentlemen came, and the hours would then pass quickly by in "plays," games, singing and dancing. "Corn huskings" were when both sexes united in the work. They usually assembled in a large barn which was arranged for the occasion, and when each gentleman had selected a lady partner, the husking began. When a lady found a red ear of corn she was entitled to a kiss from every gentleman present. When a gentleman found one, he was allowed to kiss every lady present. After the corn was all husked, a good supper was served, then the "old folks" would leave and the remainder of the evening was spent in the dance and in having a general good time. The recreation afforded to the young people on the annual recurrence of these festive occasions was as highly enjoyed and quite as innocent as the amusements of the present boasted age of refinement and culture.

The amusements of the pioneers were peculiar to themselves. Saturday afternoon was a sort of half holiday. The men usually went to town and when that place was reached, "fun commenced." Had two neighbors business to transact, here it was done. Horses were "swapped," difficulties settled and free fights indulged in. Whiskey was as free as water. Twelve and a half cents would buy a quart and thirty-five or forty cents a gallon, and at such prices enormous quantities were consumed.

WHAT THE PIONEERS HAVE DONE.

Iowa is a grand state and in many respects second to none in the Union, and in everyting that goes to make a live, prosperous community, not far behind the best. Her harvests are bountiful; she had a medium climate and many

Vol. I-8

other things that make her people contented, prosperous and happy; but she owes much to those who opened up these avenues that have led to her present condition and happy surroundings. Unremitting toil and labor have driven off the sickly miasmas that brooded over swampy prairies. Energy and perseverance have peopled every section of her wild lands and changed them from wastes and deserts to gardens of beauty and profit. Where but a few years ago the barking wolves made the night hideous with their wild shrieks and howls, now is heard only the lowing and bleating of domestic animals. Only a half century ago the wild whoop of the Indian rent the air where now are heard the engine and rumbling trains of cars, bearing away to markets the products of our labor and soil. Then the savage built his rude huts on the spot where now rise the dwellings and schoolhouses and church spires of civilized life. How great the transformation! This change has been brought about by the incessant toil and aggregated labor of thousands of tired hands and anxious hearts, and the noble aspirations of such men and women as make any country great. What will another half century accomplish? There are few, very few of these old pioneers yet lingering on the shores of time as connecting links of the past with the present. What must their thoughts be as with their dim eyes they view the scenes that surround them? We often hear people talk of the old fogy ideas. and fogy ways and want of enterprise on the part of the old men who have gone through the experiences of pioneer life. Sometimes, perhaps, such remarks. are just, but considering the experiences, education and entire life of such men, such remarks are better unsaid. They have had their trials, hardships, misfortunes and adventures, and shall we now, as they are passing far down the western declivity of life, and many of them gone, point to them the finger of derision and laugh and sneer at the simplicity of their ways? Let us rather cheer them up, revere and respect them, for beneath those rough exteriors beat hearts. as noble as ever throbbed in the human breast. These veterans have been compelled to live for weeks upon hominy, and if bread at all, it was bread made from corn ground in hand mills, or pounded up in mortars. Their children have been destitute of shoes during the winter; their families had no clothing except what was carded, spun, wove and made into garments by their own hands; schools, they had none; churches, they had none; afflicted with sickness incident to all new countries, sometimes the entire family at one time; luxuries of life, they had none; the auxiliaries, improvements, inventions and labor saving machinery of today they had not; and what they possessed they obtained by the hardest of labor and individual exertions; yet they bore these hardships and privations without murmuring, hoping for better times to come, and often, too, with but little prospect of realization.

As before mentioned, the changes written on every hand are most wonderful. It has been but four score years since the white man began to exercise dominion over this region, erst the home of the red men; yet the visitor of today, ignorant of the past of the country, could scarcely realize that within these years there has grown up a population of 2,225,000, who in all the accomplishments of life are as far advanced as are the inhabitants of the older states. Schools, churches, colleges, palatial dwellings, beautiful grounds, large, well cultivated and productive farms, as well as cities, towns and busy manufactories have grown up

and occupy the hunting grounds and camping places of the Indians, and in every direction there are evidences of wealth, comfort, and luxury. There is but little of the old landmarks left. Advanced civilization and the progressive demands of revolving years have obliterated all traces of Indian occupancy, until they are remembered only in name.

In closing this section we again would impress upon the minds of our readers the fact that they owe a debt of gratitude to those who pioneered this state, which can be but partially repaid. Never grow unmindful of the peril and adventure, fortitude, self-sacrifice and heroic devotion so prominently displayed in their lives. As time sweeps on its ceaseless flight, may the cherished memories of them lose none of their greenness, but may future generations alike cherish and perpetuate them with a just devotion to gratitude.