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The Pioneer Settler
upon the Holland Purchase, and his Progress
by
Orsamus Turner from the History
of the Holland Purchase
Third Scene
It is summer. Ten years have passed; our pioneer adventurer, it will
be seen at the first glance, has not been idle; thirty or forty acres
are cleared and enclosed. Various crops are growing, and the whole premises
begin to have the appearance of careful management, of thrift, comfort
and even plenty. The pioneer has made a small payment upon his land, and
got his "article" renewed. He has put up a comfortable blockhouse, but
has had too much reverence for his primitive dwelling to remove it. He
has a neat framed barn, a well dug, a curb and sweep; a garden surrounded
with a picket fence. His stock is increased as may be seen, by a look
off into the fields. The improvement of his neighbors have reached him,
and he can look out, without looking up. A school district has been organized,
and the comfortable log school house appears in the distance. A framed
bridge upon the stream, has taken the place of the one of logs. The pioneer,
we may venture to assume, is either Colonel of militia, a Captain, a Supervisor
of the town, or a Justice of the peace; however it may be, he is busy
in his haying. And she, the better part of his household, must not be
lost sight of; and she need not be, for the artist has been mindful of
her. She is busy with her domestic affairs; there is quiet and even loneliness
about her; but, depend upon it, there are in yonder log school house,
some half a dozen that she cares for and hopes for. — Orsamus Turner
from Pioneer History of the Holland Purchase.
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