The quota of the
farmers along the rivers, whose fertile banks were dotted by windmills,
whose great arms stayed the inconstant winds, and yoked the fickle
couriers to the great car of general plenty.
A LAND OF PEACE.
Poverty in one sense certainly existed; age and improvidence are always
with us, but it was not obtrusive, made apparent only towards the close
of the long winter, when some old veteran of the canoe or saddle would
make a "grand promenade" through the Settlement, with his ox and sled,
making known his wants, incidentally, at his different camps among his
old friends, finding always before he left his sled made the heavier by
the women's hands. This was simply done; few in the wild country but had
met with sudden exigencies in supply, knew well the need at times of one
man to another, and, when asked for aid, gave willingly. Or it may be
that some large-hearted, jovial son of the chase had overrated his
winter store, or underrated the assiduity of his friends. His recourse
in such case being the more carefully estimated stock of some neighbor,
who could in no wise suffer the reproach to lie at his door, that he had
turned his back, in such emergence, upon his good-natured, if
injudicious countryman.
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