my life," he
added, and I believe him, for his face is wrinkled with care and
saddened by misfortune. It don't do, you see, to get too far removed
from this simple, natural life.

* * * * *

I am looking out for a little colder weather. The pond is not yet frozen
sufficiently for us to cut ice as we want it. But both my neighbor and
myself have gotten all things in readiness for the harvest. I like an
open winter pretty well, but I do want ice.

* * * * *

It seems to me that Dr. Detmers is always going off "half-cocked." He
once did the foreign cattle shipping interest great harm by an
ill-advised and unwarranted dispatch concerning the prevalence of
pleuro-pneumonia at the Chicago Stock Yards, and now I notice that his
alleged statements regarding diseased hogs and the disposal of them at
the same point have furnished the French Corps Legislatif an excuse for
enacting the decree prohibiting the introduction of American pork
products into France. Isn't it about time the Department of Agriculture
at Washington sat a little down on this man who writes too much with his
pen? Not that I would silence any man who sticks to facts, no matter
whose soap-bubble he pricks; but a simple alarmist who rushes into print
mainly for the pleasure it gives him to see his name in print, and to
know that he is talked about, deserves to be squelched. For aught I
know, though, Dr. Detmers has been misrepresented by the wily Frenchmen.
What has Dr. Loring to say on the subject?

* * * * *

But, after all, as I think the editor of THE PRAIRIE FARMER
himself said some months ago, this foreign agitation of the live stock
question may result in great good, inasmuch as it must lead to proper
legislation in this country against the introduction and spread of
contagious diseases among animals. It is without doubt the basis of the
proceedings at the Chicago cattle-growers' convention in November last,
and of the present movement for immediate Congressional action upon the
matter. The difficulty abroad will, I believe, prove short-lived.

LETTER FROM CHAMPAIGN.

With the exception of two days, the 22d and 23d, which were stormy and
gave us ten to twelve inches of snow, followed by a little sleet and
rain, the latter half of December has been as delightful as the first
half was, though a good deal colder. The sleighing since the 17th has
never