p.

[upside down:]

I dont seem to have time to look
this over so please excuse mistakes

[right side up:]

trees growing finly, they were cottonwood
I think. I believe it is thought the
reason our prairies are so destitute of
timber is because the Indians burned them
to assist in catching thier game, which to
me seems quite probable.

The advantages of a prairie country are
greater than one would at first suppose.
if one has capital to buy his land and fence
it and build, he has a good farm to
commence to get his living upon
without spending the best of his days
and strength removing the heavy
timber, so much for practical econ-
omy, then the prairie is really beautiful.

Perhaps thou wilt think I have lost
my love of rock and hill and mountain
stream since I admire Iowa so much
but I still think there is much of romance
and grandure in mountain scenery, whose
lofty peaks are often wrapt in misty mantles