The Blizzard

by Mrs. E.A. Beckley (Pub. Independent March 22, 1917)

While the family circle gathers,
On a cold and wintery night,
And without the storm is raging,
All within is warm and bright.
And we pass around the popcorn
And the apples, not a few,
And by ten o'clock the mercury
Goes down to 42.
And we say before the morning
She'll be down to 45.
And we wonder how our neighbors are
And if they are all alive.
To be caught out on these prairies,
With a terrific wind so high
Would only mean to lose one's way,
To perish and to die.

Oh! these storms in North Dakota,
They are bad enough no doubt,
And these long and cruel winters
Eastern people read about.
And they gather round their firesides
And it seems they cannot rest,
As they think about their relatives
Away in the west.
And they wonder if they're warm enough
And have enough to eat,
While the rain against their window panes
Is turning into sleet.

These North Dakota blizzards
They are almost sure to come,
We may as well get ready for them,
Stay a little more at home,
In the summer when it's lovely,
And the going is so grand,
Put some time in on the buildings,
Fixing up with careful hands,
Always best to have things ready,
Than to be behind instead
Then when winter comes 'twill find you
All prepared with naught to dread.

Source: A History of Foster County 1983 Page 86