“There it tis.” MacDonald pointed to the two story house on the prairie. The springhouse and barn were also completed. A wide smile split his face. “We shall stop and look before going into Schmidt"s Corner for our supplies.”
They had arrived back in Arles on August 20, 1858 after a six-week honeymoon of visits, shopping, and traveling. Their first stop had been at the lumberyard in Arles to settle for any work done beyond what he had paid for. Elias Clifford, the owner, explained they had hit a snag and could not bring in anymore doors or lumber for the upstairs until September. Influenza across the nation had slowed deliveries. MacDonald decided to wait until then before ordering any more work. He and Clifford did not get along, but business was business in this land. He wanted to ascer
