Nemīlīgs pavasara atkusnis marta beigās 186.. gadā. Te snieg, te brāzmās sit smalka krusa ar lietu, un uz šosejas starp Jelgavu un Rīgu, Olaines līdzenumā, kūst ledus un sasalums. Brīžiem sniegs ņem virsroku un pārslas kā balta sega uzsedz zemi, aizklāj laukus un tumšos mežus. Tomēr tas netur ilgi — siltums ātri izgrauž tajā caurumus, un no baltās segas paliek vien atsevišķi plankumi, kurus drīz noskalo pelēkās pavasara peļķes.

An unpleasant spring thaw at the end of March 186.. Here it snows, here it blows fine hail with rain, and on the highway between Jelgava and Riga, in the Olaine Plain, ice and frost melt. At times, the snow takes over and flakes cover the ground like a white blanket, covering the fields and dark forests. However, it does not last long - the heat quickly eats holes in it, and only individual spots remain from the white blanket, which are soon washed away by gray spring puddles.

Nepārtraukti šķind zvaniņi, īkst īsti pulksteņi, zirgi šņāc, rati rīb, saimnieki un ragavas griež uz sāniem, jo ceļš ir tāds, ka labi nevar pabraukt ne ar ratiem, ne ar ragavām. Toreiz vēl nestrādāja tvaika dzelzceļš starp Jelgavu un Rīgu, taču Kurzemes pusē klīda runas un ceļinieku stāsti par brīnumiem — ka no Rīgas uz Dinaburgu varot braukt ar “uguns ratiem” un no turienes tālāk uz Pēterburgu. Dažs labs lauza galvu: kā gan tas varētu būt ierīkots? Laikam tā — uguns turas dīkšeles galā un dzen ratus uz priekšu!

Bells are constantly ringing, real clocks are chiming, horses are whinnying, carts are rumbling, owners and sledges are turning to the side, because the road is such that neither carts nor sledges can be driven well. At that time, the steam railway between Jelgava and Riga was not yet operational, but on the Kurzeme side, rumors and travelers' stories about miracles were circulating - that from Riga to Dinaburg you could travel by "fire chariot" and from there on to St. Petersburg. Some wise men racked their brains: how could it have been arranged? I guess so - the fire is at the end of the stick and drives the chariot forward!

Šoseja starp Rīgu un Jelgavu bija smaga un slapja, un vispār toreiz pa galvenajiem lielceļiem pastāvīgi kursēja braucēji un saimnieki. Krogi bija itin cienījami un bieži vien pilni, tā ka saimnieki nereti nevarēja tikt laikus mājās. Tie bija svešu ļaužu troksnīgi, jo tur parasti bija “galdsaimnieki” ar dziesmām un vācu sabiedrību — liela kroga istaba ar dažādiem ceļiniekiem. Krogos parasti bija divas telpas: viena vācu, otra latviešu. Pirmā bieži bija ar sausām, siltām sienām un glītām mēbelēm; otra — kā kuru reizi, dažkārt jābrien līdz pat slieksnim. It sevišķi, ja troksne neļāva ļaudīm laisties mierā un visiem nebija, kur apsēsties. Tomēr ļaudis pie šādas kārtības bija pieraduši un to pieņēma par pilnīgi dabisku un saprotamu. Kā zemnieks cilvēks var vēlēties labāku — tā tas bija!

The highway between Riga and Jelgava was heavy and wet, and in general, at that time, travelers and owners were constantly traveling along the main highways. The pubs were very respectable and often full, so that the owners often could not get home on time. They were noisy with strangers, because there were usually "hosts" with songs and German society - a large pub room with various travelers. Pubs usually had two rooms: one German, the other Latvian. The first often had dry, warm walls and neat furniture; the other — as sometimes, sometimes you have to wade right up to the threshold. Especially if the noise didn't let people rest and there was nowhere for everyone to sit. However, the people were used to such an order and accepted it as completely natural and understandable. As a peasant, one can wish for better — that's how it was!