, 1866-02-23

1Rreene river, only half way, We we're 10 look to
Goa fof guides and convoy either down the
sand plains Of the Snake river or through the
WIND Hveri Beaver Head and Bitter Root noun
tainsi Doctor Whitman was determined to re-
mof3 ailrcmanee from the subject aud present
nothing but the cold facts 90 far as they had
come under his observation or obtained them
from mountain men. But a hardy, mountain
trapRer is.a very different person from feeble
woman, We bowed in humble prayer to God 10
give uswisdotn 10 decide according to his will
obserred to my angel wife, ''my Dear, I will
leave you to make the decision,o and Doctor
Whitmtu and myself walked out The Doctor
had alp told US that several parties had been
stripped Of their horses aud left on foot to trav-
erse halfthe continent barefoot as Hunts and
Stewans parties Some had starved TO death;
sonf& had psrished in the SHOWS; others .from
hardships, aud others by the Indians Every
mountain traveller pronounced it impossible for
white woman to live out the hardships and the
dangers. He alone thought otherwise. Ny own
mind was made up. | felt there could be but
one answer in the case of my wife. She was
very feeble, and had not yet recovered from
severe sickness, and could net walk half mile
But what was my surprise, on entering the room
with Doctor Whitman a few minutes afterward
to hear her say, and with calm countenance,
more Of heaven than OF earth, II have made up
my NY mind to co. "My blood chilled and
"But, my dear, yolf health?" Butshe instantly
replied, and Oh that smile of satisfaction that
could come only from heart unreservdd-
ly consecratel /, and worth more ID n even now
than all the gold Of California: 81 like the
command Just as it stands, GO We into all the
world ard preach the gospel to every creature,
no exception for poor health" Recovering a
little, but half frenzied, forgetting myself and
thinking Cnly OF her certain death in those dis
tInt wds, ] exclaimed, s.but nv dear have you
really considered the superhuman work before
you, journey Of 3, 900 miles through that great
and terrible wilderness, where SO many strong
mel have pcrishcd from starving, from hIrdships
and by the sGvages, to be perhaps two years, and
to winter in the SHOWS of the Rocky mountains;
sick or well, to be compelled to travel on; the
cold earth or snow or rocks your pillows at
night and the hetSens your curtains; without a
house to shelter from the terrific hail or thuu-
der Storm, or II single civilized ftmilv to COM
fort. To do without bread the whole distance
and until we could raise it, if ever, in the un-
known country to which we were to go; to de-
pend upon the wild bands OF BufftlO for our
daily food; the raging, brdgeless rivers; the
frightful precpices; the scorching sand plains;
death by starvation, Or priSo lers for life among
the savages 10 bil adieu forever to parents,
home, and the~eivilizei world; to depend for
success upon the endurance of the single ami
NAL, the horse, to hold out the 1900 miles, to
he continually under the saddle the 10 or ls
months, or at the picket, with only two hours,
morning, noon and evening, to feed. The vast
distance one succession of snow-capped noun
tains, dark gIrges or endless sand plains with
scutcely green thing to relieve the eye and
vhefe yet the foot Of tn white woman had new
or trod, ami iiaD.c every MON mt tha whole dis
tance to b. pDuaced upon BY some of those
sleepless bands OF savage robbers, who ever
hang upon c clravIns, ready to take advantage of
the e! unguarde IT btneut t1 drive of the hO-
ses and team beyond the reach of hope, or per-
haps scalp tLe "a aud take our waves prison.
ers. But with tle stne heavenly cAlmuess, she
replied, what II IA y 10 wsrp and 10 break
my heart, for am read to die at Jerusalem or
on The Rocky mDuntains fo' the name of the
LORD Jesus. drty is mine, but my life, my
strength AMI the dangers OF the way are HIS,
who has alreIIc g.yeu It's life for man, AMI /
am happy to give mnr a. | nov 10 unto Him. -
The great decision was male. decision and
c0nsecraticH the Dst en<ire unre5crved, unself-
sh, Chrs.-k, OF human !if. to the Lord Jesus, in
accordance to His command. That decision de-
termined also the future of this Great Pacific
West, may say, emphaticdlly.