Council Bluffs bugle. [volume] (Council Bluffs, Iowa) 1860-1868, 1867-10-17
DRlF TING ~ THE sHAYsiDE.


II
Ths skssch thai Hs are abeas TO giss
aates back lissls m0zs than sevsnsy
years. and before any regular systsm Of
navigation, sssn by bargss and ks&l
boats. waa known 10 the western rivers.
: Thsn Ill nc9th 81 the 0Ai0 r;ssx, rs m
almoss unhroken wilderness, The mgsss-
rions red Enaa's home. On the other
side q bold and hardy band Erem Deyead
the mounsains, had balls shsir log-eAb-
bins, and were trying % sabaue shs viii
derness. To them every boar vac fall
uE peril, ~ the Indians would oftsa
cross the rirsr. steal theis shildfea and
horses, and kill and scalp any victim that
came In thsis wsy. TAsy worksd 10 the
geld Nth weapons 81 their aide, and On
the Sabbath met in the grove or the rude
log church 20 bear shs word Of God with
sheir rides In their Aands.
To preach 70 these settlers, Mr. jos
ssph smith, Presbyterian minister, had
l~fshi parental home east OF the noun
taias, aud vas sail TO have bssn the
Neeou1. miniskar who had uEasssd she
MHnougaheia river. lie settled In Wash
iBgson county, peansyiv&nia, and became
ths pastor az Cross Greek and Upper
Bufale congregation, desiding bio ti1a
botwecu them. lie found them willing
aad aaissd people, bat still anaals 10 pay
him salary which wonld support mia
family. He, ia eommon With the early
ministers, haa 10 eaitlSass > farm, and
purchasing ona on credit, proposed 70
p4y for it with sha SALARY pledged By him
Oy tho people. Years passed away, the
pastor vas unpaid, thers being littls or
no IA snay in eiseulasiaa. Wheat was
abundant, has thsrs was 40 Market AMI
could not ba sold for more than twelve
sad bali cents cash. ETsn THAR salt
had 10 be brought across the mountains
on pack horses, and vas worth eight
dollars per bushel, and oftan swsaty-oaa
bashels of wheat were ivsa for enc oil
salt.
The time came when the last payment
mass be made Mr. Smith vas told thai
be mast pay or leave tbs farm. Three
years saiary due from his people, and
for ths want Of this, bis land and tha
improvements upon it, must be abandon
ed aud loss. The psapls wsrs called
togssher aad the essa laf3 before shsm,
Thay were greatly moved, and council
from on high vas sought. Plan after
plan was proposed and abandoned, the
congregation being unable 10 pay 1.-THE
of the debts, aud 40 money could be
borrowed.
In despair they adjourned 20 neea
again the following seek. Ia ths mean
time il vas ascertained that Mr.. Moare,
who wned the ohly mill IN tbs country,
you'd grind wheat fof them Ga moderass
EsEms.
Al the next meeting 1t was resolved 70
CARR THAR wheat 10 DIR. Moore's mill
some gays hfty bushels, some gave
nsure, whishs was carried from fifteen 70
swaatY Ave miles on horses 30 The mill.
la : month, word came that the aour
VISA nearly ready 10 20 20 market. Agaia
aha people were called together, and after
al earnest prayer the question was ask
ed who would run il 10 Asw Orleans J
Ihia was = startling question: Tor she
werk was parilons Ia the sxtreme.--
ASoushs nnst pass hsfors tha aavsnsaTer
coaId hope 10 return, even though biz
journey sheaId be Fortunate, for nearly
the whole way was . howling wilderness,
aaa ,gloomy tales had been told OF sAs
kyaaeherous Indians. More shan Gas
boats crew had game o. that journey aad
nevey eoma back.
Who then wouIa endare the toll and
brave the danger None volunteered.
The voeng ahrank back and the middle
aged bad their sxeuss, and their last
scheme ssemed iikely to fail. At lengsh,
. h0arY headed man. an sldeg OF ths
chasch, sixty fear ysays OF aga, arose,
and % shs assonishmeusf Of s6e asssmhly
said = Hers ana I, send me- Tbs
deepest sfesliBg a. onsa psrvaidsd tbs
whole assembly, and to see their venera-
ted old elder thus devote himself for
their good, msitsd maHy o. them TO ssars.
They gathered around old Fsshsr Smiley
TO learn that bis resolntion waa Indeed
taken bat rather than loose their pas
tor. he would bravs danger, toll, and
evea giegsh. Altar gosne dsfsv and
tFcuhle, kwo young men we're introduced
BY hope Of large reward 10 60 - bis
assistants. A rude fat boat was esB-
structed, and day appointed for tbs
starting. The young and old from Tar
and n ar, from love to Father SMILEY,
and their deep interest In the object Of
his mission, gathered together with their
niniatar, cans down from the eharehs
afseeu miles sway, the bank Of the river
to bid the old man farewell. Then
prayer was offered by their pastor. 4
parting hvmn was sung. Thsn said ths
old man, 50 unite the eabia and les as see
what the Lord will do for as" This
vas done and the boat foated siow y
awag,
mare shan nins mouths passed and no
word oams back from Fssbsr Smiley
Many . prayer had been breashsa Tor
him, and What had been bis fate was
anknown. Another Sabbath came. The
peopls assembled sogeshsr for worship,
and there, on that rude. worE bench be
lore the preacher sat Father smiIeyA-
After the service the people we're re
aaestsd to meet In the week and bear ths
report. They all came, and after shankl
had been rendered to God for bis saf
return. Father Smiley arose and toll
bis story. Thai be bad sold bis aour to
twenty seven dollars per barrel. an
then gos aafsiy bach. he thea drew
largs PURGE and poured upon tbs table
larger pile Of gold than most OF ID
spectator had ever seen befnre. Thu
their debts we're paid, their passor r.
sisved, and while life lasted, be brok
for them tbs bread Of life. The bons
Of both pastor and elder have long 81
posea Ia the same church yard, bus
grateful postsrisy still sell this pieasis
STORY Of tia past.
---~~---------an~s So