Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1872-03-27
nlisGella
Mark IIcbcr's Luck.

fifty acres, situated upon the Senaca Lake, in
western New York His father had become
so heavily involved in debt, that two weeks
before his death the farm had been sold by
foreclosure Of mortgage.
And now what was Mark to do7
lle was a lad Of nineteen, slight and boyish
in frame, but with the strength of man in
his sinewy arms He had had the usual ad.
vantages Of education afforded to farmers
sons.
lie returned home from his fathers grave
to the small Imprinted story and hall
house. and after him came his fathers only
brother a wol-to-do farmer who resided in
the noighborhood.
This uncle, Mr.. William lleber, was a mar
Of sixty years, pompous and seI-important
His soul was of the smallest pattern, and he
had never been know to do generous deed
while he had doue many mean ones
Well, Mark" said his uncle live sent
my folks on home, so that | can have good
talk with you. Morgan tells me he wants the
farm. lie has held of two weeks Will,
George was dying, but he wants to move il
next week. What are you going to do ?"
/ don't know, uncle. | am trying to think
What can ?"
Z" have thought the matter over said Mr.
Ileber, " and have thought upon plan.
am willing to take you, Mark, and treat you
ms my own son. You shall have home al
my house, and a seat Mt my table. What dc
you say2'
You forget, uncle, that have some one
to provide for besides myself" said Mark
Suppose we're to accept this offer of yours,
what will you do for Gay2"
The girl is no relation Of yours, Mark u
The boy sighed.
Poor little Gay" he said "her's is a
hard lot DO you remember how the chile
came by her namel 1t is thirteen years thi
spring since lady stopped at our door an
asked leave to remain over night. She stat
on day after day, growing weaker and weaker
Ii did not take long to discover that sh
was insane. She called the child Gay, an
sometimes Gabrielle, which is Gays tru
name. But she did not tell her surname no
anything concerning herself. Late that sun
mor she died No one ever came to inquir
after her or the child"
Her mother was crazy tramp, and moth
ing more No wonder George was behind
hand, when his wife adopted the child of
tramp and brought her up lady said hi
uncle
Mark colored
:" cannot hear a word against my mother
sir" he said 81 shall protect Gay while
live, and she shall not be separated from me.
"Then wash my hands Of you" exclaime
Mr. Heber angriIy. You can go your ow
way, and get your own living"
" Very well, SIR" said Mark quietly
4" that is settled then"
In one week Mark had sold pair of coli
which he had raised himself, for five hundro
dollars, the household furniture for nearly q
much more, and was on his way, with littl
Gay, to the far West, to seek their fortune.
The young travellers arrived at Leavel
worth after long and iatiguing journey.
Here Marx, while looking for a wagon an
yoke of oxen with which to cross the pra
ries, fell in with an old farmer named VIII
man, who had been living in Western Kansa
but did not like it, and was now on his wa
to Nebraska. Mark concluded to join hin
and Mr.. Whitman assisted him in purchasin
suitable outfit, and that same night Mar
and Gay were snugly ensconced in their hug
travelling wagon, outside of the city, on tn
edge of the prairie, where Mr.. Whitman, wit
his wife and seven children, had encampet
Six other families were with them--the seye
wagons being parked in the form of Gil
clc--ihat is, the pole of one wagon Resin
upon the rear OF another-and the oxer
mules, horses, cows dogs and pigs being gath
cred into the circle thus protected.
Outside the circle Of wagons a great fir
was burning and as Marks wagon drove W
the conductor Of the train, Mr.. LandforC
came forward and welcomed the newcomer
1t seemed to Gay and to Mark that the
had entered new and wondrous world.
Both lay long awake that night in the
wagon, close up under the canvas roof, nj
they talked in whispers of their great future
and wondered what it had in store for them
The next morning at daybreak the can
was astir. BY sunrise the wagon train W
on its way toward the northwest.
At night they halted beside small strea
and parked the wagons, and had supper, Al
talked and sang songs and told stories, Ii
one great joyous family.
At daybreak, again they were on their wa
In the course of ten days, having travel
rapidly for OK teams, they reached the Lit
Blue river, branch of the Big Blue T
women built fires and began the preparati
VI supper luz hcn piOcccutu " puih
wagons.
The last train took over this route
attacked by Indians just here" said Cond'
tor Landlord. They were unusually DO
and we had tough fight Good Heaven
What is that y
lie heheld, by the last rays Of the suns
mounted band OF Indians their weapc
gllttering in the yellow light their plum
nodding in the wind, as they came on Ike
whilwlnd.
indians !" yelled the conductor, in
voice that made every woman's face tn
white. Pawnees or Sioux, can't
which. They seem to be on the war pa
can see their weapons. They outnumt
us, counting in our women. Call in the cb
dren. We shall have to defend ourselve
lie blew shrill blast on his bugle Il
ont 4. tutI ii