The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1875-02-18

The family had evidently never dreamed
Of such wagon or such an array Of ami
mails for a team. Thomas rose from his
seat on the rock, rubbed his eyes. and
gazed upon the whole rig in utter aston
ishment; the old lady pushed back her
immense sun-bonnet and giggled aloud,
while the boys stood and stared in open
mOuthed aInazement.
Sticking his blacksnake whip under the
housings of his saddle mule, my teamster,
whose name was John Henderson, as he
told me while coming along, jumped TO
the ground, and. transferable, went first
of all TO look at the old bald-faccd horse.
AS he walked around him surveying his
many unusual points," his face wore a
curious expression-half sneer, half pity.
Going to where the dead mare lay he
gave her a careless kick, which instantly
brought beseeching "Don't, Mister ~
from the younger of the boys.
Smiling good-humoredly, Henderson
turned away and now for the first time
deigned to notice the human beings pres
ent.
Well," said he, lookingin the direction
of Thomas, Il s'spose you folks don't care
how soon you get out o. here? Ugh
with all these dead cattle about, the whole
place smells like secondhand funeral y
Said Thomas: II must tell you plainly,
Mister, that we have no money. We
are
"Oh! Mumfordl Oh. Mumford p'
cried the old LADY; and squatting upon
the ground, she began rocking herself to
and fro.
is the old lady sick?' kindly asked
John Henderson. my bold teamster boy.
"No," whisperedI; ''it's only way
she has. A little peculiar, that's all,' and
| winked expressively.
90, sir" said Mary, s'if you will take
us will do any thing! will work for
you; mean will work for your father
your mother, sir-for we have no
money!
g have neither father nor mother in
this country, Miss but who is talking
about money or work? just you tell me
where you want to CO."
90, sir" said Mary, "we want to 60 to
California;"
"But to what part of California? Cali
fornia is broad State"
Mary hesitated, look confused, and final
ly answered: II don't know; sir; we
only started to go to California"
Thomas was asked and he said: "Don't
know, Mister, of any particular part-we
only jist started to 90 to Caleforny."
''Ohl Mumfordi Oh! Mumford ~
groaned the old lady.
Henderson started at this second out
break, gaZed curiOusly at the old woman
for moment, then gave me look which
said more plainly than any words,
''Rum old gal, amt she?"
"Well," said Henderson, addressing the
family collectively, ''as you don't seem to
be bound for any particular port, by the
beard of Balaam I'll just bundle you all
up and take you down to Sacramento Val
ley to my ranch; it's as good luck as
any,"
Nobody offered any objection. The
short and emphatic speech made by Hen
derson seemed to have settled the whole
matter.
The kind-hearted teamster was now all
hustle. All the valuable contents of the
little emigrant wagon were soon slowed
away in the capacious ''prairie schooner, -
as were the extra harness and other out
side traps. The water cask was unslung
from under the small craft, and, giving it
a kick that sent itrolling, Henderson said F.:
1--WE shan't need that,'
AT this the old lady, of whom nobody
was thinking, cried: "Yes we shall.
Take it along; it'll come mighty handy to
keep soap in ~
"NeveT you mind, granny" said Hen
dersOn, smiling at the idea; ''we shall
find soap-barrels enough over the noun
tains."
Henderson spread his own mattress and
bed for the sick woman and child in the
small wagon, it having been cleared of all
in the shape of boxes and baggage, max
ing both quite comfortable.
All hands of us then nauled the small
craft into position, and it was securely
lashed behind the big wagon as "back-
action THAT is, it was taken in tow by
the large "prairie schooner "-the gallant
"Red Wing"
Thomas and the bows were mounted into
the large wagon, while ali of the women
were placed in the small one.
As | assisted the tOttering old lady into
the vehicle, she paused when half way in,
and nodding her head toward Henderson,
said to me in a triumphant whisper: "He's
just like Mumfordw 4,
Good-by" was soon said ali round: a
crack like the report of rifle rang out
from Henderson's blacksnake whip; a
shower of music was shaken out of the
scores Of bells worn by the team, and the
two vehicles moved slowly away in the
direction of the main road to Carson City.
At the distance of a few hundred yards,
the old bald-faced horse, as he went limp
ing after the smaller craft, seemed sudden
ly TO remember that he was leaving behind
the mare-his old companion. Two or
three times he turned his head and began
to whinny, but his stout rope halter
brought him up with jerk that nearly
threw him off his trembling legs, so he
gave it up and they all moved on.
"Poor old devil ~ said |, as | stood there
alone in the desert '' he feels much as did
the 'relict when she left Mumford be-
hind. under the trees on the banks of Green
River.n .s ..sr.. --