The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1875-03-11


that tumbled it from her head into the
dust. 'What is this about Mumford 2"
Her gray hair bristled all over her head;
a wild light shone in her sunken gray
eyes, and she stretched bony hand out
toward me almost in menacing man
ner. ssNIumford," she continued, calm
ing somewhat, 'sMumford is not. Mum
ford, sir, was my husband for forty
wears. He sleeps now on the banks of
Green River. We left him there. He
sleeps there under the trees, where I
should sleep" Her hand dropped, and
in sobbing voice she said: eyes,
under the trees-thank God for that
Under the green trees He was born
among the tall green trees of Kentucky
lived among trees all his hfe-d1ed
among trees When, far out in the
desert, they told him he was dying, sir,
he asked to be raised up that he might
look out of the wagon. No. said he,
4 can't die here. There is not tree in
sight. Go on
"He lived, sir, till we reached Green
River, and was laid on his bed under the
trees. Then he took my hand, sir,
and said: Sally, goodbye I'll die
now"
'sThomas Thomas 70 called shrill
but weak voice from the wagon. ''Thom-
as, is that mother a-talkin %
Thomas the 'doubting Thomas
who had all this time been sitting SO de-
jectedly on the rock, arose and walked
sluggishly to the wagon.
| The animated bundle looked after him
and said: sI'm his mother-in-law He's
stick-a perfect stick p said she de-
cidedly. eyes," repeated she, ga per-
feet stick! O, that by keepin' Mum
ford before him-by calm Mumford up
in his mind-I could get him to show
some of Mumford's spirit!''
In moment Thomas came back and
said: 'sNancy- that's my wife, sir
wants to see you She's sick in the
wagon"
Nodding to the young girl who was
holding the sick child at the front Of the
vehicle and placing my hand on the
faxen locks Of the little one by her side,
I looked into the back part Of the
''family mansion" just as tall, thin,
hollow-eyed woman was rising from
some quilts.
Resting in sitting position by hold
ing to the side Of the wagon, the woman
gazed wistfully at me.
''You are sick, my good woman -
said I.
so, yes, sir-very, sir! I've mountain
fever
Now that I fully comprehended the
distressed condition of this poor, sick,
friendless, moneyless, shipwrecked
family, I was SO overcome that, as I
stood facing the wistful eyes Of the sick
woman, I knew not what to say.
Nodding toward the young girl hold
ing the infant, the woman said: ''Mary
says that you told daddy-my husband
out thar, that some teams might help
us. o, sir, if they would! Daddy is
clean discouraged, pore MANI
[ assured the woman that had said
nothing but what [ believed to be true.
care there many teams on the road
now, sir?' asked Mary.
GA great many I wonder that none
have passed along. But you are not on
the road they travel. 1t is nearly half a
mile to where the road joins that run
ming from Virginia City to Carson City"
eff I could see them, sir; if they could
see mother-see us all-they would help
us to get away from here -
"Indeed they would! Most of them
are noble fellows, and there is not
man among them all that would pass
you by
W oU, oil AhClI1h yOu! ",
mother! do you hear?' and the kind
hearted girl began kissing the sick baby
to hide her tears.
Looking up she said. "Mother has
been sick SO long and now pore lit
tie Kitty is sick; and we haven't hardly
any thing to eat. What can we do ?'
"You are all safe now. Our Washoe
people have assisted hundreds of emf
grants that were in distress. They will
most certainly take care of you till you
can find means to get to California
"God bless themr' said Mary.
"Will you please call Thomas, my
husband, sir, to get me some water %
said the sick woman, who had fallen
back on her couch and was irving to
moisten her parched lips with her
equally dry and fevered tongue.
T at once went To bar huchand on6