The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1876-06-30

stop and catch breath. The stage-coach
lurches suddenly, and with thunlp,
smash, bang, we telescope our spinal
column and relapse into the sleepiest
kind of prose.
! Change horses and take dinner at Pei
lean Station-what name for an in
land wayside inn :. But we lose sight Of
the incongruity of the cognomen in the
excellent repast the place affords.
Strawberries and country cream in the
wild businesses of the Oregon noun
tans. Think of it, good reader, and
may you always fare as we'll as we did.
The day wears on, and La Grande, re-
posing like white pearl upon ma
sonry of emerald, smiles at US from the
bases of the eternal hills. Here, in the
elegant home of our good friends, Mr..
and Mrs. Chaplain, we doff our dusty
garments and indulge in "an ablution
that, despite our tired bones, makes us
almost as good as new. The day is aw-
ully, scorchingly hot, but what matter?
Haven't we alighted among friends?
fand isn't the situation pleasant? To be
an itinerant missionary is fatiguing,
but to be entertained by Mrs. Chaplain
is superlatively refreshing.
Met the good citizens on Sunday at Al
, P. NJ. in the Methodist Church, and dis
coursed upon "Woman and the Bible"
, Rev. H. X. Hines is now absent in the
East upon business connected with the
f La Grande University, and the pasto-
rate is occupied by Brother Stubbs, who
! kindly gave us permission to preach our
gospel of peace in the church, just as
Elder Hines would have done. We al
: ways rejoice when we meet preacher
: who has faith enough in his God to be-
lieve we couldn't annihilate Him with
n our woman's tongue. The minister came
e forward at the close of the lecture and
a heartily indorsed our mission, thereby
greatly delighting his flock of earnest
o co-workers in the vineyard of Right.
e Substantial aid and comfort was
: given to render our paths pleasant, and
= we took the Mondays stage for Union
n town, where we were soon a guest in
re the hospitable home of Hon. Sam. Han
'e nah, the Portland Collector of Customs,
'e whom we regretted to find in the poor
h est health, and utterly prostrate. He is
ot hopeful of speedy recovery, however,
h and his many friends join with his ex-
e, cellent wife in the fervent wish that he
TX may be speedily restored to his wonted
I'd activity and usefulness.
he Our friend Hon. J. HendershOtt and
OF his good wife and daughter kindly ar
r, ranged for a lecture in the courthouse,
IL which was well attended and literally
responded to, the good people, as in
other places, fully sustaining theii
of former reputation for hospitality and
Ia, enterprise.
ge Took stage at night for Baker CITY,
er our fellow passengers numbering four
rh two gentlemen and two ladies. The
tie coach was so full of baskets, valises
ch wraps, knapsacks, and bundles, that q
he delightfully."- crowded state of affairs pre-
nd sented itself Our trunk, without which
he we are in the Flora McFlimsey condi-
tion, was left behind. The water was
{ l high, but the driver was careful, anC
rn through the long night we bowleC
ed along, fetching up once in while at 1
.m damaged bridge or a deep mud hole, ant
be snoozing little in spite of the basket
that bruised our shins, till we sighe'
ng for gentIeman's boots to protect them
ire One diversion we must not forget t
lis chronicle. The time was midnight; tn
tie situation, owing to high water, doubt
full. The south-bound stage met us AM
is halted, and the cOlloquy between tn
all drivers was as follows:
len "How's the road ?"
md "By the holy powers of mud, it's aw
oily full. How's the Powder River bridge?'
,dy s'Unsafe, I'd say" [Our coach ha
Igh Just crossed it. "Apron afiOat, bank
dg- full, muddy Jimmy w
ent "Well, We'll try it. We may give u
yh- the ghost, go dead an busted, pass i
led our checks, or go to Davy Jones, bu
for We'll ask the Ole Man put US through.
"Have we any more bad bridges ?
llI- asks nervous lady passenger.
ere "There's a mud-hole on ahead that
md mIre a saddle blanket" is the encourag
$ of ing reply. "The mud'll come over tn
.IIv sides of the coach an cover all but you
evelids; but it's good, to what it hs
last beenv' and cracking his whip, he di
at appears in the darkness, and We go o
est and on, looking anxiously for that muC
bat hole, and failing to find it, whereof "
nd are glad. A. j. u.
inn Baker City, June 20, 1876.
nm