The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1881-01-19
TOLD BY THE SUFFERER.
A Story of a Pilgrims Experience in Mon
...= tana, and His Complaints.

A|A $1,000 @AeS@ a SoALS " oAo 800
called me Pilgrim, but my real name is John
Thorn. | was born on the eastern shores Of
Maine, where [ resided until [ came to Mon
tana. [ had read Horace Greeley's $50 West
young man" and Strahorn's "New West, and
coming upon a copy Of the Helena Hera1ds
holiday number, I selected Montana for my
future home. The next question was how to
get there. I was but twenty years old and
had an aged mother and a sister depending
upon me for their support, and | had no
money. Mr. Church, who had formerly
been q neighbor Of ours, had been in Mon
tana about twelve years and had accumulated
quite q fortune in the cattle business. I wrote
to him asking about the country, wages, etc,
and asking him what chance there would be
for q young man who had no capital. In due
course of time I received a reply from him,
stating that Montana was the best country in
the world for a young man in my circum-
stances, and knowing my condition he sent
me one hundred and fifty dollars to pay my
way to Montana, and told me ! could work
for him ct the rate of thirty dollars per month
until I paid him back. I told my mother and
sister | would 60, and as soon az ! could pay
MIR. Church, [ would work and earn money
enough to send for them. Amid shedding OF
tears and heartfelt s'God-bless and protect
YOU" I finally bid them q good bye, and was
carried away from the scenes of my youth.
finally landed at TT. Benton in July, 1879,
soon after which [ went to work for Mr..
Church on the roundup. In about three
weeks I got q letter from home. It was the
first letter I ever received from home, for [
had never been away before. It made me
very homesick, which could only be satisfied
with tears. Mr.. Church, noticing this, asked
me t.what was the matter"
"Oh, nothing" said |, "Only | got a letter
from mother and sister, and they want to
come to Montana. AS soon as [ pay you, |
want to make enough money to send for
them
MIR. G. looking at me a moment, said:
ssJohn. YOU are the kind of men We want
in Montana, and you deserve encouragement.
I will loan you two hundred dollars to send
after them now, and all I ask is sixteen mills
on the dollar for interest, that being the
amount I will have to pay tax on your note"
took the money and gave him my promis-
sary note with the sixteen mills added, and
sent for my mother and sister. Sometime in
August we got through with the roundup.
Mr.. Church says to me:
"John, how would you like to be a cattle
MANI"
"First rate" said I, ''but it will be a long
time, I am afraid, before | will be able to
W a COW. I am too poor"
ssThere is where you are Mistaken" said
Mr.. G. "Many men are rich without money;
thousands of them are rich without a cent in
their pockets. A man with a good sound
constitution, good heart and sound limbs,
and a fair head is always rich. Good hands
arc better than gold; muscle and sineW is
much better than silver; nerve, energy and
will-power are superior to cattle, sheep horses
or land
sNow," said he, s'John, you are rich, for
that is the kind Of a man I think you are"
Hooked at him and then at myself, for I
was anxious to see how 8 rich man looked
who hadn't a cent in the world. He then
said:
II will loan you four hundred dollars on
the same terms l loaned you the other money,
with which you can invest in young cattle.
They will be of no expense to you, only one
months work at time of roundup"
[ thought this very kind Of Mr.. c.. and, Of
course, | accepted it, and gave him my note
as before for the amount. took the money
and bought of Mr.. Smith thirty head of
two-year old heifers, and he gave me an old
lame COW in the bargain. On the following
December | hired to Mr.. @. for thirty dollars
o month by the year. | was to have Dne
month to myself to 60 on the roundup, ana
I was also to have pasturage for the old COW.
I was not to draw any Of my wages until ny
year was up, December 1880.
On the following June came roundup. |
was compelled to get an outft-horse, saddle,
etc. bought a horse Of MIR. B. liVeryman,
giving him the same kind of note | gave to
MIR. G. which he was willing to take. ]
bought provisions of Mr.. Mcknight for the
roundup, giving him the same kind Of npte
T had given the others. | went to the blak-
smith shop, got my horse shod and q braid
no iron. /. was here | saw in large lettirs
over the door, 'sAll work must be paid br
before leaving the shop" | told him how !
had paid for my horse and my store bill, and
finally he also took my note. The next MON
;,r co,,o forty cow hnvs met at the mill cDO-