The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1882-02-03
Off for Texas.

ing 1Or traVeluy. Leaving Lula we
took southwest course through Sa-
lena township. The angling roads
were bad and we had hard pull be-
fore we reached Big Creek. We con-
cluded to camp and arrange our straps
in the wagon. Once more I was on
the road and in camp. The blazing
camp fire, the aroma arising from the
frying meat and the boiling coffee
were a luxury to me, who had passed
my first years in camp, but for the
past ten years had been housed in a
school house or lawyers Office. With
a keen appetite we dispatched our sup
per, enjoyed the fire and retired to
rest with our dog tied under the
wagon, feeling that we were safe from
providers. Our poor dog looked home
sick, his appetite was poor, but we
hoped after few days in camp he
would again be happy. Rising early
we take our breakfast and by the light
of the lantern proceeded on our jour
ney. The heavens were overcast with
clouds and gentle rain began to fall
which by daylight had completely
spoiled the good roads. Ofpersons we
would meet we would enquire the
road and distance to Usage Mission.
We did not ask because we did not
know but just to hear them Tie. Ask
one man the distance and he would
say, "SiXteen and a half miles," go
about two miles and meetanother man
and ask him and he would. say, "from
that corner up there it is just twenty
miles ;" and SO on, no two agreeing
and all reckless of the truth. We
found the Mission dilapidated town
with no more stir about it than a grave
yard. 1t is no wonder that Fred
Hutchings has become such a great
lawyer. His cases come from the sur
rouding counties and in the solitude of
that town he has nothing to draw his
mind away from them. 1 must not
forget to mention the grading of the
road from the town running east. For
two miles a grade has been thrown up
wide enough for dog cart. A wagon
has one side or the other down one
side of the grade while the team
stradles the grade. Should one team
meet another team, which is not at all
likely as not more than one team a
day goes to the Mission, one or the
other must go into the ditch and it is
then about all they are worth to get
them out.
We camped about seven miles out;
and here our dog showed his dislike to
having a wagon for his home by go
ing to house and seating himself on
a door step and refusing to go any fur
ther. We persuaded him, however,
to come back to camp by tying rope
around his neck ard leading him.
We tried to bring joy back to his
heart by giving him plenty to eat, and
kind words; but still he looked I'M
happy and with a whine he seemed to
say, ~ want to go home; have had
enough travelling" My heart is sad
as well as Franks. Thoughts of my
wife and children continually engage
my mind; but bear the parting be-
cause in the end hope to make them
happier.
The third day we crossed the Neosho
and as we were in a strange land we
had to rely on the hero we met to di-
rect us on our way, and the conse-
quence was several times we were sent
clear off the road. One fellow in par
ticular may consider himself decently
cussed, as young Noble exhausted up
on him his vocabulary of profane
words, which, by the way, is a large
one. It is handy to have some one
along that can do the swearing up
right. I soon saw that We could not
rely on the unsworn statements of
those we met to tell us the road, so
before asking any questions ! would
swear the person to truly state direc-
tons and distance, under the pains
and penalties of perjury. I did not
swear them $50 help you God" be-
cause there was great many places
down in that country that God was
never in. Those swore did not have
any fears of the pains and penalties of
perjury and still continued to make
statements about the roads that were
as contradictory as the different theo-
ries in Theology.
We camped within three miles of
Oswego and had a good comp. Our
log, Frank, had followed us all day
and at last seemed resigned to his
change of living, and We did not tie
him. In the morning Frank was
rppo GnnI 1,1-o LII lNn Nav x-r,