Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1889-02-22
A RUN FOR LIFE.


tives thought that | was "cut out" for n
Methodist minister. Upon what par-
ticular traits of my character they based
their opinion cannot say, for am not
able to Affirm with truth that my gen
cral department was to lie recommended
ms model for other boys to follow. Per-
haps it was be ausc my face had a natu-
rally solemn and wise expression.
BE that as it may, at the suggestion
and with the advice of my far seeing
relatives, l was brought up to regard the
Methodist ministry as the goal of my
studies and with commcndable ardor
my father, who was not wealthy, lent
every effort to the attainment of this
object. In consequence OF the too great
zeal with which seconded their views.
] found myself at twenty with health
much impaired, ar mind weakened to n
degree that untitled me for further study.
In the general alarm at my condition.
my relatives again came to the front and
suggested change, IL trip to the West.
Straightway an aunt on my mothers
side, who had married lumbermnn and
lived in Northern Minnesota, being duly
made aware OF the state OF things, in
vitcd me to visit her family, and thithcr
] went
That was in the spring of 1870. Tho
Minnesota climate acted like magic upon
my ovcrstraincd nerves, and the begin
ming OF autumn found me restored to
strength, and so far recovered ms to be
able to take school TO teach. More
than half the people in the district were
swedish and Norwegian settlers, and |
experienced no end of trouble, with not
n few ludicrous incidents, in understand
hnIr biol 81.
customs.
The term OF school ended about tho
first of december. My uncle was Mt
that tine carrying Oh the numbering
operations forty miles from home. on
the outlet of Lake Winibigoshish, ono
of the lakes which form the head waters
of the Mississippi River. He invited
mo to JOIN him ut the end of the school
term. had never been in numbering
camp, and determined to spend month
or two in the pine woods with him.
There was fine hunting-dcer, foxes,
musk-rnts lynxcs, and other animals in
the region.
In the settlement where 1 had been
Teaching there was young Norwegian,
Lars Bjork, two or three years older
than ], who had trapped and hunted
about Winibigoshish for several years.
He was skillful woodsman, and n
thoroughly good-hcartcd young man,
strong, sturdy and intelligent He had
been chopper at the camp through tho
autumn, but rs he thought TINT he could
make more money by trapping and hunt
ing, my uncle willingly let him off, and
acquiesced in my plan 10 accompany him
for trip of few weeks around the foot
OF Winibigoshish, twenty miles above
the camp. He also offered lis a spare
mule-"Bingo" by name-to haul our
outfit.
1t was the middle of December when
we started out from camp We had an
odd assortment of provisions, buffalo
skins, Blankets, camp utensils, tools for
constructing log house, traps, guns,
snow-shocs, little rusty stove, and two
bundles Of pressed hay to exc out Dingo's
browse diet, all loaded securely on an
old sled. We followed The smooth, ice
bound river, which, rs but little snow
had fallen, furnished good roadway.
1t was long day's tramp. 1t was
getting late when we arrived Mt tho
place settled upon for camp Nothing
could be done that night, beyond throw.
ing. up temporary shelter of saplings
and evergreen boughs, beneath which
VIC cIdWicu with our 70 es and blankets
and with our feet to big fire Of dry nine
logs, slept till morning. That is to saw.
Lars slept, but the unusual and lonely
situation drove sleep f,om my eyes for
many hours.
Bingo. poor beast, was hitched in a
birch thicket little way OFF, where he
browsed diligently.
We lost no time in selecting a site for
our winter camp. At the end of two
days, with Bingo's help in drawing the
logs into place, we had constructed "a
nsGoHfSrtable hut, its chinks tightly
with moss TO keep out the sitting
which, in that cold region, USUALLY
81 in fine. dry crystals. Against the
side of the hut we also threw up n
"lean-to" for Bingo's accommodate
pr getting our camp in o%fder, we
i our attention to business. Lars
the steel traps whiel. we had
mt About the lake shore and
the river he constructed ndend
81 for mink, martin and otter. A
ter had been captured by the Nor.
the previous winter, but they
xceedingly shy, aud not abund-
3 + hree or four weeks but little snow
+ here was just enough to make
~ und excellent for tracking game,
j were successful in securing quite
81 OF fur--two of'the coveted otter