Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1897-04-22
A Trip From Lancaster TO Oklahoma
BY WILLARD SMITH.
KrSGF1sHER, Okla, April IA.

caster for OklauOihd'
was covered with snow. Arrived oy
STAGE at Potosi at noon and had dun
ner-which always delights healthy
boy. After dinner we went to the
depot. Took last look at outskirts
nj my native county with heavy
heart The sloughs were all frozen
over and the temperature was about
zero. The train came At o'clock
and a. | took last look at things and
took nv seat in the cars and thought
Of everybody at home, if you had
been with me you would have wished
for a moment that you had never
started.
Arriving at East Dubuque. there on
one hand is the city and on the other
the bluffs. The train speeds along
and as you look from the ear window
at YOUR constantly changing surround
ings. you become interested and for
get everything else. Gradually the
snow disappears; it looks late in the
fall or early in the spring; now it has
gone entirely, and everything looks
nice.
At Savannah, Illinois, the porter
said to take the next train for Gales
burg. Jumped off the train into
whirl Of hurry and hustle. a truck
fun Of trunks rushing across the plat
form pushed me clear out OF joint,
and another truck loaded with pack
ages coming the other way brushed
me back in again, SO that in the end
averaged up all right, and feeling
hungry bought some nice fresh fruit
that braced me up a little; but when
the depot agent called our train took
a chair car feeling disgusted with
everybody and everything. It Is
dark now outside and nothing can be
seen but electric lights. Pretty soon
the porter came through with an arm
full of pillows and asked every body to
take one. / said no; but he wants
fellow fixed up so that you can rest
easy. and will not let up bothering
until YOU tell him to 90 away. After
getting rid of him, l had just settled
down into a doze when the '.breaky''
comes along and hustles me up with
the information that | must get my
ticket ready tor the conductor, who
makes his appearance a half hour
later-when you have gone to sleep
AGAIN and your ticket has fallen out
of your hand on to the floor After
getting the ticket matter Strengthened
out | laid down for little nap in
about time to change cars at Gales
burg. Here we got into nice chair
car and settled down for good sleep.
Two or three chairs ahead Of me was
a lady. She had baby that had a
pain, and kept hoping it would die
or somebody would throw it out OF
the car window all the way to Boones-
borough, where she got off with the
baby.
Once more we settled down 10
sleep. when realized that the train
was barely moving. Asked man what
was the matter. He replied that we
were crossing the Mississippi river.
Sitting up in my chair and raising a
window was surprised to see how
warm the air was. and below me the
water ran dark and dismal with flashes
OF fire on the crest Of dancing eddies.
Just then we passed an electric light
and | drew back my head, dazzed for
moment; then the whistle blew as
we glided on to the bank and resumed
our regular rate Of speed.
III the morning awoke at 6 O'Clock
1t was daylight. and looking ahead
could be seen another river, on the
other side Of which was Kansas City.
After considerable delay from waiting
for another train to come out. we
pulled into Kansas City. Here one
usually makes connections; but that
morning we were one hour late con
sequently had to wait just eleven
hours. After getting baggage checked
and some lunch l took street car up
town and went around rubher-necking
at everything About half-past five
III the afternoon weary with walking
about the city ! went back to the
Union depot to wait for my train. I
did not thinkof seeing any Of my old
friends from Wisconsin here. and inn
agine my surprise and delight at see
ING a boy with a familiar face walk y