Griggs courier. (Cooperstown, Griggs Co., Dak. [N.D.]) 1885-1902, 1900-05-31

!; ANIGH1 OF PERIL
BY Emerson 1ennett
..1A0a. 4M1.. xM1A &n1m,
BY Emerson 1ennett

lt'rom Good Literature, by Permission
nj EXITING one day accidentally an
wi old schoolmate whom | had lost
sight OF for Il number of Years. !
learned i'm the first few minutes of
our conversation that he had been a
travelling col porteur, but had lately
married and settled in the west.
turned storekeeper and was now on !;
visit to some Of his friends i'm the
east ::
To some very natural inquiries
which made, he replied by telling
me the following thrilling and roman
tic incident:
The lifes<oi /. colpofteur" he be-
gan. SIS a very hard and trying one.
Travelling from place to place. as he
does, through the more thinly peopled
sections of the country; initiating his
Great Master so far ast to be with the
poor always: selling his religious
works where he can--giving them
away where money is wanting and he
sees A.chance of their doing good
holding meetings in the wilderness.
perhaps a hundred miles from any
regular church or pastor: visiting the
sick: officiating for he dead: endeav-
oling to console the mourner: exposed
to heat and cold sunshine and storm
sometimes riding the whole day with
out food. and often passing the night
in the most unhealthy and wretched
quarters; continually meeting with
incidents and accidents of the most
disayrceahle nature: now receiving
the blessings Of the good. and anon
the bitter curses of the bad; all his
my friend. is very trying to one poor
human system. and there are few
men so constituted as TO be able to
hold out in the good work for amy
length of time.
During the few years which
spent in this manner. in what may
call the wilderness of the west many
events occurred which could now
recall and had | time to relate
believe would deeply interest YOU:
but ! will only give you the most re-
markable one of all and the one most
destiny.
"One dull. gloomy. drizzling day
during the spring of the last year
] served in the capacity | have men
toned found myself near the SET
ting of night passing through q
long. dreary wood. where for miles
had not seen any habiuation. In fact
since noon of that day had paSSef
but one dwelling. a poor. miserable
log hut where for myself had oh
tanned rather ii lunch than a meal
but had not been able to procure
anything for my weary horse. How
far had vet to go to reach habita
tion where | could find shelter fo1
the night could not SAY and in con
sequence began to feel quite uneasy
My horse was fatigued and hungry
and myself cold wet and uncomfort
able
"Spurring on my faded beast. how
ever. in the hope that | should We
find some comfortable lodging on tn,
way. rode some two miles further
and descended into a steep marrow
valley. through which flowed swift
mountain stream. and across which
led the narrow road | was pursuing
cit was now getting quite dark
and as reached the stream and hear.
the gloomy murmur of its Swollen
waters and knew not if it We're safe
to attempt the ford. ! felt quite dis
heartened. and was half tempted tt
turn back and encamp as best I coule
upon the high ground of the hill
above.
"But looking around me- as my poo
horse pricked up his ears and uttered
a pleading whinny. | espied a ligh
few rods below: and riding dowl
to it. I was greatly relieved and re
joiced to find it proceeded from
neat and comfortable dwelling. whicl
stood back some ten or fifteen yard
from the stream. and probably a
many feet above the level of its wa
tiers.
Son knocking at the door it wa
opened by very genteel lookin!
woman. some As or so years of age