The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-11-22

for more than $50 miles without
lxITsNI a tree or bush to mar the clear
expanse, or TO relieve the monot-
ony of view, until the dim blue outline Of
the foothills of Colorado may be traced;
where. as one says, there can not be found
a switch big enough to whip child with;
where in favorable weather the roads are as
smooth as the floor, but in a rainy season
apparently bottomless; where the water is
pure and soft and the air delightful; in this
seeming garden spot of the world there
sprung up a town peopled with inhabitants
from the Eastern States. They came with
abundance of culture but depleted pocket
books. But they trusted that, with little
stirring of the soil, the golden grain would
fill their Golfers WITH golden dollars Hope
energized all their efforts. Some built small
cottages of rough planks. while others from
the earth itself built houses of sod. which
upon usage proved TO be far superior to the
frame ones, for they were cooler in summer
and warmer in winter.
They planted groves and titled the soil.
but their reaping was I'm sorrow, for the
jack rabbits ate every saplng or sprout,
and the hot winds destroyed every green
thing, and the dust storms-equaled only by
the billiards of winter-made them cry for
the old homes as the children of Israel cried
for the feshpots of Egypt
But they still hoped, ana this town of
Legree-which was not it's name-grew until
there were, at the time of this narrative.
about 800 inhabitants, among them a
preacher sent by a missionary society. This
minister, college graduate who had held
good appointments in Eastern cities, and
who had added to his already well-stocked
mind the culture Of four years travel in
Europe, came to them with his wife and
five children. These consecrated people, be-
lieving that among the settlers of the West
was where they were called to labor, came
with the assurance of 500 from the mis-
sionary society. For the rest of their liv-
| ing they depended upon the village people,
| who would have willingly shared their last
| loaf with them il they had only had the
| loaf
They had all become so poor that they
| were in actual need of the barest neces-
stiles of life. For seven years they had
hoped and prayed and labored. But in all
that time there had beer but one good year
only one year when Providence had smiled
| upon them and sent the copious showers.
|
that the jack rabbits, the grasshoppers,
| the hot winds, the droughts, all combined
to defeat them. But the minister did not
| forsake them. When they were in greatest
afliction, he said was when they needed
| him most. The Lord would provide.
Every man, woman and child looked to
him as a father, brother. Their mutual
sufferings and disappointments drew them
! together as one family.
The minister had three other appoint
ments, three, seven and nine miles distant
Being too poor to own or feed a horse, he
! walked to those places. The first year OF
| two he got along very well, but his cloth
| ing grew old and thin. He almos. persisted
the last winter; how could he endure this
His favorite motto, 1.-The Lord will pro-
vide" sustained him. But his wife's heart
| tainted within her when she thought of his
| sacrifices and her children's restitution
During the past year all the charges to-
| gether were only able to pay 800, making
with the missionary allowance, $500 to pro-
| vide for a family of seven. But" she re-
| flected, "how good the cowboys have been
God bless them The $40 and $50 bills
| they had tossed to them as If no more thar
handful of dry grass, what a godsend!
This town of Legree in one of those needy
years, might be said to be on the tip-tot
of expectation. The minister had received
a letter early in October-and what indi
vidual of all Legree did not know its con.
tents?-a letter of inquiry from the mission
airy society. How much salary did he get
How many in family. and the age of each
What did they need most?" And when
later, another letter came stating that they
might expect a barrel of clothing and Other
articles by the last of the month the whole
town rejoiced and the children of the minis
ter's family danced with glee.