The Richmond palladium. (Richmond, Ind.) 1906-1907, 1906-10-14

5oyed- III the wagon Were bread and
butter and boiled eggs and tea and
doughnuts and cake and dried herring
The men built fires and made tea and
ate their suppers and sang. as the nigh,
Barbara Allen" ~Roaaparte's Dream
and the ''Droyer's Daughter"
- For days they were driving in the
wild country At bedtime each wound
himself In q blanket and lay down to
rest beneath a rude iean-to il il Were
raining, but mostly under the stars
On this journey Trove got his habit OF
sleeping out of doors in fair weather.
After ii, save in midwinter. walls
seemed TO weary aud roofs to smother
him. The drove began TO low at day
break. and soon they were all cropping
the grass or browsing. in the briers.
Then the milking and breakfast over
a campfire, and soon after sunrise they
were all tramping in the road again.
Ii was a pleasant journey. the way
sides glowing with the blue of yiolets,
the green OF tender grass, the thick
sown, starry gold of dandelions. Wild
fowl crossed the sky in wedge and bat
talon. their yeaettes out. their lines
now firm, now wheeling in a long curve
TO take the path of the wind. Every
thicket was Z fount of song that fell
to silence when darkness came and the
low chant OF the marshes
When they came into settled country
below the big woods they began sell
ing AT length the drove was reduced
to one section, Troye following with the
helper named ThuFston Tilly, familiar
iy known as Thurst.
He WAS Il tall heavy. good natured
man, distinguished for fat, happiness
and singular aptitudes He had lifted
a barrel of salt by the chimes and put
it on a wagon; once he had eaten two
mince pies at meal; again, he had
put his heels six inches above his head
on a barn dcor, and any time he could
wiggle one ear or both or whistle on
his thumb.
1t was not easy to dispose of cattle
in the southern counties that year, but
they found a better market as they
Of Ohio when the last of the drove
were sold. That done, Trove and
Thurst Tilly took the main road to
Cleveland, whence they We're to return
home by steamboat.
1t led them into woods and by
stumpy fields and pine odored hamlets.
The first day Of their walk was rainy.
and they went up toteway into thick
timber and built a fire and kept dry
and warm until the rain ceased. That
evening they fell in with emigrants on
their way to the far west
The latter were camped on the edge
of a wood near the roadway and cook
ing supper as the two came along. Be
ing far from town Trove and lilly
were glad to accept the hospitality Of
the travellers.
They had come to the great highway
Of travel from east to west Every
DAY it was cut by wagons of the mover
overloaded with Lares and Penates,
with old and young. enduring hard
ships and the loss of home and old ac-
quaintance for hope of better fortune.
A man and wife and three boys were
the party, travelling with two wagons.
They were bound for Iowa and, being
heavy loaded, were having a hard
time. All sat on heap Of boughs in
the freight after supper.
ITS long. long road to Iowa. IA |
her." said the woman.
It'll soon be over" said he, with |
one of encouragement.
"p~e been thinking all day of the |
ilacs and the old house." said she.
They looked in silence at the fire a |
Were a bit homesiek." said the |
nan turning to Trove "an' no wen |,
Ter. It's been hard travelling, an we've |
,roke down every few miles. But We'll |
ave better luck the rest o. the jour- |
ley."
Evidently his cheerful courage had /
'een all tLat kept them going.
Lost all we had in tue great fire Of |
35,' said he thoughtfully. Il went to
ed a rich man. but when l rose in the |
corning / had not enough to pay a
weeks board. Everything had been
wept away"
"a merchant" Troye inquired.
"a partner in the great Star mill on
last river" said the man. II could
ave got fortune for my share-at
east 500, OO0-and I had worked hard
or it,
And were you not able to succeed
gain?'
NO." said the traveller sadly, shaking
is head. IF some time you have to
use all You possess, God grant you still
ave youth and strong arm. / tried
nat is ALL tried"
The boy looked up at him, his heart
ouched. The man was near sixty
ears Of age. His face had deep lines
i it; his voice the dull ring of loss
nd failure and small hope. The wo-
ian covered her face and began to
Do.
There, mother" said the man, touch
lg her head. wed better forget. I'll
ever speak of that again-never.
te're going to seek our fortune Away
i the great west we'll seek our for
me-"
His effort to be cheerful was perhaps
he richest color of that odd scene there
the still woods and the freight
Were going 10 take a farm IN the
ost beautiful country in the world.
IS easy to make money there"
IF you've no objection I'd like to go
/