Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1907-01-24
CHAPTER v.--contlnusd.

When they were all on with their
meager belongings. he called again to
the man in the wagon.
Brother Keaton. my father went
across, did her"
Several Of the men on shore an
swered him.
Yes" "Old white-whiskered
death's-head went over the river
over here"-"A sassy old codgeT he
was"-"He got his needings, too
got his needings-"
They cast of the line and the oars
began to dip.
The confusion of landing and the
preparations for an immediate start
drove for the time. all other thoughts
from his mind. II haG been deter
mined to get the little band at once
out of the marshy spot where the
camp had been made. The teams were
soon hitched, the wagons loaded, and
the train ready TO move. He sur.
veyed II, a hundred poor wagons, many
OF them without cover. loaded to the
full with such nondescript belongings
as a house-dwelling people, suddenly
put out on the open road. would hur-
riedly snatch as they fed. And tho
people made his heart ache, even to
the deadening OF his own sorrow, as
he noted their wobegoneness. For
these were the sick, the infirm, the
poor. the inefficient, who had been UNI
able for one reason or another to mi
crate with the main body OF the Saints
earlier in the season. Many OF them
were now racked by fever from sleep
ing on the damp ground. These babe
fair not to outlast some OF the lum-
bering carts that threatened at every
rough spot to Jolt apart.
Yet the line bravely formed to the
order to Seth Wright as captain. and
the march began. Looking back. he
saw peaceful Nauvoo. It's houses and
gardens. softened by the cloudy uly
and the autumn haze. clustering un.
der the shelter of their temple spire--
their temple and their houses, Of
which they were now despoiled by n
mob's fury. Ahead he saw the road
TO the west, hard road. as he knew
one he could not hope they should
cross without leaving more graves by
the way; but Zion was at the end.
"only q short march to-day, broth.
ers. Our camp Is at Sugar Greek.
nine miles--so take your time this
first day"
Near the head OF the train were his
own two wagons, and beside the first
walked Seth Wright and Keaton. Ia
low, earnest converse. AS he came
up to them the bishop spoke.
Il got Wes' and Alec Gregg to drive
awhile so We could stretch our. legs I"
But then came a quick change OF tone,
as they halted by the road.
Joel, there's no use beatin' about
the bush-them devils at the ferry
Jest now drowned your pa"
He went cold all over. Keaton.
looking sympathetic but frightened,
spoke next.
You ought to thank me. Brother
Rae. for not telling you on the othe.
side, when you asked me. know bet.
ter. Because. why? Because knew
you'd fly on the handle and get your.
self killed. and then your mad be left
all alone. that's why. now--and prob1y
they'd "a wound up by dumping the
whole passle of US bag and baggage
into the stream. And 1t want any
use, your father bein' dead and gone"
The Bishop took up the burden
shipping him cordially on the back.
Come, come--hearten up, now!
Your pas been made a martyr-he's
beautified his inheritance In Zion
whinin' won't do no good"
He drew himself up with a shruG. as
II to throw on an invisible burden. and
answered. calmly:
I'm not whining. Bishop. Perhaps
you were right not to tell me over
there. Keaton. I'd have made trouble
Tor you all" He smiled painfully In
his effort 20 control himself.