Elmore County Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1910-1915, 1912-04-06
The Lure Of the Desert
Mrs. w. r. G dWards.

Mr.. Jones tluently enlightened Will
lam and his father as to his reasons
fer his faith in the west You
seem to be sort of seer or prophet"
remarked William, ito be able to
read the signs of the times, as YOU
do" 1--WE cannot stop the march of
progress" continued he, "and l have
faith in our government. English
money has been wasted on rivers and
harbors appropriations, to put every
nayigable stream in the United States
in prime condition for decades to
come. Millions have been squander-
ed in improvements of creeks, scarce
ly large enough to float a flat-boat.
Congress doesn't seem averse to
casting money upon the water and
time will come shortly. Our Presi-
dent is now trying to lay the founda-
ton for change in the method of
dealing with rivers and harbor quest
lions; this necessity was impressed
upon him during his western trip a
year or two ago. The change he is
planning would be of permanent val
ue to the Nation 1t is to be hoped
that he will devise ways and means
to curb federal expenses to the end
that when needed appropriations are
asked, there will be money and to
STARE. | have faith and believe our
government is wise and courageous
enough to give to adj fair chance.
| tell you my neighbor it lis coming.
The needs and will of the people will
rule"
Il think and believe as you say"
answered William.
The Harrison family drove home
with new courage born of this days
experience.
The influence of some strong souls
going through personal struggles with.
out complaint, enables others to
gather fortitude to endure their own
more patiently
This man is hero and philosoph-
err said William. "Why should We
become discouraged in the face of
such heroism as was shown us to-
day."
And Lorraine remarked, chow very
thankful she was even to have a floor
in her house. And grandfather
seemed lost in the sense of space;
completely overwhelmed with sugges-
tioLs CT the Infinite. 1--WE should
now always hold ourselves in an atti-
tude Of Thanksgiving and prayer. in
this vast grave yard" said he. Poor
cid man. did he have some prescience
of this becoming his own burying
ground?
well, said William, endeavoring
to divert his fathers mind, Gin few
years there will be such change
i'll the desert that it is travesty
on thought to believe, such rapid
transition could be conceived of,
where this waste has lain dormant
for centuries waiting the wave of
the magic wand of civilization and
system. Cities will spring up like
jack rabbits when once the water
comes, And with the on-coming wave
of civilized life, the desert shall
blossom as the rose"
Just so, William, and the water
is sure to come, if your and Jones'
philosophizing proves true answer
ed grandfather.
Five years had now passed since
the Harrison family had left the
shady Dells of Wisconsin, for the
desert
They had been granted an extern
sion Of three years time Gas allowed
by law in which to wait for water.
They had cleared the brush by
burning, grubbing, railing, anyway to
get rid of it; working every day,
Lorraine and even grandmother
The fascination of it keeping them
at their task until their muscles
ached; and they were almost too
exhausted to creep to the house;
bringing in their wake the pungent
| odor of sage.
There was nothing to check; and
the wind played with perfect freedom
With the flames on the broad expanse
Of waste, keeping up the cracking
all day long, and they could hear the