Elmore County Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1910-1915, 1912-03-09
The Lure Of the Desert
Mrs. w. r. Edwards.

ShNAS " N'o'Ny 49, ~"
with force and enthusiasm.
Grandfather was silent.
The millions of cattle and
sheep grazing on our ranges, the
soil, fruit, gram, and alfalfa fields!
Think what wealth the alfalfa
BRINGS from the five cuttings a
season.
The home-seeker's train had
pulled up and down through the
mining region Of Western Wyo-
ming and was now swiftly max
ing its way through the sage
brush of Idaho.
grandfather S manner convey
ed clearly his mental comparison
between the spacious modern
homes OF the prosperous farmers
IN Wisconsin and the lonely look
ing shacks here and there in the
sage brush.
lie realized that he was leav-
ing far behind, friends and the
old home.
Divining grandfather's thots,
Uncle Westley reinforced his ar
sument, which he keenly felt was
last losing ground.
"Oh, this will be wonderful
country when it's watered; the
sage brush will soon give way to
the hand of man, and you will
see the desert blossom as the
rose. -
At this point Uncle Westley s
4 aceful flourish of the hand, as
ne looked out of the car window
IN his home country, was in keep
ing with his seeming self-compos-
are, and poise of mind. Yet in
VA dly he was experiencing a
struggle. Apparently his words
we're failing to affect his brother
n law, or find Judgment in his
and as they had when he first
vent to Wisconsin ostenslbly on a
isit two months before
1t was one evening late IN the
.anmer, while the Harrison fam
~ was sitting on the porch OF
heir humble home in Wisconsin,
mat carriage stopped at the
gate; an elderly gentleman alight-
ed and started up the walk.
On recognizing her brother,
whom she had not seen for twenty
years, with the agility of girl,
grandmother sprang down the
steps to greet him.
Il know this is Wesley! | had
almost forgotten had a brother
There was warmth in her
greeting as she grasped his ex-
tended hand.
Yes, | was afraid you might,so
came back to remind you, lest
we forget. How are you, any
way? And Josh, old boy give me
the glad hand, said he, grasping
the left hand of the one-armed
soldier.
els this Uncle Westley?" ask
ed William, the son.
" Yes William, you were scarce
ly out of your teens when | last
saw you, but I'm sure | would
know you any place.
you haven't seen Mrs. Har-
rison, my wife, Lorraine, this is
our Uncle Wesley, of whom you
have heard us speak"
:" And the kidlets," remarked
grandfather, as the two young
sters appeared around the corner
of the house. "This is VIM. the
Second whom we call Billy, and
Rose our little Golden Hair.
Il m lover of children and
I'm boy again when I'm with
them" remarked Uncle Wesley.
The evening was spent IN pleas
ant "reminiscences, and this even
ing as well as many that followed,
Uncle Westley RECALLED the family
with stories of the country just
beyond the Ridge" He gave
them many facts embelished with
interesting narration, holding his
little audience spell-bound.
The children stood wide-eyed
as he told of Indian days, and Of
the wild horses running in the
mountains.
And wildly did he portray the
attractions and the inducements
offered to the many thousands
Of eastern people, in caring for
the cattle and sheep of the ranges;
the productions of the soil etc,
verifying his statements by ex-
hibiting samples of fine fruit and
grain from his satchel, that the
family were unquestionably NOV