Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1914-02-18
THE RECOGNITION
OF JESSE BADlEIGH
BY II. II. GREEN

lands of Iowa and beyond The bear
and the deer as well as their human
brother, the Indian, from time i'm
immemorial lords of these lands, were
! beginning to feal the aggressive pow
ler of the white man who in his land
lust was already making his all-con-
quering march toward the setting
sun; disdainfully brushing aside ev-
5 cry obstacle in his path, and finally
squatting with his belongings on the
, choicest lands and claiming them for
his own. Meantime the bear, the
: deer and the Indian move on or they
) are exterminated.
Scarcely year had passed since
the return of the gold-prospectors
from their fruitless journey to Pixies
Peak, when one of those prairie
schooners on its way to the north
west, arrived in the town and imme-
diately went into camp intending to
remain few days that the horses
might have some rest as we'll as
themselves, for all were very much
? in need of it.
: The family consisted of three per-
/, sons, John Armstrong, his wife
Martha, and little girl of perhaps
seven or eight years of age. 1t will
not be necessary to tax the readers
patience with an extended description
: of these persons; suffice it to say that
they were fair examples of the pi-
oneers of those days, hardy, patient,
enduring; sons and daughters of a
, people whose fathers and mothers
had fought or suffered in the Revol-
ton, and had laid deep and strong,
the foundations of this vast western
empire which was destined to be de-
veloped and peopled with a new gen.
Grafton as courageous as themselves.
The campers had already unhar-
messed their horses, and were prepar-
ing for the evening meal, when they
were discovered by Mrs. Badleigh
and Jesse who happened to be pas
sing near their place of encampment.
Good evenin"- the saluta-
ton of Mrs. Badleigh who greeted
the newcomers with the hearty cor
diality of the new west-"do you
stay here over night and is there
% dN
: Yes marin, replied Mrs. Arm
: strong-''it is our intention to re-
main for few days to rest our hors-
es which are feeling the effect of our
long journey; ii you could spare me
a little coffee for our supper / would
be much obliged to you, we ran out
lof it yesterday morning, and have
not been able to procure any more
since; | could get some at the store
only it would have to be Drowned and
ground before we could use it and
there isn't time for that before sup
lper.
! Certainly, | can spare you all the
coffee you need and maybe you would
like some butter or bread, you must
not hesitate to speak out, l shall be
more comfortable for you while you
are here, for | know what it means
to travel day after day, for weeks,
through all kinds of weather, and
not be able to get either for love or
money, much more than enough to
keep soul and body together "-re-
piled the large-hearted Mrs. Bad
leigh
You are very thoughtful, am
sure, declared Mrs. Armstrong
lit is more than kind of you to care
so much for perfect strangers, as we
are. am sure appreciate your
kindness more than / can tell you"
In the meantime the small Jesse
Badleigh and the little girl at first
rather shy with each other,-gradu-
ally, as the shyness wore away be-
I came quiet confidential, which was
very nice indeed.
What's your name?" enQuired
the girl.
My names jesse" affirmed that
young gentleman,-"w what's yourn?"
They call me Frances, she re-
piled, an / don't think it's nice
name at ALL
"Oh! / think it's real pretty
name for real pretty girl" gallant
ly replied Master Jesse Badleigh, who
evidently desired to make good
impression on his new acquaintance.
why, you naughty thing, l amt
. at all pretty, you know that well
enough" she demurely declared,
but with a coyness which Jesse
thought was very becoming in her.
What further condolences might
have been exchanged between the
children must be left to the magma
ton of the reader, for just as Jesse
was about to say something further
he was called away by his mother
and since he was an obedient little
fellow who at an early age enter