Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1917-05-31
Theodosia Burr

eSop NC d
fortunate news, joyous news-none less
than the long delayed answer Of his
friend, Captain William Clark, to his
proposal that he should associate him
self with the Volunteers For the Dis
covery Of the West. Misspelled,
scrawled, done in the hieroglyphics
which marked that remarkable gentle
man, William Clark's letter carried joy
to the heart Of Meriwether Lewis. It
cemented n Of the most astonishing
partnerships ever known among men,
one of the most beautiful friendships
Of which history leaves note. 1 give
the strange epistle in Clark's own SPELL
ing:
Dear M~erne-Yours to hand touching up
pom the Expedishon into the Missourie
Country. & l send this by special bote up
the river to mete o at Pts'brgh. at the
Foarks. You convey a moast welcome and
appreciated invitation to join you in an
Enterprise centennial to my Every thought
and Desire. 1t will in all %likefyhood re-
quire at least a year to make the journey
out and Return, but although that means
certain Sacrifises of a personal sort l hold
such far less than the pleasure to enlist
with you, VIII. indeed l hold to be my duty
also.
I need not say how content I am to be
associated with the nah moast of all my
acquaintance apt to achieve Success in an
undertaking Of SO difficult and perlous ma
ture. AS you know, 1t is In the wilderness
men are moast sevearly tried, and there
we know a man. I have seen you so tried.
and I Know what you are. 1 am proud
that vnIl onnorn IN h111 ~ @~5 ~, 1850
qualities In like confident trust and belief,
and I shall hope to merit no alteration in
our Judgment.
There Is no other man I would go with
on such an undertaking, nor consider it
seriously, although the concern of my
family largely has been with things mill
tary and adventurous, and we are not
new to life among Savidges. Toe well l
know the dangers Of bad leadership in
such affairs. yes and my brother, the
General, also, as the story of Detroit and
the upper Ohio country could prove. All
Of that country hould nave been ours
from the first, and only lack of courage
lost 1t so long to Is.
You are so kind as to offer me a place
equal in command with you'll accept not
because Of the Rank, which is no moving
consideration. Gather for you or for me
but because I see in the generosity of the
man proposing such a division of his own
Honors the best assurance Of success.
You will find me at or near the Falls of
the Ohio awaiting the arrival of your par
ty, which I talk it will be in early August
or the Midel of that month.
Pray convey to Mr.. Jefferson my hum
Bile and obedient respects, and thanks for
this honor VIII. I shall endeavor to merit
as best lies within my powers.
With all affec'n. I remain. your friend,
WIN. CLARK.
P. s.-God alone knows how mulch this
all may mean to You and me, Merne.
WILL.
Clark, then, was to meet him at the
falls of the Ohio. and he, too, coun-
seled haste. Lewis drove his drunken,
lazy workmen in the shipyards as hard
as. he might week after week, yet
found six weeks elapsed before at last
he was in any wise fitted to set sail.
The delay fretted him, v though he
received word from his chief bidding
him not to grieve over the possible
loss OF a season in his start, but to do
what be might and to possess his soul
III patience and in confidence.
Recruits of proper sort for his pur-
wv ~ loC Slo" o1 llCCN, uc lOulll,
but he added q few men to his party
now and then, picking them slowly.
carefully. One morning while engaged
III his duties of supervising the work
lin progress at the shipyards he had
his attention attracted to Il youth of
some seventeen or eighteen years who
stood, cap in hand, at a distance, ap-
parently too timid to accost him.
what is it. my son?' said he. Ibid
you wish to see me?"
The boy advanced, smiling.
"You do not know me, sir. My name
is Shannon-George Shannon. l used
to know you when you were stationed
here with the army. l was a boy
then"
You are right. remember you
perfectly. So you are grown into a
strapping young man, I see."
The boy twirled his cap in his
hands.
II want to go along with you. cap
tain" said he shyly.
What! You would go with me?
DO yOu A11OW Mudt IS Jul JOuEuGy
mo; / only hear that you are going
up the Missouri, beyond st. Louis. into
new country. They say there are buff
falo there and Indians. IT'S too quiet
here. for me. want to see the world
with YOU"
The young leader, after his fashion,
stood silently regarding the other for
a time. An instant served him.
Every we'll. George" said he. IF
your parents consent you shall go with
me. Your pay will be such that you
can save somewhat. and l trust you
will use 1t to complete your schooling
after your return. There will be ad-
venture and a certain honor in our
undertaking. II we come back sue
cessful ] am persuaded that II coun.
Try will not forget u.s."
And 80 that matter was completed.
Strangely enough. as the future proved,