Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1917-05-09

Now, too, he had news-good news
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. II
cemented one of the most astonishing
partnerships ever known among men
one of the most beautiful friendships
IF which history leaves note. l give
the strange epistle in Clarks own spell
Ing: -%
Dear Merne-Yours to hand touching up
pom the Expedishon into the Missourie
Country, &. l send this by special bote ur
the river to mete you at Pts'brgh, at the
Foarks. You convey moast welcome and
appreciated invitation to join you in an
Enterprise centennial to my Every thought
and Desire. It will in all LIKELIHOOD re-
quire at least year to make the journey
out and Return. but although that means
certain Sacrifices of n personal sort hold
such far less than the pleasure to enlist
with you. VIII. indeed hold to be my duty
also.
l need not say how content l am to be
associated with the man 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
r l. 60 fris
and 1 Know what you are I am proud
that you apeare to hold me and my own
qualities in like confident trust and belief,
and shall hope to merit no alteration in
your Judgment.
There is no other man would go with
on such an undertaking. nor consider 1t
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. Too we'll
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 should have been ours
from the first, and only lack Of courage
lost 1t SO long to US.
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 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. shall endeavor to merit
as best lies within my powers.
With all anec'n. 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, even though he
received word from his chief bidding
him not to grieve over the possible
loss of season in his start, but to do
what he might and to possess his soul
in patience and In confidence.
Recruits Of proper sort for his pur-
poses did not grow on trees, he found,
but he added few men to his party
now and then. picking them slowly.
carefully. One morning while engaged
in his duties Of supervising the work
in progress at the shipyards he had
his attention attracted to youth Of
some seventeen or eighteen years who
stood, cap in hand, at distance, ap-
parently too timid to accost him.
what is it, my son?' said he. did
you wish to see me?'
The boy advanced, smiling.
"You do not know me. sir. My name
is Shannon-George Shannon. I used
to know you when you were stationed
here with the army. was a boy
then" .....-
you are right. remember you
perfectly. So you are grown into a
strapping young man. see."
The boy twirled his cap In his
hands.
II want to 60 along with you, cap
tain," said be shyly. -.