The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1917-05-10
ON WESTERN TRIP
DEATH OF CHILD MAKES SAD
THE JOURNEY.

Editor Herald: On reaching Grand
Island, Nebraska, we found our roads
blocked with snow. Some people were
leading their horses and pulling their
buggies through the worst, but as our
horses were not very leadable, we
awaited developments. i
Just then man came up who was
working in large cemetery near by,
ana told us to go back and go up the
railroad right-of-way. This was great
blow as we expected to find a perfect
road when we reached Lincoln high
way. The man returned to the Silent
City, which looked so peaceful, yet
none of us were quite ready to remain
there even if things did look rather
gloomy, for we all knew Iowa's mud
and snow and wondered if Nebraska
could stand them.
We did not see much of Grand Is
land, but had grand time getting
around and out Of it, passed through,
some nice country, struck some good
roads and in order TO make up for
| lost time drove after dark through a
town named Wood River, we should
/ have charmed that town with our pres.
ence-but as tho roads were so good
and it was only II miles to the next
town we went right on.
/ About two or three miles from town
| VIC came into beautiful thawing
snow bankthe road was up against
fence of some kind of scraggly tree.
The first car halted again with its
wheels embedded in some mud. The
re-enforcements were on hand and
they boosted it along and tie other
car came through.
The crowd walking and soaking the
dclightful mud and water into our
shoes, felt like our feet were getting a
good soaking whether it was needed or
4 not. ~
We met a man who told us that we
had hit Nebraska in the wrong time,
and we felt that he spoke the truth,
Another man told US that we had
one-half mile of it and then the roads
were fair to shelton, nine miles away
The word fair may mean most any.
thing. We regard IT on, the doubtful
Hist. ....-...
He told US there was vacant house
ard barn up the road, about quarter
/ of mile so we pushed on, but dis.
tances trifle with a person in the west
After going about mile we spied
the house and no one wished to &C
any farther SO we had a little stove,
land we. cooked Our supper, sitting on
the floor around the lantern all in In
dian style. ...
1t was pretty cold night seemingly
but the house was a very nice one and
| the barn was splendid structure well
made and so warm. We wandered why
such a nice house was vacant-but as
there was no telephone we never
found out.
We carried our blankets up in the
hay NOW and spreading them out slept
Just the best ever until six-thirty the
next morning. After breakfast we
wendell our way thankful for the hos.
pitality of Hotel La Gra6de Empty
House.
As we went on our way peoples
opinion varied about the roads, but
ours never varied-we knew that they
were good in places and bad in more
places. .......
On Friday. April 20, the little daugh
ter, Josephine. eldest child of Mr.. and
Mrs. John Clark accidentally Slipped
into a pail of hot water and was SC
burned that she died from the effects
the same evening. ~
Fricnos came from all around and
offered their services doing all they
, could possibly do in such a. trying
+! hour.
AS strangers in strange land we
surely realized tho truth OF the old
adage-"A friend in need is a friend
indeed Just four weeks to the day
we landed we laid little Josephine to
rest in the Dwycr cemetery Mamie
| Ii Clark. 4, Hst