The Bingham County news. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1918-1930, 1921-12-16

SCt uSCu W II uLU navy u "VhVS'A "a
lot of fun. The time'll pass quick
you see" Then he would sing and
get them all laughing with some Gu
rious bit of drollery. They spent the
night of July third at tavern In
Buffalo. then busy. crude and rapid
growing center for the shipping east
and west.
There were emigrants on their
way to the Far West in the
crowd-men, women and children and
babies in arnis-Irish, English, Ger
mans and Yankees. There were also
wel-dressed, handsome young men
from the colleges of New England
going out to be missionaries between
the desert and the sown."
Buffalo, ON the edge of the mid
land seas, had the flavor of the rank,
new soil in 1t those days-and especi-
ally that day. when it was thrOnged
with rough coated and rougher tongued,
swearing men on a holiday, steve
dOres and boatmen off the lakes and
rivers of the middle border-sOme of
whom had had their training on the
Ohio and Mississippi. There was much
drunkenness and fighting in the
crowded streets. Some of the carriers
and handlers of American commerce
vented their enthusiasm in song.
They had the lake view and it's
cool breeze on their way to Silver
Creek, Dunkirk and Erie, and a
rough way it was in those days.
Enough has been written Of this
long and wearisome journey, but the
worst of it was ahead of them-much
the worst of tin the swamp flats
Of Ohio and Indiana. In one Of the
former wagon wheel broke down,
and that day Sarah began to shake
with ague and burn with fever. Sam
son built rude camp by the road
side, put Sarah into bed under it's
cover and started for the nearest viii
lage on CoonePs back
II shall never forget that day spent
in a lonely part Of the woods" the
good woman wrote to her brother. 1T
endeared the children to me more than
any day l can remember. They
brought water from the creek. a great
quantity, and told me stories and
cheered me in every way they could.
NV faith in Gods protection was per-
feet and in spite of my misery the
children were a great comfort. In
the middle of the afternoon Samson
returned with doctor and some tools
and a stick of seasoned timber. How
good he looked when he came and
knelt by my bed and kissed me! This
is hard journey, but woman can
bear anything with such a man. The
doctor said l would be all right in
three days, and l was.
Late that afternoon it began to
rain. Samson was singing as he
| worked on his wheel. A traveller
came along on horseback and saw
our plight. He was young mission
ary going west. Samson began to
Joke with him.
"'You're happy man for one in
so much trouble said the stranger
"Then | heard Samson say: Well
sir, I'm in a fix where happiness Is
absolutely necessary. It's like grease
on the wagon wheels-we couldn't
| 20 on without 1t. When we need any
thing we make 1t If we can. My wife
is sick and the wagon is broke and it's
raining and night is near in lone
some country, and it amt a real good
time for me to be down in the mouth
is it, now? We haven't broke any
bones or had an earthquake or been
scalped by Indians, so there's some
room for happiness
Look here, stranger-I like you,
said the man. If there's anything
can do to help We, I'll stop while.
He spent the night with them and
helped mend the felly and set the
tire.
The fever and ague passed from
one to another and all were sicl
before the journey ended, although
Samson kept the reins in hand
through his misery. There were many
breaks to mend, but Samson's inge
nuity was always equal to the task.
One day, near nightfall, they were
Overtaken by tall, handsome Yankee
lad riding q pony. His pony stopped
beside the wagon and looked toward
the travellers as II appealing for help
The boy was pointing toward the hori
zOn and muttering Sarah saw a
once that his mint was wandering II
the delirium of fever, She got ou
of the wagon and took his hand. Tit
moment she did SO he began crying
like child.
''This boy is SICK" she said to Sam
son, who came and helped him of
his horse. They camped for the nigh
and put the boy to bed and gave hin
medicine and tender care. He wal
too sick to travel next day. The Tray
Tors stayed with him and nursed thu
lad until he was able to go on. H.
was from Niagara county. New York
and his name was Harry Needles
His mother had died when he wal
ten and his father had married again