Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1921-06-24
CHAPTER II.-continued.

81 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
Ny 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
GScror said I would be all right in
three days, and 1 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 a young mission
airy going west. Samson began TO
Joke with him.
You're a happy man for one. in
so much trouble said the stranger.
Then l heard Samson say: We'll,
sir, Pm in a fix where happiness is
absolutely necessary. It's like grease
on the wagon wheels-we couldn't
go on without it When we need any
thing we make it if we can. My wife
is sick and the wagon is broke and its
raining and night is near in a lone
some country, and it amt 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 sick
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 a tall, handsome Yankee
lad riding q pony. His pony stopped
beside the wagon and looked toward
the travellers as if appealing for help. |
The boy was pointing toward the hori- /
xon and muttering Sarah saw al |
once that his mind was wandering in
the delirium of fever. She got out |
OF the wagon and took his hand. The |
moment she did so he began crying !
like child.
'sThfs boy is SICK" she said TO Sam !
son, who came and helped him off |
his horse. They camped for the night |
and put the boy to bed and gave him
medicine and tender care. He was
too sick to travel next day. The Tray
lors stayed with him and nursed the
lad until he was able to go on. He
was from Niagara county, New York,
and his name was Harry Needles.
His mother had died when he was
ten and his father had married again.
BE had not been happy In his home
after that and his father had given
him a pony and hundred dollars
and sent him away to seek his own
fortune. Homesick and lonely and i'll,
and Just going west with sublime
'aith that the West would somehow
provide for him. he might even have
lerished on the way If he had not fall
m in with friendly people. His story
lad touched the heart of Sarah and
samson. He was a big, green. gentle ,
learted country boy who had set out
liled with hope and the love of adj
enture. Sarah found pleasure In
the poor lad, and so il .
that he became one OF their c
title party. He was helpful'and good q
atured and had sundry arts that
leased the children. The man and y
he woman liked the big, honest lad. n
One day he said TO Samson: Il h
ope you won't mind II 1 go along
18th you, sir S
Glad to have you with us" said s.
amson, We've talked it over. II
on want TO, you can come along n
18th us and our home shall be yours So
nd I'll do what's right by you a
They Jared along through Indiana a
nd over the wide savannas of I'LL
OILS, and pn the ninety-serenth day b