Emmons County record. [volume] (Williamsport, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-current, 1921-09-01
C0pRZGHT LIVING BAGHEZ LER5


and Samson and Brimstead walked,
while Sarah drove the team to the
next village. There the good woman
bought new clothes for the whole
Brimstead family and Brimstead sold
his interest in the sand plains and
bought good pair Of horses, with
harness and some cloth for a wagon
cover. and had fifty dollars in his
pocket and new look in his face.
He put his children on the backs OF
the horses and led them to his old
home, with sack Of provisions on
his shoulder. He was to take the
track of the Traslors next day and
begin his journey to, the shores Of
the SangamOn.
They got into bad swale that
afternoon and Samson had to cut
some corduroy to make a footing for
team and wagon and do much prylng
with the end of heavy pole under
the front axle. BY and by the horses
pulled them out.
"When OIL Colonel bends his neck
things have to move, even If he is
up to his belly In the mud" said
Samson.
AS the day waned they came to
river in the deep woods. 1t was an
exquisite bit Of forest with the bells
Of hermit thrush ringing in one
Of its towers. Their call and the
low song Of the river We're the only
sounds in the silence. The glow of
the setting sun which lighted the
western windows of the forest had a
color like that OF the music-golden.
Long shafts of it fell through the
tree columns upon the road here
and there. Our weary travellers stopped
OH the rude plank bridge that
crossed the river. Odors of balsam
and pine and tamarack came in
light, cool breeze up the river valley.
Il guess We'll stop at this tavern
till tomorrow" said Samson.
Joe was asleep and they laid him
on the blankets until supper was
ready.
Soon after supper Samson shot q
deer which had waded into the rapids.
Fortunately, it made the opposite
shore before it fell All hands spent
that evening dressing the deer and
jerking the best Of the meat. This
they did by cutting the meat into
strips about the size of mans hand
and sailing and laying it on rack,
some two feet above slow fire, and
covering it with green boughs. The
heat and smoke dried the meat in
the course of two or three hours and
gave it fine flavor. Delicious be-
y"nd any kind of meat is venison
treated in this manner. If kept dry,
1t will retain its flavor and its sweet
ness for a month or more.
They set out rather late next morn
ing. AS usual, Joe stood by the head
of Colonel while the latter Tapped
brown sugar from the timid palm of
the boy. Then the horse was wont to
touch the face of Joe with his big,
hairy lips as a tribute to his generOs-
lty. Colonel had seemed to acquire
a singular attachment for the boy
and the dog, while Pete distrusted
both of them. He had never mo-
ment's leisure, anyhow, being always
busy with his work or the flies. A
few breaks in the pack basket had
been repaired with green withes. 1t
creaked with It's load Of jerked veni-
sOn when put aboard.
Farther on the boy got sore throat
Sarah bound slice of pork around
it and Samson built camp by the
:oadside, in which, after u good fire
was started. they gave him henlock
sweat. This they did by sleeping
hemlock in pals of hot water and
while the patient sat in chair by
the fireside, blanket was spread
about him and pinned close to his
neck. Under the blanket they put
the pals of steaming hemlock tea
After his sweat and a day and night
in bed, with warm fire burning IL
front of the slanty, Joe was able
20 resume his seat in the wagon. They
spoke of the Brimsteads and thought
t strange that they had not come
along.
On the twenty-ninth day after theil
journey began they came in sight O.
the beautiful green valley of the Mo
hawk. AS they looked from the hill
they saw the roof Of the forest dip
Ding down to the river shores ant
stretching far to the east and ives
and broken, here and there, by small
clearings. Soon they could see tn
smoke and spires of the thriving vii
iage of Utica.