Emmons County record. [volume] (Williamsport, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-current, 1921-08-25
Tramped Along Within Arm. Reach.


tethered, fed and watered their horses
and while Sarah and the children
built fire and made tea and biscuits,
he was getting bait and catching fish
in the stream.
I'm few minutes from the time I
wet my hook mess Of trout would be
dressed and sizzling, with piece of
salt pork, in the pan, or it was bad
day for fishing" he writes.
After supper the wagon was partly
unloaded, the feather bed laid upon
the planks under the wagon roof and
spread with blankets. Then Samson
sang songs and told stories or played
upon the violin to amuse the family.
Often If the others were weary and
depressed he would dance merrily
around the fire, playing lively tune,
with Sambo glad to lend a helping
foot and much noise to the program.
BY and by the violin was put away
and all knelt by the fire while Sarah
prayed aloud for protection through
the night. So it will be seen that
they carried with them their own
little theater, church and hotel.
Soon after darkness fell, Sarah
and the children lay down for the
night while Samson stretched out
with his blanket by the fire in good
weather. the loaded musket and the
dog Sambo lying beside him. Often
the bowling of wolves in the distant
forest kept them awake, and the dog
mutterfng and barking for hours.
Samson woke the camp at daylight
and a merry song was his reveille
while he led the horses to their drink.
When they set out in the morning
Samson was wont to say to the little
lad, who generally sat beside him:
"Well. my boy, what's the good word
this morning?'' Whereupon Joe would
say. parrot like:
God help us all and make His
face to shine upon u.s."
"Well said!" his father would an
swer, and so the days journey began.
Often. near its end, they came to
some lonely farmhouse. Always Sam
son would stop and go to the door
to ask about the roads, followed by
little Joe and Betsey with secret hopes.
One Of these hopes was related to
cookies and maple sugar and buttered
bread and had been cherished since
an hour Of good fortune early In the
trip and encouraged by sundry good
hearted women along the road. An
other was the hope Of seeing baby
mainly. 1t should be said, the hope
Of Betsey. Joe's interest was merely
an echo Of hers. He regarded babies
with an open mind, as 1t were, for
the opinions Of his sister still had
some weight with him, she being 4
year and "a half older than he, but
babies invariably disappointed him,
their capabilities being so restricted.
Still, not knowing what might happen,
he always took look at every baby.
The children were lifted out Of the
wagon to stretch their legs at sloughs
and houses. They were sure. to be
close behind the legs Of their father
when he stood at a strangers door.
Then. the night being near. they were
always invited to put their horses in
the barn and tarry until next morn.
ing. This was due in part to the visit.
full faces Of the little children-a fact
unsupported BY their parents. What
motherly heart could resist the silent
appeal Of childre1's faces or fail to
understand TT Those were memorable
nights for Sarah and Joe and Betsey. In
lstter,to her bssthsr ~ wsman said /: